Kelsie is a sucker for a love story with all the feels. When she's not chasing words for her next book, you will probably find her reading or, more likely, hanging out with her husband and playing with her three kiddos who love to drive her crazy.
She adores photography, baking, her yorkie, Bob, and her devon rex, Mara. And now that she's actively pursuing her writing dreams, she's set her sights on someday finding the self-discipline to not binge-watch an entire series on Netflix in one sitting.
MC is annoying not a badass, literally can’t count on one hand how many times she was referenced or referenced herself as being “different from all the other girls”. Biggest pick me MC i’ve literally ever read about. She has so many double standards. The love interest is just as douchey and again, refers to her as different then all the other girls. Bffr 😭
3.5 ⭐️ the beginning of the book was 5 star worthy. got to abt 75% went downhill. fuckinf blakely was being so selfish and annoying like why cant you appreciate what Theo has done. and then shes like, ‘why cant he tell me he loves me’ or ‘why cant he hold me’ theo is scared and he has anxiety bc he cant lose you and when you lose your shit in an instant doesnt make anything better. HE WAS GOING TO TELL YOU. YOU GAVE HIM NO TIME TO TELL YOU OR TO EXPLAIN. U WERE JUDT LIKE BYE AND U TROTTED. but i love theo with all my head i cannot. wait. for. kate and macks book. like shaking with excitement!!
Don’t Let Me Go tells the story of Theo, the boy next door, and Blakely, his best friend's little sister, colliding with an inevitable attraction that was years in the making. Blakely was such a strong character, speaking up for herself, going after what she wanted and not taking any shit from anyone, Theo included. And Theo, hockey captain, a star with a future in the NHL, bringing girls to their knees but never committing, was just so deliciously sexy and captivating. I loved how fiercely protective he was with Blakely, having her best interests at heart even if he didn't always show it in the right way. I couldn't get enough!
As a new adult romance, much of the earlier chapters concentrated heavily on college life with house parties and drinking games and probably could have been trimmed to get to the heart of the story. But the story was filled with so many life lessons focusing on chasing dreams and finding your purpose, fighting for what you believe in for the future you want.
"What happens when you look back at your life and realize you had to give up something you love to be with the person you care about?"
Theo and Blakely shared a history from childhood and were friends until the first time Theo saw her in a dress on her 15th birthday. But they were always secretly attracted to each other, or perhaps not so secretly in everyone else's eyes. I loved their connection with the push and pull, challenging each other, as they learned to trust and break down walls. Their love was addictive, consuming and filled with fire and intensity. I loved watching them let each other in, not being afraid to be vulnerable.
"We're gonna get through this. You and me, Baby Thorne. It's always been you and me."
The angst broke my heart into a million little pieces but the love between Theo and Blakely put it back together again better than before, especially with Theo's grand gesture. And I'm beyond words for the epilogue. Just beautiful! These two were destined to be together and I couldn't imagine it any other way.
** Special thanks to author Kelsie Rae for sending me this ARC to read and review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available September 20, 2022. **
Hated almost all characters in this book, except Colt and Theo. All good characters from the first book took a turn for the worse
Blake says she is “not like the other girls”, and I think that says it all about why I can not stand her She is also mad at Theo almost the whole book without any reason
The only reason to why they didn’t get together from the beginning was because Blake couldn’t get her head out of her ass
I love the brothers best friend trope, and almost want to rate this higher because it had that trope, but no, you want that trope, there’s so many other books that’s better.
The second book in this series follows the story of Blakely and Theo.
I knew I would love this one. After reading the first book in the series, Don’t let me fall, I already had a fair idea about Blakely and Theo’s characters, so I was very excited to learn this book was dedicated to them 🙌🏼🤭💖
‘Colt’s right. She’s gonna be the death of me. But what he doesn’t know is she’s been killing me for years.’ 💘
Blakely, otherwise known as Colt’s younger sister or Baby Thorne, has moved into town and things are going to get interesting. Blakely and Theo have always had a special connection, so when she lands in the same University as Theo it is an inevitable attraction, years in the making.
From the outset, I LOVED Blakely’s character. She was a strong female lead, not afraid of speaking up for herself and had a clear, focused goal.
Theo, hockey caption, otherwise known as Teddy, is a star in the making. But with love that was fiercely protective in nature, would she be his undoing?
The narrative follows their POV of both characters through their college lives. It may be filled with ice hockey games and parties but there are many life lessons along the way. Kellie tests the boundaries of fighting for what you believe in, finding your purpose, as well as finding your person 💖 What is worth fighting for, and what is worth giving up?
"What happens when you look back at your life and realize you had to give up something you love to be with the person you care about?" 💖
I really loved the connection between these two characters; particularly as there was history between them. They were constantly challenging each other. Learning to trust one another. Maturing together. Their love was all-consuming and filled with a deep sense of care, that had been born many years ago. This pair were destined to be together; written in the stars ✨
"We're gonna get through this. You and me, Baby Thorne. It's always been you and me." 🥹
Kelsie created a highly entertaining and compelling story, full of love and laughs. It was an emotional rollercoaster, to say the least. I loved that she also choose to included the full cast of characters from the first book. And finally, the ending - perfect 👌🏽 it was just the cherry on top 🍒
Man, I LOVED this book. If I could give ten stars, I would.
Theo is Blakely's older brother's best friend. They've had a thing for the other since she was 15 years old, but they've never acted on it. In fact, Theo pushed Blakely away for years.
Fast forward to college- Blakely is 19 and causing a stir on campus. Theo realizes that all of his friends want Blakely and that makes him irrationally jealous. He's very possessive of her and it shows. Blakely doesn't know why he's acting like that, but she just deals with it in her own way.
Theo spills to his whole hockey team that Blakely is a virgin and man, that caused some issues.
There's minimal OM/OW drama in this book- Blakley is dating someone from the team and Theo is a (reformed) manwhore. You know what there's a lot of? TENSION. This book is sooo full of unresolved tension, it was amazing. Theo and Blakely had to work hard for it, but they finally got their happily ever after.
safety: virgin heroine manwhore H brother's best friend OM/OW drama no cheating/sharing HEA ♡
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I'm not entirely sure I understand the character development, everything was very no, definitely not, never and then it was hell yeah, but actually no, then it was prove it, there was no such thing and then it was hells to the yeah. Then … I don't know, like a half third act maybe. Anyway, like I said, I may not totally understand their decisions, but who doesn't love a cutesy hockey romance? Me, for sure!
I was a bit let down by this book, not gonna lie. I read “Don’t Let Me Fall” and had my issues with it and honestly, this is the same book, but with worse character development and the same storyline.
First off, the writing is misogynistic.
Theo is an incredibly misogynistic character. I think it’s, for lack of a better word, stupid how he cares so much about Blake’s virginity. I think it’s stupid how he was talking about her virginity, even if it was a slip up, to the team. I hate the fact that the first plot point of this book is a bet on a woman’s virginity. I didn’t like how he constantly brakes his promises to Blake and gets forgiven and even rewarded. I feel this is a toxic relationship disguised as a good guy.
I feel Blake was such a strong character that just CRUMBLED under a man. The way that they make her be just for Theo. Him being her first, and probably only, is fine. But the way she says at one point how “it’s always been his” makes me wonder if we really have progressed as a society. How she’s so strong willed and just kept forgiving Theo.
The main problem with the writing, aside from the misogyny, in this book is, again, how problems just magically don’t become problems.
The first problem, Blake being Colts sister. They make a big deal about it, making the “best hokey team” lose a game, just so Colt can say “I know you’ve always loved her. Make it right and we’re cool”. Like, really, that simple?
Theo thinking he can do whatever he wants and declaring his love for Blake, causing HER to lose the internship she had WORKED SO HARD TO GET, even when she told him NOT TO DO IT. She honestly forgave him for that pretty quickly as well.
The fact that he could have had such a good redemption arc by TALKING to Blake about the offers, and they chose not to do that, because of the “grand gesture” at the end. He had promised in the last grand gesture he wouldn’t hurt her (which obvs is pretty imposible because we’re humans) BUT HE COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER, yet they just chose to leave him the same asshole who will just apologize each time and Blake will just constantly forgive him anyways. Like, such a waste of an incredible female character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
ok, the problem I have with this book and the last book is that the author just continuously stretches the story out, to the point where it just gets annoying.
Like for example, they would eventually have their happy “ending” but then there’d be this problem that causes them to distance from each other. This occurs in both books at least three times.
Every time I thought the book was gonna end, I find out that I have 200 pages left.
Also I just did not like the “I’m not like other girls, I’m a part of the boys” thing that just went on. Like it would’ve been great if the mc just never pointed it out. But she did, so that just irked me out. She wasn’t super pick me about it, but this quote has just grown to the point where it’s fully fucking cringe to read it.
But the book did deliver scenes that brought me joy and made me squeal, so extra points for that.
Phew! Finally finished it. First of all I enjoyed this one, but the angst was too much. The push and pull between them throughout the whole novel, gosh it kept me on my tippy toes, I was like no! Something is about to happen, no I don't like this feeling for like the entire time. The reason why I didn't give it 5 stars cause I wanted more of their time as a couple, they fought with each other for like 90% of the story so it would have been better to see them a lil bit more as a lovey dovey couple yk, lmao Blake and Theo would have cringed given the entire time of their bantering.
Anyways the whole dynamic, the sexual tension between Theo And Blake was nail biting. Their relationship was far from perfection still i loved their bond, it was so strong since they both harbored their feelings from childhood . Even though Theo fucked up so many times! He was remorseful for his behavior, He learned from his mistakes and tried making up things with Blake. And even though Blake said she hated him half the time she didn't give up on him, her maturity was one of her best qualities after the Sassy mouth of hers. Overall i enjoyed reading them, it really was worth my time.
3.5 ⭐️ Was REALLY not a fan of Theo at the beginning of this book which was making me sad because I loved his and Blake’s witty banter in the first book but he definitely redeemed himself, thankfully! He was down bad for her and I loved it, but it was lacking spice in areas where I felt it was needed, just sayin’ 🤷🏻♀️
Theo and Blakely are my favorite couple so far. The angst in this was everything I NEEDED! This book had me up until 3am finishing this book blushing and kicking my feet over Theo. The SPICE?! oh lord it’s too good. I’m sucked into this universe and I never want to leave.
This enemies to lovers is so good between the push and pulls that both Blakely and Theo have on each other. I enjoyed their chemistry which had the most satisfying moments that left me wanting more of them. Definitely a story to devour as these two try to figure out how to move forward with their relationship when they feel like there’s so many road blocks in the way.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was all right. I liked the first one and was hoping this was gonna be just as good but it wasn’t. Blakely wants to be treated like a woman and not as Colts little sister and that’s hard to do when she keeps making childish decisions when it came to Theo. Theo was a dick at first but I liked him better than Blakely because he got his head out of his ass and instead of fighting his feelings for her he chose to fight for her. Did she deserve it? Um no, she constantly kept pushing him away, kept making an ass out of herself by assuming he’s just another player always on the hunt for puck bunnies like she didn’t watch him blow up her phone asking for a chance over and over again. Ugh she was annoying as hell.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.