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The Donovan Brothers #1
Her Summer with the Marine
Their competition has never been so irresistible
The last person Ellie McDermott wanted to run into after returning to her hometown is Finn Donovan, her high school nemesis and the guy she crossed the line from enemies to lovers with one night years ago. Now ex-military, tattooed, and still sexy as hell, Finn is a complication Ellie doesn’t need—she needs to concentrate on saving her family business.
Finn’s entire life, Ellie was there, going head-to-head with him in every class, bee, and test. So it’s no surprise she’d show up just as he was about to take over her father's struggling business. It is a surprise, though, that his attraction to her is even more explosive than it had been. Acting on their attraction is one thing, but Finn has to turn a profit to save his own family, and nothing—not even love—will get in his way.
The last person Ellie McDermott wanted to run into after returning to her hometown is Finn Donovan, her high school nemesis and the guy she crossed the line from enemies to lovers with one night years ago. Now ex-military, tattooed, and still sexy as hell, Finn is a complication Ellie doesn’t need—she needs to concentrate on saving her family business.
Finn’s entire life, Ellie was there, going head-to-head with him in every class, bee, and test. So it’s no surprise she’d show up just as he was about to take over her father's struggling business. It is a surprise, though, that his attraction to her is even more explosive than it had been. Acting on their attraction is one thing, but Finn has to turn a profit to save his own family, and nothing—not even love—will get in his way.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2014
82 people are currently reading
1353 people want to read
About the author
Susan Meier
590 books458 followersGood morning! It's a beautiful sunny beginning to the day here in Western, Pennsylvania. I'm working on my 75th book. 75th! I'm very excited about that.
I've written some fun things ... those are the Silhouette Romance titles. I especially liked SNOWBOUND BABY which was book 3 of the Bryant Baby Bonanza series which also included BABY BEFORE BUSINESS and PRINCE BABY. But my favorites for Silhouette where the books of the Brewster Baby Boom series THE BABY BEQUEST, BRINGING UP BABIES and OH, BABIES! Where three bachelors inherit triplets. Those were fun to write. I go back every now and again and read them myself for a laugh!
My Harlequins are a little (sometimes a lot) more serious than my Silhouettes, but I always deliver a heart warming story that reminds readers that family and love go hand in hand.
You'll especially see that in FALLING FOR THE PREGNANT HEIRESS where Trent Sigmund decides to help his best friend Seth's baby sister Sabrina McCallan hunt down her on-again/off-again boyfriend, Pierre, to tell him he's about to be a father. Trent tries not to fall. So does Sabrina. Who knew real love had been in their backyard all along.
Sexy or sweet, funny or sad, my characters make some serious lemonade out of their lemons! :)
Because that's how I see life. I have three kids...one of whom has epilepsy. Raising him taught me (and my husband and our other two kids) that sometimes a situation that seems bad can have its blessings.
I've written some fun things ... those are the Silhouette Romance titles. I especially liked SNOWBOUND BABY which was book 3 of the Bryant Baby Bonanza series which also included BABY BEFORE BUSINESS and PRINCE BABY. But my favorites for Silhouette where the books of the Brewster Baby Boom series THE BABY BEQUEST, BRINGING UP BABIES and OH, BABIES! Where three bachelors inherit triplets. Those were fun to write. I go back every now and again and read them myself for a laugh!
My Harlequins are a little (sometimes a lot) more serious than my Silhouettes, but I always deliver a heart warming story that reminds readers that family and love go hand in hand.
You'll especially see that in FALLING FOR THE PREGNANT HEIRESS where Trent Sigmund decides to help his best friend Seth's baby sister Sabrina McCallan hunt down her on-again/off-again boyfriend, Pierre, to tell him he's about to be a father. Trent tries not to fall. So does Sabrina. Who knew real love had been in their backyard all along.
Sexy or sweet, funny or sad, my characters make some serious lemonade out of their lemons! :)
Because that's how I see life. I have three kids...one of whom has epilepsy. Raising him taught me (and my husband and our other two kids) that sometimes a situation that seems bad can have its blessings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
February 19, 2021
Her Summee with the Marine is like a fling read during hot lazy summer day. I can picture the small town with small cute residents in it. The smell of grass, the cold sweet ice cream.
Literally I can picture it even though the background of the story is about funeral homes.
I found the whole story OK. Not enough hot chemistry. So so. Some part is just silly so I skim it.
Not hating it but not liking it either.
3 stars
Literally I can picture it even though the background of the story is about funeral homes.
I found the whole story OK. Not enough hot chemistry. So so. Some part is just silly so I skim it.
Not hating it but not liking it either.
3 stars
March 14, 2014
Review posted at: Swept Away By Romance
Story Rating ~ 5 Stars
Hero Rating ~ 5 Stars
Heroine Rating ~ 5 Stars
Romance Rating ~ 4 Stars
Heat Level ~ 3.5 Stars
Ending ~ 5 Stars
Overall Rating ~ 5 Stars
This story was like no other that I’ve read before and the originality of the story line blew me away. This story revolves around Ellie and Finn; they have known each other all their lives and were constantly in competition with each other since grade school.
Ellie had to return to her home town to help her father who has Alzheimer’s. When she returns she finds out that her dad is in really bad shape and that he has been placed in Harmony Hills nursing home which is very expensive. Ellie has no other choice but to take over her father’s funeral home to help pay for his care.
Finn has just recently opened his own funeral home in Harmony Hills. With Harmony Hills being such a small community he knows that two funeral homes in the same town are not going to work. He decides to buy Ellie out to ensure that his business does not fail. Needless to say she turns him down, and the competition between these two to make their funeral homes a success is on.
This story was VERY entertaining and held my interest all the way through. It also grabbed me emotionally on so many levels. I laughed, I smiled and I also sobbed my heart out while reading this book.
I LOVED both Ellie and Finn, they were excellent characters. The back story about these two and their families was done so well that I was truly captivated by this read.
There were also some VERY STEAMY love scenes; however I would not call them erotic. They were tastefully done, nothing too kinky and added just the right amount of heat.
Near the ending is where my emotions were really drawn into play. My heart was breaking along with Ellie’s and I swear I was crying every bit as hard as she was.
I gave the ending 5 stars, because there was an epilogue that wrapped the story up, and Finn and Ellie are finally together.
The one thing that confused me about this book was the title, Her Summer with the Marine. I didn’t feel it fit this book at all. OK, Finn was in the Marines, but the story didn’t really revolve around that at all. Was it mentioned that he was a Marine? Yes, but only in passing, and it didn’t have much to do with the overall story. This is the only thing that didn’t work for me.
I highly recommend this book to all romance readers who like original story lines, with excellent characters that draw you in, and compel you to read on. Add in the fact that it's only .99 cents, what are you waiting for?
*A copy of the book was provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review*
Story Rating ~ 5 Stars
Hero Rating ~ 5 Stars
Heroine Rating ~ 5 Stars
Romance Rating ~ 4 Stars
Heat Level ~ 3.5 Stars
Ending ~ 5 Stars
Overall Rating ~ 5 Stars
This story was like no other that I’ve read before and the originality of the story line blew me away. This story revolves around Ellie and Finn; they have known each other all their lives and were constantly in competition with each other since grade school.
Ellie had to return to her home town to help her father who has Alzheimer’s. When she returns she finds out that her dad is in really bad shape and that he has been placed in Harmony Hills nursing home which is very expensive. Ellie has no other choice but to take over her father’s funeral home to help pay for his care.
Finn has just recently opened his own funeral home in Harmony Hills. With Harmony Hills being such a small community he knows that two funeral homes in the same town are not going to work. He decides to buy Ellie out to ensure that his business does not fail. Needless to say she turns him down, and the competition between these two to make their funeral homes a success is on.
This story was VERY entertaining and held my interest all the way through. It also grabbed me emotionally on so many levels. I laughed, I smiled and I also sobbed my heart out while reading this book.
I LOVED both Ellie and Finn, they were excellent characters. The back story about these two and their families was done so well that I was truly captivated by this read.
There were also some VERY STEAMY love scenes; however I would not call them erotic. They were tastefully done, nothing too kinky and added just the right amount of heat.
Near the ending is where my emotions were really drawn into play. My heart was breaking along with Ellie’s and I swear I was crying every bit as hard as she was.
I gave the ending 5 stars, because there was an epilogue that wrapped the story up, and Finn and Ellie are finally together.
The one thing that confused me about this book was the title, Her Summer with the Marine. I didn’t feel it fit this book at all. OK, Finn was in the Marines, but the story didn’t really revolve around that at all. Was it mentioned that he was a Marine? Yes, but only in passing, and it didn’t have much to do with the overall story. This is the only thing that didn’t work for me.
I highly recommend this book to all romance readers who like original story lines, with excellent characters that draw you in, and compel you to read on. Add in the fact that it's only .99 cents, what are you waiting for?
*A copy of the book was provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review*
March 18, 2014
Two small town funeral home businesses (morbid, I know) are trying to stay afloat. Finn opened up his funeral home about six months ago. He came back to save his mom from his abusive father and keep her safe. He needs the business to take off to make sure that happens. He wants to buy out McDermott's Funeral Home, ran by Mark McDermott.
Finn
Unfortunately, Mark has Alzheimer's disease and his daughter, Ellie, has come home to help take care of him. Mark wants her to run the business side of things as he has everything else taken care of. Ellie will do anything to make her father happy so she agrees. Plus, she needs the extra income to cover the medical cost of his care.
