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High Test
Hayden Owens is just a typical graduate student working his way through school as a barista for the Owens Coffee Company -- no relation. But he keeps the "no relation" part to himself when he meets dashing, older Neal Kirchner, a successful architect from an old-money family. Hayden doesn't exactly lie, but he figures it can't hurt for Neal to believe he's a rich kid. After all, Hayden doesn't want Neal thinking he's a gold digger.
Neal Kirchner is Asian Indian and British decent. His parents became Christians, shoving their heritage to the side. Neal has returned to the customs and religion his grandmother cherished. On top of being a very successful architect he's heir to the Indian Rose Tea Company, a business that's been in his family for generations.
Neal's passion is high performance cars and he meets Hayden at a fundraiser for the automotive engineering department of Clemson University. They are immediately smitten with each other. The closer they become, the harder it gets for Hayden to come clean. Something always seems to get in the way. When a company bankruptcy and a jilted, vindictive woman threaten to expose his charade, Hayden thinks it's all gone down the drain. Luckily Neal is ready with some innocent trickery of his own, but will their relationship survive?
Neal Kirchner is Asian Indian and British decent. His parents became Christians, shoving their heritage to the side. Neal has returned to the customs and religion his grandmother cherished. On top of being a very successful architect he's heir to the Indian Rose Tea Company, a business that's been in his family for generations.
Neal's passion is high performance cars and he meets Hayden at a fundraiser for the automotive engineering department of Clemson University. They are immediately smitten with each other. The closer they become, the harder it gets for Hayden to come clean. Something always seems to get in the way. When a company bankruptcy and a jilted, vindictive woman threaten to expose his charade, Hayden thinks it's all gone down the drain. Luckily Neal is ready with some innocent trickery of his own, but will their relationship survive?
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First published December 1, 2017
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January 2, 2020
4 Dreamspun Desires Hearts!
Overall, in the grand scheme of things this was a very strong 3.5 Stars, but within this particular formulaic DSP series as a whole, it was a 4 star win!
As per the blurb, Neal assumes Hayden is part of a wealthy family instead of the struggling grad student he is while at a fundraiser Hayden’s college is putting on to ask for donations from various affluent patrons and alumni. In turn, though he’s utterly charmed by the dashing Neal, Hayden doesn’t really think anything will come of their meet cute, mainly because they’re so different in both age and social status. However, a few days later Neal shows up unexpectedly at the coffee shop Hayden works at, and these two continue to hit it off while Hayden fails to set the man straight about who he really is. Bolstered by his friends’ urging to keep the charade alive until he and Neal can get to know each other better, Hayden soon finds himself a tad in too deep as it becomes almost farcical at how many times he’s thwarted by chance to come clean with the truth. It’s not really lying if it’s just omissions of the facts, right????
Tomato to-mah-to. Potato po-tah-to.
Where this story excels at are the MC’s. Hayden’s got a shy endearing thing going on behind some nerdy glasses and a kind heart. Neal is unpretentious, caring, and only wants to take the time to really get to know Hayden to make sure they’re compatible. I liked the dynamic between these two, and I appreciated the slow burn. This wasn’t hurt at all by the excellent narration by Colin Darcy. I’m only disappointed that this is the only work he’s done so far, as Darcy’s performance was smooth smooth smooth bringing these two to life by playing up their interactions that were sweet, heart warming, and very nicely sexy.
Obviously for me, this was definitely one the more enjoyable Dreamspun Desires books that I’ve come across so far. Granted, I had to remind myself that this was supposed to be a bit over the top, and I was reassured by the guaranteed minimal angst despite a dash of melodrama thrown in for good measure. I recalibrated my expectations, and this went down oh so easily!
Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review
Overall, in the grand scheme of things this was a very strong 3.5 Stars, but within this particular formulaic DSP series as a whole, it was a 4 star win!
As per the blurb, Neal assumes Hayden is part of a wealthy family instead of the struggling grad student he is while at a fundraiser Hayden’s college is putting on to ask for donations from various affluent patrons and alumni. In turn, though he’s utterly charmed by the dashing Neal, Hayden doesn’t really think anything will come of their meet cute, mainly because they’re so different in both age and social status. However, a few days later Neal shows up unexpectedly at the coffee shop Hayden works at, and these two continue to hit it off while Hayden fails to set the man straight about who he really is. Bolstered by his friends’ urging to keep the charade alive until he and Neal can get to know each other better, Hayden soon finds himself a tad in too deep as it becomes almost farcical at how many times he’s thwarted by chance to come clean with the truth. It’s not really lying if it’s just omissions of the facts, right????
Tomato to-mah-to. Potato po-tah-to.
Where this story excels at are the MC’s. Hayden’s got a shy endearing thing going on behind some nerdy glasses and a kind heart. Neal is unpretentious, caring, and only wants to take the time to really get to know Hayden to make sure they’re compatible. I liked the dynamic between these two, and I appreciated the slow burn. This wasn’t hurt at all by the excellent narration by Colin Darcy. I’m only disappointed that this is the only work he’s done so far, as Darcy’s performance was smooth smooth smooth bringing these two to life by playing up their interactions that were sweet, heart warming, and very nicely sexy.
Obviously for me, this was definitely one the more enjoyable Dreamspun Desires books that I’ve come across so far. Granted, I had to remind myself that this was supposed to be a bit over the top, and I was reassured by the guaranteed minimal angst despite a dash of melodrama thrown in for good measure. I recalibrated my expectations, and this went down oh so easily!
Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review
Read
December 4, 20174 Hearts
I am a firm believer that there is a perfect time for a book to be read and for me, after having a stressful morning where I was hustling to get everything done, it was nice to spend some down time with Neal and Hayden watching them fall in love. This was such a simple yet sweet romance that I read in a single day. It’s a nice an easy read and Elizabeth Noble gave me a wonderfully light but poignant story that was perfect for my day.
Told from Hayden’s POV, the men meet as Hayden is working his university’s event for his major high-performance automotive design. Hayden has noticed Neal from across the room but on Neal’s arm is a woman. I liked that the first glance of Neal, Hayden realizes he is older than his 20 something years but admires that Neal is the type of man that just gets older with age and dubs him Mr. Silver GQ. When a patron decides Hayden is lonely and pawns him off on someone, that someone is Neal and the meet cute happens.
