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The Sunshine Sisters #2
Temptation on Ocean Drive
A heart-stirring novel of unrequited love and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.
Young widow Bella Sunshine-Caldwell is focused only on raising her daughter and running the family business, Sunshine Bridal. There’s no time for romance—especially with her fellow wedding planner, Gabe, whom she’s growing increasingly attracted to. He’s too enterprising to stay in Cape May for long, anyway. And too tall, dark, and handsome to be anything but a heartbreaker.
Every woman in town has her sights on Gabe Garcia. The only woman he has eyes for doesn’t seem interested. All he wants is to fall in love, be a father, and settle down. As he and Bella work together on a magical winter wedding, the distance between them closes, the nights grow warmer, and Bella might be seeing Gabe for who he really is: a man worth the effort.
But all it takes is a single rumor for these two hearts’ fragile love story to shatter. And now the happy ending Bella and Gabe hoped for is something they’re going to have to fight for.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2020
About the author
Jennifer Probst
95 books9,979 followersJennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She holds a masters in English Literature and lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley in upstate New York. Her family keeps her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean. Her passions include horse racing, Scrabble, rescue dogs, Italian food, and wine—not necessarily in that order.
She is the NYT, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, spent 26 weeks on the NY Times. Her work has been translated in over a dozen countries, sold over a million copies, and was dubbed a "romance phenom" by Kirkus Reviews. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases at www.jenniferprobst.com. Sign up of her newsletter at www.jenniferprobst.com/newsletter for a free book.
She is the NYT, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, spent 26 weeks on the NY Times. Her work has been translated in over a dozen countries, sold over a million copies, and was dubbed a "romance phenom" by Kirkus Reviews. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases at www.jenniferprobst.com. Sign up of her newsletter at www.jenniferprobst.com/newsletter for a free book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 339 reviews
January 10, 2021
We're back in Cape May on the Jersey Coast with the three Sunshine sisters who run their own wedding planner business.
Bella is the 2nd sister to tell us her story.
And it started as a dream story ... Bella married her childhood sweetheart, they had a daughter ... and three months later some drunk driver killed her husband.
Now, five years later, she's a busy single mom working for the family wedding planner business. And she loves it.
Then there's Gabe. He's been working with the sisters for three years now.
And since day one he's been in love with Bella. But she just doesn't see him that way. She thinks he's a ladies man - on a date every other night - soon to leave town for bigger and better things.
But that's so not Gabe. He wants Bella. He wants to be little Zoe's daddy. He wants it all.
He just has to convince Bella that he's worth it.
Let the fun times begin ...
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH BELLA & GABE?
WILL THERE BE A HEA??
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT ☺
══════════════════
I loved the first book in this series ... so much!
And this second book is just as adorable.
Also kinda sad though. First of all because Bella is a widow. But even more because we feel so bad for poor Gabe! He's so in love with Bella and she doesn't get it! Ugh. I wanted to hit her over the head with my kindle! LOL!
But I just loved reading this.
We're rooting for those two to finally figure things out!
It might take a little while though. ☺
This was a great love story.
It's an amazing series. Perfect location! Great cast!
I can't wait to read Taylor's story!
Also - I want to move to Cape May asap!
And I so want to see this whole thing on Netflix!
TEMPTATION ON OCEAN DRIVE was an adorable & sad & sparky & emotional & wedding-y New Jersey Beach Town love story! I loved it!
Run to your nearest amazon for your own Gabe - this one is mine!
💜
💜
August 26, 2020
4 Meant To Happen Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
If ever you wish to understand how to write a solid romance series, you need to study Jennifer Probst. This is an author who understands her readers and brings every element to make them fall for her characters. Temptation on Ocean Drive is the second entry of The Sunshine Sisters series.
With this story, we have Bella who was married, had her little girl, Zoe, and then had it ripped away with the death of her husband. She turned all of her efforts to raise her daughter and work with her sisters at Sunshine Bridal. Bella is excellent in this family business and has cut all romance from her own life.
Doing Weddings will have to be enough.
Gabe Garcia thinks Bella and Zoe deserve more. Gabe thinks he would be the perfect addition in Bella's and Zoe's Life...Like to be there full time, permanently. What he needs to do is convince Bella to see him as he really is, not the figment of her imagination...the playboy she thinks is.
This story worked on so many levels. It had a slow burn, then swoony times, and the most fun between Gabe and Zoe. Both of these characters went through what was necessary to make them see what was in front of them.
There is another entry coming and I am sure Ms. Probst will keep showing us how series are done.
Love on Beach Avenue (The Sunshine Sisters #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Temptation on Ocean Drive (The Sunshine Sisters, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Forever in Cape May (The Sunshine Sisters #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Oh How It Can Be...
When The One You Want...
Has No Idea...
Blind to Your Interest...
This Is The Predicament...
Gabe Garcia Is In...
He Has Seen The Wonder...
The Beauty Who Is
Bella Sunshine-Caldwell...
But She Doesn't See...
Bella As A Young Widow...
A Devoted Mother...
Thinks She Has No Time...
For Romance Or Another...
Happily Ever After...
But Then They Have To Work Together...
And This Is Gabe's Chance...
He Is Determined To Show...
Bella Deserves Him As Her...
Temptation on Ocean Drive (The Sunshine Sisters #2)-August 25, 2020
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * Spoiler Free
If ever you wish to understand how to write a solid romance series, you need to study Jennifer Probst. This is an author who understands her readers and brings every element to make them fall for her characters. Temptation on Ocean Drive is the second entry of The Sunshine Sisters series.
With this story, we have Bella who was married, had her little girl, Zoe, and then had it ripped away with the death of her husband. She turned all of her efforts to raise her daughter and work with her sisters at Sunshine Bridal. Bella is excellent in this family business and has cut all romance from her own life.
Doing Weddings will have to be enough.
Gabe Garcia thinks Bella and Zoe deserve more. Gabe thinks he would be the perfect addition in Bella's and Zoe's Life...Like to be there full time, permanently. What he needs to do is convince Bella to see him as he really is, not the figment of her imagination...the playboy she thinks is.
This story worked on so many levels. It had a slow burn, then swoony times, and the most fun between Gabe and Zoe. Both of these characters went through what was necessary to make them see what was in front of them.
There is another entry coming and I am sure Ms. Probst will keep showing us how series are done.
Love on Beach Avenue (The Sunshine Sisters #1) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Temptation on Ocean Drive (The Sunshine Sisters, #2)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Forever in Cape May (The Sunshine Sisters #3) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Oh How It Can Be...
When The One You Want...
Has No Idea...
Blind to Your Interest...
This Is The Predicament...
Gabe Garcia Is In...
He Has Seen The Wonder...
The Beauty Who Is
Bella Sunshine-Caldwell...
But She Doesn't See...
Bella As A Young Widow...
A Devoted Mother...
Thinks She Has No Time...
For Romance Or Another...
Happily Ever After...
But Then They Have To Work Together...
And This Is Gabe's Chance...
He Is Determined To Show...
Bella Deserves Him As Her...
Temptation on Ocean Drive (The Sunshine Sisters #2)-August 25, 2020
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
August 28, 2020
I believe that after finishing a good romance book, the reader should have a smile on their face, a warm contentment in their heart and if the book happens to be from a new (to them) author, they should be browsing Goodreads for more i.e. back titles and upcoming releases, to repeat the experience. Temptation on Ocean Drive by Jennifer Probst checks all of the above. I didn't realize until finishing this, that it's actually a part of a series (don't worry, works perfectly as a standalone) and now I am delighted to have two more books to look forward to.
Set in a small beach town, this is a heart stirring romance between a single mom Bella and her coworker Gabe. The tropes are of unrequited love and second chance romance, both of which the author nails. It's a third person dual POV narration that works well with the storyline. I enjoyed how I knew what both the characters were thinking, and the reasoning behind their actions, unlike when we just know what one person is thinking and towards the end, there are a bunch of revelations. I much preferred this dual POV and found myself invested in the characters and rooting for their love story.
At times I was somewhat frustrated with Bella's action but her vulnerability and doubts were justified. Gabe was just the perfect guy you want as a romance novel hero, that's all I'll say, you need to read the book for yourself to know more. All of the secondary characters were well done and I particularly adored Bella's six year old daughter, Zoe.
Like I mentioned this is a part of a three book series, the first, Love on Beach Avenue is the story of Avery, the eldest sister, this is the second and the final, Forever in Cape May is about the youngest sister Taylor. After posting this review, I am going straight over to start with the first book that is already downloaded on my kindle.
If you enjoy small town romances, adorable, sweet stories with plenty of heart and laugh out loud moments, excellently done characters with intense chemistry, make sure you check out this series.
**A free e-ARC was provided by Valentine PR in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
Set in a small beach town, this is a heart stirring romance between a single mom Bella and her coworker Gabe. The tropes are of unrequited love and second chance romance, both of which the author nails. It's a third person dual POV narration that works well with the storyline. I enjoyed how I knew what both the characters were thinking, and the reasoning behind their actions, unlike when we just know what one person is thinking and towards the end, there are a bunch of revelations. I much preferred this dual POV and found myself invested in the characters and rooting for their love story.
At times I was somewhat frustrated with Bella's action but her vulnerability and doubts were justified. Gabe was just the perfect guy you want as a romance novel hero, that's all I'll say, you need to read the book for yourself to know more. All of the secondary characters were well done and I particularly adored Bella's six year old daughter, Zoe.
Like I mentioned this is a part of a three book series, the first, Love on Beach Avenue is the story of Avery, the eldest sister, this is the second and the final, Forever in Cape May is about the youngest sister Taylor. After posting this review, I am going straight over to start with the first book that is already downloaded on my kindle.
If you enjoy small town romances, adorable, sweet stories with plenty of heart and laugh out loud moments, excellently done characters with intense chemistry, make sure you check out this series.
**A free e-ARC was provided by Valentine PR in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
August 21, 2020
ARC received for an honest review
You know when you pick up a JP book you are going to get a heartfelt, wonderful story that you are going to fall in love with.
However, I have renamed this story "Frustration on Ocean Drive". Because oh my lord, did our leading lady Bella frustrate the heck out of me - and our gorgeous leading man, Gabe.
We have met them both already - Bella is one of the Sunshine sisters, and Gabe is Avery's assistant - and in my opinion, way to good for Bella.
Yes, I understand Bella has her reasons, but FFS woman, he is laying his heart at your feet and you keep trampling on it. I want to hit you over the head with my Kinde... and then come and steal Gabe from you all for myself.
I love the interactions and banter between the Sunshine girls. I adore getting more of Carter and Lucy, and man, my heart also belongs to a little girl called Zoe.
It was a journey, but man it was good for our lovelies to finally get to their HEA.
I am looking forward to Taylor's story in the future.
You know when you pick up a JP book you are going to get a heartfelt, wonderful story that you are going to fall in love with.
However, I have renamed this story "Frustration on Ocean Drive". Because oh my lord, did our leading lady Bella frustrate the heck out of me - and our gorgeous leading man, Gabe.
We have met them both already - Bella is one of the Sunshine sisters, and Gabe is Avery's assistant - and in my opinion, way to good for Bella.
Yes, I understand Bella has her reasons, but FFS woman, he is laying his heart at your feet and you keep trampling on it. I want to hit you over the head with my Kinde... and then come and steal Gabe from you all for myself.
I love the interactions and banter between the Sunshine girls. I adore getting more of Carter and Lucy, and man, my heart also belongs to a little girl called Zoe.
It was a journey, but man it was good for our lovelies to finally get to their HEA.
I am looking forward to Taylor's story in the future.
September 27, 2020
4 Stars
This was an enjoyable story...but the further the story progressed, the more Bella grated on my nerves. Poor Gabe was just trying to have a relationship and she kept believing everyone but him. He needed to grow a backbone sooner and walk away.
This was an enjoyable story...but the further the story progressed, the more Bella grated on my nerves. Poor Gabe was just trying to have a relationship and she kept believing everyone but him. He needed to grow a backbone sooner and walk away.
August 27, 2021
I wanted to love this book as much as I liked book 1 but sadly I didn’t
Gabe was the best thing about this book for me. And Carter I loved the sleep over party. That was awesome! I liked his character but I wasn’t a fan of the narrator for him.
Bella wasn’t the Bella from book one this book she seemed to listen to everyone else and not Gabe himself if she had just been honest with him. Asked him questions and believed him over the gossip!
I get the tragic past but it was too much for me.
Add the narration and I wasn’t feeling it, the female narrator was good don’t get me wrong.
On to the next!
Gabe was the best thing about this book for me. And Carter I loved the sleep over party. That was awesome! I liked his character but I wasn’t a fan of the narrator for him.
Bella wasn’t the Bella from book one this book she seemed to listen to everyone else and not Gabe himself if she had just been honest with him. Asked him questions and believed him over the gossip!
I get the tragic past but it was too much for me.
Add the narration and I wasn’t feeling it, the female narrator was good don’t get me wrong.
On to the next!
August 27, 2020
I spent this past weekend with the Sunshine Sisters and I love them. First I started with LOVE ON BEACH AVENUE where I met all three sisters and knew right from the start that this was going to be an exciting trilogy because watching three single wedding planners find their own Happily Ever Afters is not as easy as you would think.
After reading LOVE ON BEACH AVENUE, where the eldest sister Avery was the one to get her HEA, I dove into my ARC of TEMPTATION ON OCEAN DRIVE which is about the middle sister Bella. Bella had her happily ever after with Matt whom she loved from a very young age, only Matt was killed in a car accident a few months after their daughter, Zoe, was born. Now with Bella being a widow and a single mother she guards her heart like Fort Knox.
Gabe Garcia is a Cape May transplant, he moved to the small town three years ago and started working at Sunshine Bridals as Avery's assistant but has recently been promoted to take on his own clients. Gabe is what the local magazine calls The Beach Bachelor, a title Gabe hates but it's something he has to deal with. Living in a small town people like to gossip and it seems like Gabe is always made out to be the towns playboy, whether it's true or not.
Gabe has been in love with Bella for years but she doesn't see HIM, until they start working on a wedding together.
This story can be read as a standalone but I guarantee once you meet the Sunshine Sisters you're going to want to read each of their stories. I cannot wait to get my hands on Taylor's story which is scheduled to release April 2021.
If you enjoy small town romances, office romances, or are just looking for a good read I would recommend this book to you.
Happy Reading!!!
After reading LOVE ON BEACH AVENUE, where the eldest sister Avery was the one to get her HEA, I dove into my ARC of TEMPTATION ON OCEAN DRIVE which is about the middle sister Bella. Bella had her happily ever after with Matt whom she loved from a very young age, only Matt was killed in a car accident a few months after their daughter, Zoe, was born. Now with Bella being a widow and a single mother she guards her heart like Fort Knox.
Gabe Garcia is a Cape May transplant, he moved to the small town three years ago and started working at Sunshine Bridals as Avery's assistant but has recently been promoted to take on his own clients. Gabe is what the local magazine calls The Beach Bachelor, a title Gabe hates but it's something he has to deal with. Living in a small town people like to gossip and it seems like Gabe is always made out to be the towns playboy, whether it's true or not.
Gabe has been in love with Bella for years but she doesn't see HIM, until they start working on a wedding together.
This story can be read as a standalone but I guarantee once you meet the Sunshine Sisters you're going to want to read each of their stories. I cannot wait to get my hands on Taylor's story which is scheduled to release April 2021.
If you enjoy small town romances, office romances, or are just looking for a good read I would recommend this book to you.
Happy Reading!!!
August 26, 2020
I spent this past weekend with the Sunshine Sisters and I love them. First I started with LOVE ON BEACH AVENUE where I met all three sisters and knew right from the start that this was going to be an exciting trilogy because watching three single wedding planners find their own Happily Ever Afters is not as easy as you would think.
After reading LOVE ON BEACH AVENUE, where the eldest sister Avery was the one to get her HEA, I dove into my ARC of TEMPTATION ON OCEAN DRIVE which is about the middle sister Bella. Bella had her happily ever after with Matt whom she loved from a very young age, only Matt was killed in a car accident a few months after their daughter, Zoe, was born. Now with Bella being a widow and a single mother she guards her heart like Fort Knox.
Read my full review along with an excerpt here: https://bit.ly/NBReviewTOOD
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**
You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
After reading LOVE ON BEACH AVENUE, where the eldest sister Avery was the one to get her HEA, I dove into my ARC of TEMPTATION ON OCEAN DRIVE which is about the middle sister Bella. Bella had her happily ever after with Matt whom she loved from a very young age, only Matt was killed in a car accident a few months after their daughter, Zoe, was born. Now with Bella being a widow and a single mother she guards her heart like Fort Knox.
Read my full review along with an excerpt here: https://bit.ly/NBReviewTOOD
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
August 23, 2020
This was the second book in the series. We met Bella and Gabe. I had liked Bella in the previous book, and loved Gabe and we knew that he had a crush on her and wanted to see how that played out. I was disappointed with her, I mean she has this great guy and she pushes him away, I get he part that you are scared of losing someone you love and not bringing in someone new for your daughter to care about and the for it to break down and since he also worked with her, I could understand worrying that could mess everything up. However, her problem mainly came from gossip, man I felt for Gabe he was talked about as a man-ho and if it was true then yeah I get I wouldn't want to get involved with someone like that, but that wasn't the case. These are grown folks we are not in high school, so I couldn't understand why woman said he slept with the when he didn't. He was a good guy and just in the professional setting she should have been able to see that, especially since her sister Avery, who is a pretty tough woman, has all the confidence in him. I ended up like Carter more in this book, he was good and loyal friend, not to mention a great Fiance and loved how he helped Bella by taking care of Zoe, that was super sweet. It was not to read about the friendship these guys developed, it always a plus when you get along with you fiance or girlfriends family. Bella was lucky that Gabe loved her enough to forgive her on multiple occasions, so buck pull up your big girl panties and defend your man..I have a feeling that the next book with Pierce and Taylor..
rcvd an ARC at no cost to author...netgalley..voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.
rcvd an ARC at no cost to author...netgalley..voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.
February 21, 2022
I really enjoy the sisters in this and how different, but close they are. Bella and her daughter Zoe were great, however Bella has some major baggage after losing her husband. Gabe was awesome and I found myself angered on his behalf a lot from the way he was treated by women. I wanted so much to see Bella and Gabe be a unit and I think that's what dimmed most of my love for their story in particular. We never got to see that. It was so much push and pull between these two. I really just love to read about a couple who works together against the drama. Other than that, I did enjoy being in this world again. I have a feeling it's going to be the same for the next book between Taylor and Pierce but I still enjoy these characters enough to want to see how it all ends so I will be reading their book next.
August 24, 2020
When I started reading his book I Fell inlove with the characters and the side characters. And then the more I read the more I didn't like Bella. I felt like she didn't give Gabe a chance. She kept on believing everyone else instead of him...
And yes maybe she was hurt by what happened to her husband but I felt like she was just as bad as everyone else for making assumptions about him.
Bella was a widow and a single mom to her little girl Zoe..She works at Sunshine Bridal with her sisters and their other employee Gabe. Where everyone else is head over heels for Gabe she just can't get herself to get close to him, as she feels that sooner or later he will leave and take all their clients. But now that they are working a wedding one she gets to see a different side of him and finds out more than she wanted to know.
Gabe has been inlove with Bella and her daughter since he met them. He was just waiting for the right time to tell her how he feels. But everytime it seems like his making headway with her something comes in the way and pushes them apart. Maybe it's time he faces reality, that she won't ever be ready and she won't see him for the man he is instead of the man everyone else tell her he is😔
Like I said I loved the characters. Gabe man he was just too freaking sweet and sexy. I felt bad for him because everyone just assumes because his good looking he was a player and Bella thought the same. I like how he finally stood up for himself and let her do the work for once. Loved the story. And would love to read Taylor's story💖
Read on behalf of
Fay's Corner
And yes maybe she was hurt by what happened to her husband but I felt like she was just as bad as everyone else for making assumptions about him.
Bella was a widow and a single mom to her little girl Zoe..She works at Sunshine Bridal with her sisters and their other employee Gabe. Where everyone else is head over heels for Gabe she just can't get herself to get close to him, as she feels that sooner or later he will leave and take all their clients. But now that they are working a wedding one she gets to see a different side of him and finds out more than she wanted to know.
Gabe has been inlove with Bella and her daughter since he met them. He was just waiting for the right time to tell her how he feels. But everytime it seems like his making headway with her something comes in the way and pushes them apart. Maybe it's time he faces reality, that she won't ever be ready and she won't see him for the man he is instead of the man everyone else tell her he is😔
Like I said I loved the characters. Gabe man he was just too freaking sweet and sexy. I felt bad for him because everyone just assumes because his good looking he was a player and Bella thought the same. I like how he finally stood up for himself and let her do the work for once. Loved the story. And would love to read Taylor's story💖
Read on behalf of
Fay's Corner
August 25, 2020
4.5 STARS
This is a small town romance that has to do with unrequited love, a single parent and second chances. Bella has lost too much in her short life, but she's working at the family business with her sisters and Gabe and she's trying to balance her life, as she's also a single mother and wants to dedicate her time to her six year old daughter, Zoe. Gabe had a crush on Bella since he met her, but she doesn't seem to notice that or him in general. She keeps her distance and now that they got to work on a project together is his chance at changing this.
This was so wholesome!! I truly enjoyed this one and the way this was a punch to the stereotypes!
Like seriously. A straight male wedding planner, tough women on the lead, men eating ice cream during a bad break up, a man getting slutshamed and generally being judged by his good looks only. Yes this was definitely a punch to sexism on both ways and I loved how they smashed these stereotypes!!
I also loved Zoe and every scene with her to the point I could definitely need more of her. Every scene was priceless and just too adorable. I love how Gabe and the other guys were around her and how their masculinity was safe enough to act with her as they should. Definitely appreciate that. To be honest, I was bothered by the mistrust the heroine had or the way she acted at certain moments. I could also understand where she was coming from, but it became tiresome after some point. Overall, it was a great book and I was rooting for them. I really enjoyed the writing, it was well written, the dialogues were perfect as I mentioned and according to its era, it was sweet and sexy and I definitely recommend it.
This is a small town romance that has to do with unrequited love, a single parent and second chances. Bella has lost too much in her short life, but she's working at the family business with her sisters and Gabe and she's trying to balance her life, as she's also a single mother and wants to dedicate her time to her six year old daughter, Zoe. Gabe had a crush on Bella since he met her, but she doesn't seem to notice that or him in general. She keeps her distance and now that they got to work on a project together is his chance at changing this.
This was so wholesome!! I truly enjoyed this one and the way this was a punch to the stereotypes!
Like seriously. A straight male wedding planner, tough women on the lead, men eating ice cream during a bad break up, a man getting slutshamed and generally being judged by his good looks only. Yes this was definitely a punch to sexism on both ways and I loved how they smashed these stereotypes!!
I also loved Zoe and every scene with her to the point I could definitely need more of her. Every scene was priceless and just too adorable. I love how Gabe and the other guys were around her and how their masculinity was safe enough to act with her as they should. Definitely appreciate that. To be honest, I was bothered by the mistrust the heroine had or the way she acted at certain moments. I could also understand where she was coming from, but it became tiresome after some point. Overall, it was a great book and I was rooting for them. I really enjoyed the writing, it was well written, the dialogues were perfect as I mentioned and according to its era, it was sweet and sexy and I definitely recommend it.
August 19, 2020
** ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review. **
That book had so great material, a promising blurb, small town romance vibes, family business with a tight family, a bit of drama and characters would have to fight their own battles and issues.
Some things that would make me fall in love on the spot. I wish I was.
But still after finishing reading Gabe and Bella’s frustrating journey to their HEA, I’m more than conflicted.
I really enjoyed it from the beginning until the moment the story felt like a broken record and repetitive to me. I could understand the characters’ issues to an extent but they seemed like they stuck on it and instead of trusting the other and giving the benefit of a doubt, they let their minds do all the reasoning and mostly people around them to dictate how it was supposed to be.
Bella is a single mother of a cute girl, Zoe. Running with her two sisters the family business successfully. After her husband died she became closed off and focused on her daughter and family. Mostly denying her feelings for her co-worker, Gabe who has a crush on her since the moment they met, but too afraid to make a move.
That man has a heart of gold, definitely not the guy people are talking about, caring and loving with Bella’s daughter and her family.
It should have been a great start, ready for the battles and rooting for Gabe to win Bella’s heart. I could sense that nothing would be easy and I was totally for it. As the story unfolded I felt drained emotionally because they frustrated the hell out of me. Their issues should have been a strength because they were more alike than they seemed to be. Bella was too stubborn and put self- protective mode whenever Gabe managed to pass beyond the barriers. One step ahead, ten steps backwards.
Their relationship was a strong back and forth with a slow burn that could have been great but all the drama between them was tiring.
There was a weird dynamic with Bella’s friends, judgemental and not caring at all for her happiness, it didn’t feel right.
It needed more development in their relationship and maybe solving some issues earlier. I felt like a lot of things were missing, too much miscommunication, misunderstandings and mostly not enough trust. Something fundamental to me. More chapters would have strengthened their story.
That book had so great material, a promising blurb, small town romance vibes, family business with a tight family, a bit of drama and characters would have to fight their own battles and issues.
Some things that would make me fall in love on the spot. I wish I was.
But still after finishing reading Gabe and Bella’s frustrating journey to their HEA, I’m more than conflicted.
I really enjoyed it from the beginning until the moment the story felt like a broken record and repetitive to me. I could understand the characters’ issues to an extent but they seemed like they stuck on it and instead of trusting the other and giving the benefit of a doubt, they let their minds do all the reasoning and mostly people around them to dictate how it was supposed to be.
Bella is a single mother of a cute girl, Zoe. Running with her two sisters the family business successfully. After her husband died she became closed off and focused on her daughter and family. Mostly denying her feelings for her co-worker, Gabe who has a crush on her since the moment they met, but too afraid to make a move.
That man has a heart of gold, definitely not the guy people are talking about, caring and loving with Bella’s daughter and her family.
It should have been a great start, ready for the battles and rooting for Gabe to win Bella’s heart. I could sense that nothing would be easy and I was totally for it. As the story unfolded I felt drained emotionally because they frustrated the hell out of me. Their issues should have been a strength because they were more alike than they seemed to be. Bella was too stubborn and put self- protective mode whenever Gabe managed to pass beyond the barriers. One step ahead, ten steps backwards.
Their relationship was a strong back and forth with a slow burn that could have been great but all the drama between them was tiring.
There was a weird dynamic with Bella’s friends, judgemental and not caring at all for her happiness, it didn’t feel right.
It needed more development in their relationship and maybe solving some issues earlier. I felt like a lot of things were missing, too much miscommunication, misunderstandings and mostly not enough trust. Something fundamental to me. More chapters would have strengthened their story.
August 30, 2020
4.5 Stars
September 8, 2020
Bella Sunshine lost her husband in a car accident 5 years ago and she doesn't think she'll ever be ready again to open her heart to someone else. Raising her little girl is keeping her too busy to date anyway and she never met someone that would make her want to take a risk. But things are starting to get different at work. Bella is on the wedding-planning business with her two sisters and a friend. Bella has always known that her coworker is an attractive man, but she always tried to keep a certain distance between her and Gabe. And to believe the gossip in town, he's a real ladie's man. But when the two of them have to work together to plan a "nightmare situation" wedding, they grow closer and Bella start to realize that Gabe is different from the man she thought he was. But is she ready to face what he makes her feel and how it could change everything?
I loved the romance between Bella and Gabe and the relationship between the three sisters or the bromance between the guys, but the reason this book made such a strong impression on me is the hero. Gabe Garcia is an absolute darling that touched my heart! It was heartbreaking to read about his upbringing and that even if he never lacked for company, he longed to be chose for who he is and not how he looks. Interesting how the author address the topic of double standards. It was even more satisfying to read about how Gabe realized his own worth and will fight to get what he wants and deserve. And the way he care for Bella and her little girl😍. I absolutely adored how he never surrendered and never stop trying to make Bella understand how he feels, but also respecting her boundaries and giving her time and never being overbearing.
Know what it means? I have a new book boyfriend!💞
I loved the romance between Bella and Gabe and the relationship between the three sisters or the bromance between the guys, but the reason this book made such a strong impression on me is the hero. Gabe Garcia is an absolute darling that touched my heart! It was heartbreaking to read about his upbringing and that even if he never lacked for company, he longed to be chose for who he is and not how he looks. Interesting how the author address the topic of double standards. It was even more satisfying to read about how Gabe realized his own worth and will fight to get what he wants and deserve. And the way he care for Bella and her little girl😍. I absolutely adored how he never surrendered and never stop trying to make Bella understand how he feels, but also respecting her boundaries and giving her time and never being overbearing.
Know what it means? I have a new book boyfriend!💞
September 1, 2020
Temptation on Ocean Drive is the second stand-alone novel in The Sunshine Sisters series by Jennifer Probst. Each book features a different Sunshine sister and all the couples were known from book one, so Bella and Gabe's coupling was not a surprise. What was a surprise was the amount of energy Bella spent on trying not to be with Gabe. That woman was exhausting.
From the very first chapter from Gabe's point of view, I was rooting for his happy ending. He gave me so many warm feelings and I got the need to see him happy with the woman he wanted. The problem is that the woman he wanted aka Bella was not on board with that. The death of her husband left her with the mentality that everyone leaves and she kept expecting the other shoe to drop when it came to Gabe. Gabe was trying so hard (and maybe too hard) to make her see that he was not going anywhere and she kept doubting and doubting.
On the bright side of that, the groveling at the end of the book was one of the BEST grovelings I have read in a book and the best way to convince someone to take you back. I am going to remember that part for a while and it almost made up for Bella's behavior in the whole book.
When I saw that "Forever in Cape May" (the final book) was going to be released in April 2021, I was disappointed. In the first book of the series I wanted Taylor and Pierce to become a couple and then in this book I was totally on board with the "we are just friends" narrative, so I cannot wait to see who these two will end up together especially now that Taylor is leaving.
Overall, there were some sour and some sweet moments in the book. Thankfully the good were more than the bad. I was in love with Gabe from the very first page, the sisters have a great bond and the secondary characters were likable, including the client Bella and Gabe worked for. I would recommend both books in the series (in case you haven't read book 1).
From the very first chapter from Gabe's point of view, I was rooting for his happy ending. He gave me so many warm feelings and I got the need to see him happy with the woman he wanted. The problem is that the woman he wanted aka Bella was not on board with that. The death of her husband left her with the mentality that everyone leaves and she kept expecting the other shoe to drop when it came to Gabe. Gabe was trying so hard (and maybe too hard) to make her see that he was not going anywhere and she kept doubting and doubting.
On the bright side of that, the groveling at the end of the book was one of the BEST grovelings I have read in a book and the best way to convince someone to take you back. I am going to remember that part for a while and it almost made up for Bella's behavior in the whole book.
When I saw that "Forever in Cape May" (the final book) was going to be released in April 2021, I was disappointed. In the first book of the series I wanted Taylor and Pierce to become a couple and then in this book I was totally on board with the "we are just friends" narrative, so I cannot wait to see who these two will end up together especially now that Taylor is leaving.
Overall, there were some sour and some sweet moments in the book. Thankfully the good were more than the bad. I was in love with Gabe from the very first page, the sisters have a great bond and the secondary characters were likable, including the client Bella and Gabe worked for. I would recommend both books in the series (in case you haven't read book 1).
August 29, 2020
I love Jennifer Probst and will certainly read more books by her but unfortunately Temptation on Ocean Drive was a miss for me.
I was excited to return to the wedding planning business in Cape May - this time focused on the second sister, Bella. Bella is a single mom who has been on her own since her husband died 6 years ago. Gabe is a planner who works with her and has secretly had a crush on her for years. When they take on a huge wedding in NYC with a lot of publicity, it’s a chance for them to get closer.
Love the setup but then it went downhill for me. I felt like it was repetitive with Bella repeatedly doubting Gabe for the same things - like we were just stuck in a loop of Gabe does nothing and Bella assumes he’s a player. I was cheering when he finally ended things and said he couldn’t keep proving himself to her if she refused to trust him. Frankly - it should have ended there and not been a romance. But of course that’s not what happened.
If you’ve read my other romance reviews, you may know I HATE a public grand gesture as conflict resolution. So - when Bella decides to solve their conflict by having an article printed declaring him TAKEN that the WHOLE TOWN will see - while they are decidedly NOT DATING makes me rage-y for all kinds of reasons. He just told her he didn’t want to date her - why would the solution be telling everyone they were together???? I guess this is supposed to be fine because he does want to be with her but ugh. No.
Thank you to Brilliance Audio for the free audiobook to review. The narrators and production were great.
I was excited to return to the wedding planning business in Cape May - this time focused on the second sister, Bella. Bella is a single mom who has been on her own since her husband died 6 years ago. Gabe is a planner who works with her and has secretly had a crush on her for years. When they take on a huge wedding in NYC with a lot of publicity, it’s a chance for them to get closer.
Love the setup but then it went downhill for me. I felt like it was repetitive with Bella repeatedly doubting Gabe for the same things - like we were just stuck in a loop of Gabe does nothing and Bella assumes he’s a player. I was cheering when he finally ended things and said he couldn’t keep proving himself to her if she refused to trust him. Frankly - it should have ended there and not been a romance. But of course that’s not what happened.
If you’ve read my other romance reviews, you may know I HATE a public grand gesture as conflict resolution. So - when Bella decides to solve their conflict by having an article printed declaring him TAKEN that the WHOLE TOWN will see - while they are decidedly NOT DATING makes me rage-y for all kinds of reasons. He just told her he didn’t want to date her - why would the solution be telling everyone they were together???? I guess this is supposed to be fine because he does want to be with her but ugh. No.
Thank you to Brilliance Audio for the free audiobook to review. The narrators and production were great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2020
If you thought to yourself, hey, Katie reads just a lot of romance novels and ladies' fiction in between literary fiction and Pulitzer Prize winners, you would be right! I dramatically prefer to read books about smart women attempting to achieve happiness alongside my devotion to the bleak American novel. And if you thought that I was going to be reading MORE serious fiction while the world burns, you would be WRONG!
The premise of this book is fundamentally hilarious - the hero of our novel is SO HOT that people think he's a player and not to be taken seriously but really he's SO DEVOTED to a years'-long crush that it's all a lie. I am not sure that we really need paeans to how hard it is to be just this beautiful.
But I liked reading more about the bridal business and the family, I liked that the emphasis was on how fundamentally nice both our main characters are, and the wedding they planned was cute.
The premise of this book is fundamentally hilarious - the hero of our novel is SO HOT that people think he's a player and not to be taken seriously but really he's SO DEVOTED to a years'-long crush that it's all a lie. I am not sure that we really need paeans to how hard it is to be just this beautiful.
But I liked reading more about the bridal business and the family, I liked that the emphasis was on how fundamentally nice both our main characters are, and the wedding they planned was cute.
June 3, 2021
I really liked the first book in this series so I was excited to read this next story. This book had a lot of wonderful insights on navigating grief. And there was great chemistry between the leads. But, geez, was it hard to like the female lead.
Yes, she is afraid to love again after loss, but she's just such a dick to the male lead over and over and over again that, by the end, I wanted him to move on and find a better woman.
Meanwhile the male lead is a perfect human with no flaws. He just accepts her crap with endless patience, never loses his temper, and keeps going back for more. It was just so frustrating. This man deserved better.
I did like the challenging of gender stereotypes since the mead works in a female-dominated industry. The author did a good job of exploring the expectations from others about his chosen profession.
In the end I just kind of muddled through this book and finished thinking, "meh".
Yes, she is afraid to love again after loss, but she's just such a dick to the male lead over and over and over again that, by the end, I wanted him to move on and find a better woman.
Meanwhile the male lead is a perfect human with no flaws. He just accepts her crap with endless patience, never loses his temper, and keeps going back for more. It was just so frustrating. This man deserved better.
I did like the challenging of gender stereotypes since the mead works in a female-dominated industry. The author did a good job of exploring the expectations from others about his chosen profession.
In the end I just kind of muddled through this book and finished thinking, "meh".
August 24, 2020
Insecure heroine x 100.Hero had to constantly calm her down through out the book like a nervous horse each time she encountered baseless gossip.
August 23, 2020
This hero is the kind you'll want to steal from his heroine, because she will never be good enough for him. That kinda sums up my feelings about this one. A serious, small town romance featuring two wedding planners, this is a little bit charming and a little bit sexy. I loved the hero; he's been painted as a playboy when really he's been pining over his girl. The heroine, well, I didn't love her but I also didn't hate her. The story is a bit frustrating with miscommunications, assumptions, and OW drama, but I was invested in the relationship and wanted to see them find their happily ever after.
The story follows Bella and Gabe, two wedding planners who work for the same company - but never seem to spend much time together. That's Bella's doing; she thinks Gabe is too sexy, too much of a playboy to stick around their small town, so she doesn't want to risk the chance of falling for him. Gabe's been half in love with Bella for years, but she's made it clear that she wants nothing to do with him. But as the two spend more time together, getting closer is unavoidable and they soon realize that there's something there worth fighting for.
I really felt for Gabe; he is nothing but loving to Bella, and the scenes with her daughter are just too cute. It's clear that he craves a family, and this guarded widow is someone who is able to give him that - if only she'd take a risk. The tone is serious but not overly heavy; emotional but still with some lightness. There's a lot of push/pull and an emotional build that works to give the relationship plenty of depth. I definitely did get frustrated by all of the miscommunication, and the OW drama was a bit much for me at times. There were a couple of instances where I felt like elements of Gabe's backstory were contradictory - I'm still not sure if he was waiting for Bella, or if he just didn't sleep around like everyone believed. Regardless, both Gabe and Bella are genuinely good people, and I really wanted to see them find their way together. For me, this one falls somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, but the quality of the writing gives it a boost. I received an ARC via Valentine PR and am voluntarily leaving a review of this slow burn romance.
The story follows Bella and Gabe, two wedding planners who work for the same company - but never seem to spend much time together. That's Bella's doing; she thinks Gabe is too sexy, too much of a playboy to stick around their small town, so she doesn't want to risk the chance of falling for him. Gabe's been half in love with Bella for years, but she's made it clear that she wants nothing to do with him. But as the two spend more time together, getting closer is unavoidable and they soon realize that there's something there worth fighting for.
I really felt for Gabe; he is nothing but loving to Bella, and the scenes with her daughter are just too cute. It's clear that he craves a family, and this guarded widow is someone who is able to give him that - if only she'd take a risk. The tone is serious but not overly heavy; emotional but still with some lightness. There's a lot of push/pull and an emotional build that works to give the relationship plenty of depth. I definitely did get frustrated by all of the miscommunication, and the OW drama was a bit much for me at times. There were a couple of instances where I felt like elements of Gabe's backstory were contradictory - I'm still not sure if he was waiting for Bella, or if he just didn't sleep around like everyone believed. Regardless, both Gabe and Bella are genuinely good people, and I really wanted to see them find their way together. For me, this one falls somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, but the quality of the writing gives it a boost. I received an ARC via Valentine PR and am voluntarily leaving a review of this slow burn romance.
August 18, 2020
I simply loved Temptation On Ocean Drive. It is such a fantastic read that made me fall in love with the Sunshine sisters all over again. Bella is the calming force among the sisters. She knows how to handle any problematic member of the wedding party without batting an eye. She is a fantastic mother doing everything she can to raise her on her own. You can feel the pain she still is in grieving her late husband. You feel the sparks between Gabe and Bella from the start and you get why Bella refuses to acknowledge her feelings. Gabe is trying to prove he is the man beyond the small town rumors. He is so sweet and will make you melt when it comes to Bella's daughter Zoe. Zoe is just ball of sunshine that puts a smile on your face. Gabe and Bella have such chemistry that makes you feel gooey inside. I couldn't put this one down. I love how close the Sunshine sisters are and getting to know each more through their own books. I cannot wait for Taylor's book and see why she is the way she is.
August 16, 2020
What a SWEET story, check out my full review on my BLOG -> CLICK HERE
August 20, 2020
Thank you @jenniferprobst & @valentinepr for an early copy of Temptation on Ocean Drive. After reading the first Sunshine sisters book, Love on Beach Avenue, I immediately fell in love with @jenniferprobst writing & she quickly became an auto but author for me.
Okay, now onto what I loved, aka the whole dang book.
“I’ve always been listening. And I’ve always been here, waiting until you needed me”
Since the moment he started working at Sunshine Bridal, Gabe has had a thing for Bella. Understandably, Bella is stand offish towards him as she has her family business & her young child Zoe to care for. After hosting a successful wedding, Gabe & Bella are asked to host another wedding, their biggest one yet, with an insanely tight schedule. This one could do wonders to the business as well as both of their reputations in the bridal industry. But this wedding could bring huge changes to the company, and more importantly, their relationship.
Gabe is literally perfect & says the right things EVERY. SINGLE. TIME and I love him for it. My heart was one huge puddle of swoon basically any time Gabe opened his mouth. Bella was a beautiful character too. She was a hardworking, fabulous single mom who cared for anyone who crossed her path.
I don’t want to give anymore away, but I will say, I highly recommend you read both Love on Beach Avenue and Temptation on Ocean Drive. They will have your heart swooning & doing the happy dance!
Okay, now onto what I loved, aka the whole dang book.
“I’ve always been listening. And I’ve always been here, waiting until you needed me”
Since the moment he started working at Sunshine Bridal, Gabe has had a thing for Bella. Understandably, Bella is stand offish towards him as she has her family business & her young child Zoe to care for. After hosting a successful wedding, Gabe & Bella are asked to host another wedding, their biggest one yet, with an insanely tight schedule. This one could do wonders to the business as well as both of their reputations in the bridal industry. But this wedding could bring huge changes to the company, and more importantly, their relationship.
Gabe is literally perfect & says the right things EVERY. SINGLE. TIME and I love him for it. My heart was one huge puddle of swoon basically any time Gabe opened his mouth. Bella was a beautiful character too. She was a hardworking, fabulous single mom who cared for anyone who crossed her path.
I don’t want to give anymore away, but I will say, I highly recommend you read both Love on Beach Avenue and Temptation on Ocean Drive. They will have your heart swooning & doing the happy dance!
August 26, 2020
Single Mom + Man of the Beach = Delightful Office Romance.
Bella is a single mom who just can’t feel comfortable around coworker Gabe. Gabe has been in love with Bella and her adorable daughter, Zoe, almost since he first meet her.
I absolutely loved Bella’s slow realization of how and why she feels the things she does for Gabe and Gabe’s quiet, respectful waiting. And Zoe, so freakin’ cute!
I’m so excited for Taylor’s story!
I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.
Bella is a single mom who just can’t feel comfortable around coworker Gabe. Gabe has been in love with Bella and her adorable daughter, Zoe, almost since he first meet her.
I absolutely loved Bella’s slow realization of how and why she feels the things she does for Gabe and Gabe’s quiet, respectful waiting. And Zoe, so freakin’ cute!
I’m so excited for Taylor’s story!
I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.
September 4, 2020
Loved the premise and the hero but still not sure about the heroine... Full review to follow.
October 23, 2021
back to back bad books and a shitty week? man, that’s the universe giving me the middle finger 🥳
August 28, 2020
TEMPTATION ON OCEAN DRIVE is the second instalment in Jennifer Probst’s contemporary, adult THE SUNSHINE SISTERS erotic, romance series focusing on the Sunshine sisters: Avery, Bella and Taylor. This is wedding planner/single mother/widow Bella Sunshine-Caldwell, and wedding planner Gabe Garcia’s story line. TEMPTATION ON OCEAN DRIVE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and history.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Gabe and Bella) TEMPTATION ON OCEAN DRIVE follows the building romance between wedding planner/single mother/widow Bella Sunshine-Caldwell, and wedding planner Gabe Garcia. Gabe Garcia has worked as an assistant for the Sunshine sisters for close to three years and is about to become one of their full-time wedding planners but Bella Sunshine struggles with the possibility of Gabe walking away leaving the team stranded and short staffed. Having lost her husband within months of the birth of their daughter Zoe, Bella battles the demons of her past believing Gabe will move on toward something bigger and better. Gabe Garcia has lusted after Bella Sunshine since the day they first met but Bella has erected a wall around her heart, a wall Gabe is hoping to break through. Working together on a celebrity wedding Bella struggles with jealousy when Gabe becomes the center of attention. As Gabe moves closer in an effort to seduce our story line heroine, Bella begins to pull back believing the rumors about Gabe’s love life are true. What ensues is the slow building romance and relationship between Gabe and Bella, and the potential fall-out as Bella struggles with the female attention that seems to follow Gabe wherever he goes, and the memories of losing someone she loves.
Gabe Garcia has a reputation as a player but his reputation is unearned and built upon a series of lies. As Gabe and Bella’s relationship pulls the couple closer together, rumors and stories about Gabe’s ongoing conquests pushes our heroine to rethink her future with the man with whom she is falling in love.
The relationship between Gabe and Bella is slow to develop as Bella is unable to move on from the past. With her daughter her number one priority, Bella struggles to take time for herself but Gabe’s seduction of our story line heroine pushes Bella out of her comfort zone into the arms of the man who is willing to step up and take care of them both. The $ex scenes are passionate and captivating without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Bella’s daughter Zoe; her sisters Avery and her fiancé Carter Ross (Love on Beach Lane #1), Taylor and photographer Pierce Powers’ Bella’s friend Daisy; Gabe’s ex-girlfriend Devon, as well as several wedding clients, divas and celebrities all trying to host an extravagant wedding.
TEMPTATION ON OCEAN DRIVE is a story of family, friendships, relationships, loss and love. The premise is engaging and heart warming; the romance is heart breaking and seductive; the characters are energetic and dynamic; our heroine is broken and struggling to move on from the past.
copy supplied for review
www.thereadingcafe.com
Told from dual third person perspectives (Gabe and Bella) TEMPTATION ON OCEAN DRIVE follows the building romance between wedding planner/single mother/widow Bella Sunshine-Caldwell, and wedding planner Gabe Garcia. Gabe Garcia has worked as an assistant for the Sunshine sisters for close to three years and is about to become one of their full-time wedding planners but Bella Sunshine struggles with the possibility of Gabe walking away leaving the team stranded and short staffed. Having lost her husband within months of the birth of their daughter Zoe, Bella battles the demons of her past believing Gabe will move on toward something bigger and better. Gabe Garcia has lusted after Bella Sunshine since the day they first met but Bella has erected a wall around her heart, a wall Gabe is hoping to break through. Working together on a celebrity wedding Bella struggles with jealousy when Gabe becomes the center of attention. As Gabe moves closer in an effort to seduce our story line heroine, Bella begins to pull back believing the rumors about Gabe’s love life are true. What ensues is the slow building romance and relationship between Gabe and Bella, and the potential fall-out as Bella struggles with the female attention that seems to follow Gabe wherever he goes, and the memories of losing someone she loves.
Gabe Garcia has a reputation as a player but his reputation is unearned and built upon a series of lies. As Gabe and Bella’s relationship pulls the couple closer together, rumors and stories about Gabe’s ongoing conquests pushes our heroine to rethink her future with the man with whom she is falling in love.
