What do you think?
Rate this book
Hawthorne Brothers #1
Bentley
Bentley Hawthorne and his brothers ruled our high school—and my fantasies—years ago. I thought I moved on from that crush when I graduated, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. There’s something dangerous about a Hawthorne boy, and the most dangerous one is Bentley. He’s tattooed, has slicked-back hair, and can make any woman’s engine purr like a kitten. He’s wrong for me in every way, but sometimes it’s better to be wrong than right. I’m just a shy, introverted girl trying to get through college who’s dreamed of being with Bentley Hawthorne since I first laid eyes on him in high school. I know I shouldn’t have these feelings, but when my car broke down on the side of the road late one night and he was there to save the day, how could I keep away? ------------------------ I’ve never been one to deal with relationships. I had one once, but it ended in heartbreak, and I don’t want to take the risk of that happening again, instead dealing in casual one-night flings. I’m the oldest of three, the one in charge, the one my brothers look up to. I can fix anything mechanical, especially cars, so when I came across a stranded woman one night, I pulled over to help, thinking I was being a good citizen. Little did I know what she was capable of, especially when it came to affairs of the heart—my heart. Though I have my problems, I know I can’t let this one get away, no matter what challenges come our way—and boy, will they come our way. This story features alternating POVs by chapter. This is a non-cliffhanger HEA and the first in a trilogy where each book focuses on a different Hawthorne brother. Each story is independent of the others, and they can be read in any order.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 7, 2016
204 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
M.L. Young
27 books81 followersM.L. Young is an author currently living in Illinois. She is the author of The Stipulation Serials. To find out more and to stay up to date on all things related to the books, follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
twitter.com/realmlyoung
facebook.com/realmlyoung
twitter.com/realmlyoung
facebook.com/realmlyoung
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 29, 2019
Anna had a crush on Bentley Hawthorne when she was in high school but she was shy and he was older so it never went beyond the crush. When Anna's car breaks down by the side of the road Bentley pulls up and she peaks his interest. Bentley doesn't do relationships but he wants to try with Anna, however his ex who soured him against commitment has reentered the picture and she wants Bentley back. Bentley however is falling hard for Anna and doesn't plan to let her go.
I wanted to like this but at times it felt like Bentley acted more like a girl behaviorally then the bad boy you expected him to be. Anna is not shy in this book either so the whole blurb was misleading. Had promise.
I wanted to like this but at times it felt like Bentley acted more like a girl behaviorally then the bad boy you expected him to be. Anna is not shy in this book either so the whole blurb was misleading. Had promise.
Read
January 20, 2016I could not rate this book because I DNF. I really tried to finish. I went back several times. I could not connect with the characters. I was expecting to read about what was in the description. The heroine was described as shy and introverted. She did not come across as such. Someone who is having back and forth banter, telling her friends exactly what she thinks, and telling a man exactly what she wants in bed, is not shy or an introvert. I was expecting the hero to be a bad boy that people were scared of and women went crazy for. He was a polite, respectful gentleman. There's nothing wrong with characters like I described, but it's just not what I was expecting to read.
February 27, 2016
I love the description for this book & was expecting shy girl meets bad boy. Not only was the girl not shy but the boy was not bad. I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I almost put the book down numerous times but thought It's got to get better but didn't. The author's writing style was so-so & the sexy scenes kind of bla.
January 25, 2016
There is absolutely nothing "badass" about Bentley. He's actually a PUSSy cat. This story was really boring. Skimmed through most of it.
January 18, 2016
I received this book for an honest review and I am so thankful. What a great story it's so nice to read about a normal couple and how they discover each other. Anna is a shy sort of girl whose just going to college trying to graduate and living with her two friends Maggie and Nina. Well her two friends get her to take the to a party on Greek row where the music is loud and drinks are flowing, Anna couldn't feel more uncomfortable so she finds her friends to tell them she is leaving and to call her if they need a ride home. Anna drives her rusty old Honda home and all of the sudden it just stops working in the middle of nowhere, she is so mad that she spend money on books when she should have fixed the battery.
Along comes Bentley Hawthorne, a guy she remembers from high school that was so far out of her league and a few years older. He sees her car stranded on the side of the road and offers her a jump to get her started and then he can't help it he offers to look at her car the next day at his and his dad's garage. He and Anna seem to get along well so he asks her to go to breakfast with him and the conversation flows so easily that he asks her to dinner a few days later. Anna can not believe that anyone like Bentley would be interested in a quiet shy girl like her and Bentley can't believe he may be able to have a relationship after his heart was broken after Candice cheated on him.
Bentleys family want to see him find a relationship and suggest he and Candice get back to together which he ignores because he never told them about her cheating he just told them they both lost interest. He finally gets the courage to ask Anna to date him exclusively and be his plus one for his cousins wedding which she excepts. The fireworks start then when his cousin Kelly also invites Candice to the wedding and Bentley doesn't know Candice is coming and his family doesn't know about Anna. I really like the way this series is heading and I will look forward to reading the next book in the series and I hope to hear more about Anna and Bentley.
Along comes Bentley Hawthorne, a guy she remembers from high school that was so far out of her league and a few years older. He sees her car stranded on the side of the road and offers her a jump to get her started and then he can't help it he offers to look at her car the next day at his and his dad's garage. He and Anna seem to get along well so he asks her to go to breakfast with him and the conversation flows so easily that he asks her to dinner a few days later. Anna can not believe that anyone like Bentley would be interested in a quiet shy girl like her and Bentley can't believe he may be able to have a relationship after his heart was broken after Candice cheated on him.
Bentleys family want to see him find a relationship and suggest he and Candice get back to together which he ignores because he never told them about her cheating he just told them they both lost interest. He finally gets the courage to ask Anna to date him exclusively and be his plus one for his cousins wedding which she excepts. The fireworks start then when his cousin Kelly also invites Candice to the wedding and Bentley doesn't know Candice is coming and his family doesn't know about Anna. I really like the way this series is heading and I will look forward to reading the next book in the series and I hope to hear more about Anna and Bentley.
June 5, 2016
I received this book for an honest review.
I liked the storyline of Bentley, but I think there was too much detail—everything is described in minute detail and sometimes that gets to be boring. I liked the characters of Bentley and Anna and how their relationship started. Bentley’s persona was considered to be a ‘bad boy’ with tattoos, being handsome and sexy, and having a muscle car, but in actuality, he was somewhat docile and shy when it came to someone he cared about. Anna was a shy person, but when Bentley fixed her car, she was instantly attracted to him. Eventually, the chemistry between Anna and Bentley is inevitable. This is a good start to the Hawthorne Brothers series.
I liked the storyline of Bentley, but I think there was too much detail—everything is described in minute detail and sometimes that gets to be boring. I liked the characters of Bentley and Anna and how their relationship started. Bentley’s persona was considered to be a ‘bad boy’ with tattoos, being handsome and sexy, and having a muscle car, but in actuality, he was somewhat docile and shy when it came to someone he cared about. Anna was a shy person, but when Bentley fixed her car, she was instantly attracted to him. Eventually, the chemistry between Anna and Bentley is inevitable. This is a good start to the Hawthorne Brothers series.
January 9, 2016
I was given this book as an ARC for an honest review.
For me this was about a 3.5-4 star read.
I felt that I got more insight to the characters from the synopsis then the actual book itself. I needed more detailed background on them. You get a little bit but, I felt it was not enough for me to completely get attached to them.
I did really like how Bentley and Anna were with each other and how their relationship progressed. I LOVED them as a couple. I felt that story was told very well and I absolutely love getting both POVs. I am looking forward to reading about Cash and Liam.
For me this was about a 3.5-4 star read.
