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Haze #1
Haze
Freshly graduated from college and ready for a new start, Effie Jacobs leaves small town Michigan and heads to New York City to work in accounting for a major record label--the last thing she ever thought she'd be doing. She's left a world of drama behind her, eager to confront her new reality head on and make it on her own.
After getting over the initial shock of NYC and her new job, Effie's life starts to become more manageable, calmer, simpler. But all of that changes at once when HE steps into the picture, songwriter/performer/producer, Jack Teller.
He's enigmatic, gorgeous, and wealthy, the glowing product of so many years of hard work and limitless natural talent, a man so fantastic that he can have literally any woman he wants. And after a highly unexpected encounter, Jack wants Effie--and she can't understand why.
She can't believe that he could actually be serious about wanting a simple girl like her.
Effie's cautious, yet dangerously intrigued by his unremitting advances, his flourishes of passion, worried that she'll find herself in a cat-and-mouse game of steamy emotions. Jack is full of surprises, and she's not ready to give into him--or herself--so easily.
The only problem is, when they're together, it's like perfection.
Even with the challenges...
Even with the secrets...
Even with the hurt from the past...
Can Effie get past her powerful desire for independence and give herself to the one that wants her the most? Maybe what Jack offers is the exactly thing she's been looking for all along...
After getting over the initial shock of NYC and her new job, Effie's life starts to become more manageable, calmer, simpler. But all of that changes at once when HE steps into the picture, songwriter/performer/producer, Jack Teller.
He's enigmatic, gorgeous, and wealthy, the glowing product of so many years of hard work and limitless natural talent, a man so fantastic that he can have literally any woman he wants. And after a highly unexpected encounter, Jack wants Effie--and she can't understand why.
She can't believe that he could actually be serious about wanting a simple girl like her.
Effie's cautious, yet dangerously intrigued by his unremitting advances, his flourishes of passion, worried that she'll find herself in a cat-and-mouse game of steamy emotions. Jack is full of surprises, and she's not ready to give into him--or herself--so easily.
The only problem is, when they're together, it's like perfection.
Even with the challenges...
Even with the secrets...
Even with the hurt from the past...
Can Effie get past her powerful desire for independence and give herself to the one that wants her the most? Maybe what Jack offers is the exactly thing she's been looking for all along...
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2013
6 people are currently reading
544 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 16, 2013
Wow... I don't know where to start with this book. I was absolutely bored out of my mind and was going to just stop reading it. But I figured I paid for it and maybe it would get better. Well, literally the last chapter was the best of the entire book and that wasn't even good. I kept waiting for something to happen but it just never did.
Effie is the female character and she is flimsy and boring. The book is her deciding on every decision that she has to make and they are the stupidest decisions. She has nothing really interesting about her whatsoever.
Jack was the male character, 30ish, rich and also boring. There was no chemistry between the two of them and they fall for each other within like a week. There was hardly any character development.
The story line was also boring and not at all captivating. I've never given really poor reviews but it took everything in me to finish this book.
Effie is the female character and she is flimsy and boring. The book is her deciding on every decision that she has to make and they are the stupidest decisions. She has nothing really interesting about her whatsoever.
Jack was the male character, 30ish, rich and also boring. There was no chemistry between the two of them and they fall for each other within like a week. There was hardly any character development.
The story line was also boring and not at all captivating. I've never given really poor reviews but it took everything in me to finish this book.
April 11, 2013
I just could not get into it. Really it was Effie over analyzing everything. I just didn't connect had to stop at 25%.
Want to read
April 11, 2013 WHAT the girls name is Effie?? WTF! What a weird name.
April 24, 2013
Updated review:4/21/13
Okay, since I sincerely hate not finishing a book and kinda felt bad about my negative review I decided to read the entire story. I originally gave it 1-star, but upped it to a 2-star rating. Like a couple other reviewers said, there was a decent premise here ultimately, but I just could never become fully engaged in it and figured it out before it happened.
While the dialogue used curse words outside of sex scenes after about 75% of the book, I felt the cursing was used for the sake of using it. It just had been so saccharine and young-ish sounding dialogue for so much of the book that the cursing seemed about as out of place as all the italicizes used. Yes, the italics, at least a few a page, continued for the remainder of the book making me cringe or roll my eyes frequently. I guess you could say I just wasn't that in to this authors writing style.
