Always Loving You (Danvers #6) by Sydney Landon Published February 3rd 2015 by Signet
Paperback, 304 pages
Series: Danvers
Genre: Contemporary RomanceHeat Rating: Steamy to somewhat sizzling
Amazon | Goodreads
Recommended for 18 years old or older for adult content and language
Summary from Goodreads
Ava Stone has spent her entire life looking over her shoulder—waiting for the past to catch up with her....
After surviving a horrific attack as a teenager, Ava has never been able to truly overcome her fears. The incident was covered up by her family so she wouldn’t have to deal with it publicly—yet only one person understands what she had to endure in private: her brother’s best friend, MacKinley Powers, who found her the night of the attack. But even he doesn’t know everything—and she’s afraid to open up to him.
Mac has loved Ava for most of his life—and being in close contact with her every day as head of security for Danvers International isn’t helping. In fact, it makes him realize the painful truth: He has to walk away to keep his sanity. But when Ava is forced to rely on the only man who has never let her down, can Mac break through the protective walls she’s needed for so long?
Ava Stone has spent her entire life looking over her shoulder—waiting for the past to catch up with her....
After surviving a horrific attack as a teenager, Ava has never been able to truly overcome her fears. The incident was covered up by her family so she wouldn’t have to deal with it publicly—yet only one person understands what she had to endure in private: her brother’s best friend, MacKinley Powers, who found her the night of the attack. But even he doesn’t know everything—and she’s afraid to open up to him.
Mac has loved Ava for most of his life—and being in close contact with her every day as head of security for Danvers International isn’t helping. In fact, it makes him realize the painful truth: He has to walk away to keep his sanity. But when Ava is forced to rely on the only man who has never let her down, can Mac break through the protective walls she’s needed for so long?
Ever sit down to start a review, and end up being stuck unsure where
to even begin? That's how I feel trying to put my feelings into words
about Always Loving You. Let me start by saying I have never read
anything by Sydney Landon before, so this was me dipping my toes into
her writing. The result? I am not really sure how to still completely
feel about it. I did enjoy Landon's writing, she did know how to keep my
attention and the dirty humor was surprisingly very amusing in this
book. There was just one tiny problem...
I couldn't stand Ava Stone as the heroine.
I found her absolutely frustration, and annoying. Her actions seemed a little out there and sometimes a bit childish. I can't say I had a hard time plowing through the book, but it almost felt like being unable to look away from a massive train wreck that was about to happen and that was what Ava felt like to me - a massive train wreck. In a way, she was. The story began with giving us a bit of a background on Ava and the fact that she survived an absolutely horrific attack as a teen and the fact that her grandfather was quick to cover the incident up without bringing any justice to it. So Ava in a way never recovered from the event, and has a hard time letting the only male that she has been in love with forever into her life.
I did like Mac, the man who was in love with Ava for most of his life. He has been patient for a lot of it, but there is only so much rejection a man can take and when Ava showed no interest in giving them a shot, Mac decided to move on.
Of course the moment Mac moves on, Ava can't handle it and ends up deciding that she must take her man back with a chain of really dumb behavior on her part which in some aspects have been downright dangerous. So get this, to catch the man's attention, Ava pulls a series of really bad stuns in front of him to get him riled up and hope he comes back to her. She puts herself in dangerous situations that are out of character for her, and poor Mac almost loses his mind trying to understand what is going on. Then she wonders why he rejected her when she finally confesses her feelings that he doesn't believe her at first. These two has some series communication issues through the book, it was starting to feel overwhelming at times.
And seriously, what the hell was up with Ava using Mac's best friend to make him jealous? How messed up is this?
I did find some parts of the book funny. When Ava's friend goes into labor, there is a really funny scene with that I found myself enjoying.
I also felt odd how easy it looked when Ava and Mac slept together. I was expecting a bit more resistance I guess on her part, being a victim of a terrible attack that she never really had a chance to get over. There was some hiccup afterward but not much struggle with her emotions during.
Overall, I don't know. I liked Landon's writing, it still kept me hooked but I am not sure if it was entirely in a good way. Like I said, it was like watching a disaster waiting to happen. In this case that disaster was Ava Stone, a very frustrating heroine that left me a bit annoyed by her childish actions.
I gave this book a 3 star instead of 2 1/2 because I did like Mac, I did find some of it quiet funny, I did like the writing and despite disliking Ava very much I still breezed through the book. So in a way, the author did her job in bringing out many emotions out of me through this book even if not all of them had been positive.
I couldn't stand Ava Stone as the heroine.
I found her absolutely frustration, and annoying. Her actions seemed a little out there and sometimes a bit childish. I can't say I had a hard time plowing through the book, but it almost felt like being unable to look away from a massive train wreck that was about to happen and that was what Ava felt like to me - a massive train wreck. In a way, she was. The story began with giving us a bit of a background on Ava and the fact that she survived an absolutely horrific attack as a teen and the fact that her grandfather was quick to cover the incident up without bringing any justice to it. So Ava in a way never recovered from the event, and has a hard time letting the only male that she has been in love with forever into her life.
I did like Mac, the man who was in love with Ava for most of his life. He has been patient for a lot of it, but there is only so much rejection a man can take and when Ava showed no interest in giving them a shot, Mac decided to move on.
Of course the moment Mac moves on, Ava can't handle it and ends up deciding that she must take her man back with a chain of really dumb behavior on her part which in some aspects have been downright dangerous. So get this, to catch the man's attention, Ava pulls a series of really bad stuns in front of him to get him riled up and hope he comes back to her. She puts herself in dangerous situations that are out of character for her, and poor Mac almost loses his mind trying to understand what is going on. Then she wonders why he rejected her when she finally confesses her feelings that he doesn't believe her at first. These two has some series communication issues through the book, it was starting to feel overwhelming at times.
And seriously, what the hell was up with Ava using Mac's best friend to make him jealous? How messed up is this?
I did find some parts of the book funny. When Ava's friend goes into labor, there is a really funny scene with that I found myself enjoying.
I also felt odd how easy it looked when Ava and Mac slept together. I was expecting a bit more resistance I guess on her part, being a victim of a terrible attack that she never really had a chance to get over. There was some hiccup afterward but not much struggle with her emotions during.
Overall, I don't know. I liked Landon's writing, it still kept me hooked but I am not sure if it was entirely in a good way. Like I said, it was like watching a disaster waiting to happen. In this case that disaster was Ava Stone, a very frustrating heroine that left me a bit annoyed by her childish actions.
I gave this book a 3 star instead of 2 1/2 because I did like Mac, I did find some of it quiet funny, I did like the writing and despite disliking Ava very much I still breezed through the book. So in a way, the author did her job in bringing out many emotions out of me through this book even if not all of them had been positive.
You're right, these type of reviews really are hard to write. I think you did a pretty good job letting us know how you felt about it though so nicely done. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's always difficult when you don't like a character like Ava... but in a whole it sounds like a good book for Mac and the writing.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to write a whole review when you start out not really knowing what to write or how to do it... I'm like you! If I can't stand the heroine at all, it does something to my enjoyment of the story, and sadly, to my overall rating as well. I'm glad you enjoyed the writing and the dirty humor, though. And Mac sounds like a character it might be fun getting to know.
ReplyDeleteHave a fantastic Friday!
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
Oh but you didn't DNF it! I'm curious because you did find things you liked, but I don't know if I could read it if I didn't like the heroine. Yea, I hate reviewing books like this.
ReplyDeleteUgh! Frustrating heroines! Why are they called "heroines"? At least the writing style redeemed the whole experience for you, I'm not sure it would do the trick for me.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard when you don't like the heroine, but it looks like the author is one to try, just not this particular book
ReplyDeleteI would have to love or at least like the heroine to like a book. Not sure about this one.
ReplyDeleteOoo nope! That heroine would not have worked for me. There's a local author here named Ava Stone. lol Wonder if she's named after her. Hm.
ReplyDeleteIt really is annoying when you don't like the heroine. It really sounds like a great read, one that I would enjoy. Great review Lily!
ReplyDeleteNaomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace