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itsallbooksbaby's review
4.0
I am so blessed to have been able to voluntarily give an honest, early review for this book.
I haven’t read the first book in this ongoing series but you can read this one as a standalone! I was absolutely obsessed with this book from start to finish. It had some of my fave tropes and the characters were so fun!
I particularly loved Preston as she just made me laugh a lot, even out loud sometimes!
Van is so dreamt it feels illegal. My man was DOWN BAD. Cami is such a sweet, genuine FMC and I adored her and her morals, her drive, her light. Actually sunshine rolled in sprinkles that one.
Trying not to give away any spoilers in this review because you should read it for yourself
I haven’t read the first book in this ongoing series but you can read this one as a standalone! I was absolutely obsessed with this book from start to finish. It had some of my fave tropes and the characters were so fun!
I particularly loved Preston as she just made me laugh a lot, even out loud sometimes!
Van is so dreamt it feels illegal. My man was DOWN BAD. Cami is such a sweet, genuine FMC and I adored her and her morals, her drive, her light. Actually sunshine rolled in sprinkles that one.
Trying not to give away any spoilers in this review because you should read it for yourself
arobis_the_bookworm's review
5.0
Here you’ll find: love at first sight, age gap (29-40+), grovelling, soft 3rd act conflict that gets resolved with better communication, spice with well-described scenes. There were many things that I liked in this book first one being that both main characters apologise to each other after the 3rd act conflict. Both of them messed up and lacked communication skills and both owed up to it, unlike some books where the fmc is perfect and can’t do no wrong.
The jealousy scenes were absolutely great (i mean who doesn’t love a man-obsessed?
The jealousy scenes were absolutely great (i mean who doesn’t love a man-obsessed?
zoes_reading_crypt's review
5.0
"Reserved," the tantalizing second installment in the South Bay Billionaires trilogy by the dynamic duo Ashley Jacobs and S.S. Rich, takes readers on a scintillating journey through the complex world of love, trust, and passion. Centered around the characters Van and Cami, this book seamlessly combines opposites-attract charm with a gripping narrative, making it a standout addition to the series.
The storyline unfolds as Cami, the proud owner of 'Camelia's Kitchen,' finds herself catering lunch for Van's corporate office. Despite initial impressions of being polar opposites, Van and Cami soon discover that they share more common ground than they could have imagined. As their connection deepens, a love story blossoms, characterized by intense chemistry and undeniable attraction.
Van, the corporate businessman, emerges as a dominant and possessive figure—a quintessential book boyfriend who captures readers' hearts. The authors skillfully navigate the complexities of an age-gap romance, portraying Van as a man of experience and maturity. His moves in the bedroom and the scorching dirty talk contribute to the novel's spicy and captivating atmosphere.
The narrative takes an unexpected turn when Van's actions jeopardize Cami's business and erode her trust. This twist injects tension into the storyline, forcing the characters to confront challenges that threaten to unravel the foundation of their budding relationship. The authors masterfully explore themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the resilience of love in the face of adversity.
"Reserved" stands out not only for its steamy romance but also for the skillful writing that brings the characters and their world to life. The banter between Van and Cami is impeccable, creating a dynamic and engaging relationship that readers can't help but root for. The authors strike a perfect balance between the tender moments of intimacy and the fiery exchanges that characterize the couple's interactions.
The cat-and-mouse game played by Van and Cami adds an element of intrigue to the narrative, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. The pacing is well-executed, allowing the tension to build organically while also giving readers moments to savor the depth of the characters' connection.
"Reserved" emerges as a standout in the South Bay Billionaires trilogy, offering a delicious blend of smut, spice, and an emotionally charged storyline. Van and Cami's love story is a rollercoaster of passion and challenges that will leave readers breathless. This installment showcases the authors' ability to craft a captivating romance that goes beyond the surface, exploring the complexities of love and trust in a way that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. "Reserved" is a testament to the writing prowess of Jacobs and Rich and cements their status as masters of the contemporary romance genre.
The storyline unfolds as Cami, the proud owner of 'Camelia's Kitchen,' finds herself catering lunch for Van's corporate office. Despite initial impressions of being polar opposites, Van and Cami soon discover that they share more common ground than they could have imagined. As their connection deepens, a love story blossoms, characterized by intense chemistry and undeniable attraction.
Van, the corporate businessman, emerges as a dominant and possessive figure—a quintessential book boyfriend who captures readers' hearts. The authors skillfully navigate the complexities of an age-gap romance, portraying Van as a man of experience and maturity. His moves in the bedroom and the scorching dirty talk contribute to the novel's spicy and captivating atmosphere.
The narrative takes an unexpected turn when Van's actions jeopardize Cami's business and erode her trust. This twist injects tension into the storyline, forcing the characters to confront challenges that threaten to unravel the foundation of their budding relationship. The authors masterfully explore themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the resilience of love in the face of adversity.
"Reserved" stands out not only for its steamy romance but also for the skillful writing that brings the characters and their world to life. The banter between Van and Cami is impeccable, creating a dynamic and engaging relationship that readers can't help but root for. The authors strike a perfect balance between the tender moments of intimacy and the fiery exchanges that characterize the couple's interactions.
The cat-and-mouse game played by Van and Cami adds an element of intrigue to the narrative, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. The pacing is well-executed, allowing the tension to build organically while also giving readers moments to savor the depth of the characters' connection.
"Reserved" emerges as a standout in the South Bay Billionaires trilogy, offering a delicious blend of smut, spice, and an emotionally charged storyline. Van and Cami's love story is a rollercoaster of passion and challenges that will leave readers breathless. This installment showcases the authors' ability to craft a captivating romance that goes beyond the surface, exploring the complexities of love and trust in a way that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. "Reserved" is a testament to the writing prowess of Jacobs and Rich and cements their status as masters of the contemporary romance genre.
aepompu's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was, unfortunately, pretty meh. It started off really strong, but then lost some of its footing for me. I think the fact that the characters got together so quickly meant that the drama felt really contrived. And there wasn’t really drama, anyways. The main issue is miscommunication, and I can’t deal with that.
mjelic's review
3.0
3,8 ⭐
Thanks to the authors for this eARC, the second book I had the pleasure to review. I loved the first one and this didn't disappoint. If the book has some kind of coffee house, food, relaxed ambience like this one, I will love it for sure. Van has an obsession with Cami and it was so cute to read. The spice was there and amazing. The only thing I don't like, in general, is the age gap. It's just not for me.
Thanks to the authors for this eARC, the second book I had the pleasure to review. I loved the first one and this didn't disappoint. If the book has some kind of coffee house, food, relaxed ambience like this one, I will love it for sure. Van has an obsession with Cami and it was so cute to read. The spice was there and amazing. The only thing I don't like, in general, is the age gap. It's just not for me.
lesley_danae's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75/5 ⭐️
I had the opportunity to be an advanced reader for this book, thank you authors, and this is the first time I’ve been able to have an ARC so I was very excited.
When I started this book, I wasn’t sure what I would think of it. I’m not a big fan of insta-romance and I mostly read dark romance with lots of angst and f’ed up events and characters, however, I was ready for a palate cleanser and needed something lighthearted. This book is a fluffy and steamy romance and it was honestly refreshing to read something that was wholesome and sweet.
Cami is the definition of a ray of sunshine, super sweet and kind to everyone around her, but she lacks self confidence when it comes to believing that she is worthy of things. I love her character, she’s so wholesome and sweet it’s hard not to love her.
Van, I’ll be honest, the first few chapters I didn’t care for him because much like side characters in the book, I thought he was a bit of an asshole and didn’t care for the alpha male vibe he gave off. Turns out he’s not, he’s stoic on the inside but very much a golden retriever and a simp, but only when it comes to Cami. But also sometimes Cece and his mom, but that’s only adds bonus points. We love a man that respects and loves his mom and old ladies.
I’ll be honest, this book started out a bit slow until about the 20% mark, but it picked up and I got hooked. Definitely worth the read if you like:
•Grumpy x Sunshine
•Insta-Love
•Age Gape
•He Falls Firstr
•Possessive MMC
anniecarp's review
5.0
4.5⭐
I could not put this one down - Cami and Van's story was so sweet and I couldn't get enough of these two. This was such a fluffy romance and I loved the instalove, but it still had some angst and realistic issues they had to work through.
Van was all in from day one when he first met her catering his offices lunch. He was so sweet and kind with her. This man was so thoughtful, he had me swooning throughout the whole book. AND THE GROVELING, just perfection! He was so protective of her, and he cared about her so freaking much, it was adorable.
Cami has been through so much with relationships in the past and i felt for her and connected with her character so much. She felt like she had to be there for everyone and put everyone first. Thank God Van reminded her that she deserves to be taken care of and boy did he. He was so sweet and caring in so many ways even if he didn't always go about it in the best way - he loved her so much from the beginning and was showing it constantly.
But their relationship had some tough moments, as all do, most of theirs was because of lack of communication unfortunately. BUT I loved seeing them work through it on their own and then seeing them come back together even stronger. They finally figured out how to properly communicate how they were both feeling and more importantly explain the reasoning behind their actions and I absolutely loved that.
Thank you so much for the arc and I can't wait to go back and read Parkers book! definitely recommend this book and cant wait for the series to continue
I could not put this one down - Cami and Van's story was so sweet and I couldn't get enough of these two. This was such a fluffy romance and I loved the instalove, but it still had some angst and realistic issues they had to work through.
Van was all in from day one when he first met her catering his offices lunch. He was so sweet and kind with her. This man was so thoughtful, he had me swooning throughout the whole book. AND THE GROVELING, just perfection! He was so protective of her, and he cared about her so freaking much, it was adorable.
Cami has been through so much with relationships in the past and i felt for her and connected with her character so much. She felt like she had to be there for everyone and put everyone first. Thank God Van reminded her that she deserves to be taken care of and boy did he. He was so sweet and caring in so many ways even if he didn't always go about it in the best way - he loved her so much from the beginning and was showing it constantly.
But their relationship had some tough moments, as all do, most of theirs was because of lack of communication unfortunately. BUT I loved seeing them work through it on their own and then seeing them come back together even stronger. They finally figured out how to properly communicate how they were both feeling and more importantly explain the reasoning behind their actions and I absolutely loved that.
Thank you so much for the arc and I can't wait to go back and read Parkers book! definitely recommend this book and cant wait for the series to continue
asmittenreader's review
5.0
erved by Ashley Jacobs & S.S. Rich
@ashleyjacobsssrich
Stop it right now!!! This was the sweetest read!!! Do not get me wrong - this book had me clenching my thighs & squirming
@ashleyjacobsssrich
Stop it right now!!! This was the sweetest read!!! Do not get me wrong - this book had me clenching my thighs & squirming
zsolya's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75