Then the plot lines were somewhat thin here and there, or things that were made to seem important didn't end up being all that important. Example:Maybe I missed it when I was kind of scan-reading, but I am still completely perplexed as to why Effie was estranged from her parents and why bringing them back into her life was so monumental at the end of the book. I also found the incessant reflection, over analysis and pages of internal dialogue to detract from, rather than add to the story. It just felt like she kept rehashing the same things over and over. sorry, reading the entire book did not make me like this much more than my original review. I would recommend getting a sample to see if you like her writing style before purchasing...just wasn't for me.
Oh, I did like the cover and liked that Jack was sweet and not with a bunch of crazy groupies or anger issues. I also thought the ending redeemed the whole book a bit, another reason to add a star.
Original review posted d 4/19/13: Sorry, got about 30% in and just could not go on even after Effie's ex's failed attempt to get her back and hearing Jack tell Effie about his first love. I just did not care at all about these characters.
Maybe I shouldn't be reviewing this since I couldn't finish it, but i suffered through 500 pages of another book I didn't like because there was at least enough intrigue to keep me going, so I feel like I should share why there was nothing compelling me to keep reading this.
Effie sounded like a middle schooler, not a 24-year old woman. Actually, most of the characters sounded like middle schoolers, not adults in powerful business positions. The thoughts and dialogue were relatively vanilla, then BAM! we have f-bombs being dropped all over the place during sex scenes.
It was also a little difficult to understand the attraction between these two after they spent all of 10-min together before all of a sudden something sexual happened. The first meeting was business related, too, nothing personal but an exchange of names and some spilled coffee even transpired that first meeting...give me a break!!
The number of italicized words used was ridiculous. Really, was it necessary to have what seemed like every other word in italics? Its like over using an exclamation point. At times I thought to myself that the book should have been in all CAPS to help convey the authors apparent enthusiasm or whatever the italics were supposed to mean. Using something that often just is obnoxious and end up meaning nothing.
And at 30% I still had no clue what Effie looked like except she had a decent rack, and what some of her clothes looked like. Everyone else had physical characteristics explained except the person's thoughts we are reading.
Sorry I rarely have unfinished books or rate them but this one was something I couldnt just let go without conveying my disappointment. I also feel the author might need to know why she is getting low reviews and make some changes to her next book.
Okay, since I sincerely hate not finishing a book and kinda felt bad about my negative review I decided to read the entire story. I originally gave it 1-star, but upped it to a 2-star rating. Like a couple other reviewers said, there was a decent premise here ultimately, but I just could never become fully engaged in it and figured it out before it happened.
While the dialogue used curse words outside of sex scenes after about 75% of the book, I felt the cursing was used for the sake of using it. It just had been so saccharine and young-ish sounding dialogue for so much of the book that the cursing seemed about as out of place as all the italicizes used. Yes, the italics, at least a few a page, continued for the remainder of the book making me cringe or roll my eyes frequently. I guess you could say I just wasn't that in to this authors writing style.
Then the plot lines were somewhat thin here and there, or things that were made to seem important didn't end up being all that important. Example:Maybe I missed it when I was kind of scan-reading, but I am still completely perplexed as to why Effie was estranged from her parents and why bringing them back into her life was so monumental at the end of the book. I also found the incessant reflection, over analysis and pages of internal dialogue to detract from, rather than add to the story. It just felt like she kept rehashing the same things over and over. sorry, reading the entire book did not make me like this much more than my original review. I would recommend getting a sample to see if you like her writing style before purchasing...just wasn't for me.
Oh, I did like the cover and liked that Jack was sweet and not with a bunch of crazy groupies or anger issues. I also thought the ending redeemed the whole book a bit, another reason to add a star.
Original review posted d 4/19/13: Sorry, got about 30% in and just could not go on even after Effie's ex's failed attempt to get her back and hearing Jack tell Effie about his first love. I just did not care at all about these characters.
Maybe I shouldn't be reviewing this since I couldn't finish it, but i suffered through 500 pages of another book I didn't like because there was at least enough intrigue to keep me going, so I feel like I should share why there was nothing compelling me to keep reading this.
Effie sounded like a middle schooler, not a 24-year old woman. Actually, most of the characters sounded like middle schoolers, not adults in powerful business positions. The thoughts and dialogue were relatively vanilla, then BAM! we have f-bombs being dropped all over the place during sex scenes.
It was also a little difficult to understand the attraction between these two after they spent all of 10-min together before all of a sudden something sexual happened. The first meeting was business related, too, nothing personal but an exchange of names and some spilled coffee even transpired that first meeting...give me a break!!
The number of italicized words used was ridiculous. Really, was it necessary to have what seemed like every other word in italics? Its like over using an exclamation point. At times I thought to myself that the book should have been in all CAPS to help convey the authors apparent enthusiasm or whatever the italics were supposed to mean. Using something that often just is obnoxious and end up meaning nothing.
And at 30% I still had no clue what Effie looked like except she had a decent rack, and what some of her clothes looked like. Everyone else had physical characteristics explained except the person's thoughts we are reading.
Sorry I rarely have unfinished books or rate them but this one was something I couldnt just let go without conveying my disappointment. I also feel the author might need to know why she is getting low reviews and make some changes to her next book.
June 1, 2013
When I read the Haze blurb, the things I remember most were: Set in New York City, Hunky guy is a music producer, his name is Jack. Now, I don't know if anyone here has read the Avoiding Series or not, but it contains a very memorable character named Jack and is sort of set in New York. Or I associated it this way just because that apparently is how my mind works. That Jack made me feel like throwing my iPad across the room pretty much in every scene he was in (which I will say I am more attached to that thing than sweets...because I truly love junk food, so that says a lot), but mostly want to kill him myself to save the girl some heartache. In other words, it surprised me that I didn't run away kicking and screaming in the other direction from this, again because of how my mind works. I think what drew me back in from my crazy inner monologue was the music part. I love rocker stories, so I thought his profession as a producer was close enough.
Anyway! I struggled a lot through the first part of the book. I'm not sure how far I got into Andrea's 100 page or die rule, so I probably went past it, but I was very happy with the second half. The main problem I think was not feeling very connected to the characters at first. Effie is a small town girl with big dreams who takes a job in New York City after her long time boyfriend gives her an ultimatum so he can stay close to his family with the job he wants. I hate guys like that so I am glad she chose herself, and just moved. My husband worked out for the first couple of years we were married, but he never once let me put my dreams or chance to further myself aside, so if anything this showed me another example of how awesome my husband is! (Hah! Sorry...that isn't going to make you wanna read this book!)
Effie is, I think, 23 and new to life in the big city, as opposed to Jack who is 30 and hugely successful in the music business. Once the story found it's rhythm I enjoyed reading about them a great deal. The first parts of Jack and Effie's relationship was what was most rushed for me. Speed of light start-go-stop-hot-cold-I want it this way-I want it that way-oh sorry just kidding nonsense. She didn't know what she wanted, which was okay to a point because she is discovering herself for the first time, but she was so very wishy washy about it that I rolled my eyes a few times. That particular story line is done a lot these days, so I was glad that when it took off some of that was left behind too.
The second half seemed much more developed and added a few more outside elements that were exciting involving Effie's boss Sam. I was grateful that all of the loose strings that I remember were tied up nicely in the end also so I wasn't left wondering about what people we were introduced to were doing. I liked it and gave it 3 stars, but is more suited to those who don't mind a slow to boil read but might not work out for a hook in the first chapter type.
Anyway! I struggled a lot through the first part of the book. I'm not sure how far I got into Andrea's 100 page or die rule, so I probably went past it, but I was very happy with the second half. The main problem I think was not feeling very connected to the characters at first. Effie is a small town girl with big dreams who takes a job in New York City after her long time boyfriend gives her an ultimatum so he can stay close to his family with the job he wants. I hate guys like that so I am glad she chose herself, and just moved. My husband worked out for the first couple of years we were married, but he never once let me put my dreams or chance to further myself aside, so if anything this showed me another example of how awesome my husband is! (Hah! Sorry...that isn't going to make you wanna read this book!)
Effie is, I think, 23 and new to life in the big city, as opposed to Jack who is 30 and hugely successful in the music business. Once the story found it's rhythm I enjoyed reading about them a great deal. The first parts of Jack and Effie's relationship was what was most rushed for me. Speed of light start-go-stop-hot-cold-I want it this way-I want it that way-oh sorry just kidding nonsense. She didn't know what she wanted, which was okay to a point because she is discovering herself for the first time, but she was so very wishy washy about it that I rolled my eyes a few times. That particular story line is done a lot these days, so I was glad that when it took off some of that was left behind too.
The second half seemed much more developed and added a few more outside elements that were exciting involving Effie's boss Sam. I was grateful that all of the loose strings that I remember were tied up nicely in the end also so I wasn't left wondering about what people we were introduced to were doing. I liked it and gave it 3 stars, but is more suited to those who don't mind a slow to boil read but might not work out for a hook in the first chapter type.
June 2, 2013
I started this book a couple of times. I wasn’t sure if it was that I wasn’t in the right mood or if I just couldn’t get into it so I sat down yesterday and decided that this was the day I was going to read it no matter what and I’m glad that I did. I thought the story was a good one but struggled with some parts of the book, it seemed a bit all over the place for me. Some parts I really enjoyed and there were definitely some steamy love scenes which kept my interest. Usually if I can’t get into a book I won’t finish it but there was something about this one that kept me reading, wanting to know what was going to happen next. I really liked that she didn’t leave the characters hanging at the end and included an epilogue.
September 13, 2013
i loved it. there were times when i wanted to strangle effie but then again show me a good book when you dont want to seriously maim the main character, at least once ;) but it all turned out well. i bought this on my nook and it was 795 pages and it uses just about every page so its a nice long read and luckily i didnt have to skip paragraphs and pages because of excessive detail like i usually do with books this long. im a fast reader but i was reading like four other books at the same time so this one took me a little while but for a normal reader it should be a good few days read. my favorite types of books are contemporary romance although i would never admit to it, this is why no one is allowed near my nook ;) (evil laugh), and this was a good one. i LOVE me some jack teller.
May 2, 2013
I'm feeling very generous today, hence the 2-star rating. I really do not want to be mean, but WTF was this story.
I don't even feel like reviewing it. It took me FOREVER to get through it and finish it and that's because I literally forced my self.
I have nothing to say.
May 31, 2013
I unfortunately could not finish this story. It was too wordy for me and became very distracting and confusing, plus the dialogue did not seem realistic. I gave it to 20% in hopes of it changing and grabbing my interest but it didn't :( But I will say what I always do, just because it wasn't for me, doesn't mean you won't like it so give it a try if it interests you :)
June 1, 2014
This book was a bit disappointing. I never really warmed to the characters and didn't feel the intensity of them or the story. The supposed drama she left behind and his secret were very weak and the book was way too long, so much pointless dialogue and I don't get the title, Haze, why that? What is the relevance?
April 19, 2013
A little slow at first but I really did enjoy the read. I loved her name Effie is unique having a name that is very common I recognize the little things. Jack is most definitely on my list of book boyfriends.
April 24, 2013
Although I did not feel that the story line was well developed, I enjoyed the book. There were times when the flow was a little confusing, like determining whether or not she was speaking or thinking her thoughts. The sex was powerful and not so much that it was overwhelming.
May 15, 2013
I liked the story line and really liked the characters. At sometimes it tend to get a little boring/confusing between what Effie was thinking and what was happening. Jack seemed like a pretty decent guy, perhaps maybe a bbf ( book boy friend ). All in all it was an okay read.
September 26, 2015
I didn't like it. I usually don't write reviews but thought I could be a warning, and that maybe the author will read this and improve upon it. There was no follow in the way the author wrote. The dialogue between characters seemed stilted.
June 9, 2013
2 1/2 ★'s
April 17, 2013
The point of this story was a good one... However it took for freakin ever to get there. It should have been a 50 page book. I wasn't feeling it!!
April 23, 2013
3.75 stars
April 23, 2013
I enjoyed the story however towards the middle I started skipping things just reading quotes. The ending recaptured me again so by the ending I was left with a smile!
May 7, 2013
I'm sorry but I didn't feel this book sorry wasn't for me x
May 14, 2017
Andrea Wolfe is one of my new favorite authors. I love this book.
July 21, 2013
A wonderful read...emotionally intense...sexy....but sweet too.
Read
October 14, 2013DNF
December 8, 2013
Couldnt even finish it. The writing is so contradictory and the main character is one of the stupidest girls ive ever read. Lazy, boring writing. Total waste of money.
January 15, 2014
I didn't hate it but I felt like things progressed too fast idk what it was but overall I liked it but I just couldn't connect very well with the story
March 3, 2014
Couldn't even finish this book.
April 4, 2014
DNF 31%
January 30, 2015
Well the cover was nice, and that is the only good thing about this book.
Don't waste your time even if it is free.
Don't waste your time even if it is free.
Want to read
September 27, 2016its my first reading
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
July 28, 20133.5*(6)
Want to read
April 24, 2013I HOPE THAT THIS BOOK IS DAMN GOOD SINCE IT HAS MY NAME ON IT!!! ^_^
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews