Behind the Stick by Sandra Marie

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Title: Behind the Stick
Author: Sandra Marie
Series: Romance for all Seasons #6
Published by: Indie
Release Date: March 1st 2019
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 165
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2019 Finishing the Series Challenge, Lenoreo's 2019 New Release Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks
My rating:

Blurb:

Is this bookworm ready to write her own love story?

In a funk after a recent break up, Lauren Logan wants to bury her nose in a book and forget about the world, but her friends have other plans. Dragged against her will, Lauren finds an empty corner at the bar to read, but when a friendly bartender with a gorgeous smile and the greenest eyes she’s ever seen approaches her, she realizes life outside of a book could be just as exciting.

Gavin Mills lives in the shadows of his twin brother’s success by choice. He refuses to become another zombie in a suit, preferring to follow his own dreams of owning the local bar. But with one problem after the next, Gavin’s dreams of hosting a St. Patrick’s Day bash feels hopeless, until the adorable bookworm offers to help make his dreams a reality.

Late nights at the bar and undeniable chemistry make it impossible for them to ignore their growing feelings. But when an unfortunate turn of events makes Lauren question Gavin’s motives, will they find it in themselves to take a chance on each other?

My Review:

3.5 stars — Dudes, I’m sad to say that this review is going to be severely lacking.  I’m not sure if the wrong file was uploaded, but the line editing was just not up to the standards of the other books, and there were enough grammar mistakes that it actually took me out of the book and made it hard to get sucked in.  I normally don’t comment on typos and shiznit, b/c I’m fairly tolerant, but when it affects my reading, I can’t pass it by.  Hopefully it will be cleaned up and updated soon!

Gavin and Lauren were both genuinely likable characters…both a little closed off and awkward, for different reasons.  Lauren was hung up on the abandonment in her past, Gavin was hung up on his perceived second-best-ness to his brother.  They could both be a little frustrating in that way, but at the same time it wasn’t something the story looked at in any real depth.  In a longer book I would have wanted more from each of them in this area…more clear growth.  I think because there were hints of more depth, it made it stand out how much we didn’t get to dive into it and learn more.

There were lots of super cute moments that made me just awwww and swoon over the two of them.  I LOVED all the bookish references in this one.  The scenes where Lauren and Gavin are nerding out on books, teasing each other, just understanding each other as fellow bookworms were truly highlights.

As always, I loved seeing all the couples from the other books in the series…this author really made a cast of characters that were all unique, but that fit together so well.  And Gavin’s Dad’s were hilarious.

See what I mean about lacking?  Ah well.  Sometimes I’m just not on.  I think it’s my annual March distraction…it happens…yearly apparently.