Review: Rush Too Far by Abbi Glines

Series: Too Far Book #4/Rosemary Beach Book #4
Format: Paperback
Pages: 240
Rating: 3 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Atria Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Fallen Too Far was Blaire's story. Now it's time for Rush to share his side.

Everyone in Rosemary Beach thinks they know how Rush Finlay and Blaire Wynn fell in love. But Rush is back to tell his side of the story...

Rush has earned every bit of his bad-boy reputation. The three-story beach house, luxury car, and line of girls begging for time between his sheets are the envy of every guy in Rosemary Beach, and Rush handles it all with the laid-back cool of a rock star’s son. All he needs are his best friend, Grant, and his sister, Nan.

Until Blaire Wynn drives into town in her beat-up pickup truck with a pistol under her seat. The Alabama farm girl instantly captures Rush’s attention once he discovers that the angelic beauty is his new stepsister, but he vows to keep his distance. Even if she needs his help. Even if he craves her.

Because Rush knows why Blaire is all alone in the world, forced to ask for help from the father who abandoned her three years ago. And he knows if he gets too close it will destroy Nan, who has a secret connection to Blaire.

He has every reason in the world to stay away from her. Find out why he doesn’t.

Review

This is a hard one for me to write. A lot of my feelings about this is how I felt about Fallen Too Far. And Rush is the kind of guy in New Adult that bothers me. I did know that going in. Despite my complaints, these books seem to always suck me in.

I did really like getting a slightly different look at Grant and Woods. They are my favorite guys in the series. Sometimes I liked Rush, but he was a little too caveman for me.

Something that really pisses me off is how Rush treats his mom and Nan. He is constantly yelling at them and threatening them with money. To me, this is abusive behavior. Just because they are bad people doesn't mean he can act that way.

If you like the Rosemary Beach series you will probably like this, too. But if you have some issues don't think this fixed them.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: When You’re Back by Abbi Glines

Series: Rosemary Beach Book #12

Format:ebook

Rating:4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Publisher: Simon and Schuster 

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines comes the next new adult novel in her beloved Rosemary Beach series, which continues the story of Mase and Reese from When I’m Gone.

The future is bright for Reese Ellis. She has Mase Colt-Manning, the man of her dreams, and a family she didn’t know existed until her long-lost father arrived on her doorstep in Rosemary Beach. After growing up with a cruel mother and abusive stepfather, Reese is eager to get to know the caring and charming man who wants to be a part of her life. Everything is finally falling into place.

While Reese is visiting her new family in Chicago, Mase spends time with his “cousin,” Aida, who has worshipped him since childhood. Though they’re unrelated by blood, Mase and Aida have been raised to think of each other as family. But when Reese returns, she can tell something isn’t quite right with Aida, who clearly resents Reese and excels at manipulative little games. And though Mase is unsuspecting, Reese knows Aida doesn’t love him like a cousin should...  

Review

This was a step up. But I also just threw myself into the crazy soap operaness that is these books. Plus, Captain. I actually REALLY like him and that chapter from his POV just made me want more.

This book didn’t really address the issues I had with Mase in the first book. But he got a little better. And Reese sort of grew a backbone. I’m glad she gained some more independence and didn’t want Mase to be her only thing in life.

I actually am really interested in Reese’s dad. But I definitely didn’t get enough or the answers I want. I am hopeful that some of this will be addressed in the next book.

Overall, I enjoyed the crazy drama of this story, but why did Aida have to exist? She didn’t actually contribute anything. She’s basically mini-Nan. Why most we always have women hating on women? It makes me angry.

I feel like I should apologize because this is less of a review and more of me just throwing up words/thoughts.

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault/abuse

Thanks for reading!

~Holly

Review: When I’m Gone by Abbi Glines

Series: Rosemary Beach Book #11

Format: Ebook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

I feel like this is common when I read an Abbi Glines book, but I’m conflicted. She definitely knows how to write an engrossing story, but I do have some issues. But I keep reading them so she’s doing something right.

Generally, I liked the characters in here. But I liked Mase in Harlow’s story so that wasn’t much of a surprise. And it was nice to see Jimmy again. But Mase was a little bit of a freak-which I mean in the nicest way possible.

Reese is very easy to like. But in the first few chapters she was written kind of dumbed down. I understand she has problems, but she sounded like a ten year old inn those chapters. That did go away so it wasn’t a hug problem for me.

For the most part I like Mase and Reese as a couple. They have chemistry. But they also talk a lot which is kind of a breath of fresh air in the World of New Adult. (Is this even still classified as New Adult?) And Mase is a very supportive partner.

However, there were some things I found a little problematic. Because of her past I think Reese is a little naïve so sometimes she seemed to not have any agency in their relationship. And Mase’s words sometimes felt too possessive and a little manipulative. Looking at other parts of his character I don’t think he’s a bad guy, but it still rubs me the wrong way.

I definitely plan on reading the next book in this series and it will probably be my next read.

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault/Abuse

Thanks for reading!

~Holly

You Were Mine by Abbi Glines

Series: Rosemary Beach #9

Format: Ebook

Pages: 221

Rating: 3.5 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

               

                I think this book suffered from too much hype. I’ve cared about Bethy since the beginning. And she and Tripp have been rocking the unresolved sexual tension for a few books now.

                The first-probably-half was great. Basically up until the wedding. It was emotional , real, and well-paced. It felt different from other books in the series, Then, everything sped up and problems were resolved without much difficulty.

                I’m going to be honest- I was all about Jace and Bethy. Jace was a great nice guy who respected Bethy. And I was angry when what happened to Jace happened. I felt used. But Ms. Glines got me to buy into Tripp and Bethy so that’s a pretty big deal.

                I did have some issues. First, can we all agree that Tripp was stalking Bethy in the beginning. Don’t get me wrong, I completely believe he was coming from a good place. But stalking is wrong and creepy.

                My other main problem is that so many things went unresolved. How does Bethy’s aunt feel about their relationship? Does Bethy really get over her abandonment issues that easily?

                I am incredibly grateful to have a story with no Nan and her tired, flat personality.

                And I read the teaser for Mase’s book. I don’t normally do that, but I’m glad I did. I’m so excited for his story and I hope Ms. Glines handles his heroine’s story well. Guess I’ll just have to wait until next year to find out.

Thanks for reading!

~Holly 

One More Chance by Abbi Glines

Series: Rosemary Beach #8/Chance #2

Format: Paperback

Pages: 256

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

               

                I finished this in like three hours. If there is anything I can say about Ms. Glines it’s that she knows how to write a book that sucks you in and doesn’t let go.

                This was an enjoyable story and I think I liked it a little more than the first book. There’s definitely a lot of crazy drama, but that’s what I’ve come to expect in an Abbi Glines story. I do appreciate that so much of the drama wasn’t about Grant and Harlow being apart. Instead they had to face problems as a couple.

                OK. Time for the spoilers.

                Going in I really didn’t want Harlow to be pregnant. It’s typically a trope that I feel is used when an author can’t come up with something better. That’s actually how I felt about Rush and Blaire’s story.

                But this felt like a good choice. The pregnancy is more of a proxy for a larger issue Grant and Harlow have to work through. And I felt she handled the pregnancy well.

                I also liked the way Nan’s character seems to be going. She had several moments that she shows she does have a soul and even got a POV chapter. I’m also glad Harlow is open to the possibility of a changed Nan. I think it would be interesting if Nan opens up and changes because of Lila and Harlow instead of a guy. But that’s probably not going to happen. 

Thanks for reading!

~Holly