Ellie
Finn and Ellie have been competing against each other since grade school. One night when they were 17, Finn confides in Ellie about all of the troubles he has been having at home. That night, she gave him her virginity. The next day, he acted like she wasn't even there. Definitely a small grudge is being held 9 years later.
Can Ellie and Finn keep their competition just business or will it lead to something more pleasurable?
This was a nice read. I had a hard time feeling a connection between the characters maybe because they spent so much time apart in the book. Not sure what it was, but it was still an enjoyable read.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Finn
Unfortunately, Mark has Alzheimer's disease and his daughter, Ellie, has come home to help take care of him. Mark wants her to run the business side of things as he has everything else taken care of. Ellie will do anything to make her father happy so she agrees. Plus, she needs the extra income to cover the medical cost of his care.
Ellie
Finn and Ellie have been competing against each other since grade school. One night when they were 17, Finn confides in Ellie about all of the troubles he has been having at home. That night, she gave him her virginity. The next day, he acted like she wasn't even there. Definitely a small grudge is being held 9 years later.
Can Ellie and Finn keep their competition just business or will it lead to something more pleasurable?
This was a nice read. I had a hard time feeling a connection between the characters maybe because they spent so much time apart in the book. Not sure what it was, but it was still an enjoyable read.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
March 12, 2014
Slick‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Review copy provided for an honest review
4 STARS
This is one of those books that defies the old adage “you can’t go home again.” In Her Summer with the Marine, we see two high school rivals returning home for different reasons both after being chased out of town by demons they’d dealt with for a good part of their lives. Now facing off for business in this small town, these two must deal with their teenage actions that left one feeling used and the other comforted; one parent in a health crisis and the other trying to regain her life, and the undeniable chemistry they have for one another in what seems an impossible situation. This book is not a light and fluffy romance, it deals with some real issues and while the hero and heroine do manage to find their way to one another it’s not without a lot of stumbling along the way.
My heart is breaking for Ellie McDermott, the heroine, as she returns home to find that her father has been battling Alzheimer’s on his own for no telling how long. Forced to place him in a care facility and run his mortuary business because he’s asked her to and he wants her close, she finds herself back in the town where she never quite got over her mother’s betrayal and the gossip that followed her death. On top of that the boy turned man she’s competed against from elementary school through high school is also back after a stint in the Marines and has opened up his own mortuary business that is direct competition for her father’s business. After taking her virginity all those years ago he’s now out to ruin her father’s business and while she can’t let that happen she also can’t deny the attraction she feels for him.
Finn Donovan feels like his life is finally on track. He’s back home, he’s opened a business that while isn’t booming is beginning to make a name for itself, and he’s finally gotten his mother out of clutches of his abusive father. Then she comes back to town; the one girl that knows his secret, the one that challenged him his whole life and made him a better Marine because of it, the one woman he find himself utterly attracted to, and the one woman he should stay far away from after he gets her father’s business.
I found this book so very interesting because the hero and heroine had such a different view on their past life together and their one sexual encounter. Ellie always saw Finn as an adversary and then as the boy who used her and left. Finn appreciated the way their competition kept his mind off his horrific home life and made him want more. He remembered their one night together with fondness and the feeling that someone actually cared about him. Over the course of their book, they began to see each other in all kinds of new ways and not all of them good but all of them very real. They both are forced to deal with things in their past that have hurt them and through it all they manage to build a friendship that turns into more.
This book touched my soul as I too have a loved one stricken with Alzheimer’s and the way it robs you of the person you’ve loved all of your life. I appreciate the way it was handled and felt the heroine’s actions and feelings were very well written. I enjoyed this story despite the many tears I shed because if anything this disease teaches us it’s to live each day as it’s your last, let go of the past, and make memories now while you can.
Review copy provided for an honest review
4 STARS
This is one of those books that defies the old adage “you can’t go home again.” In Her Summer with the Marine, we see two high school rivals returning home for different reasons both after being chased out of town by demons they’d dealt with for a good part of their lives. Now facing off for business in this small town, these two must deal with their teenage actions that left one feeling used and the other comforted; one parent in a health crisis and the other trying to regain her life, and the undeniable chemistry they have for one another in what seems an impossible situation. This book is not a light and fluffy romance, it deals with some real issues and while the hero and heroine do manage to find their way to one another it’s not without a lot of stumbling along the way.
My heart is breaking for Ellie McDermott, the heroine, as she returns home to find that her father has been battling Alzheimer’s on his own for no telling how long. Forced to place him in a care facility and run his mortuary business because he’s asked her to and he wants her close, she finds herself back in the town where she never quite got over her mother’s betrayal and the gossip that followed her death. On top of that the boy turned man she’s competed against from elementary school through high school is also back after a stint in the Marines and has opened up his own mortuary business that is direct competition for her father’s business. After taking her virginity all those years ago he’s now out to ruin her father’s business and while she can’t let that happen she also can’t deny the attraction she feels for him.
Finn Donovan feels like his life is finally on track. He’s back home, he’s opened a business that while isn’t booming is beginning to make a name for itself, and he’s finally gotten his mother out of clutches of his abusive father. Then she comes back to town; the one girl that knows his secret, the one that challenged him his whole life and made him a better Marine because of it, the one woman he find himself utterly attracted to, and the one woman he should stay far away from after he gets her father’s business.
I found this book so very interesting because the hero and heroine had such a different view on their past life together and their one sexual encounter. Ellie always saw Finn as an adversary and then as the boy who used her and left. Finn appreciated the way their competition kept his mind off his horrific home life and made him want more. He remembered their one night together with fondness and the feeling that someone actually cared about him. Over the course of their book, they began to see each other in all kinds of new ways and not all of them good but all of them very real. They both are forced to deal with things in their past that have hurt them and through it all they manage to build a friendship that turns into more.
This book touched my soul as I too have a loved one stricken with Alzheimer’s and the way it robs you of the person you’ve loved all of your life. I appreciate the way it was handled and felt the heroine’s actions and feelings were very well written. I enjoyed this story despite the many tears I shed because if anything this disease teaches us it’s to live each day as it’s your last, let go of the past, and make memories now while you can.
August 10, 2016
Her Summer with the Marine is a fun, sexy frenemies to lovers story. Ellie McDermott has to move home and take over the family funeral parlor because of her dad’s worsening Alzheimer’s. Finn Donovan, the guy she competed with all through school, and who she had one night with, has also returned to town and opened a funeral parlor.
And there isn’t enough business in this small town for both of them.
This story is so sweet and fun, I can’t even tell you. I LOVED the tension from the fact that both characters had a NEED for their business to succeed. And you want both of them to succeed, even though it’s not possible.
And then there’s the romance. They both have feelings for each other, or at least desires, but they are competing for their lives (or the lives of their parents, really). The tension this causes is spectacular, and when they give in to their desires, the scenes are HOT! Bliss readers who have been looking for a little more steam will be thoroughly satisfied. And readers who love a small town, enemies (or frenemies) to lovers story, will be in heaven.
4.5 stars.
The publisher provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
And there isn’t enough business in this small town for both of them.
This story is so sweet and fun, I can’t even tell you. I LOVED the tension from the fact that both characters had a NEED for their business to succeed. And you want both of them to succeed, even though it’s not possible.
And then there’s the romance. They both have feelings for each other, or at least desires, but they are competing for their lives (or the lives of their parents, really). The tension this causes is spectacular, and when they give in to their desires, the scenes are HOT! Bliss readers who have been looking for a little more steam will be thoroughly satisfied. And readers who love a small town, enemies (or frenemies) to lovers story, will be in heaven.
4.5 stars.
The publisher provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2014
*WHEW* This was so emotional and EXTREMELY HAWT for an Entangled Bliss. ABSOLUTELY enjoyed it and cannot wait for the stories on the other 2 Donovan brothers!!!
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Entangled Publishing*
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Entangled Publishing*
November 22, 2016
Very good, very emotional book, with a setting I haven't encountered before - a pair of funeral homes. Ellie works for an ad agency in Pittsburgh and has just been awarded a big account when she gets an emergency call from the police in her hometown. Her father has been found wandering around town, disoriented and taken to the hospital. When she arrives in Harmony Hills, she finds that he has been hiding his Alzheimer's from her. Now he can no longer live alone, but must go to a nursing home, leaving her in charge of the business. She can't just close it because she needs the money for his expenses, but she is also committed to the ad campaign. To make matters worse, she discovers her old school frenemy, Finn, has come home and opened his own funeral home, putting McDermott's in danger.
Finn finished his time in the Marines and came home, ready to face the demons that sent him running after high school. His funeral home is starting to do well, but there's not enough business for two in town, so he is trying to buy out McDermott's. He needs to succeed in order to take care of his mother, and having Ellie show up and take over puts a crimp in his plans.
Ellie and Finn had been competitors all through school, always vying for the top score or position. They were friends of a sort, always able to be themselves with each other. Each of them had issues with their lives in the small town and couldn't wait to leave. Ellie always felt that she was the object of pity and gossip after her mother was killed in a car accident with her lover. Finn is hiding the fact that his highly respected by the town father abuses Finn, his brothers, and their mother. Attraction that had been building between them explodes on a night when Finn came looking for comfort, leaving both unable to deal with the aftermath. Each of them views their encounter in a different way.
Ellie and Finn are thrown back into competition when she agrees to her father's request that she run things. Though they try to keep away from each other, their attraction is stronger than ever. Though each needs to win this competition, they are able to keep it mostly friendly. But each encounter fans the flames of their attraction, until they decide that maybe they can keep business and pleasure separate. Of course, that never works and this is no exception. Though the solution is obvious, their views on relationships have been affected by those of their parents and neither is looking to repeat those mistakes.
I ached for Ellie throughout the book as she tried to deal with her father's rapid decline. It was especially heartbreaking at the end, as she deals with both that and her feelings for Finn. He has his moments of obliviousness that nearly ruin everything before he finally sees the truth. I loved his big moment as he makes his desperate attempt to prove his love to Ellie. It's all wrapped up in an epilogue that shows there's more to their love than just heat.
I loved the secondary characters who added another layer of depth to the story. Ellie's father and the story of how he carried on after his wife's death, and the pain of watching his decline. I loved Finn's mom and seeing her go from broken to strong was fantastic. Ellie's staff at the funeral home were her saviors, and I especially liked BB. Though she seemed to be quite the airhead at the beginning, Ellie quickly discovered there was quite a brain under that hair. The Dinner Belles went from being the source of Ellie's teenage pain to some of her greatest supporters.
There were parts of the book that had me in tears, especially at the end. There were others that had me laughing out loud, most notably the fundraiser and the dunk tank. There were also a couple places that had me fanning myself from the heat coming off the pages. Now I can't wait to read the books for Finn's brothers.
*copy received from Netgalley in exchange for honest review
Finn finished his time in the Marines and came home, ready to face the demons that sent him running after high school. His funeral home is starting to do well, but there's not enough business for two in town, so he is trying to buy out McDermott's. He needs to succeed in order to take care of his mother, and having Ellie show up and take over puts a crimp in his plans.
Ellie and Finn had been competitors all through school, always vying for the top score or position. They were friends of a sort, always able to be themselves with each other. Each of them had issues with their lives in the small town and couldn't wait to leave. Ellie always felt that she was the object of pity and gossip after her mother was killed in a car accident with her lover. Finn is hiding the fact that his highly respected by the town father abuses Finn, his brothers, and their mother. Attraction that had been building between them explodes on a night when Finn came looking for comfort, leaving both unable to deal with the aftermath. Each of them views their encounter in a different way.
Ellie and Finn are thrown back into competition when she agrees to her father's request that she run things. Though they try to keep away from each other, their attraction is stronger than ever. Though each needs to win this competition, they are able to keep it mostly friendly. But each encounter fans the flames of their attraction, until they decide that maybe they can keep business and pleasure separate. Of course, that never works and this is no exception. Though the solution is obvious, their views on relationships have been affected by those of their parents and neither is looking to repeat those mistakes.
I ached for Ellie throughout the book as she tried to deal with her father's rapid decline. It was especially heartbreaking at the end, as she deals with both that and her feelings for Finn. He has his moments of obliviousness that nearly ruin everything before he finally sees the truth. I loved his big moment as he makes his desperate attempt to prove his love to Ellie. It's all wrapped up in an epilogue that shows there's more to their love than just heat.
I loved the secondary characters who added another layer of depth to the story. Ellie's father and the story of how he carried on after his wife's death, and the pain of watching his decline. I loved Finn's mom and seeing her go from broken to strong was fantastic. Ellie's staff at the funeral home were her saviors, and I especially liked BB. Though she seemed to be quite the airhead at the beginning, Ellie quickly discovered there was quite a brain under that hair. The Dinner Belles went from being the source of Ellie's teenage pain to some of her greatest supporters.
There were parts of the book that had me in tears, especially at the end. There were others that had me laughing out loud, most notably the fundraiser and the dunk tank. There were also a couple places that had me fanning myself from the heat coming off the pages. Now I can't wait to read the books for Finn's brothers.
*copy received from Netgalley in exchange for honest review
March 4, 2014
In the author's biography, it says that "her favorite stories are those that inspire laughter through tears." That is a good way to describe this story. Ellie comes back to town because her father was found in the park during an Alzheimer moment; even though he doesn't recognize her most of the time, one time he does, and he asks her to take over running the family funeral home. Okay, that's a first for me - a heroine in a funeral home. I wasn't turned off, though, because I was already invested in the story. The Marine from the title is Finn, who grew up with Ellie - they were "frenemies" - they both were smarter than all the other kids in school, and they taunted each other as they got ready for each test or contest.
After some hanky-panky at the end of their senior high school year, they lose touch until Ellie comes back to town; she finds that Finn now owns a funeral home in the same *small* town! Both characters are dealing with very serious issues related to their families, and that part is heart wrenching. Because they desperately need each of their family's funeral homes to win the town's business, they see each other a lot as they fight to win.
Finn "...[has] the trimmed, toned body of a warrior. The sexily mussed hair of a man who liked to take life easy. The strong, chiseled face of a Greek God. And a voice that could melt butter." AND this ex-Marine rides a motorcycle!
The book's story was unusual. The characters had jobs that I've never seen in a romance before, and they were dealing with family issues that were deeply serious. However, there is laughter, romance, and heart in this story. And...some very sexy scenes as well. I have to admit that I cried in a few parts near the end, and I was rooting for them (and yelling at them) to have their HEA ending. The depth of the story, the idiosyncrasies of the two leads and the many characters around them, and the idea that there CAN be laughter through tears made this a good read for me.
Oh, and I can't wait to read about the other two Donovan brothers.
**Thanks to the author and Entangled/Bliss for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
After some hanky-panky at the end of their senior high school year, they lose touch until Ellie comes back to town; she finds that Finn now owns a funeral home in the same *small* town! Both characters are dealing with very serious issues related to their families, and that part is heart wrenching. Because they desperately need each of their family's funeral homes to win the town's business, they see each other a lot as they fight to win.
Finn "...[has] the trimmed, toned body of a warrior. The sexily mussed hair of a man who liked to take life easy. The strong, chiseled face of a Greek God. And a voice that could melt butter." AND this ex-Marine rides a motorcycle!
The book's story was unusual. The characters had jobs that I've never seen in a romance before, and they were dealing with family issues that were deeply serious. However, there is laughter, romance, and heart in this story. And...some very sexy scenes as well. I have to admit that I cried in a few parts near the end, and I was rooting for them (and yelling at them) to have their HEA ending. The depth of the story, the idiosyncrasies of the two leads and the many characters around them, and the idea that there CAN be laughter through tears made this a good read for me.
Oh, and I can't wait to read about the other two Donovan brothers.
**Thanks to the author and Entangled/Bliss for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
July 14, 2014
Our first RED-HOT Bliss. Same great Bliss story, but with open door sex. ;) Don't miss it!!
May 1, 2015
Aww! That was SO SWEET! There was lots of crying, but also some good laughs. :) And the chemistry? SCORCHING! I'll put up my full review once it goes live on my blog!
UPDATE: (from my blog ashleythebookjunkie.blogspot.com)
Who knew running a funeral home could be so sexy? (And no, there's nothing morbid or weird going on in this novel.) :)
This book has everything we have come to expect and love about a Bliss title, with the addition of one thing...when the clothes come off, the lights stay on! There is no fade-to-black when they enter the bedroom. And I'll tell you now, these scenes are STEAMY!
Y'all, if I hadn't also been working on a beta read yesterday, I would have finished this book in one sitting! I very much enjoyed it, even if it did make me cry on multiple occasions. Yes, it definitely had its sad moments, but I also laughed, got angry, and altogether had a good time reading it. :-D
Ellie and Finn have been and are going through some tough crap in their lives. Their competition with each other goes all the way back to elementary school...and now extends to trying to beat each other out of the funeral business. What starts as a friendly competition turns into a double-edged sword. They both will do whatever it takes to keep their businesses running, including fighting a little dirty. But their competitiveness gets both of them all hot and bothered. So, they decide that maybe they can keep business and pleasure separate, and enjoy each others' company in the bedroom while maintaining their competition for business outside the bedroom. But as I'm sure you can already tell, there are MANY ways for this plan to go a little awry. :)
Ellie's father is dealing with the final stages of Alzheimer's disease, and Finn's mother has finally agreed to move out of his abusive father's home, and into his home. So of course, they both have HUGE reasons why they want their own funeral business to STAY in business. Of course, the solution to their problem seemed pretty obvious to me from the beginning of the story, but since they both come from jaded pasts when it comes to love and families, they are blind to this, and immediately dive into the competition of their lives...as well as the affair of their lives!
I don't want to spoil the story for you at all, but I just have to tell you that my favorite part of the whole book has to do with a dunk tank fundraiser...and that's all I'm going to say! ;-D
I LOVE the secondary characters in this book! From the moment I met him in the story, I loved Ellie's dad. He is a great man, dealing with an AWFUL disease. And I should know, as it is something that runs in my family. And then there's Finn's mom. That poor woman. She has been broken in so many ways, but I have to say, by the end of the novel, I was SO proud of her! B. B., what can I say but that even though you think she's the 'blonde bimbo' that everyone makes her out to be, she is so much more than that. And the Dinner Belles, they have their own role to play in this story.
ANYWAY, enough of my chattering on and on, JUST GO READ IT! You will laugh, you will cry, and you'll get to read about Ellie and Finn's SCORCHING chemistry!
UPDATE: (from my blog ashleythebookjunkie.blogspot.com)
Who knew running a funeral home could be so sexy? (And no, there's nothing morbid or weird going on in this novel.) :)
This book has everything we have come to expect and love about a Bliss title, with the addition of one thing...when the clothes come off, the lights stay on! There is no fade-to-black when they enter the bedroom. And I'll tell you now, these scenes are STEAMY!
Y'all, if I hadn't also been working on a beta read yesterday, I would have finished this book in one sitting! I very much enjoyed it, even if it did make me cry on multiple occasions. Yes, it definitely had its sad moments, but I also laughed, got angry, and altogether had a good time reading it. :-D
Ellie and Finn have been and are going through some tough crap in their lives. Their competition with each other goes all the way back to elementary school...and now extends to trying to beat each other out of the funeral business. What starts as a friendly competition turns into a double-edged sword. They both will do whatever it takes to keep their businesses running, including fighting a little dirty. But their competitiveness gets both of them all hot and bothered. So, they decide that maybe they can keep business and pleasure separate, and enjoy each others' company in the bedroom while maintaining their competition for business outside the bedroom. But as I'm sure you can already tell, there are MANY ways for this plan to go a little awry. :)
Ellie's father is dealing with the final stages of Alzheimer's disease, and Finn's mother has finally agreed to move out of his abusive father's home, and into his home. So of course, they both have HUGE reasons why they want their own funeral business to STAY in business. Of course, the solution to their problem seemed pretty obvious to me from the beginning of the story, but since they both come from jaded pasts when it comes to love and families, they are blind to this, and immediately dive into the competition of their lives...as well as the affair of their lives!
I don't want to spoil the story for you at all, but I just have to tell you that my favorite part of the whole book has to do with a dunk tank fundraiser...and that's all I'm going to say! ;-D
I LOVE the secondary characters in this book! From the moment I met him in the story, I loved Ellie's dad. He is a great man, dealing with an AWFUL disease. And I should know, as it is something that runs in my family. And then there's Finn's mom. That poor woman. She has been broken in so many ways, but I have to say, by the end of the novel, I was SO proud of her! B. B., what can I say but that even though you think she's the 'blonde bimbo' that everyone makes her out to be, she is so much more than that. And the Dinner Belles, they have their own role to play in this story.
ANYWAY, enough of my chattering on and on, JUST GO READ IT! You will laugh, you will cry, and you'll get to read about Ellie and Finn's SCORCHING chemistry!
March 14, 2014
Former brief (meaning one-time) lovers, competitors all through school and they've been apart 10-years when they meet up during difficult circumstances. All of this make Ellie and Finn's story very, very interesting and Her Summer with the Marine an excellent book to read as spring approaches and it feels like love is in the air.
If I went with what I didn't love about this book, there would be very little to write. I thought the writing/story was a little choppy at times, but that did not diminish my enjoyment of the story. It may be more a testament to my life while reading the story than the book itself, so don't let that deter you. Honestly I really enjoyed every second of this book. The characters are fun. Finn is sexy, one of those men that make women from 12-90 just melt between his looks and his undeniable charm. Ellie is trying to move through life, make something of a career and deal with the guilt that surrounds her and her Dad's situation. Plus she's still trying to get over that night 10 years ago with Finn. Their love/hate/amazing attraction relationship is fun and when they finally give into it, it's enjoyable to watch. Of course there will be that time of difficulty as there is with any romance (have to have conflict) but as with any romance you know they will get their happily ever after, just now how it will happen.
I have to say there were surprises with this book and I look forward to more books by Ms. Meier. I can't wait to read more about Finn's brothers who are just introduced in the book but should make things interesting in the future. I believe this is the first of the Red-Hot Bliss line where the passion is a little hotter than the typical Bliss line and it is. The heat was just right for me and fit the couple in the book. It's sexy and fun and romantic all in one. I like how Ms. Meier went at this romance just a bit different with the lust vs. hate type of relationship and how the couple realizes they really play off each other well. It was fun to watch every second of their relationship and to see each character grow and surprise me.
If you love your romance then this is definitely a book to try. The characters will engage you, the small town enthrall you and the storyline will make you turn pages at a fast clip. Her Summer with the Marine is a book that you shouldn't miss and I am so happy I had the chance to review it!
If I went with what I didn't love about this book, there would be very little to write. I thought the writing/story was a little choppy at times, but that did not diminish my enjoyment of the story. It may be more a testament to my life while reading the story than the book itself, so don't let that deter you. Honestly I really enjoyed every second of this book. The characters are fun. Finn is sexy, one of those men that make women from 12-90 just melt between his looks and his undeniable charm. Ellie is trying to move through life, make something of a career and deal with the guilt that surrounds her and her Dad's situation. Plus she's still trying to get over that night 10 years ago with Finn. Their love/hate/amazing attraction relationship is fun and when they finally give into it, it's enjoyable to watch. Of course there will be that time of difficulty as there is with any romance (have to have conflict) but as with any romance you know they will get their happily ever after, just now how it will happen.
I have to say there were surprises with this book and I look forward to more books by Ms. Meier. I can't wait to read more about Finn's brothers who are just introduced in the book but should make things interesting in the future. I believe this is the first of the Red-Hot Bliss line where the passion is a little hotter than the typical Bliss line and it is. The heat was just right for me and fit the couple in the book. It's sexy and fun and romantic all in one. I like how Ms. Meier went at this romance just a bit different with the lust vs. hate type of relationship and how the couple realizes they really play off each other well. It was fun to watch every second of their relationship and to see each character grow and surprise me.
If you love your romance then this is definitely a book to try. The characters will engage you, the small town enthrall you and the storyline will make you turn pages at a fast clip. Her Summer with the Marine is a book that you shouldn't miss and I am so happy I had the chance to review it!
March 25, 2014
How many times have you said, “If only?” or wish, "If only things could have happened differently." Or, "If we could have a, do over.” Would you? Or you thought things were one way but they weren’t? This story is that.
This is one deep book. OMG! You laugh and cry during it. Yet, it is so worth every tissue and tear it. This author really knows how to grip you in the depth of your emotions to feel the characters pain and joys.
Ellie McDermott is called home to Harmony Hills, Penn. By the Chief of Police. Her dear widowed father was found wandering in the park across the street naked. Ellie leaves her life as an ad agent in Pittsburg with not a thought to get to her father.
It turns out he has Alzheimer’s and will need long term care. Ellie has some major decisions to make, you see her dad owns McDermott’s Mortuary. Before the sun had really set that first day Finn Donovan comes a calling.
Who’s he you ask? Finn is only the man who was the boy who competed with Ellie for every quiz, contest, or award since grade school. He was also the guy who deflowered her. Now, he sees that the opportunity has opened up for him to make a move on her dad’s business and he does. Why? Why, would he want it and can’t she run it and will she need the steady income from it to help take care of her dad?
But, could she ever sell it to the man who stole the most prized gift a woman has? Especially, without ever looking back or talking to her again until now? Surprisingly it can be resolved and there is a HEA. But don’t expect it to be smooth sailing it is bumpy and there will be a lot of tears at least there were for me. Very good story that I gave 5 stars.
Provided by netgalley.com
Find us on: www.1rad-readerreviews.com
This is one deep book. OMG! You laugh and cry during it. Yet, it is so worth every tissue and tear it. This author really knows how to grip you in the depth of your emotions to feel the characters pain and joys.
Ellie McDermott is called home to Harmony Hills, Penn. By the Chief of Police. Her dear widowed father was found wandering in the park across the street naked. Ellie leaves her life as an ad agent in Pittsburg with not a thought to get to her father.
It turns out he has Alzheimer’s and will need long term care. Ellie has some major decisions to make, you see her dad owns McDermott’s Mortuary. Before the sun had really set that first day Finn Donovan comes a calling.
Who’s he you ask? Finn is only the man who was the boy who competed with Ellie for every quiz, contest, or award since grade school. He was also the guy who deflowered her. Now, he sees that the opportunity has opened up for him to make a move on her dad’s business and he does. Why? Why, would he want it and can’t she run it and will she need the steady income from it to help take care of her dad?
But, could she ever sell it to the man who stole the most prized gift a woman has? Especially, without ever looking back or talking to her again until now? Surprisingly it can be resolved and there is a HEA. But don’t expect it to be smooth sailing it is bumpy and there will be a lot of tears at least there were for me. Very good story that I gave 5 stars.
Provided by netgalley.com
Find us on: www.1rad-readerreviews.com
March 9, 2014
Her Summer with the Marine is a fun, enemies to lovers romance with endearing characters, humour and some heartfelt touching moments.
Finn Donovan and Ellie McDermott spent most of their high school years competing against one another. The only time they didn’t was the time they ended up in his truck, horizontal. Nine years on, Ellie has returned home to take over the family funeral business due to her father’s rapidly decreasing health. Only she discovers she has a competitor in the same town. Finn.
These two are peas-in-a-pod. Both are fighting to keep their business afloat, both are determined and both are stubborn. But away from work, both have suffered difficult teenage years, both are fun and both are very attracted in each other. And all this makes for an endearing loveable couple.
Their journey made me laugh, smile, cringe and was touching. However, this book is slightly different to previous Bliss offerings as their intimate time…it’s not kept behind closed doors. It’s tastefully written but it gives you that little bit of an extra insight as to how tender Finn can be and this I loved. I must confess though, I did shake my head at a couple of the off-the-hook comments on death; I'm certain they were meant to be light and portray the whole 'when you deal with it every day' viewpoint, but some were a just bordering on OTT.
All in all a good start to the series and to Bliss' Red Hot offshoot and with two more Donovan siblings on the radar, I look forward to their stories.
I received a copy of this as an ARC courtesy of Entangled Publishing for an honest & unbiased opinion
Finn Donovan and Ellie McDermott spent most of their high school years competing against one another. The only time they didn’t was the time they ended up in his truck, horizontal. Nine years on, Ellie has returned home to take over the family funeral business due to her father’s rapidly decreasing health. Only she discovers she has a competitor in the same town. Finn.
These two are peas-in-a-pod. Both are fighting to keep their business afloat, both are determined and both are stubborn. But away from work, both have suffered difficult teenage years, both are fun and both are very attracted in each other. And all this makes for an endearing loveable couple.
Their journey made me laugh, smile, cringe and was touching. However, this book is slightly different to previous Bliss offerings as their intimate time…it’s not kept behind closed doors. It’s tastefully written but it gives you that little bit of an extra insight as to how tender Finn can be and this I loved. I must confess though, I did shake my head at a couple of the off-the-hook comments on death; I'm certain they were meant to be light and portray the whole 'when you deal with it every day' viewpoint, but some were a just bordering on OTT.
All in all a good start to the series and to Bliss' Red Hot offshoot and with two more Donovan siblings on the radar, I look forward to their stories.
I received a copy of this as an ARC courtesy of Entangled Publishing for an honest & unbiased opinion
March 13, 2014
When I figured out the setting were two funeral homes and the two main characters Ellie and Finn are dealing with heavy family issues and competing for customers, I was a bit shocked. But the saucy story line between the two high school rivals made me laugh and the writing was flirty and fun and when the characters dealt with family issues they supported each other.
I loved the delicate story line about death and advertising for customers and then they decide to have fun with each other sexually and give in to their chemistry. The end of the book had me crying while Ellie had to lean on friends when her family issues reached a breaking point. I loved the way Finn comes back into her good graces and shows her he loves her and the plot came full circle!
I would love to read MORE about this family friendly town and maybe Finn's brothers need to be in a future book!
I received an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I loved the delicate story line about death and advertising for customers and then they decide to have fun with each other sexually and give in to their chemistry. The end of the book had me crying while Ellie had to lean on friends when her family issues reached a breaking point. I loved the way Finn comes back into her good graces and shows her he loves her and the plot came full circle!
I would love to read MORE about this family friendly town and maybe Finn's brothers need to be in a future book!
I received an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 12, 2014
I didn't like this one at all. Both main characters were insensitive jerks to each other until almost the end. Particularly Finn.
Even though it wasn't for me you might want to read the other reviews and give a shot as it's a Kindle freebie right now.
Even though it wasn't for me you might want to read the other reviews and give a shot as it's a Kindle freebie right now.
April 1, 2014
I've had the pleasure of working with Susan on two books - Billionaire's Matchmaker and A Fairytale Christmas. She's a wonderful storyteller. This was her first sexier romance - different from her Harlequin stories - and she makes the transition seamlessly. Fun and funny, the book still manages to tug on your heartstrings (as all Susan Meier's books do). I recommend you give the story a try.
October 6, 2019
Sweet and touching.
April 5, 2014
I don't know where I've heard it, I'm not even sure of the complete story, but I remember one day, decades ago when I was in high school, about a guy talking about his dead girlfriend with whom he'd been rivals at school. I remember him telling they competed in about every single subject, always comparing their grades after they were announced to see who got the higher score, trying to beat each other in tests and exams. And then some day this rivalry turning into a challenging love. I don't remember what happened to her, or if the guy even said it, but I remember him mentioning her dying, and how much he missed her and their competition. It put a lump in my throat back then and somehow I kept it at the back of my mind to this day, but reading this book it brought that small tidbit back. It still puts a lump in my throat, and if it was real, I dedicate this reading experience to that guy and his girlfriend.
I love bickering love stories. I might've said this a few times before, but let me say it again. They're my absolute favorite along with friends-to-lovers plot. So naturally I fell in love with this story. Maybe because it reminded me of that memory, maybe because it was about one my favorite story lines, but I did. I did love this book. Of course the reasons are not solely these two, the fact that the characters were so likable and relatable, and the painful personal backstories and struggles of both the hero and the heroine, the situations that anyone can find themselves in real life any minute, they all add to the book's appeal. I was so immersed in the story and the characters that I couldn't even find the time to post updates about my reading progress. After every necessary break I took-a girl's gotta eat after all- I came rushing back to Finn and Ellie. As individuals, they were strong, tough as nails characters that I'd be more than happy to get to know, and as a couple they were sweet and sexy. I loved Ellie's solitary persona who secretly-and yet unknowingly- longed for companionship, and Finn's skepticism towards love, marriage and commitment, and how, when he needed to take a step back and view things in a new light, he was able to step up and do it. As much as he was afraid of true, deep emotion, he wasn't a coward when it came to accepting things. And anyway, Ellie was there to keep him on his toes, to show him the right way. All throughout the book, they had such a good balance, of love, of friendship, of rivalry, that I couldn't help but be a tiny bit envious.
Although the title of the book includes the word 'marine', there wasn't much that tied this story to the military background and memories. Except for the mention of Finn's signing up for the military and him having spent time in Afghanistan, the main plot doesn't revolve around that part of his past. This was more a story of emotional and physical struggles and how two people who've seen the worst of some things can come together and find solace in each other. Finn and Ellie tried hard to push each other by way of competing, but what they really tried was to push forward so they could leave some of the ugliness behind. And in that regard, only the two could understand each other. I loved that bond, it made their love so much more real.
This is a lovely story about forgetting and forgiving, about second chances and starting over, about two people who can heal each other and be happy. It was emotional, sweet, and definitely worth the time it kept me away from eating the bar of chocolate I had stashed away.
Ps. I had to devour it after reading this book. A whole block of milky heaven, because it was that kind of story. Thanks to the author for writing it, and thanks to whoever came up with milk chocolate.
I love bickering love stories. I might've said this a few times before, but let me say it again. They're my absolute favorite along with friends-to-lovers plot. So naturally I fell in love with this story. Maybe because it reminded me of that memory, maybe because it was about one my favorite story lines, but I did. I did love this book. Of course the reasons are not solely these two, the fact that the characters were so likable and relatable, and the painful personal backstories and struggles of both the hero and the heroine, the situations that anyone can find themselves in real life any minute, they all add to the book's appeal. I was so immersed in the story and the characters that I couldn't even find the time to post updates about my reading progress. After every necessary break I took-a girl's gotta eat after all- I came rushing back to Finn and Ellie. As individuals, they were strong, tough as nails characters that I'd be more than happy to get to know, and as a couple they were sweet and sexy. I loved Ellie's solitary persona who secretly-and yet unknowingly- longed for companionship, and Finn's skepticism towards love, marriage and commitment, and how, when he needed to take a step back and view things in a new light, he was able to step up and do it. As much as he was afraid of true, deep emotion, he wasn't a coward when it came to accepting things. And anyway, Ellie was there to keep him on his toes, to show him the right way. All throughout the book, they had such a good balance, of love, of friendship, of rivalry, that I couldn't help but be a tiny bit envious.
Although the title of the book includes the word 'marine', there wasn't much that tied this story to the military background and memories. Except for the mention of Finn's signing up for the military and him having spent time in Afghanistan, the main plot doesn't revolve around that part of his past. This was more a story of emotional and physical struggles and how two people who've seen the worst of some things can come together and find solace in each other. Finn and Ellie tried hard to push each other by way of competing, but what they really tried was to push forward so they could leave some of the ugliness behind. And in that regard, only the two could understand each other. I loved that bond, it made their love so much more real.
This is a lovely story about forgetting and forgiving, about second chances and starting over, about two people who can heal each other and be happy. It was emotional, sweet, and definitely worth the time it kept me away from eating the bar of chocolate I had stashed away.
Ps. I had to devour it after reading this book. A whole block of milky heaven, because it was that kind of story. Thanks to the author for writing it, and thanks to whoever came up with milk chocolate.
July 1, 2014
Ellie McDermott returns to her hometown to care for her ailing father, and within 12 hours, her and frenemy Finn Donovan are doing what they do best... competing against one another.
Ellie's father runs a funeral business, and expects his daughter to take over it for him. Ellie works for an ad company, and doesn't know anything when it comes to being a funeral director.
Finn Donovan is also back in town, a retired marine with a degree in mortuary sciences. He is operating a funeral business of his own, and in such a small town, only one funeral business can stay afloat. He has his mother to worry about, a woman who just left her abusive husband and has come to live with him.
"She might have a Dad to consider, but he had a Mother to care for. He couldn't let wayward hormones dictate how he negotiated."
When Finn offers to buy the McDermott family funeral home, Ellie's refuses his offer, needing the money herself to care for her Dad, and their competitive sides come out. It is all out war via billboard, competitive coupons, and sales pitches for prepaid funeral arrangements. But, Finn has a way of making Ellie feel beautiful, even when they were arguing... and just like when they were young, they use sex and competition to drown out all the bad things in their lives.
Problem is, only one of them is going to win... and what did that mean for the other one?
I enjoyed Her Summer with the Marine, by Susan Meier, very much. I enjoyed Ellie and Donovan, the funeral home staff, the Dinner Belles and all the townspeople in general. Susan Meier really caught the small town vibe in her story, and anyone who has ever lived in a small town would know what I mean.
I loved that the POV switched off between Finn and Ellie, allowing the reader to get into each of their minds. It made the story less one sided to see what both were thinking, often in the same scene!
This novel is completely different from other romance novels that I have read, because of the friendly competition. At times Finn and Ellie behaved more like siblings than competing-business- owners-become-lovers. Were they not lovers you may have thought they were brother and sister.
And speaking of competition... Ellie drove me to drink a bit when she had her "do-over" with Finn. Always in competition mode, during sex she wanted to show him what she learned. *Sighs* Ellie, Ellie, Ellie.... You have a Marine on top of you, lay back and enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Slaps Ellie a dozen times*
My fist nearly went through my eReader.
One thing that bothered me about this story was that the Author referred to Finn as "ex-Marine." UNLESS he was dishonorably discharged, Finn was a retired Marine, not ex!!!!! I know Finn isn't a real character, but to refer to a retired Marine as an ex-Marine is disrespectful!!!!!!
The ending was anything but predictable. Susan Meier had me crying, big fat tears, and then cracking up hysterically as the story wound down. All I'm gonna say is it involved billboards. *Chuckles* I'm still laughing!!!!
I'm giving Her Summer with the Marine 5 very well deserved stars!
***I received an e-copy of Her Summer with the Marine from Entangled Publishing, in exchange for a thoughtful, fair, and honest review.
http://aprillwood.wordpress.com/2014/...
Ellie's father runs a funeral business, and expects his daughter to take over it for him. Ellie works for an ad company, and doesn't know anything when it comes to being a funeral director.
Finn Donovan is also back in town, a retired marine with a degree in mortuary sciences. He is operating a funeral business of his own, and in such a small town, only one funeral business can stay afloat. He has his mother to worry about, a woman who just left her abusive husband and has come to live with him.
"She might have a Dad to consider, but he had a Mother to care for. He couldn't let wayward hormones dictate how he negotiated."
When Finn offers to buy the McDermott family funeral home, Ellie's refuses his offer, needing the money herself to care for her Dad, and their competitive sides come out. It is all out war via billboard, competitive coupons, and sales pitches for prepaid funeral arrangements. But, Finn has a way of making Ellie feel beautiful, even when they were arguing... and just like when they were young, they use sex and competition to drown out all the bad things in their lives.
Problem is, only one of them is going to win... and what did that mean for the other one?
I enjoyed Her Summer with the Marine, by Susan Meier, very much. I enjoyed Ellie and Donovan, the funeral home staff, the Dinner Belles and all the townspeople in general. Susan Meier really caught the small town vibe in her story, and anyone who has ever lived in a small town would know what I mean.
I loved that the POV switched off between Finn and Ellie, allowing the reader to get into each of their minds. It made the story less one sided to see what both were thinking, often in the same scene!
This novel is completely different from other romance novels that I have read, because of the friendly competition. At times Finn and Ellie behaved more like siblings than competing-business- owners-become-lovers. Were they not lovers you may have thought they were brother and sister.
And speaking of competition... Ellie drove me to drink a bit when she had her "do-over" with Finn. Always in competition mode, during sex she wanted to show him what she learned. *Sighs* Ellie, Ellie, Ellie.... You have a Marine on top of you, lay back and enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Slaps Ellie a dozen times*
My fist nearly went through my eReader.
One thing that bothered me about this story was that the Author referred to Finn as "ex-Marine." UNLESS he was dishonorably discharged, Finn was a retired Marine, not ex!!!!! I know Finn isn't a real character, but to refer to a retired Marine as an ex-Marine is disrespectful!!!!!!
The ending was anything but predictable. Susan Meier had me crying, big fat tears, and then cracking up hysterically as the story wound down. All I'm gonna say is it involved billboards. *Chuckles* I'm still laughing!!!!
I'm giving Her Summer with the Marine 5 very well deserved stars!
***I received an e-copy of Her Summer with the Marine from Entangled Publishing, in exchange for a thoughtful, fair, and honest review.
http://aprillwood.wordpress.com/2014/...
December 10, 2014
The past always has a way of catching up with you, and sometimes what you thought you knew becomes re-written when life brings you full-circle – and for Ellie that was face to face with Finn Donavan. Growing up, Ellie and Finn competed against each other in everything – who knew that when fate brought them back together in the town they both left to escape their pasts, that they would both learn that things aren’t and weren’t always what they seem.
This was an interesting read, mostly because of the setting – not sure I would have ever guessed that I would find the main setting for a romance novel to be centered around the funeral home business, and for me the dialogue around competing for business was a bit odd, but I really enjoyed the story and the interaction between the characters.
I loved Ellie and Finn – their lifelong competition provided such a great back-drop to all the drama in this story and could really be seen in how they have lived their lives.
You could feel the tension and see the sparks on the page every time the two of them got together, and I was really rooting for the two of them to realize the truth of their situations and the honesty of their feelings.
The family relationships were also wonderful. You could really feel just how deep the bonds of Ellie and her dad’s relationship went, and I thought that the depiction of his illness was so touching and real. It was hard not to tear up reading some of the exchanges between Ellie & her dad…
And Finn and his family had me laughing and sighing - his banter with his brothers had me laughing out loud and his protectiveness of his mother was so sweet.
Overall, this was a fun read with lots of romance and some steamy scenes, witty banter and lots of colorful, small-town characters that kept me turning the pages and rooting for a HEA!
I received and ARC from the Publisher for an honest review.
This was an interesting read, mostly because of the setting – not sure I would have ever guessed that I would find the main setting for a romance novel to be centered around the funeral home business, and for me the dialogue around competing for business was a bit odd, but I really enjoyed the story and the interaction between the characters.
I loved Ellie and Finn – their lifelong competition provided such a great back-drop to all the drama in this story and could really be seen in how they have lived their lives.
Good Lord, she’d been a pain in the butt. Always competing with him. Half the time beating him out of prizes that should have been his, and the other half making him work his tail off to get the ones he did win. She was like an energetic muse who wouldn’t let him rest.
Of course, he credited surviving boot camp and a tour in Afghanistan to the tenacity and discipline she’d worked into him. Competing with her had made him sharp. Tough. Resilient. Without somebody as intent as he was to be the best, he never would have reached his full potential. Even their silly tormenting and teasing in the halls kept the spirit of competition he needed. His favorite was sitting with her at lunch before a big exam, both of them being snarky, punching up each other’s confidence to prepare for the test.
You could feel the tension and see the sparks on the page every time the two of them got together, and I was really rooting for the two of them to realize the truth of their situations and the honesty of their feelings.
“I know. But I feel like the past – our constant competing – is making you do things out of habit, and you’re holding out when I know this is what you want.”
The family relationships were also wonderful. You could really feel just how deep the bonds of Ellie and her dad’s relationship went, and I thought that the depiction of his illness was so touching and real. It was hard not to tear up reading some of the exchanges between Ellie & her dad…
“Besides, I don’t want you to go back to Pittsburgh permanently.” He raised his hand to her hair and stroked softly as if mystified by her. “I may only recognize you ten more times, but I want those ten times.”
And Finn and his family had me laughing and sighing - his banter with his brothers had me laughing out loud and his protectiveness of his mother was so sweet.
Overall, this was a fun read with lots of romance and some steamy scenes, witty banter and lots of colorful, small-town characters that kept me turning the pages and rooting for a HEA!
I received and ARC from the Publisher for an honest review.
March 10, 2014
My Review:
Okay, straight off...competing funeral home businesses...a bizarre choice for the author to use as the conflict, but other than that, I loved this book.
I liked the history between Ellie and Finn. They both came from unhappy homes, both were smart, and both very competitive. That competitiveness put them up against each other all the way through school...until the night that Finn's father kicked him out and that competitiveness turned to a different kind of passion. Then he left, leaving Ellie feel like a fool and used. She's truly never liked thoughts of Finn ever since although she hasn't seen him since that night.
Ellie came back home to help her father who has Alzheimer's. He's been declining for a while, but never let her know. So when she gets home, he's already at the point of needing to move to an assisted home, which is expensive. She has to keep his funeral home up and running to pay for his care, but Finn has opened a competing funeral home. This town is too small to support two. One of them is going to fail.
Finn needs his funeral home to stay open because it's providing a lifeline for his mother who has finally had the courage to leave his abusive father. The funeral home enables her independence.
Both of these characters need their business to succeed for the sake of their parents. That makes it hard to root for one or the other....and for me, definitely kept me emotionally invested. Both of them are working for someone else to benefit from that success. I'll admit, there were times when I cringed at their competitive tactics...funeral homes...yikes, I really wish the author had chosen another business. But those moments of personal cringing aside, I did enjoy the competitiveness between the two. They are both really smart, really driven people.
They are both really vulnerable people. For Ellie, she's basically alone in the world. She has personal issues with this small town from when her mother died in the midst of scandal. She's never wanted to come back here, but she's doing it now for her dad. For Finn, his abusive father is the town banker, well-respected in this small town. No one has ever known how he treated his three boys and wife. Finn is torn between outing him and protecting his mom from any scandal or drama. But he's still that person who grew up being beaten on a regular basis by someone the town looks up to. That's not easy.
And then there's the two of them together and yeah, all that competitiveness turns into some pretty hot sizzling on the page. Overall, I liked the book, I liked the story, and I loved the characters. I can't wait to read the other two Donovan brothers' stories. There were glimpses of them in this book and nothing is quite resolved with dad yet, so there is still a lot of story to come. I look forward to reading them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Okay, straight off...competing funeral home businesses...a bizarre choice for the author to use as the conflict, but other than that, I loved this book.
