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Free Will
Free Pass
Two weeks...
My world flipped upside down with a single text—photographic proof my boyfriend cheated. In a last ditch effort to save our so-called relationship, Austin blurts out the most ridiculous idea—even the score with any guy I choose?
Austin's plan is hardly an option ... until I stumble into Jake's path. Now the only possibility I can bring myself to consider is the one man I am forbidden to choose.
One chance...
Laney is everything I want. Lips that beg to be kissed every time she speaks. Eyes that look straight into my soul. And that ass…
Going after my brother's girl? Some lines aren't meant to be crossed—until those lines blur and I get my chance.
My world flipped upside down with a single text—photographic proof my boyfriend cheated. In a last ditch effort to save our so-called relationship, Austin blurts out the most ridiculous idea—even the score with any guy I choose?
Austin's plan is hardly an option ... until I stumble into Jake's path. Now the only possibility I can bring myself to consider is the one man I am forbidden to choose.
One chance...
Laney is everything I want. Lips that beg to be kissed every time she speaks. Eyes that look straight into my soul. And that ass…
Going after my brother's girl? Some lines aren't meant to be crossed—until those lines blur and I get my chance.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2015
3 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 23, 2015
Yep.
2 stars because it was “just okay”.
Reading a review like this can often come across as really mean or spiteful. I believe in being constructive and encouraging so hopefully Ms. Kincheloe knows I’m only trying to help her succeed as an author, not bash her. Because let’s be honest. Writing a book is not an easy task, and asking people you don’t know to read it and provide reviews isn’t any easier.
I admit, I was drawn in to the idea of this story. I’ve got a LOT of books in my Kindle and Nook apps. And I have not come across this type of plot, so that is refreshing.
I have had the honor of beta reading, critique partnering, and even ARC reading a LOT of books over this last year. And I appreciate Ms. Kincheloe allowing me to read and review her book as well. But there were major issues with this story that, at certain points, almost made me DNF. In three words: It fell flat. Here’s how…
FORMATTING: I’ve had the worst luck with mobi formats lately, so I went with PDF. With that said, though, this document was 696 pages and had GIANT font (easily 22+ in size). I’m not sure what happened, but it made the reading of this book feel like I was never going to get to the end. My encouragement is to please double check and adjust as necessary.
Also, it was REALLY hard to know whose POV I was reading without some sort of tag at the front of the chapter. If the author finds that annoying, I’m sorry, but as readers, we need to know whose head to jump into. Please consider adding that if you do any sort of second edition.
There were also several places where words were missing, phrases/words were repeated (probably an issue of cutting/pasting), grammar tense shifted from present to past, etc. which is disappointing because the author has paid someone to edit this work. Those small inconsistencies take away from reading the book.
PLOT: Other than the romance—there wasn’t any sort of sub-plot. Many will argue that the romance plot is enough, but I absolutely disagree. There has to be some sort of sub-plot to keep this story moving because Laney and Jake have to EARN the right to be together. Something has to pull and push them apart. That never happened. They sat on the steps outside of Jake & Austin’s father’s den and were about to make out and fell into insta-lust. What are their flaws? What is going to keep them apart (a job? Insecurities? Goals in life? Family?)? I believe (and this is just me) that this is one of the major reasons the story is falling flat.
PROGRESSION BETWEEN SCENES: I had a hard time with the timeline in this book. Yes, it’s over two weeks. But I feel like scenes were added to fill pages, not for progression of the book. Most of the scenes are their day-to-day lives, usually waking up in the morning and ending with them going to bed (not every chapter, but several). This goes back to the plot, but we should be reading scenes that are specific to the plot, moving it along. Just because they’ve got 2 weeks together, doesn’t mean we need a play-by-play for every day.
But what was also unfortunate was that the timeline in each day seemed to jump in time without any indication. For example, Laney and Jake go out to dinner and she asks him to come over. He says he can’t because, “remember? I’m going to Las Vegas in the morning.” He is? Why didn’t we know that? There are other scenes where Jake comes over or they drive somewhere and suddenly it’s late at night and they’re going to bed. I had to back track multiple times to figure out where in the world they were and what was going on.
SHARE WHAT’S IN YOUR HEAD: One of the biggest frustrations in this story for me was the act of telling, not showing. Showing isn’t just the simple stuff of what color something is or how good something tasted. I believe what Ms. Kincheloe is envisioning a fantastic story with beautiful emotion, a cool backdrop of a setting, etc. Instead? I believe we got the cliff notes version without a lot of detail, backstory, emotion or dialogue. This is another major reason, I believe, that the story fell flat.
GIMME THE DIALOGUE: Speaking of dialogue, I love dialogue in books. But this book didn’t have a lot. And what we did have? Did NOT feel/sound like 20+ year olds talking. It was very romanticized and formal—which I get it, it’s a romance book—but romanticized language doesn’t feel natural. (Maybe that’s just me.) It was also lacking emotion. Example: When Jake catches Austin and Laney at her apartment in a hug on the couch, he is angry, they have words and storms out. We know he's angry because we were told. Show us, instead so we FEEL the emotion along with them.
CHARACTERS: The character development is lacking because of the plot information above. Basically they’re two people who like each other a lot and prove it to each other by having sex. That’s it. But what is frustrating for me as a reader is the fact that I am not getting to know these character's true selves. Here are some examples:
Laney comes across as immature and I would have liked to see her stand up for herself at so many points in this book (ESPECIALLY with Austin, who, I’m sorry…is a bit emotionally abusive). Immaturity = crying all the time and stomping her feet. I cannot remember the last book I read where a girl cried as much as she did. Goodness! And the stomping? She stomps across a room. She stomps to the car. She stomps everywhere (as do the other characters). It’s okay to have characters with self esteem issues, or they fear disappointing their parents. Totally normal. But she doesn’t act like a college student. She acts like a teenager.
