Under the Orange Moon
Dylan Mathews grew up in
a house that was always filled with good-looking guys. However, with four
protective older brothers they never stood a chance.
Except for one. Dylan knew
she loved Ben McKenna from the first time she laid eyes on him. When he started
sneaking in her room, she thought he felt the same way. But just as their
passion ignited, he left for college and never came back. Until now. Returning
home after 5 years, Ben realizes Dylan has always been the one for him. Can he
win back her heart and finally find love under the orange moon?
4 Stars
This was a very well
written book. It definitely hooked me on the series and I will be moving right
on to the next book.
Dylan and Ben are a great
hero and heroine. For the most part, Ben is your typical tortured hero, however
the author made him unique and I was never bored with him. I honestly can’t
pinpoint what it is about him that makes him different, I just know that he
kept me interested and definitely drooling.
Ben was really dealt a
crappy hand when it comes to his parents. Lucky for him, he was practically
adopted into a neighboring family. Unfortunately, he lets the darkness of his
home life taint what he’s found with the Mathews family. He lets his parents
destroy his self-confidence. He is a cocky, know-it-all, playboy who puts on
the show to hide his vulnerability and love for Dylan. In fact, he spends a lot
of their childhood treating her like total crap to keep everyone from seeing
how he truly feels about her. For a while there, he lets his guard down and
opens up for Dylan. But the past has a way of ruining the future if you let it.
And oh boy, does he let it. As much as I loved the glimpse of the sweet, open,
loving Ben, I spent a good part of the novel being pretty pissed at his
stubborn ignorance.
Dylan caused some
conflicting feelings for me. There were times when I was cheering her on for
putting Ben in his place. However, there were also times when I wanted to slap
her upside the head for letting him walk all over her. For constantly forgiving
him when he pulls a jackass stunt. But then, she’s loved him for most of her
life, and she’s aware of the crap he deals with at home, so I gave her some
slack for this.
I loved Dylan and Ben,
but the novel wouldn’t be nearly as good if it weren’t for the supporting
characters. Dylan’s four brothers, and her mother shape the story with raucous
family dynamics, adding quite a bit of comedic relief. They definitely made me
want to read a story for each brother.
There was one main issue
I had with this book that was enough to drop it four stars for me. Dylan and
Ben literally spend half of the book apart. He flips out and leaves her in the
dust at 50% and they don’t start back to the HEA until the last few chapters.
Now, this author is a great writer I could see how she was growing the
characters in that second half, to a certain extent. However, I felt it was too
drawn out. I wanted to see them spend more time together, and to not become so
very annoyed with Ben. Every time he is given a wakeup call, he ignores it and
goes on living in his “I’m not good enough” pity party.
When Dylan rips him a new
one at the end, he more than deserves it and to be honest, I wasn’t convinced
with how he wins her back. It seemed too vague. The thing that convinces him to
be with her was there all along, so why is just now believing it? I just felt that there should have been a
little more discussion about his motivation in suddenly accepting that he’s
good enough for her. Also, he spends the book proving how well he knows her,
better than everyone else, and yet there is a misunderstanding on his part that
should have been avoided if that were true. It’s one thing to hear something,
but he saw it too and he should have been able to recognize Dylan’s body
language.
Overall, I really enjoyed
the book and I would recommend it. It’s a great love story and there are some
lovely, steamy scenes, full of passion and love. I don’t think you’ll be
disappointed, it’s a great read. And like I said, I’ll be moving right on to
the next brother’s story!
Beyond the Orange Moon
Sometimes fate strikes in
unexpected ways.
Lucy Dalton was tired of
living a life she didn't want. Charlie Mathews was living the life he always
wanted. But one night, fate changes the course of their lives forever. A year
later, Lucy and Charlie's paths meet again, igniting a spark that neither can
deny. Lucy knows he doesn't remember her, but she's already in too deep.
Charlie knows the unwritten family rule: Mathews men never admit when they're
broken. Can they leave the past where it belongs and find a way to look beyond
the orange moon?
4.5 Stars
What
a beautiful story. I must say, it will break your heart sometimes, just
gut-wrenching moments. However, the author picks up the pieces and puts them
back together with the sweet, loving, and funny moments.
While
this is part of a connecting series, it can easily be read as a standalone.
Lucy
and Charlie are easy to love and relate to. I was rooting for them every step
of the way. I would have like Charlie to have been a little more understanding
of the predicament that Lucy was in when he found out. She was firmly wedged
between a rock and a hard place. I would have been absolutely lost if I were in
her shoes. However, over all I was proud of Charlie for taking the leap to open
his heart again.
As
with the previous book, the Mathews family dynamic makes the book extra
special. The brothers’ relationship is hysterical sometimes. And yet, there are
poingiant moments that show how much love there is in the family.
I
sincerely hope that all of the brothers get their own books. I will be watching
for them and will snatch them right up! I’m looking forward to more from this
author! I give it 4.5 solid stars.
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