The relationship between Gabe and Bella is slow to develop as Bella is unable to move on from the past. With her daughter her number one priority, Bella struggles to take time for herself but Gabe’s seduction of our story line heroine pushes Bella out of her comfort zone into the arms of the man who is willing to step up and take care of them both. The $ex scenes are passionate and captivating without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Bella’s daughter Zoe; her sisters Avery and her fiancé Carter Ross (Love on Beach Lane #1), Taylor and photographer Pierce Powers’ Bella’s friend Daisy; Gabe’s ex-girlfriend Devon, as well as several wedding clients, divas and celebrities all trying to host an extravagant wedding.
TEMPTATION ON OCEAN DRIVE is a story of family, friendships, relationships, loss and love. The premise is engaging and heart warming; the romance is heart breaking and seductive; the characters are energetic and dynamic; our heroine is broken and struggling to move on from the past.
copy supplied for review
www.thereadingcafe.com
August 28, 2020
Good lord could she be anymore of a whinier
September 9, 2020
After losing the love of her life, Bella believes her life is complete without the love of a man; filled with being a mom, sister, and wedding planner. She’s always busy taking care of everyone else, never taking time for herself. “Beach Bachelor” of the year, Gabe, hates the attention and rumors his good looks and single status stir. He’s been in love with Bella since the day he met her three years ago and decides maybe now is the time to finally make a move.
Temptation on Ocean Drive is the second story set in Cape May, following the three Sunshine sisters and their wedding planning business. I love that one point the gang actually pokes fun of each sister falling in love like it’s a romance series. This time around, we get the story of young widow Bella, middle sister, and the Sunshine Sister’s business partner, Gabe. Bella has some serious abandonment issues ever since her husband died, and she is scared to trust anyone outside of family, believing everyone will leave her. Since Gabe is a hot-shot bachelor and successful wedding planner from the big city, Bella holds him at arm’s length, believing he’ll eventually leave the sisters for Manhattan. Gabe loves the life he’s building in Cape May, finally being accepted and appreciated for his wedding planning talents. He just wants to settle down, but gossip in the small town runs rampant and no one, including Bella, believes he’s a family guy looking to stay in Cape May.
The story has some wonderful moments, both heartfelt and honest. Bella and Gabe fit together wonderfully, when Bella isn’t self-sabotaging the relationship. I like the couple together, but Bella’s fears lead her to treat Gabe awfully, and it goes on for too long. Bella’s fears are completely realistic, but her back and forth wore on me, making me weary. It is constant - she believes gossip over Gabe and at times is downright cruel in her efforts to keep distance between the pair. Too much of the book focuses on the negative and struggle for them to come together, rather than what it is for them to be together.
And while Gabe is kind, sweet, and heroic, he is so to a fault. He doesn’t want to make waves, so he allows the gossip to fester. He doesn’t want to make waves, so he keeps his feelings in check. He doesn’t want to make waves, so he doesn’t tell Bella about a job offer… You get the picture. He’s such a good guy that he ends up causing some of his own headaches and heartache.
Narration: Temptation on Ocean Drive brings us two new main characters and therefore listeners have two new narrators. The storytelling remains alternating third-person POVs. Right away, Laurie West clicks as Bella. I can hear the exhaustion of a single mom in her voice. She adds emotion into her performance, adding dimension to the experience. Little kid voices are always tough, and Ms. West does a pretty decent job portraying Bella’s young daughter. She does good job with Gabe; masculine, distinct, and youthful. My biggest issues is that her voices for the sisters sound too similar. Tom Thor performs with a deep and sensual gravel. He is perfect for Gabe, adding a sensitive quality to his performance. He successfully gives females a softer edge, and most are distinctive. However, I did notice that his voices for Gabe’s bffs sound very similar and somewhat like his females. In the end, it was an enjoyable listening experience.
Overall, I absolutely loved parts of Temptation on Ocean Drive but cringed after others. I wanted to LOVE the story, but I didn’t. It’s a mixed bag that left me a bit frustrated; however, I will continue with the series knowing that the character issues I had with this one shouldn’t be the same in the next story, with two new MCs.
My Ratings:
Story: B-
Narration: B
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
review copy provided by Brilliance Audio
Temptation on Ocean Drive is the second story set in Cape May, following the three Sunshine sisters and their wedding planning business. I love that one point the gang actually pokes fun of each sister falling in love like it’s a romance series. This time around, we get the story of young widow Bella, middle sister, and the Sunshine Sister’s business partner, Gabe. Bella has some serious abandonment issues ever since her husband died, and she is scared to trust anyone outside of family, believing everyone will leave her. Since Gabe is a hot-shot bachelor and successful wedding planner from the big city, Bella holds him at arm’s length, believing he’ll eventually leave the sisters for Manhattan. Gabe loves the life he’s building in Cape May, finally being accepted and appreciated for his wedding planning talents. He just wants to settle down, but gossip in the small town runs rampant and no one, including Bella, believes he’s a family guy looking to stay in Cape May.
The story has some wonderful moments, both heartfelt and honest. Bella and Gabe fit together wonderfully, when Bella isn’t self-sabotaging the relationship. I like the couple together, but Bella’s fears lead her to treat Gabe awfully, and it goes on for too long. Bella’s fears are completely realistic, but her back and forth wore on me, making me weary. It is constant - she believes gossip over Gabe and at times is downright cruel in her efforts to keep distance between the pair. Too much of the book focuses on the negative and struggle for them to come together, rather than what it is for them to be together.
And while Gabe is kind, sweet, and heroic, he is so to a fault. He doesn’t want to make waves, so he allows the gossip to fester. He doesn’t want to make waves, so he keeps his feelings in check. He doesn’t want to make waves, so he doesn’t tell Bella about a job offer… You get the picture. He’s such a good guy that he ends up causing some of his own headaches and heartache.
Narration: Temptation on Ocean Drive brings us two new main characters and therefore listeners have two new narrators. The storytelling remains alternating third-person POVs. Right away, Laurie West clicks as Bella. I can hear the exhaustion of a single mom in her voice. She adds emotion into her performance, adding dimension to the experience. Little kid voices are always tough, and Ms. West does a pretty decent job portraying Bella’s young daughter. She does good job with Gabe; masculine, distinct, and youthful. My biggest issues is that her voices for the sisters sound too similar. Tom Thor performs with a deep and sensual gravel. He is perfect for Gabe, adding a sensitive quality to his performance. He successfully gives females a softer edge, and most are distinctive. However, I did notice that his voices for Gabe’s bffs sound very similar and somewhat like his females. In the end, it was an enjoyable listening experience.
Overall, I absolutely loved parts of Temptation on Ocean Drive but cringed after others. I wanted to LOVE the story, but I didn’t. It’s a mixed bag that left me a bit frustrated; however, I will continue with the series knowing that the character issues I had with this one shouldn’t be the same in the next story, with two new MCs.
My Ratings:
Story: B-
Narration: B
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
review copy provided by Brilliance Audio
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