Jake tries to come across as a tough guy, not caring what others think…but it falls REALLY short. He’s painted by everyone in this story as a “bad guy” and I kept waiting to hear WHY he was so bad for her...but no one seemed to share that tidbit. Yet, he just comes across as some dude with a crush on his brother’s girlfriend. His dialogue and actions are hard to identify because the character development is lacking for him. We don’t even learn he’s an artist until SEVERAL chapters in the book. And he has a best friend? Why didn't we see more of these two interact?
Laney’s parents are all over the map. One minute mom is telling them to not touch and is spraying them with a garden hose, and the next minute when her dad finds Jake in her bed, mom is laughing and embracing the idea of them having breakfast together? There was ZERO progression for us as readers to see the change in mom’s attitude. Or their parent’s acceptance.
I, personally, think character development is another example as to why the plot of story falls flat. The characters are hard to identify with. I want to cheer them on as they grow…but there is no growth. Which gives me nothing to cheer for.
I wish Ms. Kincheloe the best of luck as she continues to write.
2 stars because it was “just okay”.
Reading a review like this can often come across as really mean or spiteful. I believe in being constructive and encouraging so hopefully Ms. Kincheloe knows I’m only trying to help her succeed as an author, not bash her. Because let’s be honest. Writing a book is not an easy task, and asking people you don’t know to read it and provide reviews isn’t any easier.
I admit, I was drawn in to the idea of this story. I’ve got a LOT of books in my Kindle and Nook apps. And I have not come across this type of plot, so that is refreshing.
I have had the honor of beta reading, critique partnering, and even ARC reading a LOT of books over this last year. And I appreciate Ms. Kincheloe allowing me to read and review her book as well. But there were major issues with this story that, at certain points, almost made me DNF. In three words: It fell flat. Here’s how…
FORMATTING: I’ve had the worst luck with mobi formats lately, so I went with PDF. With that said, though, this document was 696 pages and had GIANT font (easily 22+ in size). I’m not sure what happened, but it made the reading of this book feel like I was never going to get to the end. My encouragement is to please double check and adjust as necessary.
Also, it was REALLY hard to know whose POV I was reading without some sort of tag at the front of the chapter. If the author finds that annoying, I’m sorry, but as readers, we need to know whose head to jump into. Please consider adding that if you do any sort of second edition.
There were also several places where words were missing, phrases/words were repeated (probably an issue of cutting/pasting), grammar tense shifted from present to past, etc. which is disappointing because the author has paid someone to edit this work. Those small inconsistencies take away from reading the book.
PLOT: Other than the romance—there wasn’t any sort of sub-plot. Many will argue that the romance plot is enough, but I absolutely disagree. There has to be some sort of sub-plot to keep this story moving because Laney and Jake have to EARN the right to be together. Something has to pull and push them apart. That never happened. They sat on the steps outside of Jake & Austin’s father’s den and were about to make out and fell into insta-lust. What are their flaws? What is going to keep them apart (a job? Insecurities? Goals in life? Family?)? I believe (and this is just me) that this is one of the major reasons the story is falling flat.
PROGRESSION BETWEEN SCENES: I had a hard time with the timeline in this book. Yes, it’s over two weeks. But I feel like scenes were added to fill pages, not for progression of the book. Most of the scenes are their day-to-day lives, usually waking up in the morning and ending with them going to bed (not every chapter, but several). This goes back to the plot, but we should be reading scenes that are specific to the plot, moving it along. Just because they’ve got 2 weeks together, doesn’t mean we need a play-by-play for every day.
But what was also unfortunate was that the timeline in each day seemed to jump in time without any indication. For example, Laney and Jake go out to dinner and she asks him to come over. He says he can’t because, “remember? I’m going to Las Vegas in the morning.” He is? Why didn’t we know that? There are other scenes where Jake comes over or they drive somewhere and suddenly it’s late at night and they’re going to bed. I had to back track multiple times to figure out where in the world they were and what was going on.
SHARE WHAT’S IN YOUR HEAD: One of the biggest frustrations in this story for me was the act of telling, not showing. Showing isn’t just the simple stuff of what color something is or how good something tasted. I believe what Ms. Kincheloe is envisioning a fantastic story with beautiful emotion, a cool backdrop of a setting, etc. Instead? I believe we got the cliff notes version without a lot of detail, backstory, emotion or dialogue. This is another major reason, I believe, that the story fell flat.
GIMME THE DIALOGUE: Speaking of dialogue, I love dialogue in books. But this book didn’t have a lot. And what we did have? Did NOT feel/sound like 20+ year olds talking. It was very romanticized and formal—which I get it, it’s a romance book—but romanticized language doesn’t feel natural. (Maybe that’s just me.) It was also lacking emotion. Example: When Jake catches Austin and Laney at her apartment in a hug on the couch, he is angry, they have words and storms out. We know he's angry because we were told. Show us, instead so we FEEL the emotion along with them.
