Finding my Faith (Six Saviors 2) by Carly Fall

Hello to all,


               A new month has started and it started on a really positive note for me....i was asking to review a book i wanted to ( Thank you Carly!!) and i LOVED it!, i finished it in matter of hours so i had time for another one that i enjoyed as much, i also put some order on my shelves but on that side i'm only at the beginning ^^.

So i'm really happy and i didn't want to make you wait so today i'm sharing with you my opinion on "Finding My Faith" book 2 in the six saviors series by Carly Fall. If you rememeber i shared my opinion on the first book "The Light Within Me " earlier this year for the monthly topic " alien" in paranormal romance. I enjoyed it and wanted more and i got my wish granted....believe me i don't regret  at all!! I've become addicted to this series.

 Now let see what i thought of it in more details:

Publisher: Carly Fall

Publication: 2012

ISBN:  0373277210

Genre: paranormal romance, alien
Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: steamy
Public: 18+

Source: ecopy received in exchange for an honest review

Short description from goodreads :

 Growing up in a small Northern Arizona town, Faith Cloudfoot’s life was spent playing in the forests surrounding her house under the protective eyes of her father, and learning about the legends of her Native American heritage. Yearning for more out of her life, she moves to Phoenix, Arizona at the age of twenty-three where she is kidnapped and almost killed.

Rayner has a special ability, one that weighs on him like a curse. He can see spirits trapped in between life and their final resting place. Because he can’t do much to help them, he studiously ignores them. He concentrates, instead, on working with his fellow warriors to right the wrongs caused by the evil criminals from his home planet.

When Rayner sees Faith in her spirit form while investigating a lead in Phoenix, his attraction to her is immediate, yet he follows his own personal code and ignores her cry for attention. When he realizes that she may be a stepping stone to getting him home to his own universe, he engages Faith and begins to use her as a means to an end: going home.


As the attraction grows stronger, Rayner finds himself breaking all sorts of self-set rules, as well as the code of ethics set by him and his fellow warriors. When Faith nears death, Rayner realizes that he must do everything in his power to save her, because if he doesn’t, he may just lose himself.

My opinion:

          LOVE it! It was finished in almost 2hours so that said how strongly I was immersed in the story and enjoying it… after reading book one “the light within me” I did have a soft spot for Rayner and learning more about was simply too good.

Rayner was quite a bitter character with only his job in mind… from all the warriors he is the one who wish to return to SR 44 the most and he does works for it even if he means flying somewhere else on mission (and he hate flying) In fact, he is one that suffer the most in my opinion, his power sound like a curse for him: being able to see and speak to spirits trapped but not being able to help them has taken his toll on him. In fact he only succeeded once and thus he tried to ignore them. It’s really the opposite as how he was before.. as a child he was carefree, living in the forest, respecting the nature and spirits  with his loving family. Rayner wanted some adventures so he left his forest for the city where he met Cohen and Hudson, fellow warriors, and decided to enrol in the military to see the world.

However he did promise his mother to come back and that what is keeping him strong and determined… he wants to go back and get once again the warm feeling to belong.

I could only smile at how similar it was to Faith growing up…she too lived in the nature with a loving family but took pleasure in exploring, taking risks and in the end by leaving for the city where her life took a drastic turn. The difference between them….Faith hasn’t lost herself yet, she still dreams, hopes and laughs while Rayner forgot it. Both understand the spiritual world and respect it despites some doubts sometimes, like Faith who doesn’t believe how special she is and the prophecy she is supposed to accomplish.

They are simply perfect for each other and I enjoyed how they had to discover it and then had to make it works, faith really needed her inner strength to makes Rayner understand and see what was under his eyes. I also loved her parents how insightful they were, how open while still protective. They are some really steamy scenes yes but deeper feelings and emotions are predominant in this one.

While the action and romance are there, some humour too,  in my opinion it was also more profound, the author make me think and feel things  in the character’s perspectives and I was completely hooked and they grew on me. It also means that I was even more angry at the villain.

