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3.17 AVERAGE
3.17 AVERAGE
The S before the Ex by Mira Lyn Kelly is a story about love, marriage and second chances as Ryan and Claire take an emotional rollercoaster journey before reaching for a forever love. Ryan and Claire married when they were quite young, allowing a heartbreak and loss to tear them apart. Something broke inside her, and feeling she couldn't connect to Ryan, she pushed him away, moved away to attend school and finally, one day called Ryan to tell him that she wasn't coming back. She did what she thought was right, try to re-build her life while setting Ryan free to live his.
When they meet again nine years later, both of them have changed. Claire is now independent and successful, as is Ryan. He travels to Rome to find her; confronting her about divorce papers she filed. He feels he owes her and wants her to receive a fair settlement. As they attempt to work out a settlement, they did not expect the sparks that still exist between them. Neither of them have gotten over or recovered from what drove them apart; especially not dealing with it together, as a couple.
With the chemistry sparking hot between them they realize that they never stopped loving each other. While talking about a settlement and who gets what, Claire and Ryan enter a sizzling, burn-up the sheets fling. This also forces them to talk about what separated them, dealing with the pain together. Life is not a fairy tale, some pain runs too deep. Only this time Ryan won’t make the same mistake thinking she was fragile and letting her go without a fight. Unfortunate circumstances tore them apart but fate can bring them together once again. Filled with magnetic attraction and sizzling chemistry, I highly recommend The S before the Ex to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
When they meet again nine years later, both of them have changed. Claire is now independent and successful, as is Ryan. He travels to Rome to find her; confronting her about divorce papers she filed. He feels he owes her and wants her to receive a fair settlement. As they attempt to work out a settlement, they did not expect the sparks that still exist between them. Neither of them have gotten over or recovered from what drove them apart; especially not dealing with it together, as a couple.
With the chemistry sparking hot between them they realize that they never stopped loving each other. While talking about a settlement and who gets what, Claire and Ryan enter a sizzling, burn-up the sheets fling. This also forces them to talk about what separated them, dealing with the pain together. Life is not a fairy tale, some pain runs too deep. Only this time Ryan won’t make the same mistake thinking she was fragile and letting her go without a fight. Unfortunate circumstances tore them apart but fate can bring them together once again. Filled with magnetic attraction and sizzling chemistry, I highly recommend The S before the Ex to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I usually enjoy books where the couple is already married and have to work their way back to each other. This one was okay, not my favorite. It felt like it took forever to get to the why's, and at that point it felt almost over. These two were frustrating at the end, the lacking in communication. The lead up to the end wasn't bad, just felt missing, but what, I can't put my finger on. There was plenty of s though, I'll give it that. Overall it wasn't bad, good enough that I kept reading, waiting for more, but not a book that I will read again.
I love the idea behind this story. The two main characters reconnecting. But it got a little cheesy for me in parts. Like I was watching a bad hallmark movie or an old night time soap opera. It wasn’t the worst book I’ve read but definitely not my favorite. Probably would have been a 2.5 if I could have.
I mean...it was OK? I've read worse, but it was a bit of a struggle to get through. The heroine was suffering from trauma relating to which put her in relationship limbo for eight+ years. (I don't think she even dated, really? She definitely didn't sleep with anyone...though of course SHE WAS MARRIED THE WHOLE TIME.) The hero was essentially a self-absorbed jerk who never let his "secret" marriage get in the way of new relationships...until he decided he had the hots again for his wife and that they'd sleep together while they spent time (weeks? months? IDK, it seemed to take longer than it should have, but I know nothing about divorce) dividing up their assets to finally call it quits for real. It seemed like this consisted of just him giving her a bunch of his stuff, because I don't remember them talking about him taking any part of her gallery or any other assets of hers. So...?
I don't understand why they stayed married this whole time to begin with. I also don't understand why the hero thought she'd move on and have a family without him WHILE THEY WERE STILL MARRIED. The hero's tendency to make quick assumptions and either write her off entirely () or start yelling at her (the ring box at the end) would have made me dump his sorry butt long before, but I'm not Claire. Overall, it took too long for them to talk about (and therefore let the readers know) why they were apart in the first place, and their lightning fast reconciliation at the end didn't convince me that *this* time things were going to work out. I need more convincing when it's a second chance romance--a real reason why it's going to work this time when it didn't before--and I don't feel like we got it here.
Rating: 3 stars / C+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Spoiler
two failed pregnancies--one a stillbirth, I think?--and the inability to conceive going forwardI don't understand why they stayed married this whole time to begin with. I also don't understand why the hero thought she'd move on and have a family without him WHILE THEY WERE STILL MARRIED. The hero's tendency to make quick assumptions and either write her off entirely (
Spoiler
the guy leaving her place when Ryan's stalking her years agoRating: 3 stars / C+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This was one of the best 'past love' romances that I've read. The author really made you become invested in the characters and their backstory and I liked how she built the intrigue by not revealing the reason for their separation right at the beginning (although if you've ever read contemporary romance, the reason is quite easy to guess!).
The sexual tension between the characters sizzled and there were layers of complex, realistic emotions. Overall I loved everything about it!
The sexual tension between the characters sizzled and there were layers of complex, realistic emotions. Overall I loved everything about it!
Don't let humor fool you. There's real emotion hiding behind the laughter. Ryan and Claire at a crossroads that's been years in the making. From heartache to humor, it's a long road to happily ever after. Paved with temptation and littered with heart, the humor kind of balances every out.
Ryan and Claire’s story is one that is full of heartache, pain, growth, and so much more. After a tragic event that sends them going separate ways years later they are technically still married and it’s time for Claire to ask for a divorce. The years may have passed and it may seem as if they both have moved on, but there is still an electricity that sparks between them they can’t deny but does time really heal all wounds and is there too much pain to keep them from moving forward? This second chance story will break your heart one second then smiling the next and I loved every second of it.
I wanted to give this book a higher rating because overall I think the writing and pacing is quite good. However, I didn't enjoy the heroine's inability to get over the loss of her child or the way she pushed her husband away because of it. Yes, I know they were very young and it's possibly a very accurate portrayal of how some people react in that situation. But it's not how I would have acted, and I just couldn't identify with her.
The heroes ambivalence to her pushing him away was more understandable to me, especially since he was so young and inexperienced at handling the emotions of both himself and his distraught wife.
There were other unbelievable aspects to the story, but nothing that isn't common in Harlequin books, so that was no surprise. Overall this is a well written book with some very poignant moments. Recommended for people who like angsty reads and second-chance romances.
The heroes ambivalence to her pushing him away was more understandable to me, especially since he was so young and inexperienced at handling the emotions of both himself and his distraught wife.
There were other unbelievable aspects to the story, but nothing that isn't common in Harlequin books, so that was no surprise. Overall this is a well written book with some very poignant moments. Recommended for people who like angsty reads and second-chance romances.
Pretty good. Mostly just torn apart by tragedy and not trusting each other... The characters were fairly likeable right from the beginning. I guess I don't have much to say...can't think today. Enjoyed it, but probably not a re-read for me.