CHARACTERS: The character development is lacking because of the plot information above. Basically they’re two people who like each other a lot and prove it to each other by having sex. That’s it. But what is frustrating for me as a reader is the fact that I am not getting to know these character's true selves. Here are some examples:
Laney comes across as immature and I would have liked to see her stand up for herself at so many points in this book (ESPECIALLY with Austin, who, I’m sorry…is a bit emotionally abusive). Immaturity = crying all the time and stomping her feet. I cannot remember the last book I read where a girl cried as much as she did. Goodness! And the stomping? She stomps across a room. She stomps to the car. She stomps everywhere (as do the other characters). It’s okay to have characters with self esteem issues, or they fear disappointing their parents. Totally normal. But she doesn’t act like a college student. She acts like a teenager.
Jake tries to come across as a tough guy, not caring what others think…but it falls REALLY short. He’s painted by everyone in this story as a “bad guy” and I kept waiting to hear WHY he was so bad for her...but no one seemed to share that tidbit. Yet, he just comes across as some dude with a crush on his brother’s girlfriend. His dialogue and actions are hard to identify because the character development is lacking for him. We don’t even learn he’s an artist until SEVERAL chapters in the book. And he has a best friend? Why didn't we see more of these two interact?
Laney’s parents are all over the map. One minute mom is telling them to not touch and is spraying them with a garden hose, and the next minute when her dad finds Jake in her bed, mom is laughing and embracing the idea of them having breakfast together? There was ZERO progression for us as readers to see the change in mom’s attitude. Or their parent’s acceptance.
I, personally, think character development is another example as to why the plot of story falls flat. The characters are hard to identify with. I want to cheer them on as they grow…but there is no growth. Which gives me nothing to cheer for.
I wish Ms. Kincheloe the best of luck as she continues to write.
December 23, 2015
This book was a bit of a struggle to get through. I believe the main reason was the way the POVs were written. They were changed constantly with no indication of whose POV we were reading in and once I figured that out I had to go back to the beginning of that section and reread it.
The characters were quite one-dimensional and super annoying because they completely lacked development. I don't think we learned enough about them to actually care about them and therefore I didn't really have any interest in them. I think the lack of characterisation was down to the plot. The plot was solely focussed on the romance which meant the characters didn't get to develop as the only plot line was making sure Laney and Jake ended up together.I wanted to like this book because the premise did sound interesting but it wasn't executed well.
I thought throwing us right into the action was quite a good idea in terms of getting the ball rolling but after that things kept happening too quickly. For example, as soon as Laney was offered the 'free pass' her attraction to Jake was so apparent which I found a bit ridiculous. It is an original plot but I don't think it's a plot I'd want to read again.
*Thanks to the author who provided a free copy in exchange of a review*
The characters were quite one-dimensional and super annoying because they completely lacked development. I don't think we learned enough about them to actually care about them and therefore I didn't really have any interest in them. I think the lack of characterisation was down to the plot. The plot was solely focussed on the romance which meant the characters didn't get to develop as the only plot line was making sure Laney and Jake ended up together.I wanted to like this book because the premise did sound interesting but it wasn't executed well.
I thought throwing us right into the action was quite a good idea in terms of getting the ball rolling but after that things kept happening too quickly. For example, as soon as Laney was offered the 'free pass' her attraction to Jake was so apparent which I found a bit ridiculous. It is an original plot but I don't think it's a plot I'd want to read again.
*Thanks to the author who provided a free copy in exchange of a review*
March 6, 2016
**Received a copy of this book for an honest review**
I'm not sure where to start with this review. First I want to say that I can only IMAGINE the time and effort it takes into writing a novel. And because of that I hate giving books negative reviews because I can't imagine the sweat, tears and blood the author put into her/his story.
There are so many things that could have made this book so RIGHT. The premise was what drew me in in the first place because an asshole cheating boyfriend gives you two weeks to do the same? Hells yes! And upon reading the first chapter I was intrigued. Jake sounded hot, Austin was an ass, and you feel bad that Laney has to deal with a cheating pig like him. In addition to the pros of this book, I felt that the writing itself was well done. Grammar and spelling seemed to have been taken into great consideration and I felt that because it was actually written well with very little mistakes, this gave the book an added bonus. However, this was about it. The rest of the book just falls really flat for me.
One thing that bugged me pretty much the entire time was that I felt Austin was NOT consistent in his character development. Was he the cheating ass he was portrayed to be in the first chapter, where he could care less that his girlfriend was in the same house he was in while he practically mauled another girl? Or was he this sweet, working at an animal shelter kind of guy that cried when a dog had to be put down and who said nice things to his girl to get her back? Or when in the first part of the book they decide it's over, and then he wants her back, and then he wants them to ACT like they still have a shot, but then he really does want her back and then WHAT?! I was just so confused and annoyed.
Jakes character development was practically non existent too. WHY did jake love Laney for so long? Why did he want to be the one she chose so bad? There was no background story to how their relationship came to be.
And Laney, please let's get talking about Laney! She DID NOT know what she wanted. She hates Austin for what he did to her and for good reason, and would be allllll over Jake in one heated make out scene, which felt like they took place every 10 seconds!! But then the next second she would go back out with Austin and wish he was this nice guy that he seemed to show her every once in a while. But then she would go back and love up on jake and wonder if he was stringing her along when THE WHOLE TIME the guy is spilling his guts to her telling her how much he thinks of her and wants her and how special she is and she still doesn't get it?! And then she has to go along with Austin in this whole charade to make jake WORK at showing Laney he really wanted to be with her?! She was a very confused girl!