I felt that I got more insight to the characters from the synopsis then the actual book itself. I needed more detailed background on them. You get a little bit but, I felt it was not enough for me to completely get attached to them.
I did really like how Bentley and Anna were with each other and how their relationship progressed. I LOVED them as a couple. I felt that story was told very well and I absolutely love getting both POVs. I am looking forward to reading about Cash and Liam.
January 9, 2016
This book was a lovely story of two people learning to have a relationship they can be happy with. Bentley is beginning to open himself back up to carrying for a woman again after being cheated on by his ex. This relationship is different. He feels better and wants to make Anna feel special. Anna is nervous this bad boy from the past will get tired of her. They are headed for a new life with each other. Bentley's ex is determined to stop this relationship. Mom doesn't help in the beginning. But of course love conquers all.
I received this book as a ARC member for an honest review.
I received this book as a ARC member for an honest review.
January 9, 2016
I received this book from the author for an honest review. The book was just okay for me. I wanted a little more angst and bad-boyness. It was just a nice, sweet romance. Nothing wrong with that for some people, but I like more complication at the beginning, and her friends were really one-dimensional and annoying. But if you are in the market for seeing the good girl win in the end, this is the book for you.
For more reviews, go to bbsbookreviews.com
For more reviews, go to bbsbookreviews.com
July 14, 2016
Was disappointed in the ending. Great story line, characters were real but the ending really sucked! There was a HEA but I really didn't get to enjoy it as the storyline went from fight to HEA with a turn of the page / final chapter.
Was the author told to cut out a bunch of pages to make the story shorter? If so, they really shortchanged Bentley & Anna's story
Was the author told to cut out a bunch of pages to make the story shorter? If so, they really shortchanged Bentley & Anna's story
June 25, 2021
I would like to have rated this higher but the mother totally ruined this story for me. I have to blame it a bit on Bentley for not telling her he was dating someone but the other part of me just doesn’t like the mothers “I want grandchildren and I don’t care who you have them with” attitude. The mother was rude, inconsiderate and disrespectful to Anna AND it was allowed.
I try to remember when reading “young” adult books that they don’t have life experience or a lot of common sense but please...Bentley is a business owner and should be more mature. He never discussed the ex with Anna. Not even the “texts” she sent to him, this is not a way to start a relationship. Anna is described as "shy" but the girl isn't shy, she isn't afraid to say her mind and she seems outgoing and personable.
Sadly, the author left out the scene in the cafe’ that final scene where she either broke up or stayed in a relationship, we have no idea what was said...suddenly...happy ending. There was no repercussions for the ex-wanna be drama queen-girlfriend. No introduction (that went better) with his mother ~ she could have at least apologized for her behavior.
I have the next book in the series and will read it but not looking forward to more of that mother.
I try to remember when reading “young” adult books that they don’t have life experience or a lot of common sense but please...Bentley is a business owner and should be more mature. He never discussed the ex with Anna. Not even the “texts” she sent to him, this is not a way to start a relationship. Anna is described as "shy" but the girl isn't shy, she isn't afraid to say her mind and she seems outgoing and personable.
Sadly, the author left out the scene in the cafe’ that final scene where she either broke up or stayed in a relationship, we have no idea what was said...suddenly...happy ending. There was no repercussions for the ex-wanna be drama queen-girlfriend. No introduction (that went better) with his mother ~ she could have at least apologized for her behavior.
I have the next book in the series and will read it but not looking forward to more of that mother.
September 3, 2023
Good Story poor ending
I did like Bentley & Anna I thought they were a nice cute couple, his father and brothers seemed nice also but I wasn’t a fan of his mother trying to push his ex on to him.
Even when he told her he didn’t want to speak or see his ex and then his mother making a comment at the wedding that Anna was just a date and basically wanting him to get with his ex how would she feel if it was the other way around and someone did that to her sons.
The ending was just so poor like the build up of her walking to meet him and then just a boring flat ending a few months later.
Their ending could have been so much better even if it was set months or years away but that ending just spoilt it for me.
I’m not sure I fancy reading Cash and Liam after looking at the reviews and people seeming to say their endings aren’t good either.
I did like Bentley & Anna I thought they were a nice cute couple, his father and brothers seemed nice also but I wasn’t a fan of his mother trying to push his ex on to him.
Even when he told her he didn’t want to speak or see his ex and then his mother making a comment at the wedding that Anna was just a date and basically wanting him to get with his ex how would she feel if it was the other way around and someone did that to her sons.
The ending was just so poor like the build up of her walking to meet him and then just a boring flat ending a few months later.
Their ending could have been so much better even if it was set months or years away but that ending just spoilt it for me.
I’m not sure I fancy reading Cash and Liam after looking at the reviews and people seeming to say their endings aren’t good either.
January 20, 2021
This was a DNF for me, sadly.
I'm trying to read books by the same author this week, to try and weed out those I don't want to purchase books from and those I do. This was up next, unfortunately. I didn't make it past the intro before I was cringing at the terrible grammar.
But I kept it up because I love the name Bentley and was hoping he'd lived up to the name. Nope, WAY too juvenile and girlish to suit me. I want to read a well developed male character that doesn't do things that are definitely female more than male. I stopped reading at 50%.
I'm trying to read books by the same author this week, to try and weed out those I don't want to purchase books from and those I do. This was up next, unfortunately. I didn't make it past the intro before I was cringing at the terrible grammar.
But I kept it up because I love the name Bentley and was hoping he'd lived up to the name. Nope, WAY too juvenile and girlish to suit me. I want to read a well developed male character that doesn't do things that are definitely female more than male. I stopped reading at 50%.
April 12, 2021
This book was good read but if anyone does decide to read this book it’s a 50% chance you will like it or a 50% chance you won’t. You win some or you loose some with this book. For me I quite enjoyed it. But I wouldn’t read it again. But I may continue the series or not I don’t really know. I honestly thought it was a lil to kind for me. And a lil to cheesy. But the smut was *chefs kiss* 4/5 on the smut 100%!!!
February 8, 2022
I really enjoyed reading about Bentley and Anna dating.and there were just a couple minimal errors. However the 3 stars is because there wasn't really anything about the book beyond them dating. I kept waiting for a problem to appear that they had to overcome. Unfortunately the only issue that caused issues was too late in the book to make me care.
May 22, 2017
Bentley
I love the character Bentley a true gentleman. A truely fabulous well written story my only problem is that I don't like the ending I think I was cheated by how the story finish I wanted every word that was said at meeting .I still enjoy the story
I love the character Bentley a true gentleman. A truely fabulous well written story my only problem is that I don't like the ending I think I was cheated by how the story finish I wanted every word that was said at meeting .I still enjoy the story
March 23, 2018
Ended too abruptly
I love the story line but I found that the end was way too abrupt and left me wondering what just happened??? I felt that there could have been so much more to the ending.
I love the story line but I found that the end was way too abrupt and left me wondering what just happened??? I felt that there could have been so much more to the ending.
May 20, 2019
Bentley and Anna
Honestly I am not sure how I felt about this book, it was more on the teenage side than an adult read. Sex was lab led as “it” at times and for this man to be a “ bad” boy he was so needy. Where was his confidence?
Honestly I am not sure how I felt about this book, it was more on the teenage side than an adult read. Sex was lab led as “it” at times and for this man to be a “ bad” boy he was so needy. Where was his confidence?
February 21, 2021
Take a Chance on Love
Anna is in college with no love life. Bentley is the love em and leave em type. They met when Anna’s car died on the side of the road and Bentley found her. Both have lost in love maybe this time they happened upon a winner.
Anna is in college with no love life. Bentley is the love em and leave em type. They met when Anna’s car died on the side of the road and Bentley found her. Both have lost in love maybe this time they happened upon a winner.
