My heart didn't tug for this one
592914
This is the second book I've read from this author.  She seems to like her men to be aloof, a bit unkind, or unhappy.  I didn't feel a connection with Graham and Lucy.  For a man who shows very little emotion, I didn't understand how love blossomed between the two.  The end was thrown together to quickly for me.  It was not a bad book, but it didn't get to me the way I would have liked.
2200991
I liked it, but I didn't love it. I didn't feel the connection. The ending does have a cliffhanger so I'll be picking up the next one to see how it ends.
406328
This is one of those books that is probably lovely, but since it isn't my tastes, I just couldn't connect or really engage with it. Logan Pyle, a young (30ish?) father is married to Julie, a work-minded lawyer, living in a house he inherited from his father, raising his nearly four-year old while Julie works on the case of a lifetime. When Logan catches Julie with another man (not a spoiler; the jacket blurb shares this), he takes his son and flees to his father's widow, a woman only a few years older than him, and ostensibly learns about being a 'brand new human being' and stuff.

I had a few problems with this book, starting with the pacing. Based on the jacket blurb, I expected the moment of infidelity to occur early on but instead, I kept reading and reading and thinking, so when is it going to happen?. Since it's the motivating factor for Logan's leaving -- and thus the point of this novel -- I presumed we'd get to it quickly. The fact it arrived so late in the story really removed some of the book's oomph for me. I suspect Miller was trying to build a portrait of a marriage so we readers would be more invested in Logan's leaving but I just found the pacing slow.

After that, I found the plot pretty flimsy. Logan marries Julie after two weeks of sex because she's pregnant; when four years later he finds himself with a toddler and a wife who prefers work to him, I shrugged my shoulders. I think I was supposed to be moved by their young romance but instead, I felt sorry for Julie -- saddled with a loser husband who didn't find her groundbreaking legal work as compelling as she did -- and I just wanted to shake Logan. His response -- to flee with his son -- was as poorly thought out as his earlier life choices. Honestly, I just kept thinking that this couple is exactly the reason why we need safe, affordable abortion in this country. Okay, I'm being glib, but really, the whole time I was reading this, I just felt so sad for these two. There's no medical reason they had to rush into having a baby, and they didn't know each other, and their own careers were modified by their marriage...I don't know, it just felt like such a waste.

I would describe this as married chick lit, maybe, kind of formulaic, kind of inspirational, earnest, with some real meat -- definitely good summer fare -- and for the right kind of reader, probably a captivating read.
3894116
I had a hard time getting into this book.  I had to keep picking it up and putting it down.  It just did not grab my attention.  This is the story of Tom and Emme.  Tom is stuck with running his fathers bar when he passed away.  He also took on the responsibility of caring for his alcoholic sister, who seemed to frequently find herself in trouble.  One night, Emme sings in Toms bar.  He is entranced by her.  Emme offers him a chance to tour with her band and because is true passion is music he jumps on this opportunity.  He figures its time his sister starts learning to take care of herself.  I did not feel the story and characters were well development.  I could not feel the chemistry or connection between the two.  In the bedroom, Emme is the dominant one.  However outside the bedroom she is weak.  She lets folks walk all over her.  She should bring some of her dominant personality from the bedroom and apply it to her life.  She needs to learn to stand up for herself, quit letting people walk all over her and blame her for things that happen.  While I don't mind the male being submissive, Tom seemed wimpy and too much of a pushover.  I think if Tom had been just a little bit more of an alpha male I could have gotten into it a little more.  I didn't think there was a complete ending. Dont get me wrong, Emme and Tom have a happily ever after or so you assume.  It would have been nice to have a little more concise ending.
1028189
Thoughts:  This is typically a book I would lovewe have the guy crushing on the girl for years, the girl secretly loves the guy  not to mention hot firefighters! However, there was a bit of a lack of connection for me with this one. I just didn't feel the emotions between the characters, and that is a big part of the book for me. In addition to that, I had an issue with the maturity level of the characters. For some reason, this one had a little bit of a New Adult vibe to it, and I just couldn't shake that feeling the whole time I was reading it. I cant really pinpoint anything in the book that substantiates my feeling regarding that, but just the writing itself sort of read that way and gave me that impression.

