This was my introductory book for this author and I was pleasantly surprised with her. I enjoyed the plot, and the characters were well developed. The only problem I had with the characters was with Avery and her qualms with relationships. Seriously who would pass up on Holden. Military men are hot!!!!

Regardless this is a pretty solid book and I'm looking forward to more from this series.

I didn't like Holden, which ruined the book for me. He was selfish and didn't stand up for the woman he supposedly loved.

I have so much love for this book and this plot. I connected with the characters, especially seeing as my brother is a Marine and I understand that life. I was shouting for Avery to just say yes and admit she loved him the whole time. I laughed and even cried reading this book. I can't wait to read more from this amazing author. (Full review will be on my blog next week.)

Avery Forrester doesn't do permanent, she prefers to keep everything in her life string free, that includes her relationships with men. She just isn't ready or willing to settle down with one man, and after watching her mother crash and burn so many times with men in the past, it has left her with some deep rooted intimacy issues. So, her relationship with her best friend turned friend with benefits Holden is damn near perfect for her... well that is until he returns home from his latest deployment with marriage on the mind...

Marine Holden Morris loves what he has with friend Avery, but now he wants more, a whole lot more, the rings, vows, kids, the whole nine yards, problem is Avery doesn't do permanent. She is a free spirit, that doesn't like to be tied down to anything, but he is about to change that. He knows it's going to take some serious convincing, and there's chance he might lose her for good, but it's a risk he's willing to take.

This sexy little first time read had the perfect blend of everything you'd want in a romance story, it was heartwarming, funny, engaging, and packed with some serious sizzle! The story line had a nice flow to it, and Ms. Gatta's detailed character descriptions help to paint each one of them quite vividly for me, giving them a very palpable feel. The chemistry between them was undeniable from the start and their intense attraction to one another kept things consistently hot throughout the entire story... their steamy encounters managed to have me blushing a few times! Highly recommend this one, it's a spicy little page-turner that is sure to keep you captivated from start to finish!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.

3.5 Stars!

This author is new to me and I find that I really like her writing style. For such a short read, it was maturely written, fast paced and a good storyline.

Holden was a great Hero. He knows what he wants and isn't afraid to go for it. Avery, I had a harder time with. I liked her character but I didn't like how she ran from issues. It was very prevalent in the story, which dimmed some of my excitement of a really good book.

If you wanted me to list my dislikes, that would be the only issue I had. Everything else was really good and I look forward to reading more from this author. ARC provided by NetGalley.

Entangled Brazen books always provide a scorching HOT read and nothing left to the imagination, however while I like this type of story, some plots seem to be constantly recycled.

Personally, I had trouble warming to the lead characters, Holden and Avery; they just didn’t click. Maybe a little more background, or insight into their psych, would have made them more appealing.

An OK read, but nothing earth shattering.

I liked the storyline, one of my favorites. The couple were so so.

Avery and Holden has been best friend with benefits for many yrs and when he goes off to war she hides her sadness. But this last time holden was determined to set things straight and make Avery his and only his but the journey is long and painful.

One Week With the Marine is fabulously written. good plot. thanks!

One Week with the Marine, by Allison Gatta is an interesting contemporary romance.

Holden Morris and Avery Forrester have been friends with benefits for many years, while she has worked as a travel photographer and he has served in the military. Recently, Holden has decided that he wanted Avery to commit to a relationship, since he wants to marry her and have children. However, Avery believes that commitment will ruin their friendship, despite only wanting one man.

As the story unfolds, Holden and Avery are insecure about their friendship and very lonely without each other. Both have plenty of family drama, especially dealing with Holden's parents making inappropriate comments. Avery's best friend is in a relationship crisis of her own, which seems like enough material for a future book.

One Week with the Marine is geared towards those who enjoy reading contemporary romance books.


Note: I received this book from NetGalley, which is a program designed for bloggers to write book reviews in exchange for books, yet the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I liked this short and sweet read from Allison Gatta. It made a change to see that it was the male MC was the one who had been in love with his best friend for years and wants the whole nine yards; marriage, children... Avery was the one who not wanting to settle down but Holden’s plan for them to marry awakens all her fears... I found it harder to warm to Avery in the beginning, but as the story unfolded, we saw why she was so gun-shy and why she was so fearful and it explained a lot. I liked Holden, to say he was military man, a hardcore marine in fact, but I wished he’d have shown a little more backbone though with his parents and also Avery but I did warm to and like his character. I love a friends with benefits tale that turns into something so much more, especially when they are crazy about each other and the sex scenes are written very well. A nice easy read from Entangled’s Brazen line.

