While the author tried to make a story full of intrigue, longing and redemption, they failed in all three areas.
The MMC was a whining, self-deprecatiWhile the author tried to make a story full of intrigue, longing and redemption, they failed in all three areas.
The MMC was a whining, self-deprecating loser that lacked any kind of backbone.
The FMC is a single mom who couldn't save herself from a wet paper bag if it landed on her face. The book starts off with her fixing her own tire and she has her own business, which we're supposed to infer she is a strong independent woman. Yet, she has been in love with the same person since she's been like 15 and he hurts her ALL the time.
During sexy times, MMC keeps saying "I shouldn't be doing this. I don't get a happy ending with you." That's also his inner monologue. Everything is all about how he doesn't deserve to be happy, how he doesn't deserve to love, etc.
This book should have been 50-75 pages shorter; take out the whining and one sentence "paragraphs" and this could have been so much better. Examples of what the MMC would say OVER and OVER again: "his words dragging like blades through the dense air. “What I would do to be good enough for you.”" "“Would love you every day of my life if I could, Dakota.”" "“Mean it when I tell you I’m not good enough for you.”"
Now, imagine that for like 40% of the book. It was exhausting.
The nicknames were too much in this book. They don't live in the south. And I can't even express to you the ick I got when the MMC called the FMC cookie while they were fucking. Gross. Nicknames/Terms of endearments used in this book (not limited to the MC's): Cookie, doodle-boo, paisley Dae, rye-rye, k-bear, sweet boy, sweetheart, paisley-cakes, sweet thing, baby, honey, and sweet girl. ...more
I've never been bored reading a book by Geissinger before; that is until now.
The way she writes dialogue and banter is usually top notch, but this tiI've never been bored reading a book by Geissinger before; that is until now.
The way she writes dialogue and banter is usually top notch, but this time it was TOO much dialogue and it was WAY over the top.
I'm 33% in, and thinking of DNF'ing it.
I REALLY dislike that the FMC calls him good boy and sweet boy ALL the time. She is very bossy in the bedroom, almost to the point of being a Dom, and I'm not about that. Here are some quotes: "She coos, “So perfect. My perfect, beautiful boy. You did so well, Carter. I’m very pleased with you.”" "“So good,” I whisper breathlessly. “You’re such a good boy, Carter.”"
I'll give it another 10%. Hopefully it gets better.
37% - Okay, now he keeps calling her "ladyship" and other antiquated royal titles, and it's so bad. I rarely use the word cringe, but it fits for this chapter. It's been going on now for several pages.
Completed -
There was something amiss about the FMC; while yes, she was older than the MMC, she had too much of a motherly vibe when she was with Carter. For example: "He quirks his lips and gazes at me with a dangerous glint in his eyes. “Are you babying me?”" "Gazing in the direction of Nick’s voice, Carter says, “Is that the fuckwit ex?” “Yes. Please stay here and eat your breakfast. I’ll be right back.”" "“Sure, because what today needs is a blood bath in my living room. You’re going to stay right here and behave yourself.”"
This felt more like Sophia's book than a relationship book. This was just so disappointing. I LOVE a good reverse age gap book, but when it starts to go down the "mommy" route and/or the "good boy" realm, I just feel icky about the whole thing.
The first 40% of the book was boring. We just read about the two of them going on dates, and they weren't even good dates. By the end of the book, we don't know anything about Carter except that he is a himbo that was once kidnapped. While I will remember this book, Carter is forgettable. Honestly, I got the impression that the author didn't really want to write this story and she lost the plot somewhere along the way. ...more
The FMC's nickname is kitten. This may be a DNF from me unless it gets better. Kitten?! *rolls eyes*
This book was about 150 pages longer than it needeThe FMC's nickname is kitten. This may be a DNF from me unless it gets better. Kitten?! *rolls eyes*
This book was about 150 pages longer than it needed to be. So many scenes with too much dialogue didn't add anything to the story. Those scenes were there only to pad the page count, not to add any depth to the story. The author could really use an editor and not a team of friends.
While the premise started off strong (a group of people have to go on a healing journey), there was no actual forward momentum with the plot. The book was composed of a bunch of scenes.
FMC was abused for over eight years and she doesn't go into therapy? She finally lives on her own and gets to discover who she is, but forgoes all of that in an instant after meeting her scent matches?
We had a chance to get a story about an omega who was abused, finally leaving the situation, and learning to find herself and what she likes. But we don't get that. Instead we get a story of an omega who leaves her abusive pack but only learns to find herself with the help of her NEW pack. At every turn, she needed a man to help her.
She's so blind to the world around her, she doesn't see Connor for what he is until the very end of the book and by then, they've been courting for 3-5 months?
Like so many why-choose writers, this author chose to have very dumb nicknames for the FMC. I've started to realize that the less mature authors use nicknames as crutches and this book further solidifies that point. This is the authors debut novel, so her writing isn't very mature and the traps she chose to follow for the A-B-O universe only highlight that point.
Here are the nicknames/terms of endearments: Kitten, pretty kitten, baby, angel, gorgeous, little muse, omega, sweet kitten, perfect omega, beautiful omega, sweetness. I was REALLY hoping we wouldn't get a "little" name and I felt such disappointment when we did.
There were over 75 spelling/punctuation/tense/formatting issues for the book.
Connor's personality is where the immaturity of the author's career really shined. FMC attempts to explain to Connor that she is going through a divorce (of sorts), pulls up the court case and tells everyone to read it. Even with the proof right at his fingertips, he still calls the FMC a liar and thinks the worst of her. Three separate people pointed out to Connor that he is acting like the FMC's ex's by willfully neglecting her, and he refuses to change. It's like the author had a certain personality written for Connor and she refused to budge.
There were attempts at making the writing and characters seem elevated, but it didn't land. Like this gem: "The thing about ice is, when put again heat, it melts, leaving nothing but a puddle where barriers should be." Wow, thanks for explaining ice melting.
There was so much telling and then retelling and not a lot of showing or allowing the audience to use their brains to fill in the blank. For example, if two people share a look (that are not the author of the chapter), we see the look, then we have the POV character explain the look to each other in GREAT detail and then tell us what the look means for everyone involved.
I do hope that the author grows for book two. I also hope that she can afford to hire a quality editor so that she doesn't waste her readers time with unnecessary scenes and dialogue so we can have a valid reading experience. ...more
I'm very impressed that a woman being 27/28 years old is the CME. How did she find time to do anything in her life? The author would like us to believI'm very impressed that a woman being 27/28 years old is the CME. How did she find time to do anything in her life? The author would like us to believe that the FMC was pre-med, got her medical degree and completed all of her residencies, worked for enough time to emasse an impressive CV to be a published and well respected authority in her field but still young enough to date and have a FWB relationship with someone? No, not buying it.
The MMC is another problem. He apparently doesn't believe in respecting boundaries, listening to the word no, or talking to anyone with respect. He manhandles the FMC ALL the time. FMC allows herself to be disrespected every encounter.
FMC is a pushover, allows her staff to treat her unprofessionally and doesn't do anything to get to know anyone.
The book takes place over 3-4 working days.
As another reviewer mentioned, the "second in command" is a bit too NCIS for my taste. ...more
DNF 17% The MMC, who is supposed to be near 40, talks and acts like a child. The FMC refuses to act like an adult. Couldn't take it any more. DNF 17% The MMC, who is supposed to be near 40, talks and acts like a child. The FMC refuses to act like an adult. Couldn't take it any more. ...more
When people are in their late 30's, they should act like it. And a woman's nipples don't pebble at a word.
Too many instances of body betrayal DNF 10%
When people are in their late 30's, they should act like it. And a woman's nipples don't pebble at a word.
Too many instances of body betrayal syndrome; too many punctuation errors; and a FMC that establishes a "no boys club" mentality but breaks her own rule within the first 5 minutes. ...more
Two separate occasions the FMC said something akin to the following: "The hockey world is waiting for three women to fail, saying our desires and bodieTwo separate occasions the FMC said something akin to the following: "The hockey world is waiting for three women to fail, saying our desires and bodies will rule us. Let's not give them the satisfaction." Or "I can't let hormones get in the way of leading this team."
So I stopped at 33% when that is exactly what the FMC did. She put an entire franchise, her sisters, her reputation at risk because she wanted someone.
One day we'll get a FMC who doesn't have BBS, but alas that day is not today. ...more