Life In A Rut, Love Not Included (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
Life In A Rut, Love Not Included, JD HollyfieldReview from jeannie zelos book reviewsWell, I wanted something light and fluffy, having read a few heavy ones recently. Sadly though this was light and fluffy it was also really slow in starting...Sarah, I get things had gone t!t’s up for her but the first 20% or so seemed to be one long monologue of “poor me”. She’s back at home, not looking for work, not paying anything towards her keep, and lazing in bed all day it seems. As a parent I wanted to shout at her to grow up. Breakups happen, they’re hard but she can’t just sponge off her parents all the while. She’s 31 for goodness sake, but just assumes that her parents are happy to have her back, and she just moans when they tell her to get up or ask her to help. I kept thinking, she’s had a good job, paid little rent at her last place so why hasn’t she got enough to fund her own place, and why isn’t she out job hunting? She does say later that she could get somewhere but just wanted to go home, I can understand that, she’s hurt and wants to nurse her wounds, but she could at least appreciate her parents and their help. Anyway finally she gets a bit brighter and the story picks up interest. Jack – how many Mc names can she come up with for him and his crew? They made me smile. Jack too had been subject to a bad relationship and since he’d been busy picking up the business he’d inherited from his dad, he’d not had time or inclination for getting back into the dating scene. Then he meets Sarah, and although its an inauspicious meeting when she crashes into the back of his truck, and harsh words are said he can’t get her out of his mind. Finding out she’s the daughter of his new client throws him, but places her within his sights and he determines to move in when he can. Their interactions were funny and made me laugh, and I began to like her more once she got past the “poor me” stage. She and Jack get off on the wrong foot – and for their next few meets it doesn’t go much better, but finally they call a truce and the attraction that’s clear between them starts to get really hot. The sex scenes were really well written and fitted perfectly in the story, they had a pull to each other that was searingly hot and couldn’t be ignored. I loved how Jack acted when they bumped into an ex workmate of Sarah’s, who was clearly out for some gossip. At that point they’d just called a truce, and he could see what was happening and acted in a very proprietorial and sensual way to Sarah, leaving the workmate gobsmacked and thinking Sarah had definitely traded up in the looks dept! That’s just what anyone cheated on needs, an ego boost like that and I really liked him for doing that. It broke the ice too between him and Sarah and was the catalyst for them getting closer and giving in to the attraction.Of course as always just when things are going well something comes along to knock them down. I do love that part and could feel for Sarah when it happened, Jack too – but he wouldn’t listen to her or give her a chance to explain, and that seemed a bit harsh considering how close they’d got. I loved the way it finally worked out though, and the second half was definably far better than the first for me. Special mention had to go to Sarah’s aunt and the lunchtime vermouth’s – she was a great character and just how I want to be when I'm her age! Stars: three and a half, if the start had been better it would have been four but it really was depressing and almost made me give up...thank goodness when it picked up it really got so much better. ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers Interesting story line about a woman whose life falls apart quickly. Her boyfriend/boss is sleeping with her best friend/room mate. Needless to say she moves back in with her parents after quitting her job and losing her apartment. A funny series of events leads her to meeting her dream guy and job. I had issues with the vocabulary in the book, the woman is in her 30's but calls everyone Mchottie McHunk etc. instead of actually describing him. It gets old quick. Plus she cries and falls all the time which made me think shes a blubbering idiot. I wish she had been a stronger character.
What do You think about Life In A Rut, Love Not Included (2014)?
A fun, fresh, and lovely read. Definite 4.5 stars! The writing is funny and heart felt! :)
—Liss
One of the funniest books I have read in a long time. A sweet and sexy read.
—Jess1117
