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Ice Knights #1
Parental Guidance
It wasn't me.
It was my team.
But as almost co-captain I raised my hand to fix it.
Never imagined they'd arrange a PR stunt to make me look like Mr. Right to someone my mom picks out on some new dating app.
Then my salvation walks into the restaurant.
Zara Ambrose.
The five-foot-nothing redhead with more freckles than inches that I convinced to go on five dates with me for all the world to see.
She's got her own reasons for our set up--and her own rules.
But somewhere between the couples' obstacle course, wrestling matches with her Great Dane, and fights over mashed potatoes, Zara went from means-to-an-end to something so much more.
What happens when you start to fall for the one girl you can't have...on live TV?
It was my team.
But as almost co-captain I raised my hand to fix it.
Never imagined they'd arrange a PR stunt to make me look like Mr. Right to someone my mom picks out on some new dating app.
Then my salvation walks into the restaurant.
Zara Ambrose.
The five-foot-nothing redhead with more freckles than inches that I convinced to go on five dates with me for all the world to see.
She's got her own reasons for our set up--and her own rules.
But somewhere between the couples' obstacle course, wrestling matches with her Great Dane, and fights over mashed potatoes, Zara went from means-to-an-end to something so much more.
What happens when you start to fall for the one girl you can't have...on live TV?
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,117 reviews
June 16, 2019
3.5 Stars
When you’ve tried everything you can to meet people, but you still haven’t found that elusive hottie you’d not only like to see naked but also makes you want to share your feelings and stuff? Whatcha going to do?
Sign up for a dating service that lets your parents chose your dates for you!
That’s the less than enviable spot Zara and Caleb find themselves in at the beginning of Parental Guidance.
As a defenseman for the Ice Knights, Caleb has done everything he can to make hockey his priority numero uno. When a video of his rookie teammates saying disparaging things about the population of women they bang on a nightly basis goes viral, Caleb is faulted for being there and not shutting the conversation down as the veteran in the room. When Caleb’s told he needs an image makeover STAT, he agrees to do whatever it takes. He just didn’t think that meant letting his mom set him up with a pint sized redhead with an attitude.
Zara knows she works too much, but her miniatures aren’t going to paint themselves. Trying to break out in the competitive (I’m guessing?) world of miniatures isn’t easy, but Zara’s used to working hard. What she’s also used to is listening to her bff knock her for not having a social life. The nagging from her best friend, coupled by the fact she gets to help her father out at the same time, means the Brambles dating app officially has a new single and ready to mingle lady.
Let’s start with the stuff I loved. Caleb and Zara are both awesome romantic leads. When we first meet Caleb, it’s easy to peg him as the stereotypical arrogant, manho kind of hockey player, but luckily that couldn’t be further from the truth. Though not looking for a relationship, Caleb doesn’t sleep around and the only thing he’s arrogant about is his skills on the ice. Zara’s take no prisoners, hold nothing back attitude worked for me because it felt authentic and we’re still able to see the cracks in her armor, so to speak.
Most of all, I loved when the five point plan the two came up with to deter a real relationship starts to crumble.
It was almost impossible to remember why dating Zara for real was a bad idea. In this moment, he couldn’t shake the idea that there could be more than an agreement between them. That he wanted that. That it didn’t seem like he had a choice in wanting her. That it was too late to try to fight it even if he wanted to.
This could’ve easily been a four star read for me. I connected right away with Avery Flynn’s writing style and Caleb and Zara are fabulous together. My issues stem with the side stories more than anything else. Caleb’s viral video incident didn’t seem big enough to warrant the freak out reactions of everyone around him so I never quite got on board with the NEED to publicly join the dating app in the first place. Also, Zara’s need for stability in her life and the walls she puts up to keep people out were washed away way too easily by her father’s explanation of his past and still continuing behavior, which didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.
Overall, I really enjoyed Parental Guidance. It looks like maybe threeish other Ice Knights are in line to have their stories told, which means we haven’t seen the last of Zara and Caleb.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, voluntary review
When you’ve tried everything you can to meet people, but you still haven’t found that elusive hottie you’d not only like to see naked but also makes you want to share your feelings and stuff? Whatcha going to do?
Sign up for a dating service that lets your parents chose your dates for you!
That’s the less than enviable spot Zara and Caleb find themselves in at the beginning of Parental Guidance.
As a defenseman for the Ice Knights, Caleb has done everything he can to make hockey his priority numero uno. When a video of his rookie teammates saying disparaging things about the population of women they bang on a nightly basis goes viral, Caleb is faulted for being there and not shutting the conversation down as the veteran in the room. When Caleb’s told he needs an image makeover STAT, he agrees to do whatever it takes. He just didn’t think that meant letting his mom set him up with a pint sized redhead with an attitude.
Zara knows she works too much, but her miniatures aren’t going to paint themselves. Trying to break out in the competitive (I’m guessing?) world of miniatures isn’t easy, but Zara’s used to working hard. What she’s also used to is listening to her bff knock her for not having a social life. The nagging from her best friend, coupled by the fact she gets to help her father out at the same time, means the Brambles dating app officially has a new single and ready to mingle lady.
Let’s start with the stuff I loved. Caleb and Zara are both awesome romantic leads. When we first meet Caleb, it’s easy to peg him as the stereotypical arrogant, manho kind of hockey player, but luckily that couldn’t be further from the truth. Though not looking for a relationship, Caleb doesn’t sleep around and the only thing he’s arrogant about is his skills on the ice. Zara’s take no prisoners, hold nothing back attitude worked for me because it felt authentic and we’re still able to see the cracks in her armor, so to speak.
Most of all, I loved when the five point plan the two came up with to deter a real relationship starts to crumble.
It was almost impossible to remember why dating Zara for real was a bad idea. In this moment, he couldn’t shake the idea that there could be more than an agreement between them. That he wanted that. That it didn’t seem like he had a choice in wanting her. That it was too late to try to fight it even if he wanted to.
This could’ve easily been a four star read for me. I connected right away with Avery Flynn’s writing style and Caleb and Zara are fabulous together. My issues stem with the side stories more than anything else. Caleb’s viral video incident didn’t seem big enough to warrant the freak out reactions of everyone around him so I never quite got on board with the NEED to publicly join the dating app in the first place. Also, Zara’s need for stability in her life and the walls she puts up to keep people out were washed away way too easily by her father’s explanation of his past and still continuing behavior, which didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.
Overall, I really enjoyed Parental Guidance. It looks like maybe threeish other Ice Knights are in line to have their stories told, which means we haven’t seen the last of Zara and Caleb.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, voluntary review
June 17, 2019
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK
After being introduced to the Ice Knights in Tomboy I was hoping with all hope that we would get to see these guys again. So I pretty much squealed and then jumped on the chance to read this book as soon as I learned there was going to be a series for these players. And then once I got my hands on it I pretty much devoured it in one sitting. I'm not even sorry because this story was brilliant.
I loved Zara and her take-no-crap attitude. She made no apologies for who she was and never tried to conform to other people's wants. Which I thought was really fun to read about and it's a quality that I love to see in my heroines. Caleb seemed to like her sass just as much as I did and I really enjoyed that about him. These two fit so well together and they had me smiling like a crazy person on more than one occasion. They are definitely high up on the list of my favorite Avery Flynn characters.
The bottom line is, you need to read this book. It had so many adorable moments that made me happy sigh, and the characters were so easy to fall in love with. I already know I'll definitely be re-reading this book many times in the future. I made the mistake of reading the little teaser for the next book so now I'm going to be even more impatient to get my hands on some more of these hockey players.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
After being introduced to the Ice Knights in Tomboy I was hoping with all hope that we would get to see these guys again. So I pretty much squealed and then jumped on the chance to read this book as soon as I learned there was going to be a series for these players. And then once I got my hands on it I pretty much devoured it in one sitting. I'm not even sorry because this story was brilliant.
I loved Zara and her take-no-crap attitude. She made no apologies for who she was and never tried to conform to other people's wants. Which I thought was really fun to read about and it's a quality that I love to see in my heroines. Caleb seemed to like her sass just as much as I did and I really enjoyed that about him. These two fit so well together and they had me smiling like a crazy person on more than one occasion. They are definitely high up on the list of my favorite Avery Flynn characters.
The bottom line is, you need to read this book. It had so many adorable moments that made me happy sigh, and the characters were so easy to fall in love with. I already know I'll definitely be re-reading this book many times in the future. I made the mistake of reading the little teaser for the next book so now I'm going to be even more impatient to get my hands on some more of these hockey players.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2020
This doesn't work, even a little bit, and I hate that I persisted way longer than I should have. I try to give books their premise, particularly wish-fulfillment fantasies in romance but this one was a huge strain. I can almost, if I squint a little, see a hockey organization getting all tense with a guy who stayed silent while his teammates were gross about women. Okay, not really, but for the sake of a premise. But who would then think that the remedy is for him to join a dating app under parental guidance with a five-date commitment and public interviews by a local morning show after each date? I just don't see adults interested in hockey games a) caring in the first place and b) thinking this stunt was a good remedy in the second.
And then we meet the parents and it just catapults into melty pocket watch territory. Caleb's mom is bad enough as the ballbuster agent who outsmarts everybody because she's so driven and smart and forceful and smart. Plus, she's smart! And Zara's dad annoyed me from the start and I don't get why she's so tolerant of his whack-job idiocy. I mean, I get the irresponsible bon vivant as a trope but nobody really likes that guy (because everybody knows he can't be relied on) and Zara keeps acting like they do—like she's alone in her exasperation and nobody understands what she puts up with.
But that's all just background so if the characters had worked I probably would have shrugged it off. But they didn't really, either. Oh, they're perfect for each other, don't get me wrong. So perfect that they can not only accurately diagnose each others' issues, but provide insightful comments that turn the other around on a dime and make them see their problems in an entirely new way. If you see what I mean.
And that's what broke me being able to continue. I like when a romantic couple helps each other over hard spots, sure. But this felt completely unearned and way too easy. Which is to say, I know I'm always at my most insightful and clever when I have an author feeding me the right notes! Sigh.
So yeah, I got way father than I should have but this was always headed for one-star territory. I just wish I had acknowledged that sooner and moved on.
And then we meet the parents and it just catapults into melty pocket watch territory. Caleb's mom is bad enough as the ballbuster agent who outsmarts everybody because she's so driven and smart and forceful and smart. Plus, she's smart! And Zara's dad annoyed me from the start and I don't get why she's so tolerant of his whack-job idiocy. I mean, I get the irresponsible bon vivant as a trope but nobody really likes that guy (because everybody knows he can't be relied on) and Zara keeps acting like they do—like she's alone in her exasperation and nobody understands what she puts up with.
But that's all just background so if the characters had worked I probably would have shrugged it off. But they didn't really, either. Oh, they're perfect for each other, don't get me wrong. So perfect that they can not only accurately diagnose each others' issues, but provide insightful comments that turn the other around on a dime and make them see their problems in an entirely new way. If you see what I mean.
And that's what broke me being able to continue. I like when a romantic couple helps each other over hard spots, sure. But this felt completely unearned and way too easy. Which is to say, I know I'm always at my most insightful and clever when I have an author feeding me the right notes! Sigh.
So yeah, I got way father than I should have but this was always headed for one-star territory. I just wish I had acknowledged that sooner and moved on.
September 9, 2019
This book should be re title. Not as Parental Guidance but something like Blind Dating or Arranged Dating or something. Because despite the title Parental Guidance, the parents play a minor role here. Caleb's mother signing up Caleb for blind dating. Enter Zara. The rule: 5 dates then they go separate way. And as predicted, Caleb and Zara falls in love with each other.
The story itself is the signature of Miss Flynn works. A lot of character development, a dash of funny dating experience and sweet romance. The plot is standard. Not much layer/ angst/ drama. Regardless I do still enjoy the banter between Caleb and Zara. The sex is hot but not too many. Another plus for me. I do like sex scenes where it building/ enhancing the story development/ characters development.
I decide to reward it 3 stars. I do enjoy this book OK.
3 stars
The story itself is the signature of Miss Flynn works. A lot of character development, a dash of funny dating experience and sweet romance. The plot is standard. Not much layer/ angst/ drama. Regardless I do still enjoy the banter between Caleb and Zara. The sex is hot but not too many. Another plus for me. I do like sex scenes where it building/ enhancing the story development/ characters development.
I decide to reward it 3 stars. I do enjoy this book OK.
3 stars
October 7, 2019
What an adorable story. Sometimes when life is a little on the crazy and emotional side, I love to just dig into something fun and light. This totally fit that bill. It was cute, funny and just a little bit zany. The characters are easy to like with both good and bad qualities to them that made them all the more human and you could see how well they fit together.
I loved the premise to this. Caleb, got caught in the middle of some hockey guys talking smack about women that their friendly uber driver was kind enough to video and it went viral. Now it’s been decided that he needs some good press to distract from the bad name he is getting. The solution let your mom decide on who you are dating using a new dating app.
Zara’s dad is a dreamer and has a new scheme/opportunity to get him on the right track and make some serious money. All he needs is a SAG card and with his daughters help he can get one really easy. With some blackmail help from Zara’s best friend they also convince her that being all work and no play isn’t the best for her. The solution is to join this new dating app, she might be able to have some fun and help out her dad all at the same time. Who knew that her being so honest in the profile was going to throw her and Caleb together?
Caleb and Zara are great together from data one when they are fake fighting over mash potatoes. I loved this idea of them fake dating so they can both just get through this for their own reasons. But it is clear to see from almost the beginning the chemistry they have happening.
The Bramble dating app is also a fun idea. You parents get to pick your date, you have to go on 5 dates and then discuss them with your parent afterward. Bramble sets up the date and some of them are great activities with other Bramble couples instead of the same old dinner and a show situation. I enjoyed Caleb and Zara’s journey to get to know each other.
I’ve loved the Hartigan’s series and this was the first book in a spin off from those. It was fun to see some characters from the other series but get a new cast along the way.
Parental Guidance was short sweet and perfect on a day you just need something that you know is going to turn out well in the end. Also, there is the funniest dog in this that added so much to the story and I could have read this book just for Anchovies antics.
I loved the premise to this. Caleb, got caught in the middle of some hockey guys talking smack about women that their friendly uber driver was kind enough to video and it went viral. Now it’s been decided that he needs some good press to distract from the bad name he is getting. The solution let your mom decide on who you are dating using a new dating app.
Zara’s dad is a dreamer and has a new scheme/opportunity to get him on the right track and make some serious money. All he needs is a SAG card and with his daughters help he can get one really easy. With some blackmail help from Zara’s best friend they also convince her that being all work and no play isn’t the best for her. The solution is to join this new dating app, she might be able to have some fun and help out her dad all at the same time. Who knew that her being so honest in the profile was going to throw her and Caleb together?
Caleb and Zara are great together from data one when they are fake fighting over mash potatoes. I loved this idea of them fake dating so they can both just get through this for their own reasons. But it is clear to see from almost the beginning the chemistry they have happening.
The Bramble dating app is also a fun idea. You parents get to pick your date, you have to go on 5 dates and then discuss them with your parent afterward. Bramble sets up the date and some of them are great activities with other Bramble couples instead of the same old dinner and a show situation. I enjoyed Caleb and Zara’s journey to get to know each other.
I’ve loved the Hartigan’s series and this was the first book in a spin off from those. It was fun to see some characters from the other series but get a new cast along the way.
Parental Guidance was short sweet and perfect on a day you just need something that you know is going to turn out well in the end. Also, there is the funniest dog in this that added so much to the story and I could have read this book just for Anchovies antics.
June 17, 2019
❤3,5-4 stars ❤
This was a cute read,light hearted and fun read!I really enjoyed it I just felt it was too short in my opinion.I wish we had more.The concept behind the dating app was fun,refreshing and interesting.
I really liked Caleb and Zara they were a great match!She was sassy and he was sexy and cute!
It was an easy and quick read, perfect for summer!
This was a cute read,light hearted and fun read!I really enjoyed it I just felt it was too short in my opinion.I wish we had more.The concept behind the dating app was fun,refreshing and interesting.
I really liked Caleb and Zara they were a great match!She was sassy and he was sexy and cute!
It was an easy and quick read, perfect for summer!
June 27, 2019
Avery Flynn has one hell of a wild imagination and it truly came across in Parental Guidance. This was a frantic ride up walls, down zip lines and across slippery ice but it was a ride that I wouldn’t have missed for anything.
Caleb knew he messed up and had no idea how he was going to fix his mess. Thankfully, the Ice Knights have the wonderful Lucy to help fix their messes. What he didn’t count on was his mother Britany, the bad-ass of hockey, to be called in to help. There was no way he was going to allow her to take over his dating life until he heard the ultimatum. Then, he knew he had no choice but to go along with this scheme.
Zara just wanted to live her life making her miniatures. After watching what her father went through after mom, after all his schemes to make money, she doesn’t need a man. She just needs herself, her miniatures and her best friend Gemma. Steady, stable and predictable is how she lives her life and has no idea how she got herself roped into this Bramble thing. 5 dates … get it over with … make everyone happy … then she could go on with her life. Never, in her wildest dreams, would she have pictured herself dating Caleb. Nope, not her type, not going to happen after the 5 dates. Then something happened. They found out that they really liked each other and were actually having fun. So, as you know, it would not be an Avery Flynn Romantic Comedy without a beloved dog. And, yes, Anchovy stole the show. Then there was Jasper. What a card he was. Like I said, Avery Flynn’s imagination with both the mother and the father was unbelievable.
I also loved the banter between Caleb and his teammates. The ribbing he took about his mother, the secret he was keeping from them and the camaraderie on and off the ice was wonderful.
But, this is Avery Flynn. The writer of hot men, mischievous dogs, and strong, quirky women. I wouldn’t expect anything other than a fun, interesting, sexy story.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Caleb knew he messed up and had no idea how he was going to fix his mess. Thankfully, the Ice Knights have the wonderful Lucy to help fix their messes. What he didn’t count on was his mother Britany, the bad-ass of hockey, to be called in to help. There was no way he was going to allow her to take over his dating life until he heard the ultimatum. Then, he knew he had no choice but to go along with this scheme.
Zara just wanted to live her life making her miniatures. After watching what her father went through after mom, after all his schemes to make money, she doesn’t need a man. She just needs herself, her miniatures and her best friend Gemma. Steady, stable and predictable is how she lives her life and has no idea how she got herself roped into this Bramble thing. 5 dates … get it over with … make everyone happy … then she could go on with her life. Never, in her wildest dreams, would she have pictured herself dating Caleb. Nope, not her type, not going to happen after the 5 dates. Then something happened. They found out that they really liked each other and were actually having fun. So, as you know, it would not be an Avery Flynn Romantic Comedy without a beloved dog. And, yes, Anchovy stole the show. Then there was Jasper. What a card he was. Like I said, Avery Flynn’s imagination with both the mother and the father was unbelievable.
I also loved the banter between Caleb and his teammates. The ribbing he took about his mother, the secret he was keeping from them and the camaraderie on and off the ice was wonderful.
But, this is Avery Flynn. The writer of hot men, mischievous dogs, and strong, quirky women. I wouldn’t expect anything other than a fun, interesting, sexy story.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
February 6, 2020
When I started reading this book I had a hard time. So I put It to the side and came back later. Well I loved it. I was glad I had returned to it. I guess I was in a book that lol.. I loved the aspect of this book. The way they meet thru there parents and their first date is a riot. I can't wait to read the next one in the series. Great Author
November 23, 2020
Inhalt: Die neue Reihe der Autorin Avery Flynn heißt „Ice Knights“. Der erste Band „Mr. Right für 5 Dates“ ist am 01.11.2020 bei LYX erschienen.
Um sein eigenes Image und das seiner Teamkollegen nach einem veröffentlichten Video aufzupolieren, soll der berühmte Eishockeyspieler Caleb Stuckey bei einer Dating-Kampagne mitmachen. Ausgerechnet seine Mutter soll die Frau aussuchen, mit der er 5 Dates haben wird. Das Ganze soll auch noch mit der Kamera begleitet werden.
Zara lässt sich auf die verrückte Idee mit der Dating-Kampagne nur ein, weil ihr Vater dort unbedingt mitmachen möchte und sie einen Deal mit ihrer besten Freundin geschlossen hat. Die temperamentvolle Frau ist komplett anders als alle Frauen, die Caleb bisher kennengelernt hat.
Meinung: Das Cover ist nichts besonderes. Oberkörperfreie Männer auf Covern sind besonders bei Sportromanzen nichts neues. Dank des Eisstadions im Hintergrund weiß jeder sofort, dass es sich um eine Eishockeygeschichte dreht. Der Reihentitel „Ice Knights“ deutet ebenfalls daraufhin. Übersetzt wurde die Geschichte von Ralf Schmitz. Dies ist das dritte Buch der Autorin, das ich lese. Leider ist es auch das zweite Buch mit dem ich mich schwer tue. Der Schreibstil kann mich nicht so ganz überzeugen. Dadurch hatte ich auch Probleme in die Geschichte richtig einzutauchen. Die Charaktere an sich haben auf jeden Fall Potenzial. In meinen Augenhätte man mehr Tiefe reinbringen können. Beide sind realitätsnah und haben nicht nur ihre Stärken sondern auch normale Schwächen und Probleme. Letztere hätte man ausführlicher thematisieren können. Ihre unterschiedlichen Lebenssituationen haben mir gut gefallen. Die Geschichte wird sowohl aus Zaras als auch Calebs Sicht erzählt. Gerade das tut der Geschichte gut und zeigt nochmal zwei verschiedene Leben und Sichtweisen. Ganz besonders gut hat mir Zaras Beruf gefallen. Am besten war jedoch ihr Hund. Er hat mich mit seinen Aktionen und Reaktionen eigentlich immer zum schmunzeln gebracht. Ich habe noch einen großen Kritikpunkt. Es wird am Anfang und auch zwischendurch einige Male erwähnt, dass noch kein Mann es geschafft hat Zara zum Orgasmus zu bringen. Ich fand es toll, dass auch so etwas mal erzählt wird. Jedoch wurde dieses Thema ganz schnell wieder platt gemacht indem Caleb es direkt und ziemlich schnell geschafft hat sie zum Orgasmus zu bringen. Ich fand diese Art und Weise nicht unbedingt passend und hätte es schöner gefunden, wenn das Thema mehr Raum bekommen hätte oder es ihm wenigstens nicht innerhalb ein paar weniger Minuten gelungen wäre.
Fazit: Mich konnte dieser Reihenauftakt leider nicht so wirklich überzeugen. Es waren viele gute Ansätze schon zu sehen. Mir persönlich hat die Tiefe gefehlt. Wer Sportler liebt und auch gerne etwas anzüglichere Geschichten mag ist hier genau richtig. Ich denke, dass ich erstmal keine weiteren Bücher von der Autorin lesen werde.
Band 2 „Happy End mit Mr. Wrong“ erscheint am 01.02.2021 bei LYX.
Um sein eigenes Image und das seiner Teamkollegen nach einem veröffentlichten Video aufzupolieren, soll der berühmte Eishockeyspieler Caleb Stuckey bei einer Dating-Kampagne mitmachen. Ausgerechnet seine Mutter soll die Frau aussuchen, mit der er 5 Dates haben wird. Das Ganze soll auch noch mit der Kamera begleitet werden.
Zara lässt sich auf die verrückte Idee mit der Dating-Kampagne nur ein, weil ihr Vater dort unbedingt mitmachen möchte und sie einen Deal mit ihrer besten Freundin geschlossen hat. Die temperamentvolle Frau ist komplett anders als alle Frauen, die Caleb bisher kennengelernt hat.
Meinung: Das Cover ist nichts besonderes. Oberkörperfreie Männer auf Covern sind besonders bei Sportromanzen nichts neues. Dank des Eisstadions im Hintergrund weiß jeder sofort, dass es sich um eine Eishockeygeschichte dreht. Der Reihentitel „Ice Knights“ deutet ebenfalls daraufhin. Übersetzt wurde die Geschichte von Ralf Schmitz. Dies ist das dritte Buch der Autorin, das ich lese. Leider ist es auch das zweite Buch mit dem ich mich schwer tue. Der Schreibstil kann mich nicht so ganz überzeugen. Dadurch hatte ich auch Probleme in die Geschichte richtig einzutauchen. Die Charaktere an sich haben auf jeden Fall Potenzial. In meinen Augenhätte man mehr Tiefe reinbringen können. Beide sind realitätsnah und haben nicht nur ihre Stärken sondern auch normale Schwächen und Probleme. Letztere hätte man ausführlicher thematisieren können. Ihre unterschiedlichen Lebenssituationen haben mir gut gefallen. Die Geschichte wird sowohl aus Zaras als auch Calebs Sicht erzählt. Gerade das tut der Geschichte gut und zeigt nochmal zwei verschiedene Leben und Sichtweisen. Ganz besonders gut hat mir Zaras Beruf gefallen. Am besten war jedoch ihr Hund. Er hat mich mit seinen Aktionen und Reaktionen eigentlich immer zum schmunzeln gebracht. Ich habe noch einen großen Kritikpunkt. Es wird am Anfang und auch zwischendurch einige Male erwähnt, dass noch kein Mann es geschafft hat Zara zum Orgasmus zu bringen. Ich fand es toll, dass auch so etwas mal erzählt wird. Jedoch wurde dieses Thema ganz schnell wieder platt gemacht indem Caleb es direkt und ziemlich schnell geschafft hat sie zum Orgasmus zu bringen. Ich fand diese Art und Weise nicht unbedingt passend und hätte es schöner gefunden, wenn das Thema mehr Raum bekommen hätte oder es ihm wenigstens nicht innerhalb ein paar weniger Minuten gelungen wäre.
Fazit: Mich konnte dieser Reihenauftakt leider nicht so wirklich überzeugen. Es waren viele gute Ansätze schon zu sehen. Mir persönlich hat die Tiefe gefehlt. Wer Sportler liebt und auch gerne etwas anzüglichere Geschichten mag ist hier genau richtig. Ich denke, dass ich erstmal keine weiteren Bücher von der Autorin lesen werde.
Band 2 „Happy End mit Mr. Wrong“ erscheint am 01.02.2021 bei LYX.
January 4, 2020
A perfectly sweet romance with an arranged relationship (blind/online dating) for reputation on part of a not-star but professional hockey player and a miniature artist. This was my first Avery Flynn and apparently I landed smack-dab in the middle of a spin off of multiple series, but oh well.
Instead of slut-shaming here, we got the flip side: consequences of slut-shaming and a bit of a soapbox on alla that. Kind of an antidote to my breakup book w/ Helena Hunting : Pucked Over
Nothing groundbreaking, but a nice, low angst romance with two normal, well-adjusted types.
Instead of slut-shaming here, we got the flip side: consequences of slut-shaming and a bit of a soapbox on alla that. Kind of an antidote to my breakup book w/ Helena Hunting : Pucked Over
Nothing groundbreaking, but a nice, low angst romance with two normal, well-adjusted types.
March 13, 2022
Esperaba un poco más de desarrollo en la trama, pero los personajes y sus personalidades me dejaron enganchada de esta historia, asi que ME TERMINO ENCANTANDO 😍
June 13, 2019
Cute! I enjoyed this quite a lot and I absolutely loved Anchovy!! Caleb and Zara both struggle with being "forced" to date. Neither want a relationship and come up with some rules to avoid it. The rules don't work. This was a good solid read and just missed a 5 for me because I just could not fully connect with Zara. She seemed harsh/angry one minute and then giggly and adorable the next.
June 28, 2019
I love romance novels. I love hockey. This seemed like a match made in heaven...sadly not the book for me. 2.5 Stars
I did not like Zara, I kept hoping her character would grow on me but the best I can say for her is that I didn't HATE her by the end of the book.
I hated the constant neverending reminders of the 'atrocity' Caleb committed.
I'm also greatly annoyed that the goodreads synopsis for this book, doesn't actually match the contents of the novel itself. In the novel Caleb never reads Zara's (hilariously inappropriate considering she knew her future date's parents would be reading it) Bramble profile, he had no idea about her issue until she told him after the fact.
I did not like Zara, I kept hoping her character would grow on me but the best I can say for her is that I didn't HATE her by the end of the book.
I hated the constant neverending reminders of the 'atrocity' Caleb committed.
I'm also greatly annoyed that the goodreads synopsis for this book, doesn't actually match the contents of the novel itself. In the novel Caleb never reads Zara's (hilariously inappropriate considering she knew her future date's parents would be reading it) Bramble profile, he had no idea about her issue until she told him after the fact.
February 22, 2020
Meh, it was okay.
Now, I love hockey books. LOVE THEM. So when I found this little gem, I was honestly excited. Unfortunately, I just ended up being bored with the whole thing. Don't get me wrong, the couple was cute in Parental Guidance. They just weren't exciting or new for me. I really wish I liked Caleb and Zara more than I did because. I tried my hardest though.
Besides not being their biggest fan, the story was just okay. Kind of like a back burner for me while I was working on projects and such. I'm not surprised that I dove into the second book of this series because I just love punishing myself. Plus, it looks like a short enough series that I can finish it rather quickly.
In the end, I tried and maybe I just need another book by this author?
Now, I love hockey books. LOVE THEM. So when I found this little gem, I was honestly excited. Unfortunately, I just ended up being bored with the whole thing. Don't get me wrong, the couple was cute in Parental Guidance. They just weren't exciting or new for me. I really wish I liked Caleb and Zara more than I did because. I tried my hardest though.
Besides not being their biggest fan, the story was just okay. Kind of like a back burner for me while I was working on projects and such. I'm not surprised that I dove into the second book of this series because I just love punishing myself. Plus, it looks like a short enough series that I can finish it rather quickly.
In the end, I tried and maybe I just need another book by this author?
April 9, 2020
This was such a heart-warming and sweet experience of a read! Easy to follow and quick to read - a perfect combination for the self-isolation book list.
If you love sport themed contemporary romance, this book is most definately for you!
If you love sport themed contemporary romance, this book is most definately for you!
March 1, 2020
3-3.5! This was cute, fun, but a bit too short for me.
March 23, 2020
3,5 stars
cute!!
I did though that parents pay bigger roles - judging from the title...
cute!!
I did though that parents pay bigger roles - judging from the title...
March 25, 2020
Parental Guidance
(Ice Knights #1)
synopsis by Goodreads:
All I want is to play hockey on the Ice Knights, instead, I’m in a viral video for all the wrong reasons and my mom—yes, my mom—has taken over my dating apps. Then, when I think it can’t get any worse, the fates deliver Zara Ambrose, a five-feet-nothing redhead with more freckles than inches and who’d rather be anywhere other than on a date with me.
Now a bet with her friends and my PR nightmare have us both stuck in this go-on-five-dates-with-the-same-person hell situation. But if we band together, we can get the whole thing over with and go on with our lives. It’s perfect! No feelings. No future. No fuc— *ahem* fun. No naked fun.
What could go wrong? Nothing—as long as I remember the rules. Don’t notice the way she looks in a dress. Don’t react when she does that little shivery sigh thing whenever we touch. Don’t think about the fact that she’s never had a toe-curling orgasm that wasn’t self-delivered and just how badly I want to change that.
Five dates—that’s it—and then we go our separate ways. At least, that was the plan..
To begin with I will always give a separate rating on my romances for their level of steaminess...that way if this is something that makes or breaks your potential to read a book, you are not wasting your time.
💖very mild. Either no sex at all or just eluded to.
💖💖 sex scenes are described in this book
💖💖💖little left to the imagination. The author is really painting you a picture
💖💖💖💖 wowzers! this could be the amount of sex, detail, dirty talk, etc.
This book gets 💖💖💖 and three stars.
My thoughts:
After a video goes viral of pro hockey star Caleb Stuckey trashing his team and disrespecting women...or not stopping the rookies from having this conversation....damage control is in order. He agrees to participate in a dating app scheme where he will go on 5 dates. That's it... 5 dates. Easy peasy. Oh did I mention that his mother is choosing the woman he will go on these dates with?
Zara is a work-aholic miniature artist. She agrees to the dating app to get an invitation to an event where she can show off her work.
Neither one is looking for a relationship....
Zara was not a very likable character. She was mean and rude...which the author passed off as direct or that she tells it like it is. I did like Caleb, he was sweet, sexy, and loved his teasing nature, but that just made me want him to end up with someone nicer. I also like any book that includes a hockey player. Overall this book was ok. It wasn't horrible or great.
Check out my blog at: http://beachbumbookworm.com/
Hope everyday is a great reading day!
(Ice Knights #1)
synopsis by Goodreads:
All I want is to play hockey on the Ice Knights, instead, I’m in a viral video for all the wrong reasons and my mom—yes, my mom—has taken over my dating apps. Then, when I think it can’t get any worse, the fates deliver Zara Ambrose, a five-feet-nothing redhead with more freckles than inches and who’d rather be anywhere other than on a date with me.
Now a bet with her friends and my PR nightmare have us both stuck in this go-on-five-dates-with-the-same-person hell situation. But if we band together, we can get the whole thing over with and go on with our lives. It’s perfect! No feelings. No future. No fuc— *ahem* fun. No naked fun.
What could go wrong? Nothing—as long as I remember the rules. Don’t notice the way she looks in a dress. Don’t react when she does that little shivery sigh thing whenever we touch. Don’t think about the fact that she’s never had a toe-curling orgasm that wasn’t self-delivered and just how badly I want to change that.
Five dates—that’s it—and then we go our separate ways. At least, that was the plan..
To begin with I will always give a separate rating on my romances for their level of steaminess...that way if this is something that makes or breaks your potential to read a book, you are not wasting your time.
💖very mild. Either no sex at all or just eluded to.
💖💖 sex scenes are described in this book
💖💖💖little left to the imagination. The author is really painting you a picture
💖💖💖💖 wowzers! this could be the amount of sex, detail, dirty talk, etc.
This book gets 💖💖💖 and three stars.
My thoughts:
After a video goes viral of pro hockey star Caleb Stuckey trashing his team and disrespecting women...or not stopping the rookies from having this conversation....damage control is in order. He agrees to participate in a dating app scheme where he will go on 5 dates. That's it... 5 dates. Easy peasy. Oh did I mention that his mother is choosing the woman he will go on these dates with?
Zara is a work-aholic miniature artist. She agrees to the dating app to get an invitation to an event where she can show off her work.
Neither one is looking for a relationship....
Zara was not a very likable character. She was mean and rude...which the author passed off as direct or that she tells it like it is. I did like Caleb, he was sweet, sexy, and loved his teasing nature, but that just made me want him to end up with someone nicer. I also like any book that includes a hockey player. Overall this book was ok. It wasn't horrible or great.
Check out my blog at: http://beachbumbookworm.com/
Hope everyday is a great reading day!
December 8, 2020
3.5 STARS
Okay, that was cute.
Okay, that was cute.
December 6, 2021
“If you wait for perfection, then you’re never going to do it.” After adding the tea to the mugs, she handed one to Zara. “That’s not a dig, it’s an acknowledgment of the fact that perfection is unachievable.”
I loved Caleb as a main character and a love interest. I also liked Zara but was not a fan of the way she kept insisting that their relationship wouldn't work simply because they were opposites. And I also didn't enjoy the fact that her height was brought up every two sentences... I get it, she is tiny and he's this hulky hockey player. You don't have to mention it all the fucking time.
But, all in all, this was really enjoyable, even if it was slow at times.
I loved Caleb as a main character and a love interest. I also liked Zara but was not a fan of the way she kept insisting that their relationship wouldn't work simply because they were opposites. And I also didn't enjoy the fact that her height was brought up every two sentences... I get it, she is tiny and he's this hulky hockey player. You don't have to mention it all the fucking time.
But, all in all, this was really enjoyable, even if it was slow at times.
September 3, 2020
Okay wait this was actually really cute though.
March 31, 2020
3 1/2 "Cute and sweet, hope floats" Stars!
February 27, 2021
⛸️ February Vanilla BotM @ URR™ ⛸️
DNF @ Page 100 (38% - Ch.9)
February 1, 2025
Here are some of my thoughts:
• I liked Caleb. He was so kind and sweet to Zara. I loved all the bits of character building with his mom being a coach and a hard-ass and his dyslexia and trauma from that one teacher. I felt like his character was built considerably well because those bits showed why he always took on everything and why he was insecure with a crowd.
• Zara was a bit irritating at times with her “realistic, no dreams” tirade. However, it also made sense considering her character building because of how unreliable her dad was. When she finally let herself dream and hope, I was relieved.
• I loved Zara’s friendship with Gemma. She was supportive times a million.
• I gotta admit, those Anchovy (her dog) scenes were adorable.
• I loved the big family theme. We saw how Caleb’s mom and Zara’s dad impacted them in the past and how to build their character. However, they also impacted them in the present, with the parental guidance in the dating app of Bramble. They were the ones who made the situation happen to have Zara and Caleb dating in the first place (hence, title).
• Caleb’s hockey team was supportive and funny. It was enjoyable to read how Caleb interacted with them all. There was a real sense of camaraderie. It also made me look forward to read books for other characters in the future. (It also made me realize that this series was connected to 2 other series, so I have to go back and read those series)
• The date and non-dates between Caleb and Zara were adorable, with the obstacle course, restaurant, movie nights, dog park, etc.. I appreciated that despite the rules they made in the beginning and Zara heavily holding up a wall, there was pretty low drama/angst. The pacing of their relationship was done nicely and when the “down turn” that always happened in romance books before the conclusion finally happened, it wasn’t too bad or lengthy.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a solid romcom and sweet. 4 stars
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
• I liked Caleb. He was so kind and sweet to Zara. I loved all the bits of character building with his mom being a coach and a hard-ass and his dyslexia and trauma from that one teacher. I felt like his character was built considerably well because those bits showed why he always took on everything and why he was insecure with a crowd.
• Zara was a bit irritating at times with her “realistic, no dreams” tirade. However, it also made sense considering her character building because of how unreliable her dad was. When she finally let herself dream and hope, I was relieved.
• I loved Zara’s friendship with Gemma. She was supportive times a million.
• I gotta admit, those Anchovy (her dog) scenes were adorable.
• I loved the big family theme. We saw how Caleb’s mom and Zara’s dad impacted them in the past and how to build their character. However, they also impacted them in the present, with the parental guidance in the dating app of Bramble. They were the ones who made the situation happen to have Zara and Caleb dating in the first place (hence, title).
• Caleb’s hockey team was supportive and funny. It was enjoyable to read how Caleb interacted with them all. There was a real sense of camaraderie. It also made me look forward to read books for other characters in the future. (It also made me realize that this series was connected to 2 other series, so I have to go back and read those series)
• The date and non-dates between Caleb and Zara were adorable, with the obstacle course, restaurant, movie nights, dog park, etc.. I appreciated that despite the rules they made in the beginning and Zara heavily holding up a wall, there was pretty low drama/angst. The pacing of their relationship was done nicely and when the “down turn” that always happened in romance books before the conclusion finally happened, it wasn’t too bad or lengthy.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a solid romcom and sweet. 4 stars
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
June 19, 2019
Parental Guidance is the first book in Avery Flynn’s Ice Knights series, a spin-off from her Hartigans series. Although it is not necessary to read the Hartigans books first, I do recommend reading them for a lot of fun. When you reach the end of Tomboy, the third book in the series, you’ll be desperate for more of the Ice Knights. Therefore, whilst it’s not necessary to read one to enjoy the other I do recommend reading both series.
In truth, I did not enjoy Parental Guidance as much as I enjoyed the Hartigans books. Despite this, Parental Guidance had me hooked throughout. I powered through the book in a single sitting, addicted in all the best ways. It was a quick and easy read, one filled with quite a few laugh out loud moments, and by the end I was desperate for more of the series.
In many ways, Parental Guidance reminds me of the first Hartigans book. It was a lot of fun and promised plenty of great things to come, although it wasn’t quite everything I had expected. It’s a book filled with promise, and with the way my love of the Hartigans series grows with each book I’m sure the same is going to be true for the Ice Knights series. This first book may not have been perfect, but it’s ensured I’ll be back for more.
Overall, Parental Guidance is perfect for a quick read. If you’re a fan of Avery Flynn’s Hartigans series, you certainly need to pick this one up. There’s no doubt this is another series I’ll be addicted to.
In truth, I did not enjoy Parental Guidance as much as I enjoyed the Hartigans books. Despite this, Parental Guidance had me hooked throughout. I powered through the book in a single sitting, addicted in all the best ways. It was a quick and easy read, one filled with quite a few laugh out loud moments, and by the end I was desperate for more of the series.
In many ways, Parental Guidance reminds me of the first Hartigans book. It was a lot of fun and promised plenty of great things to come, although it wasn’t quite everything I had expected. It’s a book filled with promise, and with the way my love of the Hartigans series grows with each book I’m sure the same is going to be true for the Ice Knights series. This first book may not have been perfect, but it’s ensured I’ll be back for more.
Overall, Parental Guidance is perfect for a quick read. If you’re a fan of Avery Flynn’s Hartigans series, you certainly need to pick this one up. There’s no doubt this is another series I’ll be addicted to.
February 24, 2022
Cute sports romance. Enemies to lovers trope.
April 11, 2024
I've given this a B for narration and a B- for content at Audiogals; so that's 3.5 stars rounded up.
Having enjoyed Avery Flynn’s Tomboy last year, I wanted to try something else of hers so I picked up Parental Guidance, the first book in her Ice Knights series. We were introduced to the hockey team in Tomboy – that book’s hero, Zach Blackwood, was an Ice Knights’ defenceman – and here, we meet Caleb Stuckey, another Ice Knights player who needs to rehabilitate his public image. A video in which he’s seen NOT shutting down his team-mates when they start talking like a bunch of misogynistic arseholes goes viral, resulting in a chewing out from his coach, the team’s PR manager AND his mother (a famous junior hockey coach) – which is how he ends up agreeing to do something “…to change the narrative and give everyone something else to talk about besides what dickheads you all are. “
That something is a publicity stunt involving the Bramble dating app. The deal? He has to go on five dates with a woman his mum picks out for him; afterwards, he and his mum film a little post-date chat, his date and her mum do the same, and Bramble can use the videos in their publicity. After all, if, after the disastrous video, they can make Caleb dateable, they’ll be able to do the same for anyone. Right?
Zara Ambrose is a miniatures artisan. In the sense that she makes miniatures – although at barely five-feet tall, she’s heard all the jokes before. Her recently-engaged best friend Gemma has been urging her to ease back on the work a bit and take some time for herself for the past couple of years, but Zara is focused on her work, on making a name for herself – and besides, she likes being able to do things like pay bills and eat. When Gemma brings up her lack of work/life balance – again – Zara changes the subject by telling her about her dad’s latest get-rich-quick scheme; he’s going to become a character actor. For that, he needs to get his Screen Actor’s Guild card – and to obtain that, he needs to be on TV; but he’s got a plan. Zara will do an online dating reality TV thing where parents pick their kid’s date and then offer advice about finding true love – and as her only parent, he’ll get his TV hours in – easy! But this is merely the latest in a long line of similarly quixotic adventures which usually involved Jasper putting everyone but his family first, and Zara has no intention of enabling him to go off on yet another one. Until Gemma offers to take Zara to an upcoming charity gala and introduce her to Helene Carlyle who, as well as being the area’s wealthiest woman also happens to be one of the world’s best known expert on and collector of miniatures – provided Zara helps her dad out and goes on a few dates.
Well, we all know where this is going – although refreshingly, Caleb and Zara actually bond – sort of – over their desire not to date for real. They’ll go on the five required dates because that will get them both what they want, they’ll have fun (maybe they’ll even have sex, maybe not) but what they won’t do is view what they’re doing as the prelude to a relationship, and there won’t be any dates beyond the fifth.
Right from the start there’s a palpable chemistry between the pair. Caleb likes Zara’s take-no-crap attitude and Zara is quickly able to see that there’s more to Caleb than the stereotypical arrogant jock who shags a different woman each night and doesn’t bother to remember their names. After their first date – during which they argue about the benefits (or otherwise) of mashed potato (!) – they both find themselves actually looking forward to the next one… and bonding further when that date turns out to be a team-building obstacle course experience and discovering that they’re both intensely competitive
I liked both Caleb and Zara, although I felt Caleb was the more well-developed of the two, especially when it came to the insecurities resulting from his dyslexia, and his relationship with his mum. Zara has grown up with a dad who was always chasing one dream or another and as a result dislikes any kind of uncertainty or disorganisation in her life; and while I could understand that attitude as a reaction to her father’s unreliability, using it as a reason for the way she treats Caleb when he makes a misstep – from the best of intentions – was a massive over-reaction.
I enjoyed the real sense of camaraderie the author built between Caleb and his teammates, and the friendship between Zara and Gemma – and if you’re a fan of dogs in romance (I can take ’em or leave ’em) then you’ll love Zara’s Great Dane, Anchovy. (Although I had to question the wisdom of someone who lives in a small studio apartment keeping a Great Dane!) But my biggest issue with the story as a whole was the weak premise. I appreciated that Ms. Flynn addressed some important points about the toxic nature of that whole ‘boys will be boys’ locker room culture, but Caleb’s so-called fuck-up just didn’t seem like it was sufficient to warrant his rehabilitation by dating app. None of the guys who actually made the shitty comments about puck bunnies seemed to have to do anything to redeem themselves, and that didn’t make sense to me.
It’s rare, these days, for the audio version of a contemporary romance told from the points of view of both protagonists to have a single narrator – and a male narrator at that – but I was actually drawn to this title for precisely that reason! Tim Paige is a new-to-me narrator, and I’m pleased to say that I was impressed with his performance, which is well-paced and expressive. He has a good range of character voices and is able to differentiate effectively between all the characters – leads and supporting cast – by means of a variety of pitch and timbre. His portrayal of Caleb really brings out his kindness, his humour and his inner vulnerability, and with Zara, he’s able to emphasise her toughness and her insecurities; and their banter is well-timed and nicely nuanced. I definitely intend to listen to him again.
Parental Guidance is a quick and easy listen, a fun, sexy rom-com with appealing characters that’s perfect for when you want a light-hearted story without a lot of angst or drama. I wasn’t keen on the flimsy premise, however, which brought my content grade down a bit, but Tim Paige’s strong performance is worth the price of admission, and earns the audiobook a recommendation overall.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
Having enjoyed Avery Flynn’s Tomboy last year, I wanted to try something else of hers so I picked up Parental Guidance, the first book in her Ice Knights series. We were introduced to the hockey team in Tomboy – that book’s hero, Zach Blackwood, was an Ice Knights’ defenceman – and here, we meet Caleb Stuckey, another Ice Knights player who needs to rehabilitate his public image. A video in which he’s seen NOT shutting down his team-mates when they start talking like a bunch of misogynistic arseholes goes viral, resulting in a chewing out from his coach, the team’s PR manager AND his mother (a famous junior hockey coach) – which is how he ends up agreeing to do something “…to change the narrative and give everyone something else to talk about besides what dickheads you all are. “
That something is a publicity stunt involving the Bramble dating app. The deal? He has to go on five dates with a woman his mum picks out for him; afterwards, he and his mum film a little post-date chat, his date and her mum do the same, and Bramble can use the videos in their publicity. After all, if, after the disastrous video, they can make Caleb dateable, they’ll be able to do the same for anyone. Right?
Zara Ambrose is a miniatures artisan. In the sense that she makes miniatures – although at barely five-feet tall, she’s heard all the jokes before. Her recently-engaged best friend Gemma has been urging her to ease back on the work a bit and take some time for herself for the past couple of years, but Zara is focused on her work, on making a name for herself – and besides, she likes being able to do things like pay bills and eat. When Gemma brings up her lack of work/life balance – again – Zara changes the subject by telling her about her dad’s latest get-rich-quick scheme; he’s going to become a character actor. For that, he needs to get his Screen Actor’s Guild card – and to obtain that, he needs to be on TV; but he’s got a plan. Zara will do an online dating reality TV thing where parents pick their kid’s date and then offer advice about finding true love – and as her only parent, he’ll get his TV hours in – easy! But this is merely the latest in a long line of similarly quixotic adventures which usually involved Jasper putting everyone but his family first, and Zara has no intention of enabling him to go off on yet another one. Until Gemma offers to take Zara to an upcoming charity gala and introduce her to Helene Carlyle who, as well as being the area’s wealthiest woman also happens to be one of the world’s best known expert on and collector of miniatures – provided Zara helps her dad out and goes on a few dates.
Well, we all know where this is going – although refreshingly, Caleb and Zara actually bond – sort of – over their desire not to date for real. They’ll go on the five required dates because that will get them both what they want, they’ll have fun (maybe they’ll even have sex, maybe not) but what they won’t do is view what they’re doing as the prelude to a relationship, and there won’t be any dates beyond the fifth.
Right from the start there’s a palpable chemistry between the pair. Caleb likes Zara’s take-no-crap attitude and Zara is quickly able to see that there’s more to Caleb than the stereotypical arrogant jock who shags a different woman each night and doesn’t bother to remember their names. After their first date – during which they argue about the benefits (or otherwise) of mashed potato (!) – they both find themselves actually looking forward to the next one… and bonding further when that date turns out to be a team-building obstacle course experience and discovering that they’re both intensely competitive
I liked both Caleb and Zara, although I felt Caleb was the more well-developed of the two, especially when it came to the insecurities resulting from his dyslexia, and his relationship with his mum. Zara has grown up with a dad who was always chasing one dream or another and as a result dislikes any kind of uncertainty or disorganisation in her life; and while I could understand that attitude as a reaction to her father’s unreliability, using it as a reason for the way she treats Caleb when he makes a misstep – from the best of intentions – was a massive over-reaction.
I enjoyed the real sense of camaraderie the author built between Caleb and his teammates, and the friendship between Zara and Gemma – and if you’re a fan of dogs in romance (I can take ’em or leave ’em) then you’ll love Zara’s Great Dane, Anchovy. (Although I had to question the wisdom of someone who lives in a small studio apartment keeping a Great Dane!) But my biggest issue with the story as a whole was the weak premise. I appreciated that Ms. Flynn addressed some important points about the toxic nature of that whole ‘boys will be boys’ locker room culture, but Caleb’s so-called fuck-up just didn’t seem like it was sufficient to warrant his rehabilitation by dating app. None of the guys who actually made the shitty comments about puck bunnies seemed to have to do anything to redeem themselves, and that didn’t make sense to me.
It’s rare, these days, for the audio version of a contemporary romance told from the points of view of both protagonists to have a single narrator – and a male narrator at that – but I was actually drawn to this title for precisely that reason! Tim Paige is a new-to-me narrator, and I’m pleased to say that I was impressed with his performance, which is well-paced and expressive. He has a good range of character voices and is able to differentiate effectively between all the characters – leads and supporting cast – by means of a variety of pitch and timbre. His portrayal of Caleb really brings out his kindness, his humour and his inner vulnerability, and with Zara, he’s able to emphasise her toughness and her insecurities; and their banter is well-timed and nicely nuanced. I definitely intend to listen to him again.
Parental Guidance is a quick and easy listen, a fun, sexy rom-com with appealing characters that’s perfect for when you want a light-hearted story without a lot of angst or drama. I wasn’t keen on the flimsy premise, however, which brought my content grade down a bit, but Tim Paige’s strong performance is worth the price of admission, and earns the audiobook a recommendation overall.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
June 26, 2019
While this is a new series, it's set in the same town as most of the other Avery Flynn books and functions pretty well as a sequel to Tomboy. But if you're new to this writer, this is a good place to start, as these are mostly standalone.
In this we have Caleb Stuckey, a hockey player and memorable character from the previous book, and artist Zara Ambrose. They end up fake-dating in a publicity stunt setup by their parents.
You know the drill: fake-dating is one of the most heavily repeated themes of romance books. It's done really well here, hitting all the high points of the formula, while keeping the characters feeling human and supported by the people around them. There's also some clear setup for the next book as you'd expect in the "first" book of a new series.
I read romance books for a quick fix of warm feelings and that sense that everything is going to be ok. This author continues to deliver on that along with a large does of humor.
In this we have Caleb Stuckey, a hockey player and memorable character from the previous book, and artist Zara Ambrose. They end up fake-dating in a publicity stunt setup by their parents.
You know the drill: fake-dating is one of the most heavily repeated themes of romance books. It's done really well here, hitting all the high points of the formula, while keeping the characters feeling human and supported by the people around them. There's also some clear setup for the next book as you'd expect in the "first" book of a new series.
I read romance books for a quick fix of warm feelings and that sense that everything is going to be ok. This author continues to deliver on that along with a large does of humor.
June 18, 2019
This was a fun, easy read! I loved Zara and Caleb. I didn't quite get why he was the one who got in all the trouble for the video since he never opened his mouth, but I loved the result of his punishment :)
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