Jagged by Lauren Dane
Whiskey Sharp #2
Publication Date: March 27, 2018
Contemporary Romance
Harlequin

Reviewed by Kini

I read and reviewed the first book in this series, Unraveled, earlier this year and didn’t care for it. But I was very curious about Rachel’s story. She was an interesting character in the first book. I was cautiously optimistic about this book and thought I would give it a try. I was quickly disappointed. I ended up not getting very far in the book. And here’s why.

To me, the blurb reads like it is going to be a slow burn of sorts. That due to Rachel’s past that she may be apprehensive about dating. Here is part of the blurb-

Vicktor Orlov took one look at the wary gaze and slow-to-trust personality of the deliciously sexy and fascinating Rachel Dolan and knew he wanted more than just a casual friendship. But as a natural protector, he also knew bossiness and overprotective maneuvering would push her away rather than draw her close. He’ll use every tool in his easygoing arsenal to convince her to take a chance on them….

When Vic finally drops all pretenses of “just friends” and focuses all his careful affection and irresistible seduction on her, Rachel knows she’s falling hard for the laid-back pretty-boy Russian she discovers has a relentlessly steel spine when it comes to her.

At the 5% mark they are kissing in the kitchen and Rachel agrees to go on a date with him. Hold up, wait a second. Kissing and date agreeing at 5% does not make me feel like we get to see the build of their friendship and eventual love, it made me feel like I missed the early parts of that and we are going straight to the other stuff. I can’t believe in friends to lovers if I don’t get to see them be friends.

I was willing to keep trying but had to nope out after the heroine, her sister, and her BFF were having a roundtable discussion about the size of the hero’s penis. NOPE, just nope. I think what turned me off was the heroine’s bff saying this to the heroine about going out again with Vicktor. It wasn’t just Rachel, but her friends too. It came off as gross and juvenile and cemented the fact that this book was not going to be for me.

“Yes to all that. He’s gorgeous. He clearly knows how to kiss and he’s got a big dick. This is all very good. He brings you flowers and bread. He’s definitely worth a second date.”

As readers, we all have our limits, and this one hit mine. It felt like it was going to rush into the romance, I had the same issue with the first book. The beginning did not read like a stand-alone, it referred to some issues with Rachel’s parents that the reader would really only understand if you’d read book one. This book is for someone, just that someone is not me. And that is okay. Too many books out there to spend time reading ones that aren’t making me happy.

Grade: DNF
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