ARC Review: Dream Maker by Erin McCarthy

I have been a fan of Erin McCarthy's for years. I have really enjoyed a lot of her books, and she is one of the first authors that I read when I began to read romance novels. That being said, I was not a fan of the first book in this series and I had quite a few issues with it. I was hoping for better here, and while there were some things I liked, this one left me with mixed feelings as well. 

Shane is determined not to be like his father, so he doesn't do commitment and doesn't get emotionally involved. So he has no problem helping Avery out when she needs it, but that is as far as he is willing to let things go. Avery has her own agenda, and nowhere on it is falling for Shane. But Shane and Avery quickly realize that what they thought they wanted and had planned are no match for the growing connection between them.

I will admit that a lot of what I struggled with here were the characters themselves. While I wanted to love both of them, I had some issues with things that they each did. I especially had some issues with Shane in the second half of this book. He got pushy and I didn't like the way he was acting or treating Avery. Avery was hard for me to warm up to, and I never fully did. I had a hard time relating to her, and I found the fact that she had been in a relationship for so long yet was as inexperienced as she was to be unrealistic. 

Overall, I am beginning to think that this series is just not for me. I think a lot of people will really enjoy it, but it seems to just not fit for me. The characters are a bit on the immature side, and I just haven't been able to connect with either couple in this series so far the way that I would like to. If you are a fan of Erin's or if this one sounds like something you might like, I recommend giving it a shot. I have enjoyed a lot of Erin's books and she is a talented writer, so I think that maybe this series just doesn't work for me personally.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Heart Breaker by Erin McCarthy

I have read and enjoyed a lot of books by Erin McCarthy, but I am sad to say that this wasn't one of them. I knew right away that I was going to struggle a bit with these characters and that held true throughout this book. Heart Breaker had such a cute blurb and I was really looking forward to reading about these country singers/songwriters. Unfortunately though this wasn't what I had been hoping for and it just didn't work for me. 

Chance Rivers grew up Nashville royalty and Jolene Hart fought her way to Nashville. But once they became a team they had everything. Being a singing and songwriting duo as well as a couple, their careers exploded. But when a very nasty and public breakup tore them apart, Chance and Jolene couldn't even be in the same room together without fighting. So when their manager forces them to work together to finish their album, things don't get off on the right foot. But as they begin to work together again, the sparks between them are more than they can fight and they find themselves becoming a duo in every sense once again. Can they make it work this time, or will history repeat itself? 

I struggled right away with these characters and they were a lot of my problems with this book. Both Chance and Jolene felt very immature, and much younger than they should have been. They were childish and it was clear from their actions at the very beginning of this story that they acted without thinking. They had horrible communication and acted rashly. I just couldn't connect with them, and honestly I had a hard time really believing in their connection as well. The attraction between them was clear, and I do believe that they had feelings for one another. But I just couldn't ever fully get behind their relationship because I honestly didn't feel like either of them were mature enough to handle a committed relationship with anyone.

Besides the characters here, the story itself was predictable and ended up feeling like so many others out there. There was nothing new or unique to hold my interest and I found myself skimming to get through and find out how things would end. As much as I was hoping to be proved wrong, things were cliched and went exactly the way I figured they would and I was ultimately disappointed. I really enjoyed Erin's older titles, but I haven't been able to connect with her newer books and this was another that just didn't work for me. If this one sounds like something you might like, I recommend giving it a shot. This could be a case of it not working for me personally. But if you are looking for an adult contemporary story, this one felt much younger and might be one you want to avoid.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | iTunes |

Interview with Author Erin McCarthy and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome author Erin McCarthy to RFTC. Erin is celebrating the recent release of her first New Adult book, True and has stopped by to answer a few questions. Please give Erin a warm welcome.

Erin McCarthy is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 40 novels and novellas in the paranormal, contemporary romance, and young adult genres.  The author is a RITA award finalist and an American Library Association winner of the Reluctant Young Reader award. She lives with her family in Ohio.

Places to find Erin: 

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