ABOUT THE BOOK
“Give your heart to a man worthy of the claim.”
That’s been his constant excuse for keeping distance between us.
Little does he know that I’m his for the taking.
If only he’d have me.
Nolan Jasper has been my broody neighbor for almost six years.
I’ve been hopelessly infatuated with him just as long.
The bond I have with his little girl only serves to strengthen that hold.
Since they moved in that stormy night, I’ve been trying to restore what was lost.
I would do just about anything for those two.
Acting as Nolan’s reliable doormat is getting old, though.
Especially when he seems incapable of accepting love.
I’m finally willing to admit that man is a lost cause.
Too broken.
Jaded.
Withdrawn.
Nolan Jasper has pushed me away for the las/t time.
If only he realized it before I’m already gone.
MY REVIEW
Harloe Rae books and I go way back, so when I picked up her latest release, I was eager to dive in. I usually devour her stories, but unfortunately, this unrequited love tale didn’t hit the mark for me.
Clea has harbored a crush on Nolan since he moved in next door, baby in tow, and here we are, six years later. During that time, Clea has basically become a free nanny, bending over backward for a dad who seems more interested in his work than being present for his little girl. When Clea decides she’s had enough of Nolan’s excuses and is ready to move on, Nolan is gobsmacked. Really dude?
Here’s the problem. I felt like the story was missing some serious character depth. We go from Nolan moving in next door, to six years later, with a huge gap in between that left me scratching my head. I couldn’t help but wonder how Nolan managed everything while Clea was off at college. This could have been a golden opportunity to flesh out his character, especially since he suddenly realizes he’s in love with Clea after she’s spent so many years being there for him. It raises so many questions! Why did it take Clea threatening to leave for him to recognize her worth?
And let’s not even get started on his relationship with his daughter, Lulu. The guy works from home but allows the dirty laundry to pile up for weeks? And then, suddenly, he goes from being Mr. Absent Dad to the Dad of the Year? It felt like a total stretch.
The potential for a deeper, more developed relationship between Clea and Nolan was there, and it could have made Clea’s “enough is enough” moment much more impactful. Plus, I wasn’t a fan of Nolan leaning on Lulu as a tactic to win Clea back. It felt manipulative and added to my disappointment. Six years of unconditional love from Clea? That’s a long time to be played like a doormat, even for a little girl’s sake.
In short, I’ve got to say, this book fell flat for me. I usually rave about Harloe Rae’s work, but the plot felt monotonous and poorly thought out, and the characters just didn’t resonate with me. They felt too one-dimensional, which made it hard for me to care about their journeys.
However, I’ll be honest. I know this isn’t the end of my Harloe Rae reading spree. She’s written some fantastic stories in the past, and I’ll surely grab her next book, hoping it’ll reignite that spark I usually find in her writing.
Thank you to Ms. Rae for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Harloe Rae is a USA Today & Amazon Top 5 best-selling author. Her passion for writing and reading has taken on a whole new meaning. Each day is an unforgettable adventure.
She’s a Minnesota gal with a serious addiction to romance. There’s nothing quite like an epic happily ever after. When she’s not buried in the writing cave, Harloe can be found hanging with her hubby and kiddos. If the weather permits, she loves being lakeside or out in the country with her horses.
Broody heroes are Harloe’s favorite to write. Her romances are swoony and emotional with plenty of heat.
Follow Harloe on her website, Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Bookbub, Amazon, and her newsletter.