Needles to say, I didn't get it. I wanted to love this book. So many details of this book could have added to a great story if it was broken down with less added fluff like dinners, and animal shelters and hospital visits. Also a background into Austin and jakes relationship would have done wonders for this book. I'm grateful for the opportunity to read something someone has taken the time to write, and the story line has so much potential and maybe with some regrouping it could be that way, but as is, this was just not for me.
I'm not sure where to start with this review. First I want to say that I can only IMAGINE the time and effort it takes into writing a novel. And because of that I hate giving books negative reviews because I can't imagine the sweat, tears and blood the author put into her/his story.
There are so many things that could have made this book so RIGHT. The premise was what drew me in in the first place because an asshole cheating boyfriend gives you two weeks to do the same? Hells yes! And upon reading the first chapter I was intrigued. Jake sounded hot, Austin was an ass, and you feel bad that Laney has to deal with a cheating pig like him. In addition to the pros of this book, I felt that the writing itself was well done. Grammar and spelling seemed to have been taken into great consideration and I felt that because it was actually written well with very little mistakes, this gave the book an added bonus. However, this was about it. The rest of the book just falls really flat for me.
One thing that bugged me pretty much the entire time was that I felt Austin was NOT consistent in his character development. Was he the cheating ass he was portrayed to be in the first chapter, where he could care less that his girlfriend was in the same house he was in while he practically mauled another girl? Or was he this sweet, working at an animal shelter kind of guy that cried when a dog had to be put down and who said nice things to his girl to get her back? Or when in the first part of the book they decide it's over, and then he wants her back, and then he wants them to ACT like they still have a shot, but then he really does want her back and then WHAT?! I was just so confused and annoyed.
Jakes character development was practically non existent too. WHY did jake love Laney for so long? Why did he want to be the one she chose so bad? There was no background story to how their relationship came to be.
And Laney, please let's get talking about Laney! She DID NOT know what she wanted. She hates Austin for what he did to her and for good reason, and would be allllll over Jake in one heated make out scene, which felt like they took place every 10 seconds!! But then the next second she would go back out with Austin and wish he was this nice guy that he seemed to show her every once in a while. But then she would go back and love up on jake and wonder if he was stringing her along when THE WHOLE TIME the guy is spilling his guts to her telling her how much he thinks of her and wants her and how special she is and she still doesn't get it?! And then she has to go along with Austin in this whole charade to make jake WORK at showing Laney he really wanted to be with her?! She was a very confused girl!
Needles to say, I didn't get it. I wanted to love this book. So many details of this book could have added to a great story if it was broken down with less added fluff like dinners, and animal shelters and hospital visits. Also a background into Austin and jakes relationship would have done wonders for this book. I'm grateful for the opportunity to read something someone has taken the time to write, and the story line has so much potential and maybe with some regrouping it could be that way, but as is, this was just not for me.
December 24, 2015
I have never hated a character so fast and so much as I did Austin! Within a couple pages, I was outraged for Laney and I had yet to discover the plot. The author did a fantastic job grabbing the readers attention with the introduction of Austin. Although the book was an easy and fast read, the complexity of the plot was interesting, if not surprising. To say a double standard existed was a huge understatement. After only a couple chapters in the book, I didn't know who I hated more- Austin, his parents, or Laney's parents.
Laney is a girl we all know- pretty, loyal, all to trusting, and hands her heart over to the wrong guy. In this case that's Austin, the cheating boyfriend of three years. But the thing that irritated me about Laney is her inability to stand up for what she wants. Her character isn't very strong but more of a submissive, walk all over me kind. I really didn't care for Laney's character and all the drama she created.
Jake, Austin's brother and her two week free pass, is confident but sometimes has the cheesiest lines. Throughout the book, I find myself laughing at how ridiculous the lines are. As the book progresses, it's easy to see Jake has a temper with a dominant personality.
The book was a little hard to follow in the sense you didn't know how old the characters were or what they did right away. In fact, it took till chapter 9 to find out Laney was in college and Jake was possible in advertising?? No wait, the next chapter states he's a graphic designer. See, hard to follow.
Overall, the book wasn't for me. The sex scenes were steamy and fun to read. But Laney's character really bugged me and there was far too much unnecessary drama for my taste.
July 16, 2015
Free Pass by Allie Kincheloe is one of those just one more chapter books.
Throughout this page-turning adventure, I was able to delve into the thoughts and feelings of the characters. I was as surprised as Laney when Austin, the cheater boyfriend, suggests she fool around with whoever she wants for two weeks. Yep, I had to read just one more chapter to see if she'd snap up this free pass, or stab Austin with a pencil again. (Yep, this girl is not one to hold back.)
Not only does Laney take up the 'free pass', but she chooses someone she didn't consider—at first. She also didn't consider the fact that anyone could make her feel so…so damn happy. As a perfect twist, the man she is attracted to is her boyfriend's older brother, Jake. Yep, another page turner. And another…I read it from start to finish in one sitting.
The relationships are tastefully written and told with sweet, steamy, and sometimes heart-wrenching emotion. To balance the story, the author injected Laney's inner dialogue, peppered with humor and a dash of sarcasm.
There is a certain realization which peeks through Laney's discontent and confusion, an ends the story with personal growth with satisfying finesse.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a 'free pass' into an unusual yet endearing, romance.
Throughout this page-turning adventure, I was able to delve into the thoughts and feelings of the characters. I was as surprised as Laney when Austin, the cheater boyfriend, suggests she fool around with whoever she wants for two weeks. Yep, I had to read just one more chapter to see if she'd snap up this free pass, or stab Austin with a pencil again. (Yep, this girl is not one to hold back.)
