What do you think?
Rate this book
Forbidden Men #9
Consolation Prize
Don't you just hate it when someone destroys all your carefully made plans?
I mean, I had goals: college to graduate in one semester, a future I was working hard to reach, and an image of myself I wanted the world to see. My life was stacked into these precisely placed blocks. But then Colton Gamble came along and knocked them all askew.
I hated how he messed everything up, how he could hog all my attention whenever he was around, how he made my pulse quicken—but only because he ticked me off... not because I was attracted to him. Oh! And I hated how he knew how attractive he was too, the shallow, full of himself, doesn't take no for an answer, too-flirty, too cocky, extremely irritating jerk.
The boy had all the qualities that turned me off. Or so I thought.
One night he wasn't quite the brainless, over-confident jerk I usually took him for.
One night, he took care of me when I was at my lowest. He opened up to me and made me open up to him.
Now I'm learning maybe he's not what I first thought he was. And maybe I'M not what I first thought I was. Maybe it’s okay to rearrange a couple of my perfectly set blocks. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll stop worrying about what I’m afraid everyone else will think and finally reach for something I really want. It’s possible some of my plans need to be destroyed, and Colton Gamble is exactly the kind of mess I need in my life.
What do you think? Should I give him a try?
Desperately seeking your advice,
Julianna Radcliffe
I mean, I had goals: college to graduate in one semester, a future I was working hard to reach, and an image of myself I wanted the world to see. My life was stacked into these precisely placed blocks. But then Colton Gamble came along and knocked them all askew.
I hated how he messed everything up, how he could hog all my attention whenever he was around, how he made my pulse quicken—but only because he ticked me off... not because I was attracted to him. Oh! And I hated how he knew how attractive he was too, the shallow, full of himself, doesn't take no for an answer, too-flirty, too cocky, extremely irritating jerk.
The boy had all the qualities that turned me off. Or so I thought.
One night he wasn't quite the brainless, over-confident jerk I usually took him for.
One night, he took care of me when I was at my lowest. He opened up to me and made me open up to him.
Now I'm learning maybe he's not what I first thought he was. And maybe I'M not what I first thought I was. Maybe it’s okay to rearrange a couple of my perfectly set blocks. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll stop worrying about what I’m afraid everyone else will think and finally reach for something I really want. It’s possible some of my plans need to be destroyed, and Colton Gamble is exactly the kind of mess I need in my life.
What do you think? Should I give him a try?
Desperately seeking your advice,
Julianna Radcliffe
374 pages, Paperback
First published November 21, 2016
93 people are currently reading
2973 people want to read
About the author
Linda Kage
51 books5,537 followersLinda writes romance fiction from YA to adult, contemporary to fantasy.
Published since 2010, she first went through a 2-year writing correspondence class in children’s literature from The Institute of Children’s Literature, then graduated with a Bachelor's in Arts-English with an emphasis in creative fiction writing from Pittsburg State University.
She currently lives with her husband, two daughters, a cat named Holly, and nine cuckoo clocks in southeast Kansas.
She started out reading with the Baby-Sitters Club, then moved to Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, Julie Garwood, and LaVyrle Spencer in high school. Now, she's all over the place with her romance reading tastes.
A few of her favorite things have been:
Stranger Things, Supernatural, Cheers, Teen Wolf, Umbrella Academy, Outlander, Yellowstone, Grey's Anatomy, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Shawshank Redemption, Dirty Dancing, Harry Potter, Tangled, A Walk to Remember, Dr. Pepper, Roast Beef with mashed potatoes and onion rings, the poem "Equipment" by Edgar A. Guest, and To Kill a Mockingbird.
Published since 2010, she first went through a 2-year writing correspondence class in children’s literature from The Institute of Children’s Literature, then graduated with a Bachelor's in Arts-English with an emphasis in creative fiction writing from Pittsburg State University.
She currently lives with her husband, two daughters, a cat named Holly, and nine cuckoo clocks in southeast Kansas.
She started out reading with the Baby-Sitters Club, then moved to Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, Julie Garwood, and LaVyrle Spencer in high school. Now, she's all over the place with her romance reading tastes.
A few of her favorite things have been:
Stranger Things, Supernatural, Cheers, Teen Wolf, Umbrella Academy, Outlander, Yellowstone, Grey's Anatomy, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Shawshank Redemption, Dirty Dancing, Harry Potter, Tangled, A Walk to Remember, Dr. Pepper, Roast Beef with mashed potatoes and onion rings, the poem "Equipment" by Edgar A. Guest, and To Kill a Mockingbird.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 342 reviews
March 21, 2017
3.5 Bickering Stars
Let me start by saying that reading this series was like playing book roulette. I had a knot in my gut each time I start a book wondering if I was going to love it or if it was going to end up pissing me off as that seems to be the two emotions this series tends to pull out of me. Consolation Prize tilted towards the pissed off half more. Cause while I did enjoy it for the most part at times the way Julianna treated Colton really pissed me off. I did end up warming to Julianna though and grew to really like her. Colton I loved. I called him little Ten cause he was just like Ten. Overall I loved it series and enjoyed this book. I'm sad to see the series end as I really grew to love the Forbidden gang especially Ten and Pick they are my favorites.
Let me start by saying that reading this series was like playing book roulette. I had a knot in my gut each time I start a book wondering if I was going to love it or if it was going to end up pissing me off as that seems to be the two emotions this series tends to pull out of me. Consolation Prize tilted towards the pissed off half more. Cause while I did enjoy it for the most part at times the way Julianna treated Colton really pissed me off. I did end up warming to Julianna though and grew to really like her. Colton I loved. I called him little Ten cause he was just like Ten. Overall I loved it series and enjoyed this book. I'm sad to see the series end as I really grew to love the Forbidden gang especially Ten and Pick they are my favorites.
November 22, 2016
4 stars!!!
Consolation Prize is the ninth and final (*cries*) book in Linda Kage’s Forbidden Men series. This series truly has some of my favorite reads in it. These characters are such a family and have such an amazing bond. I wish the books would never end, I love them this much! Anyway, back on track.
Consolation Prize is about the youngest Gamble brother, Colton. We first meet Colton when he is 8 years old. He’s now 18 and at his freshman year of college. Ten likes to refer to him as his prodigy and he is like Ten in a lot of ways. He’s funny, inappropriate at times, and so sweet and devoted. I loved everything about Colton Gamble. In the last book in this series, Priceless, we meet Julianna Radcliffe. Juli goes to out on half of a date with Brandt. She’s 21 and doesn’t look twice at his younger brother… at least, she doesn’t want to.
There is something about Colton Gamble that Juli can’t resist. He enamors her. And Colton has felt that spark with Juli since the moment they met. But Colton is off limits to her. Right? He’s much younger, she went on that date with his brother, and he’s a white guy- and she’s never seriously considered dating one. But Colton Gamble is the only guy who’s ever made her feel this way. The only guy to make her light up. To make her feel worthy.
When I first started this book, I don’t know if I was crazy about Julianna. I didn’t feel like she would treat Colton good enough. The more I got to know her, and the more she opened up, I loved her too. She has a hard shell, but she has a beautiful heart and she’s a fighter. Colton is amazing. He’s had a rough past, but he’s just a fantastic human being and so sweet and fun. I loved them together. Their chemistry was seriously off the charts. Colton was so great with Juli and understood her, understood her hesitations and talked her through things. By the end, I loved them so much as a couple.
If you’re looking for a NA series that is the perfect mix of emotion, fun and sexy, this is the series you want to read. These characters are perfection. Linda Kage did a truly amazing job with these books. I give this one 4 stars!
Consolation Prize is the ninth and final (*cries*) book in Linda Kage’s Forbidden Men series. This series truly has some of my favorite reads in it. These characters are such a family and have such an amazing bond. I wish the books would never end, I love them this much! Anyway, back on track.
Consolation Prize is about the youngest Gamble brother, Colton. We first meet Colton when he is 8 years old. He’s now 18 and at his freshman year of college. Ten likes to refer to him as his prodigy and he is like Ten in a lot of ways. He’s funny, inappropriate at times, and so sweet and devoted. I loved everything about Colton Gamble. In the last book in this series, Priceless, we meet Julianna Radcliffe. Juli goes to out on half of a date with Brandt. She’s 21 and doesn’t look twice at his younger brother… at least, she doesn’t want to.
There is something about Colton Gamble that Juli can’t resist. He enamors her. And Colton has felt that spark with Juli since the moment they met. But Colton is off limits to her. Right? He’s much younger, she went on that date with his brother, and he’s a white guy- and she’s never seriously considered dating one. But Colton Gamble is the only guy who’s ever made her feel this way. The only guy to make her light up. To make her feel worthy.
When I first started this book, I don’t know if I was crazy about Julianna. I didn’t feel like she would treat Colton good enough. The more I got to know her, and the more she opened up, I loved her too. She has a hard shell, but she has a beautiful heart and she’s a fighter. Colton is amazing. He’s had a rough past, but he’s just a fantastic human being and so sweet and fun. I loved them together. Their chemistry was seriously off the charts. Colton was so great with Juli and understood her, understood her hesitations and talked her through things. By the end, I loved them so much as a couple.
He was worth it. He was worth the objections we’d probably receive from both our families and possibly even our friends. He was worth the heartbreak I was almost certain would come. He was worth it all.
If you’re looking for a NA series that is the perfect mix of emotion, fun and sexy, this is the series you want to read. These characters are perfection. Linda Kage did a truly amazing job with these books. I give this one 4 stars!
November 15, 2016
3.75 STARS
Linda Kage continues to deliver heartfelt, dreamy, sexy, yet powerful stories book after book in this series. All of the books in this collection can however be read as standalones. Yet the characters acculumate throughout the series as this is in fact the youngest of the Gamble boy’s story. Colton Gamble was just a little boy when readers first meet him in this series about six books back.
The story begins at Brandt and Sarah’s wedding. The now college aged Colton Gamble is asked to distract the one girl his brother Brandt went on ½ a date with, Juliette Radcliffe. Colton has had the hots for Juliette the only female employee at the Forbidden Nightclub. The Forbidden is the place where some of the gang has worked at or continues to work at to date. She’s still holding some sort of crush or torch for Brandt Gamble yet is oddly attracted to his younger snarky brother, Colton.
”Same way any woman gets over a guy she likes. By settling for some other lucky schmuck to get your mind off him, of course.” Grinning he lifted his hand. “In fact, I volunteer as consolation prize.”
[image error]
The chemistry between Juliette and Colton shocks both of them however Juliette has several reservations beside her Brandt crush. There’s the fact that they would be an interracial couple and she’s never dated a white man before, her strict father, and then there’s the fact that he is four years younger than her. Her feelings for Colton definitely perplex her yet one things for sure she’s attracted to him.
”Realizing I was attracted to him- and had always been attracted to him – in a super intense way kind of intimidated me. I didn’t want to like Colton like that. He wasn’t easy like Brandt.”
Juliette brings to the story a bunch of new characters in her roommates and then there’s her creepy ex-husband. Juliette is the first character of color in this series and the author handled things very well regarding public opinion and for Juliette her insecurities.
As with most of the books in this series there are other circumstances happening and my heart went out to Aspen and Noel on what they were going through. As well as the hilarious comic relief of Ten! The story does include a shocking and OTT scene that I felt was completely not needed in this story and then there’s the fact that I didn’t care for any of Juliette’s friends which is weird since a spin off could have occurred but found all of them just not that interesting. Juliette and Colton’s road to an hea is a hard one yet for them it’s very gratifying and well worth the struggles.
”He was worth it. He was worth the objections we’d probably receive from both our families and possibly even our friends. He was worth the heartbreak I was almost certain would come. He was worth all of it. “
[image error]
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
Linda Kage continues to deliver heartfelt, dreamy, sexy, yet powerful stories book after book in this series. All of the books in this collection can however be read as standalones. Yet the characters acculumate throughout the series as this is in fact the youngest of the Gamble boy’s story. Colton Gamble was just a little boy when readers first meet him in this series about six books back.
The story begins at Brandt and Sarah’s wedding. The now college aged Colton Gamble is asked to distract the one girl his brother Brandt went on ½ a date with, Juliette Radcliffe. Colton has had the hots for Juliette the only female employee at the Forbidden Nightclub. The Forbidden is the place where some of the gang has worked at or continues to work at to date. She’s still holding some sort of crush or torch for Brandt Gamble yet is oddly attracted to his younger snarky brother, Colton.
”Same way any woman gets over a guy she likes. By settling for some other lucky schmuck to get your mind off him, of course.” Grinning he lifted his hand. “In fact, I volunteer as consolation prize.”
[image error]
The chemistry between Juliette and Colton shocks both of them however Juliette has several reservations beside her Brandt crush. There’s the fact that they would be an interracial couple and she’s never dated a white man before, her strict father, and then there’s the fact that he is four years younger than her. Her feelings for Colton definitely perplex her yet one things for sure she’s attracted to him.
”Realizing I was attracted to him- and had always been attracted to him – in a super intense way kind of intimidated me. I didn’t want to like Colton like that. He wasn’t easy like Brandt.”
Juliette brings to the story a bunch of new characters in her roommates and then there’s her creepy ex-husband. Juliette is the first character of color in this series and the author handled things very well regarding public opinion and for Juliette her insecurities.
As with most of the books in this series there are other circumstances happening and my heart went out to Aspen and Noel on what they were going through. As well as the hilarious comic relief of Ten! The story does include a shocking and OTT scene that I felt was completely not needed in this story and then there’s the fact that I didn’t care for any of Juliette’s friends which is weird since a spin off could have occurred but found all of them just not that interesting. Juliette and Colton’s road to an hea is a hard one yet for them it’s very gratifying and well worth the struggles.
”He was worth it. He was worth the objections we’d probably receive from both our families and possibly even our friends. He was worth the heartbreak I was almost certain would come. He was worth all of it. “
[image error]
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
November 21, 2016
4.5 Stars
There's just something about this series for me that seems to hit the spot each and every single time. These characters have become like family to me. I've grown to love them and root for their HEA and I have to admit that no one tugged at my heart strings more than Brandt and Colton Gamble. Brandt got his HEA in Priceless and I've been eagerly anticipating Colton's turn. The brothers are polar opposites. Brandt serious and Colton the goof with the easy smiles and plenty of charm. I knew it would take a special girl to bring this guy to his knees and Julianna was certainly his perfect match.
After their failed date that barely made it halfway, Julianna find herself at Brandt's wedding, pining after what could have been. Sent in as the distraction, Colton is all too eager to hit on the beautiful woman that he's been lusting after since he first laid eyes on her and who has been thwarting each and every single one of his flirty advances.
I was afraid that Juli's feelings for Brandt may put a permanent shadow over anything developing with her and Colton, but I should not have feared it at all. I absolutely loved these two together. Four years his senior, Juli is not exactly thrilled about her building lust towards the little Gamble. But his easy smiles and charm soon begin to win her over. Then there's the quiet intensity and layers that he so easily keeps hidden beneath his playful personality that calls to her even more.
They have everything stacked against them. Colton will always be Brandt's brother, he's younger...and he's white. I love reading interracial romances, but sadly it's not a common find. Nor is it an easy thing to pull off without making it all about color. But I have to say that Linda Kage not only pulled it off, but she did so flawlessly.
While Juli may come off as a harass at first sight, there's so much more to her. She's such a multilayered character that I couldn't help but like her right away. The more I found out about her, the more I understood why she acted the way she did. As for Colton, I knew I'd love him and I was not wrong. What I didn't expect is to love him as much as I did. But he's right up there with Ten for me. The same sort of ornery personality and easy humor, but beneath it all is a heart of gold.
While the book may be titled Consolation Prize, their relationship was anything but. I absolutely adored the two of them together and watching them both slowly tear down the other's walls. I loved watching them fall for each other against all odds.
When I'm in the mood for a poignant, emotional and sexy NA romance, this author has become my go-to. The Forbidden Men has been and continues to be one of my top favorite NA series. This book only served to remind me why I love it as much as I do. I simply can't recommend it enough. Perfection. Pure perfection.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
I'm used to coming in second place.”
“Not with me you don't.”
There's just something about this series for me that seems to hit the spot each and every single time. These characters have become like family to me. I've grown to love them and root for their HEA and I have to admit that no one tugged at my heart strings more than Brandt and Colton Gamble. Brandt got his HEA in Priceless and I've been eagerly anticipating Colton's turn. The brothers are polar opposites. Brandt serious and Colton the goof with the easy smiles and plenty of charm. I knew it would take a special girl to bring this guy to his knees and Julianna was certainly his perfect match.
After their failed date that barely made it halfway, Julianna find herself at Brandt's wedding, pining after what could have been. Sent in as the distraction, Colton is all too eager to hit on the beautiful woman that he's been lusting after since he first laid eyes on her and who has been thwarting each and every single one of his flirty advances.
I was afraid that Juli's feelings for Brandt may put a permanent shadow over anything developing with her and Colton, but I should not have feared it at all. I absolutely loved these two together. Four years his senior, Juli is not exactly thrilled about her building lust towards the little Gamble. But his easy smiles and charm soon begin to win her over. Then there's the quiet intensity and layers that he so easily keeps hidden beneath his playful personality that calls to her even more.
They have everything stacked against them. Colton will always be Brandt's brother, he's younger...and he's white. I love reading interracial romances, but sadly it's not a common find. Nor is it an easy thing to pull off without making it all about color. But I have to say that Linda Kage not only pulled it off, but she did so flawlessly.
While Juli may come off as a harass at first sight, there's so much more to her. She's such a multilayered character that I couldn't help but like her right away. The more I found out about her, the more I understood why she acted the way she did. As for Colton, I knew I'd love him and I was not wrong. What I didn't expect is to love him as much as I did. But he's right up there with Ten for me. The same sort of ornery personality and easy humor, but beneath it all is a heart of gold.
“Oh, baby doll. Wrong's just the way I like it.”
While the book may be titled Consolation Prize, their relationship was anything but. I absolutely adored the two of them together and watching them both slowly tear down the other's walls. I loved watching them fall for each other against all odds.
"I've been looking for you, baby doll."
When I'm in the mood for a poignant, emotional and sexy NA romance, this author has become my go-to. The Forbidden Men has been and continues to be one of my top favorite NA series. This book only served to remind me why I love it as much as I do. I simply can't recommend it enough. Perfection. Pure perfection.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
November 27, 2016
***4 "We're a team!!!" stars***
Well, this was the final book in the Forbidden Men series... (Or not??? Just sayin'!!!) and it was very good!!!
This series is one of my favorites and i have loved every single character in here!!!
I will never forget this bunch of crazy people and i will always hold them in a special place in my heart!!!
We saw them to grow up through those books and to become adults and I liked that i witness that...
And here was Colton's turn...
"All you’d need is one taste of me and you’d forget about big brother completely.”
God, we met this guy when he was 8 years old and now he was almost 19... We knew almost everything about him since his siblings were three of the lead protagonists in the previous books!!!
And it was about time, Colton will find his own place in the world!!!
Colton was an easygoing guy, very gentle, very kind, so funny, a little bit cocky and his family meant the world to him... He was very helpful with all the shits that was happening lately in his home...
At the same time, he was in college and he was missing only one thing...
A girl who would mean the world to him...
"Noel, Brandt, and Caroline had each found someone to fit them perfectly. In this day and age, that was unheard of, and yet… it left me with this hope, this determination that someday I’d find the same thing too. So I was always on the lookout, testing the waters to find that perfect fit for myself. I mean, I didn’t turn down casual hookups along the way. Hello, I was an eighteen-year-old dude. But in the back of my mind, the ultimate goal had always been to find her, that girl who filled the gaps in me the same way all my siblings’ spouses had filled the gaps in them."
Everything started in Brandt's wedding... Colton was thrown into Julianna's path in order her infatuation with Brandt don't ruin anything up!!! But that wasn't something that Colton didn't want, since for almost a year he was flirting shamelessly with her in any chance he got!!!
Even though that Julianna stayed untouched by his efforts!!!
But something is twisting in this wedding between Colton and Julianna... and everything is turning upside down.
But it's something for good or bad???
“Same way any woman gets over a guy she likes. By settling for some other lucky schmuck to get your mind off him, of course.” Grinning he lifted his hand. “In fact, I volunteer as consolation prize.”
Julianna was a bartender in the Forbidden club and in the previous book, we had seen her go out with Brandt (before Sarah!) in an unfinished date, but for Julianna that was enough to inform a crush toward Brandt...
But now, the guy is marrying the love of his life and she is feeling lonely and bitter... And Colton is getting in the picture and she doesn't know if this is right or wrong!!!
How can she move on from one brother to the other???
"If I didn’t think something should fit into my life, I did try to resist it, no matter how much I liked it or not. Liking Brandt had fit. It’d made sense, so I’d been determined to make it happen. But then Colton had come along, and he’d been wrong…all wrong except for the little fact that he’d ignited things inside me his brother hadn’t even been able to touch."
So what will happen with Colton and Julianna???
Is there a chance for them to be together???
Or their differences between them will get in the way???
It's not only Brandt's matter, but also the age gap between them!!!
Julianna is four years older than him...
And not only that, but she is black and he is white...
How is it possible for them to get over all those problems above???
"Stop calling me Little Gamble. You compare me to him every time you say it, and I don’t like that. I’m not Brandt. I could never be Brandt, even if I tried. So this is who you got, baby doll. Colton David Gamble, and no one else." {Colton}
"Opening my heart to him seemed scary and bold and dangerous. I knew he could hurt me like no one else because I’d given him more weapons to do so…I’d freaking confided things to him. And if he wasn’t the one to hurt me, what would everyone else think about us being together? What if their scorn broke me?" {Julianna}
I loved Colton very much in here... I was loving him before, but here, he was so caring, so lovely, so sweet!!! He was so perfect from many aspects... even when he was being cocky and arrogant!!!
As for Julianna??? To be honest with you, i liked that chick from the previous book and i thought that she was very cool.... But damn, in here i realized that she was having too many issues and that was because of the racial differences around her... She was trying really hard to be perfect and it was very tiring...
I liked very much, how Colton made her open up and embrace her real self!!!
"I didn’t want to like him; it drove me crazy that once I realized he was in a room he was the only thing I could focus on or think about. It’s like the bastard stole my attention against my will, and I hated that. But I couldn’t seem to stop it."
Colton and Julianna as a couple were very cute!!!
I liked very much all this bickering between them... It was like a great foreplay!!!
They were fitting really good together and Colton fought very much for this relationship!!!!
“He was worth it. He was worth the objections we’d probably receive from both our families and possibly even our friends. He was worth the heartbreak I was almost certain would come. He was worth all of it.”
I also liked that i took some glimpes from many previous couples even though that it had to do mostly with the Gambles siblings...
I liked the way that they had grown up and how they have become...
My heart was aching for Aspen and Noel very much in this one and for what they had to deal!!!
Another one book of the forbidden men came to an end and i feel a bittersweetness!!!
God, i wish that this wasn't the end, but if it was, I'm happy that i experienced all those wonderful stories under Linda Kage's pen!!!
“...Remember that no matter what kind of things have torn us apart, we’ve always found our way back together again. We’ll always find each other, no matter what.”
Well, this was the final book in the Forbidden Men series... (Or not??? Just sayin'!!!) and it was very good!!!
This series is one of my favorites and i have loved every single character in here!!!
I will never forget this bunch of crazy people and i will always hold them in a special place in my heart!!!
We saw them to grow up through those books and to become adults and I liked that i witness that...
And here was Colton's turn...
"All you’d need is one taste of me and you’d forget about big brother completely.”
God, we met this guy when he was 8 years old and now he was almost 19... We knew almost everything about him since his siblings were three of the lead protagonists in the previous books!!!
And it was about time, Colton will find his own place in the world!!!
Colton was an easygoing guy, very gentle, very kind, so funny, a little bit cocky and his family meant the world to him... He was very helpful with all the shits that was happening lately in his home...
At the same time, he was in college and he was missing only one thing...
A girl who would mean the world to him...
"Noel, Brandt, and Caroline had each found someone to fit them perfectly. In this day and age, that was unheard of, and yet… it left me with this hope, this determination that someday I’d find the same thing too. So I was always on the lookout, testing the waters to find that perfect fit for myself. I mean, I didn’t turn down casual hookups along the way. Hello, I was an eighteen-year-old dude. But in the back of my mind, the ultimate goal had always been to find her, that girl who filled the gaps in me the same way all my siblings’ spouses had filled the gaps in them."
Everything started in Brandt's wedding... Colton was thrown into Julianna's path in order her infatuation with Brandt don't ruin anything up!!! But that wasn't something that Colton didn't want, since for almost a year he was flirting shamelessly with her in any chance he got!!!
Even though that Julianna stayed untouched by his efforts!!!
But something is twisting in this wedding between Colton and Julianna... and everything is turning upside down.
But it's something for good or bad???
“Same way any woman gets over a guy she likes. By settling for some other lucky schmuck to get your mind off him, of course.” Grinning he lifted his hand. “In fact, I volunteer as consolation prize.”
Julianna was a bartender in the Forbidden club and in the previous book, we had seen her go out with Brandt (before Sarah!) in an unfinished date, but for Julianna that was enough to inform a crush toward Brandt...
But now, the guy is marrying the love of his life and she is feeling lonely and bitter... And Colton is getting in the picture and she doesn't know if this is right or wrong!!!
How can she move on from one brother to the other???
"If I didn’t think something should fit into my life, I did try to resist it, no matter how much I liked it or not. Liking Brandt had fit. It’d made sense, so I’d been determined to make it happen. But then Colton had come along, and he’d been wrong…all wrong except for the little fact that he’d ignited things inside me his brother hadn’t even been able to touch."
So what will happen with Colton and Julianna???
Is there a chance for them to be together???
Or their differences between them will get in the way???
It's not only Brandt's matter, but also the age gap between them!!!
Julianna is four years older than him...
And not only that, but she is black and he is white...
How is it possible for them to get over all those problems above???
"Stop calling me Little Gamble. You compare me to him every time you say it, and I don’t like that. I’m not Brandt. I could never be Brandt, even if I tried. So this is who you got, baby doll. Colton David Gamble, and no one else." {Colton}
"Opening my heart to him seemed scary and bold and dangerous. I knew he could hurt me like no one else because I’d given him more weapons to do so…I’d freaking confided things to him. And if he wasn’t the one to hurt me, what would everyone else think about us being together? What if their scorn broke me?" {Julianna}
I loved Colton very much in here... I was loving him before, but here, he was so caring, so lovely, so sweet!!! He was so perfect from many aspects... even when he was being cocky and arrogant!!!
As for Julianna??? To be honest with you, i liked that chick from the previous book and i thought that she was very cool.... But damn, in here i realized that she was having too many issues and that was because of the racial differences around her... She was trying really hard to be perfect and it was very tiring...
I liked very much, how Colton made her open up and embrace her real self!!!
"I didn’t want to like him; it drove me crazy that once I realized he was in a room he was the only thing I could focus on or think about. It’s like the bastard stole my attention against my will, and I hated that. But I couldn’t seem to stop it."
Colton and Julianna as a couple were very cute!!!
I liked very much all this bickering between them... It was like a great foreplay!!!
They were fitting really good together and Colton fought very much for this relationship!!!!
“He was worth it. He was worth the objections we’d probably receive from both our families and possibly even our friends. He was worth the heartbreak I was almost certain would come. He was worth all of it.”
I also liked that i took some glimpes from many previous couples even though that it had to do mostly with the Gambles siblings...
I liked the way that they had grown up and how they have become...
My heart was aching for Aspen and Noel very much in this one and for what they had to deal!!!
Another one book of the forbidden men came to an end and i feel a bittersweetness!!!
God, i wish that this wasn't the end, but if it was, I'm happy that i experienced all those wonderful stories under Linda Kage's pen!!!
“...Remember that no matter what kind of things have torn us apart, we’ve always found our way back together again. We’ll always find each other, no matter what.”
November 17, 2016
This one didn't really do it for me. As much as I absolutely 100% adored Colton and loved catching up with all my favourites from previous books in the series, I disliked Julianne just as much. I couldn't warm to her at all, . I love reading about a strong, sassy heroine - Julianne sadly was anything but. She was a judgemental bitch who was deliberately unkind to the point of being downright cruel to Colton and that didn't endear her to me at all. And there was no grovel. She should have been on her damn knees for weeks people, WEEKS!
I'm not a fan of the older woman trope but in this case it didn't worry me at all, probably because she was so bloody childish at times I was questioning who was the older of the two. Linda Kage writes THE MOST amazing heroes, and I have loved both the heroes and heroines in each of her books. Until Julianne.
And I can't finish without making a special mention of Ten - that man makes my heart sigh, he really does. Love him to bits. Colton and Ten saved this book for me and without them I think this would have been a DNF.
2.75(ish) stars
I'm not a fan of the older woman trope but in this case it didn't worry me at all, probably because she was so bloody childish at times I was questioning who was the older of the two. Linda Kage writes THE MOST amazing heroes, and I have loved both the heroes and heroines in each of her books. Until Julianne.
And I can't finish without making a special mention of Ten - that man makes my heart sigh, he really does. Love him to bits. Colton and Ten saved this book for me and without them I think this would have been a DNF.
2.75(ish) stars
November 21, 2016
★★★★ 4 Stars ★★★★
Gahhhhh! I loved this couple, not only did they suit each other perfectly, but they were separately both entertaining, real, honest, and sassy.
Julianna is a bar tender at Forbidden, and has a soft spot for the now married, Brandt Gamble. Brandt loves working with her, they have banter and are good friends, but he feels a little awkward at his wedding when he sees that Julianna is looking a little glum and alone at her table.
So, he goes to little brother Colton for help, and ask him to occupy his co-worker whilst he can concentrate on his new bride.
Little does he know that Colton has a huge crush on Julianna, and that the sexy Rihanna look-alike who is 4 years his senior, is just his type.
Julianna sees Colton as a bit of a pest, he's brash, over-confident, and cocky. But, soon she discovers that he has many layers, and beneath his outer shell, lies a sensitive and caring man, who just wants to find the love of his life, just like his brothers.
The main focus of this story is the obstacles that the main couple face being in an inter-racial relationship, and the judgements that come from the people around them.
As usual with this series, there is a major bit of action to keep us on our toes, which yes, can be a little OTT, but it wouldn't be the same without it. This series continues to be my favourite, with fantastic characters, and a family that love each other dearly.
Very sad to say goodbye to this series, but eager to find out what Kage will offer us next.
ARC gratefully received
Images featured in this review were created by me using stock images either purchased from deposit photo or from free stock sites.
![]()
"All you’d need is one taste of me and you’d forget about big brother completely.”
Gahhhhh! I loved this couple, not only did they suit each other perfectly, but they were separately both entertaining, real, honest, and sassy.
Julianna is a bar tender at Forbidden, and has a soft spot for the now married, Brandt Gamble. Brandt loves working with her, they have banter and are good friends, but he feels a little awkward at his wedding when he sees that Julianna is looking a little glum and alone at her table.
So, he goes to little brother Colton for help, and ask him to occupy his co-worker whilst he can concentrate on his new bride.
Little does he know that Colton has a huge crush on Julianna, and that the sexy Rihanna look-alike who is 4 years his senior, is just his type.
"Stop calling me Little Gamble. You compare me to him every time you say it, and I don’t like that. I’m not Brandt. I could never be Brandt, even if I tried. So this is who you got, baby doll. Colton David Gamble, and no one else."
Julianna sees Colton as a bit of a pest, he's brash, over-confident, and cocky. But, soon she discovers that he has many layers, and beneath his outer shell, lies a sensitive and caring man, who just wants to find the love of his life, just like his brothers.
The main focus of this story is the obstacles that the main couple face being in an inter-racial relationship, and the judgements that come from the people around them.
As usual with this series, there is a major bit of action to keep us on our toes, which yes, can be a little OTT, but it wouldn't be the same without it. This series continues to be my favourite, with fantastic characters, and a family that love each other dearly.
Very sad to say goodbye to this series, but eager to find out what Kage will offer us next.
ARC gratefully received
Images featured in this review were created by me using stock images either purchased from deposit photo or from free stock sites.
December 23, 2018
Que Linda Kage no es alta literatura creo que lo tenemos claro todas las fans de esta maravillosa saga, pero nos ha dado unos Forbidden Men tan inolvidables que nos da igual. Sus historias son entretenidisimas y más profundas de lo que pueden parecer a primera vista y yo me lo paso tan bien que no puedo menos que aplaudirla y darle cinco estrellas (4,5 en realidad) por lo mucho que me hace disfrutar. Este último libro supone un cierre magnífico para la saga. Colton no puede ser más cachondo, sexy ni adorable y se ha convertido junto con Ten en mi personaje favorito de la saga. Su historia de amor con Julianna es preciosa y me encanta cómo la apoya hasta el final, tanto con grandes como con pequeños gestos. Muy bonito.
Relectura un año después. Amo a Colton hasta la Luna y volver.
Relectura un año después. Amo a Colton hasta la Luna y volver.
September 4, 2020
A bittersweet feeling washed over me as I finished this book. Can't believe little Colton is all grown up. I enjoyed the budding romance between him and Julianna. Also, I liked how the author handles racism in this book.
The ending with every couple literally made me feel nostalgic. If you are into NA Romance definitely check this series. It's filled with emotions, fun, and tons of sexy times between the protagonists.
The ending with every couple literally made me feel nostalgic. If you are into NA Romance definitely check this series. It's filled with emotions, fun, and tons of sexy times between the protagonists.
November 21, 2016
I started reading this series years ago and I fell in love with all the characters and how they created a family for themselves. I love how I feel like I know them and how I just feel at home when I am reading these books. Consolation Prize is the ninth book in the series, but each book features a different couple.
This is Colton’s story and I couldn’t believe enough time had passed for Colton to be old enough for a story, but he is. I am so happy that Linda’s is giving all these guys a story. Colton is the youngest Gamble and when you first meet him you think he’s got a little/a lot of Ten in him, which I love. Just like Ten, he surprises you by being sweet and protective, too.
Julianna is the beautiful, older woman he met when he visited Brandt at work. He came on super strong to her and you couldn’t really tell if he was serious, but surprisingly enough he made Julianna pause and think about him. Julianna is the opposite of Colton, she isn’t easy going and free spirited, no she considers every decision and always takes the path of least resistance.
These two are opposites who can’t stop thinking about each other and once they meet up on campus they decide to hook-up. With the intent of just getting things out of their system and moving on, but that was not enough for them. Colton comes off so immature and Julianna is so uptight you wonder how this can work, but when things begin progressing they just bring out the best in each other.
I love this series, legit love it, this wasn’t my favorite book in the series, but I still enjoyed it. Personally, I didn’t want Colton to feel like a consolation prize, which is my hang up and I am not even sure most will walk away with this feeling. Judging from the title I was walking into this one, but it’s what really stopped me from falling head over heels for this story. Regardless, I highly recommend this series, it features some of my all-time favorite reads.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
This is Colton’s story and I couldn’t believe enough time had passed for Colton to be old enough for a story, but he is. I am so happy that Linda’s is giving all these guys a story. Colton is the youngest Gamble and when you first meet him you think he’s got a little/a lot of Ten in him, which I love. Just like Ten, he surprises you by being sweet and protective, too.
Julianna is the beautiful, older woman he met when he visited Brandt at work. He came on super strong to her and you couldn’t really tell if he was serious, but surprisingly enough he made Julianna pause and think about him. Julianna is the opposite of Colton, she isn’t easy going and free spirited, no she considers every decision and always takes the path of least resistance.
These two are opposites who can’t stop thinking about each other and once they meet up on campus they decide to hook-up. With the intent of just getting things out of their system and moving on, but that was not enough for them. Colton comes off so immature and Julianna is so uptight you wonder how this can work, but when things begin progressing they just bring out the best in each other.
I love this series, legit love it, this wasn’t my favorite book in the series, but I still enjoyed it. Personally, I didn’t want Colton to feel like a consolation prize, which is my hang up and I am not even sure most will walk away with this feeling. Judging from the title I was walking into this one, but it’s what really stopped me from falling head over heels for this story. Regardless, I highly recommend this series, it features some of my all-time favorite reads.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2016
Linda Kage crafts a beautiful and inspiring story about a relationship between a young white man and a slightly older black woman who apparently have nothing in common but together forge an incredible partnership based on love, respect and friendship.
Maintaining her impeccable image was just one of Julianna Radcliffe’s concerns, adhering to her sensibly constructed life plan in which she saw herself graduating from college and moving out of town for a big and meaningful job were the main ones. Getting over one brother and falling for the annoying younger, cockier one was certainly not on her list. When the whirlwind that is Colton Gamble comes along there’s not much she can do but give him a chance.
Colton Gamble had hit on and flirted mercilessly with Juliana for months getting constantly rejected. But on the eve of his brother’s wedding he didn’t care he was second best in Juliana’s eyes, he only wanted to erase the sadness from her face when she looked at his brother getting married. He never thought that opening up to her would lead her to open up in return. Can he use this chance to convince her that despite all their apparent differences he’s exactly what she needs?
I’ve loved and followed the Forbidden Men series missing the last two books, which I’m reading ASAP of course, enjoying both the appealing plots and flawed yet charming characters Linda creates in this forbidden romance subgenre.
I met Colton way back when he was just a boy being rescued by his oldest brother Noel in book #2. He was a defenseless kid who was being raised in a bad situation, but after moving in with Noel and his wife Aspen things got better for him and the rest of the Gamble clan.
So why the history lesson? Because one of Noel’s best friends happens to be the smart, unfiltered and incorrigible Oren Tenning, a caring man Colton took to whose character seems to have rubbed off on the young Gamble. Colton is witty, funny, incorrigible, and has a comeback for everything that sometimes hides a heart of gold. He’s loyal, loves his friends and family fiercely and sometimes feels as though he’s not deserving of their love and that he’s just a Consolation Prize. I fell completely head over heels for him.
Although some of her priorities as a bit tangled up, Juliana is smart, independent and sassy and perfect for Colton. Together they tease and banter, steam up the pages but are also sweet and caring which leads to a lovely romance which is tested by racism, an overbearing father and a twist so shocking that had me devouring the last pages like a crazy person. That epilogue though was swoony sweet, but also felt as a farewell to the series which gave me a bittersweet feeling because I’ll miss the entire set of characters which along the way became dear friends.
Two mentions of more things that worked for me. I loved getting up to date with the characters from past books which are part of Colton’s incredible family and the quotes at the beginning of each chapter which were part of Aspen’s quote board from book #2 (https://es.pinterest.com/lindakage/as...)
Consolation Prize is book 9 in the Forbidden Men series by Linda Kage that can be read as a standalone. It’s written from both points of view and interconnecting characters from past books. I recommend it for readers that like touching and sexy romances with a sweet happy ending.
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via Tasty Book Tours. The excerpts are from that copy. *
More reviews * Stalk us on FaceBook * As well as Twitter * Pinterest Board for Book Teasers
Maintaining her impeccable image was just one of Julianna Radcliffe’s concerns, adhering to her sensibly constructed life plan in which she saw herself graduating from college and moving out of town for a big and meaningful job were the main ones. Getting over one brother and falling for the annoying younger, cockier one was certainly not on her list. When the whirlwind that is Colton Gamble comes along there’s not much she can do but give him a chance.
Colton Gamble had hit on and flirted mercilessly with Juliana for months getting constantly rejected. But on the eve of his brother’s wedding he didn’t care he was second best in Juliana’s eyes, he only wanted to erase the sadness from her face when she looked at his brother getting married. He never thought that opening up to her would lead her to open up in return. Can he use this chance to convince her that despite all their apparent differences he’s exactly what she needs?
I’ve loved and followed the Forbidden Men series missing the last two books, which I’m reading ASAP of course, enjoying both the appealing plots and flawed yet charming characters Linda creates in this forbidden romance subgenre.
I met Colton way back when he was just a boy being rescued by his oldest brother Noel in book #2. He was a defenseless kid who was being raised in a bad situation, but after moving in with Noel and his wife Aspen things got better for him and the rest of the Gamble clan.
So why the history lesson? Because one of Noel’s best friends happens to be the smart, unfiltered and incorrigible Oren Tenning, a caring man Colton took to whose character seems to have rubbed off on the young Gamble. Colton is witty, funny, incorrigible, and has a comeback for everything that sometimes hides a heart of gold. He’s loyal, loves his friends and family fiercely and sometimes feels as though he’s not deserving of their love and that he’s just a Consolation Prize. I fell completely head over heels for him.
Although some of her priorities as a bit tangled up, Juliana is smart, independent and sassy and perfect for Colton. Together they tease and banter, steam up the pages but are also sweet and caring which leads to a lovely romance which is tested by racism, an overbearing father and a twist so shocking that had me devouring the last pages like a crazy person. That epilogue though was swoony sweet, but also felt as a farewell to the series which gave me a bittersweet feeling because I’ll miss the entire set of characters which along the way became dear friends.
Two mentions of more things that worked for me. I loved getting up to date with the characters from past books which are part of Colton’s incredible family and the quotes at the beginning of each chapter which were part of Aspen’s quote board from book #2 (https://es.pinterest.com/lindakage/as...)
Consolation Prize is book 9 in the Forbidden Men series by Linda Kage that can be read as a standalone. It’s written from both points of view and interconnecting characters from past books. I recommend it for readers that like touching and sexy romances with a sweet happy ending.
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via Tasty Book Tours. The excerpts are from that copy. *
More reviews * Stalk us on FaceBook * As well as Twitter * Pinterest Board for Book Teasers
August 22, 2017
FORBIDDEN MEN series is one of my all-times-favorite series. Out of the 9 books in the series, 7 of them are very close to my heart.
Actually, I had been delaying to read this book because of differing reviews about it. Some of my friends liked it and some hated it (or they hated the heroine, ergo they didn't enjoy the book). So, I had to wait for the right time to come to read it.
Recently, I was in a great book slump during which I was saying, “No book is good enough, nowadays” and this feeling made me go back to this amazing series and thank God I did, because I loved Book 9 really very much and I had a few problems with the heroine only at the beginning, actually. Then, I loved her later when I believed in her feelings for Colton.
And, now I am happy enough to write a review :)
Book 9: CONSOLATION PRIZE
This book is the story of Colton Gamble, the sweetest and youngest Gamble in the family. He has grown to be a very attractive young guy with a gorgeous body and a huge heart. He also has the sweetest dirty mouth. What's not to love?
Issues in the book:
This book is written about an interracial couple upon the request of a dear reader from Linda Kage.
Julianna is a beautiful black girl, who looks like Rihanna but she has some self-confidence issues.
Colton, who is the youngest of the Gambles, is a blond, sexy, sweet and kind of an “impossible not to love” guy when you get to know him more closely.
Beware that there is also an uncommon age difference between them, heroine (22), hero (18) – which made it even more attractive for me, actually…
“It’s only an issue if you let it be one.”
It is also kind of a forbidden affair because of the feelings for the siblings issues!
Julianna first had a crush on Colton’s brother Brandt, and had a half date with him but nothing happened between them, not even a kiss. It all ended when Brandt understood he loved Sarah.
Still, something with the little brother of the guy you wanted but couldn't have seems wrong and forbidden to many people. It also kind of looks like the little brother is being “The Consolation Prize” but getting the other brother doesn’t have to mean “settling for him”; you can very well fall hard for him even to an extent you have never felt with anyone else and that is what happens between Julianna and Colton eventually!
I believed her sincerity and understood her reasons for wanting to date Brandt: He was the safe guy to be with. But there wasn’t an ever-growing spark between them. On the other hand, with his ongoing flirtation and arrogant comments, Colton was dangerous and risky. He was the sweet jerk in the picture whereas the big brother sounded as a reliable kind guy.
If I didn’t think something should fit into my life, I did try to resist it, no matter how much I liked it or not. Liking Brandt had fit. It’d made sense, so I’d been determined to make it happen.
But then Colton had come along, and he’d been wrong… all wrong except for the little fact that he’d ignited things inside me his brother hadn’t even been able to touch.
It was awesome how Colton made it impossible for Julianna not to fall for him, he is such a sweetheart…
“Who the fuck is Colton Gamble?” Tyla asked.
“Ah,” he murmured with a knowing nod, not letting me answer. “I see you must’ve heard about the great and mighty Brandt Gamble. He would be my older brother.”
When Tyla whipped her attention to him and could only stare, he winked and trailed a hand down his body. “I’m the new, improved edition. Obviously.”
“Holy shit,” she whispered.
I really believed “the fast&strong–growing feelings” between Colton and Julianna. It was like watching a spark turn into strong flames and then into a big big fire!
I enjoyed their banter, the way they fought with each other, the way they made each other piss off or laugh. It was great fun and sexy-as-hell foreplay, at the same time.
When I sank near, he mirrored me, shifting in as well. My eyelashes fluttered. He drew in an audible breath, then said, “If you’re going to kiss me again, try not to mention my brother this time, okay?”
And bam. I was done. Jerking backward, I gaped at him in horror. “You asshole.”
He shrugged as he slipped on his coat. “Hey, I was just setting ground rules. That was kind of a mood breaker for me the first time.”
***
“You fucking lied to me,” he accused. “You said you wouldn’t regret it. You said you wanted me. You even swore on your heart…”
“I don’t regret what I did with you, you idiot. I regret what I said that made you stop. I regret those stupid, awful, untrue words that sent you running out of there the way you did.”
I loved the chemistry between them, the way they claimed each other and all :)
Being that it was still in my hand, I merely tightened my grip and refused to let go. No matter what thought had just crossed my mind a split second ago, I couldn’t give it up. Not while she was arguing with me. Besides, I needed this mug. It was hers. Which was probably why I really needed to loosen my hold and just let it go, but that stubborn gene in me refused. I was keeping as many pieces of her as I could possibly handle.
“No,” I muttered when she really started to yank on it and it slipped a couple inches between my fingers. Thinking quick, I leaned forward and licked the silver side. “There. I licked it. It’s mine.”
“Oh, well, if that’s all it takes to own something…” Then she did the craziest thing in the entire world. She leaned in too, much like I had done, but her tongue didn’t go anywhere near the mug. It lapped its way up the back of my hand that was holding the cup.
My mouth fell open as she jerked upright and gaped right back at me, her eyes wide with shock as if she couldn’t believe she’d just done that either. But holy shit, had she just claimed ownership of me? What was even crazier, I think it had worked. Because in that moment, she did own me. She owned me completely.
The book is full of sweet, funny, sad, emotional and hot (sizzling hotttt) moments. It is a “feel it all” story…
“I’ve been over him since the moment you walked into the Forbidden Nightclub and flirted with me. I just didn’t realize it until you offered to be my consolation prize.”
...
I grabbed his wrist, making him look into my eyes. “I’m serious, Colton. I was over him that night. I just didn’t realize it yet. You were right. One taste of you and I forgot all about big brother.”
He cupped my cheek and whispered, “Okay.”
This time, I think the words actually sank in.
He believed.
Releasing a breath of relief, I smiled.
Then he smiled.
And we leaned toward each other to kiss.
***
“I don’t know. Doesn’t that sounds…wrong to you?” My stupid conscience prompted me to say as I pressed my hand to my forehead.
Colton grinned one of his panty-dropping grins. “Oh, baby doll. Wrong’s just the way I like it.”
Despite my long-lasting concerns about not being able to accept them as a couple, I easily accepted them, loving everything about them. They were really crazy and hot for each other.
Dual-point of view writing style helped me to see the hearts and minds of both the hero and the heroine.
What I loved most about this couple is the fact that from the moment they accepted they were crazy into each other, they did nothing wrong to spoil the relationship between them.
Everything they experienced strengthened their bond.
Every obstacle they had to overcome and every tragedy and trauma they had to suffer just brought them closer to each other.
They always stood for each other.
Well, a couple doing each other no wrong is “something precious”!
About the racism issues, the book gives some good examples and sound advice.
I didn’t think it would still be such an issue in some parts of the world in this century but I learnt that it could be. Actually, not only the racism thing, but anything else actually. I mean people can be judgy by nature no matter what, if it is the age thing or a different race thing…
If they are going to judge you, they will - you can’t change that by changing yourself.
It is on them, not you…
“So you see, some idiot out there who knows shit about you is always going to judge you no matter how flawlessly you present yourself because that’s what they do. They judge.
You shouldn’t live your life according to them. It won’t change them or their point of view. It’s just going to make you miserable and never feeling like you measure up, when really, the whole problem is them, not you.”
Pulling me into his arms, he kissed my hair. “If you really want to stick it to them, dress and say and act the way you want and be content with yourself no matter what they think.”
***
I fled the room, needing a moment to adjust to what had just happened, or what I’d just realized about myself, which was that it was already too late to back off; I’d fallen for Colton Gamble completely.
He was worth it. He was worth the objections we’d probably receive from both our families and possibly even our friends. He was worth the heartbreak I was almost certain would come. He was worth all of it.
*** Note to the reader:
Please read the series in order although each book stars a different couple. For example, in order to understand Colton's behavior, you need to know his childhood and the way he was brought up before you read his book. Important pieces of information about Colton is scattered in all the previous books that come before this one.
This group of friends & relatives are an amazing group to get to know and read about. Do not miss the chance to enter their "Forbidden" world, which is sweet, emotional, funny and hot...
***Note to the writer:
Thank you so much dear Ms. Linda Kage for this beautiful series. I feel that all these poepe actually live somewhere in the real world and I am one of those lucky people who witnessed their heart-warming stories somehow.
I would really wish you went on telling about them. I wish Beau, Teegan, Lucy and all the other children had their own books in the future.
Please do not end the series...
Pretty please :)
Actually, I had been delaying to read this book because of differing reviews about it. Some of my friends liked it and some hated it (or they hated the heroine, ergo they didn't enjoy the book). So, I had to wait for the right time to come to read it.
Recently, I was in a great book slump during which I was saying, “No book is good enough, nowadays” and this feeling made me go back to this amazing series and thank God I did, because I loved Book 9 really very much and I had a few problems with the heroine only at the beginning, actually. Then, I loved her later when I believed in her feelings for Colton.
And, now I am happy enough to write a review :)
Book 9: CONSOLATION PRIZE
This book is the story of Colton Gamble, the sweetest and youngest Gamble in the family. He has grown to be a very attractive young guy with a gorgeous body and a huge heart. He also has the sweetest dirty mouth. What's not to love?
Issues in the book:
This book is written about an interracial couple upon the request of a dear reader from Linda Kage.
Julianna is a beautiful black girl, who looks like Rihanna but she has some self-confidence issues.
Colton, who is the youngest of the Gambles, is a blond, sexy, sweet and kind of an “impossible not to love” guy when you get to know him more closely.
Beware that there is also an uncommon age difference between them, heroine (22), hero (18) – which made it even more attractive for me, actually…
“It’s only an issue if you let it be one.”
It is also kind of a forbidden affair because of the feelings for the siblings issues!
Julianna first had a crush on Colton’s brother Brandt, and had a half date with him but nothing happened between them, not even a kiss. It all ended when Brandt understood he loved Sarah.
Still, something with the little brother of the guy you wanted but couldn't have seems wrong and forbidden to many people. It also kind of looks like the little brother is being “The Consolation Prize” but getting the other brother doesn’t have to mean “settling for him”; you can very well fall hard for him even to an extent you have never felt with anyone else and that is what happens between Julianna and Colton eventually!
I believed her sincerity and understood her reasons for wanting to date Brandt: He was the safe guy to be with. But there wasn’t an ever-growing spark between them. On the other hand, with his ongoing flirtation and arrogant comments, Colton was dangerous and risky. He was the sweet jerk in the picture whereas the big brother sounded as a reliable kind guy.
If I didn’t think something should fit into my life, I did try to resist it, no matter how much I liked it or not. Liking Brandt had fit. It’d made sense, so I’d been determined to make it happen.
But then Colton had come along, and he’d been wrong… all wrong except for the little fact that he’d ignited things inside me his brother hadn’t even been able to touch.
It was awesome how Colton made it impossible for Julianna not to fall for him, he is such a sweetheart…
“Who the fuck is Colton Gamble?” Tyla asked.
“Ah,” he murmured with a knowing nod, not letting me answer. “I see you must’ve heard about the great and mighty Brandt Gamble. He would be my older brother.”
When Tyla whipped her attention to him and could only stare, he winked and trailed a hand down his body. “I’m the new, improved edition. Obviously.”
“Holy shit,” she whispered.
I really believed “the fast&strong–growing feelings” between Colton and Julianna. It was like watching a spark turn into strong flames and then into a big big fire!
I enjoyed their banter, the way they fought with each other, the way they made each other piss off or laugh. It was great fun and sexy-as-hell foreplay, at the same time.
When I sank near, he mirrored me, shifting in as well. My eyelashes fluttered. He drew in an audible breath, then said, “If you’re going to kiss me again, try not to mention my brother this time, okay?”
And bam. I was done. Jerking backward, I gaped at him in horror. “You asshole.”
He shrugged as he slipped on his coat. “Hey, I was just setting ground rules. That was kind of a mood breaker for me the first time.”
***
“You fucking lied to me,” he accused. “You said you wouldn’t regret it. You said you wanted me. You even swore on your heart…”
“I don’t regret what I did with you, you idiot. I regret what I said that made you stop. I regret those stupid, awful, untrue words that sent you running out of there the way you did.”
I loved the chemistry between them, the way they claimed each other and all :)
Being that it was still in my hand, I merely tightened my grip and refused to let go. No matter what thought had just crossed my mind a split second ago, I couldn’t give it up. Not while she was arguing with me. Besides, I needed this mug. It was hers. Which was probably why I really needed to loosen my hold and just let it go, but that stubborn gene in me refused. I was keeping as many pieces of her as I could possibly handle.
“No,” I muttered when she really started to yank on it and it slipped a couple inches between my fingers. Thinking quick, I leaned forward and licked the silver side. “There. I licked it. It’s mine.”
“Oh, well, if that’s all it takes to own something…” Then she did the craziest thing in the entire world. She leaned in too, much like I had done, but her tongue didn’t go anywhere near the mug. It lapped its way up the back of my hand that was holding the cup.
My mouth fell open as she jerked upright and gaped right back at me, her eyes wide with shock as if she couldn’t believe she’d just done that either. But holy shit, had she just claimed ownership of me? What was even crazier, I think it had worked. Because in that moment, she did own me. She owned me completely.
The book is full of sweet, funny, sad, emotional and hot (sizzling hotttt) moments. It is a “feel it all” story…
“I’ve been over him since the moment you walked into the Forbidden Nightclub and flirted with me. I just didn’t realize it until you offered to be my consolation prize.”
...
I grabbed his wrist, making him look into my eyes. “I’m serious, Colton. I was over him that night. I just didn’t realize it yet. You were right. One taste of you and I forgot all about big brother.”
He cupped my cheek and whispered, “Okay.”
This time, I think the words actually sank in.
He believed.
Releasing a breath of relief, I smiled.
Then he smiled.
And we leaned toward each other to kiss.
***
“I don’t know. Doesn’t that sounds…wrong to you?” My stupid conscience prompted me to say as I pressed my hand to my forehead.
Colton grinned one of his panty-dropping grins. “Oh, baby doll. Wrong’s just the way I like it.”
Despite my long-lasting concerns about not being able to accept them as a couple, I easily accepted them, loving everything about them. They were really crazy and hot for each other.
Dual-point of view writing style helped me to see the hearts and minds of both the hero and the heroine.
What I loved most about this couple is the fact that from the moment they accepted they were crazy into each other, they did nothing wrong to spoil the relationship between them.
Everything they experienced strengthened their bond.
Every obstacle they had to overcome and every tragedy and trauma they had to suffer just brought them closer to each other.
They always stood for each other.
Well, a couple doing each other no wrong is “something precious”!
About the racism issues, the book gives some good examples and sound advice.
I didn’t think it would still be such an issue in some parts of the world in this century but I learnt that it could be. Actually, not only the racism thing, but anything else actually. I mean people can be judgy by nature no matter what, if it is the age thing or a different race thing…
If they are going to judge you, they will - you can’t change that by changing yourself.
It is on them, not you…
“So you see, some idiot out there who knows shit about you is always going to judge you no matter how flawlessly you present yourself because that’s what they do. They judge.
You shouldn’t live your life according to them. It won’t change them or their point of view. It’s just going to make you miserable and never feeling like you measure up, when really, the whole problem is them, not you.”
Pulling me into his arms, he kissed my hair. “If you really want to stick it to them, dress and say and act the way you want and be content with yourself no matter what they think.”
***
I fled the room, needing a moment to adjust to what had just happened, or what I’d just realized about myself, which was that it was already too late to back off; I’d fallen for Colton Gamble completely.
He was worth it. He was worth the objections we’d probably receive from both our families and possibly even our friends. He was worth the heartbreak I was almost certain would come. He was worth all of it.
*** Note to the reader:
Please read the series in order although each book stars a different couple. For example, in order to understand Colton's behavior, you need to know his childhood and the way he was brought up before you read his book. Important pieces of information about Colton is scattered in all the previous books that come before this one.
This group of friends & relatives are an amazing group to get to know and read about. Do not miss the chance to enter their "Forbidden" world, which is sweet, emotional, funny and hot...
***Note to the writer:
Thank you so much dear Ms. Linda Kage for this beautiful series. I feel that all these poepe actually live somewhere in the real world and I am one of those lucky people who witnessed their heart-warming stories somehow.
I would really wish you went on telling about them. I wish Beau, Teegan, Lucy and all the other children had their own books in the future.
Please do not end the series...
Pretty please :)
June 23, 2017
The Forbidden Men Series is one of my all time favorites and after reading 8 books, why not read the 9th one right? Especially after hearing that the hero is going to be Colton, Brandt's little brother. Oh, I feel like Colton grew up in front of my eyes and I can't believe he is finally old enough to have his story and find his HEA (yeee).
His lady is Juliana, Brand't colleague that had a crush on him in Priceless. We all know that is was only one sided, because Brandt loved Sarah and was only meant to be with her. But Juliana's crush lingered and became like a mini obsession, something that was forbidden for her.
The book begins with Brandt and Sarah's wedding reception, when all the family is reunited and having a blast. All of them besides Juliana, which is miserable seeing Brandt married to somebody else. Colton is brought in the picture as a distraction, making Juliana not stare at Brandt any more and make things uncomfortable.. Well, that will be a trigger point for the 2 of them, because some pretty interesting things happen that night, that will make Juliana reflect on her feelings and realize her crush for Brandt was nowhere near as intense as the feelings she is developing for Colton.
The plot is not as complex as in the other books, but you have certain aspects that make you reflect on life as such. The most important one is the awareness it brings to interracial relationships and the way it is treated in the book. Personally, this was my first love story between a black woman and a white man, and I loved every minute of it. I connected to Juliana very much on her disbelieves and fears regarding her apparel, the way she wanted to seem perfect in order to not seem fragile and out of place. Appearances were everything to her, because in that way she felt safe, not criticized and could go on living a normal life, in a society that condemns you for your skin color.
Colton was the opposite of Juliana mainly because he liked to be spotted, soak all the attention and get people to notice him. He was funny, easy to talk to, besides his obvious looks and everything. He constantly flirted with Juliana and although we thought they don't like each other, they did, and a lot:) He didn't have any issue with Juliana being black, because he read her like an open book, understood her like no one else and made her feel unique. Colton was very straightforward with his feelings towards her and nothing could make him change his mind about them and about their relationship.
I liked the way they loved each other while fighting, the way they clicked while being so different, but those were the things that spiced up their love story and made it interesting to read. Besides, did I mention that Colton is 3 years younger than Juliana?:)) That was a bonus to the already forbidden affair.
I recommend this book not only for its characters but for the valuable life lesson that Linda offers us. It is amazing to see that love could surpass so many obstacles and be as invincible as ever even when a lot of people oppose to it, mainly because of an issue that not many can justify. No matter the color of our skin, we love, we hate and feel the same, and it is not up to nobody to judge and to dictate how we should live our life. I know that living in this society can be hard, but maybe this book will pass on a very important message that everybody should read and focus on.
For more reviews please check https://readwithloveblog.wordpress.com
His lady is Juliana, Brand't colleague that had a crush on him in Priceless. We all know that is was only one sided, because Brandt loved Sarah and was only meant to be with her. But Juliana's crush lingered and became like a mini obsession, something that was forbidden for her.
The book begins with Brandt and Sarah's wedding reception, when all the family is reunited and having a blast. All of them besides Juliana, which is miserable seeing Brandt married to somebody else. Colton is brought in the picture as a distraction, making Juliana not stare at Brandt any more and make things uncomfortable.. Well, that will be a trigger point for the 2 of them, because some pretty interesting things happen that night, that will make Juliana reflect on her feelings and realize her crush for Brandt was nowhere near as intense as the feelings she is developing for Colton.
The plot is not as complex as in the other books, but you have certain aspects that make you reflect on life as such. The most important one is the awareness it brings to interracial relationships and the way it is treated in the book. Personally, this was my first love story between a black woman and a white man, and I loved every minute of it. I connected to Juliana very much on her disbelieves and fears regarding her apparel, the way she wanted to seem perfect in order to not seem fragile and out of place. Appearances were everything to her, because in that way she felt safe, not criticized and could go on living a normal life, in a society that condemns you for your skin color.
Colton was the opposite of Juliana mainly because he liked to be spotted, soak all the attention and get people to notice him. He was funny, easy to talk to, besides his obvious looks and everything. He constantly flirted with Juliana and although we thought they don't like each other, they did, and a lot:) He didn't have any issue with Juliana being black, because he read her like an open book, understood her like no one else and made her feel unique. Colton was very straightforward with his feelings towards her and nothing could make him change his mind about them and about their relationship.
I liked the way they loved each other while fighting, the way they clicked while being so different, but those were the things that spiced up their love story and made it interesting to read. Besides, did I mention that Colton is 3 years younger than Juliana?:)) That was a bonus to the already forbidden affair.
I recommend this book not only for its characters but for the valuable life lesson that Linda offers us. It is amazing to see that love could surpass so many obstacles and be as invincible as ever even when a lot of people oppose to it, mainly because of an issue that not many can justify. No matter the color of our skin, we love, we hate and feel the same, and it is not up to nobody to judge and to dictate how we should live our life. I know that living in this society can be hard, but maybe this book will pass on a very important message that everybody should read and focus on.
For more reviews please check https://readwithloveblog.wordpress.com
July 17, 2017
it's always the books you least expect.
I mean, seriously. This is about a girl who is *said* to be hung up on the brother of the guy she's sleeping with. SO BAD, SO MESSY. But really it's nothing like I expected and it was perfect and adorable and there was minimal drama between the actual couple. (but drama, nonetheless, this is the forbidden men series we're talking about.)
Overall, it was so sweet and I loved how the couple was like best friends and how they opened up to each other. Also, I kinda adored how Julianna is the only thing that Colton sees. She is absolutely everything to him, and he's everything to her. It's perfect.
I mean, seriously. This is about a girl who is *said* to be hung up on the brother of the guy she's sleeping with. SO BAD, SO MESSY. But really it's nothing like I expected and it was perfect and adorable and there was minimal drama between the actual couple. (but drama, nonetheless, this is the forbidden men series we're talking about.)
Overall, it was so sweet and I loved how the couple was like best friends and how they opened up to each other. Also, I kinda adored how Julianna is the only thing that Colton sees. She is absolutely everything to him, and he's everything to her. It's perfect.
November 20, 2016
I have no idea how Linda Kage does it. Every single one of these Forbidden Men have owned me. I sincerely could not sit down and say a single one of them is my favourite as each of them has broken off and kept their own piece of my heart.
And it isn’t like in most cases where the men are amazing and the women are just meh. The leading ladies in these stories have been as kick arse as the amazing men they love. I find with my goldfish memory that series like this tend to get lost on the mountain with me because I can never remember who is who and how they all mix together. But that isn’t the case with this series. Every single person is such an integral part of the whole as soon as I read their name I am flooded with memories.
There is such a feeling of family and belonging that although each book is focused on one couple you still get all the members of this weird and wonderful “family” of people I just can’t ever get enough. And the fact that each book has an extra special little side meaning makes me feel even more connected.
But I guess I should tell you about this book. What can I say? I was worried I might meet a little of the ick factor when reading this. I mean we knew Colton from when he was little and now he is all grown up and sexy and sleeping with Julianna. I was worried I might feel like a pervy aunty. But of course not. Linda never lets me down and he was just beautiful. He has that Gamble gene of protective, possessive, alpha male without ever sounding like an idiot.
Then there is Julianna. We all knew she was hung up on Brandt so maybe she didn’t deserve Colton. But again Linda delivers and I never once felt like she was anything but perfect for Colton. And I loved watching her fight her own preconceived notions of who she should be with. Her inner strength and depth of character were amazing and I just adored them together.
And as always the little side stories of the Forbidden family broke my heart and gave me hope all at once. Now the only question is who do we get next? And of course how fast can Linda write?
Check out my other Forbidden Men reviews here
But for now check out my other reviews and enter some awesome giveaways here
And it isn’t like in most cases where the men are amazing and the women are just meh. The leading ladies in these stories have been as kick arse as the amazing men they love. I find with my goldfish memory that series like this tend to get lost on the mountain with me because I can never remember who is who and how they all mix together. But that isn’t the case with this series. Every single person is such an integral part of the whole as soon as I read their name I am flooded with memories.
There is such a feeling of family and belonging that although each book is focused on one couple you still get all the members of this weird and wonderful “family” of people I just can’t ever get enough. And the fact that each book has an extra special little side meaning makes me feel even more connected.
But I guess I should tell you about this book. What can I say? I was worried I might meet a little of the ick factor when reading this. I mean we knew Colton from when he was little and now he is all grown up and sexy and sleeping with Julianna. I was worried I might feel like a pervy aunty. But of course not. Linda never lets me down and he was just beautiful. He has that Gamble gene of protective, possessive, alpha male without ever sounding like an idiot.
Then there is Julianna. We all knew she was hung up on Brandt so maybe she didn’t deserve Colton. But again Linda delivers and I never once felt like she was anything but perfect for Colton. And I loved watching her fight her own preconceived notions of who she should be with. Her inner strength and depth of character were amazing and I just adored them together.
And as always the little side stories of the Forbidden family broke my heart and gave me hope all at once. Now the only question is who do we get next? And of course how fast can Linda write?
Check out my other Forbidden Men reviews here
But for now check out my other reviews and enter some awesome giveaways here
February 6, 2017
4.5 fun, sexy, emotional stars
I have mad love for this series. It’s one of my all-time favourites, and I have been so excited to read about the youngest member of the gang – Colton Gamble (younger brother of Noel, Caroline and Brandt). His story is lots of fun with laugh-out-loud humour, heart-clenching drama, a beautiful romance and I absolutely loved it!
Yes, baby boy Gamble is all grown up, and damn, he’s one sexy, confident, dirty-talking alpha with a smart mouth and a huge heart. We’ve watched him grow from a shy, damaged 8 year old to a cocky, arrogant, cheeky smartass, and I loved getting to see him as an 18 year old college freshman, finally finding the love that he so desperately wants.
Colton met Julianna Radcliffe when he came into the Forbidden night club and saw her working behind the bar. As a shameless, cocky 17 year old he made it a habit to hit on her at every opportunity with cheesy pickup lines and unsubtle innuendo. But it was a different Gamble that interested Julianna. She had a crush on Colton’s older brother, Brandt, and even asked him out. They lasted half of a date before Brandt had to come to the rescue of his now-wife, Sarah, and that was the end of that.
It’s at Brandt and Sarah’s wedding where everything changes for Colton. Asked to ‘babysit’ Julianna are the reception, he starts in with his usual lines and teasing, but the conversation takes a turn for the deeper, and they start to see more in each other – realising that they have things in common and that all of that banter and arguing actually hides a pretty significant attraction.
Colton is everything that Julianna believes she doesn’t need – for a start he’s almost four years younger than her, there’s the connection with Brandt, and then there’s the fact that he is white and she is black, and she knows what a drama that will create. But she can’t move past the fact that she’s wildly attracted to the gorgeous, annoying jerk, and she can’t get him out of her head. And that’s not helped by Colton fighting with everything he’s got to win her over.
I loved their banter. Colton’s constant teasing and Julianna’s sass is a hilariously explosive combination, and with their arguments firing both of them up in more ways than one, and the refreshing openness between them about how they are feeling, the sexual tension that it incites is fantastic!
I love their relationship. It’s fun, it’s feisty, it’s full of passion and it’s so, so hot! The youngest Gamble has certainly grown up, and his dirty talk and bedroom skills are sexy as all hell. At one point I felt like a dirty perve for getting all riled up over him, but damn! And though their sexy time is reflective of their growing feelings for each other, their personalities shine through every single moment, and their never-ending banter is wildly entertaining.
But as much fun as they have together, they have some major hurdles to overcome - the biggest one being the issue of their inter-racial relationship. I love that Colton didn’t even think twice about it, but it torments Julianna, and the issues they face are real – and slightly terrifying. But it doesn’t prevent them from falling and falling hard. Their romance is intense and incredibly emotional, and I felt every moment of it.
“He was worth it. He was worth the objections we’d probably receive from both our families and possibly even our friends. He was worth the heartbreak I was almost certain would come. He was worth all of it.”
If you’re concerned about the fact that Julianna was interested in Brandt first, please don’t let that put you off this book. It’s not skimmed over, it’s explained and dealt with in a sensible, realistic way, and in a way that left me in no doubt that Colton is so much more than Julianna’s consolation prize. He’s the man that captured her from the moment they met, her soul mate in every way, and the man that she truly needs, and what they find together is everything that they both truly deserve.
And as if all of that drama isn’t enough, there’s a big twist thrown in at the end that really gets the heart pumping! Honestly, I didn’t think it was necessary, but it shows us the intensity of the love between these two characters and the resolution of it all was gorgeous to see.
As with all books in this series, I love that we get to see so much of the extended family that is this group of characters, in particular Colton’s family. His relationships with his siblings and their partners was absolutely gorgeous, each of them unique and special. I love his teasing dynamic with Ten and Caroline, the best-friend connection with Brandt and Sarah, and the almost parental love and respect he has for Noel and Aspen (whose own storyline was heart-wrenchingly emotional and beautifully written). And of course Pick and the rest of the crew are all a part of the story in one way or another. I LOVE this bunch of characters, and will take any chance to check in with them.
I loved this book. Colton’s book was everything that I wanted for him and I absolutely loved seeing him get his happy ending. Linda Kage has given us yet another unforgettable story, and I absolutely loved it!
4.5 stars.
An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I have mad love for this series. It’s one of my all-time favourites, and I have been so excited to read about the youngest member of the gang – Colton Gamble (younger brother of Noel, Caroline and Brandt). His story is lots of fun with laugh-out-loud humour, heart-clenching drama, a beautiful romance and I absolutely loved it!
Yes, baby boy Gamble is all grown up, and damn, he’s one sexy, confident, dirty-talking alpha with a smart mouth and a huge heart. We’ve watched him grow from a shy, damaged 8 year old to a cocky, arrogant, cheeky smartass, and I loved getting to see him as an 18 year old college freshman, finally finding the love that he so desperately wants.
Colton met Julianna Radcliffe when he came into the Forbidden night club and saw her working behind the bar. As a shameless, cocky 17 year old he made it a habit to hit on her at every opportunity with cheesy pickup lines and unsubtle innuendo. But it was a different Gamble that interested Julianna. She had a crush on Colton’s older brother, Brandt, and even asked him out. They lasted half of a date before Brandt had to come to the rescue of his now-wife, Sarah, and that was the end of that.
It’s at Brandt and Sarah’s wedding where everything changes for Colton. Asked to ‘babysit’ Julianna are the reception, he starts in with his usual lines and teasing, but the conversation takes a turn for the deeper, and they start to see more in each other – realising that they have things in common and that all of that banter and arguing actually hides a pretty significant attraction.
Colton is everything that Julianna believes she doesn’t need – for a start he’s almost four years younger than her, there’s the connection with Brandt, and then there’s the fact that he is white and she is black, and she knows what a drama that will create. But she can’t move past the fact that she’s wildly attracted to the gorgeous, annoying jerk, and she can’t get him out of her head. And that’s not helped by Colton fighting with everything he’s got to win her over.
“What else you got?”
“What do you mean, what else do I got?”…
“My forbidden status.” He snapped his fingers, encouraging me back on track. “You said first of all with the age thing, leading me to believe there was more than one aspect making me so illicit and exciting. So what else you got, baby doll? Lay it on me, thick and heavy, or you know, just lay yourself on me.”
I loved their banter. Colton’s constant teasing and Julianna’s sass is a hilariously explosive combination, and with their arguments firing both of them up in more ways than one, and the refreshing openness between them about how they are feeling, the sexual tension that it incites is fantastic!
“We need to have sex. I’m talking no-holds-barred, hanging from the ceiling, tearing each other’s clothes off, animal-fucking sex.”
His delicious descriptions swept through me like a hurricane. My hormones stirred to life and licked their lips, ready to climb him right there.
But…
“I don’t know. Doesn’t that sounds…wrong to you?” my stupid conscience prompted me to say as I pressed my hand to my forehead.
Colton grinned one of his panty-dropping grins. “Oh, baby doll. Wrong’s just the way I like it.”
“See…” I pointed at him, frowning. “You say shit like that, and I know I should get annoyed and offended by it and want to smack your arrogant face, but no…no. Stupid me, I just want to climb you like a freaking stripper pole, shedding clothes as I go.”
I love their relationship. It’s fun, it’s feisty, it’s full of passion and it’s so, so hot! The youngest Gamble has certainly grown up, and his dirty talk and bedroom skills are sexy as all hell. At one point I felt like a dirty perve for getting all riled up over him, but damn! And though their sexy time is reflective of their growing feelings for each other, their personalities shine through every single moment, and their never-ending banter is wildly entertaining.
“On a scale of the Saraha Desert to Niagara Falls … How wet are you right now?”
But as much fun as they have together, they have some major hurdles to overcome - the biggest one being the issue of their inter-racial relationship. I love that Colton didn’t even think twice about it, but it torments Julianna, and the issues they face are real – and slightly terrifying. But it doesn’t prevent them from falling and falling hard. Their romance is intense and incredibly emotional, and I felt every moment of it.
“He was worth it. He was worth the objections we’d probably receive from both our families and possibly even our friends. He was worth the heartbreak I was almost certain would come. He was worth all of it.”
If you’re concerned about the fact that Julianna was interested in Brandt first, please don’t let that put you off this book. It’s not skimmed over, it’s explained and dealt with in a sensible, realistic way, and in a way that left me in no doubt that Colton is so much more than Julianna’s consolation prize. He’s the man that captured her from the moment they met, her soul mate in every way, and the man that she truly needs, and what they find together is everything that they both truly deserve.
“Colton had come along … he’d ignited things inside me his brother hadn’t even been able to touch.”
“I’m used to coming in second place.”
“Not with me you don’t.”
And as if all of that drama isn’t enough, there’s a big twist thrown in at the end that really gets the heart pumping! Honestly, I didn’t think it was necessary, but it shows us the intensity of the love between these two characters and the resolution of it all was gorgeous to see.
As with all books in this series, I love that we get to see so much of the extended family that is this group of characters, in particular Colton’s family. His relationships with his siblings and their partners was absolutely gorgeous, each of them unique and special. I love his teasing dynamic with Ten and Caroline, the best-friend connection with Brandt and Sarah, and the almost parental love and respect he has for Noel and Aspen (whose own storyline was heart-wrenchingly emotional and beautifully written). And of course Pick and the rest of the crew are all a part of the story in one way or another. I LOVE this bunch of characters, and will take any chance to check in with them.
I loved this book. Colton’s book was everything that I wanted for him and I absolutely loved seeing him get his happy ending. Linda Kage has given us yet another unforgettable story, and I absolutely loved it!
4.5 stars.
An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 18, 2019
3 ⭐⭐⭐
Consolation Prize
Colton & Julianna
I like that the author put some diversity in the series. It just saddens me that Juli was portrayed as a B***** and not that much interesting. Good thing we have Colton here, he is funny and wonderful. He often reminds me of Ten 😁. I also loved seeing all the couples and characters from the previous novels!
Not a fan of the plot twist in the end (not gonna be more detailed as I don't want to spoil it). This book has a lot of potential, it was just not delivered.
Still a good story, but not as great as the other ones.
Consolation Prize
Colton & Julianna
I like that the author put some diversity in the series. It just saddens me that Juli was portrayed as a B***** and not that much interesting. Good thing we have Colton here, he is funny and wonderful. He often reminds me of Ten 😁. I also loved seeing all the couples and characters from the previous novels!
Not a fan of the plot twist in the end (not gonna be more detailed as I don't want to spoil it). This book has a lot of potential, it was just not delivered.
Still a good story, but not as great as the other ones.
November 12, 2016
I am so excited for everyone to read this book!!! Consolation Prize is the 9th book in the Forbidden Men series. Don't worry, all books can be read as standalones.
Julianna has had a crush on Brandt Gamble since they have started working together! But the other younger Gamble brother has been on her mind a lot more lately. His annoying comments and asshole-ish ways keep a smile on her face. I love how sassy and feisty she Julianna was. Julianna has some issues but with Colton she overcomes them!
Julianna and Colton are one of my favourite couples in this series! They are sweet and funny and their are also many important issues addressed. I loved how sassy Julianna was and how Colton took every hit with the perfect come back! I missed these characters instantly once I finished reading!
Colton is the funny, boisterous Gamble brother but deep down he has regrets and feels unworthy of all the love he gets from his friends and family.
Colton has been in deep lust with with Julianna for a long time but he knows she likes his older brother Brandt. The insults they trade on a daily bases make him even more interested in the flawless woman he is obsessed with!
Colton offers himself up as Consolation prize to Julianna at the wedding of Brandt and Sarah. They grow closer as time goes by and with that closeness comes love.
Julianna and Colton have to go through some hard times before they get their HEA.
I loved this story just as much as the others. All these characters have become my friends. (Yes fictional characters are my friends) I love them all to pieces and I can't wait to see what else Lina Kage has to offer next!
November 18, 2016
5 GLORIOUS STARS!!!
"I know .. I know I am going to love it !! I am really excited for this one !!
I so knew it I would love it!!
Julianna
Colton
I discovered this book series accidentally and it has become one of my favorites . I can not belive how fast I have devoured this book.
Beside the fact this book been so fantastic I feel a strong connection with Julliana , not only because we are both in interratcial relationship but also because how strong and persistent this character is..
I will openly say this book is on my top 3 from the series.
Opposites in every way . . . except the one that matters
Julianna is a fighter, dreamer and caring person. Though she knows that Colton is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.
Colton is flawless , he is the amount of perfectness I have encountered in a book character.
“It was like reading a really good book. I wanted to rush through it because I wanted it all now, and yet I wanted to draw it out and make it last for as long as possible because I didn’t want it to end.
The damn boy was conflicting my heart.”
Excerpt From: Linda Kage. “Consolation Prize (Forbidden Men Book 9).” iBooks.
The book was conflicting my heart xD, I am really bad reviewing things, but I will just say congratulation the author for another amazing book for my collection.
"The couples that are ""meant to be" are the ones who go through everything that is meant to tear them apart and come out even stronger than they were before" and for me thats exactly how
Julianna and Colton are.
The feelings they have for each other are all consuming. They're full of passion and intensity.
WORTH IT!!
"I know .. I know I am going to love it !! I am really excited for this one !!
I so knew it I would love it!!
Julianna
Colton
I discovered this book series accidentally and it has become one of my favorites . I can not belive how fast I have devoured this book.
Beside the fact this book been so fantastic I feel a strong connection with Julliana , not only because we are both in interratcial relationship but also because how strong and persistent this character is..
I will openly say this book is on my top 3 from the series.
Opposites in every way . . . except the one that matters
Julianna is a fighter, dreamer and caring person. Though she knows that Colton is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.
Colton is flawless , he is the amount of perfectness I have encountered in a book character.
“It was like reading a really good book. I wanted to rush through it because I wanted it all now, and yet I wanted to draw it out and make it last for as long as possible because I didn’t want it to end.
The damn boy was conflicting my heart.”
Excerpt From: Linda Kage. “Consolation Prize (Forbidden Men Book 9).” iBooks.
The book was conflicting my heart xD, I am really bad reviewing things, but I will just say congratulation the author for another amazing book for my collection.
"The couples that are ""meant to be" are the ones who go through everything that is meant to tear them apart and come out even stronger than they were before" and for me thats exactly how
Julianna and Colton are.
The feelings they have for each other are all consuming. They're full of passion and intensity.
WORTH IT!!
November 19, 2019
Spoilers ahead
First off, I love interracial romances but authors most times act like they take their impressions of black people from Instagram videos! Each book I've tried the black person comes across as uneducated, foul mouthed and ghetto but in this case the author nails it down to the hair tying at night to keep the hair from breakage!!! Well done dear author!
Now on to the story
Colton has made an art of flirting and getting a rise out of Forbidden's newest bartender Julianna, he loves pushing her buttons and getting a reaction out of her but it's a well known fact that she has a crush on his brother Brandt. At Brandt's wedding he asks Colton to chat with Julianna to keep her from staring at him and spoiling Sarah's big day. Colton does his job too well and almost has sex with her until she blurts out that she loves Brandt. Angry and a little hurt Colton storms off only to run into her at his college class, from there the chemistry between them is undeniable and they start hooking up only to fall in love.... .but racism is still alive and well and one guy takes things too far
Julianna has had a crush on Brandt for a while and though she plays off Colton's flirting as if she wasn't interested the truth is that she's been having a powerful reaction to Brandt's sexy little brother. When the chemistry explodes between them she gets to see the sweet,caring side under Colton's playful banter and falls in love.....but revenge drives a man into committing a crime that causes Julianna to take action she never expected
*******
Ok so the first parts of this both mcs annoyed me, Julianna acted like a pretentious,judgemental bitch to the point I was worried the author was ruining my homegirl but later on she settles her ass down a bit. Colton too was annoying, he was like a younger more irritating less manwhoring version of Ten. I found him immature and the combination of these two almost made me DNF but even when this authors mcs annoy me I still find myself engrossed in her stories so I continued and things eventually improved. I won't say the mcs were my favourites but they definitely weren't as bad as I expected and I found myself giggling at their interactions.H
I'd have preferred the author leave Julianna's crush on Brandt in the past but it carried over here until she comes to her senses
I thought I'd figured out who the bad guy was only to be surprised ....I did think Julianna should've taken action against her ex but it all worked out in the end.
Aspen and Noel's situation was heartbreaking especially as they'd already been through so much, thankfully they were able to power through and get back to their hea
As usual we get appearances from the gang including my boy Pick. All in all this was a pretty ok read
H had hookups but not quite a manwhore
Julianna once had a crush on Brandt but aside from a half date nothing happened between them
Julianna hadn't been with anyone since her ex
Postpartum depression of a secondary character
Julianna was kidnapped and killed her attacker
Racism
h was 4 years older than the H
First off, I love interracial romances but authors most times act like they take their impressions of black people from Instagram videos! Each book I've tried the black person comes across as uneducated, foul mouthed and ghetto but in this case the author nails it down to the hair tying at night to keep the hair from breakage!!! Well done dear author!
Now on to the story
Colton has made an art of flirting and getting a rise out of Forbidden's newest bartender Julianna, he loves pushing her buttons and getting a reaction out of her but it's a well known fact that she has a crush on his brother Brandt. At Brandt's wedding he asks Colton to chat with Julianna to keep her from staring at him and spoiling Sarah's big day. Colton does his job too well and almost has sex with her until she blurts out that she loves Brandt. Angry and a little hurt Colton storms off only to run into her at his college class, from there the chemistry between them is undeniable and they start hooking up only to fall in love.... .but racism is still alive and well and one guy takes things too far
Julianna has had a crush on Brandt for a while and though she plays off Colton's flirting as if she wasn't interested the truth is that she's been having a powerful reaction to Brandt's sexy little brother. When the chemistry explodes between them she gets to see the sweet,caring side under Colton's playful banter and falls in love.....but revenge drives a man into committing a crime that causes Julianna to take action she never expected
*******
Ok so the first parts of this both mcs annoyed me, Julianna acted like a pretentious,judgemental bitch to the point I was worried the author was ruining my homegirl but later on she settles her ass down a bit. Colton too was annoying, he was like a younger more irritating less manwhoring version of Ten. I found him immature and the combination of these two almost made me DNF but even when this authors mcs annoy me I still find myself engrossed in her stories so I continued and things eventually improved. I won't say the mcs were my favourites but they definitely weren't as bad as I expected and I found myself giggling at their interactions.H
I'd have preferred the author leave Julianna's crush on Brandt in the past but it carried over here until she comes to her senses
I thought I'd figured out who the bad guy was only to be surprised ....I did think Julianna should've taken action against her ex but it all worked out in the end.
Aspen and Noel's situation was heartbreaking especially as they'd already been through so much, thankfully they were able to power through and get back to their hea
As usual we get appearances from the gang including my boy Pick. All in all this was a pretty ok read
H had hookups but not quite a manwhore
Julianna once had a crush on Brandt but aside from a half date nothing happened between them
Julianna hadn't been with anyone since her ex
Postpartum depression of a secondary character
Julianna was kidnapped and killed her attacker
Racism
h was 4 years older than the H
i-think-the-fuck-not
July 26, 2021GROSS!!
A white man kidnapping and wanting to rape a Black woman cuz a Black man did something to his family and he wants to seek revenge, and I’m guessing this the dude she falls in love with 🥴
December 22, 2016
This book was kind of a let down, in this series it seems like I like one book dislike the next then like the next and so on.
The main couple didn't do it for me, I didn't felt their chemistry, Julianna was kind of a jerk, she was super rude throughout the book and she treated Colton poorly, I never felt like she redeem herself either.
I was a bit excited to read about an interracial couple but I hated the execution, I've read amazing interratial romance and here it was just too much, the race thing was such a big deal that it felt OTT.
Plus that final drama was too much, it wasn't necessary at all and it only made the race thing even less likeable.
This is the end of the journey for me, I am not interested in the last book because a retelling of the first book 9 books later sounds boring.
The main couple didn't do it for me, I didn't felt their chemistry, Julianna was kind of a jerk, she was super rude throughout the book and she treated Colton poorly, I never felt like she redeem herself either.
I was a bit excited to read about an interracial couple but I hated the execution, I've read amazing interratial romance and here it was just too much, the race thing was such a big deal that it felt OTT.
Plus that final drama was too much, it wasn't necessary at all and it only made the race thing even less likeable.
This is the end of the journey for me, I am not interested in the last book because a retelling of the first book 9 books later sounds boring.
Want to read
September 29, 2016FINALLY!
S E P T E M B E R, 2 0 1 6
I mean, look at this cover.
EXPECTED RELEASE DATE - November 21st, 2016
S E P T E M B E R, 2 0 1 6
I mean, look at this cover.
EXPECTED RELEASE DATE - November 21st, 2016
December 12, 2016
2.5
So disappointed in this one seriously I love Colton I have been waiting for him to have his own HEA. In the previous book we met Julianna and I loved the idea of having an interracial couple in the series
My big problem with this book was the heroine she was so childish she was freaking rude to the hero even till the end of the book I hated that she always called him names Jerk,bastard stupid, asshole.
After all that Colton has been through he deserve so much more I actually really liked Julianna in the previous book but from the first pages in this book she was already pissing me off after what she said to Colton when they were about to have sex was horrible
and yet she barely apologize I felt her apology sucked she should have grovel more and she apologize only AFTER she felt that Colton was ignoring her.
hopefully this is not the last book in the series because to finish it with this one would totally suck
So disappointed in this one seriously I love Colton I have been waiting for him to have his own HEA. In the previous book we met Julianna and I loved the idea of having an interracial couple in the series
My big problem with this book was the heroine she was so childish she was freaking rude to the hero even till the end of the book I hated that she always called him names Jerk,bastard stupid, asshole.
After all that Colton has been through he deserve so much more I actually really liked Julianna in the previous book but from the first pages in this book she was already pissing me off after what she said to Colton when they were about to have sex was horrible
and yet she barely apologize I felt her apology sucked she should have grovel more and she apologize only AFTER she felt that Colton was ignoring her.
hopefully this is not the last book in the series because to finish it with this one would totally suck
Read
November 15, 2016I really cannot finish this one, I'm sorry. I tried really hard but it's so tough for me to get into the story when the heroine is so unlikeable.
Which is disappointing because first of all I loved Colton as a character. What happened in the 8th book, Brandt's book broke my heart. And that is why I think he deserves better, more.
The sexual chemistry is there as evidenced from the very beginning-- it was mentioned quite numerous of times how attractive Julianna is.... even her name is pretty!!! But he deserves better. /shrugs/
And secondly it sucks for me because I was really excited for a black heroine!!! But Julianna was such a bitch that I wanted to strangle her lmao. There was nothing likable about her.
I'll probably pick up this one somewhere in the future but for now, I'm done.
Which is disappointing because first of all I loved Colton as a character. What happened in the 8th book, Brandt's book broke my heart. And that is why I think he deserves better, more.
The sexual chemistry is there as evidenced from the very beginning-- it was mentioned quite numerous of times how attractive Julianna is.... even her name is pretty!!! But he deserves better. /shrugs/
And secondly it sucks for me because I was really excited for a black heroine!!! But Julianna was such a bitch that I wanted to strangle her lmao. There was nothing likable about her.
I'll probably pick up this one somewhere in the future but for now, I'm done.
November 19, 2020
I was really looking forward to this but for some reason I didn't find myself engaging with the story and characters.
I really would have have preferred it if the author had not focused on Julianna's crush on Brandt in this book, when it first comes up at the wedding I almost stopped reading since it sounded like more.
Colton is 18, 4 years younger than Julianna. One of the things which at the start that had me carrying on reading.
Plus the kidnapping and all it just didn't work in this book for me.
Potential Triggers:
I really would have have preferred it if the author had not focused on Julianna's crush on Brandt in this book, when it first comes up at the wedding I almost stopped reading since it sounded like more.
Colton is 18, 4 years younger than Julianna. One of the things which at the start that had me carrying on reading.
Plus the kidnapping and all it just didn't work in this book for me.
Potential Triggers:
December 9, 2017
Me da mucha pena decirle adiós a la saga, pero ya tocaba que llegara a su final.
March 4, 2023
Consolation Prize is the 9th installment of the "Forbidden Men" series. This is also the last book of the series with a new couple (as book 10 is a rewrite of the male pov of book one), and I have been so curious to get Colton's book. Its so fascinating that he is an adult now haha I remember the earlier books and him being so young. But I really wanted this book so badly, especially after "Priceless" in seeing some of the chemistry between Colton and Julianna. And I have to say now that I am finished with Consolation Prize, this book was EVERYTHING! I absolutely can't believe that this author wrote another epic book in the series. But this book, might just might, be my favorite which is "Perfect Ten".
Consolation Prize begins with our hero, Colton and our heroine, Juli who are brought together at a wedding. Colton's brother Brandt, asks Colton to keep Julianna company as he feels like she is still in love with him and needs her distracted. So Colton, puts on his cocky sure mask and distracts Julianna, but what neither of them expects is for them to embrace the powerful chemistry between them which leads them into a forbidden relationship. For Julianna she has many reasons on why she shouldn't do anything with Colton, there is a age difference, a race divide and she is divorced with an crazy ex. But Colton is determined to show Julianna what they have is worth fighting for. Throughout their journey Julianna and Colton find a endearing deep love...
Consolation was one of the most beautiful romances that I have ever had a chance to read by Linda Kage. My heart was all over the place within this story. I was worried going into this one as some of the reviews I read talked about racism being implemented so I was nervous in how the author would showcase it but she did it SO WELL! In fact, its one of the best romances I have ever read that showcases both sides of racism and enjoyed seeing the way in which this author delicately handled it within the story. There is something about interracial romance that just works so well for me and the emotions and depths that this couple connect to each other with was so poignant. I just never wanted to let these two go!
And I have to say that COLTON was a HOOT! In fact, I think he is a good contender for the entertainment as Ten (Oren) is in the series and I honestly can't determine which one is more entertaining. There is such a journey that Colton has to go through with the trauma that he suffered as a child, and how he has to deal with how his family and friends treat him and how even how Julianna treats him in the beginning, just seeing the surface and not wanting to dig deeper into the man he has become. But seeing the redemption arc with Julianna and Colton, the way in which he faces up to his family about his truths and the manner in which he finds his own strength and capabilities was so empowering.
Overall I found Consolation Prize to be an endearing, laugh out loud intense feeling new adult romance that tugged at my heartstrings and delivered such a poignant message!
Consolation Prize begins with our hero, Colton and our heroine, Juli who are brought together at a wedding. Colton's brother Brandt, asks Colton to keep Julianna company as he feels like she is still in love with him and needs her distracted. So Colton, puts on his cocky sure mask and distracts Julianna, but what neither of them expects is for them to embrace the powerful chemistry between them which leads them into a forbidden relationship. For Julianna she has many reasons on why she shouldn't do anything with Colton, there is a age difference, a race divide and she is divorced with an crazy ex. But Colton is determined to show Julianna what they have is worth fighting for. Throughout their journey Julianna and Colton find a endearing deep love...
Consolation was one of the most beautiful romances that I have ever had a chance to read by Linda Kage. My heart was all over the place within this story. I was worried going into this one as some of the reviews I read talked about racism being implemented so I was nervous in how the author would showcase it but she did it SO WELL! In fact, its one of the best romances I have ever read that showcases both sides of racism and enjoyed seeing the way in which this author delicately handled it within the story. There is something about interracial romance that just works so well for me and the emotions and depths that this couple connect to each other with was so poignant. I just never wanted to let these two go!
And I have to say that COLTON was a HOOT! In fact, I think he is a good contender for the entertainment as Ten (Oren) is in the series and I honestly can't determine which one is more entertaining. There is such a journey that Colton has to go through with the trauma that he suffered as a child, and how he has to deal with how his family and friends treat him and how even how Julianna treats him in the beginning, just seeing the surface and not wanting to dig deeper into the man he has become. But seeing the redemption arc with Julianna and Colton, the way in which he faces up to his family about his truths and the manner in which he finds his own strength and capabilities was so empowering.
Overall I found Consolation Prize to be an endearing, laugh out loud intense feeling new adult romance that tugged at my heartstrings and delivered such a poignant message!
February 3, 2017
Me gustó! Sin dudas no es el libro que más me gustó de la serie, (mi favorito sigue siendo Be My Hero), pero de todas maneras estuvo muy entretenido. Me gusta la forma de escribir de Linda Kage, y como lleva a cabo sus historias (salvo por la completa porquería de Worth It que nunca debería haber existido). Pero éste romance interracial me cautivó por completo.
Colton, BEBÉ, no podés ser más tierno. Al principio me parecía medio raro que el protagonista masculino sólo tuviera 18 años. Pero a medida que avanza la historia, eso me dejó de importar, porque Colton no era como cualquier chico de 18 años. Parecía mucho más grande en muchísimos aspectos, y por muchísimos motivos, entonces era difícil pensar en él como si fuera una criatura de 18 años, porque por más que tuviera esa edad, simplemente no era como cualquier chico de 18 años. Y aunque Julianna tenía casi 22 años, esa diferencia de edad no se sentía ni percibía como algo muy grande. Los dos estaban muy a la par. Eso me gustó también. Porque suelo leer libros en los que protagonistas de 22 años están con protagonistas masculinos de 30 años o más, y para mí eso es re awkward. En mi opinión, esa diferencia madurativa es muchísimo. En cambio, una chica de casi 22 años con un chico de 18 (que es maduro), me parece mucho más normal y real.
Julianna, al principio me generaba mucha bronca todo su temita con Brandt. Y ni siquiera estoy diciendo de la pelotudez que dijo sobre Brandt la primera vez que estaba apretando con Colton, que me hizo jadear en voz alta al grito de WAIT, WHAAAAT? WHAAAAAAAAAAAT? Porque bueno... ponele que se lo dejo pasar eso. Pero me daba mucha bronca que ella dijera y pensara para sí misma que no quería ser una de esas chicas que pasan de un hermano al otro y que no se deciden con cuál quedarse. Les juro por Christian Dior, que me daban ganas de entrar al libro y cachetearla al grito de PENDEJA, NO TENES QUE DECIDIR NADA PORQUE NO TENES NINGUNA CHANCE CON BRANDT, BOLUDA. ENTENDELO DE UNA VEZ. Me daba bronca que la mina pensara que si ella quería podía tener una chance con Brandt, cuando era obvio que no porque el pibe ama a Sarah más que a la vida misma. (Encima el libro comienza con el casamiento de Brandt y Sarah, en el cual ella fue invitada. O sea, dale flaca. Está casado el flaco, con el fucking amor de su vida. Cor-ta-la.)
Después, gracia' a dio', o mejor dicho, gracias al bebecito de Colton, todo se encamina. Y voy a ser muy honesta respecto a esto. La pareja de Colton y Julianna, me gustó muchísimo (!) Me encantó leer éste romance interracial entre ellos dos. Ella era negra, y él blanco, y la autora abordó todo ese tema de una manera que me encantó y me cautivó a lo largo de toda la historia. Realmente nunca pensé en mi vida que una pareja interracial era algo demasiado raro. Estoy acostumbrada a verlas en series y películas y para mí es algo de lo más normal. Éste libro me demostró que no es tan así, y que hay miles de prejuicios que la gente negra tiene respecto a una chica negra saliendo con un chico blanco. Y me gustó mucho leer como se iba dando todo eso.
Colton es lo más sexy, dulce y tierno que puede existir. Me lo quería comer a besos, no sé como Julianna era capaz de resistirse y no tirársele encima a todas horas. Julianna tenía su personalidad, no del todo agradable por momentos en mi opinión, pero era todo lo que Colton quería, así que está bien.
Éste libro tuvo lo que todos los libros de ésta serie suelen tener: participaciones de los personajes ya previamente conocidos y tan queridos por los lectores, personajes que se oponen a la relación de los protagonistas cuando se enteran que están juntos, un evento traumático y dramático hacia el final de la historia que de todos modos no afecta el happily ever after sino que lo hace incluso más emocionante, problemas personales con los que los personajes lidian a lo largo de la historia. En fin, todos los elementos por los que se caracteriza la autora, y que suelen hacer la lectura bastante disfrutable.
Me gustaron las participaciones de Ten, siempre haciéndome reír con sus comentarios. Odié con todo mi alma a Aspen. Ya se sabe que a mí ese personaje NO me gusta en lo más mínimo, de hecho es el personaje femenino que menos me gusta después de Felicity, y en éste libro la odié aún más. Estuvo toda la historia ahí estorbando como una forra. Haciendo la vida imposible a todos los que la rodeaban. Insoportable. La odié fuerte. Encima hacia el principio se hace una mención como que algo mal estaba pasando con ella, y de hecho cada capítulo empieza con alguna frase pelotuda que en teoría formaban parte de su pizarra de frases (?) y yo pensé... Ay capaz se muere en éste libro. Pero no... that didn't happen.
Y respecto a eso quiero decir, que me pareció sumamente innecesario que cada capítulo empezara con alguna frase cursi y pelotuda que no tenía nada que ver con nada, que eran todas de alguien "Anónimo" (obvio porque eran frases idiotas que la autora inventó), y que eran de la pizarra de frases de Aspen... o sea... QUÉ ME IMPORTA?
En fin, más allá de esos detalles que acabé de mencionar, la historia me gustó mucho, y la re disfruté. Comenzó con una boda, la de mis bebés Brandt y Sarah, y terminó con otra boda, la de Colton y Julianna.
Eso sí, me re quedó la duda de qué carajos estudiaba Colton. O sea, en qué se terminó especializando en la facultad. Nunca lo terminó diciendo la autora, y me re quedó la duda.
Ah, y no quiero dejar de mencionar que me gustó mucho que hacia el final la autora mencionara que Sarah era una de las damas de honor de Julianna, porque se habían hecho super amigas. Eso me hizo tan feliz. Conociendo a Sarah del libro anterior, y sabiendo que ella no tiene amigas mujeres de su edad (porque sabemos que Reese, Caroline, Eva, son mucho más grandes que ella), y que de hecho su único amigo era Brandt, con quien se terminó casando, me hizo híper feliz saber que ahora ella y Julianna son re amigotas.
Me encantaría que la autora siguiera escribiendo libros para ésta serie, pero sé que éste es el último. Una tristeza enorme. Voy a extrañar enormemente a todos éstos personajes que tanto amo, Reese y Mason, Pick y Eva, Ten y Caroline, Brandt y Sarah, Asher y Remy, Zooey y Quinn y mi ahora querido Colton. Quedarán por siempre en mi corazón.
Colton, BEBÉ, no podés ser más tierno. Al principio me parecía medio raro que el protagonista masculino sólo tuviera 18 años. Pero a medida que avanza la historia, eso me dejó de importar, porque Colton no era como cualquier chico de 18 años. Parecía mucho más grande en muchísimos aspectos, y por muchísimos motivos, entonces era difícil pensar en él como si fuera una criatura de 18 años, porque por más que tuviera esa edad, simplemente no era como cualquier chico de 18 años. Y aunque Julianna tenía casi 22 años, esa diferencia de edad no se sentía ni percibía como algo muy grande. Los dos estaban muy a la par. Eso me gustó también. Porque suelo leer libros en los que protagonistas de 22 años están con protagonistas masculinos de 30 años o más, y para mí eso es re awkward. En mi opinión, esa diferencia madurativa es muchísimo. En cambio, una chica de casi 22 años con un chico de 18 (que es maduro), me parece mucho más normal y real.
Julianna, al principio me generaba mucha bronca todo su temita con Brandt. Y ni siquiera estoy diciendo de la pelotudez que dijo sobre Brandt la primera vez que estaba apretando con Colton, que me hizo jadear en voz alta al grito de WAIT, WHAAAAT? WHAAAAAAAAAAAT? Porque bueno... ponele que se lo dejo pasar eso. Pero me daba mucha bronca que ella dijera y pensara para sí misma que no quería ser una de esas chicas que pasan de un hermano al otro y que no se deciden con cuál quedarse. Les juro por Christian Dior, que me daban ganas de entrar al libro y cachetearla al grito de PENDEJA, NO TENES QUE DECIDIR NADA PORQUE NO TENES NINGUNA CHANCE CON BRANDT, BOLUDA. ENTENDELO DE UNA VEZ. Me daba bronca que la mina pensara que si ella quería podía tener una chance con Brandt, cuando era obvio que no porque el pibe ama a Sarah más que a la vida misma. (Encima el libro comienza con el casamiento de Brandt y Sarah, en el cual ella fue invitada. O sea, dale flaca. Está casado el flaco, con el fucking amor de su vida. Cor-ta-la.)
Después, gracia' a dio', o mejor dicho, gracias al bebecito de Colton, todo se encamina. Y voy a ser muy honesta respecto a esto. La pareja de Colton y Julianna, me gustó muchísimo (!) Me encantó leer éste romance interracial entre ellos dos. Ella era negra, y él blanco, y la autora abordó todo ese tema de una manera que me encantó y me cautivó a lo largo de toda la historia. Realmente nunca pensé en mi vida que una pareja interracial era algo demasiado raro. Estoy acostumbrada a verlas en series y películas y para mí es algo de lo más normal. Éste libro me demostró que no es tan así, y que hay miles de prejuicios que la gente negra tiene respecto a una chica negra saliendo con un chico blanco. Y me gustó mucho leer como se iba dando todo eso.
Colton es lo más sexy, dulce y tierno que puede existir. Me lo quería comer a besos, no sé como Julianna era capaz de resistirse y no tirársele encima a todas horas. Julianna tenía su personalidad, no del todo agradable por momentos en mi opinión, pero era todo lo que Colton quería, así que está bien.
Éste libro tuvo lo que todos los libros de ésta serie suelen tener: participaciones de los personajes ya previamente conocidos y tan queridos por los lectores, personajes que se oponen a la relación de los protagonistas cuando se enteran que están juntos, un evento traumático y dramático hacia el final de la historia que de todos modos no afecta el happily ever after sino que lo hace incluso más emocionante, problemas personales con los que los personajes lidian a lo largo de la historia. En fin, todos los elementos por los que se caracteriza la autora, y que suelen hacer la lectura bastante disfrutable.
Me gustaron las participaciones de Ten, siempre haciéndome reír con sus comentarios. Odié con todo mi alma a Aspen. Ya se sabe que a mí ese personaje NO me gusta en lo más mínimo, de hecho es el personaje femenino que menos me gusta después de Felicity, y en éste libro la odié aún más. Estuvo toda la historia ahí estorbando como una forra. Haciendo la vida imposible a todos los que la rodeaban. Insoportable. La odié fuerte. Encima hacia el principio se hace una mención como que algo mal estaba pasando con ella, y de hecho cada capítulo empieza con alguna frase pelotuda que en teoría formaban parte de su pizarra de frases (?) y yo pensé... Ay capaz se muere en éste libro. Pero no... that didn't happen.
Y respecto a eso quiero decir, que me pareció sumamente innecesario que cada capítulo empezara con alguna frase cursi y pelotuda que no tenía nada que ver con nada, que eran todas de alguien "Anónimo" (obvio porque eran frases idiotas que la autora inventó), y que eran de la pizarra de frases de Aspen... o sea... QUÉ ME IMPORTA?
En fin, más allá de esos detalles que acabé de mencionar, la historia me gustó mucho, y la re disfruté. Comenzó con una boda, la de mis bebés Brandt y Sarah, y terminó con otra boda, la de Colton y Julianna.
Eso sí, me re quedó la duda de qué carajos estudiaba Colton. O sea, en qué se terminó especializando en la facultad. Nunca lo terminó diciendo la autora, y me re quedó la duda.
Ah, y no quiero dejar de mencionar que me gustó mucho que hacia el final la autora mencionara que Sarah era una de las damas de honor de Julianna, porque se habían hecho super amigas. Eso me hizo tan feliz. Conociendo a Sarah del libro anterior, y sabiendo que ella no tiene amigas mujeres de su edad (porque sabemos que Reese, Caroline, Eva, son mucho más grandes que ella), y que de hecho su único amigo era Brandt, con quien se terminó casando, me hizo híper feliz saber que ahora ella y Julianna son re amigotas.
Me encantaría que la autora siguiera escribiendo libros para ésta serie, pero sé que éste es el último. Una tristeza enorme. Voy a extrañar enormemente a todos éstos personajes que tanto amo, Reese y Mason, Pick y Eva, Ten y Caroline, Brandt y Sarah, Asher y Remy, Zooey y Quinn y mi ahora querido Colton. Quedarán por siempre en mi corazón.
May 27, 2024
This series lost it's appeal once the stories became about the second generation characters. Still, my OCD kept nagging me to finish with it, so now I've read all the Forbidden Men books and I can finally put these characters to the past.
As for Colton and Juliana, I found the first more mature than the later even though she is 4 years his senior. Juliana is too much inside her head and stuck to notions that I don't think apply today, like skin diversity in couples. Colton knows who he is and what he wants, is extremely loyal to his family and close friends and I really liked him.
Did I need all this drama in the end? I think I could be okay without it but I guess something major had to happen for Juliana to clear her head and set her heart straight.
As for Colton and Juliana, I found the first more mature than the later even though she is 4 years his senior. Juliana is too much inside her head and stuck to notions that I don't think apply today, like skin diversity in couples. Colton knows who he is and what he wants, is extremely loyal to his family and close friends and I really liked him.
Did I need all this drama in the end? I think I could be okay without it but I guess something major had to happen for Juliana to clear her head and set her heart straight.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 342 reviews