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loverofromance 's review for:
You Only Love Twice
by Lexi Blake
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ
World Building:πππππ
Cover:πππππ
Hero: π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»
Heroine:π¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈ
Intimacy Level: π₯π₯π₯π₯
Relationship Building: ππππ
Heart & Feels:ππππ
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: ππππ
Page Turner Level:ππππ
Ending:π§§π§§π§§π§§
Overall View: β¨β¨β¨β¨
First Impressions
You Only Love Twice is the next main novel in the "Masters and Mercenaries" and this is Jesse and Phoebe's book. After the teaser for the previous book, I actually had to jump right away into the next book if I am being honest. But I will be honest in being disappointed that Phoebe wasn't the soft heroine I was actually hoping for her to be. But that isn't to say their book was bad or anything, I still enjoyed it quite a bit, but there aren't many softer heroines in this series as I would actually like there to be. But it was still a emotional and poignant story and probably one of the more heart wrenching additions to the series.
First Line
Phoebe looked up at the house with no designs on actually living there.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Jesse
The Heroine: Phoebe
Summary
Phoebe is working with the CIA and lost her husband to a op that she planned that went horribly wrong and deals with trauma from losing him and out of guilt. But there was one man on his team that survived and so with her brother, they work on her going undercover to pose as his girlfriend, so she can get into the Taggert group and gain their trust and find out if Jesse was to blame for it or not. But then a hit is placed on Jesse and she is the person to take the hit. She is used to following orders no matter what they are....but now her heart is involved and she might have to choose between duty to her country and to the man she has learned to love....
What I Loved
This book kept me on the edge of my seat LITERALLY!!! I just didn't want to put this one down and I couldn't seem to get enough of these two here. I loved their dynamic. Their relationship was so deeply layered and we see so many aspects of them having to deal with some heartbreaking moments. This is where both of them are still having to overcome trauma of the past and its not a easy road for either of them. Jesse from suffered both physical and psychological torture and then for Phoebe to having lost her husband who was part of the team that Jesse lost and been the one to plan the op in the first place. And all the connections to their past really made their connection that much brighter. And we get some fun times with the Taggert crew including Ian becoming a father of TWINS and they are girls LOL Oh its a true delight when that was revealed. But if you are a Harry Potter Fan....you will adore the little snippets on that here and there that are so fun.
What I Struggled With
I would have loved to see more vulnerability from the heroine, to showcase the woman she was with before was still the same woman and that it wasn't all a cover.
Overall View
You Only Love Twice is a emotionally driven story that digs deep into the human element and stuns the read with laughs...heartbreak and healing!
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Romantic Suspense, Erotic Romance
Character Types: Military, Law Enforcement
Themes: Heart/Touching, PTSD, Tear Jerker, BDSM
Tropes: Mistaken Identity, Redemption
Book Perspective
Duo POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both
If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Shayla Black
Maya Banks
Susan Stoker
Song This Book Inspires
Murder Song by Aurora
Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes I would say its best to read these in order
Steam/Spice Explanations
Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ
World Building:πππππ
Cover:πππππ
Hero: π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»
Heroine:π¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈ
Intimacy Level: π₯π₯π₯π₯
Relationship Building: ππππ
Heart & Feels:ππππ
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: ππππ
Page Turner Level:ππππ
Ending:π§§π§§π§§π§§
Overall View: β¨β¨β¨β¨
First Impressions
You Only Love Twice is the next main novel in the "Masters and Mercenaries" and this is Jesse and Phoebe's book. After the teaser for the previous book, I actually had to jump right away into the next book if I am being honest. But I will be honest in being disappointed that Phoebe wasn't the soft heroine I was actually hoping for her to be. But that isn't to say their book was bad or anything, I still enjoyed it quite a bit, but there aren't many softer heroines in this series as I would actually like there to be. But it was still a emotional and poignant story and probably one of the more heart wrenching additions to the series.
First Line
Phoebe looked up at the house with no designs on actually living there.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Jesse
The Heroine: Phoebe
Summary
Phoebe is working with the CIA and lost her husband to a op that she planned that went horribly wrong and deals with trauma from losing him and out of guilt. But there was one man on his team that survived and so with her brother, they work on her going undercover to pose as his girlfriend, so she can get into the Taggert group and gain their trust and find out if Jesse was to blame for it or not. But then a hit is placed on Jesse and she is the person to take the hit. She is used to following orders no matter what they are....but now her heart is involved and she might have to choose between duty to her country and to the man she has learned to love....
What I Loved
This book kept me on the edge of my seat LITERALLY!!! I just didn't want to put this one down and I couldn't seem to get enough of these two here. I loved their dynamic. Their relationship was so deeply layered and we see so many aspects of them having to deal with some heartbreaking moments. This is where both of them are still having to overcome trauma of the past and its not a easy road for either of them. Jesse from suffered both physical and psychological torture and then for Phoebe to having lost her husband who was part of the team that Jesse lost and been the one to plan the op in the first place. And all the connections to their past really made their connection that much brighter. And we get some fun times with the Taggert crew including Ian becoming a father of TWINS and they are girls LOL Oh its a true delight when that was revealed. But if you are a Harry Potter Fan....you will adore the little snippets on that here and there that are so fun.
What I Struggled With
I would have loved to see more vulnerability from the heroine, to showcase the woman she was with before was still the same woman and that it wasn't all a cover.
Overall View
You Only Love Twice is a emotionally driven story that digs deep into the human element and stuns the read with laughs...heartbreak and healing!
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Romantic Suspense, Erotic Romance
Character Types: Military, Law Enforcement
Themes: Heart/Touching, PTSD, Tear Jerker, BDSM
Tropes: Mistaken Identity, Redemption
Book Perspective
Duo POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both
If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Shayla Black
Maya Banks
Susan Stoker
Song This Book Inspires
Murder Song by Aurora
Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes I would say its best to read these in order
Steam/Spice Explanations
Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.