Rachel BaileyBesprekingen
Auteur van The Finn Factor
Besprekingen
Although I really, really like the reason behind the 'forbidden sibling's best friend' in this novel, I'm stopping at 37%. At a point where I'm pretty sure I'm meant to be on pins and needles, instead I rolled my eyes and thought of a much better way to word the last sentence of a scene.
This is a perfectly fine novel, as far as I got. It's just not for me, is all, and so I move on.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.**
A sweet romance loaded with sexual tension and character growth!
I enjoyed reading this book. Before I started, I worried that it would be overly predictable but I never felt that way as I was reading. I think there was a great balance between the romance and the character growth and that was what kept me reading. Getting to see Scarlet and Finn interacting with family and friends really grounded their relationship and situation for me. It made it more realistic to me and made me want to root for them.
I will admit that it took me a long time to like Scarlet. When I first starting reading her POV I just couldn't understand her. Was she being naive or just oblivious to everything happening around her? Her logic frustrated me at times. However, my attitude towards her as I continued reading. While I don't think we would ever be friends in real life, I understood her character a lot more by the time I finished reading and I really liked that character growth she has.
Overall, I enjoyed this book! I think people who like New Adult stories that focus more on the coming of age aspect of the genre will adore this!
Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!
Full Review: http://wp.me/p3txrs-16P
Nick is a former SEAL who is now his brother's silent partner in their company. He works from home because he has some PTSD issues that have turned him into something of a hermit. He is also battling his ex-wife, who wants to keep his daughter Ellie from him. When he hears Harper's news, he is determined to be a part of his babies' lives.
I liked the development of Nick and Harper's relationship. Neither had been able to forget their encounter, and they quickly discovered that the chemistry between them was still strong. Harper had planned to go home to her mother for help in caring for the twins, but Nick doesn't want her to leave and proposes that they get married instead. Harper is hesitant, but Nick brings up some good points. First, she'll have the support she needs because he will be there. Second, if they are married, there is little chance that they would become targets of the unknown blackmailer known as Maverick. Third, their marriage will protect the company from any scandal resulting from their relationship. And fourth, being married will help Nick in his custody suit for his daughter Ellie. Though they agree that their marriage is business only, the attraction between them burns hotter each day.
Both Harper and Nick have some issues that have to be dealt with. The biggest is Nick's PTSD and the way he handles it. I ached for him and the pain and guilt he was carrying. As the strong, silent type, he was determined to keep his problems away from his relationship with Harper. I loved her strength of will and compassion as she refused to be shut out. Her solution was brilliant, and I loved seeing what a difference it made in Nick's life. Harper has her own fears to deal with. A childhood in a broken home has created abandonment issues, and Nick's methods of dealing with his PTSD aggravate those issues. But Harper has discovered that she's stronger than she thinks and stands up against Nick's attempts to pull away.
I loved the way that they took the time to get to know each other. Though they did things backward - first baby, then marriage, then getting to know each other, it worked for them. Nick's idea of dating, even though they were married, was inspired, and I loved the things he did. There was such a deep well of romanticism in that man and Harper was lucky to be on the receiving end. I also liked how Harper was able to get Nick to open up to her. Though each of them fought their feelings, it didn't take all that long for love to grow between them. Though Nick almost let his fears win, in the end, he trusted in Harper and her strength. The scene at the waterfall was sweet and romantic.
There was a little talk of the blackmailer, Maverick. His identity is still unknown, and in this book, there is no activity from him. Nick's ex-wife's scumbag fiancé tries using the threat of giving Maverick information about Nick to turn the custody battle. I was a little surprised at the way that turned out, but Melissa redeemed herself a little bit in that scene. I am looking forward to seeing who the blackmailer is and what drives him.
Read more of this review here:
http://www.kees2create.com.au/the-other-side/?ac=post&id=134&uid=1&p...
Absolutely enjoyed every moment of this read. A good balance of humour and emotion tied in with well drawn characters and a great plot. I didn’t think I’d enjoy a New Adult romance (I’m the mother of a new adult – it’s both a challenge and a blessing!) but Ms Bailey hits the nail squarely on the head with this one. I’m a convert. Off to read The Summer of Jake.
http://kees2review.com/2015/10/04/the-finn-factor-by-rachel-bailey/
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
This is an easy, light contemporary romance centered around Adam and Callie a couple who have enjoyed on another's company from time to time, but at a conference in Vegas, they have a little too much to drink and wake up married.
