4 Stars

Well! If that wasn't the most insane thing I've read in a long long while, then I don't know what is!

I’m laughing and shaking my head because I’m no Calmes novice having read almost 30 of her books, but this is Calmes on a whole other level.

You want whirlwind romance with grand gestures? You want proprietary proclamations after literally 3 conversations and a one night stand? You want a fairytale? Well this is fucking it!

Irresistible oblivious MC that turns straight men crooked Determined alpha who just won't take “no” for an answer = Lightening fast claiming smexy smex that makes no sense whatsoever and it's lust to love to a promise of wedded bliss and forever and ever in a blink of an eye.

Let me repeat that. In a blink of an eye.

Always ridiculous. Always pretty darn romantic. Just park your higher brain function at the door, nod and grin, and no one has to get hurt. ( )

The protagonists are opposites in many ways, college ages, career-oriented. This is short, and single POV, told from the prickly one's point of view, and I enjoyed it enough to read it in less than a day. It is not a sports romance. The opposite, really. I liked that part, too. The pushy one is ga-ga for the prickly one. :) ( )

There was something strangely endearing about that story. Despite the strong whiff of insta-love and a main character that, whilst proclaiming he was hard to like, everybody seemed to fall in love with.
A little confusing with the dialogue in places but overall an enjoyable short read. ( )

Ironically enough I ended up w a friend at a hospital only a couple hours after finishing this book. It put a sharp contrast on American hospital compared to the ones where I live now in Europe! My friend is fine (took a fall down some stairs and a wicked sprain.)

Anyway I know that sounds irrelevant in a review but it kind of is. This story is about several types of relationships and loves in life. First that of a parent and child. Next the lengths a person will go to to protect friends and again how a parents love for a child can overflow to those the child cares about. Then how relationships grow and change as life happens and what tears them apart or stitches them back together. The love that defines family. Finally about the love between lovers and partners.

There are four things that stand out to me here.

1. The characters are not perfect. They have serious and realistic flaws. The MC tends to act like an ass but mostly bc he doesn’t tolerate excuses or bull crap. The love interest has flaws and insecurities. The best friend makes real life choices that have consequences and owns it when he sees he screwed up.


2. It’s honest about the damage abandonment can inflict internally without making it the sole focus.

3. It’s not all about soul mates and fluff. Deliberate choices are made and honest questions asked.

4. Loving someone for life is not all about the feels. It’s also a choice. It’s continuing to accept a person flaws and all day by day even as they change and may no longer be what you initially fell for. And the true test of a live is what you do when standing by them means genuinely risking everything you have.

Someone once told me to that true love is this, “if something happens and standing by them means leaving everything behind forever, could you do it joyfully?”

Everything is friends, family, possessions, job, everything. Joyfully is knowing that you won’t hold anger or be resentful or turn bitter tears down the line.

That’s what this story comes down to and it conveys it beautifully.

It was well written and fun and felt light even though it gets super deep at times. And it covers a heck of a lot for such a short story. :)

( )

4.5

I'll be the first to admit I'm so not a huge fan of Ms. Calmes. I've read quite a few books written by her, though, but there's something in her writing style that's not my cup of tea, and her MCs often annoy the hell out of me. Still, as I often say, I can appreciate the thought behind the words.

Now, with that out of the way, I think I loved this book. The story is adorable, it's hot, it's intense and it's gut wrenching. It's everything I look for in a romance.

There are a few aspects to the story I generally dislike - such as instalove and abrupt endings - but because of everything else I loved so much about in this story, I didn't really care about them. I do think there could be more to Vince and Carson's story, especially with the way it ended, but as always, it's up to the author to decide if they want to reveal more of how their characters get on with their lives.

Just sayin', I'd so read about these boys' lives in Maine. ( )