To Hate Adam Connor by Ella Maise

🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎

After bingeing To Love Jason Thorn in one sitting, I immediately jumped into book two of the Love & Hate series, To Hate Adam Connor by Ella Maise. Like I mentioned in my previous review, the books do have illustrated covers now, so I purchased both in paperback before the change. I just love these covers so much more. Plus they have a white/super pale gray base and spine and love the way they look on my shelf. I applied this to the prompt over 300 pages for Fall in Love.

We pick up shortly after the previous book, with Lucy getting left by Jameson. They've graduated and he moved to Pittsburgh, without asking her to come with. Suddenly without a place to live, Lucy moves in with Olive and Jason while she tries to find a job and new place. Also just moved in is Jason's movie star neighbor Adam. He's been in the tabloid recently after divorcing his wife. Of course Jason doesn't jump at the chance to introduce everyone, so Olive and Lucy spy on the neighbor. When Olive and Jason have to head to London for a week, Lucy continues her spying escapade, especially when she hears him in the backyard with his 5-year old son Aiden. One afternoon, she sees Aiden left alone in the back and ends up almost drowning in the pool. She jumps the fence and saves him, only to be thrown in jail for trespassing and treated like a stalker. Even though she's a fan and has the hots for Adam, she now hates him. Adam needs a new caretaker for Aiden, and Lucy ends up being the only viable option.

I loved this book just as much as the first, but in a different way. Lucy is dealing with a lot of trauma from her childhood and finally caving to a relationship with Jameson did it's damage as well. I loved how connected Adam and Lucy were and the progression of their relationship. They both tried to fight it as much as they could, but the more Adam saw Lucy with his son and her view on life, the more he wanted to get to know her. Then when he finally gets a peek at her vulnerabilities, he's almost immediately a goner. And while I thought To Love Jason Thorn was steamy, hoo boy does Adam know how to get it. I feel like there's more scenes with Jason, but Adam is definitely spicier.

I didn't really like the ex drama here, especially when it's treated as an evil ex. I feel like it's been overdone in the past, but it didn't feel cliché here. I understood the split and why she was "evil." She just was a self-centered actress that wanted her career back that she had in her youth. I didn't like how she treated Adam and Aiden. I know that it was a tough decision for Adam and why he waited so long, but I did wish he pushed for sole custody earlier. Especially when Aiden constantly didn't want to visit his mom for more than a couple days, if at all. I'm a big fan of single dad romances and really enjoyed how there wasn't really an issue made about Aiden or the fact that he was a single-parent. Once again we didn't really get any of the stereotypical "he's too good for me" drama common with celebrity romances. I loved how firm Adam was with Lucy and wouldn't let her hide herself or her feelings. While he did push her at times, I loved how he stepped back just as often. He was just perfect.

I really loved these two books and am adding Ella Maise to the top of my contemporary tbr. I really want to read her other books and have heard great things about Marriage for One. Maybe that'll be the next one I pick up. I mentioned this before, but I wish there were more friends of these four so we could have more books. I want more in this world, and would love a romance where the woman is the star. I don't think there will be more based on what I've seen on her website, but a girl can dream.

Have you read To Hate Adam Connor?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: To Hate Adam Connor, Ella Maise, 5-stars, 1 day, paperback, 430 pages, published in 2016

To Love Jason Thorn by Ella Maise

🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎

Another outlier purchase on my shelves was To Love Jason Thorn by Ella Maise. This was a book I had seen a review of on instagram that I immediately added to my tbr. Recently Ella announced that there were going to be new covers, fitting the popular illustrated ones. I am not a fan of a lot of the illustrated covers, especially these ones. I went ahead and purchased the older covers while I could. Both books in the Love & Hate series got the new covers. Thank goodness I did. I applied this to the Fall in Love prompt author found on instagram.

Olive has been in love with her brother's best friend since she was 6-years old. She met Jason when he moved to town and spent most of his time at their house due to family issues. When his mom passes he moves with his dad to LA and they lose contact. Now, Olive is getting reading to graduate from college and is overwhelmed by the popularity of her debut novel. It's getting optioned for a movie deal and she's a fish out of water. Who do they want to play the male lead, none other than hot movie star Jason Thorn. He who inspired the hero in her novel. They are brought back together and Jason helps Olive navigate this new world.

Oh my gosh. I loved this book. I was so drawn in and couldn't put it down. I loved how awkward Olive was and how she was always so nervous and anxious about what was going on. She did silly things sometimes, but they felt so natural and I could relate to doing stupid things when flustered. I loved how happy Jason was to see her and wanted so much to be her friend again. Once things start to get steamy between them, hoo boy. I loved the tension and steam between them. It was so hot and I loved how all in Jason was when it came to Olive. 

I'm not the biggest fan of celebrity romances, especially contemporary ones, but I loved how this was set up. There wasn't really any "she's not good enough" things and I loved how accepting Jason's people were of his relationship with Olive. Granted, there was a fake marriage and they were forced together, but it could've gone the stereotypical route. I also loved how Jason was constantly showing up, despite being a movie star. There just was so much I absolutely loved about this. While the 3rd act conflict felt a little rushed, I kind of saw it coming. I knew that there was something going on with Charlotte, just based on how she was acting. The way that they reconnected after the fight was so swoony and just brought everything full circle from the prologue/first chapter.

I really, really loved this book and almost wish that Olive and/or Jason had more friends so we could have more books. I want to read more in this world by Ella Maise. I know book 2 is about Lucy, so I can't wait to jump into it. I'm definitely going to check out Ella's other works and know that Marriage of One has been recommended a few time recently by people I follow. I laughed, cried and swooned with this book and highly recommend it. My contemporary romance list is growing!

Have you read To Love Jason Thorn?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: To Love Jason Thorn, Ella Maise, 5-stars, 0 days, paperback, 418 pages, published in 2015