No huge thing really. They'll just quietly divorce without anyone being the wiser. Right? Well, not so fast. When Callie is handed a golden opportunity with Adam's company, her competition threatens to expose their secret marriage. Instead of giving in to extortion, Adam and Callie take a preemptive strike by announcing their marriage and planning a family wedding. Still, the couple does not plan to stay married once their business dealings are complete.
The trouble is Callie is secretly hoping Adam will want to make the marriage a real one and Adam is too busy maintaining his obsessive self control, terrified of giving himself to someone who may not feel as strongly as he does.
The best part of this story was watching Adam struggle with himself and the feelings he is trying so hard to deny. Callie stands her ground by not settling for a physical relationship only, forcing Adam to stew for a while. Thankfully Adam's brothers have already found love and are instrumental in helping Adam convince Callie he is serious, which was pretty clever and very romantic.
Overall, this is a solid, light and easy contemporary romance. 3.5 stars
Scarlett Logan has been in a bit of a dry spell. Seems she can't past the first date kiss good night. Not understanding why she turns to her best friend and roommate, Finn McKenzie for help. She's convinced it must be her kissing technique so who else to help her fix it but her best friend? Problem is once that first kiss happens their relationship seems to take a turn. While they both try and fight it not wanting to lose what they have, can you ever really forget the most memorable kiss of your life??
This is one I definitely recommend to everyone.
The Finn Factor is a light and easy read, low on angst and high on sweetness -exactly what I was looking for! Even though the blurb might sound like your typical "fell for the best friend" scenario, the characters are quirky and very charismatic which makes it stand out.
Finn is an archaeomusicologist (I didn't even know that was a thing) who apparently only wears pale blue shirts. He is the legal guardian for his two little sisters, who are not so little anymore but he still protects them and takes care of all the girls in his life. This also includes Scarlett, his best friend and roommate. He is caring and loyal and I loved the interactions between him and Scarlett. Their relationship and everything going on around them was funny and entertaining; her hippie parents camping in the backyard, arm knitting scarves for the stray dog, Scarlett's special relationship with the ice maker. Like I said, they are quirky and I totally digged that. On a side note, I googled arm knitting and was baffled to discover that it's also a real thing, I even watched a video. Anyway, The Finn Factor is adorable and funny and will leave you with a smile on your face!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
The story centres round two best friends who are secretly in love with each other but are too afraid of ruining their friendship to do anything about it. Scarlett tries to date but is ignorant of the fact that Finn is scaring each guy away at the first available opportunity, leaving her confused and frustrated. This made me laugh especially as there was no shortage of men wanting to date her but I wish we had seen these events taking place, rather than being referenced to, before the whole kissing lessons debacle began.
Finn is a really nice character. He has a lot to deal with in that he is the sole guardian of two younger sisters after the death of their parents and he takes that responsibility very seriously. He also feels a responsibility towards Scarlett. Scarlett has hippies for parents and she didn't have a permanent home while growing up as they constantly moved from place to place. Living with Finn is her first experience of having the security of a real home.
There is a lot more to this story than just Finn and Scarlett fighting their attractions for one another. Their situations are much more complex. Their background stories, while adding depth and emotion, also lends the reader to sympathise with the two characters and their fears of starting a relationship with each other. At the same time you can't help but cheer them on and yell at them to get on with it!
Three months later, neither has yet done so, when Callie shows up in Adam's office. She's being offered a promotion at her PR firm, and one of the accounts she'll be working on is that of the Hawke Brothers Trust. She wanted to let him know so that they can quickly deal with their marriage and so it doesn't become an issue with working together. But before they can do so, a jealous coworker of Callie's threatens to take the secret marriage to the tabloids. The only thing they can do is make it look real and take it public themselves. I loved seeing the way that they laid everything out like a PR project, and couldn't wait to see how real life was going to affect it.
To aid in the deception, Callie moves in with Adam, but here is where things start to get a little tricky. They have never been able to deny the attraction between them, and living together without giving in to it is making their public interactions less than convincing. They decide that they can be adult enough to enjoy their time together without becoming "emotionally compromised."
Adam has always felt an incredible amount of responsibility for his family, and been especially protective of his brothers. As a kid, he was closest to his grandfather and saw the fallout when his grandfather fell in love with a woman who didn't feel the same way. He swore he would never allow himself to lose control of himself that way. Even when he helped his brothers win their loves, he didn't allow ideas of love for himself. The only time he let go of control was the night he married Callie, and he's been running from those feelings ever since.
As Adam and Callie are forced to spend time together, they get to know each other in ways they hadn't with their brief hookups. Their connection gets stronger, but neither wants to believe that it is anything more than sex. They start to talk about keeping their affair going even after they divorce, because neither is truly willing to let go of what they have. But when Callie realizes that she has truly fallen in love with Adam, she can't stand the idea of going forward without his returning her love and leaves. Adam has to confront his fears and decide if he's willing to risk it all to get it all. His big moment was a huge step for him and really well done. The ending was sweet and romantic and the perfect wrap up for the series.
I really liked getting to catch up with Liam and Jenna, and Dylan and Faith. It was great to see the way that they all accepted Callie so easily, even knowing the details of the relationship. I loved their parts at the end, especially the way that Liam and Dylan confronted Adam after Callie left. It was so much fun to see them turn the tables on him.
Dylan is the youngest of the Hawke brothers and the one known for being a bit of a playboy. With his older brother about to marry a princess (The Nanny Proposition) he feels that it is time to change his reputation. He starts by offering himself as one of the bachelors for his new sister-in-law's charity auction. He notices "Faith Sixty-three" as soon as she starts bidding on him and is looking forward to their date - until he discovers that she works for him.
I loved the auction. Dylan isn't really comfortable doing it, but it says a lot about him that he was willing to put himself through it to help out Jenna. It was fun to see him rooting for Faith to be the winner. The zing of attraction has him really looking forward to their date. His disappointment the next day, when he discovered she's an employee, was deep. I also loved his initial confusion over just what it was she wanted. I liked Faith and how she found a way to go after what she wants. All she's looking for is an honest chance to get her work looked at. She wasn't expecting to want Dylan in a personal way, and she fought it. She knows the company policy also. When their first "date" doesn't go as expected, she's determined to try again, but the after effects of the unexpected kiss they shared are hard to ignore. I loved her reaction to the promotion she was offered and how she made Dylan understand her point of view.
It was great to see the way that Dylan began to understand Faith and what she was really looking for. I loved the way that he introduced her to his brother Liam, and the doors that opened for her. Because of the company policy against fraternization, they tried very hard to keep things professional, but it was a losing battle. I loved seeing the way that they were able to share parts of their pasts with each other, and how they got closer because of it. But when her emotions started getting involved, Faith panicked.
Because of events in her past, Faith doesn't trust that anyone she cares about will stay in her life. She's afraid that the same thing will happen with Dylan, so she pulls away first. I hurt for him, because he had put his feelings out there, but he had also missed doing some things that would make her believe in him. A kick in the seat from his brothers made him see where he went wrong. I loved the ending and seeing Dylan's "go big" moment and how Faith reacted.
I really enjoyed the background of the flower business and seeing some of the behind the scenes things. I loved Dylan's recounting of how the business began and the parts he and his brothers played when they were younger. The story of the new flower and the things that went into its launch were really interesting. I also enjoyed the relationship the brothers had with each other. It was fun to see them give Dylan a hard time, but they were there to support him when he needed them. I'm really looking forward to Adam's story.
Jenna is a single mother of an eight month old girl who is working as a housekeeper for Liam's brother. Liam wastes no time in hiring Jenna away from Dylan. Jenna can't resist taking the job because it means she can keep her baby with her while she works. She doesn't know how long she'll be staying, as she knows she needs to go home sooner or later.
I loved seeing Jenna tutor Liam in how to be a parent. He is so sweet in his determination to be everything she needs. It was heartwarming to see how quickly he took to being a dad. Jenna and Liam do some bonding themselves over late night baby bottles. Jenna gives Liam some great ideas for the launch of his new flower. She also encourages him to reach out to Bonnie's other grandparents and see if a compromise can be reached in their custody battle.
There's a deepening attraction and growing feelings between Liam and Jenna. They start to feel like they're building a family. But Jenna's conscience starts to bother her and she decides it's time for her to go home and face her parents. Before she can go, she feels she has to tell Liam the truth about who she is. Liam is intimidated by what she tells him, for it brings back some bad memories from when he was younger. It takes an eye opening conversation with his brothers to straighten him out. Then all he has to do is face Jenna's parents. That scene was fantastic and brought the fairy tale to the perfect conclusion.
I liked Hayden also. After the death of his wife he realized that he didn't like the way she had shut him out of his son's life. He was now going to make Josh the center of his life and not risk giving someone else the same power over Josh's life. His attraction to Lucy is very unwelcome and distracting. His main focus has to be on finding the truth behind the phone hacking and being with Lucy is definitely a conflict of interest. I really loved the way that he was so intent on being a good father and how much he obviously loved Josh. I also liked the way that he included Lucy in some of the things he did with Josh even though he was insisting that a relationship was impossible. He was fighting his feelings hard but it became obvious to Hayden that he cared more than he should. I also really liked the way all of his investigating was done within the law, unlike what the news station did.
There was a really interesting twist in the investigation that I didn't see coming. I'm also looking forward to the next book to see what happens with the news station and the continuing investigation.
We were briefly introduced to JT Hartley, previously in Rachel Bailey’s At the Billionaire’s Beck and Call, and then again in Million-Dollar Amnesia Scandal, when he appeared to challenge the will of his late father.
The Book Blurb reads:
He's returned for a fortune and is confronted by memories. Though tycoon JT Hartley is a success in his own right, he's set on claiming his share of his late father's legacy. But first he has to get past the estate executor—none other than Pia Baxter, a woman he's never forgotten.
Theirs had been a fast-and-furious union that ended all too suddenly. And though desire still courses between them, JT knows starting anything with Pia again is just asking for trouble. His future is set in stone. But even the best-laid plans are no match for true passion.
Note: although this book is linked to earlier books, it stands alone - you don't need to have read the other books to be able to read this one.
My Review:
Pia Baxter is about to be promoted at the law firm she works for. She brought in a big client, the Bramson account. And now she has to clear up this account and the will of Warner Bramson and she’ll be on her way to the partnership offered. No one will come in her way, will they?
JT Hartley finds out he is the illegitimate son of Warner Bramson. And he is determined to challenge the will as the first-born son to get his mother acknowledged. He is a self-made, hard-working property developer now but in his teens he was the rebel from the wrong side of the tracks whom Pia loved. Facing Pia after fourteen years takes them back to their teenage passion and they find out that the attraction still smolders underneath their adult selves. But can JT trust that she won’t walk away, breaking his heart all over again?
Pia knew she broke his heart before and to make amends she wants all three brothers to get together. She wants to do this for JT. Will she succeed in getting the whole family together?
The poignant and realistic way Pia and JT deal with their past is truly magical to read. And when Pia discovers she is expecting
JT’s baby once again, the sensitivity JT shows is very thrilling.
RETURN OF THE SECRET HEIR is as much a story about recovering from past grief and guilt as it is about the unquenchable desire between Pia and JT. It truly is a romance packed with sizzle and sexual tension adding to the page turning quality of the book. It was also lovely catching up with Ryder, Macy, Seth and April.
Rachel Bailey’s master story-telling makes the characters come alive on the pages and the reader is personally involved in their happiness and craves the resolution as deeply as they do.
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4 Stars
When his young son is hospitalized, Matt Kincaid contacts the only person in a position to save his life - Susannah Parrish, the boy's biological mother. After agreeing to act as a surrogate for Matt and his wife's child, Susannah never believed she would see her child again. The situation is made all the more difficult by her intense attraction to his widowed father. Can Matt and Susannah overcome the secrets of the past to have a future together?
After reading the first book in the series a few years ago, I had not planned on continuing. Nevertheless, the book fit well into a challenge, and so I decided to bite the bullet. I am so glad that I did as this is a delightful read.
Matt and Susannah's pseudo-forbidden romance is very sweet. Susannah's open, generous and loving nature makes it easy to identify with her character, and Matt's struggle to come to terms with the guilt over his wife's death and his attraction for Susannah is realistic and believable.
The ongoing mystery surrounding the death of Matt's father continues with an intriguing twist. That said, I am beginning to develop a theory regarding the killer's identity. It will be interesting to see if it pans out.