Scan barcode
A review by lisaluvsliterature
That Thing You Brew by Kerry Evelyn
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I think this is probably going to be my favorite one in the series so far, especially as I do love a good hockey romance! Overall this was a really sweet romance. One thing I really liked is that any drama seemed real. While this was a somewhat fake romance type of story, in that he needed to get married to save the family castle, it also wasn’t fake, because they both were kind of interested in each other to start with, and while it wasn’t an immediately easy thing to come out and tell the other one how they felt or that they loved them when it came to that, they still showed it and didn’t lie just to save face. What I mean by it seeming real is that I feel like the way they behaved wasn’t drama just for a story’s sake. They didn’t go over the top ignore the other one, deny any possible feelings, etc.
And Xavier was a sweetie. The way he got to know Penny and accepted her the way she was with no hesitation. The way he learned what she liked, knew what she was good at, showed up just to see her play her harp, etc. He was what you’d think of as the perfect guy in that way. And Penny was really such a strong woman, working so hard to do what she wanted, and for the most part, didn’t let what other people thought affect her. Except when it came to her stutter. And so that was something she was working on, something that brought her and Xavier together as the story began.
Because all of these stories are sweet romance, this one was too. I’m used to quite a bit steamier when it comes to my hockey romance, but in a way this was nice too. Even if occasionally it was a little too squeaky clean for me. It almost wasn’t even something you could called closed door, as it sounded as if all they did was kiss. Literally. No mention of anything other than kissing, and hugging, and maybe sniffing hair or smelling their shampoo/body products. One mention of a feeling in her stomach that she’d never had before.
Lots of other people in this world, other hockey players on Xavier’s team of course, other friends of Penny’s, etc. A fun world that I could see more fun stories in!
And Xavier was a sweetie. The way he got to know Penny and accepted her the way she was with no hesitation. The way he learned what she liked, knew what she was good at, showed up just to see her play her harp, etc. He was what you’d think of as the perfect guy in that way. And Penny was really such a strong woman, working so hard to do what she wanted, and for the most part, didn’t let what other people thought affect her. Except when it came to her stutter. And so that was something she was working on, something that brought her and Xavier together as the story began.
Because all of these stories are sweet romance, this one was too. I’m used to quite a bit steamier when it comes to my hockey romance, but in a way this was nice too. Even if occasionally it was a little too squeaky clean for me. It almost wasn’t even something you could called closed door, as it sounded as if all they did was kiss. Literally. No mention of anything other than kissing, and hugging, and maybe sniffing hair or smelling their shampoo/body products. One mention of a feeling in her stomach that she’d never had before.
Lots of other people in this world, other hockey players on Xavier’s team of course, other friends of Penny’s, etc. A fun world that I could see more fun stories in!