Scan barcode
emmalb1984's review
4.0
A very modern love story about the pros and cons of online dating and no string relationships.
Writer Emma is talked into using dating app NOST (short for No Strings) in an attempt get herself back into the dating game. App creator Xavier doesn’t believe in true love and happy ever afters, but, one night with Emma begins to make him wonder if there is life beyond the 48 hour relationship his app promotes.
This being the Dare series, Emma and Xavier naturally fall into bed (and bathrooms and alleyways…), but their chemistry is believable and the two are likeable characters who have an assortment of trust issues based on things that have happened in the past. Indeed, by the last section of the book, you really do root for them to overcome their reluctance and take a chance on their future happiness together.
There is a serious sub plot involving a potentially dangerous user of the app who contacts Emma and essentially seems to be stalking her at points, and it is this incident that prompts Xavier to re-think what he is promoting.
Escapist and easy going, this is an enjoyable summer read.
Thanks to M&B for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Writer Emma is talked into using dating app NOST (short for No Strings) in an attempt get herself back into the dating game. App creator Xavier doesn’t believe in true love and happy ever afters, but, one night with Emma begins to make him wonder if there is life beyond the 48 hour relationship his app promotes.
This being the Dare series, Emma and Xavier naturally fall into bed (and bathrooms and alleyways…), but their chemistry is believable and the two are likeable characters who have an assortment of trust issues based on things that have happened in the past. Indeed, by the last section of the book, you really do root for them to overcome their reluctance and take a chance on their future happiness together.
There is a serious sub plot involving a potentially dangerous user of the app who contacts Emma and essentially seems to be stalking her at points, and it is this incident that prompts Xavier to re-think what he is promoting.
Escapist and easy going, this is an enjoyable summer read.
Thanks to M&B for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
lilith_elinor's review
4.0
I am liking these books by Cara Lockwood, her writing is solid and compelling and the storyline catches my interest. I feel like she is really able to invoke emotions in me as a reader, and not every book can do that for me, so straight away she gains points for that.
I liked how phones and the internet are fully integrated in the story. It's not always the case in contemps since technology changes the dynamics so much, so when I see a story that does tackle these added elements I appreciate it because it feels truer to our modern life. I also appreciated that the negatives of dating apps weren't glossed over either.
The situation is intriguing and Lockwood doesn't waste it, she uses it to set up some hot scenes. There is also surprisingly layered characterisation and accurate insights into relationships. The story revolves around themes of cheating, getting bored in a relationship, fear of commitment (genuine fear, not the cliché "I don't want any attachments I'm an alpha male who doesn't want to bother with emotions" kind)... A few sentences felt unexpected in a romance novel and really resonated with me. Well done Cara Lockwood.
Another thing I appreciated so much was that when X does a creepy, stalkery thing that is an abuse of power, it's not excused or swept under the rug the way douchey alpha behaviour often is. It's treated as a breach of boundaries very clearly on the page, called by the proper name for it, and addressed clearly as a violation. I was cheering! So far I am really appreciating how this line is maintaining clear standards for appropriate behaviour by men. I can appreciate heroes so much more when they are considerate people at heart who respect their heroines, even if they mess up sometimes.
Now of course this is a category romance, so it's very short. By necessity the story must progress at lightning speed and the characters reach commitment at a very unnatural speed. Lockwood handles this petty well, the emotional progression felt as progressive as it could in the page count. I have no complaints about that as I am volontarily seeking out shorter stories so I am well aware they will be more rushed. I'm just saying, some level of suspension of disbelief is definitely necessary to accept that these two will commit to each other within a few days, when there are big psychological obstacles that in real life would take longer to work through. However by the end I could really picture these two being happy together, once they have their shit together they are very well suited.
I am a feminist, so I was white-knuckling it in the beginning with the descriptions of Emma as a feminist. It was a little clumsy, but thankfully avoided anything offensive so I heaved a great sigh of relief. It didn't come up again in the story afterwards, so overall, I think it got off well. Whew, I was worried there for a minute!
Another little detail is that Lockwood likes to describe her characters kissing as their tongues meeting in a primal dance as old as time. Now I'm perfectly ok reading that once, but when it's repeated several times in the story, it's such a specific, slightly corny phrase that it becomes distracting.
Anyway, I enjoyed this book, it was a fast read but not devoid of emotional depth! It was satisfying with a sweet ending. I will definitely seek out her other Dare books.
I liked how phones and the internet are fully integrated in the story. It's not always the case in contemps since technology changes the dynamics so much, so when I see a story that does tackle these added elements I appreciate it because it feels truer to our modern life. I also appreciated that the negatives of dating apps weren't glossed over either.
The situation is intriguing and Lockwood doesn't waste it, she uses it to set up some hot scenes. There is also surprisingly layered characterisation and accurate insights into relationships. The story revolves around themes of cheating, getting bored in a relationship, fear of commitment (genuine fear, not the cliché "I don't want any attachments I'm an alpha male who doesn't want to bother with emotions" kind)... A few sentences felt unexpected in a romance novel and really resonated with me. Well done Cara Lockwood.
Another thing I appreciated so much was that when X does a creepy, stalkery thing that is an abuse of power, it's not excused or swept under the rug the way douchey alpha behaviour often is. It's treated as a breach of boundaries very clearly on the page, called by the proper name for it, and addressed clearly as a violation. I was cheering! So far I am really appreciating how this line is maintaining clear standards for appropriate behaviour by men. I can appreciate heroes so much more when they are considerate people at heart who respect their heroines, even if they mess up sometimes.
Now of course this is a category romance, so it's very short. By necessity the story must progress at lightning speed and the characters reach commitment at a very unnatural speed. Lockwood handles this petty well, the emotional progression felt as progressive as it could in the page count. I have no complaints about that as I am volontarily seeking out shorter stories so I am well aware they will be more rushed. I'm just saying, some level of suspension of disbelief is definitely necessary to accept that these two will commit to each other within a few days, when there are big psychological obstacles that in real life would take longer to work through. However by the end I could really picture these two being happy together, once they have their shit together they are very well suited.
I am a feminist, so I was white-knuckling it in the beginning with the descriptions of Emma as a feminist. It was a little clumsy, but thankfully avoided anything offensive so I heaved a great sigh of relief. It didn't come up again in the story afterwards, so overall, I think it got off well. Whew, I was worried there for a minute!
Another little detail is that Lockwood likes to describe her characters kissing as their tongues meeting in a primal dance as old as time. Now I'm perfectly ok reading that once, but when it's repeated several times in the story, it's such a specific, slightly corny phrase that it becomes distracting.
Anyway, I enjoyed this book, it was a fast read but not devoid of emotional depth! It was satisfying with a sweet ending. I will definitely seek out her other Dare books.
More...