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No Strings Attached
No Strings Attached [Paperback] Renshaw, Norman
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First published August 20, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 6, 2013
TOO MUCH BICKERING
Friends for years, with benefits. Ashlynn Connolly and Ethan Kearney decide to get married, they're from totally different backgrounds. But both his and her family are against the marriage for different reasons. Ethan needs a wife and she's broke, so this marriage is a business proposition. Ethan doesn't do love or relationships either.
This could have been so much better than it was. The only place these two got on was the bedroom, outside of that it was war! But most of their arguments felt contrived. Not a book that I would want to read again.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
Friends for years, with benefits. Ashlynn Connolly and Ethan Kearney decide to get married, they're from totally different backgrounds. But both his and her family are against the marriage for different reasons. Ethan needs a wife and she's broke, so this marriage is a business proposition. Ethan doesn't do love or relationships either.
This could have been so much better than it was. The only place these two got on was the bedroom, outside of that it was war! But most of their arguments felt contrived. Not a book that I would want to read again.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
September 10, 2013
No Strings Attached. Suzan Butler
ARC supplied via Netgalley.
I'm a sucker for this sort of romance....Ash and Ethan have been best friends with benefits for ages. Then she needs money for her son, she's lost her job, has no other support and the rent is due... and he needs a wife – so he suggests a compromise, they marry, he gets his parents off his back and she's financially secure. He has always been good to Corbin, her young son so its really only taking their relationship a step further. Of course the scorching sex they have already will get more frequent, and that’s a bonus for them both :) .
The problem is Ash believes in love and can't let the idea go, and Ethan is convinced it's all hype and doesn't exist. Diametrically opposed on this important fact how will their marriage fare – especially when Ash is halfway in love with him already...then there's their backgrounds..Ash is from a simple working class family, her child's father Buddy was violent, involved in crime and currently in jail after almost beating her to death while she was pregnant. Ethans' family are much higher up the social scale and won't take kindly to Ash as his wife. Oh I do love these sort of complications :)
Still, they marry against parental opposition from his, and worry from hers that she won't be accepted by Ethan's family. They don't really seem to gel that well in a way considering they've been friends for so long, and the arguments seem false often – over silly things, without real basis. Sometimes I feel she's just making up problems for the sake of it – really is storm in a teacup many of the things they row over. Ethan, as a supposed strong person seems to be a bit of a wimp quite often, I know his parents were unemotional, but I'd have thought he'd stand up to them more – marry maybe to spite them not just to roll over and comply with a ludicrous money contract. He's almost 25 not a teenager... Ash seems to be grateful one moment and picking on him over nothing the next – she just seemed to have gone from a (presumably) confident and successful single parent to a hot mess of emotions. Somehow their actions didn't fit their profiles.
As a Serviceman they live in married quarters on the base. Ash makes some friends but always feels guilty when everyone says how much in love they are – she's teetering on that edge, but Ethan is still staunchly against the concept. She's trying to see her position as a sort of employment – wife, bedmate and employee. Money is not a problem any more, Corbin loves having Ethan around and is happy, and it seems to be working though they've a few small hiccups – then there's something huge from Ash' past that hits them, and causes huge problems both for the danger it poses, and from the way Ethan deals with it. There's danger to all of them, though it's different for each and they don't know the extent. This part I had difficulty with, and its hard to say why without giving anything away but... it seems to me the person who had little money to begin with now seems to have unlimited money and contacts – even to the extent of considering hiring a private plane...and it just needs more explanation for me and spoils the effect. The drama plays out quite well, though I feel more build up and more explanation would have been good (for me anyway).
Its a stand-alone novel, but overall it just felt a bit too unreal for me for the reasons I’ve given. Its not one I’d re read. Priced at £1.91 for 284 pages /420kb its reasonable for the genre.
Stars: sorry – not for me, just two.
ARC supplied via Netgalley.
I'm a sucker for this sort of romance....Ash and Ethan have been best friends with benefits for ages. Then she needs money for her son, she's lost her job, has no other support and the rent is due... and he needs a wife – so he suggests a compromise, they marry, he gets his parents off his back and she's financially secure. He has always been good to Corbin, her young son so its really only taking their relationship a step further. Of course the scorching sex they have already will get more frequent, and that’s a bonus for them both :) .
The problem is Ash believes in love and can't let the idea go, and Ethan is convinced it's all hype and doesn't exist. Diametrically opposed on this important fact how will their marriage fare – especially when Ash is halfway in love with him already...then there's their backgrounds..Ash is from a simple working class family, her child's father Buddy was violent, involved in crime and currently in jail after almost beating her to death while she was pregnant. Ethans' family are much higher up the social scale and won't take kindly to Ash as his wife. Oh I do love these sort of complications :)
Still, they marry against parental opposition from his, and worry from hers that she won't be accepted by Ethan's family. They don't really seem to gel that well in a way considering they've been friends for so long, and the arguments seem false often – over silly things, without real basis. Sometimes I feel she's just making up problems for the sake of it – really is storm in a teacup many of the things they row over. Ethan, as a supposed strong person seems to be a bit of a wimp quite often, I know his parents were unemotional, but I'd have thought he'd stand up to them more – marry maybe to spite them not just to roll over and comply with a ludicrous money contract. He's almost 25 not a teenager... Ash seems to be grateful one moment and picking on him over nothing the next – she just seemed to have gone from a (presumably) confident and successful single parent to a hot mess of emotions. Somehow their actions didn't fit their profiles.
As a Serviceman they live in married quarters on the base. Ash makes some friends but always feels guilty when everyone says how much in love they are – she's teetering on that edge, but Ethan is still staunchly against the concept. She's trying to see her position as a sort of employment – wife, bedmate and employee. Money is not a problem any more, Corbin loves having Ethan around and is happy, and it seems to be working though they've a few small hiccups – then there's something huge from Ash' past that hits them, and causes huge problems both for the danger it poses, and from the way Ethan deals with it. There's danger to all of them, though it's different for each and they don't know the extent. This part I had difficulty with, and its hard to say why without giving anything away but... it seems to me the person who had little money to begin with now seems to have unlimited money and contacts – even to the extent of considering hiring a private plane...and it just needs more explanation for me and spoils the effect. The drama plays out quite well, though I feel more build up and more explanation would have been good (for me anyway).
Its a stand-alone novel, but overall it just felt a bit too unreal for me for the reasons I’ve given. Its not one I’d re read. Priced at £1.91 for 284 pages /420kb its reasonable for the genre.
Stars: sorry – not for me, just two.
February 22, 2014
I have to be totally honest. I really liked this story.
Usually when I jump into a book to read, especially books labeled romance, I need to have some form of really solid plot to drive the romance/sexual content forward. I need a reason for the chemistry and usually when you mix the element as well as the author did in this book it is a big win for me.
The story was solid. I felt like the author really thought out what she was doing here. I loved how Ethan gave his strange parents the finger and went ahead with helping out Ashlynn. I totally understood how Ashlynn was upset though. You had Ethan in a perpetual state of trying to fix stuff with sex, and she was like come on! I got it. After all she had gone through with her ex, she just wanted someone to really love her. Ethan sore that he couldn't love based on what he saw with his parents.
Yeah, well you don't do what he did for Ashlynn if you don't love them. You could see the need he had for her, and the fact that he couldn't let her go. I loved how they weaved in the whole storyline with the ex, I felt like this should be made into a lifetime movie, but I also feel that lifetime would totally ruin this book. It felt like a legit contemporary romance with the right levels of romance, angst, sex, and suspense to keep you pulled in and turning the pages.
Honestly, I felt connected to everyone in the book. I felt even the supporting cast was engaging into the story. I wish I got more, but as it stands, as far as contemporary romances go, this was a very satisfying read for me.
*I received a copy of this book from Soaring Phoenix Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Usually when I jump into a book to read, especially books labeled romance, I need to have some form of really solid plot to drive the romance/sexual content forward. I need a reason for the chemistry and usually when you mix the element as well as the author did in this book it is a big win for me.
The story was solid. I felt like the author really thought out what she was doing here. I loved how Ethan gave his strange parents the finger and went ahead with helping out Ashlynn. I totally understood how Ashlynn was upset though. You had Ethan in a perpetual state of trying to fix stuff with sex, and she was like come on! I got it. After all she had gone through with her ex, she just wanted someone to really love her. Ethan sore that he couldn't love based on what he saw with his parents.
Yeah, well you don't do what he did for Ashlynn if you don't love them. You could see the need he had for her, and the fact that he couldn't let her go. I loved how they weaved in the whole storyline with the ex, I felt like this should be made into a lifetime movie, but I also feel that lifetime would totally ruin this book. It felt like a legit contemporary romance with the right levels of romance, angst, sex, and suspense to keep you pulled in and turning the pages.
Honestly, I felt connected to everyone in the book. I felt even the supporting cast was engaging into the story. I wish I got more, but as it stands, as far as contemporary romances go, this was a very satisfying read for me.
*I received a copy of this book from Soaring Phoenix Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
October 2, 2013
This review was posted at Tsuki’s Book Blog on September 19, 2013.
I so rarely have my reading schedule knocked off kilter by a book. I was invested in "Omens" by Kelley Armstrong and about to start "Deception Cove" by Jayne Castle but then I downloaded this one from NetGalley. No it was wasn't the best book ever nor did it get five stars but it was exactly what I needed.
Ashlynn and Ethan are best friends and potentially more. When Ethan has to get married to appease a highly unethical/illegal contract from his parents he decides to marry Ashlynn. Ashlynn who is running from an abusive ex (who's in prison) needs to protect herself and her son. Of course Ashlynn has an issue with being married as a business arrangement versus being in love. As they work on their relationship Ashlynn's ex comes after her and their son.
I'm a huge fan of friends to lovers stories but this one was really, really strange. They were clearly in love but Ethan fought it forever. It was kind of ridiculous. The thing about books like this is they have this fundamentally good storyline but somewhere along the line it falls short. It ran long and I wanted to punch Ashlynn in the face (I'll get to that in a minute). It was one of those books I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to see how the crazy ex story would end (getting there in a minute).
Okay so Ashlynn. When she came into the story I figured, "okay, survival girl" since she survived an abusive relationship. I was mostly right. She was fine with her son and Ethan and then she agreed to marriage. Oh yeah they slept together before the wedding. Then...THEN she got pissy over the fact they got married when they weren't in love. She didn't HAVE to marry the guy but she did and now it is all Ethan's fault?! Seriously I wanted to hit her.
So the crazy ex? Weird, weird storyline. Her ex was certifiable and apparently high up in crime. By the end I wasn't sure what he was involved in exactly but apparently he had crazy high connections even though he was an idiot. I really, really hate it when suspense is thrown into a story as a plot point rather than a natural occurrance. It was totally unnecessary to even have a crazy stalker ex but whatever.
It was a neat story for a free read but I wouldn't go crazy with the price point. I would go up to about 2.99 and then call it a day. I may pick up another book by Ms. Butler in the future but we'll see.
3 Stars
Published by Soaring Phoenix Press
August 20, 2013
250 Pages
Provided by--NetGalley
I so rarely have my reading schedule knocked off kilter by a book. I was invested in "Omens" by Kelley Armstrong and about to start "Deception Cove" by Jayne Castle but then I downloaded this one from NetGalley. No it was wasn't the best book ever nor did it get five stars but it was exactly what I needed.
Ashlynn and Ethan are best friends and potentially more. When Ethan has to get married to appease a highly unethical/illegal contract from his parents he decides to marry Ashlynn. Ashlynn who is running from an abusive ex (who's in prison) needs to protect herself and her son. Of course Ashlynn has an issue with being married as a business arrangement versus being in love. As they work on their relationship Ashlynn's ex comes after her and their son.
I'm a huge fan of friends to lovers stories but this one was really, really strange. They were clearly in love but Ethan fought it forever. It was kind of ridiculous. The thing about books like this is they have this fundamentally good storyline but somewhere along the line it falls short. It ran long and I wanted to punch Ashlynn in the face (I'll get to that in a minute). It was one of those books I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to see how the crazy ex story would end (getting there in a minute).
Okay so Ashlynn. When she came into the story I figured, "okay, survival girl" since she survived an abusive relationship. I was mostly right. She was fine with her son and Ethan and then she agreed to marriage. Oh yeah they slept together before the wedding. Then...THEN she got pissy over the fact they got married when they weren't in love. She didn't HAVE to marry the guy but she did and now it is all Ethan's fault?! Seriously I wanted to hit her.
So the crazy ex? Weird, weird storyline. Her ex was certifiable and apparently high up in crime. By the end I wasn't sure what he was involved in exactly but apparently he had crazy high connections even though he was an idiot. I really, really hate it when suspense is thrown into a story as a plot point rather than a natural occurrance. It was totally unnecessary to even have a crazy stalker ex but whatever.
It was a neat story for a free read but I wouldn't go crazy with the price point. I would go up to about 2.99 and then call it a day. I may pick up another book by Ms. Butler in the future but we'll see.
3 Stars
Published by Soaring Phoenix Press
August 20, 2013
250 Pages
Provided by--NetGalley
September 14, 2013
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ethan and Ashlynn have been best friends since they were 12. Ashlynn has loved him since they were 16 but Ethan doesn't know how to love anyone. He was raised by to rich and cold parents who consider life a business transaction without feelings. He does know she is the most important person in his life. Ashlynn got involved with a guy who became abusive and one night nearly killed her. She turned to Ethan and with his help she put her ex behind bars but there was just one little complication - she was pregnant.
Five years later Ash is laid off and cannot find a job. She is desperate and decides to ask Ethan for a loan. Ethan has been told by his parents he has 6 months to get married or lose his trust fund. While having lunch Ethan decides they can help each other. Ash can marry him satisfying his parents requirements and he can give her financial security. The perfect business transaction.
After they are married Ash is feeling guilty for lying to family and she knows she loves Ethan and want love in return. Ethan doesn't want to lose her and he has all these feelings he doesn't understand so they decide to date. Neither one truly commits to figuring out what is going on between them until the worst happens and Ash's ex escapes from jail. Ethan comes to the conclusion he loves her and cannot let her go but when he shows up at home to find the ex there trying to kidnap Ash will they get their HEA??
For the most part I liked this book. I didn't like Ethan's parents and their blackmail. They tell him to pick someone and then still aren't happy about his choice. This part was left hanging with no real resolution between Ethan and his parents other than he fulfilled his requirements. Some parts of the book didn't feel realistic so for that reason I give it 4 stars.
Ethan and Ashlynn have been best friends since they were 12. Ashlynn has loved him since they were 16 but Ethan doesn't know how to love anyone. He was raised by to rich and cold parents who consider life a business transaction without feelings. He does know she is the most important person in his life. Ashlynn got involved with a guy who became abusive and one night nearly killed her. She turned to Ethan and with his help she put her ex behind bars but there was just one little complication - she was pregnant.
Five years later Ash is laid off and cannot find a job. She is desperate and decides to ask Ethan for a loan. Ethan has been told by his parents he has 6 months to get married or lose his trust fund. While having lunch Ethan decides they can help each other. Ash can marry him satisfying his parents requirements and he can give her financial security. The perfect business transaction.
After they are married Ash is feeling guilty for lying to family and she knows she loves Ethan and want love in return. Ethan doesn't want to lose her and he has all these feelings he doesn't understand so they decide to date. Neither one truly commits to figuring out what is going on between them until the worst happens and Ash's ex escapes from jail. Ethan comes to the conclusion he loves her and cannot let her go but when he shows up at home to find the ex there trying to kidnap Ash will they get their HEA??
For the most part I liked this book. I didn't like Ethan's parents and their blackmail. They tell him to pick someone and then still aren't happy about his choice. This part was left hanging with no real resolution between Ethan and his parents other than he fulfilled his requirements. Some parts of the book didn't feel realistic so for that reason I give it 4 stars.
October 7, 2013
This book had so much potential, but it just fell a little short for me.
These two people have been friends since they were 12 years old, Ethan is from a very rich powerful business family who had him sign a contract on his 18th birthday so he could get his trust fund, the contract stated he had to be married by 25 to keep his flow of money.
Ashlynn is from a regular loving family, who got with the wrong guy at 17 and had a son. The guy ended up in prison now shes a single mom and broke, in comes the proposal from Ethan to help with his contract situation and her money troubles, perfect solution right? theyre best friends it should be easy.
There was a lot of repetitive bickering between the couple, and it felt like they could have been strangers in some parts instead of long time best friends.
When they were friendly with each other the sex seemed great!
They didnt seem to do much together or with Ashlynn’s child Corwin (hated his name by the way)
This whole book Ethan spent in denial he couldnt love, didnt know how to love blah blah.
Ethan is in the navy but know where did we get a good description of his hotness, all we got was many descriptions of his short navy style blonde hair and his wide shoulders, we need a image of how hot the guy is to make you fall for the hero, there was nothing to pull you in.
I really wanted to like this book it could have been so good but it lacked emotion and the angst that would have made it great, the plot could have been so much more.
These two people have been friends since they were 12 years old, Ethan is from a very rich powerful business family who had him sign a contract on his 18th birthday so he could get his trust fund, the contract stated he had to be married by 25 to keep his flow of money.
Ashlynn is from a regular loving family, who got with the wrong guy at 17 and had a son. The guy ended up in prison now shes a single mom and broke, in comes the proposal from Ethan to help with his contract situation and her money troubles, perfect solution right? theyre best friends it should be easy.
There was a lot of repetitive bickering between the couple, and it felt like they could have been strangers in some parts instead of long time best friends.
When they were friendly with each other the sex seemed great!
They didnt seem to do much together or with Ashlynn’s child Corwin (hated his name by the way)
This whole book Ethan spent in denial he couldnt love, didnt know how to love blah blah.
Ethan is in the navy but know where did we get a good description of his hotness, all we got was many descriptions of his short navy style blonde hair and his wide shoulders, we need a image of how hot the guy is to make you fall for the hero, there was nothing to pull you in.
I really wanted to like this book it could have been so good but it lacked emotion and the angst that would have made it great, the plot could have been so much more.
October 1, 2013
This book sounded really good during the first couple of chapters. It had great potential & then it fell flat. I'm sorry.
These two are best friends. They've been best friends since they were 12. They end up getting married because he has a contract with his parents to be married by a certain time. She is desperate for money so she can raise her son whose father is in prison for almost killing HER...
He's rich & she's poor. He's reenlisting into the Navy. He's a low man on the totem pole. Not an officer or anything, but a petty officer? I was thinking he could be a bad ass black ops SEAL or something? They do move to Coronado where the SEALS train. Did I miss something? That didn't even need to be in the book.
Well, immediately after they are married, even though they have been friends with benefits for 2 years, she's upset because he doesn't love her... Then I'm thinking, holy crap! One of those!
His parents don't like her & her mom wants her closer than California because they're a close family.
Then... Her ex-boyfriend, the one that almost beat her to death escapes from prison. Question... How is he rich & she never was? Where were her resources for child support etc?? Conflict.
During all this, she is just so stuck on him not loving her & he's stuck on not knowing what love really is... But they are best friends?
Maybe it was me, but I can't take the stories where people who are in love already, spend forever trying to figure it out.
These two are best friends. They've been best friends since they were 12. They end up getting married because he has a contract with his parents to be married by a certain time. She is desperate for money so she can raise her son whose father is in prison for almost killing HER...
He's rich & she's poor. He's reenlisting into the Navy. He's a low man on the totem pole. Not an officer or anything, but a petty officer? I was thinking he could be a bad ass black ops SEAL or something? They do move to Coronado where the SEALS train. Did I miss something? That didn't even need to be in the book.
Well, immediately after they are married, even though they have been friends with benefits for 2 years, she's upset because he doesn't love her... Then I'm thinking, holy crap! One of those!
His parents don't like her & her mom wants her closer than California because they're a close family.
Then... Her ex-boyfriend, the one that almost beat her to death escapes from prison. Question... How is he rich & she never was? Where were her resources for child support etc?? Conflict.
During all this, she is just so stuck on him not loving her & he's stuck on not knowing what love really is... But they are best friends?
Maybe it was me, but I can't take the stories where people who are in love already, spend forever trying to figure it out.
November 9, 2013
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in place of an honest review.
Ashlynn Connolly has been through a lot in her young life. She was being beaten by her boyfriend and when he found out she was pregnant he almost beat her to death. The only constant person in her life that she always turns to is Ethan Kearney. They have been friends since they were twelve years old.
Ethan is really mad when Ashlynn comes to his house and he finds out what she has been living through. He is always there for her even when he enlists in the Navy. They have also been having a sexual relationship for two years. Ethan finds out that Ashlynn needs money and he needs to marry someone or his trust will be gone. So they enter into a partnership. Neither knew that it would change everything.
This was a great read. I enjoyed watching these two fall in love and having Ethan realize that the one person he always needed was the one in front of him. They both had things that they needed to get over. Ethan with his parents and Ashlynn with her last relationship. This book had a great plot and the characters were really realistic.
The author did a wonderful job keeping my attention and I never felt that it was going too fast or that I was lost. I could see myself reading this book again.
Ashlynn Connolly has been through a lot in her young life. She was being beaten by her boyfriend and when he found out she was pregnant he almost beat her to death. The only constant person in her life that she always turns to is Ethan Kearney. They have been friends since they were twelve years old.
Ethan is really mad when Ashlynn comes to his house and he finds out what she has been living through. He is always there for her even when he enlists in the Navy. They have also been having a sexual relationship for two years. Ethan finds out that Ashlynn needs money and he needs to marry someone or his trust will be gone. So they enter into a partnership. Neither knew that it would change everything.
This was a great read. I enjoyed watching these two fall in love and having Ethan realize that the one person he always needed was the one in front of him. They both had things that they needed to get over. Ethan with his parents and Ashlynn with her last relationship. This book had a great plot and the characters were really realistic.
The author did a wonderful job keeping my attention and I never felt that it was going too fast or that I was lost. I could see myself reading this book again.
September 8, 2014
Ashlynn and Ethan have grown up together, both different sides of the financial track but they bonded, friends, then friends with benefits.
It was very steamy between the sheets, but once they got out of them they were forever fighting which made it kinda sad really, plus annoying as it was just that little too much.
The backgrounds from both of them would have been better for the reader if the author elaborated just a little more so we could get a overall picture.
With a few tweaks here and there this could have been a very good story.
There was just 'something' lacking, maybe it was the too much arguing knowing they cared about each other really.
Ashlynn had already come from an abusive relationship so I would have expected her to handle some things a little more thoughtfully.
On the whole, enjoyable read, but just lacked that 'spark' for me personally as a read.
I was given a complimentary copy from the publisher Soaring Phoenix Press via Net Galley
It was very steamy between the sheets, but once they got out of them they were forever fighting which made it kinda sad really, plus annoying as it was just that little too much.
The backgrounds from both of them would have been better for the reader if the author elaborated just a little more so we could get a overall picture.
With a few tweaks here and there this could have been a very good story.
There was just 'something' lacking, maybe it was the too much arguing knowing they cared about each other really.
Ashlynn had already come from an abusive relationship so I would have expected her to handle some things a little more thoughtfully.
On the whole, enjoyable read, but just lacked that 'spark' for me personally as a read.
I was given a complimentary copy from the publisher Soaring Phoenix Press via Net Galley
September 11, 2013
I was really excited to start reading this book, and was thrilled to receive it on Netgalley.
However, it was doomed from the start. At the start of the book the two had been sleeping together for two years and best friends. Okay, so at the beginning, the love story is already over. The are already in love, they are just stupid. I like reading romances for the build up and the getting to know you bits, all the early romance. The best part was already over before the book began!!!!
I really just don't have the time are give a shit to read a book about two people in denial. Yawn.
If they had started without a sexual relationship, this would have been much better. A stronger heroine would also have been preferred.
This was a really interesting premise with a fair amount of promise that just was not executed well. I also really appreciated that the military matters in the book were accurate.
However, it was doomed from the start. At the start of the book the two had been sleeping together for two years and best friends. Okay, so at the beginning, the love story is already over. The are already in love, they are just stupid. I like reading romances for the build up and the getting to know you bits, all the early romance. The best part was already over before the book began!!!!
I really just don't have the time are give a shit to read a book about two people in denial. Yawn.
If they had started without a sexual relationship, this would have been much better. A stronger heroine would also have been preferred.
This was a really interesting premise with a fair amount of promise that just was not executed well. I also really appreciated that the military matters in the book were accurate.
September 22, 2013
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Ashlynn and Ethan have been best friends since they were kids. He needs a wife to appease his parents and their bizarro contract. She needs money to support her and her son, Corwin. (Her nasty ex that used to beat her up is in jail so the term deadbeat dad really applies here) His solution- a business arranged marriage where only the two of them now it's not all about love. They have great sex and an excellent friendship- what could go wrong?
Yeah...Ash wants more and regrets not marrying for love, Ethan doesn't believe in love. When the evil ex escapes prison and comes after Ash and Corwin can Ethan finally admit his feelings or will Ash really leave for good.
This was a little hard to get into and at times I wanted to scream at the characters, but I loved the ending and think the author could make a series out of these- using the military base as the connecting point.
Ashlynn and Ethan have been best friends since they were kids. He needs a wife to appease his parents and their bizarro contract. She needs money to support her and her son, Corwin. (Her nasty ex that used to beat her up is in jail so the term deadbeat dad really applies here) His solution- a business arranged marriage where only the two of them now it's not all about love. They have great sex and an excellent friendship- what could go wrong?
Yeah...Ash wants more and regrets not marrying for love, Ethan doesn't believe in love. When the evil ex escapes prison and comes after Ash and Corwin can Ethan finally admit his feelings or will Ash really leave for good.
This was a little hard to get into and at times I wanted to scream at the characters, but I loved the ending and think the author could make a series out of these- using the military base as the connecting point.
September 24, 2013
This was a great story of a pretty much lifelong friendship that slowly grew into something so much more.
Ethan is a wealthy soldier. His family has money and he is a trust fund baby. Complete with a marriage and children clause. He has been friends with Ashlynn since they were kids. They became best friends, then friends with benefits and when he had to marry, she was the logical choice. He had to marry and she needed stability for her and her son.
There was also suspense which dealt with her abusive ex-boyfriend and he kind of lifestyle he led. You were kind of on the edge of your seat waiting for him to show and cause chaos. He was a very bad guy. I was irritated with some of Ash's choice regarding her safety but watching the two of them fall for each other and their acceptance of that was wonderful to read. I will definitely read more of this author.
Ethan is a wealthy soldier. His family has money and he is a trust fund baby. Complete with a marriage and children clause. He has been friends with Ashlynn since they were kids. They became best friends, then friends with benefits and when he had to marry, she was the logical choice. He had to marry and she needed stability for her and her son.
There was also suspense which dealt with her abusive ex-boyfriend and he kind of lifestyle he led. You were kind of on the edge of your seat waiting for him to show and cause chaos. He was a very bad guy. I was irritated with some of Ash's choice regarding her safety but watching the two of them fall for each other and their acceptance of that was wonderful to read. I will definitely read more of this author.
January 30, 2015
I really loved this book! Friends to lovers to marriage
This is a great story. There's a lot of character development. You meet the best friends when when the girl, Ashlynn, is in the hospital, pregnant, and having been beaten up by her boyfriend. What a beginning! The guy friend, Ethan, is there because Ashlynn ran to him for help. And so the story begins. The next chapter is six years later. Ashlynn's baby survived, her boyfriend went to jail and she and Ethan are now friends with benefits. Ashland has lost her job. Ethan has to get married to keep his inheritance. Can you guess what happens next? It sounds easy but it is a rough road for both of them with hurt feelings, misunderstood feelings, are there feelings, escaped criminals, etc. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. Another great book by one of my favorite authors! Well worth reading!
This is a great story. There's a lot of character development. You meet the best friends when when the girl, Ashlynn, is in the hospital, pregnant, and having been beaten up by her boyfriend. What a beginning! The guy friend, Ethan, is there because Ashlynn ran to him for help. And so the story begins. The next chapter is six years later. Ashlynn's baby survived, her boyfriend went to jail and she and Ethan are now friends with benefits. Ashland has lost her job. Ethan has to get married to keep his inheritance. Can you guess what happens next? It sounds easy but it is a rough road for both of them with hurt feelings, misunderstood feelings, are there feelings, escaped criminals, etc. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. Another great book by one of my favorite authors! Well worth reading!
November 4, 2013
Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book started off really strong, and then I found myself skimming the pages just to end this book. Again- another book with a better cover than the story.
This couple had been together for years as a friends with benefits kind of deal. I would have liked to have had it from the beginning and not from their current point in life. Both of them went into the marriage as an arrangement for money, on both parts.
Ashlynn was very whiny and got on my nerves to much.
Ethan did not seem to be a standup guy and wanted nothing to do with the kid.
There were spelling errors, which is fine if they fix before book was published.
This book started off really strong, and then I found myself skimming the pages just to end this book. Again- another book with a better cover than the story.
This couple had been together for years as a friends with benefits kind of deal. I would have liked to have had it from the beginning and not from their current point in life. Both of them went into the marriage as an arrangement for money, on both parts.
Ashlynn was very whiny and got on my nerves to much.
Ethan did not seem to be a standup guy and wanted nothing to do with the kid.
There were spelling errors, which is fine if they fix before book was published.
September 25, 2013
Can best friends marry one another if only one is in love? That is the premise of this novel by Suzan Butler. While I was intrigued by the storyline, I wasn't as drawn to the characters. Ash needs Ethan's help financially and Ethan needs Ash to be the spouse required for his inheritance. However, Ethan doesn't believe love exists and Ash loves Ethan. I found that at times Ash accepted that Ethan was Ethan but then at other times she would say she wanted a divorce simply because she couldn't handle him not loving her. But Ethan didn't go into the marriage for love and frankly either did Ash. So the fighting about love just was annoying. I would be willing to try another one from this author but this just needed a little more from the characters.
February 23, 2014
When will GoodReads get the blasted 1/2 star????? Sometimes you just need it. Here for example: This was definitely a 3.5
I love the friends to lovers story! I love that he's their protector. And lord knows a splash of suspense is fun!
But: The merry-go-round of "do you love me?" "I can't love" "Don't go, I love you" "Blah blah blah drama!" got tiring. Still worth the read though.
ARC provided by NetGalley
I love the friends to lovers story! I love that he's their protector. And lord knows a splash of suspense is fun!
But: The merry-go-round of "do you love me?" "I can't love" "Don't go, I love you" "Blah blah blah drama!" got tiring. Still worth the read though.
ARC provided by NetGalley
June 2, 2015
I won No Strings Attached through first reads in exchange for an honest review. I'm definitely one of those readers that judge a book from it's cover. This one looked promising, but it fell short. Ashlynn wasn't a very likable character and would never give Ethan a chance. There were a lot of grammar and spelling errors in the book so it made it difficult to understand sometimes. The story would have been better if there were less bickering and it didn't wait until the last three chapters to get to the meat of the story.
September 11, 2013
I so wanted to like this one. For some reason I just couldn't connect with the lead couple emotionally. I needed more detail on their back stories and what motivated their actions. Their actions didn't seem to match up to their ages and life experiences, based on what I had read. The book's premise was good, the story plotted well, and the sex scenes were really well written and plentiful. It wasn't badly written, just not my favorite.
I would read more from the author.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
I would read more from the author.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2015
I'm not sure about this. I like the basis of the story. The idea of it. But I don't feel it was well written. Ethan seemed stand offish with Corwin. Ashlynn was whiney, negative and I just hated her. Ethan took a big step in helping her. Yes, it helped himself, but it helped her more. What does she do? Whine and throw fits. Ugh, I just think if her character had been more mature, the story would have been amazing. Plus, maybe a little more of a bond between the guys. I mean, if you're going to include a child, single mother, step dad situation, play it out.
September 18, 2013
So I've finished No Strings Attached and I'm still not sure if I liked it. Love the concept but felt like the execution kind of fell flat. It was sorta redundant. I didn't really feel any real connection to the characters. At no point was I like "I totally want to be her friend" or even "God I wish Ethan were real." Honestly the only truly interesting parts were the one directly connected to Buddy.
December 5, 2013
I wasn't convinced an alpha like Ethan would have allowed his family to control him like his parents did. Ashlynn obsession with true love wasn't convincing either. They put to much into their friendship/relationship to allow such character flaws. I needed more passion or fight for each other. This kept the story from being a great read.
Thank you Soaring Phoenix Press and NetGalley for an ARC.
Thank you Soaring Phoenix Press and NetGalley for an ARC.
September 10, 2013
Hmmmm. I liked the book, the concept was good, if a bit out there. The sex scenes were hot! I just found myself scanning parts instead of reading. Some sections I felt could have been more in depth and others, not so much. Ashlynn was great. Ethan, I never fully understood why he was the way he was. I was left with more questions than answers.
May 27, 2015
Ashlynn and Ethan have a crazy idea to play house without love for Ethan to continue with his trust fund. Can you have a marriage without love? Will Ethan ever realize he does know how to love Ashlynn?
Great book, full of everyday normal people issues, not some billionaire CEO meets virginal college student. I enjoyed this story of love lost and found.
Great book, full of everyday normal people issues, not some billionaire CEO meets virginal college student. I enjoyed this story of love lost and found.
August 23, 2013
DNF at 30%...I sooo wanted to love this book but it was doomed from the start...a pathetic whiny herione and a boring hero...no bonding time with the kid too...
September 19, 2013
Received an ARC from NetGalley.
October 8, 2013
This was a DNF for me. I didn't like Ashlynn at all. I got tired of her hot and cold attitude toward Ethan. I didn't care enough to get into the mystery of the book.
November 29, 2013
Book Recieved from Author and reviewed for satinsheetsromance.blogspot.com
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