Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
Archive (Buddy Reads)
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June Buddy Read - Irrestible You (Michaele, UnusualChild{beppy})
I finished this morning.Dante (view spoiler)
I liked the way Cade's coming out was handled in the story. The way it was done, (view spoiler)
I read the preview for Violet's book, and it looks awesome.
I'm leaving work soon and will have time to read then...
I listened to
at work today and loved it! Thanks again for the recommendations!
Just finished! This was easily my favorite of the series so far. I like that Dante kissed him in front of everyone, but I agree that him then saying they shouldn't come out as a couple was a little ridiculous- how will they possibly keep that a secret?
I want the goalie to get a book, he wasn't in the book much, but he made me laugh.
Do you want to read Violet's book together sometime in July?
It was really good. Sad too, but really good.
I actually broke down and got my July reload early, so I have Violet's book, and can start whenever you want.
:) Awesome. Start tomorrow? Or Sunday?
Started. Finished chapter 2 - I counted the prologue, but if you went further, I'll catch up :)I don't have too much to say - so far, so good. I am glad we got to see their first meeting.
I only went to chapter 2. I'm glad that Bren's alcoholism isn't being made light of. That he has to put in the work at staying sober, and that it still, after 11 months, is a fight every day to not drink. I like that it is acknowledged that some days are way easier than others, but that the want and the need are still there.
I also like that, and how he talked about everything offering him a reason to drink- drink to celebrate or drink to drown your sorrows, etc.
Just finished chapter 5. It's still good, but for some reason it isn't really holding my attention, but that could be on me not the book.
I liked Violet's and Bren's interactions, but it kind of feels as though I'm waiting for the story to start. My mind was wandering all over the place, or thinking "get on with it!" while I was reading. I wonder what's up with Caitriona?
I think she's struggling with the fact that both her parents have flaked out on her. She probably doesn't trust either of them. I wonder if she really is vegan or is just trying to be a pain - that'll backfire.
Yes, but you would think that Bren would understand that. Unless that's how Violet is going to connect with her? Because she's the only one who understands?Also, I don't understand how Violet's mother could be a man-hater, when it was her horrible plan that backfired. Or maybe it didn't backfire; maybe she got what she wanted.
I also don't get why Violet feels responsible for her mother's actions.Finished chapter 8.
(view spoiler)
I like their connection. They seem to respect one another and the things that they are going through.I think that I want him to make it the 12 months, too, just because it means something to him.
I liked their text messages, too. I was quoting "The Princess Bride" for hours after that. And now I want to watch it again.It doesn't seem like any of the sisters had good mothers. Well, maybe Isobel did, since she never really talked about her. But Violet and Harper really got the short end of the (hockey) stick with regards to how their father treated them, and with their mothers. To find out when you are a teenager, or close to it that your mother didn't love you or want you? That could really mess someone up.
I did like that Cliff made sure that Violet was taken care of education-wise, and by-passed her mother. Other than that, though, he was pretty much a washout.
Does it seem to you that, with the exception of the women in the series, including Addison, that the women aren't painted in a fantastic light? I guess that Remy's family was good, but that seems to be it. Even Cade's mother wasn't fantastic.
I hadn't noticed that- but I think you're right. I think that's fairly common in romance to have the ex-wife or ex-girlfriend be crazy or terrible. It gives the man a reason to be hesitant to enter a new romance, but it stereotypes women in a way I think is unfair. Though, women tend to have crazy or stalker-like exes, so it's not completely one-sided. All we really know about Isobel's mom is that she's a lesbian.
I'm (kind of) used to the crazy/mean ex, but the mothers aren't anything to write home about, either. And Dante's sisters, even though they see him and let him around their kids, they don't stand up to their parents.Vadim's mother was all right, and had to make a hard choice, but she still made no effort to contact him once he came of age, and would have been able to make his own decisions.
There just doesn't seem to be a lot of...balanced? (not sure if that's the word that I mean) in the books around any of the characters.
Just finished chapter 14. I really hadn't expected that!
UnusualChild{beppy} wrote: "I'm (kind of) used to the crazy/mean ex, but the mothers aren't anything to write home about, either. And Dante's sisters, even though they see him and let him around their kids, they don't stand u..."Other than Remy none of them have great families, though Cade's dad came through in the end. There are definitely more awful women than men in the books, but i guess their dad and Harper's ex were worth a lot of bad women if they were on a scale or something. Did that make sense?
I loved Bren's reaction, and how he didn't/wouldn't let her go through anything alone. So sweet. But poor Violet. Even if it turns out to be a false alarm, the fear and pain is horrible.
Yes, the scale thing makes sense. I just wish that authors would put a little bit of reality (I know, I know) in books: not everyone except for the people in your story is horrible. I might not like everyone I come in contact with, but they aren't all horrible people. In fact, most of them aren't even semi-horrible.
Agreed, it's especially bad with exes.
Frankie is a sweetie. And something is going on with Caitriona. Maybe it's just being on the cusp of being a teenager, but I feel as though there is something more there.No, it hadn't been a year. 11 months for sure, but maybe 11 months and two weeks? They seem to be skipping time a little, glossing over the playoff aspect of the story.
I think it's a little weird that they are glossing over the hockey so much. I get that the relationship is the focus, but it feels like the team has been pushed too far in the background - at least for me.
I just read 18 (I plan on reading 19 and 20 later today) and the lack of hockey info was even more noticeable. (view spoiler)
I know! I mean, they're in the playoffs! The semi-finals, even. But it's kind of like "oh, yeah, we've advanced another round. Now, let me forget about something that I've been working for my entire life, that very few people, even in hockey, ever get to experience, and just think about this attraction that I have to you and how I can't act on it..." I get that Violet wouldn't be as invested, seeing as she was sort of forced in to paying attention to hockey, but Bren should be all about it.I like that Bren is learning more about Violet and how she takes everything on herself, but doesn't rely on anyone else. I wonder how he's going to work around that?
I think even Violet would care more at this point, she's friends with members of the team and her sisters care so much - if someone I cared about reached a career high like that- I'd be all over it!
I loved the end of chapter 20 - totally made me smile.
I thought that the whole chapter was adorable, including Dante and Violet's interactions. But Bren being a dad who wasn't walking on egg shells around his girls, and them getting to enjoy some family time where he isn't worried about whatever happened in the past is really nice. It (mostly) distracted me from the fact that I still have no idea how they are doing in the playoffs. Presumably they won at least one game, if they are going back to LA for game 5, but who knows.
Agreed, hockey really hasn't played much of a role in any of the books, but this one is the worst at that part. I guess since they made it to the playoffs it isn't as big a deal to the women in the books?
I really liked the get together after Violet's surgery. And the fact that they are honest with each other and know each other's stories. I like Violet and Cade together, as friends. It seems like a true friendship.I'm worried about the ex, too. Especially since them out as a "family" hit the Internet. From what we've learned of her, she seems to be the type of person to like attention, so that would catch hers.
I like her relationship with Cade- and with Dante. I also like that Vadim and Remy seem supportive of her too :)The ex is definitely not going to like that. I don't know what he's thinking going out to dinner with her alone in public when he knows there is going to be a custody fight and his ex has the upper hand. He seemed more worried about that than his 12months celibate when he met with his sponsor so what changed?
Finished 25as soon as he thought about how great things were going I knew Kendra would show up - I didn't think she'd show at the bbq though!
I love Violet's response to Kendra in 25. I'm glad she didn't let Kendra manipulate her.
I'm not sure why she's being called a nanny. Unless he's paying her? I vaguely remember something about payment, but I could be completely wrong. I'm disappointed with both Bren and Violet, actually. Violet said she was going to fight, and it seems as though she is running away without fighting. And Bren...well, he just completely shut down.
Finished chapter 29. It was hard to stop there! Looks like we'll finish tomorrow.
Okay, I have no idea what the guys mean by telling everyone. Is Bren going to hold a press conference and tell everyone what he did? I'm not getting the light bulb moment.I'm glad that Violet has figured out what she wants to do, and has confidence in herself. And the fact that Harper and Isobel aren't letting her get away with cutting them out of her life is awesome. I get the feeling that they will hunt her down and drag her back to be family with them if they have to.
I think he was trying to call her bluff - she can't have it both ways- a hockey player who is making a lot of money vs what would happen to his career is she outed him - so he's taking the power away from her by saying if she didn't agree to his terms he'd tank his own career so she wouldn't have his money anymore.
Finished. Overall I liked it, probably my second favorite in the series. I'll hold other comment for now :)
Hmm. I liked it, but I'm not sure how much. Definitely not as much as Cade and Dante's book. I liked that they got to know one another, even though it was over a fairly short period of time. The epilogue was cute.I feel as though Violet was a much stronger character in the other books, and that she kind of faded or something in her own book. That holds true for Harper and Isobel, too, though. They were much more vivid in this book than in theirs.
I agree, Cade and Dante's book was definitely my favorite. and wonder why the women didn't shine as much in their own books? Maybe because we get to see their inner monologue, which shows more of their weaknesses?
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I was trying to figure out if learning how it went with Cade's father was had more impact than if we had experienced it through Cade. Because we got to feel Dante's guilt and Violet's anger because it was the one thing he promised Cade he would help him through, and he wasn't there.
I liked that it wasn't Remy that Cade first came out to, because that would have been the more expected thing, since Remy brought the team together. I also liked Bren's and the goalie's reactions.
Yes, it is called the minors, as far as I know. I could be confusing it with baseball. Or it could just be "farm teams".
Cade is so much more open to emotions, and to being willing to admit to feelings than Dante is, which I think is awesome.