When it comes to this title, think Chicago Fire meets Baywatch and that about sums it up. A decent read overall.

Rate:  C
Review by: Sarah
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
4923078
After reading the blurb months ago and counting down the days to the release of Here With Me I couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed by the story that was absolutely nothing like I was expecting.

The drama that I anticipated was largely absent as Nate is not around for the majority of the story, the story begins once Evan returns and Ryley has already discovered that he is not in fact dead, and the history between the characters is all disclosed through memories, flashbacks, or stories.

I thought for sure this would be a huge tearjerker and though some parts were touching and emotional I felt like there was so much more emotion that could have been conveyed and it just wasn't.

Still an exciting premise and a promising ending.  It just wasn't the book I had hoped for or the story with all its drama and complications that it was cracked up to be.
344895
I loved the first book and instantly one clicked for In Love With The  Master.  I enjoyed the first half of this book but then it just began to drag for me. I may revisit it again but for now I have put it aside. For me, I just felt like there was no real emotional connection for Jonah toward Leticia.  It seemed like he wanted to experience love for the sake of his circumstances. I did not understand the scene that occurs in her work place during their phone conversation and Jonah makes her touch herself and leave the results on her co-workers phone, nor was it enjoyable to read it.  I do, however like Jonah's character very much. I respect the way he refuses to give Leticia too much info about the women he has been with in the past.  I know he gives her lots of details but he cuts her off at times when he thinks she is being just nosy about the women in a personal way and not professional as a  reporter.  For whatever reason, I just did not feel invested in the story any longer.  The blame lies with me, I am sure, and not because the story is bad.  It IS a good story, but I just lost my momentum for now.  I could not finish it.
1711209
While I rather liked the idea of the story, and I felt like it could have been a great one, I think it just didn't get there for me.  The writing was beautiful and I was interested in the characters and what would happen next, but it felt like it kind of dragged at the beginning and was very rushed at the end.

I'm usually a very big fan of fairy tale retellings, so I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. I hadn't ever heard this particular fairy tale before, but I still feel like it's one I could have really enjoyed.  The idea of a couple desperately wanting a child and finally able to (sort of) have one is beautiful.  The descriptions in the book were in depth.  It had almost everything it needed to be a fantastic book, and I'm sure for some it truly was.  For me, it was just too slow up until the ending.  I really wish we had gotten more information of what happened in the immediate days after what I will call "the tragedy."  It was like it happened and then we fast forwarded several years to see how everyone was doing, but we didn't get the sort of closure we needed from the actual event.  It was rushed and glossed over.

Another warning, this is not a typical HEA book.  You will see some happiness but not in the way you would expect.
2553589
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 2 1/2
REVIEW:
I think this might have been the first time I picked up a Jill Shalvis book and didn't fall head over heels in love the the characters. I am not sure what it was but I just didn't care for Cassie at all.

This was my first read of a Leslie Kelly story and while I liked Kate and John I just never felt totally vested in them.

Not to say that these were bad stories or anything. I just didn't get sucked into the world.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Harlequin in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
73718
I gravitated toward this book because of the synopsis  a female motorcycle racer who must save her familys business, a forbidden romance, secrets, and betrayals whats not to love? Well, I didn't love this novel. I couldn't love it because I didn't buy into the characters or their connection with each other, so I didn't buy into the story. Im disappointed because this author wrote one of my favorite couples, and Ill always hold her to that standard, but Furious Rush didn't live up to my expectations.
131829
I really adore love stories. But this story was nothing for me. I mean, no butterflies in my stomach. Sometimes the story was really boring and it wasn't like "I could't put book down". My personal opinion is taht the story is not very valuable. Maybe it's because I missed roller-coaster or twists, or some tension.
4283600
Let me start off by saying that I adore K. Bromberg and have loved all of her books, but this one just didn't do it for me.

Grant is amazing. I loved him. He was swoony and sexy and funny and I loved his relationship with his brothers and his parents. He was the saving grace of the story.

Emerson is something else and, honestly, I couldn't stand her. The way she treated Grant upset me quite a bit. I get that what happened to her can have a lasting effect, but it felt over the top to me.

The chemistry was a bit lacking, in my opinion, and this felt more like in-lust(ish) than in-love. IDK. I just didn't feel it.

There's no denying that K. Bromberg can write a book. The writing was great and the storyline was good. It's just that the female lead fell short for me this time. It makes me happy to see that I'm in the minority with my feelings, though.

I really can't wait for the other two books in this series, because I'll always be a fan of K. Bromberg. I'm hoping I'll have better luck with a different Malone brother.
1672531
I finished reading THE MEMORY GARDEN by M. Rickert last May and now, months later, I still have conflicted emotions when I think about it.  I remember thinking that this should be the perfect story for me - an old family secret, a girl surrounded by characters who have rich pasts, conflict, friendship, love - maybe even a little magic, be it of the supernatural or the chemistry kind.

Unfortunately, I think THE MEMORY GARDEN really fell short for me on most of these.  I remember, while reading, that I would feel these little kindling thoughts like.. this could be it, this could be where the story really gets moving - but instead those bits of kindling died out and, instead, I found myself trudging through more story and more text (because some of it, honestly, was quite dull).

That's not to say it was all bad.  There were those moments.  And that's why I'm having a hard time giving this book less than a 3-star rating, in spite of my reservations about it. Because those moments were...almost... magical.  I can practically feel my fingertips tingling a bit as I remember the bits and pieces, and I just wish that the rest of the book would have followed suit.

THE MEMORY GARDEN by M. Rickert may just have been one of those books I read at the wrong time.  Perhaps it needed to be read when there was rain outside and fall colors and a cup of tea by my side instead of in sunny Hawaii while sitting at the beach.  Maybe I'll try it again and see if the setting can make a difference.  I wouldn't discourage anyone to not pick this one up because maybe you will just have better luck with it than I did this time.
1562575
To be fair, I thought this book was well written and had a decent plot. It just wasn't for me - I couldn't connect with the characters or get into the story. I didn't dislike it, I just wasn't in love with it.
948620
2.5 - 3 stars
I had a soft spot for Dani and was looking forward to her story. Without Barrons and Mac though, this just didn't feel the same. Not that I didn't like it it, it was more I didn't love it. Where as all the other books were page turners, this became a chore to finish. Can't wait to start Burned, but think I'll take a breather inbetween.
1587995
I just didn't know what to make of this book. It was fairly light-hearted and enjoyable, but nothing stuck out to me. Everything was just...meh (which is pretty sad considering I adore Singh's PNR). Something about Cherish Hard just didn't click for me.

If I had to guess where most of my ambivalence comes from, it would be our heroine, Isa. She is a bit unrelatable. She's grown up with a difficult, absent, mother and a slew of step-fathers. At the beginning of the book we see her as a teacher, but then soon after she takes a summer job helping her mother with her company (as a VP). Isa takes care of her younger siblings and cares for pretty much everyone around her. I just couldn't feel a connection with her no matter how hard I tried.

The hero of the book, Sailor, is pretty darn amazing though. He's driven and sweet and just a tiny bit kinky. Pretty swoon-worthy honestly!

I wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't. Sadly I'm going to rate Cherish Hard at 3.5 stars.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
3551164
Star Rating: 3.75 stars

I generally like Cora's books except this one I am on the fence about, sadly.

I found parts of this one to be lacking in something I can't quite put my finger on and it bothers me. I normally can pick up one her books and get lost until the end except this one was a tough one.

There all relatable parts of this book that I felt worked and clicked then it's gone. My most loved part of this book that seems to be constant is Family, I love that.

Dominic and Melanie are...different. If you read this and have a different view, good for you. I just had higher hopes I guess.