Hard Candy (Lili’s Review)

Title: Hard Candy (Bend or Break #7)
Author: Amy Jo Cousins
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: March 22nd 2016
Genre(s): New Adult
Page Count: 133 pages
Reviewed by: Lili
Heat Level: 2.75 flames out of 5
Rating: 4.90 stars out of 5
Blurb:

How to get over someone? Get under someone else—as soon as possible.

Vincent Lim always assumed his best friend (and occasional hookup) Austin would be waiting for him—that eventually they’d end up together. But now that Austin’s in love with another man, Vinnie is at a loss.

After the world’s most awkward one-night stand with a dance major, Vinnie knows the drill. Minimize the embarrassment by pretending they’ve never met. Yet Bryan’s vibrant spirit and calm center lure Vinnie like a shelter from an emotional storm.

But Vinnie’s thrown off his game by the rest of Bryan’s total package. Vinnie’s a rowing jock with a single-minded focus on living up to his parents’ academic and social expectations. Bryan might as well be outfitted with glittery butterfly wings—with plenty of pride to match. Vinnie’s haphazard attention to a lover won’t cut it this time.

Physically, they can match each other stroke for booty pop. But for the lovers to meet on common ground, they’ll have to find a way to get moving in the same direction.

Warning: Contains one uptight rower, a dancer who can rock a skirt like nobody’s business, yoga lessons, and the benefits of being very bendy.

You guys this book was so good! I was hesitant to read this book before Love Like a Rock because the two are tied together and LLaR comes first, but since Samhain only approved me for this one, so I didn’t have a choice. LOL Luckily, I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything and the plot of LLaR wasn’t ruined for me.

This book from my overlaps the end of LLaR. Vinnie now knows that his friends with benefits relationship with Austin has ended. Then he meets Bryan after a night of partying that left Vinnie doing the walk of shame while nursing a terrible hangover. He can’t quite piece together the evening’s events but knows he’s intrigued by Bryan and seeks him out. Despite their opposite personalities and past hurts, they find themselves spending time together.

My highlights:

-Interracial couple. It makes me so happy to read more and more diversity in romance. It’s like a breath of fresh air! Keep ’em coming!!!
-Vinnie and Bryan. They complimented each other so well and helped each other grow and heal. They loved just spending time together- it was so much more than sex. Amy Jo Cousins did an excellent job with their relationship.
-I appreciated that they tackled relevant problems. Their problems didn’t stem from silly misunderstandings- they derived from issues that are relevant in today’s society.
-The story had a great steady place. It never slowed down nor lost my interest.
-The feels. I’ll freely admit that I’m a crier. During the sad moments I’ll, at least, get choked up- but it’s rare for me to cry during the happy moments. The tears were flowing here for both. It just really resonated with me. Even now just thinking about it I find my eyes tearing.

My only criticism would be that it ended abruptly. I wasn’t ready for it to end and there’s more story to tell. I’m praying that we’ll revisit Vinnie and Bryan in the future. I did ask the author and there’s hope. 😀

All in all, this was a great addition to the Bend or Break Series. Amy Jo Cousins does an outstanding job with New Adult stories. She gives us reality with hope. If you want to read a book, that shows character depth, that is subtlety sexy, and big on the feels give this book and this series a shot! 4.90 Stars!