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frogy927's review against another edition
4.0
This book was great, except I'm beginning to realize that enemies-to-lovers is not my thing. Why can't couples just like each other in romances?
bananatricky's review against another edition
4.0
Another wonderful book from Jenny Holiday, honestly she can do no wrong in my eyes.
Along the same lines as [b:Him|25686927|Him (Him #1)|Sarina Bowen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1436433289s/25686927.jpg|45514970], His Heart's Revenge tells the story of Alexander Evangelista and Cary Bell. Twenty years ago at Summer Camp Alex was the gay nerdy charity kid while Cary was the rich, good-looking athletic guy. They had been Summer camp friends for years but that summer things changed and the atmosphere was charged. Until Cary did something unforgivable.
Fast forward to the present day. Cary is Marcus' cousin from [b:The Engagement Game|26241259|The Engagement Game (49th Floor, #3)|Jenny Holiday|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1441589880s/26241259.jpg|46213586]. Having left the family investment firm, Rosemann Investments, he has set up an independent investment management company called Bell Capital. When he gets the opportunity to compete for a new client Don Liu, the world's twentieth richest man, who is moving to Canada with his family from Hong Kong he is ecstatic until he discovers that he is competing against Alex, now CEO of Dominion Bank's private wealth management arm.
When Alex finds out that Dominion is competing against Bell Capital the gloves are off and he declares war on the guy who broke his heart and put him on the path to wealth. But as Alex and Cary are forced into a series of events by Don Liu they find their old feelings re-emerge.
Recommended for anyone who likes Elle Kennedy or Sarina Bowen's m-m novels or fans of Jenny Holiday's other books in the 49th Floor series.
My only gripe? NetGalley rejected me for an ARC.
Along the same lines as [b:Him|25686927|Him (Him #1)|Sarina Bowen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1436433289s/25686927.jpg|45514970], His Heart's Revenge tells the story of Alexander Evangelista and Cary Bell. Twenty years ago at Summer Camp Alex was the gay nerdy charity kid while Cary was the rich, good-looking athletic guy. They had been Summer camp friends for years but that summer things changed and the atmosphere was charged. Until Cary did something unforgivable.
Fast forward to the present day. Cary is Marcus' cousin from [b:The Engagement Game|26241259|The Engagement Game (49th Floor, #3)|Jenny Holiday|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1441589880s/26241259.jpg|46213586]. Having left the family investment firm, Rosemann Investments, he has set up an independent investment management company called Bell Capital. When he gets the opportunity to compete for a new client Don Liu, the world's twentieth richest man, who is moving to Canada with his family from Hong Kong he is ecstatic until he discovers that he is competing against Alex, now CEO of Dominion Bank's private wealth management arm.
When Alex finds out that Dominion is competing against Bell Capital the gloves are off and he declares war on the guy who broke his heart and put him on the path to wealth. But as Alex and Cary are forced into a series of events by Don Liu they find their old feelings re-emerge.
Recommended for anyone who likes Elle Kennedy or Sarina Bowen's m-m novels or fans of Jenny Holiday's other books in the 49th Floor series.
My only gripe? NetGalley rejected me for an ARC.
smasson13's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
While a fun ending to the series, the characters felt a little flat for me compared to the other books that came before this one. Cary was so quirky in the others, but seems very one dimensional.
Over all, it was quick (read in one day), filled with cheesy clichés, and a fun read.
Over all, it was quick (read in one day), filled with cheesy clichés, and a fun read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Bullying
Minor: Classism, Pregnancy, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
astroprojection's review against another edition
4.0
This was quite cute, with a childhood-friends-to-rivals-to-lovers setup and fun banter. I think this did have some of the same sort of pacing issues I've seen in other books by this author but I still enjoyed it despite that.
swamphag's review against another edition
3.0
This is the fourth book and the first M/M book in the 49th Floor series by Holiday. You don’t need to have read the previous three to understand this one, but if you are curious you should know that they are not M/M.
This book was well written and you can tell that there is still chemistry between Cary and Alex, but for whatever reason I wasn’t really feeling this book. I think it is because I wasn’t into the characters.
Alex worked his way up to the top by getting his MBA and becoming ruthless after Cary broke his heart as a teenager. I theoretically get it, but it seems unrealistic to me that someone who became so successful would be holding on to a hurt from when they were a teen. I was bullied in school and I can’t even remember the clowns who did garbage like this to me, so maybe I am just not relating to that.
He ended up just seeming cold and never seemed to really soften up until the end and then it was pretty sudden and unbelievable. The book seemed to be rather forced at some points like the author wanted a certain plot and kind of forced the characters into it.
Cary was kind of bland to me the whole book. I wanted to root for him but I never really felt that he was sincere about feeling bad about what happened. Even when he was competing with Alex he seemed to be kind of a pushover. It was pretty meh.
Despite that this book was still a decent read and had a lot of chemistry so I gave it three stars. I don’t hate it nor do I regret reading it, but it is just not something I would read again.
Originally posted at JLR: https://justloveromance.wordpress.com/2016/06/22/his-hearts-revenge-jenny-holiday/
This book was well written and you can tell that there is still chemistry between Cary and Alex, but for whatever reason I wasn’t really feeling this book. I think it is because I wasn’t into the characters.
Alex worked his way up to the top by getting his MBA and becoming ruthless after Cary broke his heart as a teenager. I theoretically get it, but it seems unrealistic to me that someone who became so successful would be holding on to a hurt from when they were a teen. I was bullied in school and I can’t even remember the clowns who did garbage like this to me, so maybe I am just not relating to that.
He ended up just seeming cold and never seemed to really soften up until the end and then it was pretty sudden and unbelievable. The book seemed to be rather forced at some points like the author wanted a certain plot and kind of forced the characters into it.
Cary was kind of bland to me the whole book. I wanted to root for him but I never really felt that he was sincere about feeling bad about what happened. Even when he was competing with Alex he seemed to be kind of a pushover. It was pretty meh.
Despite that this book was still a decent read and had a lot of chemistry so I gave it three stars. I don’t hate it nor do I regret reading it, but it is just not something I would read again.
Originally posted at JLR: https://justloveromance.wordpress.com/2016/06/22/his-hearts-revenge-jenny-holiday/
theladyinreds's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved this book. One total category-romance angry jerkface hero. One sweet adorable hero. Sincere apologies. Hilarious attempts at keeping "war" and "sex" in different boxes.
Full review: http://goodbadandunread.com/2016/06/20/review-his-hearts-revenge-by-jenny-holiday/
Full review: http://goodbadandunread.com/2016/06/20/review-his-hearts-revenge-by-jenny-holiday/
jn6767's review against another edition
4.0
-reminded me of Him by Sarina Bowen/Elle Kennedy
-loved the camp scene flashbacks
-love the tropes: rivals to lovers, second chance at love, and youth romance being rekindled as adults
-the banter was fab
-especially loved Cary
-4 stars instead of 5 as I had a bit of a tough time with Alex - his transformation was very sudden
-loved the camp scene flashbacks
-love the tropes: rivals to lovers, second chance at love, and youth romance being rekindled as adults
-the banter was fab
-especially loved Cary
-4 stars instead of 5 as I had a bit of a tough time with Alex - his transformation was very sudden
anitalouise's review
4.0
The teen years are fraught with angst and anxiety. If you are not part of the cool crowd - if you stick out just a little, you are forever doomed, it seems. What happens to us in high school often resonates throughout the rest of our lives. Alex was that nerdy kid who wasn't athletic, loved science and, unfortunately in his mind, gay. This second-chance goodie is about Cary and Alexander who met when they both attended the same summer camp. The camp caters to kids of affluent families. Alexander, however, was a charity case and had to work to pay for the fees. Cary is one of those blessed kids with wealth, is athletic, confident but feels an affinity with Alex. What happens is told in flashbacks. Cary and Alexander are 35 year old adults who've been aware of each other but through a quirk of banking business, are thrown together. There's a lot of unfinished business. I have to say that what happened when the boys were in camp broke my heart. I was one of those kids not quite part of the cool crowd so felt as though I was back in high school and just cried for Alex. But teens make monumental mistakes, are unthinking and just want to fit in. This lovely read is part of the 49th floor universe of books written by this author. I read book 2 but not the others. Many of the secondary characters in this book appear to have been featured in book 3, Marcus and Rose's story. That's fine. If you are a M/M purist, then you can easily read this as a standalone. (Rose sort of got on my nerves so will not be reading book 3!) Cary and Alex are forced to compete for a wealthy client and all their issues are on vivid display. Terrific writing, as usual from this author. This book doesn't have the emotional heft of Infamous (2) but it is still quite good. Some memorable lines "Cary was a dick man. He was an equal opportunity dick lover. He could write his own Dr. Seuss book about them. Because he liked them here, there and everywhere. He liked them in his hand. He liked them in his mouth." "He appreciated them all. Big, small, fat, thin, cut, uncut. Didn't matter. They were all beautiful." Solid story, lovely smexy and some funny lines. I've stalked her web site in the hopes that she has other M/Ms coming out but it doesn't appear so. Bummer.
laura_sorensen's review
2.0
I am sorry to say that I did not enjoy this book. It was a collection of improbable possibilities that would make Aristotle shake his head sadly. I just didn't buy it.
terriaminute's review
4.0
There's a lot that's good about this story, and I certainly don't regret reading it, particularly the way that the major conflict exploded. That was far better than I'd feared.
Sadly, repercussions didn't last. It isn't too much to ask that a trusting relationship start with a much better apology than "I'm sorry." It feels like there is a whole missing chapter before the epilogue (which ends beautifully, btw), a chapter in which Alexander proves himself worthy.
Sadly, repercussions didn't last. It isn't too much to ask that a trusting relationship start with a much better apology than "I'm sorry." It feels like there is a whole missing chapter before the epilogue (which ends beautifully, btw), a chapter in which Alexander proves himself worthy.