October 11, 2017
😍
This was pure perfection. The story line and the characters are amazing. I love that it shows just how much people should be in a relationship. It was romantic at best!
This was pure perfection. The story line and the characters are amazing. I love that it shows just how much people should be in a relationship. It was romantic at best!
October 19, 2017
Great book
Loved this book ,great character's the whole story is excellent. A girl who had a crush finally gets the guy
Loved this book ,great character's the whole story is excellent. A girl who had a crush finally gets the guy
October 31, 2017
just couldn't get into it.. didn't finish it.. by a long shot
February 22, 2018
Vanilla
Very plain, predictable. A college age romance w/ happily ever after. Nothing wrong w/ the book but this author has the writing ability to do something more exciting.
Very plain, predictable. A college age romance w/ happily ever after. Nothing wrong w/ the book but this author has the writing ability to do something more exciting.
March 15, 2018
Love
This book has everything in it a woman's insecurities as well as the man's.These characters make you think you know them
This book has everything in it a woman's insecurities as well as the man's.These characters make you think you know them
November 10, 2019
3.5 Stars
January 9, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this book. M. L. Young is great creating characters that could translate into reality. I also liked that fact that the RandomMeet app is mentioned.
Story lines that cover a family and introduce you to characters that will be in following books is something I like.
Anna's and Bentley's journey was good until Candice showed up, but thankfully, it wasn't dragged out, like in some other books. Thanks for that.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Story lines that cover a family and introduce you to characters that will be in following books is something I like.
Anna's and Bentley's journey was good until Candice showed up, but thankfully, it wasn't dragged out, like in some other books. Thanks for that.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2016
I don't know kinda weird read for me.....the two main characters just seemed kinda distant to me....and Bentley is so vain he just got on my nerves kind of a douche lol....I finished but I just never really connected with this broken up jumping around blank blank of a story lol..... hmm like the idea of the story...... it just didn't take me there..... like for example blank and me went out than blam we been seeing each other for a month hmm really did I miss a chapter just seemed rushed and weird
November 3, 2016
Great start, meh finish...
I was trucking along and really liking how the main girl wasn't the typical - so insecure you want to shake her. The guy was bad boy outside, but really was just a great guy. One I wish I'd known in my early/mid twenties. Neither was overly dramatic and it was a nice breath of fresh air that there was no typical problem to add conflict. Then there was the typical problem to add conflict and that's why it gets only 3.
I was trucking along and really liking how the main girl wasn't the typical - so insecure you want to shake her. The guy was bad boy outside, but really was just a great guy. One I wish I'd known in my early/mid twenties. Neither was overly dramatic and it was a nice breath of fresh air that there was no typical problem to add conflict. Then there was the typical problem to add conflict and that's why it gets only 3.
January 9, 2016
I was given this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed reading Bentley's story. The romance between them was heated although it was a little slow going at times. While Bentley was touted as the 'bad boy' he seemed very tame in his current life. There wasn't a rough edge to him. I am looking forward to reading about his brothers in upcoming books.
I enjoyed reading Bentley's story. The romance between them was heated although it was a little slow going at times. While Bentley was touted as the 'bad boy' he seemed very tame in his current life. There wasn't a rough edge to him. I am looking forward to reading about his brothers in upcoming books.
January 11, 2016
received copy for honest review
I enjoyed this book. It's a sweet love story. I loved the characters. The chemistry between Bentley and Anna is hot! Bentley the some what bad boy and Anna the shy girl that prefers to be in the background. I liked that the story was told by both POV's. M.L Young did great job. Looking forward to reading the next book.
I enjoyed this book. It's a sweet love story. I loved the characters. The chemistry between Bentley and Anna is hot! Bentley the some what bad boy and Anna the shy girl that prefers to be in the background. I liked that the story was told by both POV's. M.L Young did great job. Looking forward to reading the next book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews