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This was so good! Second chance romance isn't my favorite trope but I loved this description, so I figured I would give it a shot. I loved it! Kennedy and Jonathan had such a great story and an epic love that was filled with heartbreak and hurt, but they found their way back to each other with a lot of work and overcoming obstacles. I absolutely love the details that went into this book, like Breezeo and Johnny being an actor and playing the role of his daughter's favorite superhero. Maddie was such an amazing little girl and I love her relationship with her dad. The flashbacks, as shown as Kennedy's journal entries are told in the second person POV, and since that's rarely used, it was a surprise to me but I actually really liked it. I think the best part about this was that there was no third act breakup. They get together and he makes an effort to be a father, and then they basically stay together until the end of the book and get their happily ever after. It was actually refreshing, because I *really* rooted for Jonathan and was waiting for the other shoe to drop as far as his recovery and addictions, but I'm so glad to say it never came and he was able to be the man he always could be. I highly recommend this book!
This will be my comprehensive review of the whole series.
Mindfuck is certainly an appropriate title for this amazing series. I cannot believe I put off reading it for so long because it is absolutely AMAZING. When I heard that this is the series that features the "FBI agent who falls in love with a serial killer that he is investigating", I was hesitant. I wasn't sure I would like it or that someone would be able to pull that off. Well, I was so wrong and I'm glad I get to eat my words. I legit would love if some streaming service adapted this because I think everyone should see it on the screen and I think it would be perfect for a television show or movie.
Logan and Lana are the duo I didn't know I needed, followed closely by Jake and Hadley. SSA Bennett is *that* man, perfection in a body. And Lana? She's that girl. The hero of all heroes. She puts every other hero to shame. Also, can you imagine having a ride or die like Jake? One could only hope to have a best friend as loyal and smart and cunning and Jake. And Hadley came out of nowhere, with her fierceness and smarts and loyalty. The core four were so perfectly written and everything you want and more of out of main and supporting characters.
Don't be fooled though. This isn't just a romance. While that is a huge component of this series, it's about so much more than that. Lana is a survivor and arguably the strongest heroine ever written. This series is about strength, independence, grief, perserverance, healing, and one woman's will to survive and seek justice, no matter the cost. The importance of a survivor not being silenced and making her voice heard is probably the most prominent message of the series. Please make note of the trigger warnings, as there are a LOT, but believe me - it is worth the read. The plot was so well written, and the depth of the characters was truly incredible.
I ate this up and could not stop reading this. I cried the last few chapters and through the epilogue (which was insanely amazing) because it was THAT good. Sadly, the author passed away and never got to see how popular her books got or how people enjoyed this series.
Mindfuck is certainly an appropriate title for this amazing series. I cannot believe I put off reading it for so long because it is absolutely AMAZING. When I heard that this is the series that features the "FBI agent who falls in love with a serial killer that he is investigating", I was hesitant. I wasn't sure I would like it or that someone would be able to pull that off. Well, I was so wrong and I'm glad I get to eat my words. I legit would love if some streaming service adapted this because I think everyone should see it on the screen and I think it would be perfect for a television show or movie.
Logan and Lana are the duo I didn't know I needed, followed closely by Jake and Hadley. SSA Bennett is *that* man, perfection in a body. And Lana? She's that girl. The hero of all heroes. She puts every other hero to shame. Also, can you imagine having a ride or die like Jake? One could only hope to have a best friend as loyal and smart and cunning and Jake. And Hadley came out of nowhere, with her fierceness and smarts and loyalty. The core four were so perfectly written and everything you want and more of out of main and supporting characters.
Don't be fooled though. This isn't just a romance. While that is a huge component of this series, it's about so much more than that. Lana is a survivor and arguably the strongest heroine ever written. This series is about strength, independence, grief, perserverance, healing, and one woman's will to survive and seek justice, no matter the cost. The importance of a survivor not being silenced and making her voice heard is probably the most prominent message of the series. Please make note of the trigger warnings, as there are a LOT, but believe me - it is worth the read. The plot was so well written, and the depth of the characters was truly incredible.
I ate this up and could not stop reading this. I cried the last few chapters and through the epilogue (which was insanely amazing) because it was THAT good. Sadly, the author passed away and never got to see how popular her books got or how people enjoyed this series.
I've actually never read a Devney Perry/Willa Nash novel, but I've heard such great things about this series that I had to go ahead and dive in.
I was so impressed right from the start. This is a small town, contemporary romance with a dual POV. Griffin and Winslow had electric chemistry that you could just feel through the page, only made more obvious when Winslow ends up as more than the "tourist" he thought she was, thinking he would never see her again. Then, they end up having to solve a murder together, which only heightens their obvious attraction to one another. What starts casual eventually ends up as something more. I loved not only the romance between Griffin and Winslow, but also the plot. I love when a book has more than just a romance and has an actual plot to go along with it, and this certainly did. It's one wild ride and adventure, a mystery I just wanted answers to. It totally sucked me in.
I think this is a great first book for this series and I can't wait for the next book!
I was so impressed right from the start. This is a small town, contemporary romance with a dual POV. Griffin and Winslow had electric chemistry that you could just feel through the page, only made more obvious when Winslow ends up as more than the "tourist" he thought she was, thinking he would never see her again. Then, they end up having to solve a murder together, which only heightens their obvious attraction to one another. What starts casual eventually ends up as something more. I loved not only the romance between Griffin and Winslow, but also the plot. I love when a book has more than just a romance and has an actual plot to go along with it, and this certainly did. It's one wild ride and adventure, a mystery I just wanted answers to. It totally sucked me in.
I think this is a great first book for this series and I can't wait for the next book!
I have some mixed feelings about this one. I love Tessa Bailey and everything she writes but sometimes I think it falls a little flat or isn't what I expected it to be. Don't get me wrong, this book is still good and worth a read but is it her best? No. Right off the bat, I was kind of meh about this and it continued throughout the book. First, this book is in third POV and while I know 90% of her books are like this (with the exception of a few that are written in first person POV), I know she is capable of doing so because she has before. I think that would have elevated the book, at least somewhat. Second, it was really weird how Julian didn't remember Hallie at all but she harbored this immense crush on him for literally half her life, compared all other men to him (even though they never really even spoke to each other) and we were just expected to believe that he is this *great* guy because Hallie said he did some nice things for some people? I'm not so sure about that. She seemed very obsessed with him, which comes across in the secret admirer letters. I'm sorry, but you are almost thirty years old. We are too old to be sending secret admirer letters, especially when he is RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. At that point, they were already friends, so why the need for the letters? I don't know, it just seemed like a cheap cop out plot device. Also, she was a virgin at almost thirty years old. Okay, I'm not shaming her or anyone else who decides to hold onto theirs until that age but again, it just felt weird, like why include that? And Julian went from a shy, anxious, nerdy type of guy to all of the sudden sexy and dirty talking? It was not a great transition. Tessa Bailey can write smut so well though, so I give her props there. It just didn't fit Julian's character. He also was weirdly OBSESSED with her boobs and brought them up numerous times and it was borderline creepy. I think once they finally got together and decided to try things for real, it got much better, and I like how things played out after that. I also give kudos to Tessa Bailey for some fabulous anxiety representation. Overall, I thought it was just okay. I am looking forward to Natalie's book!
I love the Bellamy Creek series, but Cole and Cheyenne's story just didn't do it for me. It had so much potential, but I think it missed the mark. Cheyenne was so hung up on Cole, since childhood basically, and spent the majority of the book whining about how she just wanted him, but couldn't have him, how he didn't like her back, etc. At one point, it sounded like she was super jealous of Cole's dead wife (who died in childbirth like nine years before) because she was able to have him before Cheyenne did and I just thought that was very off putting and lowkey super disrespectful. I didn't like how Cole insisted on keeping this casual over and over again, despite knowing what that would do to Cheyenne. And then, Cheyenne kept pushing and pushing Cole about therapy and resolving the issues surrounding his dead wife and how to navigate a relationship as a single father, and it just did not seem like she was willing to understand Cole's reservations at all. It was all about her and what she wanted. It was nice to see them have a happy ending, but it felt very unsatisfying, given what transpired in the book. My favorite parts of the book were seeing the other characters, because they have better stories and I just wanted even breadcrumbs from them.
I loved everything about this first book in the Bellamy Creek series. I had only previously read one of Melanie Harlow's books, but I knew I liked her writing style, so I went for this. I LOVED IT. Griffin and Blair are just so different, that I knew opposites would attract and sparks would fly. I honestly thought Blair would be such a rich, spoiled, entitled little brat but she absolutely was not. I admried her courage and tenacity and dedication to wanting to escape her previous life, leave behind all the money and the easy life, and make something of herself on her own. Not only that, but she cared so much about the town that had welcomed her with open arms and she just wanted to give something back to them, including helping Griffin revamp his shop to help with business. She was a sweetheart! And Griffin... whew. I knew he'd be gruff and brooding and act like he didn't care, but he was a giant teddy bear who actually cared deeply, and of course, had a soft spot for Blair. It was awesome to see their chemistry and watch their relationship grow and develop. As always, I loved how the author incorporated other characters into her world building, and makes the small town romance that much better. This reminded me of Schitt's Creek, although more heartwarming, and also Friends: when Rachel leaves behing her entitled life to make something of herself on her own. I highly recommend it!