I adored Neal from the beginning. Of course from the blurb we know he is rich but his meeting with Hayden and how they get along paints Neal as a regular guy, an architect who loves his work as much as Hayden loves his. The age difference is there, roughly about 20 years between them, but you don’t feel in in this book. The men get along wonderfully throughout the evening and when Neal asks Hayden to dance, we get a swoony moment that leads into a sort of fairytale with Hayden having to run off to catch his bus home, leaving Neal without exchanging numbers.
From there the story moves along at a nice pace with Neal stopping in the coffeehouse where Hayden works and making a joke about Hayden keeping an eye on business the old fashioned way. Neal makes an observation when he puts Hayden’s last name together with the name of owners of the coffee house he works at, The Owens Coffee Company. Hayden realizes this mistake but doesn’t correct Neal immediately not wanting the man he’s now crushing on to think he is below his financial status. But the thing is, while Hayden knows Neal has money based on his appearance, he has no idea that Neal Kirchner is from old money and part of the family that owns the Indian Rose Tea Company. Just like age is mentioned in the story but not the main focus, wealth is mentioned but not the main focus. Really, this is a character driven romance that is sweet and sexy.
So while Neal pursues Hayden and they have a fantastic time together being able to talk about what they love with someone who gets it, there is this misunderstanding of Hayden’s family being an elephant in the room. Numerous times Hayden tries to come clean to Neal only to have them interrupted or Neal to tell him to hold the thought. It’s not that Hayden wants to keep this a lie by omission between them and does try to tell Neal the truth but circumstances don’t allow him to spill his guts.
I liked the time the spent together. It was romantic the way Neal courted Hayden and the physical attraction was definitely there but the men decide to take their time. I didn’t always want to them to wait... especially when Neal ‘rubbed one palm over the swell of Hayden’s ass, massaging lightly and slipping between his cheeks for a few beats.’ because it was kinda hot but I admired their respect and restraint. And yet, the moment they give in it was hot. With this series we are limited to the number of sex scenes we get and I love it when they author makes them count and these definitely counted.
Along with the romance, the talk and driving of expensive classic cars, there are a pair of dogs that belong to Neal, a woman who doesn’t get Neal likes dick and not her, wonderful friends of Hayden’s, staff members of the hotel who are like family to the couple and family members both good and bad. There is also Neal’s religion of Hinduism that was mentioned and we are given a few details of it.
But what I absolutely love about this book is how the author handled Neal’s age and the May December romance. . Too often we are given characters in romance that are over *gasp* the age of 40 and treated as if they are in their late 80’s. Being 40 myself, I find it a smidge offensive that folks my age are seen as this decrepit and geriatric human that is so old etc. etc. etc. In this, we get that Neal is 45 and that he is older than Hayden but other than the fact we know it and they mention it less than a half dozen times, that’s it. Age is just a number and the way these two men feel about one another is more important than the year they were born.
High Test isn’t just the name of Hayden’s favorite coffee blend, it’s also a lovely and light romance that made my Monday bearable. It’s a romance that proves age is in the eye of the beholder and the truth will set you free, even if the truth was already known.
Side Note: That cover has GOT TO GO as it does nothing for the appeal of Neal. I am currentlyfalling down a rabbit hole researching Asian Indian men who could be a better representation and stuck on Jitesh Thakur though I cannot find out his age. It doesn't matter, the dude is hot and he shall be my Neal thank you very much.
I am a firm believer that there is a perfect time for a book to be read and for me, after having a stressful morning where I was hustling to get everything done, it was nice to spend some down time with Neal and Hayden watching them fall in love. This was such a simple yet sweet romance that I read in a single day. It’s a nice an easy read and Elizabeth Noble gave me a wonderfully light but poignant story that was perfect for my day.
Told from Hayden’s POV, the men meet as Hayden is working his university’s event for his major high-performance automotive design. Hayden has noticed Neal from across the room but on Neal’s arm is a woman. I liked that the first glance of Neal, Hayden realizes he is older than his 20 something years but admires that Neal is the type of man that just gets older with age and dubs him Mr. Silver GQ. When a patron decides Hayden is lonely and pawns him off on someone, that someone is Neal and the meet cute happens.
I adored Neal from the beginning. Of course from the blurb we know he is rich but his meeting with Hayden and how they get along paints Neal as a regular guy, an architect who loves his work as much as Hayden loves his. The age difference is there, roughly about 20 years between them, but you don’t feel in in this book. The men get along wonderfully throughout the evening and when Neal asks Hayden to dance, we get a swoony moment that leads into a sort of fairytale with Hayden having to run off to catch his bus home, leaving Neal without exchanging numbers.
From there the story moves along at a nice pace with Neal stopping in the coffeehouse where Hayden works and making a joke about Hayden keeping an eye on business the old fashioned way. Neal makes an observation when he puts Hayden’s last name together with the name of owners of the coffee house he works at, The Owens Coffee Company. Hayden realizes this mistake but doesn’t correct Neal immediately not wanting the man he’s now crushing on to think he is below his financial status. But the thing is, while Hayden knows Neal has money based on his appearance, he has no idea that Neal Kirchner is from old money and part of the family that owns the Indian Rose Tea Company. Just like age is mentioned in the story but not the main focus, wealth is mentioned but not the main focus. Really, this is a character driven romance that is sweet and sexy.
So while Neal pursues Hayden and they have a fantastic time together being able to talk about what they love with someone who gets it, there is this misunderstanding of Hayden’s family being an elephant in the room. Numerous times Hayden tries to come clean to Neal only to have them interrupted or Neal to tell him to hold the thought. It’s not that Hayden wants to keep this a lie by omission between them and does try to tell Neal the truth but circumstances don’t allow him to spill his guts.
I liked the time the spent together. It was romantic the way Neal courted Hayden and the physical attraction was definitely there but the men decide to take their time. I didn’t always want to them to wait... especially when Neal ‘rubbed one palm over the swell of Hayden’s ass, massaging lightly and slipping between his cheeks for a few beats.’ because it was kinda hot but I admired their respect and restraint. And yet, the moment they give in it was hot. With this series we are limited to the number of sex scenes we get and I love it when they author makes them count and these definitely counted.
Along with the romance, the talk and driving of expensive classic cars, there are a pair of dogs that belong to Neal, a woman who doesn’t get Neal likes dick and not her, wonderful friends of Hayden’s, staff members of the hotel who are like family to the couple and family members both good and bad. There is also Neal’s religion of Hinduism that was mentioned and we are given a few details of it.
But what I absolutely love about this book is how the author handled Neal’s age and the May December romance. . Too often we are given characters in romance that are over *gasp* the age of 40 and treated as if they are in their late 80’s. Being 40 myself, I find it a smidge offensive that folks my age are seen as this decrepit and geriatric human that is so old etc. etc. etc. In this, we get that Neal is 45 and that he is older than Hayden but other than the fact we know it and they mention it less than a half dozen times, that’s it. Age is just a number and the way these two men feel about one another is more important than the year they were born.
High Test isn’t just the name of Hayden’s favorite coffee blend, it’s also a lovely and light romance that made my Monday bearable. It’s a romance that proves age is in the eye of the beholder and the truth will set you free, even if the truth was already known.
Side Note: That cover has GOT TO GO as it does nothing for the appeal of Neal. I am currently
November 30, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
For me this one was just okay. The number of misunderstandings approached double digits and that was irritating. Hayden is really overwhelmed by life, work, and school, and seemed extremely naïve. I thought he was in his late teens as a result—and was later surprised to find he was a grad student. I often struggle with plots where the tension is only generated by a Big Secret, and it didn’t work for me here either. The “jilted, vindictive woman” from the blurb is a caricature, and her interference was small and would have been easily managed with a simple honest conversation. So, her villainy seemed overblown. I’ve usually liked books from this author, but this one seemed a little too formulaic and left me with more questions at the end about the inconsistencies that cropped up.
All in all, it’s an HEA with Neal and Hayden being muy muy in love and back together because Neal enlists a pal to trick Hayden to come to his hotel suite. They finally have an honest conversation, and that helps seal all the old hurts over. They do make a nice couple, and I like how it ended. If you like interracial romance, or May-December romance, this may be a book for you. Just be prepared for Hayden to act rather juvenile and Neal to be a little obtuse.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
For me this one was just okay. The number of misunderstandings approached double digits and that was irritating. Hayden is really overwhelmed by life, work, and school, and seemed extremely naïve. I thought he was in his late teens as a result—and was later surprised to find he was a grad student. I often struggle with plots where the tension is only generated by a Big Secret, and it didn’t work for me here either. The “jilted, vindictive woman” from the blurb is a caricature, and her interference was small and would have been easily managed with a simple honest conversation. So, her villainy seemed overblown. I’ve usually liked books from this author, but this one seemed a little too formulaic and left me with more questions at the end about the inconsistencies that cropped up.
All in all, it’s an HEA with Neal and Hayden being muy muy in love and back together because Neal enlists a pal to trick Hayden to come to his hotel suite. They finally have an honest conversation, and that helps seal all the old hurts over. They do make a nice couple, and I like how it ended. If you like interracial romance, or May-December romance, this may be a book for you. Just be prepared for Hayden to act rather juvenile and Neal to be a little obtuse.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
November 22, 2017
3.5 Stars. This is a very engaging, fairytale-esque, May-December romance, with the added interest of Neal being of Indian descent. I’m always in favor of diversity in my books, plus the depiction wasn’t heavy-handed, just a guy dating another guy, who happens to follow Hinduism. Hayden is a sweet character, shy and geeky and pretty naïve, even for his young age. He’s quite swept off his feet by Neal, the older, sophisticated businessman. It’s a slow build, slow burn, as finding time to date is difficult with both men’s schedules. It did tend to make the narrative feel rather slow moving.
I’m not a fan of minute descriptive detail, and I feel like there was too much bogging things down. Specific décor in rooms, clothing colors and details, and delineating routine, daily actions, were irritations. It carried over into the two sex scenes as well, and I didn’t get much passion or emotion from the moments. Secondary characters were great though, for both Hayden’s friends and Neal’s, as well as brief interactions with both men’s wildly differing parents. The vindictive woman was a little hard to take, refusing to believe she couldn’t entice Neal, even though he was openly gay and would never date her.
The fairy-tale style theme fits well in the Dreamspun Desires line, plus has a solid HEA. Neal and Hayden’s conflicts, including the age difference, are treated with a lighter touch and there are several events that kept the story moving forward. Plus, doggies Royce and Marty have a big role and dogs always earn points from me!
*An ARC was provided by the author or publisher and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review for Hearts On Fire Reviews blog*
I’m not a fan of minute descriptive detail, and I feel like there was too much bogging things down. Specific décor in rooms, clothing colors and details, and delineating routine, daily actions, were irritations. It carried over into the two sex scenes as well, and I didn’t get much passion or emotion from the moments. Secondary characters were great though, for both Hayden’s friends and Neal’s, as well as brief interactions with both men’s wildly differing parents. The vindictive woman was a little hard to take, refusing to believe she couldn’t entice Neal, even though he was openly gay and would never date her.
The fairy-tale style theme fits well in the Dreamspun Desires line, plus has a solid HEA. Neal and Hayden’s conflicts, including the age difference, are treated with a lighter touch and there are several events that kept the story moving forward. Plus, doggies Royce and Marty have a big role and dogs always earn points from me!
*An ARC was provided by the author or publisher and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review for Hearts On Fire Reviews blog*
November 15, 2017
Prepare for a cute cinderfella love story! I really enjoyed this loveeee story between Hayden and Neal, complete with the 'oh I have to go' after the dance? But unlike Cinderella, Hayden afraid of missing his bus!
No chance to tell Neal after a few dates, some bitch showed Neal who's Hayden really is. No chance to tell Neal that he's not 'that Owen' did Neal mad ad him, and ditched him?
Oh, let me tell you this.
Neal is the sweetest man in the world (and a super generous)! He's 45 years old (yes, this is a May - December relationship), and he's crazy about Hayden since their first met. And his dogs loved Neal too.
And Nathan from the hotel where Neal have his own suite (bless that man Nathan!)
Not that I blamed Hayden for didn't have 'time' to tell Neal, every time he tried to tell Neal, there's 'always' interruption, always. And Neal, like the old man he is, always forgot to asked. LOL.
See the pattern? It need one bitch to break the moment, and bam!
But not to worry much, like I said earlier, this is a sweet cheesy story, cute and adorable, and did I mentioned I enjoyed it? Yeah, Cinderella is my favorite story ever! Of course I liked this one, with the addition of sexy times together, good writing, and an MM.
Yeah guys, read this book.
Note : this is my first book from this author, I think.
*ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press for an honest and unbiased review.
May 23, 2018
Audiobook provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
At times elementary, this story is loaded with trope—though that’s to be expected with these Dreamspun Desires stories. Some of the writing was too unpolished and not what I expected. It’s possible though, that some of my impression of the simplistic prose is from the narrator, who told the story in a somewhat singsong voice, although thankfully, he used a different voice for each MC. The non-dialogue portions of the book sounded as if a high school kid were standing in front of the class trying to read in a way sure to please the teacher.
I liked the overall plot concept and I especially love May-December romances, though this one was a bit much—one MC was twice as old as the other. Neal Kirchner, wealthy and well-known architect meets Hayden Owens at the Owens Coffee Company shop one morning when he stops by to try a cup of their brew. He strikes up a conversation with the cute barista and from then on, coffee becomes a part of his morning, and sometimes evening, routine—especially when Hayden is working the closing shift.
He and Hayden go out together, though Hayden never lets him see his apartment and soon becomes convinced that Neal thinks his family owns the Owens coffee shops. Hayden is finishing graduate school, majoring in auto design and engineering, and he and Neal find they have a lot in common due to their technical interests. Though he tries several times to tell Neal that he’s not wealthy and is in fact a poor, struggling student, something, or someone, always interferes just when he’s ready to spill the beans.
Naturally, this causes an issue when the truth comes out, but it’s not what Hayden thinks it’s going to be and it was entertaining and interesting, even though it was a tried-and-true romance trope. I did want to smack Hayden upside the head a few times and I wanted to fast forward my audiobook each time he fell into his self-inflicted angst, but on the whole, I liked the story and the characters, and I think much of my negatives simply came from the narrator’s performance.
If you are interested in May-December romance and like the old romance tropes many of us grew up with, this one should fill the slot.
At times elementary, this story is loaded with trope—though that’s to be expected with these Dreamspun Desires stories. Some of the writing was too unpolished and not what I expected. It’s possible though, that some of my impression of the simplistic prose is from the narrator, who told the story in a somewhat singsong voice, although thankfully, he used a different voice for each MC. The non-dialogue portions of the book sounded as if a high school kid were standing in front of the class trying to read in a way sure to please the teacher.
I liked the overall plot concept and I especially love May-December romances, though this one was a bit much—one MC was twice as old as the other. Neal Kirchner, wealthy and well-known architect meets Hayden Owens at the Owens Coffee Company shop one morning when he stops by to try a cup of their brew. He strikes up a conversation with the cute barista and from then on, coffee becomes a part of his morning, and sometimes evening, routine—especially when Hayden is working the closing shift.
He and Hayden go out together, though Hayden never lets him see his apartment and soon becomes convinced that Neal thinks his family owns the Owens coffee shops. Hayden is finishing graduate school, majoring in auto design and engineering, and he and Neal find they have a lot in common due to their technical interests. Though he tries several times to tell Neal that he’s not wealthy and is in fact a poor, struggling student, something, or someone, always interferes just when he’s ready to spill the beans.
Naturally, this causes an issue when the truth comes out, but it’s not what Hayden thinks it’s going to be and it was entertaining and interesting, even though it was a tried-and-true romance trope. I did want to smack Hayden upside the head a few times and I wanted to fast forward my audiobook each time he fell into his self-inflicted angst, but on the whole, I liked the story and the characters, and I think much of my negatives simply came from the narrator’s performance.
If you are interested in May-December romance and like the old romance tropes many of us grew up with, this one should fill the slot.
December 29, 2017
Hayden is working on his PhD in automotive engineering. He’s also working fulltime at a coffeeshop and
between those two commitments Hayden doesn’t have time to look for a boyfriend. Or so he thinks.
Then one day a handsome business man walks into his coffee shop and there is an attraction between
the two of them. It takes Hayden’s coworkers to push him into even talking to the man, let alone going
on a date.
Neal is an architect and also an heir to his family’s tea conglomerate world wide. He splits his time
between his architectural projects and going to his family’s company events, mostly in Dubai.
It’s fun to see Hayden and Neal, neither of whom claim to have time for another person in their lives,
find the time when a person they really want shows up. Hayden has to get through a couple of personal
crises, financially and healthwise along the way. He also has to try to make nice with Neal’s horrible
parents. You’ll have to see if he makes any headway there or not, and if it really makes any difference.
This is a sweet story with just a bit of angst, but mostly just two men finding their way together. I loved
the author’s use of diverse religious beliefs and ethnicities, something that is often lacking in romance
novels.
between those two commitments Hayden doesn’t have time to look for a boyfriend. Or so he thinks.
Then one day a handsome business man walks into his coffee shop and there is an attraction between
the two of them. It takes Hayden’s coworkers to push him into even talking to the man, let alone going
on a date.
Neal is an architect and also an heir to his family’s tea conglomerate world wide. He splits his time
between his architectural projects and going to his family’s company events, mostly in Dubai.
It’s fun to see Hayden and Neal, neither of whom claim to have time for another person in their lives,
find the time when a person they really want shows up. Hayden has to get through a couple of personal
crises, financially and healthwise along the way. He also has to try to make nice with Neal’s horrible
parents. You’ll have to see if he makes any headway there or not, and if it really makes any difference.
This is a sweet story with just a bit of angst, but mostly just two men finding their way together. I loved
the author’s use of diverse religious beliefs and ethnicities, something that is often lacking in romance
novels.
September 21, 2018
2.5 stars
My first from this author and I'm afraid I find it blah. The sole perspective makes me a bit baffled on why the rich sophisticated older guy gets infatuated with the younger character. I'm not really into cars -- well, at least American cars -- so the talk about those machines bore me. I skimmed a lot just to see how it ended.
My first from this author and I'm afraid I find it blah. The sole perspective makes me a bit baffled on why the rich sophisticated older guy gets infatuated with the younger character. I'm not really into cars -- well, at least American cars -- so the talk about those machines bore me. I skimmed a lot just to see how it ended.
September 13, 2020
I think that everybody want find a Neal: he is perfect.
And Hayden is very sweet and nice and proud. I loved their love story!
And Hayden is very sweet and nice and proud. I loved their love story!
January 8, 2018
Book & Author: High Test by Elizabeth Noble
Rating: 4 Stars
Although I think this story was good it didn’t hold my interest as these stories normally do which made it just okay for me.
First and foremost the woman “Villain” rather annoyed me and seemed unnecessary plus I really do think the author could’ve found a way around using her that way. I get the tropey feel of these books and that was a book trope element at one time but it has turned into one that very little amount of readers like.
I loved the playfulness of the characters in the beginning during what was a really cute meet but the big misunderstanding/secret was one that was so easily revealed that I couldn’t under Hayden holding it in. Neal never seemed like the type that would’ve made it a big deal and then the reveal of it and Hayden’s reaction to Neal finding out was over the top for me.
What kept me reading was how much I liked them together and the writing of the author, which both were very good. The characters were fleshed out and had personalities that I loved. The May-December was not overly played so it was a nice addition to these guys and of course it was a HEA with some trickery to get there because Hayden is a stubborn man.
*I received a copy of this book through http://diversereader.blogspot.com/*
Rating: 4 Stars
Although I think this story was good it didn’t hold my interest as these stories normally do which made it just okay for me.
First and foremost the woman “Villain” rather annoyed me and seemed unnecessary plus I really do think the author could’ve found a way around using her that way. I get the tropey feel of these books and that was a book trope element at one time but it has turned into one that very little amount of readers like.
I loved the playfulness of the characters in the beginning during what was a really cute meet but the big misunderstanding/secret was one that was so easily revealed that I couldn’t under Hayden holding it in. Neal never seemed like the type that would’ve made it a big deal and then the reveal of it and Hayden’s reaction to Neal finding out was over the top for me.
What kept me reading was how much I liked them together and the writing of the author, which both were very good. The characters were fleshed out and had personalities that I loved. The May-December was not overly played so it was a nice addition to these guys and of course it was a HEA with some trickery to get there because Hayden is a stubborn man.
*I received a copy of this book through http://diversereader.blogspot.com/*
January 7, 2023
4.5 Stars ~ The fantasy of meeting an older, wealthy, sexy man who is completely smitten with you is as old as most fairy tales. At least, it is in my head. I was certainly looking forward to reading Hayden and Neal’s story as not only had the description grabbed me, but the author is a personal favorite as well. I can readily admit to doing quite a bit of sighing and dreaming throughout my read.
I empathized with Hayden’s position after meeting Neal. Of course, I had a sneaky suspicion that Neal knew more than he let on straight from the get-go. Hayden is absolutely adorable with an enormous amount of student loan debts that will probably prevent him from ever being able to afford a coffee in the place he works until he’s at least seventy. He doesn’t want to lie to this gorgeous man who seems to have an interest in a shy and bumbling young man, but he’s afraid to let Neal’s assumptions continue for fear he’ll lose spending time with him. Granted, Hayden hasn’t lied at all, he just hasn’t corrected Neal’s assumptions. It’s so very sweet watching Neal woo Hayden by stopping at the coffeehouse early in the mornings and memorizing Hayden’s schedule. (sigh)
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
I empathized with Hayden’s position after meeting Neal. Of course, I had a sneaky suspicion that Neal knew more than he let on straight from the get-go. Hayden is absolutely adorable with an enormous amount of student loan debts that will probably prevent him from ever being able to afford a coffee in the place he works until he’s at least seventy. He doesn’t want to lie to this gorgeous man who seems to have an interest in a shy and bumbling young man, but he’s afraid to let Neal’s assumptions continue for fear he’ll lose spending time with him. Granted, Hayden hasn’t lied at all, he just hasn’t corrected Neal’s assumptions. It’s so very sweet watching Neal woo Hayden by stopping at the coffeehouse early in the mornings and memorizing Hayden’s schedule. (sigh)
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
May 9, 2019
College student Hayden Owens did not expect to have a good time at the donor event he volunteered for. But he met Neal Kirchner, and older man who is clear out of Hayden's league, and that proved to be more than worth the time. There's definitely a spark between then right away, but Neal is clearly rich and successful--and Hayden is not. But the fact that he shares a last name with the family who owns the chain of coffee shops where he works worries him that Neal may have the wrong idea completely about his identity. Hayden knows he needs to clear things up sooner rather than later, just for his own peace of mind, but things keep getting in the way...
I enjoyed this as an introduction to Elizabeth Noble's writing style. The characters are charming, right from the beginning, and the flow and pacing of the story kept it engaging from start to finish. This was a refreshing read to me overall.
I enjoyed this as an introduction to Elizabeth Noble's writing style. The characters are charming, right from the beginning, and the flow and pacing of the story kept it engaging from start to finish. This was a refreshing read to me overall.
December 3, 2017
Fluffy romance between a grad student and a rich man of Indian descent with hints of Cinderfella.
Hayden, the grad student, is working an alumni/sponsor event for his university, where he meets Neal, the rich guy. There's some apparent assumption on Neal's part that Hayden's last name, Owens, means he belongs to the Owens family of coffee house fame. Hayden doesn't get a chance to correct that assumption, and after a dance at the event, he must rush to catch his bus. Cinderfella, right? Leaving after the dance?
And Hayden also forgets to exchange contact information with Neal. No matter, because Neal knows where Hayden works, so the coffee house, it is.
They have another date, and still don't exchange phone numbers.
The book continues in this fashion for a while, with Hayden thinking that Neal believes he's related to the owners of the coffee house chain, but not finding an opportunity to correct Neal and confess that he's just a poor grad student barely scraping by.
I liked that the author gave Neal an Indian background - diversity is appreciated.
There's just a lot in this book I didn't like. I don't mind an age gap, and that wasn't my issue here either, but Hayden sounded and in some instances acted younger than he should have, and Neal kind of steamrolled him toward the end - I didn't appreciate that.
The two explicit sex scenes allowed under the provision of the Dreamspun Desires titles felt clinical, robotic, and unemotional. I got Tab A inserted into Slot B, but there was just no chemistry and no connection to be felt. As a matter of fact, I was only told about their connection - I wasn't really shown that they had one.
The writing itself and the plot progression were fine for the most part. I didn't like the bitchy female (the jilted woman from the blurb, who wasn't actually jilted at all, because Neal never even had a relationship with her), whose only purpose was to cause trouble between Hayden and Neal, and I didn't like the ridiculous "meet-the-parents" dinner with Neal's parents. They were utterly rude, for no particular reason other than their homophobia and Hayden's age. Hayden's mom was a sweetheart, though. I liked both Hayden and Neal - they were both nice, kind, thoughtful people.
Overall, 3 stars, primarily for the writing which was engaging, except the intimate scenes, as well as the overall flow of the story. YMMV.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
Hayden, the grad student, is working an alumni/sponsor event for his university, where he meets Neal, the rich guy. There's some apparent assumption on Neal's part that Hayden's last name, Owens, means he belongs to the Owens family of coffee house fame. Hayden doesn't get a chance to correct that assumption, and after a dance at the event, he must rush to catch his bus. Cinderfella, right? Leaving after the dance?
And Hayden also forgets to exchange contact information with Neal. No matter, because Neal knows where Hayden works, so the coffee house, it is.
They have another date, and still don't exchange phone numbers.
The book continues in this fashion for a while, with Hayden thinking that Neal believes he's related to the owners of the coffee house chain, but not finding an opportunity to correct Neal and confess that he's just a poor grad student barely scraping by.
I liked that the author gave Neal an Indian background - diversity is appreciated.
There's just a lot in this book I didn't like. I don't mind an age gap, and that wasn't my issue here either, but Hayden sounded and in some instances acted younger than he should have, and Neal kind of steamrolled him toward the end - I didn't appreciate that.
The two explicit sex scenes allowed under the provision of the Dreamspun Desires titles felt clinical, robotic, and unemotional. I got Tab A inserted into Slot B, but there was just no chemistry and no connection to be felt. As a matter of fact, I was only told about their connection - I wasn't really shown that they had one.
The writing itself and the plot progression were fine for the most part. I didn't like the bitchy female (the jilted woman from the blurb, who wasn't actually jilted at all, because Neal never even had a relationship with her), whose only purpose was to cause trouble between Hayden and Neal, and I didn't like the ridiculous "meet-the-parents" dinner with Neal's parents. They were utterly rude, for no particular reason other than their homophobia and Hayden's age. Hayden's mom was a sweetheart, though. I liked both Hayden and Neal - they were both nice, kind, thoughtful people.
Overall, 3 stars, primarily for the writing which was engaging, except the intimate scenes, as well as the overall flow of the story. YMMV.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
December 1, 2017
Can a relationship that starts out with lie white lies that quickly turns into bigger lies work in the end or is it a disaster waiting to happen? That's what this book is about, how letting someone believe something that is not true turns into something so much more then just a white lie by omission.
Hayden is a college student that is working hard to finish school to become a high performance automotive designer. Not only is he trying to finish up school with his PHD for this but he also works at a coffee shop to help pay for his books and part of his tution so he is not left with a lot of debt when he graduates.
After having to attend a function, Hayden meets a man that captures his attention from the moment he lays eyes on him. He meets a man that he's is older then him, and definitely a lot richer then him named Neal. The only issue is when Neal assumes that Hayden is part of the Owens family that owns the coffee shop that Hayden works at,Hayden does not correct him. Seems silly to do something g like this but Hayden did not think they would see one another again much less get to know one another the way that they just may.
Neal is attracted to Hayden from the moment that he meets him. Though he believes that Hayden is a little better off then he originally is, Neal does not care. He knows that Hayden cared for him for who he is and not what he can give him. But Neal makes the mistake of not letting Hayden know that he is not to the coffee shop owners and instead everything comes to head when a vindictive woman that wants Neal sheds the light on the subject and Hayden runs.
Can Neal convince Hayden that money is not what is important between them but how they feel about each is?
This was a good read. It is a nice love story about finding love in an unlikely place and that live being the most important and not the size of someone's bank account, I really enjoyed this read and look forward to more books in the future by Elizabeth Noble.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
Hayden is a college student that is working hard to finish school to become a high performance automotive designer. Not only is he trying to finish up school with his PHD for this but he also works at a coffee shop to help pay for his books and part of his tution so he is not left with a lot of debt when he graduates.
After having to attend a function, Hayden meets a man that captures his attention from the moment he lays eyes on him. He meets a man that he's is older then him, and definitely a lot richer then him named Neal. The only issue is when Neal assumes that Hayden is part of the Owens family that owns the coffee shop that Hayden works at,Hayden does not correct him. Seems silly to do something g like this but Hayden did not think they would see one another again much less get to know one another the way that they just may.
Neal is attracted to Hayden from the moment that he meets him. Though he believes that Hayden is a little better off then he originally is, Neal does not care. He knows that Hayden cared for him for who he is and not what he can give him. But Neal makes the mistake of not letting Hayden know that he is not to the coffee shop owners and instead everything comes to head when a vindictive woman that wants Neal sheds the light on the subject and Hayden runs.
Can Neal convince Hayden that money is not what is important between them but how they feel about each is?
This was a good read. It is a nice love story about finding love in an unlikely place and that live being the most important and not the size of someone's bank account, I really enjoyed this read and look forward to more books in the future by Elizabeth Noble.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
November 30, 2017
Book blurb sums up the plot quite well so I won’t rehash.
This was a pleasant enough read with your basic May-December plot: young man meets older man, young man and older man connect, outsiders try to interfere in relationship, there are trials and tribulations, happy ever after.
I liked Hayden, he was personable enough. I liked Neal, filthy rich but not ostentatious about it. I didn’t like Steffe – those of you who’ve read my reviews know my thoughts on the female friend/coworker/sister who Has To Know ALL THE DETAILS. Cliqued and overdone, this will push my buttons every time. Rick (Rich? The fashion designer) was cool.
Neal’s family and social circle offered a nice counterpoint to Hayden’s. Where Hayden’s world was flowing with positivity and upbeat people, Neal’s was less so. The dinner with Neal’s parents was a good example of that, as was manipulative Maeve.
I was also quietly bracing myself for The Big Misunderstanding as the author slowly built-up Hayden’s attempt to tell Neal he wasn’t from a family of money, but a struggling grad student instead. I applaud how the author handled the situation when it arose, with the exception of having Hayden run out the door. Here we have a PhD student, who is going to be facing critics and condemnation over future concept designs, and he runs out the door rather than standing up for himself. That just didn’t fly with me.
Only other observation I have is Hayden commented a lot on Neal’s watch and I thought it was leading up to something. It didn’t.
Ultimately, an agreeable and enjoyable May-December romance with a well-rounded set of characters and a basic romance plot.
Review is cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews
A copy of the book was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This was a pleasant enough read with your basic May-December plot: young man meets older man, young man and older man connect, outsiders try to interfere in relationship, there are trials and tribulations, happy ever after.
I liked Hayden, he was personable enough. I liked Neal, filthy rich but not ostentatious about it. I didn’t like Steffe – those of you who’ve read my reviews know my thoughts on the female friend/coworker/sister who Has To Know ALL THE DETAILS. Cliqued and overdone, this will push my buttons every time. Rick (Rich? The fashion designer) was cool.
Neal’s family and social circle offered a nice counterpoint to Hayden’s. Where Hayden’s world was flowing with positivity and upbeat people, Neal’s was less so. The dinner with Neal’s parents was a good example of that, as was manipulative Maeve.
I was also quietly bracing myself for The Big Misunderstanding as the author slowly built-up Hayden’s attempt to tell Neal he wasn’t from a family of money, but a struggling grad student instead. I applaud how the author handled the situation when it arose, with the exception of having Hayden run out the door. Here we have a PhD student, who is going to be facing critics and condemnation over future concept designs, and he runs out the door rather than standing up for himself. That just didn’t fly with me.
Only other observation I have is Hayden commented a lot on Neal’s watch and I thought it was leading up to something. It didn’t.
Ultimately, an agreeable and enjoyable May-December romance with a well-rounded set of characters and a basic romance plot.
Review is cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews
A copy of the book was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
December 1, 2017
4.5 Stars!
Hayden Owens is a graduate student who works at Owens Coffee Company as a barista, and he meets Neal Kirchner, an older and successful architect during a school function. While he doesn't lie exactly, he also doesn't correct Neal's assumption that Hayden is a rich kid. However, the longer it takes for Hayden to tell Neal the truth, it becomes harder and being interrupted every time he tries, doesn't help at all. What will happen when Neal learns the truth?
Hayden was adorable, hard-working and caring and I loved Neal, he was a rare blend of sweet and sophisticated. The chemistry between them was great and I loved the progression of their relationship and how Neal wooed Hayden, even if it was obvious Hayden was interested in Neal. I really liked that while Neal doubled Hayden's age and was richer than him, he never made Hayden feel less or not mature enough, which was refreshing. Another thing I liked, was that he didn't let others put Hayden down and gave him his rightful place at all times. The only thing I didn't like about him was that kept interrupting Hayden when he wanted to come clean, and that it took him so long to come clean himself about it all.
This was a cute Cinderfella story, we even get Hayden escaping from the student function and leaving Neal to catch the bus. I loved that age didn't really play much of a part in it and that even if there were obvious economic differences between them, when Neal offered Hayden his help, he did it in a way that wouldn't wound his pride or make it feel like a handout.
Very recommendable May-December read!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Hayden Owens is a graduate student who works at Owens Coffee Company as a barista, and he meets Neal Kirchner, an older and successful architect during a school function. While he doesn't lie exactly, he also doesn't correct Neal's assumption that Hayden is a rich kid. However, the longer it takes for Hayden to tell Neal the truth, it becomes harder and being interrupted every time he tries, doesn't help at all. What will happen when Neal learns the truth?
Hayden was adorable, hard-working and caring and I loved Neal, he was a rare blend of sweet and sophisticated. The chemistry between them was great and I loved the progression of their relationship and how Neal wooed Hayden, even if it was obvious Hayden was interested in Neal. I really liked that while Neal doubled Hayden's age and was richer than him, he never made Hayden feel less or not mature enough, which was refreshing. Another thing I liked, was that he didn't let others put Hayden down and gave him his rightful place at all times. The only thing I didn't like about him was that kept interrupting Hayden when he wanted to come clean, and that it took him so long to come clean himself about it all.
This was a cute Cinderfella story, we even get Hayden escaping from the student function and leaving Neal to catch the bus. I loved that age didn't really play much of a part in it and that even if there were obvious economic differences between them, when Neal offered Hayden his help, he did it in a way that wouldn't wound his pride or make it feel like a handout.
Very recommendable May-December read!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
December 4, 2017
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted my copy of this book direct for the author, that I write a review was not required.
Hayden meets Neal at a university fund raiser and the chemistry burns hot and bright. But then Neal turns up at the coffee shop that Hayden works at, and assumes Hayden is an owner of said coffee shop. Every time Hayden tries to tell Neal otherwise, something gets in the way. Then the coffee shop goes bust, and a vindictive woman threatens to tell Hayden's secrets. So Hayden runs. But Neal has other ideas!
Cute! Real cute.
I've read Ms Noble's Vampire Guard series, and loved those. So when asked to read this one, naturally, I said yes!
Its a great read, flows well, and while I saw that maybe Neal already knew that Hayden wasn't who he thought he was, it was kinda fun watching it all unravel.
Loved that Neal, while extremely wealthy, was too obnoxious with it. All too often these billionaire characters are not nice people! But I loved Neal, his family though? Not so much. Hayden's family?? Loved them!
Not overly explicit, but the heat level does creep up as the relationship between Neal and Hayden moves along. Nicely written.
BUT!!!
Only Hayden has a say. (and that's all I am gonna say about that! 😊)
And there is a particular phase that pops up more than a few times, and that kind of began to grate on me. Sorry!
I read this is the bathtub, in one sitting, and was just the book I needed after a really hard read. Hence the hangover cure tag.
4 solid, cute stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Hayden meets Neal at a university fund raiser and the chemistry burns hot and bright. But then Neal turns up at the coffee shop that Hayden works at, and assumes Hayden is an owner of said coffee shop. Every time Hayden tries to tell Neal otherwise, something gets in the way. Then the coffee shop goes bust, and a vindictive woman threatens to tell Hayden's secrets. So Hayden runs. But Neal has other ideas!
Cute! Real cute.
I've read Ms Noble's Vampire Guard series, and loved those. So when asked to read this one, naturally, I said yes!
Its a great read, flows well, and while I saw that maybe Neal already knew that Hayden wasn't who he thought he was, it was kinda fun watching it all unravel.
Loved that Neal, while extremely wealthy, was too obnoxious with it. All too often these billionaire characters are not nice people! But I loved Neal, his family though? Not so much. Hayden's family?? Loved them!
Not overly explicit, but the heat level does creep up as the relationship between Neal and Hayden moves along. Nicely written.
BUT!!!
Only Hayden has a say. (and that's all I am gonna say about that! 😊)
And there is a particular phase that pops up more than a few times, and that kind of began to grate on me. Sorry!
I read this is the bathtub, in one sitting, and was just the book I needed after a really hard read. Hence the hangover cure tag.
4 solid, cute stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
December 1, 2017
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
For the full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-ci2
From that review: High Test by Elizabeth Noble is a sweet contemporary romance from Dreamspinner Press' Dreamspun Desires line. While not exactly Cinderfella, it does have the rich man/poor man trope down as part of the storyline. Student Hayden Owens meets older rich Neal Kirchner at his university function for his department. Their attraction is mutual and a relationship is built over a succession of dates...
For all our reviews, author interviews and more, visit us at http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
For the full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-ci2
From that review: High Test by Elizabeth Noble is a sweet contemporary romance from Dreamspinner Press' Dreamspun Desires line. While not exactly Cinderfella, it does have the rich man/poor man trope down as part of the storyline. Student Hayden Owens meets older rich Neal Kirchner at his university function for his department. Their attraction is mutual and a relationship is built over a succession of dates...
For all our reviews, author interviews and more, visit us at http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
May 13, 2018
So I am usually no huge fans of billionaire romances but this being a Dreamspun Desire I know it's about the tropes and May/December IS one of my favorites. I will admit I fell in love with Neil and Hayden. There was something about Neil that didn't hit me as the typical billionaire. I loved both characters and the storyline. There was a lot packed into a short story and it really worked.
Colin Darcy brought both Neil and Hayden to life. He showed lots of emotion and passion.
Colin Darcy brought both Neil and Hayden to life. He showed lots of emotion and passion.
December 3, 2017
It's dull as dishwater and I struggled until I got a headache to finish it. I couldn't understand why Neal was interested in Hayden, and it's also difficult to differentiate between Neal and Hayden since their personality was just blah.
January 13, 2018
It was so much fun to see Hayden worry about how much he cares about Neal and how afraid he is about Neal's reaction to the "truth". Of course Neal isn't really in the dark and has been doing his own worrying and taking care. I love the great way everything works out for both of these men.
February 13, 2018
3.5 Stars
This was super sweet story with MCs I could help but fall in love with.
January 8, 2018
Originally posted at Just Love Reviews
Overall this was a fun, engaging book that read like a Cinderella story. College boy meets older, hunky man; misunderstandings ensue and it ends happily. The book had good writing and I really like how the age difference was handled. That became less of a big deal because the misunderstanding about Hayden being rich was the main focus for the story. I really love the whole misunderstandings/mistaken identity trope (especially when the MC is too awkward to clear anything up) and this book did a good job of presenting a low angst mistaken identity story.
I enjoyed most of the romance but there wasn’t much character development for Neal. We get to know Hayden and his interests and who he is, but Neal is just this fancy rich guy who is also really nice. The problem is that we’re supposed to believe that Hayden likes Neal for something other than his money. There was some character development, but not enough for me. Also I’m really torn on how I feel about Neal being Indian, because it was just kind of thrown in. I’m always excited for books with interesting and well written POCs but this felt more like a throwaway line than actual character development, if that makes any sense. It’s not that big of a deal but I’m hesitant to tag this as having a POC when it was just a few lines.
Steffe and Rick, Hayden’s friends, were pretty much throwaway characters for me. They were in the book a lot, but it was just to move the plot forward. Rick just happened to be into clothes designing so that poor college student Hayden could dress fancy to impress his rich date. Then Steffe was a random female character that just gossips with Hayden so he can express what he’s feeling about Neal, but she’s just a 2D character otherwise.
Where this book really lost me is at the end. The resolution of the misunderstanding was just ok. It was low angst like the rest of the story, but there was a third person who tried to reveal the truth and it just became too convoluted to believe that Neal already knew the secret. Neal should have said something earlier instead of waiting, because if he cared about Hayden why would he let him stress out about it? That wasn’t really believable to me.
Another part of the ending that ruined the book for me was the overly happy ending. The relationship just accelerated so fast that it seemed forced, predictable, and unrealistic. A lot of books tend to have sudden happy endings with big relationship steps just kind of thrown in there. To me that’s kind of a lame way to end a book, but I know a lot of people like that. Personally, I’m willing to suspend my disbelief for how a relationship starts, but I really get let down when there’s a formulaic ending.
*I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Overall this was a fun, engaging book that read like a Cinderella story. College boy meets older, hunky man; misunderstandings ensue and it ends happily. The book had good writing and I really like how the age difference was handled. That became less of a big deal because the misunderstanding about Hayden being rich was the main focus for the story. I really love the whole misunderstandings/mistaken identity trope (especially when the MC is too awkward to clear anything up) and this book did a good job of presenting a low angst mistaken identity story.
I enjoyed most of the romance but there wasn’t much character development for Neal. We get to know Hayden and his interests and who he is, but Neal is just this fancy rich guy who is also really nice. The problem is that we’re supposed to believe that Hayden likes Neal for something other than his money. There was some character development, but not enough for me. Also I’m really torn on how I feel about Neal being Indian, because it was just kind of thrown in. I’m always excited for books with interesting and well written POCs but this felt more like a throwaway line than actual character development, if that makes any sense. It’s not that big of a deal but I’m hesitant to tag this as having a POC when it was just a few lines.
Steffe and Rick, Hayden’s friends, were pretty much throwaway characters for me. They were in the book a lot, but it was just to move the plot forward. Rick just happened to be into clothes designing so that poor college student Hayden could dress fancy to impress his rich date. Then Steffe was a random female character that just gossips with Hayden so he can express what he’s feeling about Neal, but she’s just a 2D character otherwise.
Where this book really lost me is at the end. The resolution of the misunderstanding was just ok. It was low angst like the rest of the story, but there was a third person who tried to reveal the truth and it just became too convoluted to believe that Neal already knew the secret. Neal should have said something earlier instead of waiting, because if he cared about Hayden why would he let him stress out about it? That wasn’t really believable to me.
Another part of the ending that ruined the book for me was the overly happy ending. The relationship just accelerated so fast that it seemed forced, predictable, and unrealistic. A lot of books tend to have sudden happy endings with big relationship steps just kind of thrown in there. To me that’s kind of a lame way to end a book, but I know a lot of people like that. Personally, I’m willing to suspend my disbelief for how a relationship starts, but I really get let down when there’s a formulaic ending.
*I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 15, 2018
Sweet story, formulaic but cute nonetheless. :)
May 12, 2018
Audible Edition:
Story - 2.5-3 stars
Performance - 3.5 stars
Overall - 3 stars
Story - 2.5-3 stars
Performance - 3.5 stars
Overall - 3 stars
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews