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Off Balance
When she lands her dream job, Maya Scott thinks her luck may finally be about to change. Eager to prove herself a successful adult and win back custody of her young daughter, Maya is determined to excel at the Mars Fund. Her new boss, New York’s notorious ice queen, Elena Mars, could prove difficult to please. Their relationship gets off to a rocky start and Maya learns from her coworkers, some who love her while others loathe her, that Elena has Cerebral palsy.Embarrassed by her assumptions, Maya avoids Elena until the appearance of her Elena’s young daughter at the office opens a line of communication and provides some common ground. A tentative connection blossoms between them and Maya realizes there is much more to Elena than the outward appearance. Between the complexities of learning about disability and navigating the distance between them in age and wealth, they find that what matters in the end is the family we choose.
259 pages, Paperback
First published August 10, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
August 7, 2020
3.25 Stars. I liked this read but I wasn’t wowed by it. There were a few things I felt that really worked well and a few things that rubbed me the wrong way. I heard that this was originally a SwanQueen fanfic, and I can see that a little bit. There was an ice queen character which is always one of my favorites, so there were definitely things I enjoyed here I just wish that everything had come together for me. I guess I can say close but no cigar.
This was an age-gap -I believe about 14 years- office romance. I’m not the biggest office romance fan, I feel like I have read a ton of them so I’m a little picky, but when they are done right -Lee Winter for example- they can be excellent. I really liked how this book started off. You have an ex-con trying to get her life together and the hot power femme ice queen that also has cerebral palsy. I don’t know much about CP so I can’t speak to how authentic this character was, but I appreciate it in this book since I almost never see characters with CP.
The book was off to a really good start and I liked that Royal was slowly building the connection between the characters. It worked and they ended up having good physical chemistry. One issue for me is that Royal fast-forwarded some chunks of time to show that the characters where connecting for a longer period. I get why Royal did this, but missing some of these early interactions I feel like I did not experience the emotional chemistry between them as much. This wasn’t a huge issue for me, but I do prefer the emotional chemistry to be as high or close to the sexual chemistry.
Where things got a little bumpy for me were certain character interactions. After second guessing myself I think I need to put a spoiler tag on this just encase. Maybe I’m being too sensitive, but both scenes rubbed me the wrong way and dropped my rating down by at least a half of star.
Due to what I mentioned in the spoiler, I’m not sure what I think of the sex scenes. Sometime they seemed pretty great and hot, other times I felt a little uncomfortable. There is a D/S relationship which included one scene of spanking. I really wished there was more communication about them having this kind of relationship near the beginning, but they sort of just fell into instead. In the end there were some good steamy scenes, but also some that I didn’t care for.
As you can see there was a bunch of ups and downs for me. This was close, I was almost at a 3.75 or 4 stars, but there were too many things that bothered me. I think some ice queen and age gap fans might really like this, and I think there will be some people with some issues like me. So in the end I can’t really recommend this one, but I would not say stay away either. I do think some people will enjoy this more than I did.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
This was an age-gap -I believe about 14 years- office romance. I’m not the biggest office romance fan, I feel like I have read a ton of them so I’m a little picky, but when they are done right -Lee Winter for example- they can be excellent. I really liked how this book started off. You have an ex-con trying to get her life together and the hot power femme ice queen that also has cerebral palsy. I don’t know much about CP so I can’t speak to how authentic this character was, but I appreciate it in this book since I almost never see characters with CP.
The book was off to a really good start and I liked that Royal was slowly building the connection between the characters. It worked and they ended up having good physical chemistry. One issue for me is that Royal fast-forwarded some chunks of time to show that the characters where connecting for a longer period. I get why Royal did this, but missing some of these early interactions I feel like I did not experience the emotional chemistry between them as much. This wasn’t a huge issue for me, but I do prefer the emotional chemistry to be as high or close to the sexual chemistry.
Where things got a little bumpy for me were certain character interactions. After second guessing myself I think I need to put a spoiler tag on this just encase. Maybe I’m being too sensitive, but both scenes rubbed me the wrong way and dropped my rating down by at least a half of star.
Due to what I mentioned in the spoiler, I’m not sure what I think of the sex scenes. Sometime they seemed pretty great and hot, other times I felt a little uncomfortable. There is a D/S relationship which included one scene of spanking. I really wished there was more communication about them having this kind of relationship near the beginning, but they sort of just fell into instead. In the end there were some good steamy scenes, but also some that I didn’t care for.
As you can see there was a bunch of ups and downs for me. This was close, I was almost at a 3.75 or 4 stars, but there were too many things that bothered me. I think some ice queen and age gap fans might really like this, and I think there will be some people with some issues like me. So in the end I can’t really recommend this one, but I would not say stay away either. I do think some people will enjoy this more than I did.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
July 27, 2020
This book was quite an unexpected treat as a SwanQueen/OUAT fan. Many of the main characters from the show were present in some way including the parents and love interests.
The main relationship had good chemistry and the right amount of angst. But I do have a few small issues. I think their insecurities could've been discussed a bit more. And I would've preferred for the emotional component to be as as strong as the sexual one in their relationship. Like the bathroom scene didn't feel right after such a serious discussion about Neal.
Elena's relationship with Livvie was precious and easily my favourite thing in the book.
This is the first book I've read by L.E. Royal. Overall It was very well written and I am definitely going to read more of her books.
The main relationship had good chemistry and the right amount of angst. But I do have a few small issues. I think their insecurities could've been discussed a bit more. And I would've preferred for the emotional component to be as as strong as the sexual one in their relationship. Like the bathroom scene didn't feel right after such a serious discussion about Neal.
Elena's relationship with Livvie was precious and easily my favourite thing in the book.
This is the first book I've read by L.E. Royal. Overall It was very well written and I am definitely going to read more of her books.
October 14, 2020
3.5 Stars for this story of Maya Scott. Maya is trying to regain custody of her three year old daughter, Livvie. Robert Holt, Livvie’s grandfather on her father’s side, won custody when Livvie was arrested and served 6 mo. for drug possession, which appears she had been set up. Maya is excited to start a new job as a project coordinator at The Mars Fund, a charitable organization that raises funds from corporate and individuals for various projects. She is apprehensive to meet her boss, CEO Elena Mars. Elena Mars, with a reputation of being a demanding ice queen boss and as Maya learns later also has Cerebral Palsy (CP). The ice queen melts when she meets Maya’s daughter, Livvie. She entertains Livvie, when she is dropped off by her grandfather earlier than Maya expected for a weekend visit. For me, Elena and Livvie’s special bond is one of my favorite parts of the book.
It was interesting to have a main character with a disability such as CP. In Elena’s case her symptoms are not as debilitating as many with CP although at times it can be severe. She has tremors and sometimes slurred speech. Such that she is often mistaken to be drunk. I liked how the author showed Elena’s struggles controlling (or inability to control) her CP in everyday and work situations.
The romance itself was good. Although there was an age gap of fourteen years, I felt the biggest gap to overcome for the pair was social and financial rather than age. There were elements dom/sub relationship which normally I’m OK with but in this case, I tended to skim over these parts. I don’t know why but it may have been my mood at the time or the way it was written. . Your mileage may differ.
In general, I liked this story and the main characters. I liked the diversity. For example, Elena is a Latina and Maya’s best friend is non-binary. Its rare to have a main character with any disability. I myself am mobility disabled but it’s nothing compared to someone with CP goes through every day.
An ARC was given to me by Nine Star Press and Netgalley for an honest review.
It was interesting to have a main character with a disability such as CP. In Elena’s case her symptoms are not as debilitating as many with CP although at times it can be severe. She has tremors and sometimes slurred speech. Such that she is often mistaken to be drunk. I liked how the author showed Elena’s struggles controlling (or inability to control) her CP in everyday and work situations.
The romance itself was good. Although there was an age gap of fourteen years, I felt the biggest gap to overcome for the pair was social and financial rather than age. There were elements dom/sub relationship which normally I’m OK with but in this case, I tended to skim over these parts. I don’t know why but it may have been my mood at the time or the way it was written. . Your mileage may differ.
In general, I liked this story and the main characters. I liked the diversity. For example, Elena is a Latina and Maya’s best friend is non-binary. Its rare to have a main character with any disability. I myself am mobility disabled but it’s nothing compared to someone with CP goes through every day.
An ARC was given to me by Nine Star Press and Netgalley for an honest review.
August 5, 2020
I’m still struggling a little with how I feel about this book, even though I’ve sat on it for a while.
Firstly, it’s not quite a four star book - more of 3.75, so I’m rounding up. There are some parts of this book I really enjoyed and others that left me with a bit of a sour taste. I like a workplace romance, and an age-gap romance and I didn't mind the power dynamic as such - I was uncomfortable with some of the conversations - however I can imagine someone saying these things - so they aren't necessarily unrealistic.
I only know the basics of CP, so in order to review the work fairly I did a bit of reading. The depiction seems in line with the type of CP discussed in the book so whilst I’m not really qualified to discuss it in much more depth, I am disabled and relatively high functioning, so am comfortable talking about the feelings Elena displays, which to be fair, are mostly pretty much exactly how I’ve felt at times. Elena’s stubbornness and desire to ‘go it alone’ read very true, as does the impact of having a loving relationship on those feelings.
I loved the interactions with Maya’s daughter - Livvie - and Elena - in fact they were probably my favourite part of the book. I also really enjoyed the non-binary representation of Maya’s best friend, the use of pronouns and the discussion of introducing this to Livvie.
This is definitely worth a read - it just comes with a beware it isn't a particularly light book.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly, it’s not quite a four star book - more of 3.75, so I’m rounding up. There are some parts of this book I really enjoyed and others that left me with a bit of a sour taste. I like a workplace romance, and an age-gap romance and I didn't mind the power dynamic as such - I was uncomfortable with some of the conversations - however I can imagine someone saying these things - so they aren't necessarily unrealistic.
I only know the basics of CP, so in order to review the work fairly I did a bit of reading. The depiction seems in line with the type of CP discussed in the book so whilst I’m not really qualified to discuss it in much more depth, I am disabled and relatively high functioning, so am comfortable talking about the feelings Elena displays, which to be fair, are mostly pretty much exactly how I’ve felt at times. Elena’s stubbornness and desire to ‘go it alone’ read very true, as does the impact of having a loving relationship on those feelings.
I loved the interactions with Maya’s daughter - Livvie - and Elena - in fact they were probably my favourite part of the book. I also really enjoyed the non-binary representation of Maya’s best friend, the use of pronouns and the discussion of introducing this to Livvie.
This is definitely worth a read - it just comes with a beware it isn't a particularly light book.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2020
Excellent!
Feeling lost until you find someone who loves you because of who you are, the women with all the imperfections. But when you are finally in a good place and your lover is doing the wrong thing for the right reason, it could ruin everything. Off Balance was everything I wanted it to be: a strong storyline, well defined characters, emotional, juicy, captivating, age-gap, a cute kid and a romance to die for. It is truly an amazing story that you don't want to end. Needless to say, I can highly recommend it.
Feeling lost until you find someone who loves you because of who you are, the women with all the imperfections. But when you are finally in a good place and your lover is doing the wrong thing for the right reason, it could ruin everything. Off Balance was everything I wanted it to be: a strong storyline, well defined characters, emotional, juicy, captivating, age-gap, a cute kid and a romance to die for. It is truly an amazing story that you don't want to end. Needless to say, I can highly recommend it.
January 17, 2021
Quite an edgy writer, I found the begining unsafe - I didn't have confidence in the author, but the more I read the more I was sucked in - and by the end I was totally sold, really pleased that I read on!
July 25, 2020
This book has me a little off balance as I don’t really know what I think about this one. It was a fast and good read, it the story was so-so for me.
Maya is starting a new job at the Mars Foundation, she needs this job to make sure she has a stable home and financial position in hopes to get custody of her young daughter again. When Maya meets her new boss Elena in the bathroom she thinks she is drunk, slurring her speech and uncontrolled movements make her jump to this conclusion. Turns out Elena has CP, instead of saying so she is her usual Ice Queen, as she is dubbed by her employees. When Maya’s daughter get dropped at the office by her grandfather, maybe fears for the worst; losing her job and any sight on ever getting Livvie back. As it turns out Elena is enamoured with the young girl and babysits her all afternoon. From then on Maya and Elena start connecting on a more personal level. Never really sure about what one sees in the other they continue building a relationship. They encounter trouble on their path and how they deal with that is satisfactory for them, but not for me.
The power dynamics, the angst and (many) insecurities that were swiftly swept under the table, made this a bit of a weird read for me. I don’t mind age gap romances, or work place romance, but this one just doesn’t do it for me. The story itself is rather sweet, the connection between Elena and Livvie very well done and lovely to read, but somehow this book left me with the feeling both characters are just using the other one. In the book this is actually addressed, but I guess it wasn’t believable enough for me and that is what irks me about this story, the feeling of one or both characters just using each other.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
Maya is starting a new job at the Mars Foundation, she needs this job to make sure she has a stable home and financial position in hopes to get custody of her young daughter again. When Maya meets her new boss Elena in the bathroom she thinks she is drunk, slurring her speech and uncontrolled movements make her jump to this conclusion. Turns out Elena has CP, instead of saying so she is her usual Ice Queen, as she is dubbed by her employees. When Maya’s daughter get dropped at the office by her grandfather, maybe fears for the worst; losing her job and any sight on ever getting Livvie back. As it turns out Elena is enamoured with the young girl and babysits her all afternoon. From then on Maya and Elena start connecting on a more personal level. Never really sure about what one sees in the other they continue building a relationship. They encounter trouble on their path and how they deal with that is satisfactory for them, but not for me.
The power dynamics, the angst and (many) insecurities that were swiftly swept under the table, made this a bit of a weird read for me. I don’t mind age gap romances, or work place romance, but this one just doesn’t do it for me. The story itself is rather sweet, the connection between Elena and Livvie very well done and lovely to read, but somehow this book left me with the feeling both characters are just using the other one. In the book this is actually addressed, but I guess it wasn’t believable enough for me and that is what irks me about this story, the feeling of one or both characters just using each other.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
July 28, 2020
I really enjoyed L.E. Royal's last book, Never Knew Until You, in fact it's one of my favorite books, so I was super excited to get into this one. I finished it a couple of days ago but wasn't ready to write a review as soon as I was done. I needed some time to think about the book as a whole. First, there is no way to compare this book to Never Knew, they are two completely different plots. I like the fact that this author wrote a character with Cerebral Palsy was a main character. I give the author a lot of credit for doing this as many authors would be too afraid. Elena's character on the outside to the rest of the world is an Ice Queen but deep down she's a big softie with a lot of love to give. The scene where Maya and Elena met for the first time as absolutely cringe worthy, but so good! Maya's back story was an interesting one and I couldn't help rooting for her to get custody of Livvie. Elena and Maya's relationship was a complex to say the least. Elena's disability caused her to have a lot of trouble letting someone in and she was often inclined to pushing Maya away. Maya's love for Elena was apparent as she tried to learn as much as she could about CP, especially about Elena's type of CP. She wanted to help her girlfriend no matter what and most of the time Elena balked at the help....to proud to take it (which is understandable). The author tried to weave in control/power play into the bedroom scenes, which honestly, I didn't feel really fit into the plot that well. Elena and Maya were a lot but I was rooting for them to stop being so immature and find their way back to one another. Overall this was a good book that is entertaining with some plot elements that many other books of this genre don't have.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2020
This is not an enjoyable book. I picked it on the basis that I really liked a previous book by the same author, (Never Knew Until I Met You, featuring a kinky dominatrix), but this was a different kettle of fish altogether.
The two main characters/love interests are in what can only be described as an abusive relationship, that is dressed up and presented as love. The emotional manipulation visited upon Maya by Elena are horrendous in isolation, even without factoring in that Maya is the newest hire in Elena's company. Yes real life people are horrible and do things like this but presenting it to the reader as wonderful, idealised, romantic love is twisted.
The previous book I read by this author had some excellent bdsm sex scenes that were really well written and included a discussion of what would occur and crucially, informed consent. In "Off Balance", however, despite their sex life involving power-play, choking, spanking: there is only one tiny discussion on preferences...at the very end! In one particularly shocking incident, Maya tells Elena that she was raped. Within minutes, Elena corners Maya in the restaurant bathroom, pins her against the sink and gropes her! Again, this is all presented as passionate and loving, rather than insensitive and creepy.
The final nail in the coffin for me, was the series of bizarre and incorrect statements on Cerebral Palsy. It was brilliant to have a character with CP in a lesfic romance, but having worked with children and adults with this condition some of the claims made were bullshit.
The two main characters/love interests are in what can only be described as an abusive relationship, that is dressed up and presented as love. The emotional manipulation visited upon Maya by Elena are horrendous in isolation, even without factoring in that Maya is the newest hire in Elena's company. Yes real life people are horrible and do things like this but presenting it to the reader as wonderful, idealised, romantic love is twisted.
The previous book I read by this author had some excellent bdsm sex scenes that were really well written and included a discussion of what would occur and crucially, informed consent. In "Off Balance", however, despite their sex life involving power-play, choking, spanking: there is only one tiny discussion on preferences...at the very end! In one particularly shocking incident, Maya tells Elena that she was raped. Within minutes, Elena corners Maya in the restaurant bathroom, pins her against the sink and gropes her! Again, this is all presented as passionate and loving, rather than insensitive and creepy.
The final nail in the coffin for me, was the series of bizarre and incorrect statements on Cerebral Palsy. It was brilliant to have a character with CP in a lesfic romance, but having worked with children and adults with this condition some of the claims made were bullshit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2020
There are some seriously good books published in 2020 and this is one of them.
The blurb enticed me. Single mother who lost the custody of her child vs an Ice Queen with Cerebral Palsy. It has all the makings of some of the comebacks and pairing you want to see succeed in life. I was itching to start the book and before I did I delved a little into CP.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and posture. I dove into the book with this little knowledge and emerged with a deeper understanding on the condition.
Behind the facade of a cold and impenetrable CEO, Elena was every bit an enigma to Maya who was a fearsome force to her colleagues yet a warm and loving character to her child. Locked in the limitations of her condition, even through years of a concoction of therapies, Elena struggled with the belief and acceptance that she would find love and a family. A younger Maya, manoeuvring through life with baggage of her own was also deeply entrenched in her insecurities and failures in life. I rooted for the pairing and the book delivered on all the angst.
Every lesbian tale has its fair share of activities in the bedroom and if you think CP limits such pleasures then this book will be an eye opener for you. I enjoyed every bit of the story. This is my first book of the author’s but certainly not the last.
I just reviewed Off Balance by L.E. Royal. #OffBalance #NetGalley
The blurb enticed me. Single mother who lost the custody of her child vs an Ice Queen with Cerebral Palsy. It has all the makings of some of the comebacks and pairing you want to see succeed in life. I was itching to start the book and before I did I delved a little into CP.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and posture. I dove into the book with this little knowledge and emerged with a deeper understanding on the condition.
Behind the facade of a cold and impenetrable CEO, Elena was every bit an enigma to Maya who was a fearsome force to her colleagues yet a warm and loving character to her child. Locked in the limitations of her condition, even through years of a concoction of therapies, Elena struggled with the belief and acceptance that she would find love and a family. A younger Maya, manoeuvring through life with baggage of her own was also deeply entrenched in her insecurities and failures in life. I rooted for the pairing and the book delivered on all the angst.
Every lesbian tale has its fair share of activities in the bedroom and if you think CP limits such pleasures then this book will be an eye opener for you. I enjoyed every bit of the story. This is my first book of the author’s but certainly not the last.
I just reviewed Off Balance by L.E. Royal. #OffBalance #NetGalley
May 28, 2023
Dnf 44% , i just can’t take it anymore
July 25, 2020
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Maya is desperate to regain custody of her daughter and needs to keep a steady job to do it. She think she's finally found that steady job but on her very first day, she manages to get on the wrong side of Elena, the irresistible Ice Queen who happens to be her boss. Maya just might be able to thaw the Ice Queen - with the help of a child.
This is a very sweet story with two leads who seem like opposites but are just perfect for each other. But if you're after heat, don't worry - it's got plenty of that. The power dynamics between Maya and Elena were dynamite when things became a lot less "sweet". A pleasant, uncomplicated read.
Maya is desperate to regain custody of her daughter and needs to keep a steady job to do it. She think she's finally found that steady job but on her very first day, she manages to get on the wrong side of Elena, the irresistible Ice Queen who happens to be her boss. Maya just might be able to thaw the Ice Queen - with the help of a child.
This is a very sweet story with two leads who seem like opposites but are just perfect for each other. But if you're after heat, don't worry - it's got plenty of that. The power dynamics between Maya and Elena were dynamite when things became a lot less "sweet". A pleasant, uncomplicated read.
December 5, 2025
Wow. I'm struggling to find the right words to describe how this made me feel.
I enjoyed every page of this story. My main thought while reading the first few chapters was that Maya and Elena were moving a little too fast for my taste, but in the grand scheme, it makes more sense this way. Okay, Elena doesn't get to show off her ice queen side until later, but it works perfectly. This isn't a slow-burn but a story about their struggles, as a young mother without custody, and as a powerful CEO with cerebral palsy. I did think the time skips were obvious, maybe a little confusing, but it was necessary to fast forward to establish their relationship for the sake of the plot. It would have been nice if the overall story was longer, thus allotting more time for the build-up, but that's me wanting more time with the characters.
I can't say I know much about what it means to have CP. My opinion is that Elena's condition was demonstrated clearly and respectfully, and it certainly wasn't incorporated just for the sake of representation. Even to the ignorant reader like me, it was easy to understand Elena's insecurities, even before the extent of her symptoms are described. Still, Elena's sense of authority is so formidable that I felt guilty any time I started to sympathize with her.
When it comes to conflict, I'm used to lowering my expectations just a little. It doesn't matter how intelligent the characters are, I usually come away feeling that their communication skills were lacking, and that I could do better to resolve the tension were I in their shoes. This was not the case here. The communication was balanced perfectly, no party withholding their feelings at the crucial moment. Sometimes it was messy and repetitive, and a reader might wonder how many times one needs to say "I love you," but this was exactly the way I like it. Their conversations seemed reflective of real life, because we aren't all perceptive enough that the important things only need to be said once. The flawless and yet flawed communication between Maya and Elena resonated with me. I haven't cried for fictional characters in a while, and I'm not embarrassed to say that I did for these two.
Lest I write an uncomfortable, essay-long review: unquestionable five stars. Six if possible.
I enjoyed every page of this story. My main thought while reading the first few chapters was that Maya and Elena were moving a little too fast for my taste, but in the grand scheme, it makes more sense this way. Okay, Elena doesn't get to show off her ice queen side until later, but it works perfectly. This isn't a slow-burn but a story about their struggles, as a young mother without custody, and as a powerful CEO with cerebral palsy. I did think the time skips were obvious, maybe a little confusing, but it was necessary to fast forward to establish their relationship for the sake of the plot. It would have been nice if the overall story was longer, thus allotting more time for the build-up, but that's me wanting more time with the characters.
I can't say I know much about what it means to have CP. My opinion is that Elena's condition was demonstrated clearly and respectfully, and it certainly wasn't incorporated just for the sake of representation. Even to the ignorant reader like me, it was easy to understand Elena's insecurities, even before the extent of her symptoms are described. Still, Elena's sense of authority is so formidable that I felt guilty any time I started to sympathize with her.
When it comes to conflict, I'm used to lowering my expectations just a little. It doesn't matter how intelligent the characters are, I usually come away feeling that their communication skills were lacking, and that I could do better to resolve the tension were I in their shoes. This was not the case here. The communication was balanced perfectly, no party withholding their feelings at the crucial moment. Sometimes it was messy and repetitive, and a reader might wonder how many times one needs to say "I love you," but this was exactly the way I like it. Their conversations seemed reflective of real life, because we aren't all perceptive enough that the important things only need to be said once. The flawless and yet flawed communication between Maya and Elena resonated with me. I haven't cried for fictional characters in a while, and I'm not embarrassed to say that I did for these two.
Lest I write an uncomfortable, essay-long review: unquestionable five stars. Six if possible.
March 6, 2022
I started off liking this a lot more than I ended up. Initially despite the illogical stuff around the "bitch boss" being actually really nice and even somewhat vulnerable this seemed like ridiculously sweet escapism and exactly what I needed. I often get irritated by kids in books (though I acknowledge they are hard to write) but this was on the good side of it with Livvie in the picture only some of the time and making an excuse for the two of them to meet up, rather than just an accessory. There was also obvious conflict in the shape of her grandfather who Elena also knew. All in all things were going well for me.
The sex was not completely my cup of tea, the power-game thing...but it was done well with very obvious consent and care built into what was clearly a game. So I chalked that up to "not everyone writes specifically for me" but I have to admit I was loving the sweet story more than the racy parts. At one point Maya speculates that Elena acts overy sexualised as a coping mechanism because she has never been allowed to be vulnerable and has got used to rejection. I thought the psychology of that was interesting and plausible.
I liked that Elena had CP and that Maya's best friend was non-binary (but I was puzzled that at one point in the book a woman was described as "like Winling" which seeemed to be erasing Winling's gender a bit...but I figured imperfect representation is still something and authors get my admiration for trying to write outside their comfort zone. I had mixed feelings about Elena being quite so sexy and high-achieving (disabled people who don't have movie-star good looks or mansions are also valid) but still...her condition and the impact of that on her dating (but not her desirability) was awesome and there is a real need not to erase the fact that disabled people can fuck (I heard that from a disabled speaker it's not something I had considered so much myself). Elena being Latina was mentioned twice but did not really affect anything so it seemed to be just becoming a box-ticking activity (query around Winling for this too). While I didn't like the powerplay from a personal perspective I also thought it was good to see a femme topping a butch.
Where it really lost me started with the date being interrupted by Elena's mum. Elena, a successful, driven and uncompromising businesswoman in her mid-to-late 30s who says her parents have never treated her as disabled but always expected the same from her as her sister suddenly acts like a 17 year old who has been told off. She rudely dismisses Maya because her Mummy assumes she will. I found that a stretch too far and it kind of ruined the Elena character. Maya seemed not to see it that way, she was disappointed but not outraged.
This was compounded later by the event where Elena lets her mum choose a date for her (someone she already has an unsuccessful history with) and when Maya is cross Winling and Alicia are not even sympathetic. Alicia even says "We know Elena's life is pretty different than ours, and her family are probably really strict or something". The predictable happens, Maya goes to the party and behaves immaturely. Elena sees her drunk and clearly acting out her insecurity and toys with her before throwing ridiculous accusation at her. At that point I almost stopped reading.
The boss-employee power differential comes to the fore here (I guess it was always unethical but in a romance novel the reader generally lets herself be distracted from that) and Maya narrowly escapes losing her job. Elena says something to her lawyer who also lays into her (inappropriate much?) There's a real lack of any sort of boundaries in this book which I found a bit unpalatable. Maya is bad because Elena was considering parenting her child with her (fast work?) nevermind the fact that Elena is still immature enough to date whoever mummy says. We're not talking about dependence either- the woman has a mansion and bucketloads of money!
I wasn't liking it then but I hoped that episode would pass. I was already a bit grossed out both by Livvie's conception (an older guy who had been her teacher didn't check for consent but it's not his fault because she didn't fight him off) and by Kevin (who at least is presented ultimately as a bad guy). Now suddenly Maya is mugged for her phone and the guy also sexually assaults her. I frankly found that triggering to read but it doesn't mean writers can't write about it of course, only I probably would not have read the book had I known.
Elena comes around, initially to check that Maya is ok but then EMOTIONALLY ABUSES her when she is still in pieces from the assault. Then she dominates her and there's a scene where she grabs her breast which seems too soon after the mugger did the same thing. All in all I feel the literal assault is passed over as if it is no big deal which is kinda gaslighty. So that part I had a major issue with.
After this they get back together again and it's sweet again but I wasn't feeling it. I am seeing the parenting books shoved in the bin and seeing lack of boundaries and big over-reactions. Robin is horrible to Maya and I like how Maya handled it. Elena says it's "immature" but sympathetically, it seems less immature than some of the other stuff in the novel and also very satisfying. I would have liked a comparable scene with Robert to be honest.
The court case is an anticlimax of slow, vague movement toward the predictable and then the bad guy becomes their friend. I would have liked some detail, some twist there considering it's such a big part of the plot and then just suddenly dissolves into nothing. The epilogue is sweet and politically sound and probably necessary, especially if most readers are in the US where two mothers is possibly still more of a big deal but there's so much consumption- parenting is constructed as having enough money for the best schools and the best pre-k and the big room with the child choosing the paint. I preferred the beginning where it was about drawing in a notebook or playing teatime.
Anyway I did enjoy the sweet parts for over half of the book, as I said one of the sex scenes was well written and I appreciated both a non-binary character and a disabled protagonist. I also have some respect for anyone who wrestles with They/Them pronouns so props to L E Royal for that. Younger, less cranky readers than me (who have not lived through a sexual assault) might enjoy it better than I did.
The sex was not completely my cup of tea, the power-game thing...but it was done well with very obvious consent and care built into what was clearly a game. So I chalked that up to "not everyone writes specifically for me" but I have to admit I was loving the sweet story more than the racy parts. At one point Maya speculates that Elena acts overy sexualised as a coping mechanism because she has never been allowed to be vulnerable and has got used to rejection. I thought the psychology of that was interesting and plausible.
I liked that Elena had CP and that Maya's best friend was non-binary (but I was puzzled that at one point in the book a woman was described as "like Winling" which seeemed to be erasing Winling's gender a bit...but I figured imperfect representation is still something and authors get my admiration for trying to write outside their comfort zone. I had mixed feelings about Elena being quite so sexy and high-achieving (disabled people who don't have movie-star good looks or mansions are also valid) but still...her condition and the impact of that on her dating (but not her desirability) was awesome and there is a real need not to erase the fact that disabled people can fuck (I heard that from a disabled speaker it's not something I had considered so much myself). Elena being Latina was mentioned twice but did not really affect anything so it seemed to be just becoming a box-ticking activity (query around Winling for this too). While I didn't like the powerplay from a personal perspective I also thought it was good to see a femme topping a butch.
Where it really lost me started with the date being interrupted by Elena's mum. Elena, a successful, driven and uncompromising businesswoman in her mid-to-late 30s who says her parents have never treated her as disabled but always expected the same from her as her sister suddenly acts like a 17 year old who has been told off. She rudely dismisses Maya because her Mummy assumes she will. I found that a stretch too far and it kind of ruined the Elena character. Maya seemed not to see it that way, she was disappointed but not outraged.
This was compounded later by the event where Elena lets her mum choose a date for her (someone she already has an unsuccessful history with) and when Maya is cross Winling and Alicia are not even sympathetic. Alicia even says "We know Elena's life is pretty different than ours, and her family are probably really strict or something". The predictable happens, Maya goes to the party and behaves immaturely. Elena sees her drunk and clearly acting out her insecurity and toys with her before throwing ridiculous accusation at her. At that point I almost stopped reading.
The boss-employee power differential comes to the fore here (I guess it was always unethical but in a romance novel the reader generally lets herself be distracted from that) and Maya narrowly escapes losing her job. Elena says something to her lawyer who also lays into her (inappropriate much?) There's a real lack of any sort of boundaries in this book which I found a bit unpalatable. Maya is bad because Elena was considering parenting her child with her (fast work?) nevermind the fact that Elena is still immature enough to date whoever mummy says. We're not talking about dependence either- the woman has a mansion and bucketloads of money!
I wasn't liking it then but I hoped that episode would pass. I was already a bit grossed out both by Livvie's conception (an older guy who had been her teacher didn't check for consent but it's not his fault because she didn't fight him off) and by Kevin (who at least is presented ultimately as a bad guy). Now suddenly Maya is mugged for her phone and the guy also sexually assaults her. I frankly found that triggering to read but it doesn't mean writers can't write about it of course, only I probably would not have read the book had I known.
Elena comes around, initially to check that Maya is ok but then EMOTIONALLY ABUSES her when she is still in pieces from the assault. Then she dominates her and there's a scene where she grabs her breast which seems too soon after the mugger did the same thing. All in all I feel the literal assault is passed over as if it is no big deal which is kinda gaslighty. So that part I had a major issue with.
After this they get back together again and it's sweet again but I wasn't feeling it. I am seeing the parenting books shoved in the bin and seeing lack of boundaries and big over-reactions. Robin is horrible to Maya and I like how Maya handled it. Elena says it's "immature" but sympathetically, it seems less immature than some of the other stuff in the novel and also very satisfying. I would have liked a comparable scene with Robert to be honest.
The court case is an anticlimax of slow, vague movement toward the predictable and then the bad guy becomes their friend. I would have liked some detail, some twist there considering it's such a big part of the plot and then just suddenly dissolves into nothing. The epilogue is sweet and politically sound and probably necessary, especially if most readers are in the US where two mothers is possibly still more of a big deal but there's so much consumption- parenting is constructed as having enough money for the best schools and the best pre-k and the big room with the child choosing the paint. I preferred the beginning where it was about drawing in a notebook or playing teatime.
Anyway I did enjoy the sweet parts for over half of the book, as I said one of the sex scenes was well written and I appreciated both a non-binary character and a disabled protagonist. I also have some respect for anyone who wrestles with They/Them pronouns so props to L E Royal for that. Younger, less cranky readers than me (who have not lived through a sexual assault) might enjoy it better than I did.
November 11, 2020
I'm giving this book five stars because the romance was so dynamic and explosive that it kept me reading on and on. But there were a lot of hurtful words being thrown around. So much insecurities between the couple and so much misunderstandings.
October 15, 2020
It was 3,5 stars for me because, as a lot people around here, there are things I really liked, things that should have been more developed in my opinion and things that threw me off.
Likes: Elena's CP and Maya's baggage because I think those "details" make the characters deeper, more interesting, and the story more complicated than the typical age-gap ice-queen situation. Cheers to those authors that show us other situations and differ from the very perfect main characters we are used to read and, quite frankly, bore me to death.
More developed: maybe the romance between them because it felt easy and fast. I loved how Elena is hesitant given her situation and how Maya can't see herself as someone deserving Elena (or as the subject of such love) and even though the insecurities from both the characters arised, it still felt rather "easy". Then there is the relationship between Robert Holt and Elena and how it was like a passing comment.
Things that threw me off: the party night because it felt like the author wanted to add drama, a breaking point, but the events that lead to it feel underdeveloped and more of a teen's romance than two grown ups. I know, Maya is rather young but after the life she has had I give her more credit. I know she is insecure and what Elena did wasn't right at all... And I still wonder why Elena, 36 years old, would accept what her mother told her and assisting with Robin knowing how painful it'd be for anyone.
The big "but" for me was discovering after two chapter that the story comes from a SwanQueen fic. Don't get me wrong, I love SQ and I love fics, but I don't like to find so many similarities in a book, not when the pilars of the story rely on a fic.
Likes: Elena's CP and Maya's baggage because I think those "details" make the characters deeper, more interesting, and the story more complicated than the typical age-gap ice-queen situation. Cheers to those authors that show us other situations and differ from the very perfect main characters we are used to read and, quite frankly, bore me to death.
More developed: maybe the romance between them because it felt easy and fast. I loved how Elena is hesitant given her situation and how Maya can't see herself as someone deserving Elena (or as the subject of such love) and even though the insecurities from both the characters arised, it still felt rather "easy". Then there is the relationship between Robert Holt and Elena and how it was like a passing comment.
Things that threw me off: the party night because it felt like the author wanted to add drama, a breaking point, but the events that lead to it feel underdeveloped and more of a teen's romance than two grown ups. I know, Maya is rather young but after the life she has had I give her more credit. I know she is insecure and what Elena did wasn't right at all... And I still wonder why Elena, 36 years old, would accept what her mother told her and assisting with Robin knowing how painful it'd be for anyone.
The big "but" for me was discovering after two chapter that the story comes from a SwanQueen fic. Don't get me wrong, I love SQ and I love fics, but I don't like to find so many similarities in a book, not when the pilars of the story rely on a fic.
July 27, 2020
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
Content notes:
DNF 44% but I’m counting this as read and I enjoyed what I read. I’m just having trouble staying engaged in contemporary once the couple is together, so rather than force myself to keep reading and potentially get too bored, I’m stopping at what I consider happy ending.
Maya is in her early 20s and is a single mom, though she doesn’t have custody of her three-year-old daughter because while she was pregnant, Livvie’s grandfather got Maya arrested on drug possession charges and gained custody after her birth. Livvie is Maya’s whole word and she’s doing her best to her life together so she can gain custody of Livvie.
In that process, Maya gets a job at The Mars Fund and meets Elena Mars. Elena has cerebral palsy and comes across as very cold at times, but when Robert brings Livvie to Maya’s job early one day, Maya sees the softer side of Elena when she plays tea party the rest of the day. There was immediate aesthetic and sexual attraction on Maya’s part, but seeing Elena with her daughter is the beginning of softer feelings.
