More than friends, yet not quite, lovers was the best way to describe Darby Sullivan and Avery Monroe's relationship. Sparks flew from the moment they met, but timing, circumstances, and loyalty to an absentee fianc� kept them from igniting the flame. Darby is known as the charmingly wild and reckless Sullivan, with a love 'em and leave 'em attitude. Except, Darby has a secret. Behind the "Sinbin Sullivan" moniker is a nice guy who truly just wants a nice girl who will love him the way he needs to be loved: fiercely and passionately with a dose of unabashed vixen. Well, they just don't get any nicer or more qualified than Ms. Avery Monroe, who has a secret of her own because underneath all that ladylike primness is a wild child fighting to get out! What happens when these two opposites finally come together? Find out just how far Darby and Avery will go in their pursuit of happiness.
D. A. Young is a best-selling author and lover of multilayered adventures. Food, traveling, and music are her passions. You can often find all three in the contemporary escapades she creates.
This is a third book in a series after a first full length and a novella. But it read like it was the thirteenth book or something. There are so many couples all popping up within the the first several chapters, all with their varying couple issues that I could not keep them straight. Who are all these people? They all had the substance of wet paper. The main couple disappeared for awhile while we get a look at all these other people.
Also holy head-hopping! One of the reasons why I found all these people so confusing is that I never knew whose POV I was getting. it changed so quickly sometimes from paragraph to paragraph.
The book was so busy checking in with all the eleventy-twelve characters it never actually settled on a real plot. The beginning felt like it was setting up a good action romantic suspense story, but that petered out in the first chapter. There was also a crudeness to the scene crafting that jerked me out of the story a few times.
No plot to really hang on, too many characters, odd scene shifts and the wandering POVs was just too much. So I gave up.
The book did focus more on Avery and Darby's story but it also caught up with all the other couples too. I loved Avery and Darby's relationship and the love they share. I love how he calls her "Miss Avery". This was a great story and I would highly recommend it.
Now for Casey and Sid. Lord but she is treating her man poorly. He is going to give up on her if she does not get it together.
This book s about everyone and the kitchen sink. The focus is not on Darby and Avery and this is a huge disappointment. I've never read a romance where the main couple isn't the focus. Why am I reading about every single couple in this series and the shit they're going through???? That's what novellas are for.
Darby and Avery were worth waiting for! Darby may be my new book boo, lol. Damn, he is sexy as hell, dangerous and protective of all that is dear to him. Avery is a closet bad ass, and together they are perfect! Loved this book. Can't wait for the next installment! You go D. A., you did your damn thing with this one. Great book!
I'm gonna have to say it... Reading this series is like pulling teeth, but listening to it on audio is like nails on a chalkboard. The narrators are terrible. And that's putting out nicely. The make narrator had ever male character sounding like they grew up smoking 10 cartons a day and the female narrator was just over the top dramatic. Both of them had a terrible "country"accent. As for the story. This author is not my jam, just for t the fact that he/she throws in everything but the kitchen sink in the story plus literally every character that's mentioned in the story gets POV within the book. This wouldn't be a problem if the book wasn't supposed to be centered on Avery and Darby. (This goes triple so far for the previous two books as well). This becomes annoying especially when the other pov's really have nothing to do with the main plot. I mean there are literally at least 6pov's in this book .. so unnecessary. I can't talk about this book anymore. I have one left in the box set and then I'll be done. Hopefully, I been finish.
After reading the first book I was almost panting waiting to get to Darby and Avery's story... I am soooooo disappointed in the story Darby and Avery were given. An almost painful disservice. This book featured way too many couples and the white supremacists/kkk angle made me lose all interest. I gave the book 5 starts if you are a fan of ANY other couple in the series. They all have far more interesting stories than my favorite duo. I was looking forward to Darby being,,, well, wild. Darby and Avery's story was seriously tame and very boring. I was expecting scorching fire and got tepid water.
Let us Begin ✏️ Overall Plot Rating: 4/5 ⭐ Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ / Execution of Spice: 4/5⭐
Tropes/Triggers: Blatant racism(there are a couple parts that are read from a racists POV and they could potentially be upsetting to some people, Alpha male syndrome, bi-racial couple, Murder, pregnancy, sort of breeding kink, Sexual content(explicit)
Format I read: Audiobook 🎧 Audio version: Dual Narration Narrators and performance: Morae Brehon: 1/5 ⭐ Sean Crisden: 4.5/5 ⭐ I found Morae's voice whiny and her inability to do accents literally made me cringe. I hated the chapters that she narrated. Sean does great accents and his tone has more inflection, bringing the characters a sense of personality.
The Author wrote this book in a 3rd person, multiple POV, sometimes referred to as Omniscient POV. -Now, I actually enjoy switching POV between chapters, like many romance books do, but this story switches constantly even during conversations mid-chapter. Normally I hate Omniscient POV because the constant switching of POV takes me out of the story. This book was no different. And the fact that the POV changed multiple times PER chapter made the Dual Narration type for this book redundant. Would have been better off just having Sean Crisden do the whole thing in that case. It would have felt a little more manageable if the author hadn't extended to pretty much every character.
Pros of the Story 👍 -I definitely enjoyed this one more than the first, probably because I like Avery's character more than Noelle's. Just personal preference really.
Cons of the Story 👎 -Really what I'm mostly hung up on is the POV style the author used. I hate it. With a passion. But I'm enjoying the storyline. And Holt... Now I SERIOUSLY want to know what's up with him.
In summary 📝 7.5/10 would recommend Doubtful I will read again.
I truly enjoyed this book. This book had you laughing out loud. I love Darby and Avery relationship, I would recommend this book and can't wait to see what happens next.
It was a lot going on in this book. I just couldn't get to the point and the good stuff. But then again I probably shouldn't start from the middle of a sequel series.
The latest book in this growing series is The Pursuit of Happiness this is Darby and Ms. Avery story. In the last book ( New Beginnings) we were left with quite a cliffhanger. This story picks up where that one left off. Let me tell you I absolutely loved this story.
Darby was known as the wild child, the love them and leave them type. At the beginning of this story we get a little flashback on how his past helped shaped the man he is today. I will admit Darby was a playboy but meeting the spicy Ms. Avery has turned his world upside down.
Ms. Avery is a woman wanting to break free of the self-imposed prison she is in. Darby makes her want to be the woman she has always dreamed of becoming but insecurities has stopped her. Darby has a lot of baggage including a few surprises but can Ms. Avery ride it out with him?
I loved that even though these two had their issues as readers we got to see them work through them and develop their relationship. One issue I had is that although this book is a series the author does focus on all the characters and just when you are starting to get into one characters storyline it’s a transition to the next character. Don’t get me wrong I love catching up with all the characters but if this is to be a story about two characters the main focus needs to be on them. Because this series has a few characters each with great stories that need to be told I think the author could benefit from a family tree. With all the anguish between Alexi & ViVi I would love to see more how this storyline was going to play out. ( I know, I know their story is coming, but I am on pins & needles with the bombshell that just dropped). I did love the meeting in the chop shop with three of the main characters. D.A. Young knows how to keep the readers interested and on the edge of their seat. I cannot wait to see how this all will play out. Readers if you are looking for a well told story with depth and layers please one click this author. You will not be disappointed. Please read this book for yourselves and not based on this one review.
2.00 Stars. (BW/WM). Audiobook with narration by Morae Brehon and Sean Crisden. Disjointed. Confusing. The story supposedly features Darby Sullivan and Avery Monroe and their road to love, romantic bliss, marriage and eternal happiness; but quickly after a chapter or so, the storyline diverges from this couple and splits into stories about several different couples who are struggling with various issues. The main characters are lost and relegated to having sex in an abyss of plotlessness. The story’s opening on slaughter of ugly name calling...wetbacks and dim witted didn’t make sense to me, I attributed my confusion to not reading book two after book one; I inadvertently read this book instead. I’ll go back and read book two, if that changes my opinion of this book, I will revise my review; however, I doubt it, each of the books in this series is about a different Sullivan brother. I hate trilogies.
I really enjoyed this author's first book in the 'Whiskey Row' series but this book had way too much going on. I like a book that has a good subplot but this book was subplotted to death. It was supposed to be about Darby and Avery's love story but they made up at the very beginning of the story. So, we're left with a story about them coming to love a little boy who is placed in their care; and about Darby's surrogate mom and dad's romance. There are also separate subplots involving Kat, Ella, Ginger...you see where I'm going with this. If you enjoy books with random hot sex scenes and no real story line, then this is the book for you but if you're looking for a solid story, skip this one.
Loooooved this book. Team Avery & Darby for life!! Avery was just the sweet but spicy woman he needed especially after she came out of her shell of doubt since ridding herself of that douche bag boyfriend. Darby was just the guy she needed to remind her how beautiful she was and bring out her inner kink as well...
I was SO proud when she took some well deserving me time to fi d oit who she was as a person, I especially loved how Darby watched her through Intel and popped up in Greece to go get his woman back after he was alerted some unsavory creatures were planning to approach her. I really enjoyed DJ, and baby Ruby. Couldnt help but love them. And I love the fact that this series, past main characters are very much involveed with the new main characters. It was a lovely mixture!!
Be prepared to pay attention because this book gives you a little bit of everyone’s relationship, not just the main characters. While I loved the stories and enjoyed the humor, I am finding it hard to believe that EVERY, SINGLE MAN in that town is in love or falls in love with a black woman. The town is supposed to be super diverse, but it isn’t coming across that way.
I Know I was curious what was going to happen between these two. And If you’re like me you wanted to know what could possibly happen to get these two together, since Avery seems to be stuck on her judgmental fiancé. YUCK.
But what happens is something that would be happy to have read here, and happy for Avery even more than you do.
I enjoy the fact that Avery finally goes out and explore and finds out who she is as a person. Made me shout, “YES FINALLY!” I enjoy reading this book and see Avery stand up for herself. She is no one punching bag, and as much as her friends try to make her see that she bad all by herself. It takes for her to really see that in order for herself to find happiness.
The surprises in this book is breath taking and funny. I really enjoy DJ, and baby Ruby. You cannot help but love them, I love the new phase that Noelle take on. And I love the fact that this series, past main characters are very much involve with the new main character. I enjoy the fact that they have their own little scenes in this book, and that D.A Young did not forget about them.
I feel so horrible for DJ and everything he been through and so happy with the way that things ends out. All I have to say is that Avery is a very, very, smart cookie.
This book was good, one thing the author succeeds is creating chemistry between characters, however, Avery and Darby's story felt somewhat surface level and their chemistry is mostly seen in the pervious two books. This is due their story basically being developed in the first two books of this series and 'Pursuit of Happiness' just served as somewhat of a short wrap up of their story.
Again I don't enjoy how the focus isn't on one couple but multiple simultaneously, but it's slowly growing on me lol . So, if you are going to start reading this series I don't believe any book will solely have the focus of one couple, this is something that readers either enjoy or hate so be aware.
Maybe this is me being anal about a joke between fictional lovers but the quote " I just kept wonderin' if it will ever be the same down there" this was said by Darby to Noelle after she gave birth to their son and needed stitches. This grinds my gears so much I don't really think I need to explain why.
I don't even want to talk about Vivi until I get to her book where she will be a 'main character'.
I LOVEEEEEEEEE this series!!! Oh my goodness, the laugh out loud moments are phenomenal. I will definitely be recommending this series to others. The love story is built upon the careers of the characters as well; therefore the suspense unfolds within what the men do as a job. Now Darby shooting people, working within his security firm, pure sexiness! But, Ms. Avery being fearless come on girl... Thank you for not writing in a wimpy female lead... 👍 Yes!!! I can't wait for Casey, I know he will have me laughing in stiches (after I have worked her over, at least buy me a steak or leave a $20 bill on the nightstand... Tooo funny). One must purchase this series if you want steamy romance, a story with suspense, a scene to unfold and laughing to make you literally laugh for at least 5 minutes... This series is for you. I am loving it!
I loved this book. The character development and the storyline plot was on point. The brothers and their friends have such an easy rapport with each other that gives comic relief at just the right time. I can't wait for the next installment to see what happens to Alexei and Vivi, Casey and Sidra, and Holt and Kat. I'm also wondering what's in store for Guy as well.
NOTE: This ebook was re-read in conjunction with Audible.com. The narrators Morae Brehon, and Sean Crisden really made the story come to life, especially Sean. I just love his sexy voice. He also does and except Russian accent and Spanish accent.
Narrator score🎧 ; both narrators are amazing I love them both so much they did great especially Sean with his accent 😍😍😍
Level of steam🔥: all the books are very hot. This whole series is extremely hot.
Level of anxiety and sadness 😱😢: you have some drama in each book but I don't think it is too much... it is good though so I enjoyed it.
The book itself📖: this series is great. I love it . Each character was different and sweet in its own way. The stories where good and interesting which I loved.
I have submitted this review after listening to the audiobook of this title within the series set box. (Audible Membership)
Happiness is shown from a couple of people's points of view. It shows that sometimes making one person happy (a white supremacist) against those people that happiness impacts. It also shows that killing off supremacists only brings you down to their baser levels. Yes, it's a romantic fiction but that doesn't stop such a story from reaching a wider point of view. Punch and Judy shows had once been used to give an audience a different political concept than the government would allow.
More danger, suspense, mystery, ever evolving characters, New characters, sappy romance interspersed with some sizzling eroticism too hot for me to handle, major tear-jerking moments with the cliff-hanger ending. Now I'm alright with the cliff-hanger in this series. That's because I know I have something worthy to look forward too. Thank God I'm off because I'm about to slide right into Book 4. It's 5am...😄 I finally found something my Insomnia is good for! 😆
Absolutely love, love, love this series. Lex and Vivi are perfect for each other, their temperaments compliment each other perfect. Vivi was stupid for staying away from him, but she pulled it together in the end and when back to her man, who's been waiting patiently for 20 years for her to come back to him. Although they have seen each other during their separation. The characters in this series are great, we described, closely knit, and have such a great relationship with each other. They're funny and will keep you laughing and oh so country.
Great read Kept you locked in like the prior books to the WHISKEY ROW series! SUSPENSE I didn’t expect From D. A. Young. I loved the fact that the book touched on Racism and abuse etc and how to handle it when children are sadly been influenced and forced to do and or be a monster.. I can go on and on about another Great Book By D. A Young but I’d rather you all go and READ Sweet Obsessions and the second book then this one YOU MUST START FROM THE BEGINNING of the SERIES of the men OF WHISKEY ROW.. xoxo - 👑QueenFatFat👑
“You tired of running, baby? Because I’m hot on your heels and keeping up!!!!
She floored me with this line!! I love this series so much, I love the characters, their growth, I love everyone’s story that’s added in so we see what’s going on with them still and what to look forward to in the next book, whoever it may be. I love their love story, alpha males for strong women but most of all these men of Whiskey Row be putting it down!!!!!!😘 On to the next read and I can’t wait!!!
There are a lot of characters in this series and each book continues to feature all of them. The storyline jumps around so much it can be hard to follow at times. There are inconsistencies in the books and the horrible southern accent is cringe worthy. I got this as a box set but I’m reviewing each book separately hoping they will get better- smooth out- something….. About midway through each book I say this is going to be the last one, then there’s a cliffhanger and I continue. I gave this one 3 stars instead of the 2 it probably deserves because I keep reading them.