I liked the history between Ellie and Finn. They both came from unhappy homes, both were smart, and both very competitive. That competitiveness put them up against each other all the way through school...until the night that Finn's father kicked him out and that competitiveness turned to a different kind of passion. Then he left, leaving Ellie feel like a fool and used. She's truly never liked thoughts of Finn ever since although she hasn't seen him since that night.
Ellie came back home to help her father who has Alzheimer's. He's been declining for a while, but never let her know. So when she gets home, he's already at the point of needing to move to an assisted home, which is expensive. She has to keep his funeral home up and running to pay for his care, but Finn has opened a competing funeral home. This town is too small to support two. One of them is going to fail.
Finn needs his funeral home to stay open because it's providing a lifeline for his mother who has finally had the courage to leave his abusive father. The funeral home enables her independence.
Both of these characters need their business to succeed for the sake of their parents. That makes it hard to root for one or the other....and for me, definitely kept me emotionally invested. Both of them are working for someone else to benefit from that success. I'll admit, there were times when I cringed at their competitive tactics...funeral homes...yikes, I really wish the author had chosen another business. But those moments of personal cringing aside, I did enjoy the competitiveness between the two. They are both really smart, really driven people.
They are both really vulnerable people. For Ellie, she's basically alone in the world. She has personal issues with this small town from when her mother died in the midst of scandal. She's never wanted to come back here, but she's doing it now for her dad. For Finn, his abusive father is the town banker, well-respected in this small town. No one has ever known how he treated his three boys and wife. Finn is torn between outing him and protecting his mom from any scandal or drama. But he's still that person who grew up being beaten on a regular basis by someone the town looks up to. That's not easy.
And then there's the two of them together and yeah, all that competitiveness turns into some pretty hot sizzling on the page. Overall, I liked the book, I liked the story, and I loved the characters. I can't wait to read the other two Donovan brothers' stories. There were glimpses of them in this book and nothing is quite resolved with dad yet, so there is still a lot of story to come. I look forward to reading them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
March 1, 2014
He reached her, smiled. "Ellie." How could the slight lift of a man's lips make her breathless?
It was one thing to torment her, to fight for business, even get a little smarmy in the way he kept himself in front of potential customers. It was another to make her feel...She squeezed her eyes shut. That was exactly the problem. He made her feel
He stepped even closer, so close they were almost touching. "It turns me on that you're smart."
Because whether he loved her or not, she loved him. She would do anything to save him from the misery that would follow his failure.
This was the way they were. Happy. Flirty. Silly. And it was the playfulness that would carry through a lifetime.
"I love you. I have always loved you." He swallowed. "We might have seemed like two bickering bulldogs, but deep down I think we've always understood each other. That's why it was so easy to fall in love with you."
This was an intriguing story from the beginning. At first I didn't really follow where this story was headed. It seemed to be taking on the same "lost love" approach that tantalizes us all. Yet, when the story began to take shape, the characters won me over hands down. Ellie McDermott, a self made prodigy in herself comes back to her small town to help take care of her father who was dying with Alzheimer's. Her dad owns a mortuary business and wanted her to run it. Once back in town, her steamy love from the past, Finn Donovan enters her life again. Finn is an ex-marine who came back to down after his years of service in the military to take care of his mom. And... he is now the competition. Wanting to buy her family business, there is an instant deep seeded rivalry between the two that stems back to grade school. Truly best friends from long ago, they rekindle the burning desire and forever kind of love that everyone yearns to find. Once the story took hold, I didn't want to let go. Well done Susan Meier. I look forward to reading more about the Donovan brother's. ght
Overall rating: 4.5 Rockin' Stars!
Hero -Finn Donovan: 4.5 stars
Heroine - Ellie McDermott: 4.5 stars
Steam Level: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Cliffhanger: No
Would I recommend this book: Yes!
Would I read other books by this author: Yes!
Susan Meier
March 10, 2014
This book is a fun, flirty read. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next books in this series. This is the first for Bliss, it adds a little extra spice to the nice.
What's different and dare I say fun about is story is the fact that both the hero and heroine own/run funeral homes. You don't see many books in this setting and the author does a fantastic job of lightening what could be a dark subject.
There is humour, sass, competition, emotional times and of course hot sex. But what the author does is sets all of this in a small town where everybody knows what everybody else does. As a addict of reading books set in small towns, I loved this. Especially when towards the end of the book the whole town comes together, it bought tears to my eyes.
When Ellie is called back to her hometown after her dad is found naked in the park, she never expected that she would need to stay. Years ago she hightailed it out of town as fast as she could and never looked back but now she needs to be there for her dad who has Alzheimer's and his funeral business.
Finn, one time crush, taker of Ellie's virginity and competitor in the funeral business. He also left town as soon as he could due to family problems, but now he's back and trying to make a living. When he makes an offer to Ellie to buy her dads business, little does he know that the sparks he felt as a teen with Ellie would flare to life again.
As the sparks fly and so does the competition that the two shared all through school, Finn and Ellie both battle to be the last funeral home standing. But when they decide to indulge in a no expectations fling, emotions start to come into play. How can they not when both of then have family dramas that are playing out.
But what happens when Ellie betrays Finn's trust and when they realise they have fallen for each other ? Can they overcome their past hurts and ideas of love to find a future ?
Keep an eye out for the billboards, they play a big part of the fun in this book and for the scene with the dunk booth. And if your like me, I am waiting for books for Finn's brothers, they are going to be interesting stories.
This is a new author for me and I wasn't disappointed and I love this new style of Bliss books.
This books was supplied by the publisher for an honest review.
What's different and dare I say fun about is story is the fact that both the hero and heroine own/run funeral homes. You don't see many books in this setting and the author does a fantastic job of lightening what could be a dark subject.
There is humour, sass, competition, emotional times and of course hot sex. But what the author does is sets all of this in a small town where everybody knows what everybody else does. As a addict of reading books set in small towns, I loved this. Especially when towards the end of the book the whole town comes together, it bought tears to my eyes.
When Ellie is called back to her hometown after her dad is found naked in the park, she never expected that she would need to stay. Years ago she hightailed it out of town as fast as she could and never looked back but now she needs to be there for her dad who has Alzheimer's and his funeral business.
Finn, one time crush, taker of Ellie's virginity and competitor in the funeral business. He also left town as soon as he could due to family problems, but now he's back and trying to make a living. When he makes an offer to Ellie to buy her dads business, little does he know that the sparks he felt as a teen with Ellie would flare to life again.
As the sparks fly and so does the competition that the two shared all through school, Finn and Ellie both battle to be the last funeral home standing. But when they decide to indulge in a no expectations fling, emotions start to come into play. How can they not when both of then have family dramas that are playing out.
But what happens when Ellie betrays Finn's trust and when they realise they have fallen for each other ? Can they overcome their past hurts and ideas of love to find a future ?
Keep an eye out for the billboards, they play a big part of the fun in this book and for the scene with the dunk booth. And if your like me, I am waiting for books for Finn's brothers, they are going to be interesting stories.
This is a new author for me and I wasn't disappointed and I love this new style of Bliss books.
This books was supplied by the publisher for an honest review.
March 5, 2014
This was a very sweet romance. The non-stop competition between Elli and Finn that has lasted their entire lives remains as heated as ever when Ellie comes back to town to help save the funeral home business her father owns (even though she has no personal desire to own a funeral home herself) when he falls sick. Finn has opened a competing funeral home and when it's a small town, there clearly isn't going to be enough business in town for both to succeed.
Both main characters had incredibly strong reasons to survive and see their business thrive in their town. I loved the competitiveness that led to several interesting ad campaigns. Ellie of course initially has the edge there because she's in ad marketing to begin with (and her marketing job includes marketing for Tidy Whitez...adult diapers).
I found her larger story, with watching her dad go downhill in the final stages of Alzheimer's to be heart-rending, especially at the very end just before the resolution of both the funeral home conflict and the Ellie/Finn romance issue. Having watched my mom with a similar illness, Ms. Meier's characterization of Ellie's dad just about broke my heart with the memories of my mom's struggle with dimension and the very end when you have to make those end-of-life decisions for your loved ones.
Finn's family was no less interesting, with his bully of a father and the mother he and his brothers have finally intervened to help save from an abusive marriage. His final play to gain Ellie's love was very sweet and if I were the type to love over-the-top gestures of love and adoration from my spouse, I wish my husband would do something like what Finn does the next time we're having difficulties resolving an issue between us.
So, I give this a whole-hearted 5-star review. Thanks for a fabulous book, Ms. Meier.
Both main characters had incredibly strong reasons to survive and see their business thrive in their town. I loved the competitiveness that led to several interesting ad campaigns. Ellie of course initially has the edge there because she's in ad marketing to begin with (and her marketing job includes marketing for Tidy Whitez...adult diapers).
I found her larger story, with watching her dad go downhill in the final stages of Alzheimer's to be heart-rending, especially at the very end just before the resolution of both the funeral home conflict and the Ellie/Finn romance issue. Having watched my mom with a similar illness, Ms. Meier's characterization of Ellie's dad just about broke my heart with the memories of my mom's struggle with dimension and the very end when you have to make those end-of-life decisions for your loved ones.
Finn's family was no less interesting, with his bully of a father and the mother he and his brothers have finally intervened to help save from an abusive marriage. His final play to gain Ellie's love was very sweet and if I were the type to love over-the-top gestures of love and adoration from my spouse, I wish my husband would do something like what Finn does the next time we're having difficulties resolving an issue between us.
So, I give this a whole-hearted 5-star review. Thanks for a fabulous book, Ms. Meier.
March 16, 2014
This was a book that had moments where I wanted to slap sense in to both the hero and heroine but also one that made me laugh and cry. The sparks that fly between Ellie and Finn are palpable but what makes the story work is the hearts behind the heat.
I don't want to give away too much because the troubles they both have to go thru to get to their happy ever after is so worth being in the moment to discover that I don't want to ruin it. You've got a heroine in Ellie that is willing to go toe-to-toe with the town that she left as fast as she possibly can when she graduated high school. The hero, Finn, has done time as a Marine but now is back to try to resolve some issues in his past and create a new life for his family. We have to work thru misunderstandings from high school between them and the fact that there are so few reasons for Ellie to trust Finn but also so few reasons for Ellie not to trust Finn that you will have trouble staying mad at either of them during their ups and downs.
I will say the story lines that aren't the main pair is what made this book a 5 star read. I loved seeing more of both families and look forward to more of Finn's brothers as they should prove to be interesting stories as they create their own lives after the nightmare they lived thru as children. The strength that they show as they come together was wonderful to see and the fact that they were so very protective of each other plus their mother shows that once they find their matches sparks will fly!
Be prepared to have some tissues on hand as there are some sequences that will make you tear up but overall this was a wonderful story about two people who are so made for one another it is hard to see why they fought so long and so hard against it.
Thanks to Entangled Publishing for giving me the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.
I don't want to give away too much because the troubles they both have to go thru to get to their happy ever after is so worth being in the moment to discover that I don't want to ruin it. You've got a heroine in Ellie that is willing to go toe-to-toe with the town that she left as fast as she possibly can when she graduated high school. The hero, Finn, has done time as a Marine but now is back to try to resolve some issues in his past and create a new life for his family. We have to work thru misunderstandings from high school between them and the fact that there are so few reasons for Ellie to trust Finn but also so few reasons for Ellie not to trust Finn that you will have trouble staying mad at either of them during their ups and downs.
I will say the story lines that aren't the main pair is what made this book a 5 star read. I loved seeing more of both families and look forward to more of Finn's brothers as they should prove to be interesting stories as they create their own lives after the nightmare they lived thru as children. The strength that they show as they come together was wonderful to see and the fact that they were so very protective of each other plus their mother shows that once they find their matches sparks will fly!
Be prepared to have some tissues on hand as there are some sequences that will make you tear up but overall this was a wonderful story about two people who are so made for one another it is hard to see why they fought so long and so hard against it.
Thanks to Entangled Publishing for giving me the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.
March 17, 2014
My thoughts:
This was a great story. The characters are fantastic. Ellie and Finn are both strong characters; smart, determined, dedicated, and driven. Both have parents who need them, and that need is a driving force in their business decisions. They are easy to invest in and I couldn't put the book down, wanting to know what would become of their professional and personal lives. I found it intriguing that although the story was essentially about Ellie and Finn, the secondary characters and their lives brought a depth to the story that was vital. Each of the characters was carefully created with a connection to either Finn or Ellie and was, at some point in the story, tantamount to their lives. With the many faceted backgrounds ruling both Ellie and Finn, emotions run high throughout the book. I caught myself laughing and crying along with them as they struggle to find their way through.
The world the author has built is realistic to a fault, with the small town atmosphere and the fact that everyone seems to know and want to be involved in everyone else's lives. I grew up in a small town and so it easy for me to connect with the the emotions of all of the characters on some level. I enjoyed the way Ellie and B.B. relationship grew and changed, I wasn't sure at the start if it could do so given the small town resentments that can easily rule a person even though they have grown up.
The story is well written and nicely paced. I was thrilled with the way the author brings the billboard advertising piece full circle. The ending was as good as the beginning and I found myself hoping for more books about the characters I had become attached to during the read.
I am looking forward to another book from Susan Meier and can't wait to see whose story the next one will be.
This was a great story. The characters are fantastic. Ellie and Finn are both strong characters; smart, determined, dedicated, and driven. Both have parents who need them, and that need is a driving force in their business decisions. They are easy to invest in and I couldn't put the book down, wanting to know what would become of their professional and personal lives. I found it intriguing that although the story was essentially about Ellie and Finn, the secondary characters and their lives brought a depth to the story that was vital. Each of the characters was carefully created with a connection to either Finn or Ellie and was, at some point in the story, tantamount to their lives. With the many faceted backgrounds ruling both Ellie and Finn, emotions run high throughout the book. I caught myself laughing and crying along with them as they struggle to find their way through.
The world the author has built is realistic to a fault, with the small town atmosphere and the fact that everyone seems to know and want to be involved in everyone else's lives. I grew up in a small town and so it easy for me to connect with the the emotions of all of the characters on some level. I enjoyed the way Ellie and B.B. relationship grew and changed, I wasn't sure at the start if it could do so given the small town resentments that can easily rule a person even though they have grown up.
The story is well written and nicely paced. I was thrilled with the way the author brings the billboard advertising piece full circle. The ending was as good as the beginning and I found myself hoping for more books about the characters I had become attached to during the read.
I am looking forward to another book from Susan Meier and can't wait to see whose story the next one will be.
March 8, 2014
This was an enjoyable well written read. I loved the chemistry and banter between Ellie and Finn. The competitive spirit between them was fun to watch, and I loved that it never really got mean spirited. I’m not a huge fan of enemies (or frenemies) to lovers storyline but this was a pretty good one. There are some pretty deep issues that are covered in this book: a parent with Alzheimer’s, leaving an abusive spouse and several deaths occur (both protagonists run funeral homes after all) if those things will bother you this might not be the book for you, if they don’t I think you’ll really enjoy this book. It packs quite the emotional wallop (I have to admit several scenes with Ellie and her dad made me cry, like can’t see the pages through the tears cry) but it has great resolution and I will be looking forward to more books in the series. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Finn’s brothers. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2014
I bought this book and planned to read a chapter. But once I started, I couldn't stop reading it. I loved Ellie right from the start and the author made Finn a character that was easy to connect with as well. The fact that both of them were in the funeral business didn't bother me because of the fact that it was a unique setting.
Ellie returns to her hometown to care for her ailing father who has Alzheimer's. Just reading her struggle with the way he would know/not know her really tugged on the heart strings. I don't want to give what happens with that away, but the author handled writing about the disease with grace and dignity.
Learning Finn's backstory made me feel so sorry for him. I did wish that his father had received a little more tough justice...I could almost picture him smirking thinking he'd gotten away with abusing his wife and sons.
The interaction between the two characters was not only cute, but rife with the opposite sex awareness that made the book sizzle. The way that Finn won her over in the end was sweet and romantic. I highly recommend this book.
Ellie returns to her hometown to care for her ailing father who has Alzheimer's. Just reading her struggle with the way he would know/not know her really tugged on the heart strings. I don't want to give what happens with that away, but the author handled writing about the disease with grace and dignity.
Learning Finn's backstory made me feel so sorry for him. I did wish that his father had received a little more tough justice...I could almost picture him smirking thinking he'd gotten away with abusing his wife and sons.
The interaction between the two characters was not only cute, but rife with the opposite sex awareness that made the book sizzle. The way that Finn won her over in the end was sweet and romantic. I highly recommend this book.
February 21, 2014
I thought this was a cute and enjoyable read though I will be honest, the fact that the Ellie and Finn worked in funeral homes kind of skeeved me out. Also, it made me think of the movie My Girl a lot. Besides that, I really liked how Ellie and Finn went from frenemies to lovers. I loved their banter and thought that they were super cute together. I liked that they brought out the best in each other and I loved their rivalry.
I will say that I really enjoyed the fact the actual love scenes (though there weren't many and that's not a bad thing as they weren't needed) weren't behind closed doors like most BLISS titles. I liked that we got to see everything between Ellie and Finn. It brought so much more to the story. I will say though towards the end, things did tend to get a bit syrupy like most BLISS titles but it didn't really bother me.
I'm looking forward to reading more from Susan Meier and seeing the rest of the sexy Donovan brothers.
I will say that I really enjoyed the fact the actual love scenes (though there weren't many and that's not a bad thing as they weren't needed) weren't behind closed doors like most BLISS titles. I liked that we got to see everything between Ellie and Finn. It brought so much more to the story. I will say though towards the end, things did tend to get a bit syrupy like most BLISS titles but it didn't really bother me.
I'm looking forward to reading more from Susan Meier and seeing the rest of the sexy Donovan brothers.
February 22, 2014
Review featured on www.books-n-kisses.com
2.5 Hearts This story was just ok for me. First it was so odd that it was set over the couple fighting for a funeral home. I mean it actually seemed at times like they were happy someone died so they got the business. Just weird.
I don’t really think the couple had much chemistry either. Something was just off about this book and the characters. The writing was good and the background characters were good but the main couple just didn’t seem to mesh. I liked some of the storyline and had a couple of good chuckles at some of the lines but most seemed like forced humor.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 Hearts This story was just ok for me. First it was so odd that it was set over the couple fighting for a funeral home. I mean it actually seemed at times like they were happy someone died so they got the business. Just weird.
I don’t really think the couple had much chemistry either. Something was just off about this book and the characters. The writing was good and the background characters were good but the main couple just didn’t seem to mesh. I liked some of the storyline and had a couple of good chuckles at some of the lines but most seemed like forced humor.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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