The author closes the story on a happy note, the characters have their happy end, but this being a series we know it can be temporary, but the investigations isn’t complete, yes faith is saved but the culprit, even simply his motives are not sure for our heroes…and that the only reason this book don’t get the maximum score….i don’t like when the bad ones go off easily, the more evil they are the more I want them to suffer.. I think I’ve become really addicted to this series at this point and next book will not be in my hands soon enough.

If you want an excellent paranormal romance with a some deepen meanings fitting in the main storyline, a book that can work as a stand alone , but you wouldn’t want to miss book 1, then try  Finding my Faith and the Six saviors series… it’s a must read!

Score:  4,5/5

Disclaimer: Source: a copy in exchange for an honest review .All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

If you want this book you can buy it on  Smashwords in the digital format you prefer or on amazon 

and book 1 is still free here for those who are just discovering this series. Enjoy! 

You can find more informations on the series and Carly on her Website 

Challenge:

August 2013, monthly wrap up post

Hi!

 Now August is finished and the summer has only 3more weeks to grant us some sun and warmth...(not the case today here but hope is still there^^), while september is quite catching my interest with the topic for the paranormal challenge ( September is dragons!!) before i start on those i need to make a little wrap up for August.

So let starts!

Event:

           August saw the 8th edition of the Bout of books read a thon and i'm glad i participated because it did boost my motivation. So i got some reading done, some drafts for review, some reviews posted ^^ . At the end i was a bit bothered by an infection to eye that made difficult reading or looking at a screen but i had done enough as not to worry.

Books received:

    For review:

ecopy of A Kiss of Blood by Kallysten you can see my review Here

ecopy of Finding my Faith ( book 2 of the six saviors series) by Carly Fall

ecopy of Midnight Conquest by Arial Burnz which was reviewed here

ecopy of Midnight Captive ( book2) by Arial Burnz ( book 3 was free )

ecopy of  Whitelighter, Encounter at Shalana, The Beast's Redemption, Horse Charmer and of the Unicorn Keep by angie Derek/Angelia Almos

    Won:

*Storm Warrior by Dani Harper:  audiobook on Under the Cover book blog ( my first audiobook!! i'm so stressed to see if i will manage to understand^^)

* an amazon gift card at Smutketter for the Burn with me release tour. Thanks RG!!

    Bought:

None. ( guess i'm making an unvoluntary book ban^^)

   Gifted:

Secret RendezVous, ebook by Sharon C . Cooper you can see my review here  It was a free book though but since i had some trouble to get it the author sent me a copy directly

Rachel did offer me something too but it's not arrived yet so it will be for a later wrap up but i still wanted to say THANK YOU!!

I forgot something or someone , sorry!

 Reviews done and posted on the blog

In English:

A good month, i've managed to do what i hoped without forgetting the challenges i've entered but could have been better because i forgot to post some review that were ready^^;;

• A Kiss of Blood (the Pacts 1.5) by Kallysten
• Secret RendezVous ( Reunited 1.5) by Sharon C. Cooper
• An Artificial Night (October Daye 3) by Seanan McGuire
• Donor ( Dresdan Coven book1) by Ambrielle Kirk
• Line of Scrimmage by Marie Force
•  Midnight Conquest ( Bonded by Blood Vampires Chronicles 1) by Arial Burnz 

• Mafia Secret by Angie Derek
• Elysian Fields ( Sentinels of New Orleans 3) by Suzanne Johnson

En français:

 Parce que je ne peux et ne veux pas oublier mes lecteurs francophones

   * Elysian Fields par Suzanne Johnson

Challenges:

Only four months left so where i'm in my goals for the divers challenge i've entered so far:

 For the sport Romance challenge i've entered 9/12 books so since i got several other books that qualify for this one i've moved to level 2

For the TBR reading Pile 2013 challenge i've entered 40 books already so  level 4: 40books, i'm thinking about moving up to the next level but i hesitate

I've read 7/10books so i will try to finish this one even if it had been suspended ( perhaps cancelled)

i aimed for 3 books and entered 5 so success

In this challenge we must read a book with a specific kind of creatures which change each month and until now it's a success, topic for tjhis month was siren/selkie/mermen, interesting topic but i wasn't that inpired either ( perhaps because i counted on a book that never showed up) i osted 5 wityh only two with the right cretaure ... i feel stupid because i had one more but it slipped my mind

RAK: 

Now, officially the event didn't took place, either Booksoulmates were on holiday or prefered to suspend it while waiting for the new version to come to light, anyway i didn't want to stop so i did a little

None received 

Send: one to Amber ( one made beforehand yes but so perfect for her^^) and i have one in preparation ( i'm not forgetting you Ruth i just had to take a break for my eyes but i will finish it^^)

Did you have a good August month? Were you a little lazy too? Full of books?

A Kiss of Blood (The Pacts 1.5) by Kallysten

Hello to all,

                       only a few hours left before September but i wanted to finish on a positive note ... today is the release date of a new novella from Kallysten and it's really a sweet one that i loved so i didn't want to wait.

Enjoy!

Publisher: Kallysten

Publication: 2013

Genre: paranormal romance, sweet romance
Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 16+ (but the rest of the series 18+)

Source: ecopy received in exchange for an honest review

Short description from goodreads :

 All Deidra wanted was a family.

Instead of a husband and children however, fate gives her a Sire, a clan, and a village she is sworn to protect from beastly demons. It also gives her Tristen, who teaches her what it means to be a vampire—and what it means to love.


When her duties to her village conflict with her Sire’s orders, she has to choose which part of her family is the most important. And Tristen, confronted with her disappearance, also needs to decide where his loyalties lie.

My opinion:

          When I was offered to review this book I admit I hesitated a few minute, I do love the author’s writing style, it’s romance and with vampires so why the hesitation? Simply because this short story is part of a universe described in a series with already 3 books released… I do prefer to read series in order and I was afraid I would miss something… However Kallysten assured me it was s stand alone and that having read prior books wasn’t needed so I gave it a try and I’m so glad I did!!!

So far it’s my favourite of her writing! You get a complete story despite it’s a short one and you do have an excellent understanding of the universe and of the vampires in it. We learn how they have made pacts (thus the series name) with humans exchanging blood for protection and how some selected villagers become recruited to join the clan. Because these vampires are foremost warrior fighting demons an when chosen to become vampire you cut all ties with your native village, you still speak for it but that’s all.

The relations within the lair are quite free because vampires there are caught they don’t love so they choose companionship.

Now the situation isn’t as simple either and we discover this universe  with Deidra eyes as she is selected and learn to live as a vampires… for her humanity is still fresh in her mind and she does have feelings… she starts doubting what she was told and Tristen responds to her feelings albeit more timidly . He teaches her, protects her and loves her even if he doesn’t say it. When Deidra’s village is destroyed she doesn’t accept her sire‘s decision, she is feeling guilty and decide to leave the lair, when Tristen isn’t there, to keep her promise: to protect the village’s children.

Once he learns about her disappearance, Tristen ask for the right to leave. He want to find her, to tell her what he is feeling and this story is so sweet, a little inspiration from sleeping beauty in a way but so, so moving!!  I really loved it and it could definitively make me want to try the series (though it won’t be a sweet romance then).

Oki there are little detail that made lift an eyebrow...like when Tristen judge Deidra “master ‘stuff”…. I can admit she could grow into one, I can see she has the right mind for that but it’s too soon…between the two Tristen is more a master, he is older, he has the knowledge and the experience…so I can understand him becoming her partner, he loves her so a ruling couple for the new pact in a sense oki but I don’t see him submitting to her…. The change of time in the story can also be abrupt sometimes but  all of that drops from your mind quickly to leave you with a huge feeling of happiness.

If you are looking for a sweet ( so sweet) romance, a short story with a happy ending to make you smile ( if not shedding a tear of joy), you love vampire but don’t want a steamy read for a change.. then try this stand alone! It more than worth it!!

Score:  5/5

Disclaimer/ Source: a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenge:

An artificial Night (October Daye 3) by Seanan McGuire

Hi!

     Nearly the end of august and the time, at least in my country,  when children and students go back to their school/university/studies. But before september starts, i still can share with you a book that fits the topic of this month since it includes selkie, i'm really getting fond of this series so i hope it won't be long before i read the rest but for now here is my opinion on "An Artificial Night ", third book in the October Daye series

Enjoy!

Publisher: DAW

Publication: 2010

ISBN:  0756406269

Genre: dark urban fantasy,romance, fey
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 18+

Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

 Experience the thrill of the hunt in the third October Daye urban fantasy novel.


October "Toby" Daye is a changeling-half human and half fae-and the only one who has earned knighthood. Now she must take on a nightmarish new challenge. Someone is stealing the children of the fae as well as mortal children, and all signs point to Blind Michael. Toby has no choice but to track the villain down-even when there are only three magical roads by which to reach Blind Michael's realm, home of the Wild Hunt-and no road may be taken more than once. If Toby cannot escape with the children, she will fall prey to the Wild Hunt and Blind Michael's inescapable power

My opinion:

          I love it!! And it can be strange since it’s dark urban fantasy but either i get used it or it was less dark this time because i didn’t cry this time. Oki i felt bad sometimes for a character or another but i was so engrossed in the story that i couldn’t stop reading. Also  in a sense the plot fits me better this time, it wasn’t about treachery but a real investigation where even the fey suffered so Toby had to fight for everyone… i enjoyed that.

The romance part though is less shown though, Tybalt is still there and i love him still but he was calmer and more cryptic than in previous books, he didn’t banter with Toby as usual in fact he was more smitten and i’m not used to see him act like that (Toby isn’t either but she also had more things on her mind at that time)

Toby is starting to accept herself more and more with her difference included. When her best friend’s children go missing she doesn’t hesitate to do what she can to get them back… even if her fetch ( kind of a reaper servant) has appeared on her doorstep signifying her imminent death. However, more children’s life are on the line since the one who took them is a firstborn, a very old fey that enjoy to change them, transform them to create his hunt, a bunch of hunter that prey on other children. It has been the same for centuries and only a few attempts to stop him has been done, he is a nightmare terror for the children but if Toby wants to enter his lands she must find her think as a child  once again because children games have the answers she is looking for and she must remember them.

Tybalt has come asking for her help, putting himself in her debt something that is not done lightly, because some of his court have also be missing like his nephew, his heir. What Toby didn’t think was that human children were taken too and she will have choices to make when instead of 8children she find several dozen needing rescue.  Quentin is with her to try to save his human girlfriend Katy but even in a child world, nothing is a simple as it seems when fey are concerned and Toby will need the help of all her loved ones to make it when they have lost hope she will survive.

I was really immersed in story and i read it quickly, the action, the plot everything was perfect and i must said that i want answer to what Tybalt said too, i was so sad for Quentin while in the same time part of me thought it was better, hard to explain but he is growing on me.I was also surprised to see how the fey were expecting Toby to fail and didn’t seem to be affected by it… only the Luiadeg was really not happy about that and went far to help Toby, she needs her more that she is willing to accept. I also appreciated to learn more about Luna but i still can’t stand her daughter.

This is really an excellent book in a excellent series so far so i recommend it without a doubt if you love fey, shifters ( my tybalt!!) but i prefer to remind you that is dark urban fantasy so you also need a strong heart because often tears are leaking.

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Secret Rendez-vous (Reunited Series 1.5) by Sharon C. Cooper

Hello to all,

                 One advantage of blog hop is to discover sometimes new authors that we don't know if we would have come across if not thanks to that opportunity. Sharon C Cooper is one of those, i was hopping and i came across her blog where we could win a ebook yes but where she told us her novella was free on amazon, after seeing the summary i was interested but kindle and me... we are far from friends even worse once again the promotion was available but only in the USA so i wrote that i would try it if i was teh lucky winner since we could pick the book of ourt choice and the format...

In the end i didn't had to, when she saw my comment she kindly contacted me to send me the link to smashwords where the books was also available ( with the promotion for everyone) and even better PDF!! ( i'm so relieved when ebook are in pdf so i can read them without too many troubles). Anyway i got the novella and i found a new author to follow so here is my opinion on Secret RendezVous and after the link if you want to discover it by yourself!

Happy reading!

Publisher: Amaris Publishing Inc

Publication: 2012

ISBN:  9780985525453

Genre: romantic suspense
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: free on Smashwords (on promotion)

Short description from goodreads :

 Former Navy SEAL, Quinn Hamilton, is a special operative for the U.S. government and has been secretly dating CIA counter-intelligence officer, Alandra Pargas, for eight months. She’s brilliant, excited by danger, and the sexiest woman he’s ever known. Together they are a force to be reckoned with - inside and outside of the bedroom. But while Alandra is on assignment in Guerrero, Mexico, she’s captured by the country’s most dangerous drug cartel, and Quinn sets out on a black op of his own to save the woman he can’t live without.


Secret Rendezvous is the short story prequel to Rendezvous with Danger

My opinion:

          So good! I definitively needed something like this short novella and if all the books from the author are of this quality I can only want more.

Since it’s a short story and even more the prequel to another book I will try not to reveal too much but that will means a shorter review. To start with something essential in my opinion….yes you can start by reading this even if you haven’t read anything by the author before. From what I gathered all books works as stand alone so yes this story is linked to book 2 in the series and I guess you would be glad o have read it later but I wasn’t feeling like I was missing something, it really didn’t bothered me to jump in the middle of the series so it was perfect.

The writing style is as I love it: clear. You got action and quickly ( hey it’s a romantic suspense AND a novella so it’s normal) but it didn’t feel rushed or not enough to stop my reading….and if the action is high level with explosive and all…the romance is steamy and not a little, the balance between the two is really well done and I enjoyed this adventure no matter how short.

We discover here, two heroes: Quinn, navy seal, chief all muscles and sex appeal but really loyal, with honor (protecting innocents and all) and protective for those he loves…. but also really dangerous if you are not a friend of him. Then we have Alandra who is also a force in her own way, she is on the terrain but her job is to blend in and gather information, she can defend herself of course but she isn’t in the “assassination” part of the job. After working together for a job, the sparks ignited a passion of the long lasting kind and they have been together since then though they kept that secret. So when during her job, Alandra is captured, Quinn doesn’t follow protocol and jump to the rescue ( sexy^^).

The author linked some elements that I think are essential for book 2 (why Quinn didn’t keep the paper!!! Man you have brain too not just muscle), we also see that the cartel is larger that what counter intelligent can imagine.  I’m also really curious about who was the one that leaked info on Alexandra because that still unknown. So there is a light cliffhanger yes but since it’s a prequel I was expecting something like that and if I’m honest we do have partly some closure too, kind of temporary happy end, yes problems are building but it will be for another day.

So really I recommend you this novella if you have a few minute and want a good romantic steamy suspense romance this is an excellent one and a good way to try an author you perhaps haven’t discovered yet with of course the risk to want more …because now I’m really aching to get book 2 and more of this explosive couple!!  And it’s free so don’t hesitate and hurry  get it when you can.

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

If you want to get your own copy, don't hesitate it's free in several formats HERE

Donor (Dresdan Coven book 1) by Ambrielle Kirk

Happy Sunday!

             i hope you had all a great Weekend, for me it was ( still is  for a few hours) the last day of the bout of books read-a-thon and thus reading and napping time ( i had to let my eyes rest if i want to fight the infection!) So far i'm happy with what i've done and that includes finishing reviews for past readings so today i will give you my opinion on a vampires romance by Ambrielle Kirk titled Donor which was recommended to me by Brenda.

By the way, if you love shifters, this author has also a series about them that i can't wait to discover.

Enjoy!

Publisher: Ambrielle Kirk

Publication: 2013

ISBN:  0373277210

Genre: paranormal romance, erotic
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: very strong
Public: 18+

Source: won

Short description from goodreads :

 Elaina was once a tracker of Dresdan, an ancient species of vampire. For years, she served District 5, whose prime agenda is to create a new race of humans. As a result of misguided politics and greed, the District becomes corrupted from the inside out. Before Elaina can expose the truth, District 5 discovers that her blood type contains the elements to create a successful hybrid. She becomes the hunted, but protection is found while in the presence of one vampire…

Vicq won’t rest until he destroys District 5 and their immoral experiments are halted. Too many Dresdan have been captured and exterminated, threatening their existence and painting them all as animals. As he plans his attack against District 5, master vampire Russo orders his death for violating a prime law of Dresdan. But Vicq is not ready to cease existing…especially since he’s found salvation with Elaina.


With very few on their side, Elaina and Vicq must cultivate a plan to ward off their enemies. In the process, they find lust, love, and new meaning to their special bond.

My opinion:

          I love it! Ambrielle Kirk created an interesting universe filled with lies and treachery where the good persons are not who they seem to be and where you must be careful with whom you trust.

Her version of vampire is called Dresdan and they are a little different from the most common vampires but still have a lot of common so you really dive into the story without bothering with the specific terms even better she added a glossary at the end of the book so you have more than enough info to fully enjoy this story.

Elaina was part of the vampire hunters thinking them to be fully evil and planning to eradicate humans, for her they kill their prey to feed from them…but all that is what she was told when she joined the hunter’s group called District 5. Joining means not work for them but completely give them all right on her life and body… she thought she was doing the right thing until she met Vicq and then life become more complicated and she discovers she has been fed lies all along.  In fact in Donor we don’t read about their first meeting we just have some info about it and some flashback (so it left material for a prequel if needed) we enter they live when Vicq reappears to protect Elaina when The district 5 members have found her trace after she went into hiding, so those events takes place 9 months after they went separate due to some circumstances we still need more info on.

Elaina had no idea the district were so close to find her and she thought Vicq was dead so she is really surprised to see him but soon they resume their relationship where it was left and we can see it was a really profound one. Vicq is really protective of her and he can’t bear the idea she would become a prisoner and subject to their experiments… because the district 5 isn’t was it was at the origin anymore now they want to create a special race of human, stronger than the vampires and for than they don’t hesitate to use dresdan, torturing them before killing them but humans as well and Elaina blood is what there are looking for since she is one of the rare human to have a blood compatible enough to create a  hybrid so they are ready to do anything to get their hands on her.

To avoid such a fate, they flee together and Vicq wants to take her to his coven which would be safe. He is a traitor for some of his own because he saved her and thinks they can live without killing… he had a high rank but preferred to loose it to stay with Elaina and after they got separated he even built his own coven, with dedicated member but his last master wouldn’t accept that and thus he is playing dead so far but willing to take risk for her. He is a kind and generous lover, quite alpha and protective. But I loved how he was bantering with her sometimes.

 We don’t see a lot of the other vampires, those against him, we see a fight but the big confrontation with past master is not in this book. This story focus on the romance and how they get back together while avoiding and escaping hunters. It’s really well done, we learn about the society of dresdan, about hybrids and their specificity but we are not overwhelmed under a mass of information either.  It’s really a captivating story and I can’t wait to learn in book 2 because “Donor” set stage for a greater story when Elaina and Vicq works together to make the world better (or I least I hope so^^).

 If you love vampire and romance you really should give this series a try!

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenge:

Line of Scrimmage by Marie Force

Hello to all,

                       I admit i got a little sidetracked with the bout of books, i have been writings reviews but i forgot to post some of them^^;;, i really need to improve.
So to start i will give you my opinion about a sport romance i won recently... yes a new author once again and if i'm right i still have 2 or 3 one to discover before going back to series i did start already.
It was an enjoyable reads  ( a great one to start the week with in fact).

so no more waiting and here is my opinion of Line of Scrimmage by Marion Force.

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication: 2008

ISBN:  1402214243

Genre: sport romance
Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: won
 

Short description from goodreads :

 "She's given up on him and moved on..."

Susannah finally has a peaceful, calm life and a no-surprises man. Marriage to football superstar Ryan Sanderson was a whirlwind of passion, heat, energy, and excitement, but Susannah got sick of playing second fiddle to his team, watching women throwing themselves at him, and living in terror of the hard hits he took on the field. With their divorce just days from being final, she's already planning a wedding with her new fiance...

"He's finally figured out what's really important to him. If only it's not too late..."


Ryan has just ten days to convince his soon-to-be ex-wife to give him a second chance. He has just brought home his third championship and his career is at its pinnacle, but during the year of their separation, Ryan's come to realize it doesn't mean anything at all without Susannah...

My opinion:

         I’m quite happy to have read this book even if I admit I had some doubts... in a whole it’s an enjoyable read, quicker that what I expected, and perfect for the summer. This is the first sport romance I read when the athlete is retiring, even more retiring by choice when still at the top….and perhaps it’s part of what I regretted because for this reason we don’t get a whole of the sport elements themselves only the fact that after several victory in a row they are big celebrations….i would have enjoyed to see more interactions between the players not just see them in less than 20pages.

Oh we do get that he Ryan is loved by his colleagues, and his superiors as well as the fans. We see the deep trust he has with his coach and we can understand he worked hard but the author centred the story on the romance leaving, in my opinion, the sport element to the side a little too much. I don’t like when it’s predominant but here it wasn’t enough.

That put aside, I got a little hesitation with the romance it self… fortunately the author managed to avoid situations I would have hated but still…Ryan come to try to win back his wife…I have nothing against that, even less knowing they were separated for other reason than cheating…but the fact that Susannah was planning a new wedding while the divorce wasn’t final that bothered me…I prefer when situation are clear so you terminated completely a relation before starting a new one or it’s cheating! And I hate cheating now like I said the author did manage to avoid that by keeping Susannah and Henri relationship platonic…. But then making Ryan making love to his wife when she hasn’t broken with Henry was once again limit ( but Henri being a jerk I can forgot that)Susannah sound like she can’t make her mind and it’s not really true to her character. She suffered a lot, her and Ryan got in a huge misunderstanding and that drove them apart but their feelings were the same all along.

Thus when, once they get back together, the hesitation and doubts start again it was a little too much for my taste, yes nothing is perfect right away but they got back together because the trust was against there so playing with that not once but 3times, that’s exaggerating. The ending felt a little rushed too but it’s an happy one and that’s the most important.

 I did smile too while reading this story but mostly thanks to the judge character so attentive and funny when he wants to be.( like his comments with the newspapers), he is quite cunning. Bernie was also a big supporter of the couple not only Ryan and that something I appreciated. Ryan can be really moving but he was hurt growing without a father and that’s reflect in his personality, sometimes I though him stupid when he doubted Susannah, then so good for guessing about Henry and being so protective with his wife then too kind ( no the girl wasn’t innocent, she accepted the money she knew was she was doing she should have been punished)…I don’t think he could have been so compassionated right after what he has lived even less with what he was thinking about his wife, later perhaps right then.. no realistic

So everything put together it’s an enjoyable romance , a good one for the summer since it’s a fast read and if you want to try sport romance but don’t like to read much about sport this is the right book for you. If you love second chance romance this is an good one.

Score:  3,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

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