Review: Crashing into Her

Crashing into Her by Mia Sosa
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

“Eva,” he whispers in a low groan. “Friends shouldn’t do this.”

Third in the Love on Cue series stars Eva and Anthony. Eva was the friend and Anthony the cousin to the heroine in the first in the series, Acting on Impulse. Series readers will enjoy the many appearances and inclusion of past heroines and heroes. However, newbies could comfortably start here as Eva and Anthony are just beginning their relationship. Eva and Anthony start off a little ornery with each other but when their thought to be one-night stand turns into now we're working with each other, their back and forth really heats up.

Eva was a gusty heroine, she moved from the east coast to the west, even though she lost financial and emotional support promised by her dad. She does gain proximity to her bestfriend and a job, which I must mention how wonderful it was to read about three women (heroines from #1 and #2 Pretending His Mine ) with varying personalities having fun together, encouraging, and being a support system for each other. It helps round out the heroine and series' world when they don't live in isolation or primarily for the hero. Even though I didn't get a great feel for Eva's relationship with her mother, I enjoyed how her issues with her father weren't heavy angst, more like family growing pains; it was nice to see them talk and work to improve their relationship.

Anthony had the often used, can't commit because my father loved my mother more than she did him and now I can never love because I don't want to turn out like him. This felt a little forced and I thought the overall theme and feeling of the story's two people trying to navigate life and open up for love, could have did without it. Anthony seemed like a pretty busy guy, he helps to run/instruct at a gym and stunt work business, just having him unsure if he could take time from his career while emotionally opening himself up could have worked.

“Last night was incredible, but I think you wanted to keep it impersonal, and only after experiencing impersonal did I realize it doesn’t fit the way I feel about you.”

I really enjoyed Eva and Anthony's back and forth and chemistry. There were a couple times where I thought they didn't have to be so clever with each other all the time but it was refreshing how they were generally friends through the majority of it. They both had a little bit of bitterness and fear of what could happen, instead of taking each problem as it came. It was enjoyable to follow along with them as their chemistry couldn't help but push their friendship into more heated situations. They also did a great job talking and owning up to mistakes or missteps.

This is written in first person point of view, alternating chapters, which not a personal favorite, I sometimes feel like I'm missing some connection between the two. *Per publisher's email, this was a formatting mistake and will be fixed in final copy. I read an arc of this, so not sure if this will be changed, but there were a couple times where the pov changed within a chapter, without any warning. An example:
When I cup her cheeks, sweeping my thumbs under her eyes to dry them, she leans into my touch, all soft and vulnerable. “Hey, hey, baby,” I say. “Talk to me. Why the tears?”
I look up at Anthony, not caring that I’m a blubbering mess. The warmth of his body is a balm that calms me like a magic cure for a colicky baby.
This chapter was under the heading “Anthony” and was all from his pov, until suddenly it switched to Eva. This is exactly how it read for me, no spaces or acknowledgment that the pov was changing to Eva. I, personally, found this incredibly disruptive to the flow and had me backtracking and some confusion as to was speaking for a little bit. This example was easier to catch on because of the “look up at Anthony” right away but the “I” at first made it read funny to me. Others who read a lot of first pov may not have the problems I did.*

This author does a fantastic job writing family and friendship dynamics, I believe in her characters and world. I do think that while this is contemporary right now, the character's parlance could have this not aging well, even within 5/10 years; a lot of current/pop culture word usage. The author's use of food to immerse and showcase in some small way the characters' cultures was delightful and had me wishing there was a companion cookbook. All in all, an entertaining contemporary where two people try to just be friends but their chemistry can't be denied.

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100%

This needs a companion cookbook with all the food mentioned in it! 

Help me, the hunger is real

Reading Update: 50%

Before she exits the truck, she places a hand on my thigh. “You’re a cool guy, Anthony. Although there are times when I want to strangle you, I’m glad we’re friends.”

“Good, because I feel exactly the same way.” When she’s gone, though, I sit there staring at the spot on my thigh where she casually rested her hand. That simple act yanked me out of our buddy-buddy moment like I’d been doused with cold water. And I know what that means: There’s trouble ahead.

Review: Acting on Impulse

Acting on Impulse by Mia Sosa
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Tori isn't having the best week after a public break-up with her boyfriend. She decides a trip to Aruba for some rest, relaxation, and no drama is needed.
After losing a bunch of weight for a movie role, Carter decides that a week of rest, relaxation, and no drama is needed.
From the moment Tori and Carter meet on the plane bound for Aruba, rest, relaxation, and no drama go right out the window.

First in the Love on Cue series, Acting on Impulse was a fun fast-paced contemporary jaunt. Written in the currently popular first person pov chapter switching from hero and heroine, we also got a bit of fourth wall breaking. The writing style has a bit of write like you talk feel and there are moments where the hero and heroine seem to acknowledge an outside audience with comments directed at the reader. While this style can give the reader more of an inclusive feeling, I personally like to remain a certain distance with more of a look-in at a story than inclusion in one.

"You should know this, though. I will always take no for an answer, but the minute you say otherwise, you're mine, and I won't hold anything back."

Carter, our hero, was an affable, relaxed, and slightly goofy guy. With an insta-attraction bit, as soon as he sees our heroine he starts calling her his future wife in his mind. The pressure of being in Hollywood and the guard he must constantly have up around people made up most of the background depth for him. We get a little more personality out of him in his interactions with his friend who is also his agent, his younger sister, and family visit. On the whole though, I'm not sure he really popped out of the light and fun model hero.

Our heroine Tori had more spark and life and the character you're going to really enjoy. She was a capable and strong heroine who you'd want as a friend. Since the author wrote her so self-assured it felt really forced when Tori would shy away from a relationship with Carter because of her ex's past action of announcing their break-up publically. She had a very straightforward personality and it was a little disappointing to have her seemingly act out of character with forced angst turning away from Carter.

Even though Carter starts off thinking Tori is his future wife, his trust in others somewhat holds him back and with Tori letting her past relationship taint her future one, our couple had a hot for but keep arms length away relationship for the majority of the book. It wasn't until around the 60% mark that I felt like things started rolling. The author did a credible job of rounding out the story with some family drama for Tori and professional drama for Carter that helped add dimensions to our characters. There was a hint at secondary romance between Carter's friend/agent and his younger sister and Tori's roommate/friend and boss that did peak my interest.

All in all, this was a quick read with a nice hero, great heroine who got tweaked a bit to create some angst, and some steamy action scenes. The first person pov with fourth wall breaking and insta-attraction weren't to my personal likes but was still fun to escape into for a couple hours.

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