Joy101 reviewed When You Least Expect It by Haley Cass
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Paperback, 246 pages
Published Nov. 17, 2020 by Haley Cass.
Caroline Parker knows three things to be true. First, she is going to be Boston's most sought after divorce attorney by thirty-five. Second, given how terrible her romantic track record is, falling in love isn't in the cards for her. And third, Christmas only brings her bad luck - being broken up with not once, not twice, but three times during the holidays is proof enough of that. When she runs into Hannah Dalton on Christmas Eve, she has no reason to believe her luck will change. After all, though Hannah is probably the most gorgeous woman she’s ever seen, she’s also straight. And married to Caroline’s work rival. While being hired by Hannah throws her for a loop, winning a divorce case and sticking it to her ex-colleague should be enough of a thrill. But as the months slip by, bringing her closer to both Hannah and her adorable …
Caroline Parker knows three things to be true. First, she is going to be Boston's most sought after divorce attorney by thirty-five. Second, given how terrible her romantic track record is, falling in love isn't in the cards for her. And third, Christmas only brings her bad luck - being broken up with not once, not twice, but three times during the holidays is proof enough of that. When she runs into Hannah Dalton on Christmas Eve, she has no reason to believe her luck will change. After all, though Hannah is probably the most gorgeous woman she’s ever seen, she’s also straight. And married to Caroline’s work rival. While being hired by Hannah throws her for a loop, winning a divorce case and sticking it to her ex-colleague should be enough of a thrill. But as the months slip by, bringing her closer to both Hannah and her adorable daughter Abbie, the lines between attorney and client begin to blur. And she could have never predicted just how much she wants them to.
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I picked this up because it was on my library's list of no-wait books, so I expected a milquetoast romance story where the MCs just happen to be a couple of women instead of a straight couple.
I was very pleasantly surprised. The characters were well-fleshed out and made me feel invested in their story as well as their personal journeys, even if they aren't necessarily people I would like in real life. The romance was developed at a reasonable pace for the circumstances. I also enjoyed the fact that the couple faces not only external hindrances, but also problems that stem from their personalities and past experiences. Lastly, there were a couple sex scenes included that were both very steamy and very tatefully done, in my opinion.
I listened to the audio book version of the book, which I thought was excellently narrated. The speaker was able to create …
I picked this up because it was on my library's list of no-wait books, so I expected a milquetoast romance story where the MCs just happen to be a couple of women instead of a straight couple.
I was very pleasantly surprised. The characters were well-fleshed out and made me feel invested in their story as well as their personal journeys, even if they aren't necessarily people I would like in real life. The romance was developed at a reasonable pace for the circumstances. I also enjoyed the fact that the couple faces not only external hindrances, but also problems that stem from their personalities and past experiences. Lastly, there were a couple sex scenes included that were both very steamy and very tatefully done, in my opinion.
I listened to the audio book version of the book, which I thought was excellently narrated. The speaker was able to create a unique and easy to recognise voice for each of the characters, while also performing their emotions well.
Overall this was a a very fun and enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a tasteful romance story.
I seem to be an absolute sucker for the excruciatingly sloooooooow burn sapphic romance, and this is a really good one. Unexpected love, passion (obvs), uncertain boundaries, messy family dynamics and even a tiny bit of satisfying courtroom drama!
This was an up and down reading experience for me. The storytelling and chemistry was so damn good. So. Damn. Good. I fell in love with Hannah and Abbie and felt for Caroline. The sexual tension was off the charts and I wanted these two women to have the best HEA ever.
So what was my problem? Grammar, writing style, and misused and overused words. My biggest pet peeves all over the pages. I didn't look to see if there was an editor mentioned but I'd be surprised if one was used. Even a good proofreader would have been helpful. And if a good editor and/or proofreader was used, the author may not have taken the advice offered. I don't know what was involved but this could have easily been a five star book - and an automatic entry on my "funk reading list" - if it hadn't been for …
This was an up and down reading experience for me. The storytelling and chemistry was so damn good. So. Damn. Good. I fell in love with Hannah and Abbie and felt for Caroline. The sexual tension was off the charts and I wanted these two women to have the best HEA ever.
So what was my problem? Grammar, writing style, and misused and overused words. My biggest pet peeves all over the pages. I didn't look to see if there was an editor mentioned but I'd be surprised if one was used. Even a good proofreader would have been helpful. And if a good editor and/or proofreader was used, the author may not have taken the advice offered. I don't know what was involved but this could have easily been a five star book - and an automatic entry on my "funk reading list" - if it hadn't been for the insanity that was randomly placed commas, possessives where plurals were intended, and paragraphs so muddled with pronouns that I literally had no idea who was doing what after several rereads.
I started out with the audio book but I couldn't figure out what was going on in too many places because the narrator (who did a fine job) had to deal with all the commas and dashes that many passages ended up word salad. I switched to the ebook and it was a better experience because I could see the punctuation and figure it out.
If these things weren't an issue, Haley Cass would move right up to one of my favorite authors. I finished the book last night and haven't been able to get the characters out of my head. I really connected with them and loved the story so much. But the proofreader in me just can't get past the issues with the writing so I don't know that I'll try another.
I know that these things don't matter to everyone but if they do to you, go into this read fully expecting to be frustrated. But even with all the troubles I had with it, When You Least Expect It still gets a pretty high rating because Ms Cass can tell a beautiful, heartfelt tale.
Purchasable
https://audiobookstore.com/audiobooks/when-you-least-expect-it.aspx
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