Boarded by Love (Bellevue Bullies #1) by Toni Aleo
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Synopsis:
"Jude Sinclair here, hockey player for the Bellevue Bullies and lover of all ladies. Hockey’s in my blood, and not to sound full of myself, but
I’m good at it...really good. The draft is within my reach—it’s mine to take—but that’s not the only reason people know my name. They know me because of my way with women. They know the score, and I aim to please. I just tend to stay away from repeat performances. In other words, I don’t do relationships beyond my family and friends. I’m happy with life. However, I should warn you that my story and how I see it playing out is about to change due to a certain redhead on campus.
She’s beautiful. Stunning. Breathtaking.
She’s my game changer."
"He’s trouble from the moment I see him. I don’t know what I’m thinking, but from the moment I meet his gaze, I’m his. It’s a scary feeling.
I’ve never trusted anyone outside my aunt and uncle—and even that took months. I didn’t have it easy growing up. My mom was usually strung out, and she didn’t give me a second thought. Drugs and the men who paid her were more important to her. It was horrible, but I’m stronger today. Because of my past, security is what I need most. Money assures me that I can take care of myself today, tomorrow, and next month. I don’t want to ever be hungry or go without again, so I work hard for every penny.
Oh, by the way, I’m Claire Anderson. I’m a hard-studying sophomore at the University of Bellevue, dancer for the school dance team, and a burlesque dancer at a club, but that’s my secret.
You may think you know how our story ends, but you have no clue. It’s not easy falling in love… or living happily ever after. At first it may seem so, but when is anything worth having ever won without a fight?
Especially when you’re boarded by love."
Review:
So this story did not really work for me. It was way too long, way too repetitive, way too cutsy romantic and the girl got to be incredibly annoying by the end. It was not for me. Some spoilers ahead.
So first up let's talk about Claire. She is a dancer and works at a Burlesque club. Cool. No problem. That was huge when I was in college and no one would have batted an eyelash if you told them this. Yet Claire feels she has to hide it from everyone cause she doesn't want them to think she is one of those terrible strippers! I mean she doesn't strip naked!! It is a respectable business unlike being a stripper. Or so says the characters in the book. So you know. This is great. Really she is kind of judgmental about other girls. All the slut comments were not cool! Like "You think I'm gonna sleep with some guy I just met? I'm not a slut" Ugh. Seriously? Why? Why do this? Why make these super judgmental characters? I don't like that, especially when it is seen as normal and okay.
I don't really know why she has this big hang up about how Jude will hate her if she tells him what she does. I didn't get it. Why not just tell him? The story goes on and on and on about how she can't tell him, he will hate her, she just needs a little more money and then she will stop and he will never find out. Yeah, that is a great plan. Cause a) those plans always work and b) if you can't tell the love of your life who you actually are are you guys really that in love? So lying to him all the time is better than just telling him and seeing what happens? I know she had some bs reason she HAD to keep doing it, she just needs a little more money, but I wasn't buying it. The writing didn't make me believe she had a real issue with being stable herself so she doesn't depend on anyone. I know it told me she had issues because of her mom, but I didn't believe it. It wasn't really shown to me so...it didn't work. It just made me keep yelling at her to just tell Jude already!! It is not that big of a deal!! If he hates you for it then you guys obviously aren't meant to be together like you think. The whole last part of the book seemed to just be Claire worried about telling Jude/Jude finding out she dances burlesque and not just choreographs the dance routines. It got to the point where I was just like please let him find out so Claire can stop her poor me I need to tell him but I can't routine.
Oh, one other thing about Claire, I hate hate hate that at the beginning she is all I will call you Hey Jude. Like the song. Cause your name is Jude. Then she would all be "See you later, Hey Jude" or something which no. Just no. If you wanted to use Hey Jude as some stupid nickname fine, but at least make it work. Simply switching around the above - "Hey Jude, see you later!" would work. Not with the Hey Jude at the end so it just makes me cringe when I read it. Every time. It would be easy to make it work, but it is like the author didn't want to or something. Maybe it is just me, but it bugged me a lot.
So yeah this wasn't the story for me. I hated Claire. She doesn't trust Jude, she lies to him, and yet she is all cutesy over the top romantic with him. It is lots of passages like I love you more - no, I love you more! - no, I love you more! kind of thing. Not my thing. Way too cutesy for my tastes. He was a ladies man, slept around and never committed to anyone until Claire. Why her? Who knows. But he instantly changed his ways when he saw her. Really I didn't mind that so much, but Claire ruined the story. Not that I loved it regardless, but she sure didn't help. Alright I am done ranting now.
Rating: ★1/2
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