Havoc (Havoc #1)
by Autumn Grey
Blurb:
Selene Michaels is determined to never let anyone make her feel inferior again. After a painful divorce, she finds herself in Paris on a working holiday, hopeful that this will be the opportunity she has been waiting for. She intends to have fun and maybe find someone to flirt with; someone who will show her a good time, treat her right, and awaken her to all she has been missing. What she does not expect to find is Remington St. Germain and his adorable son, Adrien. Remington is intense, devastatingly hot and a Prince Charming on the outside, but a dirty talking, insatiable devil behind closed doors—the opposite of the man she has been hoping for—and not the type to give up on something that he wants. Selene soon realizes that life with Remington is not only interesting, but adventurous. It’s dangerous, and she’s about to find out how dangerous. . . if she is brave enough to take a chance.***Havoc is the first installment of a three-part serial, each approximately 36000 words. (110 pages)***
My Review:
After seeing this series with the pretty covers on Bookworm Brandee her blog a few times, I finally decided to buy the first book once I won an amazon gift card. Unfortunately while it is a nice book it just wasn’t for me. Or maybe it was my mood, I am not sure exactly why, but I just couldn’t connect to the book. The story didn’t come alive for me, it just felt a bit flat and everything could’ve used a bit more depth. They are in Paris, but I never felt like I was there, there are no descriptions only mentions of where they are. She has a modelling career, but we never really get to know more about her job beside a few details. I wanted to read about her work as well, except for one presentation she gives. Then there is the mysterious millionaire love interest, some very cliché scenes and sex scenes where I rolled my eyes.
Let’s start with the story, this is mainly a romance, but there are some other things going on as well. The pace doesn’t feel rushed even though it’s a short book, it just felt like it lacked depth everywhere. Selene has had a painful divorce and goes to Paris to restart her modelling career, then once she arrives there are problems with her hotel room and she meets Remington. It’s lust at first sight. The story wasn’t anything special and is predictable, they slowly get to know each other a bit and then have sex and it ends with a bit of a cliffhanger ending. There is some mystery thrown in and I didn’t like the ending very much as Selene reacted rushed and did things without thinking, it just felt a bit off. She never asked questions or tried to figure it out or I don’t know call the police. It was just weird. I am thinking more will be revealed in the second book, but the ending felt a bit rushed to me.
Selene is a nice enough character, but while it is emphasized how hard their divorce was or how much she lusted for Remington I never really felt it. She was nice enough, but I didn’t really relate to her or felt like I got to know her well. And even though she married that man for 6 years, I never felt like they had anything but convenience, so I didn’t feel like she missed or lost anything as only the bad things about their relationship where mentioned. Ofcourse it isn’t about her relationship with her ex, but about starting over and falling in love again. Then there Remington, the mysterious love interest who wants Selene. While we don’t get to know much about him, beside that he has a son, I did like him interacting with his son. That made him more human and real to combat the mysterious and too intense part. Adrien, his son was a fun character and I liked him, it also added some lightness to the plot at times and it was fun to see him interact with his dad and Selene.
The romance build slower than I expected and I appreciated that they went out before jumping into bed together. Although having said that even though they went out a few items I didn’t feel like we got to know about them or their connection beside their chemistry that was off the charts and how hot they got with only one touch. It was described a lot how they felt, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t feel their connection. There is only one sex scene towards the end and one oral sex scene somewhat earlier. It was supposed to be hot, but it just left me cold. The sex scenes felt cliché and I just sat there rolling my eyes, luckily the scenes wher epretty short and didn’t get dragged out.
To conclude: While Havoc sounded like a fun short erotic romance, it just didn’t work for me. It’s probably me, but I just couldn’t connect with the story or the characters. The story and characters didn’t came alive, there wasn’t enough depth and everything felt cliché and predictable, then there is a mystery plot twist towards the end that felt like it didn’t make sense, it probably will be explained more in the next book, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing this series. It wasn’t a bad book and I enjoyed parts of it, there were some fun scenes and I liked they didn’t jump in bed immediately and the fact that Remington had a son.
You can add Havoc to your to-read list on Goodreads
You can buy Havoc here:
– Amazon
– B&N
– Kobo
Ouch, I own it, and the next… Oh well, I’ll see ! I’ve already read nice books that fell flat, and what worries me much is that they generally are books without any of my pet-peeves, which should make me adore them ! What makes a nice book a little off for me, mainly, are the characters : if I’m told what they feel but I don’t feel it, just like you pointed out 🙂
Maybe you will enjoy it more than I did. I know some bloggers who really enjoyed this one. Looking forward to hear what you think of them!
It just fell a bit flat to me. Being told what they feel but not feeling it is a big one for me to,it just makes the book feel flat instead of having it come alive. Same happened with this book, it should have been a nice book, didn’t had any of my pet peeves, but I just didn’t connect with the book.
Lola recently posted…Review: Havoc by Autumn Grey
Sorry this one didn’t quite do it for you. Sometimes these can’t be explained. I’ve had perfectly fine books just not interest me particularly the characters.
Sophia Rose recently posted…Murder in Thrall by Anne Cleeland #Review
It’s just so sad when a book sounds good and then it’s just okay. It’s hard when I don’t like the characters as it’s hard to care for what they go through as well.
Lola recently posted…Review: Havoc by Autumn Grey
YES. I recently read a novel where the characters remained flat as did the plot. I know what a disappointment that is and how it’s almost impossible to keep reading. 🙁
Keionda@Keionda Hearts Books recently posted…Ohhh Yeahhhh. Excerpt: When You’re Back by Abbi Glines
This one was good enough to keep reading, but it was just a bit disapointing that I didn’t like and connect more with the characters. And the story never came alive and didn’t have enough background or elaboration to feel complete.
Ack! That sucks they were so predictable and the characters just didnt click for you. Maybe your next read will be a lot better:D
Lanie recently posted…Review:Dead Girl Walking (Royal Reaper #1) by Ruth Silver
I already read a few books after this and enjoyed those more. Although I also had a DNF and a 2 star read recently. It was a shame the characters didn’t click, it wasn’t a bad book, but I just wasn’t able to enjoy it fully.
Lola recently posted…Review: Havoc by Autumn Grey
Ouch, that’s no funD:!! I can totally understand that, I felt the same way with the Royal Reaper book!
Lanie recently posted…Review:Dead Girl Walking (Royal Reaper #1) by Ruth Silver
I now realize we both had a 3 star review on the blog today. It’s just a bit sad when a book falls flat like that and you can’t fully connect with the main character.
True,true! But, I kinda see it as a road to a better book. Actually that royal reapers series is the same lady who wrote the book you ended up buying, ya know the novella? She does YA and adult, and her adult book I read was way better so thats something!
Lanie recently posted…Review:Dead Girl Walking (Royal Reaper #1) by Ruth Silver
Oh really, I didn’t knew that. You mean Palace Secrets, right? I am currently reading it and almost finished. Does she write her adult under a pen name? With some authors I can enjoy one of their series and then dislike the next or sometimes it even depends on the book, while with other authors I love everything they write.
I don’t mind a few 2 or 3 stars, as you can’t enjoy everything you read.
Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #131
Yep, thats the one! The pen name for Palace secrets is her adult name, Ruth Silver is for her just Teens reads though. How’re you liking the book missy? Be honest:)
Lanie recently posted…Review: Netherworld (The Chronicles of Koa #1) by K.N. Lee
I finished it this morning and am going to try and write my review later today. I did enjoy it, but it felt rushed in some parts and I wish they elaboated mroe on the political/ historical elements. It felt a bit like some things didn’t have enough depth.
I hear ya, I had the same issues! Ill be interested in seeing more of your opinions on this book.
Lanie recently posted…My Thoughts: KillJoy Premier on Syfy
I am thinking by now you have read my review on Goodreads, right? It will on my blog next month.
sorry to hear that you didn’t love this one!! Its the one negative aspect of reading, is reading those books that fall flat.
Renee (@Addictofromance) recently posted…Lusting For Covers (172) The Art of Taming A Rake
Luckily it was a short story, so it wasn’t too bad. It just makes me a bit sad and disapointed as I hoped for. And it has such a pretty cover.
That’s disappointing that the setting wasn’t described more. As I was reading the synopsis I was getting excited about the Paris location so I’m sad that it felt a bit flat. And millionaire love interests is a theme that has zero interest for me. I have read a few that others raved about but did nothing for me so I know it’s just something that doesn’t work for me at all.
Trish @ Between My Lines recently posted…Book Review : Awake by Natasha Preston
I was very interested in seeing how the Paris setting would come alive in this book, but it didn’t. I like it when settings are well described in book. And indeed the millionaire love interest trope is a bit overdone lately. Although there wasn’t too much focus on it, it was still obvious he was rich, very rich. It doesn’t really work for me either, especially as it often leads to a skewed relationship where he is rich and she isn’t. The only good series with that trope I read is CD Reiss her Songs of Submission series.
Great balanced review, Lola. I love romance, but it is a tough one for me to read when I don’t feel the connection and am simply told about it through the story. It is good that the couple didn’t jump straight into the sack, but it is crazy when a couple can get heated up with a switch.
Suzi Q, The Book Dame recently posted…Should Have Been a Short Film: The Insect Farm by Stuart Prebble
Same here, it’s hard for me to enjoy the romance when I don’t feel the connection. I had expected the couple to jump in bed really fast, so it was a nice surprise when that didn’t happen. The whole hot with one touch thing was a bit overdone and it sounded a bit like an on switch indeed.