Not only does Laney take up the 'free pass', but she chooses someone she didn't consider—at first. She also didn't consider the fact that anyone could make her feel so…so damn happy. As a perfect twist, the man she is attracted to is her boyfriend's older brother, Jake. Yep, another page turner. And another…I read it from start to finish in one sitting.
The relationships are tastefully written and told with sweet, steamy, and sometimes heart-wrenching emotion. To balance the story, the author injected Laney's inner dialogue, peppered with humor and a dash of sarcasm.
There is a certain realization which peeks through Laney's discontent and confusion, an ends the story with personal growth with satisfying finesse.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a 'free pass' into an unusual yet endearing, romance.
June 26, 2015
Free Pass in not your standard romance, which is a relief to me. I loved how the author took such a potentially taboo subject and created a story with actual meaning and finesse. Told from both Jake and Laney's POVs, the story revolves around a budding relationship that stems from a broken and defunct relationship that probably was better off not happening.
I found Laney's inner dialogue to be entertaining as she was forced to realize not only Austin, her boyfriend of 3 years was a cheater and their relationship was a bit sketchy, but her desire for the other brother was a long time coming. Miss Kincheloe did a wonderful job of displaying Laney's dilemma and the morality of her situation without making it crass.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves contemporary settings and is looking for something out of the ordinary boy meets girl!
I found Laney's inner dialogue to be entertaining as she was forced to realize not only Austin, her boyfriend of 3 years was a cheater and their relationship was a bit sketchy, but her desire for the other brother was a long time coming. Miss Kincheloe did a wonderful job of displaying Laney's dilemma and the morality of her situation without making it crass.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves contemporary settings and is looking for something out of the ordinary boy meets girl!
December 22, 2015
I'm taking this review in stages
At five percent.....what the ever loving hell. This is why I say in stages, because just a few pages in I want to absolutely scream how much I'm gonna hate the heroine.
At twenty five percent, I just wanted to slap characters around left and right.
At fifty percent I was wishing I was at least eighty five percent so I could hurry and be done.
At ninety percent I was so over all the games and tests Jake was put through.
Never so glad to be done. Jake should have found someone that was quite as stupid as the heroine, whatever the hell her name was.
At five percent.....what the ever loving hell. This is why I say in stages, because just a few pages in I want to absolutely scream how much I'm gonna hate the heroine.
At twenty five percent, I just wanted to slap characters around left and right.
At fifty percent I was wishing I was at least eighty five percent so I could hurry and be done.
At ninety percent I was so over all the games and tests Jake was put through.
Never so glad to be done. Jake should have found someone that was quite as stupid as the heroine, whatever the hell her name was.
December 22, 2015
Ok I just finished free pass read in hours that tells you something good
Wow
Lannie is one sweet hearted girl
Her and Austin have been together 3 dam years when she finds out he's cheated
He offers her a free pass .
You will find out in this story there's a lot more than brotherly rivialry intnis
Austin he's an ass
She lovely and name well you will have to read and see
All I can say older brothers are hot
This book is well written and I hope we get a next instalment
Wow
Lannie is one sweet hearted girl
Her and Austin have been together 3 dam years when she finds out he's cheated
He offers her a free pass .
You will find out in this story there's a lot more than brotherly rivialry intnis
Austin he's an ass
She lovely and name well you will have to read and see
All I can say older brothers are hot
This book is well written and I hope we get a next instalment
August 25, 2017
I never realized I hate the word drug before but every time I read it it drove me insane!! Also she cried for EVERYTHING seriously couldn't believe how much this girl could cry. Just wasn't a book for me
January 8, 2016
It pains me to say this but the best part of this book is the synopsis that entices you to read it. I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The PDF version was in gigantic font, turning a normal length novel into an epic 661 pages.
I am not here to trash the author – writing a novel is hard work, but it surprises me that this was deemed ready to be published as it seems like a rough draft. As you know Laney’s long-time boyfriend, Austin cheats on her. He offers her a free pass of two weeks to do the same. She chooses Jake, Austin’s brother.
To me Laney’s character is like the lyrics to the Katy Perry song Hot and Cold. She spends half her time being one way, totally into Jake, she’s never felt this way, can’t wait to be with him/spend time with him, etc. Then it’s like a switch is flipped and she’s not sure, he needs to prove himself, etc. It’s like a big mind game. And even though she seems to make her mind up pretty quickly into the two weeks, which guy she wants to be with, she still strings Jake along.
Along with the formatting issues and the mind games, there is no frame work or back story within the story. Only first names are used (even for the parents, which is weird). The chapters are written in first person but not labeled so the reader has to take a few beats to determine who is speaking/thinking. We have no point of reference as to where the characters live geographically in reference to where they go to school. Why does Jake happen to live in the same town as his brother and his girlfriend go to school in? Did he just graduate? It’s like reading a map with no compass or symbols to guide you.
Perhaps with a lot of work/rewriting this story could be something. As it stands now, it’s annoying and frustrating and several times along the way, I thought I may not finish it.
I am not here to trash the author – writing a novel is hard work, but it surprises me that this was deemed ready to be published as it seems like a rough draft. As you know Laney’s long-time boyfriend, Austin cheats on her. He offers her a free pass of two weeks to do the same. She chooses Jake, Austin’s brother.
To me Laney’s character is like the lyrics to the Katy Perry song Hot and Cold. She spends half her time being one way, totally into Jake, she’s never felt this way, can’t wait to be with him/spend time with him, etc. Then it’s like a switch is flipped and she’s not sure, he needs to prove himself, etc. It’s like a big mind game. And even though she seems to make her mind up pretty quickly into the two weeks, which guy she wants to be with, she still strings Jake along.
Along with the formatting issues and the mind games, there is no frame work or back story within the story. Only first names are used (even for the parents, which is weird). The chapters are written in first person but not labeled so the reader has to take a few beats to determine who is speaking/thinking. We have no point of reference as to where the characters live geographically in reference to where they go to school. Why does Jake happen to live in the same town as his brother and his girlfriend go to school in? Did he just graduate? It’s like reading a map with no compass or symbols to guide you.
Perhaps with a lot of work/rewriting this story could be something. As it stands now, it’s annoying and frustrating and several times along the way, I thought I may not finish it.
January 16, 2016
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*
After Laney finds out that Austin - her boyfriend of 3 years- cheated on her, they devise a plan to save their relatuonship by giving Laney a free pass. She'll get two weeks with a guy of her choice - no questions asked. Things get interesting and complicated real fast when Laney chooses Austin's older brother Jake to even the score. Jake has secretly harbored a crush on Laney for years and he plans to use the time to finally get the girl he wants.
This story had a lot of promise but the plot was underdeveloped and basically just fell flat. Austin's character was just downright vile and Laney was annoying. Both of these characters were immature and unlikeable. Jake spent the entire story showing and telling Laney how he felt but she still felt the need to play head games with him. She even got her grandmother and Austin involved at one point.
I also felt that Laney and Jake's relationship progressed a little too quickly. I would have liked to see Jake romance her a little and have them get to know each other before they jumped right in the sack. Speaking of which, the story went from Laney's parents not wanting them together to Laney's dad being ok with finding them in bed together. How did that attitude adjustment transpire in the course of the day? The initial concept was a good idea but this book needs a lot of work on plot development and character growth.
After Laney finds out that Austin - her boyfriend of 3 years- cheated on her, they devise a plan to save their relatuonship by giving Laney a free pass. She'll get two weeks with a guy of her choice - no questions asked. Things get interesting and complicated real fast when Laney chooses Austin's older brother Jake to even the score. Jake has secretly harbored a crush on Laney for years and he plans to use the time to finally get the girl he wants.
This story had a lot of promise but the plot was underdeveloped and basically just fell flat. Austin's character was just downright vile and Laney was annoying. Both of these characters were immature and unlikeable. Jake spent the entire story showing and telling Laney how he felt but she still felt the need to play head games with him. She even got her grandmother and Austin involved at one point.
I also felt that Laney and Jake's relationship progressed a little too quickly. I would have liked to see Jake romance her a little and have them get to know each other before they jumped right in the sack. Speaking of which, the story went from Laney's parents not wanting them together to Laney's dad being ok with finding them in bed together. How did that attitude adjustment transpire in the course of the day? The initial concept was a good idea but this book needs a lot of work on plot development and character growth.
January 15, 2016
When you boyfriend cheats on you and gives you a free pass to level the playing field, what do you do? Take the free pass with his brother.
i was hooked in with this book with the summary. What idiot boyfriend gives a girl a free pass when he's cheated on her? What girlfriend would take it? Best plot ever, right?! It is sure to have the potential for a lot of drama, heartbreak, and angst right?
You would think but the author missed the make slightly. At first, I liked Laney. She had just the right amount of toughness and the right about of girl pms drama. But then we got further along in the book and she annoyed me. I felt like it was her feelings where so made up that it bothered me a lot. As a girl, I know we can misread and over analyze the hell out of things sometime but come on...even as a girl I couldn't see how Laneywas able to leap to some conclusion.
Jake's your typical who's been waiting in the shadows forever and is tired of the shadow. I really like Jake. He could be sappy at times but I understood him. I wished the author would have done a little more character development on him though.
Overall, the story was a good in between read. I wanted a little more angst and drama after I read the description. It left me feel like it was missing something.
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
i was hooked in with this book with the summary. What idiot boyfriend gives a girl a free pass when he's cheated on her? What girlfriend would take it? Best plot ever, right?! It is sure to have the potential for a lot of drama, heartbreak, and angst right?
You would think but the author missed the make slightly. At first, I liked Laney. She had just the right amount of toughness and the right about of girl pms drama. But then we got further along in the book and she annoyed me. I felt like it was her feelings where so made up that it bothered me a lot. As a girl, I know we can misread and over analyze the hell out of things sometime but come on...even as a girl I couldn't see how Laneywas able to leap to some conclusion.
Jake's your typical who's been waiting in the shadows forever and is tired of the shadow. I really like Jake. He could be sappy at times but I understood him. I wished the author would have done a little more character development on him though.
Overall, the story was a good in between read. I wanted a little more angst and drama after I read the description. It left me feel like it was missing something.
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2015
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from the New Adult Book Club*
When Laney has caught her boyfriend of three years, Austin, cheating he offers her the chance to do the same without consequences. Laney's choice just so happens to be Austin's brother, Jake. Laney is tired of having an impassionate relationship, but things with Jake are anything but. Jake has had feelings for Laney for quite a long time, and he immediately jumps at the chance to impress her and get her away from his lousy brother. I really liked Jake's character, he clearly had a thing for Laney from the very beginning. He was just the right amount of sweet and commanding that made him a perfect book boyfriend. The only problem I had with this book was Laney. She did entirely too much crying for anyone's good, and I did not like how she was doubting everything about Jake. The guy is not going to confess undying love for you when you could possibly just dump him and go back to his brother! I just wished Laney was a stronger and more confident girl. I did like reading this book nonetheless, it was a pretty good read to pass the time.
When Laney has caught her boyfriend of three years, Austin, cheating he offers her the chance to do the same without consequences. Laney's choice just so happens to be Austin's brother, Jake. Laney is tired of having an impassionate relationship, but things with Jake are anything but. Jake has had feelings for Laney for quite a long time, and he immediately jumps at the chance to impress her and get her away from his lousy brother. I really liked Jake's character, he clearly had a thing for Laney from the very beginning. He was just the right amount of sweet and commanding that made him a perfect book boyfriend. The only problem I had with this book was Laney. She did entirely too much crying for anyone's good, and I did not like how she was doubting everything about Jake. The guy is not going to confess undying love for you when you could possibly just dump him and go back to his brother! I just wished Laney was a stronger and more confident girl. I did like reading this book nonetheless, it was a pretty good read to pass the time.
January 8, 2016
I want to start by saying I was really looking forward to reading this book. The plot is one I've never come across and when you read a lot of romance that is refreshing. But I was a bit disappointed because the book is written in different POV'S, which I like - don't get me wrong- BUT there was never an indication the POV was changing so for the first few chapters I was a little confused and I will admit after reading the first chapter I thought the main character was lesbian LOL but quickly realized that wasn't the case after reading the second ( maybe that was just me ... idk anyways) I also found it hard to get invested in the characters.. I didn't actually "care" till probably chapter 20, I also struggled with the main character a bit because she had no backbone (not even a small one). Aside from the negative the book was an easy read and I read it in just a few hours. My true rating for the book is more like 2.5 stars but I rounded up since the author was kind enough to provide copies for reviews.
December 24, 2015
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*
I was not a fan of this one. I almost DNF'd it.
I was intrigued by the storyline --the Idea of getting a "free pass". Unfortunately, this fell flat. Not enough of an actual plot. No sub-plot. Not enough conflict. Basically no substance to this story. I wanted to feel something. Everything was at surface level. Needs more character development. Even after finishing, I still don't have a deep understanding of these characters. Our H (Laney) was incredibly annoying, insecure. Immature, and cried constantly. Then we have the brothers. Austin (the cheating BF). he's basically a jerk from the get go. Then we have Jake. The older brother who's lusted over Laney from afar for 3 YEARS while Laney and his brother dated. It's drama that makes no sense.
I would pass on this one.
I was not a fan of this one. I almost DNF'd it.
I was intrigued by the storyline --the Idea of getting a "free pass". Unfortunately, this fell flat. Not enough of an actual plot. No sub-plot. Not enough conflict. Basically no substance to this story. I wanted to feel something. Everything was at surface level. Needs more character development. Even after finishing, I still don't have a deep understanding of these characters. Our H (Laney) was incredibly annoying, insecure. Immature, and cried constantly. Then we have the brothers. Austin (the cheating BF). he's basically a jerk from the get go. Then we have Jake. The older brother who's lusted over Laney from afar for 3 YEARS while Laney and his brother dated. It's drama that makes no sense.
I would pass on this one.
January 3, 2016
This one was a quick and simple read for me. I do have to day again that I hate doing average or bad reviews but although this was a good read, I didn't really connect all that well with the characters. I feel as if there was scope for so much more.
This story is about laney (your sweet average college girl) and her douche bag of a boyfriend Austin. Laney finds out that Austin has been unfaithful to her and allows her to settle the score by having a fling. Laney decides on jake... Austins older brother. This is where I thought it would get heated but it was very vanilla for my liking. Still a great read for those who love a happy ending xx
Read again : maybe later
Typos/errors : none
Buy for a friend : yes
Characters : 3
Plot : 3
*copy was provided through RIRI of a the new adult book club
This story is about laney (your sweet average college girl) and her douche bag of a boyfriend Austin. Laney finds out that Austin has been unfaithful to her and allows her to settle the score by having a fling. Laney decides on jake... Austins older brother. This is where I thought it would get heated but it was very vanilla for my liking. Still a great read for those who love a happy ending xx
Read again : maybe later
Typos/errors : none
Buy for a friend : yes
Characters : 3
Plot : 3
*copy was provided through RIRI of a the new adult book club
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2016
I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is told from the points of view of Jake and Laney; however, the beginning of the chapters do not state which point of view you are going to be reading. It is not difficult to figure out, but I personally would like to know before starting to read.
The summary of the book had me curious because I have not read anything like it before. I thought the concept was interesting and did appreciate some of the interactions that happened, but overall I did not like two of the three main characters, which made it difficult to connect with and like the story. I really did not like Laney. I thought she came off as undecided and a little immature.
That being said, I did enjoy the preview of Sean’s Sweetheart at the end of the book and would try a different story by this author.
This book is told from the points of view of Jake and Laney; however, the beginning of the chapters do not state which point of view you are going to be reading. It is not difficult to figure out, but I personally would like to know before starting to read.
The summary of the book had me curious because I have not read anything like it before. I thought the concept was interesting and did appreciate some of the interactions that happened, but overall I did not like two of the three main characters, which made it difficult to connect with and like the story. I really did not like Laney. I thought she came off as undecided and a little immature.
That being said, I did enjoy the preview of Sean’s Sweetheart at the end of the book and would try a different story by this author.
August 22, 2015
Good, fun, solid read. After cheating on his girlfriend, Austin comes up with the idea of giving her a 'free pass' to date someone else for two weeks. Well, anyone but his brother, Jake, that is. Laney is crushed, having wasted three years with Austin. I LOVE that Jake finally decides to go after who he has wanted for the past three years - his brother's girlfriend. You will laugh at the sibling rivalry and especially love the t-shirt Jake let's her borrow. Granny is one of my favorite characters! She is a clever ole lady. This is a light read that I really enjoyed. Hard to believe it all takes place in two weeks. Definitely a cute story.
ARC provided in exchange for honest opinion in the form of a review.
ARC provided in exchange for honest opinion in the form of a review.
March 3, 2016
Full review is available at http://bookplusheart.weebly.com/conte...
Jake and Laney’s chemistry is intense. They can’t keep their hands off one another in private or public. It seemed that no matter where they were or who they were around they were having serious PDA. It was funny how many people had to clear their throats at the two, just to get their attention. That included parents, and grandparents.
My overall thoughts of the book. It was okay. There were a few things I wasn’t a huge fan of...
January 8, 2016
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
When I read the book description it sounded very interesting.
Well I should have read over the reviews first. This book was a bit of a wasted day. I almost made it a DNF but since it was for a RiRi I figured I would trudge on.
The flow was off, the characters were not well developed, and the book was just not very good. It had potential but get some better betas to help you out next time. Ones that will give you honest truthful constructive criticism and isn't just gonna spare your feelings. Had they done that you may have went back and made some much needed changes.
When I read the book description it sounded very interesting.
Well I should have read over the reviews first. This book was a bit of a wasted day. I almost made it a DNF but since it was for a RiRi I figured I would trudge on.
The flow was off, the characters were not well developed, and the book was just not very good. It had potential but get some better betas to help you out next time. Ones that will give you honest truthful constructive criticism and isn't just gonna spare your feelings. Had they done that you may have went back and made some much needed changes.
August 14, 2016
I really liked this book. At first I thought the idea was kind of weird like 'eww, your dating your boyfriend's brother...that's gross' but when i started reading I was like, 'oh, that's not how I thought it was going to be. The story ended up being really sweet with little bits of comedy here and there. The only reason I took off on star is because I actually didn't like any characters except jake, Laney, Austin, and the grandmother. But this book definitely is a page turner, if only just to see them act all cutsey again. Jake and Laney are definitely one of my favorite couples right now.
December 27, 2015
- - ARC provided for honest review --
It was Meh! This book was written from a dual POV. However, as the chapters start you don't know which POV it is written from. (annoying)
The concept of the story appealed to me by it didn't hit the mark. The characters didn't work. Austin didn't seem to really care about Laney and was content to date her for 3+ years.
Laney finally gets a man (Jake) that is interested it her and she plays head games with him.
The story (timeline) had some gaps and jumped around a bit. This added to the readers frustration.
Not a big fan of this one.
It was Meh! This book was written from a dual POV. However, as the chapters start you don't know which POV it is written from. (annoying)
The concept of the story appealed to me by it didn't hit the mark. The characters didn't work. Austin didn't seem to really care about Laney and was content to date her for 3+ years.
Laney finally gets a man (Jake) that is interested it her and she plays head games with him.
The story (timeline) had some gaps and jumped around a bit. This added to the readers frustration.
Not a big fan of this one.
December 27, 2015
I received this book in return for my honest review.
This is a fun and easy read, it's was light hearted and entertaining.
Jake was cute and kind, Caleb was a very good 'loser' in the love stakes. I found Laney to be annoying and childish at times, she seemed overly immature for 21.
I liked the HEA as I am a sucker for romance.
4 starts from me, I read the prelude for Sean's sweetheart at the back of this book and immediately read that which was fab :)
This is a fun and easy read, it's was light hearted and entertaining.
Jake was cute and kind, Caleb was a very good 'loser' in the love stakes. I found Laney to be annoying and childish at times, she seemed overly immature for 21.
I liked the HEA as I am a sucker for romance.
4 starts from me, I read the prelude for Sean's sweetheart at the back of this book and immediately read that which was fab :)
January 17, 2016
I received an ARC for an honest review. This story was a cute fast read. It was told in the point of view of both characters Jake and Lainey as Jake has two weeks to win the love of his brothers girlfriend who he has secretly been in love with for years. I loved Jake but was not a big fan of Lainey who seemed too confused and would dismiss things that where clearly in front of her face. Over looking that it was a good read.
December 28, 2015
1st - I received this book in return for my review - 2nd - This book is ok - Interesting concept for a romance story - writing, tempo, Characters are all ok - it moves along at a decent pace - easy read - I have to admit - I was missing something in the end - kinda wish there was an epilogue or even another chapter to wrap it up
January 7, 2016
I was really looking forward to reading this book. The storyline definitely intrigued me in and made me want to read it. However, after reading the first few chapters, it definitely wasn't what I was expecting. I don't feel like there was enough build up of the characters. I wasn't a fan of Laney. She came off whiny and indecisive. I was hoping for more from this book, but it fell flat for me.
November 6, 2015
This is a bittersweet story filled with angst that the reader can feel.
Read full review in the 2015 November issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2015 November issue of InD'tale Magazine.
January 27, 2016
I attempted to read this book twice and twice I had to out it down because I couldn't read it more. For me this book was too predicatble and I didn't like the relationship between the main characters, It was just too weird for me.
So Its a great concept for a story just wasn't for me.
So Its a great concept for a story just wasn't for me.
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