This isn’t one of the best romances I’ve read, and maybe a little more focused on attraction than feelings, but I do love the interactions between Maya and Elena over the course of the book, especially scenes with Livvie. I love domesticity, and this book has that in spades!
Overall, what I read was really enjoyable, especially if you enjoy single parent romances. I have confidence that the custody situation will be resolved in Maya’s favor, especially with Elena at her side, but I was unable to stay interested long enough to see that arc concluded.
Content notes:
DNF 44% but I’m counting this as read and I enjoyed what I read. I’m just having trouble staying engaged in contemporary once the couple is together, so rather than force myself to keep reading and potentially get too bored, I’m stopping at what I consider happy ending.
Maya is in her early 20s and is a single mom, though she doesn’t have custody of her three-year-old daughter because while she was pregnant, Livvie’s grandfather got Maya arrested on drug possession charges and gained custody after her birth. Livvie is Maya’s whole word and she’s doing her best to her life together so she can gain custody of Livvie.
In that process, Maya gets a job at The Mars Fund and meets Elena Mars. Elena has cerebral palsy and comes across as very cold at times, but when Robert brings Livvie to Maya’s job early one day, Maya sees the softer side of Elena when she plays tea party the rest of the day. There was immediate aesthetic and sexual attraction on Maya’s part, but seeing Elena with her daughter is the beginning of softer feelings.
This isn’t one of the best romances I’ve read, and maybe a little more focused on attraction than feelings, but I do love the interactions between Maya and Elena over the course of the book, especially scenes with Livvie. I love domesticity, and this book has that in spades!
Overall, what I read was really enjoyable, especially if you enjoy single parent romances. I have confidence that the custody situation will be resolved in Maya’s favor, especially with Elena at her side, but I was unable to stay interested long enough to see that arc concluded.
September 10, 2020
The main characters in this workplace, age-gap romance make for an unusual pair. They do not seem to have much in common and each sees themselves as broken in significant ways. Their respective willingness to confront these issues is what ultimately makes the story work.
In addition to the workplace and age-gap issues the story arc touches on a number of other themes including cerebral palsy, custody disputes, life of a foster child, parenting with a criminal record, dominant/submissive sex, step parenting and great wealth disparity. While all of these are interesting story elements to explore, there are a few too many topicss to adequately address everything in one story. The result is a little choppy in places with more focus on events and less on the developing relationship between Maya and Elena. That aside, the main characters do achieve their hard earned HEA.
In addition to the workplace and age-gap issues the story arc touches on a number of other themes including cerebral palsy, custody disputes, life of a foster child, parenting with a criminal record, dominant/submissive sex, step parenting and great wealth disparity. While all of these are interesting story elements to explore, there are a few too many topicss to adequately address everything in one story. The result is a little choppy in places with more focus on events and less on the developing relationship between Maya and Elena. That aside, the main characters do achieve their hard earned HEA.
July 26, 2020
Recieved a copy of this book from the generous publisher and author via Netgalley.
Omg! This is the first book I've read by this author and I could not put it down. I spent my whole day reading this book and what a treasure it was. I love the author's writing style. Maya went thru so much in her young life that she had to overcome. Elena also has gone thru a lot and suffers with a disability. I know first hand how it is to be bitter towards people when you are dealing with health issues. So it was so sweet to see them find love in the midst of one's pain and suffering and not feeling good enough and another's physical disability.
And the sex scenes were HOT. I really enjoyed their intimate scenes. And sweet Livvie was such a joy. I was so sad when the book ended and would love to see a continuation into their lives and dealing with Elena's stuck up mom.
Overall, wonderful book that shows to never doubt yourself always know you are good enough, having wealth and status doesn't define you. When Maya finally realized that Elena loved her just for her was truly emotional. And when Elena finally let down her barriers about her age and disability bought tears to my eyes.
Please do yourself a favor and read this book you will not be disappointed.
Omg! This is the first book I've read by this author and I could not put it down. I spent my whole day reading this book and what a treasure it was. I love the author's writing style. Maya went thru so much in her young life that she had to overcome. Elena also has gone thru a lot and suffers with a disability. I know first hand how it is to be bitter towards people when you are dealing with health issues. So it was so sweet to see them find love in the midst of one's pain and suffering and not feeling good enough and another's physical disability.
And the sex scenes were HOT. I really enjoyed their intimate scenes. And sweet Livvie was such a joy. I was so sad when the book ended and would love to see a continuation into their lives and dealing with Elena's stuck up mom.
Overall, wonderful book that shows to never doubt yourself always know you are good enough, having wealth and status doesn't define you. When Maya finally realized that Elena loved her just for her was truly emotional. And when Elena finally let down her barriers about her age and disability bought tears to my eyes.
Please do yourself a favor and read this book you will not be disappointed.
August 2, 2020
All I can say is “Wow!”
It’s my first time reading a book from L. E. Royal and I am not disappointed. I don’t like to spoil the fun from giving out spoilers but all I can say is that the MCs are really fun and amazing. The flow of the story is not boring, I don’t want to stop reading until I finish it. The story really captivated me and I’m not ashamed to admit that it made me cry and made my heart ache.
I would recommend this book to my friends and to everyone, it really is a book worth reading. Now, I need to search other books from this author and start binge reading!
I received an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It’s my first time reading a book from L. E. Royal and I am not disappointed. I don’t like to spoil the fun from giving out spoilers but all I can say is that the MCs are really fun and amazing. The flow of the story is not boring, I don’t want to stop reading until I finish it. The story really captivated me and I’m not ashamed to admit that it made me cry and made my heart ache.
I would recommend this book to my friends and to everyone, it really is a book worth reading. Now, I need to search other books from this author and start binge reading!
I received an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2020
This is how you properly turn a fanfiction story into a novel, and a good novel at that! I loved this book, I loved the characters, I loved how CP issues were written. I heartily recommend this book!
November 25, 2023
A beautiful Ice Queen/age gap love story with an adorable little girl, Livvie. Maya is working at getting her daughter back. She gets a job at The Mars Fund, run by Eleana Mars. The build up for their relationship is so organic, boss and underling. It is also HOT! I definitely enjoyed this book! 5 stars!
August 7, 2020
Ultimately, I enjoyed this book. It was a fun, fairly quick read. There was lesbian, non-binary, and cerebral palsy representation which I appreciated. However, the actual romance developed too fast, and the conflict hindered on miscommunication and withheld information. Also, I really didn’t like the abuse of power in their relationship. There was a lot of build up about whether our MC would get custody of her daughter back, and it is resolved in a paragraph.
And if one more person gets “off balance” I might scream.
And if one more person gets “off balance” I might scream.
July 30, 2020
Its an office romance between the moody boss and her employee. Elena Mars is a strict boss who falls in love with her employee Maya Scott. They both enjoy a rollercoaster ride of LGBT romance.
I would say this book doesn't have much of a story. Its either the two main characters having sex or fighting. There's no uniquity. If you're searching for a light LGBT fiction, you might like this. Also the bond between Elena and Livvie, Maya's daughter is really cute and beautiful.
Thanks Netgelley for providing me with the ARC
I would say this book doesn't have much of a story. Its either the two main characters having sex or fighting. There's no uniquity. If you're searching for a light LGBT fiction, you might like this. Also the bond between Elena and Livvie, Maya's daughter is really cute and beautiful.
Thanks Netgelley for providing me with the ARC
June 14, 2021
Touching
Ugh, I hate doing these because I’m no writer. However, I feel compelled to do so to give this author the readership she so richly deserves. This a heartwarming story and it’s pretty steamy at some points too. The relationship is rocky at times and it’ll make you feel a bit sick to your stomach thinking the couple may not mend fences. Books like these are why I love reading so much. This one is worth your time.
Ugh, I hate doing these because I’m no writer. However, I feel compelled to do so to give this author the readership she so richly deserves. This a heartwarming story and it’s pretty steamy at some points too. The relationship is rocky at times and it’ll make you feel a bit sick to your stomach thinking the couple may not mend fences. Books like these are why I love reading so much. This one is worth your time.
September 24, 2020
Nice story
This is a nice age gap love story. The main characters are a single mother and an older boss with Cerebral Palsy. They had their share of ups and downs. There were great love scenes with a nice ending.
This is a nice age gap love story. The main characters are a single mother and an older boss with Cerebral Palsy. They had their share of ups and downs. There were great love scenes with a nice ending.
August 31, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. I am currently at that in-between age for YA and adult and haven't read too many adult romances, but this one was a solid pick. I felt for both of the main characters, and I have read very few books that feature a character who is both LGBT and disabled, so I enjoyed that a lot, as it felt very real. I could have used a little more character growth aside from their feelings for each other, but overall I would definitely read more books by this author.
I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. I am currently at that in-between age for YA and adult and haven't read too many adult romances, but this one was a solid pick. I felt for both of the main characters, and I have read very few books that feature a character who is both LGBT and disabled, so I enjoyed that a lot, as it felt very real. I could have used a little more character growth aside from their feelings for each other, but overall I would definitely read more books by this author.
August 14, 2020
Maya Scott goes to work at the Mars foundation where Elena Mars is the CEO. Maya has had a really rough time in her life and she is hoping this job turns around her luck. The main things she hopes to get out of this job is enough money to be able to gain custody of her young daughter. Elena Mars is an Ice Queen who just happens to have Cerebral Palsy. From an infant she was told she could do anything so she has become a high functioning adult.
So I have been reading some very interesting romances that has had a ton of diversity. That for sure was one of the highlights of this romance. Overall, I thought this romance was good but I did have a few issues. I liked both mains even when Elena was being a B. I thought she was for sure a strong character and behaved the way she did because of her disability. Maya was a likeable main and she was a bit more mature for her age because of her experiences. Overall even though there is an age gap, I thought they matched up fairly good. One of my issues was the angst in this romance. I totally did not understand it and I read it a few times to see if it made any sense for me. It did not. I was utterly confused as to what was going on. I also felt like the booked moved too fast. The connection between the two mains felt forced. I still think they made a good couple, it would have been nice to see a better connection between the mains.
So I thought this read was good enough. Nothing extra special besides the diversity in the characters. 3.25 stars.
This arc was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
So I have been reading some very interesting romances that has had a ton of diversity. That for sure was one of the highlights of this romance. Overall, I thought this romance was good but I did have a few issues. I liked both mains even when Elena was being a B. I thought she was for sure a strong character and behaved the way she did because of her disability. Maya was a likeable main and she was a bit more mature for her age because of her experiences. Overall even though there is an age gap, I thought they matched up fairly good. One of my issues was the angst in this romance. I totally did not understand it and I read it a few times to see if it made any sense for me. It did not. I was utterly confused as to what was going on. I also felt like the booked moved too fast. The connection between the two mains felt forced. I still think they made a good couple, it would have been nice to see a better connection between the mains.
So I thought this read was good enough. Nothing extra special besides the diversity in the characters. 3.25 stars.
This arc was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
April 2, 2021
Off Balance is, at its heart, an ice queen romance. When Maya starts a job at the Mars Foundation, she's focused on getting her life back together and regaining custody of her daughter. After a rather disastrous first meeting with the head of the Foundation things take a turn. Elena, the consummate ice queen is driven, unapproachable and hits all the hallmarks of an ice queen - but added to the mix is Elena's cerebral palsy, which gives an extra dimension to her character and the overall story and its nice to see some diversity in the standard characters. Maya's daughter becomes a bridge of sorts - Elena's frosty demeanor begins to melt and she and Maya begin to find a common ground.
I enjoyed the book and the characters, but at times the angst was a bit too much - the characters who were antagonists seemed two dimensional and too antagonistic.
I enjoyed the book and the characters, but at times the angst was a bit too much - the characters who were antagonists seemed two dimensional and too antagonistic.
September 22, 2020
Really steamy and a solid romance
MC is pretty weak and mentally broken when she meets someone that’s physically broken but strong as hell regardless. I didn’t even doubt about the age gap issue because they fit so well. Great story and great romance. I thought the winking substory romance happened out of thin air but mostly the MC and her love interest were wonderful.
MC is pretty weak and mentally broken when she meets someone that’s physically broken but strong as hell regardless. I didn’t even doubt about the age gap issue because they fit so well. Great story and great romance. I thought the winking substory romance happened out of thin air but mostly the MC and her love interest were wonderful.
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