This is a great little read. Avery who is totally gun shy of relationships and the intimacy yet every time her long term friend and lover come home from deployment they spend most of their time buried between the sheets! Holden is about to change all that. Coming from a military family, they expect him to fall inline and they don't like Avery. Holden avoids his family when he's home on leave, much preferring Avery's company. So Holden decides that since he's older and needs to make some life decisions about his career and future with Avery starts to change their game a little bit. Avery picks up on the subtle things Holden does, a little more intimate, soft touches here and there and she panics just a tad. Meanwhile her best friend who is a nervous Nellie grills her for 3 pages about her relationship with Holden early in the book. Avery uses every trick she knows to throw her off, but to no avail. She doesn't understand the just friends thing Avery's trying to explain to her, because that's the way it's been with her and Holden since high school.
This was a quick and sweet read. I don't use the word sweet often it implies gushy etc and this wasn't, but well written as always from Allison and I liked the plot. I loved Holden and Avery both, but Holden.... yes indeed!
The book is a great summer read, light enough, low angst and lots of love. What more could you ask for.
Allison writes yet another winner.


**arc from NetGalley and Entangled in exchange for a fair review**

*Copy exchanged by NetGalley for an honest review*

They always say honesty is the best policy. So I will be honest.

I did not like Holden. I did not like Avery.

Would you like to know why?

Because they were flat.

What does that mean?

Well, friends, it means that they didn't have any defined characteristics. They didn't have anything that made them human, or even unique. We were just told what they were like - we never got to see it happen. We were informed that Avery was a messy wild-child without a care in the world and we were informed that Holden was a...

uh...

soldier? Interested in a relationship? Beyond that I honestly can't say.

It's very hard to fall in love with a book in which the characters don't feel real, which was my main problem with this book. Beyond that, I feel I must compliment Ms. Gatta's writing style as it is very fluid, more so than other books of this genre that I've read.

All in all it was a quick, cute read, but not anything I'd phone home about.

I can't bring myself to give it 3 stars because I'm a harsh grader and for me 3 stars is actually pretty high (an Immortals After Dark novel by Kresley Cole typically gets a 4 star review and I think that series is phenomenal, so there's your proof :P).

All in all, 2.75 stars. I'd recommend to someone looking for something quick to pass the time, but not someone looking for a huge investment.

Avery Forrester and U.S. Marine Holden Morris have been friends forever. Towards the end of their senior year in high school, they became friends with benefits, because Holden is destined for the military and Avery, after watching her mother fail over and over again in marriage, is afraid of intimacy. He is comes form a political/military family and she and her mother lived in a trailer park.
Eventually she left Maryland toward California with her BFF Myla, became a photographer and watched Myla also go from one sad relationship to the next. Each time Holden is stateside he comes to her, but now on his way home from his fourth deploy, he has a ten year plan and the first thing on the list is "Marry someone I love". The someone he has always loved is Avery, and this trip home he is determined to get her on board, despite the hostility of his parents towards her. But what Avery does best is avoidance, as the loving looks he gives her send "panic and fear racing through her bloodstream". She was terrified of loving him and losing him and herself so has convinced herself that she is not who he needs; that he could do better. Will Holden be able to convince Avery that she is who he needs or will she push him away?
I read a free ARC from netgalley.com. It is the first book that I have read from this author, but definitely not the last.

I do love my entangled books and this is another brilliant one by there authors. I've never try this author before so not sure why thow but will be again in the future as they really is a fantastic book and I really enjoyed reading it very much. If you like your entangled brazen books then your going to love this one too. Would recommend

Avery and Holden have had a casual 'thing' going for a long time. But Holden is done with all that and he wants more. He wants commitment and family. Avery- not so much.

I liked Holden's character a lot. Avery was kind of annoying, maybe because I felt like Holden deserved more because he was SUCH a great character.

When friends with benefit is not that is seems! Allison and Avery have a special relationship. Since Avery is in the service, they only see each other when he is home on leave. This works for them. Especially for commitment scared Allison. She is ok with what they have, or so she thinks. In reality these 2 are crazy for each other, but only one is strong enough to put it out there and see where it takes them. After years of friendship, are they willing to loose what they have to take the next step?

I loved the concept and was immediately drawn into the book. Holden was our American Hero who always went back to Avery. They had a great friendship that spanned several years. My issue is that this couple had a little too much deceit in their relationship. They were never honest with each other. I thought they played to many mind games.

**I received a copy of One Week With The Marine from Entangled Publishing and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**

One Week With The Marine by Allison Gates was a quick and enjoyable read not very long but just the right amount.

Avery Forrester is a budding photographer living in San Diego but she's struggling with whether her friends with benefits with her high school friend should be more. She's has more has experienced more careers in the past few years and he's had only one as a U.S. Marine. Holden is flying to visit her after his current deployment. She's has something to do for t.He entire week of his stay except admit that she feels more for him than sex and friendship. When a chance meeting with a art gallery owner to show a few of her photos has her realizing that perhaps she's finally found her career but can she accept what Holden is offering, love, or with she walk away from him forever?

Holden Morris is ready to settle down and start a family and he's determined that it's going to be Avery. Even though his parents don't care for her she's who he wants and he'll have one week to convince her. He knows that he'll have to decide whether he'll stay in and deploy again with more pay and a new rank or will he leave? His family has been military for generations but what he wants us a life with Avery if he can convince her. I loved the spontaneous sand castle contest after dinner but it's when his parents show up and see how beautiful her photos are that has you doing a first pump and saying "Go Avery!"