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jeaniinabottle's review
3.0
The premise of this story was great.
Mateo was a lot of fun.
Teague was so nauseatingly perfect it made me want to roll my eyes. I get wanting to have a likable lead, and Teague was likable, but she was also completely flawless. Crazy good at math AND writing AND all sports AND secure enough in herself to take an emotional beating from her boss while working two jobs and being in school AND she’s super in shape despite being crazy busy AND she befriends doormen and nervous brides AND she can do any job you put in front of her AND she’s head-turningly beautiful AND apparently great at sex despite limited experience AND are you starting to see the problem yet?
The worst you can say about her is that she’s a little clumsy when Mateo comes around (though he often bumps into her so even then it’s not entirely her clumsiness), and that’s mostly to facilitate the plot.
I think if you must write a Mary Sue lead, you should at least leave out some of the things she’s great at so that you can still keep her relatable rather than so obviously wish fulfillment that it starts to become alienating to your readers. Because honestly? She kind of was.
Merged review:
The premise of this story was great.
Mateo was a lot of fun.
Teague was so nauseatingly perfect it made me want to roll my eyes. I get wanting to have a likable lead, and Teague was likable, but she was also completely flawless. Crazy good at math AND writing AND all sports AND secure enough in herself to take an emotional beating from her boss while working two jobs and being in school AND she’s super in shape despite being crazy busy AND she befriends doormen and nervous brides AND she can do any job you put in front of her AND she’s head-turningly beautiful AND apparently great at sex despite limited experience AND are you starting to see the problem yet?
The worst you can say about her is that she’s a little clumsy when Mateo comes around (though he often bumps into her so even then it’s not entirely her clumsiness), and that’s mostly to facilitate the plot.
I think if you must write a Mary Sue lead, you should at least leave out some of the things she’s great at so that you can still keep her relatable rather than so obviously wish fulfillment that it starts to become alienating to your readers. Because honestly? She kind of was.
Mateo was a lot of fun.
Teague was so nauseatingly perfect it made me want to roll my eyes. I get wanting to have a likable lead, and Teague was likable, but she was also completely flawless. Crazy good at math AND writing AND all sports AND secure enough in herself to take an emotional beating from her boss while working two jobs and being in school AND she’s super in shape despite being crazy busy AND she befriends doormen and nervous brides AND she can do any job you put in front of her AND she’s head-turningly beautiful AND apparently great at sex despite limited experience AND are you starting to see the problem yet?
The worst you can say about her is that she’s a little clumsy when Mateo comes around (though he often bumps into her so even then it’s not entirely her clumsiness), and that’s mostly to facilitate the plot.
I think if you must write a Mary Sue lead, you should at least leave out some of the things she’s great at so that you can still keep her relatable rather than so obviously wish fulfillment that it starts to become alienating to your readers. Because honestly? She kind of was.
Merged review:
The premise of this story was great.
Mateo was a lot of fun.
Teague was so nauseatingly perfect it made me want to roll my eyes. I get wanting to have a likable lead, and Teague was likable, but she was also completely flawless. Crazy good at math AND writing AND all sports AND secure enough in herself to take an emotional beating from her boss while working two jobs and being in school AND she’s super in shape despite being crazy busy AND she befriends doormen and nervous brides AND she can do any job you put in front of her AND she’s head-turningly beautiful AND apparently great at sex despite limited experience AND are you starting to see the problem yet?
The worst you can say about her is that she’s a little clumsy when Mateo comes around (though he often bumps into her so even then it’s not entirely her clumsiness), and that’s mostly to facilitate the plot.
I think if you must write a Mary Sue lead, you should at least leave out some of the things she’s great at so that you can still keep her relatable rather than so obviously wish fulfillment that it starts to become alienating to your readers. Because honestly? She kind of was.
madjy2max's review
4.0
*3.5 Stars Rounded Up
Every morning, the coffee shop that Teague, our heroine, works at goes silent as everyone is glues to the radio and Bennett's radio show about being a single guy dating around. She wants to be a travel journalist, though moving to LA is the furthest she has been from home. She bumps into a gorgeous guy - literally - not just once, but twice, after accidentally getting a second job as an assistant to a high profile wedding planner.
This starts off with instant attraction between Teague and Mateo (the actual identity of Bennett), but they fight that attraction for a significant portion of the book. Mateo helps show Teague around LA and their relationship slowly builds to more. I'm not sure why, but I had a harder time connecting with Mateo, and he felt a bit too arrogant to me a lot of the time. I think that he may have been less sentimental than I would have liked, and that made these two feel more like friends who lusted after one another than two people falling in love.
I typically love "alter egos" in stories, so was really looking forward to the "Bennett" aspect. It didn't come up much, except that Mateo had a secret he couldn't share and we got a synopsis of how he felt about Teague via the show every once in awhile. I really wanted some sort of interaction between "Bennett" and Teague!
This was definitely a fun read, with some excellent sexual tension! The wedding planning parts were a fun way of showing Teague's development, and the "LA tourist" bits were a delight!
Every morning, the coffee shop that Teague, our heroine, works at goes silent as everyone is glues to the radio and Bennett's radio show about being a single guy dating around. She wants to be a travel journalist, though moving to LA is the furthest she has been from home. She bumps into a gorgeous guy - literally - not just once, but twice, after accidentally getting a second job as an assistant to a high profile wedding planner.
This starts off with instant attraction between Teague and Mateo (the actual identity of Bennett), but they fight that attraction for a significant portion of the book. Mateo helps show Teague around LA and their relationship slowly builds to more. I'm not sure why, but I had a harder time connecting with Mateo, and he felt a bit too arrogant to me a lot of the time. I think that he may have been less sentimental than I would have liked, and that made these two feel more like friends who lusted after one another than two people falling in love.
I typically love "alter egos" in stories, so was really looking forward to the "Bennett" aspect. It didn't come up much, except that Mateo had a secret he couldn't share and we got a synopsis of how he felt about Teague via the show every once in awhile. I really wanted some sort of interaction between "Bennett" and Teague!
This was definitely a fun read, with some excellent sexual tension! The wedding planning parts were a fun way of showing Teague's development, and the "LA tourist" bits were a delight!
larareads2much's review
4.0
Unexpectantly entertaining and fun. Really loved Mateo and Teague's relationshop, how it built and become something neither of them expected.
sarahluvsromance_1201's review
4.0
***AVAILABLE NOW - FULL REVIEW***
4 Slow Burn CROWNS
Talk British to Me by Robin Bielman has been my first book by this author. I found it to be fun and entertaining, a romance that really thrives on the characters and their connection over lust.
The characters, Teague and Mateo, are what really drive this novel. These two are incredibly likable. Mateo has that easy and lovable charm. Readers, just like Teague, sense that he is a player, a limitless flirt, and yet he still retains that factor that draws women to him. He is open and honest, as much as he can be with his job, which only serves to heighten his attractiveness. Underneath this flirtatious nature hides a man with a heart of gentleman. As the readers get to know him, it is clear that he is raised right, and it is this personal side of him that makes readers swoon for him. Teague is a fantastic heroine. Being the youngest in her family, she has left a life of protection to make her own way in a new place. She is confident yet sweet, and she has a determination to be successful on her own. While she has the attributes needed to succeed in a big city, she still maintains that small town charm that makes her appealing to the reader as well as Mateo.
The plot of Talk British to Me is a very slow burn. There are dalliances between the two, but it takes a good portion of the novel to get to the fruition of their attraction. There is tons of tension between the two as they navigate trying to fight their attraction to each other while maintaining their friendship, but their relationship feels authentic and real. Robin Bielman also introduces readers to a host of secondary characters that are just as wonderful, and she leaves us with just enough between two of them to interest readers for the next book (I'm assuming).
Talk British to Me is another romance filled with a cast of lovable characters and authentic romance. Readers will really enjoy the friends to lovers romance, and they will certainly be intrigued with the the possibility of more to come.
----------
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews and other book news, check out Musings of the Modern Belle at www.modernbellebooks.com.
----------
Get your copy today:
4 Slow Burn CROWNS
Talk British to Me by Robin Bielman has been my first book by this author. I found it to be fun and entertaining, a romance that really thrives on the characters and their connection over lust.
The characters, Teague and Mateo, are what really drive this novel. These two are incredibly likable. Mateo has that easy and lovable charm. Readers, just like Teague, sense that he is a player, a limitless flirt, and yet he still retains that factor that draws women to him. He is open and honest, as much as he can be with his job, which only serves to heighten his attractiveness. Underneath this flirtatious nature hides a man with a heart of gentleman. As the readers get to know him, it is clear that he is raised right, and it is this personal side of him that makes readers swoon for him. Teague is a fantastic heroine. Being the youngest in her family, she has left a life of protection to make her own way in a new place. She is confident yet sweet, and she has a determination to be successful on her own. While she has the attributes needed to succeed in a big city, she still maintains that small town charm that makes her appealing to the reader as well as Mateo.
The plot of Talk British to Me is a very slow burn. There are dalliances between the two, but it takes a good portion of the novel to get to the fruition of their attraction. There is tons of tension between the two as they navigate trying to fight their attraction to each other while maintaining their friendship, but their relationship feels authentic and real. Robin Bielman also introduces readers to a host of secondary characters that are just as wonderful, and she leaves us with just enough between two of them to interest readers for the next book (I'm assuming).
Talk British to Me is another romance filled with a cast of lovable characters and authentic romance. Readers will really enjoy the friends to lovers romance, and they will certainly be intrigued with the the possibility of more to come.
----------
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews and other book news, check out Musings of the Modern Belle at www.modernbellebooks.com.
----------
Get your copy today:
louvejita's review
4.0
My review has been posted on Shelly's Book Corner
www.goodreads.com/review/show/2029895931
www.goodreads.com/review/show/2029895931
batgirl602's review
5.0
Such a uniquely different storyline. I enjoyed this book very much. The relationship between Mateo and Teague was so beautifully written. I couldn't get enough of these two. This is my first Robin Bielman book but I know it won't be my last. She has a wonderful way with words that will suck you into the story immediately and keep you captivating all the way through to the end!
richarja's review
2.0
Meh. This was....ok. Not great. If you're in the mood for a solidly bland contemporary, go for it. Otherwise, don't. The hero was really full of himself. Also, this could have been novella length if the two new adults could have just gotten over themselves and used their words.
lashea677's review
5.0
Mateo is a real piece of work. Couldn't decide if the douche bag label applied or the clueless one. Either way you slice it, the contradictions made the man.
Teague is even more of a puzzle than Mateo. Her actions say don't touch, but the sparks sent Mateo's way say anything but. Robin Bielman specializes in reactionary stories. Whether erupting with laughter, tempted by the bad boy or frustrated by the antics of her characters, there is always an overflow of feelings. Talk British to Me is just another example of how well she commands attention.
hwasreadingcorner's review
5.0
Can I please have this entire experience with a man and job wise. I loved this and want to reread it immediately .