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mollyreadsandcrafts's Reviews (978)
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ARC Review
Xander deals with a variety of mental health struggles all stemming from the neglect in his past. He has trouble forming relationships but has latched onto Derek, the nurse at the local pharmacy. Derek has made his life about Xander, making sure to be there when he needs it. But when their feelings soon grow past a platonic nurse/patient dynamic, they both have to make some tough choices in order to make sure their relationship is not only ethical, but successful long-term.
What I really liked was this was the exact journey both these characters needed to take. Xander has slowly been spiraling as the series has gone on and his friends find their partners, and it hits a breaking point for him. The first part was a bit frustrating, but it also makes sense why. He hasn't had great experiences with therapy in the past and is scared that he'll lose his sense of self. He cares deeply for those in his close circle but struggles to create healthy attachments. Xander had to actively choose to work on himself and make other people's happiness a priority by facing some harsh realities, but he's finally able to get to that point.
This was way more Xander's story than Derek's, but we still saw the conflict he had in drawing the line between caring for someone romantically and being a caregiver. He was absolutely right to try to play by the rules and make sure his career he loves was safe, but it wasn't easy when the person he was falling for was suffering. He had to make difficult choices that ultimately helped make their relationship work. He cares immensely for Xander and was willing to do whatever it takes to make it work, but I'm also glad he had a chance to step back and realize some of his dreams in the process.
The emotions didn't really hit for me, but I really liked watching them figure out their relationship. I do wish we got a little more of the found family, but with Xander needing to really focus on himself it makes sense why that wasn't really prominent. There were a lot of sweet Seven moments though, he and Derek bonding made my heart happy. The ending was so cozy and perfect, it made the long journey towards their happy ending worth it. Xander and Derek have been teased since the very beginning and it was the perfect way to close out the series. Some of my favorite books from Saxon James are in this series, and I'm so sad this is the end!
Read if you like:
• slow burn
• mental health rep
• forbidden romance lite
•••••••••••••••••••••
Xander deals with a variety of mental health struggles all stemming from the neglect in his past. He has trouble forming relationships but has latched onto Derek, the nurse at the local pharmacy. Derek has made his life about Xander, making sure to be there when he needs it. But when their feelings soon grow past a platonic nurse/patient dynamic, they both have to make some tough choices in order to make sure their relationship is not only ethical, but successful long-term.
What I really liked was this was the exact journey both these characters needed to take. Xander has slowly been spiraling as the series has gone on and his friends find their partners, and it hits a breaking point for him. The first part was a bit frustrating, but it also makes sense why. He hasn't had great experiences with therapy in the past and is scared that he'll lose his sense of self. He cares deeply for those in his close circle but struggles to create healthy attachments. Xander had to actively choose to work on himself and make other people's happiness a priority by facing some harsh realities, but he's finally able to get to that point.
This was way more Xander's story than Derek's, but we still saw the conflict he had in drawing the line between caring for someone romantically and being a caregiver. He was absolutely right to try to play by the rules and make sure his career he loves was safe, but it wasn't easy when the person he was falling for was suffering. He had to make difficult choices that ultimately helped make their relationship work. He cares immensely for Xander and was willing to do whatever it takes to make it work, but I'm also glad he had a chance to step back and realize some of his dreams in the process.
The emotions didn't really hit for me, but I really liked watching them figure out their relationship. I do wish we got a little more of the found family, but with Xander needing to really focus on himself it makes sense why that wasn't really prominent. There were a lot of sweet Seven moments though, he and Derek bonding made my heart happy. The ending was so cozy and perfect, it made the long journey towards their happy ending worth it. Xander and Derek have been teased since the very beginning and it was the perfect way to close out the series. Some of my favorite books from Saxon James are in this series, and I'm so sad this is the end!
Read if you like:
• slow burn
• mental health rep
• forbidden romance lite
•••••••••••••••••••••
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Years after breaking the heart of the only man he's ever loved, Adrian runs into Matías again. Only now? Matías is his new boss. Adrian has to decide if this is fate giving him a second chance at happiness and if so, if he's strong enough to make the right choice this time.
At first I was really feeling for young Matías. In college he was so patient and understanding, willing to be a secret and wait for Adrian. But present day Matías frustrated me a bit because I wanted him to make Adrian work for it more. Adrian left him with a pretty crappy break up and Matías just lets him waltz right back in, only giving him a few passive aggressive comments. I would not be as nice. Adrian was fine, and while I understood his excuse for breaking up with Matías, I think the way he went about it and then staying away for so long was a little weak. I did like his character growth when Matías came back into his life. He finally came to the point where he realized he had to take charge of his future and make what he wanted a priority, including Matías.
I wish we got more moments of them falling in love in the past. I didn't mind the flashbacks but the emotions didn't hit me as hard with the few glimpses. It never felt like they broke up for as long as they did because the second they reunited they picked up right where they left off. While we don't get a lot of them falling for each other initially, they do have crazy chemistry that jumps off the page. There was no way they were staying apart, the pull they have to each other is just so strong.
While I didn't find the characters particularly endearing, I did find them entertaining. There's a lot of drama and the spicy parts were done really well. I don't mind cheating in books and I liked how the wife was never made into an evil character. She had her own issues but she also wasn't actively trying to destroy anyone's lives. The dad on the other hand, he can give whatever cliché sob story he wants but I didn't really care what excuse he had. The book has a lot of things going for it - short, face paced chapters and a decently intriguing story. While it's not one of my favorites, I do love books that give me a lot of things to have opinions about.
Read if you like:
• secret relationship
• workplace romance
• second chance
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