Spin-off Saturdays: On Saturdays, I will review a series that is a spin-off series. It is recommended that you read the original series first in order to get the most out of the spin-off series. Here is this week’s offering:
Author: Monica Murphy Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Second Chance Heat Rating: Toasty Point of View: First Person, Alternating Publication Date: September 22, 2022 Source & Format: Author—ARC
WARNING: If you have not finished the original novel, this review may have spoilers!
My Expectations?
I always enjoy a good redemption story and I was eager to get inside the head of the complex Sylvie Lancaster we met in Things I Wanted to Say but Never Did. I honestly don’t remember if Spencer was mentioned much in that book because I was totally consumed with Whit and Summer’s angsty love, but I do remember finishing it and wanting Sylvie’s story one day. We ended up getting A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime before this one (no complaints!) so I was really excited to dive into this one when it was officially announced.
How Does It Compare To The Original?
–Not As Angsty–
I missed the angst though there is plenty of steam between the two leads. I just craved a little more drama to their second chance romance. While I always enjoy romances where the characters actually chat about their issues, everything here just felt too easy. Perhaps I put this expectation of their romance being a little more forbidden than it actually is given the fact that Spencer is Sylvie’s brother’s best friend?
–More A Redemption Story–
While I enjoyed the arrogance that is Whit Lancaster, this story is really about Sylvie’s redemption story. In that way, it definitely succeeds. It was great to understand her character and her motives. And it was also great to watch her grow and become her own person as she learned from her past.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
–Need a Little More Plot in the Middle–
The course of true love never did run smooth but I think in this case, it might have. Since it lacked the angst of the romance, it just needed a little something more to keep the story going. Some more obstacles or tension would have helped to move the story’s pacing.
Series Rating: 3/5
It wasn’t nearly as addicting to read as Whit’s book though I think fans will still enjoy this one! Especially those who wanted to know more about the infamous Sylvie!
Read if You Like: redemption stories, second chance romances Avoid if You: want more angst
Always Been You by Beverley Kendall (Unforgettable You Series #3)
Synopsis for Promises We Meant to Keep (from Goodreads):
Spencer Donato.
My brother’s best friend.
My dirty little secret.
We fell for each other at Lancaster Prep. Sneaking around. Not wanting anyone to find out. He was my first love, my protector, my knight in shining armor. We were made for each other, and I truly believed he was my forever.
But then I did the unthinkable, and betrayed him in the worst possible way. I thought I lost him for good…
Until I saw him at my brother’s wedding. Now he’s older. Crueler. Unbearably handsome. We’re drawn to each other still, but will Spencer be there for me when I need him the most? Or did I ruin us once again?
Fresh Fridays: On Friday, I review a brand new series (ie. only has one book released so far) to see if the series is worth keeping up with. Here is this week’s offering:
The Arranged Marriage Trilogy
Synopsis for The Reluctant Bride (from Goodreads):
Everyone’s for sale, including me. One moment I’m the forgotten daughter of one of the most wealthy families in the country, and the next I’m the blushing bride in an arranged marriage. My fate is sealed in my wedded union with a complete stranger.
In public, Perry Constantine is the life of the party. Easygoing. Adored. In private, he’s brooding. Dark. Angry. But so am I. It’s a contest of wills to see who will break in the bedroom first, and while I try to remain strong, I find myself craving the very man I swore to hate.
Author: Monica Murphy # of Books: 3 (Full Reading Order Here) Book Order: Chronological Complete?: Yes Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance Heat Rating: Hot Point of View: First Person, Alternating Publication Date: April 19, 2022 – August 16, 2022 Source & Format: Author–eARC
**This post was originally published as a Fresh Friday review of the first book of the series. It has now been updated to include the newest publications in the series.**
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
I wanted to read this book as soon as Monica announced she was writing it. It was only a happy coincidence that I discovered the Midnight Dynasty Universe, before this book was published and met Perry in his brother’s book, Stroke of Midnight, and absolutely loved him. So I was DYING for his book to be released.
The Concept – Midnight Dynasty:
The Midnight Dynasty Universeis a collection of books (series and standalones) written by different authors but feature the characters from a collective world. They’re intended to be read in any order because each series focuses on two lead characters at a time, but there are some shared chronological events and character interactions throughout the universe that overlap in the different series.
This series takes place after a number of other titles in the world chronologically. It is also linked to other Monica Murphy titles: A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime and The Wrong Brother — the books about Charlotte’s brothers.
What I Liked:
–Slow Burn–
Forced into a marriage to appease their powerful families, these two fight this innate connection pulling them together. When they start to realize that they have more in common than the thought, the walls slowly come down and the beginning of something beautiful starts to take shape.
–Charlotte–
I adored her. She has such depth to her character but, like her relationship with Perry, it slowly comes up to the surface as she tries to make her way in the world.
–Perry–
I’ve always loved Perry. He’s got this charisma to him and a heart of gold that I was so excited to see him find his perfect match. Charlotte keeps him on his toes and brings out his true self which I appreciate.
What I Didn’t Like:
–I Have to Wait for the Next One–
Since February, I’ve been binge reading all the Midnight Dynasty Universe that have been published so far. I hate that I have to wait to see what will happen next and not simply pick up the next book immediately after finishing!
My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:
While I quickly put together the ending within the last few chapters, I cannot wait to see where this one goes!
–June 23, 2022– Book #2: The Ruthless Groom
I love these two so much! It was great seeing them get to know each other a little more and open up to the idea of this being a real marriage. They have a great dynamic and communicate so well together. It’s an absolute treat to watch them in a scene together.
I’ve adored Perry every time he makes an appearance in the Midnight Dynasty novels, but it is so fantastic to get his inner monologue. He is quickly becoming a favourite of the universe for me. And I love seeing this vulnerable side that Charlotte seems to bring out of him. It expands his character development perfectly.
Charlotte is coming into her own too. I’m enjoying her character evolution in this series. She’s feisty as she learns to rebel and become her own person. It’s so satisfying to watch.
There was also this edge of suspense that steadily built until that cliffhanger ending! Gah! Can’t wait for the finale!
–August 24, 2022– Book #3: The Reckless Union
This installment has an edge of dangerous suspense to it that made it hard to put down. All the while it’s laced with plenty of steamy moments to satisfy the Perry and Charlotte fans. It cements this series as the perfect addition to the Midnight Dynasty Universe, especially for those fans who have been waiting for Perry’s story for a long time!
Midnight Dynasty’s Reading Order:
I had found a suggested reading order on Redit but have made some recommendations based on my own readings. Here is the suggested order based on that post and my own readings:
The Reluctant Bride 4.5/5 | The Ruthless Groom 5/5 | The Reckless Groom TBP
This series has all the suspense and family intrigue of the Midnight Dynasty Universe but those unfamiliar with the world will find themselves captivated by this couple and how they fit into it.
Read if You Like: slow burn romance, fake relationships Avoid if You: want hardcore erotica
Spin-off Saturdays: On Saturdays, I will review a series that is a spin-off series. It is recommended that you read the original series first in order to get the most out of the spin-off series. Here is this week’s offering:
There is a prequel novella: #0.5 Temporary Arrangement
Book Order: Connected Complete?: Yes Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Drama Heat Rating: Toasty Point of View: Third Person, Alternating Publication Date: July 2013 – July 2014 Source & Format: Own—eBook
WARNING: If you have not finished the original series, this review may have spoilers!
My Expectations?
When Anastasia’s true paternity is revealed in the Worth It Series, we get introduced to a different side of The Renaldis Family. I was really excited to learn more about this family when I finished the inaugural series — I even pre-ordered the first book! But life got in the way and unfortunately, I never managed to read the series until years later when the finer details of the Worth It Series were forgotten.
How Does It Compare To The Original?
–Has the Family Drama–
Just like its predecessor, The Renaldis Series packs in lots of family drama along the way. While I found that the siblings weren’t as involved in each story as the Worth brothers were in their series, you still have family members meddling (or helping) along the way to fuel the drama. I did miss the more overarching plot that the previous series had (drama with the family business); the drama in this series is more about the emotional obstacles stopping these couples from being together. But the drama we do get is definitely melodramatic.
–Passionate, Forbidden Romances–
Things move quickly in all these books (maybe a little too quickly sometimes) but there is definitely chemistry with all the romantic pairs–even if they are quick to deny it themselves. I would have liked to have seen things worked out a little more, but melodramatics is the goal here and that is certainly achieved with the romances.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
–Kidnapping His Bride–
I had really mixed feelings about Book #2, Kidnapping His Bride. I love reading about arranged matches in modern romances; it’s an interesting dynamic to explore. But I really struggled with Rafe’s approach to his “promised to Cat since they were children” dilemma.
He claims Cat has been the only one for him yet he slept around with other girls despite knowing their arrangement. Then he gets upset when she wants to break it off because she didn’t think it was a serious arrangement…just like he did. It’s hypocritical and I don’t like that trait in an alpha male. His approach is something that would work more in a historical romance when society was different, but it just felt icky in a modern romance. I almost stopped reading it when that was brought up early on in the book.
Series Rating: 3/5
[Temporary Arrangement 4/5 ] | Tempted by Her Boss 4/5 | Kidnapping His Bride 2/5 | Falling for Her Husband 3/5
If you want some quick, passionate romances these fit the bill. But if you want deeper romantic connections, look elsewhere. I think my reading tastes have evolved since I read the inaugural series and I think I would have enjoyed these more if I read them closer together.
Read if You Like: quick reads, soap operas Avoid if You: dislike melodramatics
Synopsis for Tempted by Her Boss (from Goodreads):
Paige Stewart has committed the ultimate nanny sin—she’s fallen in love with her boss. She adores Matteo Renaldi’s sweet, precocious son. Who wouldn’t? But it’s torture going about her day-to-day tasks, catching fleeting glimpses of the boy’s enigmatic father. Chastising herself for fantasizing she’s in the Renaldi master bed…
It’s ridiculous, pointless. After all, soon little Matty won’t need her anymore and she’ll move on.
Matteo has no interest in dating. He’s consumed by work, his son…and his son’s nanny. She’s everything he’s not: young, carefree, trusting, maybe a little naïve. She deserves better than an embittered widower. Yet when she accidentally falls into his arms, he can’t resist drawing her in for a kiss that quickly spirals out of control.
As they travel to his family’s home in Italy and slowly fall in love, the whispers start. And when one particularly ugly story blows up in their faces, their reputations might escape unscathed, but their hearts may not…
Spin-off Saturdays: On Saturdays, I will review a series that is a spin-off series. It is recommended that you read the original series first in order to get the most out of the spin-off series. Here is this week’s offering:
Author: Monica Murphy # of Books: 4 (Full Reading Order Here) Book Order: Connected Complete?: No Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance Heat Rating: Toasty Point of View: First Person, Alternating Publication Date: April 2021 – ongoing Source & Format: Author—eARC
WARNING: If you have not finished the original series, this review may have spoilers!
**This post was originally published as a Series Review of the first few of the series. It has now been updated to include the newest publications in the series.**
My Expectations?
I was super excited when Monica Murphy announced a spin-off series of her The Callahans Series. While I loved all the Callahan children (because their parents are my fall time favourite), I really got invested in some of their friends throughout the series. I felt like there were a lot of unfinished stories to tell. And the fact that they were going to be New Adult–my favourite of the genres Monica Murphy writes–I was eagerly awaiting their release.
How Does It Compare To The Original?
–More Realistic Approach–
I found The Callahans Series could be melodramatic at times. It’s also very angsty with the leads all being in high school. But there was an air of maturity to this new series that I liked. These stories are as grounded as they can be while still being dramatic. They explore a lot of everyday scenarios like “girl dating younger guy”, “high school romances in college” and “falling for your friend”.
I think part of my “disappointment” with The Freshman (#1) was that I kept waiting for the melodrama to come but it didn’t (there were some pacing issues with the plot as a whole I thought) and looking back, I can appreciate that approach more than I did when I was reading it.
–Focus On Friendship–
One thing I’ve always enjoyed about these characters is their loyalty to their friendships. Your high school relationships change when you go to college/university for a variety of reasons. These novels explore that a bit. But they also highlight what a support group your friends can be throughout your life. Again, it comes with the newfound maturity these characters have but we seem to have left the toxic soap opera friendships in high school and I am all for it.
–Slow Burn Romances–
For the most part, these romances have been a slow burn. Unlike the original series where things seemed to happen quickly (young love and all of that), these relationships take their time to develop and grow. And as a result, the characters evolve as well.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
–Plot Pacing–
As I mentioned above, I struggled with the plot pacing of The Freshman (#1). Part of that is a slightly misleading synopsis but also the fact that they story never really climaxed dramatically. The anticipation was more like an unexpected speed bump that makes you go “oh well” and you carry on. Not really the “forbidden” romance I was craving.
–Uneven Character Development–
I craved more insight into our hero in The Sophomore (#2). I felt he wasn’t as developed as he could have been and I found his character came across as wish-washy in his convictions and actions.
My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:
I’m very excited for the third book, The Junior. While I know who the hero is, I’m not sure how his story will go!
–September 13, 2021– Book #3: The Junior
I’ll admit, this took a while for me to get into. I thought it would be a passionate affair right from the start but instead, like the other books in this series so far, we get a slow burn romance that brews.
And I really liked that because it made this story a little more grounded and made the romance believable. They say a leopard can’t change its spots; and the same can be said about the “player” bad boy who chases after girls constantly. You have to sell the transformation to the reader. These two really work at being friends first, resisting that simmering attraction and getting to know each other a little better. It helps that they are both super similar so it was easy to see why they would work together so well.
–November 11, 2021– Book #4: The Senior
I was never the biggest fan of our hero in this book. I seem to be in the minority for that when it comes to this series but I am always down for a good redemption story.
It took me awhile to get into this thanks to the constant back and forth between our couple at the start. I get that it’s their “thing” so to speak (it’s their main trope) and it provides plenty of steamy scenes, but I could have done with a little less and still gotten the point. There are a lot of big impact moments that happen in the last 25-30% of the book that help shape up his character; I would have liked to have seen more of that character evolution earlier on.
Overall, it’s a solid way to end the series. I think fans will enjoy the return of this fan-favourite couple especially.
Series Rating: 3.5/5
The Freshman 3/5 | The Sophomore 4/5 | The Junior 3/5 | The Senior 3/5
With a more mature, grounded approach, fans of The Callahans Series will enjoy watching their favourite characters grow up into adults.
Read if You Like: new adult romances, books that focus on a group of friends Avoid if You: dislike contemporary romance
I started flirting with a guy while waiting for my car to be serviced. Now granted, he wasn’t just any guy. Tall. Dark. Hot. Mysterious. Can you blame me for wanting to talk to him? He’s in town visiting his parents. So am I. He goes to the same college as I do. Such a coincidence. Almost as if our meeting is destined…
But I shouldn’t believe in that sort of thing. I am single as a Pringle and always ready to mingle. Until I keep running into Mr. Tall, Dark and Mysterious everywhere I go. Tony Sorrento. Turns out he’s on the football team. I mean, I’m not one to chase after a sexy jock but, okay. I’m down. And did I mention he’s only a freshman?
Our fathers are business rivals, and they forbid us from dating. We need to keep this on the low. Can we remain friendly? Sure. Maybe turn our friendship into friends with benefits? Most definitely. Here’s the thing though. I didn’t plan on catching feelings for him so quickly. Seems like he’s falling pretty hard for me too.
Defying our fathers’ wishes is only asking for trouble, but is being with Tony worth the risk?
Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:
Synopsis for Game for Marriage (from Goodreads):
He’s going in deep to make her his…
Struggling artist Sheridan Harper never imagined she’d spend a sizzling night with Jared Quinn, the smoking-hot star quarterback of her local professional football team, the San Jose Hawks. And she’s even more shocked when Jared’s publicist offers her a proposition: a fake marriage to keep Jared out of the gossip mags. Being that close to Jared would be too tempting, so to protect her heart, she insists on secretly including a clause forbidding sex between them.
Jared just wants to keep his starting QB job and keep it in San Jose. His reputation as a ladies’ man has landed him in the headlines one too many times, but there’s something about his kind, passionate new wife that tempts him beyond reason. Any sort of intimacy between them is completely forbidden, but as their bodies fall in deep, will their hearts follow suit?
I think I found out about this series after I finished Erickson’s Worth It Series but I’m not sure. All I know is that in the time since I picked up Game for Marriage as a freebie, I’ve read many of Erickson’s works as Monica Murphy so I was excited to dive back into her world of adult romance.
The Plot:
If you love the fake relationship trope, this is the series for you! Honestly, all three of these books focus on some form of a “arranged relationship” so I really liked that.
But these books just skim the surface of everything. They focus on the sexy times and don’t delve too deep into the characters’ pasts anymore than they need to. And you’ve got your classic little white lies that blow up into something huge simply for the sake of drama. All of that just left me feeling like I was missing that little je-ne-sais-quoi to take these books to that next level.
The Characters:
They’re all likeable albeit somewhat bland. Again, it comes back to not really developing them all that much for the sake of sex scenes. They do their job at delivering the story.
The Romance:
While I love sexy times as much as the next reader, I also like conversations between my romantic leads. So while they had tangible sexual chemistry, that deeper connection was missing for me a little–especially when everything plotwise seems to happen within a month or less.
Series Rating: 3/5
Game for Marriage 3.5/5 | Game for Trouble 3/5 | Game for Tonight 3/5
If you want quick, flirty romance reads this is a great series to pick up!
Read if You Like: quick romance reads Avoid if You: want deeper plots and characters
Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:
The Callahans Series
Synopsis for Close to Me (from Goodreads):
Asher Davis. My first crush.
My first kiss.
The boy who ripped my heart out of my chest again and again. Over and over. I let him have it every single time.
Willingly.
We are that toxic high school couple you hear about, the one you witness in the hallway avoiding each other. You laugh at them in class when they’re forced to work together, their gazes full of hatred. We are the couple you gossip about when they win homecoming prince and princess their sophomore year…
The back and forth is what kills me the most. I’m not his princess, I’m the girl he toys with when he’s bored. And he’s definitely not my prince, no matter how badly I want him to be.
Our senior year and we’re months away from never having to see each other again when disaster strikes—and brings us closer together. All it takes is one touch, and I’m burning for Ash. Hotter than I ever have.
But will that burn turn into a devastating fire? Or can we actually make it work this time?
Author: Monica Murphy # of Books: 7 (Full Reading Order Here) Book Order: Connected (#1-2, #5-7) + Direct Sequel (#3 & #4) Complete?: Yes Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance Heat Rating: warm Point of View: First Person, Alternating Publication Date: February 2020 – May 2022 Source & Format: Kindle Unlimited–eBook; Author–ARC (#3, #5, #6, #7 only)
Books #3, #5, #6 & #7 only
WARNING: If you have not finished the original series, this review may have spoilers!
**This post was originally published as a Fresh Friday review of the first book of the series. It has now been updated to include the newest publications in the series.**
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
Drew and Fable (One Week Girlfriend) hold a special place in my heart. Their novel was one of the first New Adult Romances I ever read and therefore helped set a standard for what I look for in a NA read. I love their relationship and their story.
So getting to watch their kids fall in love? YES PLEASE!
How Does It Compare To The Original?
Just like the original series, I was sucked right in by these two. The back and forth moments from their past had me hooked to see what would happen next. Monica Murphy can write great tension between her leads, making the slow burn all that sweeter.
Another thing I really loved–that we don’t often see in YA–is great supportive parents. Part of Drew and Fable’s issues in their respective stories is their shitty parents so it was great to see them break from that cycle and be great, supportive parents. It was amazing to see what an impact parental relationships can have on a YA story.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
I do think I could have done without the few chapters from Ash’s perspective. Because most of the book is told by Autumn, I had built up this idea of Ash and his feelings so sometimes his POV chapters seemed to contradict what I have perceived earlier.
My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:
Very excited to see who will fall in love next!
–October 26, 2020– Book #2: Falling for Her
While I thought his novel was super cute, I struggled a lot with the pacing. In some ways, it felt longer than it needed to be but it also allowed for the romance to have a slow burn to it that I rather enjoyed when all is said an done. Developing their friendship and having Jake work on himself a bit allowed the romance to be deeper than I initially thought it would be presented as.
–October 26, 2020– Book #3: Addicted to Him
Disclaimer: I stopped reading Addicted to Him at 13% (Start of Chapter 14).
So when I discovered who Ava would fall in love with, I was very excited. We got little tidbits in the previous novel and that just stoked the flames a little higher for me so I couldn’t wait.
OH BOY, this was a mess from the start for me. It’s such a shame too! But our hero turned me off by the end of Chapter 1 with his behaviour and I had a hard time seeing how the Ava I had come to know in the other books would fall for his shit.
I did give it a few more chapters to work itself out. After all, I love a good redemption story. But alas, he did not redeem himself and I found their romance to be problematic as a result. My Goodreads review explains it better here. And knowing that their story continues in another book, I bowed out.
–October 26, 2020– Book #4: Meant to Be
Because this is a direct sequel to book #3, Addicted to Him, I did not read this installment
–July 12, 2021– Book #5: Fighting For You
I didn’t read the book where these two are introduced but I was immediately sucked into their story. Normally I don’t like being thrown into a book where it’s assumed you know something about the characters because they were in a previous book. So I didn’t need to be overly familiar with their past because I wanted to see their future.
I thought both characters really matured throughout the story and went about their circumstances in a healthy way. It was positive and heartwarming but also had a good dose of reality along the way.
–January 14, 2022– Book #6: Making Her Mine
I’ve been looking forward to Beck’s book since the start of the series. He is so sweet and has a great heart. I think he is the perfect combination of his parents’ personalities so I wanted to see that all come together and for him to find his perfect match.
I haven’t read the prequel stuff, When Bae, about these two and maybe I should have. They move at a fast pace because of their shared past and I wish I had that background experience (even though you definitely get the gist within this book). But these two reinforce the idea that when you are with the right person, things come easily and feel natural. It was so obvious that they liked each other but kept missing their shot for one reason or another so it was so sweet seeing things finally align for them!
It’s bittersweet that this is the last book of the Callahan clan. I know we are getting a wedding book to wrap everything up but this is the last time we see one of the kids fall in love for the first time so I’m going to miss that aspect and spending that time with this family.
–May 15, 2022– Book #7: A Callahan Wedding
In a way this is a love letter to fans of the Drew and Fable Series, The Callahans and the College Years Series. You get the glimpses of where everyone is in their lives years later. Everyone loves a happily ever after and I’m one of those readers who needs to know every single detail of characters’ lives once their story ends. To me, a story isn’t complete without an epilogue and this novella series as the last extended epilogue to so many great romances.
My Series Rating: 4/5
Close to Me 4/5 | Falling for Her 3/5 | Addicted to Him DNF | Meant to Be N/A | Fighting for You 4/5 | Making Her Mine 4/5 | A Callahan Wedding 5/5
While it was angsty and the drama does get a little over the top at times, this is an addicting romance for new and returning fans–if you read the first two books. I didn’t like the content of the 3rd book nor how it continued into a duet. But Book #5 reminded me how great Monica Murphy’s romances can be.
Read if You Like: angsty YA romance, supportive parents Avoid if You: dislike YA contemporary romance
Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:
Synopsis for His Reverie (from Goodreads):
I knew from the moment I first saw her she was the one. The only girl I could ever want.
The only girl I could ever love.
She is light.
I am darkness.
She is innocent.
I’ve done too much.
She is good.
I am bad.
She is my every dream.
I should be her every nightmare.
We come from different worlds. She’s…perfect. And I’m…
Not.
Somehow she wants me anyway. So we’ll grasp at what we can. We’re going to make this summer count. She’s my secret. And I’m hers.
The problem with secrets is they never last for long. And when others discover we’re together, they’ll do whatever it takes to keep us apart. All I know is: I won’t let them.
Because Reverie Hale? She’s mine.
SERIESous’ Top Picks: Favourite Author Series: Reverie Author: Monica Murphy # of Books: 2 (His Reverie, Her Destiny) Book Order: Chronolgical Complete?: Yes Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Drama Heat Rating: really warm **spicy YA** Point of View: First Person, Alternating Publication Dates: July 2014 – August 2014 Source & Format: Own & Public Library–eBook
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
I read pretty much anything by Monica Murphy so it’s no surprise that I had the first book sitting on my Kobo shortly after its release. And like many books I own, I don’t get around to them until years later (thought it’s no fault of their own).
I was eager to start this forbidden “New Adult” love story and I made sure to pick up the sequel from my library as my card was expiring to binge read the series.
The Concept:
First and foremost, I would classify this story as Young Adult and not necessarily “New Adult”. To me, “New Adult” stories take place the summer after high school to the first year after graduating college. These characters are still in high school and to me, it reads like your more dramatic YA contemporaries.
One thing I enjoyed about His Reverie is that it is mostly told through Nick’s POV with the occasional diary entry from Reverie along the way. It’s not often that you get a romance novel told solely (or close to) from the male POV so I enjoyed that fresh take.
The Plot:
This story centers itself on a very dramatic first love. Monica Murphy has a knack for writing dramatic YA and it definitely shows in this series. It reads almost like a soap opera but the characters are pretty grounded so it isn’t as over the top as you expect.
The Characters:
I really liked these two. Nick is trying to do his best given the crappy hand life has dealt him but his heart is in the right place. You really want to root for him after all the stuff he has gone through.
I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t sure about Reverie at the start. I’m not always the biggest fan of the “innocent” heroine and their accompanying naivety but she really grew on me as the series progressed. I think she has the best character development in the series of the two.
The Romance:
If you enjoy stories about all consuming first loves, this is one for you! I thought these two were cute together but I needed to see more substance to their relationship. To me, they are in lust not love for a majority of His Reverie. It’s a very insta-love connection, one that is mostly based in attractiveness and this unspoken connection. Later on in the book it is implied that they talk and bond over other things but I felt like their feelings developed much too fast for me to be completely convinced it’s true love.
Series Rating: 3/5
His Reverie 3/5 | Her Destiny 3/5
If you like lots of drama in your YA contemporaries and stories about first loves, this is a great (and shorter) series to pick up!
Read if You Like: stories about first love, lots of drama, quicker reads Avoid if You: dislike lots of drama
Synopsis for You Promised Me Forever (from Goodreads):
I’ve got it all, they say. I’m the starting quarterback for the best NFL team in the league. I’m rich. I’m famous. I can have any woman I want, any time I want.
Yeah, I’ve got everything—except for the one who got away. How do you move on from loving the same girl since you were in the seventh grade? She promised me forever. Until forever got too hard and at nineteen, she dumped me.
By text message.
Now she’s walked back into my life. Just as beautiful. Just as sweet. Just as smart. More grown up and incredibly sexy…
We’re older now. Supposedly wiser. This time, I’m going to fight for what I want, no matter how hard it gets.
You Promised Me Forever features leads from the Friends Series
Author: Monica Murphy # of Books: 1+ (Full Series Order Here) Book Order: Connected Complete?: No, Nothing Without You, is to be published March 2019 Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Second Chance Heat Rating: Toasty Point of View: First Person, Alternating Publication Date: August 29, 2018 – ongoing Source & Format: Social Butterfly PR–eARC
I had NO IDEA that Monica Murphy was planning to revisit Jordan and Amanda’s story from the Friends Series. I even read the synopsis for You Promised Me Foreverand had no stinking clue it was them! I’ll admit, I was craving a little more ever since we finished that series with Forever. Well, I’m always craving more Tuttle to be honest. I think he is one of my ultimate book boyfriends.
What I Liked:
–Maturity–
To give Amanda and Jordan some credit, I thought they were the most mature of the couples in the Friends Series but it was nice to them a little bit older and wiser. Compared to the previous novels, their communication alone has improved so it was nice to see them think and act–and not vice versa. They definitely had their moments though when I felt like I was reading about them back in high school (instead of 6 years later) but for the most part, I liked the more mature feel this book had.
This book brings a dash of reality to their relationship I think. It’s a test for them both to see what they want out of life and a partner and I just loved watching them explore that together.
–Jordan–
#cuddlewithTuttle — need I say more?
In all seriousness though, I loved seeing the more vulnerable side of him this story brought out.
What I Didn’t Like:
–I Wanted More of the Friends Cast to Appear!–
As I said before, I still had a lot of unanswered questions about the finale of the Friends Series. What happened to so and so? Are those two still together? While I definitely got some insights in this book, I wouldn’t mind a few more in the future….
My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:
I’m really curious to see what Nothing Without You will be like since it a part of the 7 book Kristen Proby Crossover Collection. I think that whole project is a really cool idea and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together.
As for the rest of the Forever Yours Series, there are definitely a few characters I hope to see get their HEAs (Cannon, I’m looking at you!).
My Rating: 5/5
You Promised Me Forever 5/5 | [Nothing Without You TBA]
Fans that have been with Amanda and Jordan from the start will devour this novel. But those new to their story will no doubt get sucked into the adorableness that is their romance.
Read if You Like: second chance romances Avoid if You: want erotica
Did I Mention I Love You by Estelle Maskame (DIMILY Trilogy #1)
Monica Murphy
Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.
She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.
Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:
Synopsis for Never Tear Us Apart (from Goodreads):
A long time ago, when I was fifteen and a completely different person, I saved a girl’s life. I spent only a handful of hours with her, but somehow, we connected—and I’ve never been the same. No one understands what we went through. No one knows what it’s like to be us. We survived, yet I don’t feel like I’m really living—until now. Eight years later, I find her. I want to make her mine. I need to make her mine. But she’ll hate me forever when she finds out who I really am.
SERIESous’ Top Picks: Favourite Author Series: Never Author: Monica Murphy # of Books: 2 (Never Tear Us Apart, Never Let Me Go) Book Order: Chronological Complete?: Yes Genre: New Adult, Dark, Contemporary, Romance Heat Rating: warm Point of View: First Person, Alternating Publication Dates: January 2016 – May 2016 Source & Format: Public Library–eBook
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
I was very excited to read this as I’m a huge Monica Murphy fan. I’ve had great success with her New Adult titles and this was one I’ve kept my eye on for awhile. I thought the concept was intriguing as I love unorthodox love stories–even the ones that are a little darker in nature.
The Concept:
Lots of readers will likely struggle with some of the subject matter. It isn’t overly descriptive but you definitely understand everything that happens to Katie when she was a child. Having that back and forth from the past to present helps establish everything for these characters. Some of the scenes broke my heart.
Take Monica’s Author’s Note at the start of the novel to heart and don’t pick this book up if you don’t want to read some of its sensitive subject matter.
The Plot:
This series is all about Will and Katie learning how to move on from their past into the future. It’s a very character driven story and I liked the tone it took. You don’t get caught up in petty drama because these two have serious obstacles to overcome.
I fell in love with Monica’s works after reading One Week Girlfriend and this novel’s tone really reminded me of that series. The focus is on broken characters and a romance that seems unconventional to everyone but the pair involved (and the reader thanks to the inner monologue). It just makes for a great and addicting story.
The Characters:
These two absolutely tugged on my heartstrings with their individual stories. This book almost reads as a coming of age in the sense that these two really find themselves throughout this series. They truly grow before your eyes and you can’t ask for more as a reader.
The Romance:
These two have great chemistry from the start. Both are tentative about romance but they know there is something so strong between them.
wanted to see more communication in the first book–I wasn’t totally sold that they were a good match despite the physical chemistry and the shared past. But the second book really works out those other details and establishes that these two are able to see the person beside the tragedy and the amazing person they are underneath in spite of everything.
Series Rating: 4.5/5
Never Tear Us Apart 4.5/5 | Never Let You Go 4.5/5
This is a great story about overcoming your past to embrace your future. I think some people with struggle with the sensitive subject matter of the first novel but for those who enjoy darker, unorthodox relationships, this is a great one!
Read if You Like: dark romance, character driven romances Avoid if You: are sensitive to subject matter regarding children
Life can feel like a cruel joke. I grew up poor and motherless, with a father who never got over his wife’s abandonment. But now he’s gone too, and I’m dead set on finding the woman who so carelessly tossed me aside when I was a baby.
I want revenge. And I’m going to get back at my mother any way that I can.
I change my name. Start my new life in college, and just happen to cross paths with the gorgeous, ultra-rich Rhett Montgomery. He’s immediately interested in me, not that I’m surprised.
You see, I planned it that way. I meant for him to find me. He’s the one connection to my mother, and I’m using him, so I can destroy her. But I didn’t plan on Rhett being so charming. Sweet. Sexy.
And I definitely didn’t plan on falling for him either…
Other books in the series:
SERIESous’ Top Picks: Favourite Author Series: Defiant Heart Trilogy Author: Monica Murphy # of Books: 3 (Her Defiant Heart, His Wasted Heart, Damaged Hearts) Book Order: Chronological Complete?: No, His Wasted Heart, will be published April 26, 2018 Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance Heat Rating: Toasty -Hot Point of View: First Person, Single Publication Date: March 29, 2018 – ongoing Source & Format: Social Butterfly PR–eARC via iTunes
**This post was originally posted as a Blog Tour review of the first book of the series. It has now been updated to include the newest publications in the series.**
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
As I say anytime I review a Monica Murphy novel, she’s a favourite of mine in everything she writes, but especially her New Adult romances. And when I saw that she was going to be writing a revenge story? One of my all time favourite tropes to read—I nearly croaked in excitement!
What I Liked:
–The Revenge Plot–
The revenge plot in any book is one of my favourites because it provides so many opportunities for an addicting story. It provides this level of anticipation as you watch the pieces fall into place; it gives the romance a dash of danger; and you always get some great twists along the way. But one of my favourite aspects is the character’s realization that perhaps revenge isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and the subsequent character growth we get as a result.
This book had all of that and that’s what made it so addicting to read. You’ve got the anticipation of learning Jen’s full plan for revenge and everything she’s done to get to that point. You’ve got her mixed feelings towards her target Rhett (who definitely packs on the charm). And along the way we get these little plot twists that you know are setting the foundation for something more to happen.
But the best part is:
–Our Heroine–
When we first get introduced to Jen, she’s a bit of a cold-hearted chick to say the least. She’s methodical in her plan for revenge and has her “eye on the prize” so to speak. But I was shocked how quickly my heart melted for her. Thanks to flashbacks we get to see what has driven Jen to this point and why she feels she needs to complete this path for vengeance. Add to that her inner monologue of struggles as she executes her plans and you really start to sympathize for the girl. She’s a complex lead in a sticky situation and I loved the character development that happens as a result.
What I Didn’t Like:
–I have to wait for the sequel–
Thank goodness it’s only a few weeks away! I was so hooked that I didn’t realize I was near the end and I need to know what happens next!
My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:
Like I said above, I can see that bigger things are to come — and knowing Monica Murphy they are going to be worth the wait! I’m also really excited to learn more about Rhett by getting the sequel, His Wasted Heart, from his POV. It’ll be nice to get some more depth to his character!
–April 16, 2018– Book 2: His Wasted Heart
First: I loved the fact that this book was told entirely from Rhett’s POV. Having only had Jensen’s in the previous one, I was excited to get into the inner workings of this playboy-charmer. While I wanted a little more character growth from him, I loved the various secrets that were revealed by seeing Rhett’s family first hand. Jensen’s lack of a POV also gave this novel an air of suspense because you don’t know what Jensen’s plans for revenge are or is she honestly trying to foster the connection she and Rhett share.
These two do share an intense connection for sure. I found the first half of this book almost focused a little too much on the physical chemistry between these two. Their sexual chemistry was something we had already established in Her Defiant Heart so I wanted more character development from Rhett and some expanded upon plot development as well. That being said, Monica Murphy sure does know how to write some steamy scenes!
And I will say that this book gets it together by the end. We get some fabulous twists in the last few chapters that have me itching for the sequel ASAP!
–June 2, 2018– Book 3: Damaged Hearts
This was a great finale! The drama was juicy, the romance was sweet and the characters showed how much they have grown since the very first book. I loved the communication and mature approaches they had for their problems. It grounded the story despite its somewhat soap opera like drama. Definitely an entertaining series from start to finish!
My Rating: 4/5
Her Defiant Heart 4/5 | His Wasted Heart 3.5/5 | Damaged Hearts 4/5
This series has everything I love about a Monica Murphy New Adult series. It’s got a jaded but likeable lead, a swoon-worthy love interest and just the right flare of drama to keep you hooked until the very end!
Read if You Like: revenge plots, quicker reads, New Adult Avoid if You: want erotica, dislike revenge
Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.
She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.
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Synopsis for 
