Member Reviews

Fun book to read and always enjoy reading this authors books. Can’t wait to read the next one.
I was given this ARC for an honest review. Many Thanks

Was this review helpful?

Loved the character expansion into Terri’s life. The introduction to Sam was sure to make the reader fall in love with her too. Interspersed with just enough overthinking and misunderstandings to heighten the anticipation, Jamie Clevenger, clearly establishes the literary foreplay, leading the reader to a climactic finish. I loved the series for more than “Just One Reason”! Each book in the series, incorporates just enough push and pull, to keep the reader turning pages. Filled with fiery passion, there’s enough steamy love scenes to light your fire and keep it stoked. Another fantastic read from a delightfully talented author.

Was this review helpful?

Wow, what a hot book! I'm not sure if this is the most emotionally driven book I've read lately, but it was definitely one of the hottest.

It's been awhile since I've read the other two books in the series, but I feel like I didn't have to remember much to enjoy this one. Yeah, it was nice since Terri is so close to the other couples, but this one could be considered a standalone.

I really enjoyed the drama, and push and pull between Sam and Terri. And then once all that tension finally snaps and they get together, holy fireworks!

I do think that a lot of the problems between them, and Sam's family, was resolved a little too quickly and with less fanfare than I wanted. It also seemed a bit rushed at the end, and with so much time spent on them not being a "serious" couple, I think we deserved a better ending.

Overall, I thought it was definitely a book I'd recommend for those that like hot sex, with only a little side of emotional.

Was this review helpful?

It’s finally happening! My print reading slump is finally starting to fade. I finished this one up earlier in the week, and wow. What a steamy one to jump back in with.

All Elizabeth Samuels has to do to inherit 41 million dollars from her grandfather’s will is finish her medical residency and become a doctor at his family practice, but it’s everything “Sam” doesn’t want. If she quits the residency, the money will go to an anti-LGBTQ+ charity and Sam will be on her own. Terri Anderson has been burned by relationships with residents before, and despite her attraction to Sam, she’s determined to keep things professional. When the two become closer, and Sam wants to quit, Terri must help Sam to make a tough decision with a lot of money, and perhaps both of their futures on the line.

I really enjoyed this one. I do believe it’s my first Clevenger novel, an I held out for the audiobook, because Abby Craden. Who wouldn’t? Craden is my favorite narrator, and honestly I’d listen to her read the phone book. This one isn’t for the Hallmark crowd, for sure. It’s hot. There are some light BDSM elements, and I don’t necessarily recommend reading or listening while you’re doing work. It makes it hard to focus, but you know, in the best possible way.

I really loved Sam and her willingness to stand by her convictions. I identified with Terri’s background, and I wouldn’t be able to let someone I care about (or even someone I didn’t) walk away from 41 million dollars. I liked their relationship. The tension was good and even once it was broken, I was still invested in the story and wanted them to develop and grow together. It was a fun work distraction, and if you’re looking for some steamy sex, well look no further, my friend.

The best part is I’m so behind on my galleys, that this one is available now, so if sounds like your cup of tea, you can grab a copy RIGHT. NOW. 🙂

Was this review helpful?

Elizabeth Samuels is a resident in route to take the family practice and get the inheritance, the only problem is that she is not willing to follow the stipulations tied to getting the inheritance, she is even considering leaving medicine altogether. Terri Anderson knows better than to get involve with a resident, no matter how hot she is, but when she tries to stop Sam from leaving medicine, lines start to blurred and she might be able to keep her attraction in check.

This book as a bit unexpected, why? well, I just didn't expect it to be so HOT! and Sexy!

The characters and the story were interesting, although I did find some parts repetitive and a bit on the boring side. However, when the characters got together it was all worth it. Overall, it was an entertaining story and worth the read. A book that I have been recommending to my friends already.

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

“You’re wrong about a lot of things.” Terri pressed her palm against Sam’s chest like she was trying to hold her back. “I wish you were wrong about this.”

I really enjoyed this last book in the Paradise Romance series. While it's my least favourite of the three, I still had a good time with these characters and their romance. Sam and Terri are wonderful. I like Sam's teasing and persistence, and how she's already morphing into a cute old lady at 31. I loved Terri's stubbornness and vivacity, and her willingness to explore new parts of herself despite being burned in past relationships. They both had their ups and downs, and moments where I wanted to shake them both, but they were willing to fight for each other when it came down to it, which I adored seeing. I especially loved their particular dynamic, and that their D/s relationship in the bedroom didn't affect their disposition or dynamic outside of it. I never like when characters enter into a D/s relationship and suddenly their entire personalities change? Terri got to be vulnerable and explore herself but she also didn't morph into a wilting flower. Bless.

(And I think it goes without saying: like the rest of the books in the series, it's super steamy.)

I definitely wanted more character interaction. Their chemistry was great, and we got glimpses of the more meaningful connection they had, but I wanted a bit more. And I have to say that some of the conflict was frustrating. (I didn't understand how to took Terri so long come around to the fact that Sam loved photography like she could never love medicine.)

I did have my quibbles with the ending; everything wrapped up very easily and very conveniently and very quickly. I did like aspects of it (especially as we got to see the previous couples in the series, and I really adored Reed/Julia and Mo/Kate, and the kids) but some things were just a little too neat. Especially with Sam's parents. The book is a good length, but if we'd had a bit more development in certain areas, I'd have been more satisfied.

Jaime Clevenger is definitely one of my favourite authors that I've discovered this year, and I'm excited to get into her back-list a bit. :) I really enjoyed and recommend this series.

Was this review helpful?

This is the third installment of the Paradise Romance series. I have gotten so much entertainment out of these books. I love the characters and friend group. That while each story focuses on a new budding relationship, the same characters pop in and we see that they continue to progress in their respective partnerships.

In this one, we get to know Dr. Terri Anderson a bit better as she navigates an incredibly hectic schedule. Her best friend sneakily introduces her to Elizabeth Samuels, who just happens to be one of Terris' residents. Terri has previous bad experience with mixing business and pleasure so she is not interested in following that path again.

But Sam's indecision about continuing her career in medicine when she is so close to finishing, has Terri stepping in to keep her from making a mistake.

There was a lot to like about this. I'm a sucker for character development and growth. There is always so much more depth and satisfaction when the writer can put people through the ringer so that they come out on the other side shiny and happy. Terri and Sam deal with each other's demon's and insecurities. They are there and supportive in ways that they never anticipated they needed or could have. It isn't easy. But what in life is ever easy?

This had many explicit scenes. These two had a lot of sexual chemistry. This series is so strong with relationship development, friendships, and real life family issues, that I always forget about how much sex there is. I prefer my books to be a little bit more on the tamer side, but there was an integral part of Terri's growth that had to do with some of these intimate encounters. So that made it interesting for me.

Overall, this is another great addition to the Paradise Romance series.

I recommend to those who like to read about romance, medical drama, inheritance, family issues, jealousy, hot sex, and solo vacations.

---
I am including a disclaimer that I am 20+ book reviews behind. Unfortunately, that means quite some time has passed since reading. So this review is likely not as in depth as normally would be as it is not fresh on the brain.

Was this review helpful?

This book started slow, with the two leads meeting at the very beginning of the book and feeling insta-attraction but not much happening between them for quite a while. I was a bit apprehensive about the hospital setting (it's been done way too many times in my opinion) and I was pleasantly surprised to see this particular story didn't actually centre around that at all. There wasn't really a storyline other than the romance and a slower burn would have made this book even better, but I'll forgive the author for that as the chemistry between the two leads was sizzling hot. Both characters were well developed, the dialogue was well written and I was so happy to read about a couple in a D/s relationship (give us more of that, please! ). I was so happy in fact, that the rushed final chapters didn't even bother me much. The sexual dynamic the author weaved into the last third of the book really took it to the next level for me. I hadn't read anything by this author before - she has a unique voice and I look forward to reading her previous works.

Was this review helpful?

This is the third book in the Paradise Romance series, in which a group of three friends found their perfect partner, one at a time, with the common point that the couples formed are buch / femme, very stereotypical. Now that I have reviewed how I rated the other two, I think I was too critical then, with this one I will have a better consideration.

This story has two parts, the first being the time when Terri and Sam are together at the hospital where they both work, and the second after Sam begins to doubt her future.The first part, with the push and pull between them, has been quite entertaining. The second, after so many doubts from Terri, at some point seems to be resolved too quickly. And also Sam's family issue, it seems unbearable and in the end it is not so much, but Sam is such an honest person that her behavior is understandable, both in the way she commits her life to make her family happy as in her later rethinking.

As for Terri, she is a bit inconsistent and just one word wakes up the submissive in her, a bit cliché the duality between power doctor/submissive lover. But anyway has been quite fun, with the exception of some forced practice in their lovemaking.

As always happens in series, we meet the protagonists of the two previous books, in a very little but sufficient way, it is a bonus.

And for the record, all the books in the series can be read completely independently, they don't spoil each other.

Was this review helpful?

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review from Bold Strokes books and NetGalley,

This is the third book in the Paradise Romance series. I have only read the se and and third books, the first one will be read eventually. I felt like I don't really like Reed and Julia as much, but maybe I will after I read their origin story. First this story does not really take place in paradise, unless you count Santa Cruz as paradise, and maybe the four days she spends in Costa Rica. The other two books were much better about having been taking place in a tropical romantic environment. That was my first problem, the book was also super disjointed. The first half and the second half feeling like two completely different books. Let's start with the premise and then I will delve into my issues with he story,

Just one Reason is the story of Terri and Sam. They both work at the hospital in Sacramento, Sam does not want to be a doctor, but due to some really weird family stipulations she has to become a doctor and work in her grandfathers clinic otherwise the money is lost,. It is a VERY thin premise that does not hold up at all. The entire book could have been stopped right around the time they slept together and that would have made a perfectly good Happily Ever After, but the book kept going and the second half of the book completely turned me off. Both of the main characters just seemed to meet and then be instantly in love with each other, perhaps they met previously, but while reading this it felt like the author just dropped it into the middle of a story and let you to figure ti all out.

The second half of the book was weird and it did not seem like it fit with the first part, first of all it turned into some BDSM erotica, which I was not expecting, also the entire book fell apart. It was all sex and no substance, they sort of closed up the story line about her grandfather wrapping everything up in a nice little bow that seemed way too convenient even for a lesfic book. I thought that Terri and Sam's mother and father becoming friends seemed duper rushed and also kind of weird, but that's just a minor plot point. I also felt like the story wanted to be more about Reed and Julia and their wedding, but the author didn't have enough material to fill a whole book so she decided to put in another love story to fill the pages., There just was not a lot there, the story ended after Chapter 14, and then went on this strange devolvement not sent, and the main characters whining about why they could/couldn't be together.

I would not recommend this book mostly because it is not as good as the other two and the story is not even there, 2.5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

Oh my god.

OH MY GOD

This book broke me. It started out as a medical romance, okay I can do that. Sweetly butch resident Sam (the name I Love!!) and ice queen, tattooed, comfortably bisexual and twice divorced femme collide in the first third of the book, which is a hard-boiled medical almost romance complete with the overworked medical professionals who have neither the time nor energy for either romance or sleep.

Both Terri and Jess have issues about intimacy and sex. The physical? Been there, done that. The emotional? Get me the hell out.

The second third is pure erotica. Wow!! I was running to the freezer for handfuls of ice to stuff down my shirt (and pants don’t read this). I was really happy the handcuffs were wrapped. And the issue of cleanliness was addressed. A safe word was introduced and the subtle balance of outside and bedroom dynamics was discussed like adults.

God!! Sam is so hot...sorry, what was I saying?

And the last third is the hard-hitting home run that brings all the issues into the sunlight. I don’t want to spoil things , but I was cheering this couple on and I wasn’t disappointed. Communication happens and it is beautiful and sweet, but not without a splash of angst. This book gave me all of the feels and really hit a home-run with thoughtful, meaningful dialogue.

Disclaimer: this book features a D/s relationship but it is equitable and sweet and searingly hot at all the same time.


My rating: five very satisfied stars


I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley and leaving an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Terri is the supervising doctor at a hospital and has a very strong reputation. She resist any type of romantic involvement and she swore off dating, one night stands were OK. Sam is a resident in a rising star as all of her evaluations are top notch. Both women have been attracted to one another from the beginning but things intensified when Sam was placed on Terri’s rotation . TerrI is very demanding of her residence, somewhat like an ice queen, she isn’t friendly but there is a kindness in the way she approaches her work.

Both women were very much aware of the other one and there was an attraction that turned into a very irresistible Attraction. There is a slight age difference, Sam comes from wealth, Terry not so much, and both women are OK with one night stands. When Sam quits her residency and moves a couple hours away from the hospital to her grandmothers house which is on the beach. Terri pursues her and wants to know why she quit. Turns out with her leaving the residency Sam loses $41 million. Out of frustration and anger Terri kisses Sam and sparks fly ,these two really have an irresistible desire for each other. But how will relationship work, Sam loves her photo business and living by the ocean and Terri loves being a doctor and works several hours away from Sam.

There is some mild BDSM in this book and a lot of intense sexual activity.The secondary characters were well developed as was the story plot, both main characters were also well-developed, Terri a bit more than Sam. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I think you will too if you read it.

Was this review helpful?

Somehow I missed Three Reasons to Say Yes but did read and enjoy All the Reasons I Need. Many reviewers have said that Three Reasons was their favorite of the series, and based on how much I loved this book I must now go back and read it.

The chemistry between Terri and Sam was sizzling right from the start and never let up, putting this book squarely in the erotic romance category, with age gap and butch/femme themes as well. There were a couple of near plot twists that I wasn't expecting that kept my interest the entire time.

Jaime Clevenger is one of my must-reads and I'm really looking forward to what comes next.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely lived this story. It was moving and so hot. It had a lot of personal drama that was dissected by both main characters and mostly resolved. It is really uplifting to read when two people are perfect match. This is wonderful book!!

Was this review helpful?

What would you do for 41 million dollars? All Sam has to do is get through her residency and then take the guaranteed position at her dead grandfather's clinic, and that inheritance is hers.
I wasn't quite expecting the type of book this ended up being. The book summary made it sound like a medical romance mixed with some dead relative/crazy will drama. Instead, the first 20% is somewhat based within a hospital background but it's quickly dropped and the tone shifts to dom/sub erotica (with bland butch/femme archetype pairings) and suddenly all any character can talk about is sex and with all the tact and cleverness of a twelve year old. This isn't really my kind of thing. Instead, it ticked all of my irritation boxes--characters who don't have chemistry together and seem to be interested in the other only due to hotness, awful dialogue (aside from the constant terrible sex-related talk, the "flirtation" at the beginning is about as subtle as a kick to the head with the author explaining double entendres), and a plot that only really exists at the beginning and end.
This is less about the whole inheritance issue and more about getting these characters naked. When the plot does rear its head, it results in fights between the main characters (which leads to more naked time) and truly annoying and whiny Sam-spiels. Yes, there is sort of a reason she wants no part of this inheritance but it's weak at best and Sam does come off to me at least as incredibly immature and lazy.
All of this wraps with a very quick Epilogue which conveniently reveals further details of gramps' will allowing for a HEA--because of course.

Nothing about this book made me interested in reading the previous titles. I prefer plots and well-developed characters.

Was this review helpful?

Sizzling hot chemistry and very, very explicit scenes make this more erotica than romance – though there is romance too.

Dr. Terri Anderson is an amazing doctor but has had a couple of setbacks in her relationships. Two divorces to be exact. The second marriage was to a resident in the hospital which ended up in a triangular drama of rather epic proportions. After that fiasco, Terri has sworn off ever getting involved with a resident.

Elizabeth Samuels (Sam) is a resident in Terri’s hospital. At thirty-one, she is older than a typical resident, but has her reasons for getting in late. Sam has had a crush on Terri from the start and when a colleague tries to set them up, Sam is all for it, except that she runs into Terri’s hard line about steering clear of residents despite scorching chemistry between them.

Terri is quite interesting as a character. Sam – we never really got Sam or even really got to know her. The attraction and chemistry between the two is crazy and once the sex starts, it eclipses everything else. The sex is in the BDSM world, but it is not intense. So it is palatable BDSM.

The forty-one million mentioned is the blurb is the defining touchstone for Sam’s characterisation, motivations and background. Maybe a little more development of their respective backgrounds and personality development would’ve helped in knowing the ladies better.

The writing is solid, but somehow we didn’t feel too invested in the relationship despite actively liking Terri. Nevertheless, we’d definitely recommend this as NSFW romantic erotica.

This is the third part of a series which has recurring characters, but each book can definitely be read standalone.

Was this review helpful?

Going from the blurb I was expecting the story to play out a little differently.

Dr. Terri Anderson is persuaded by her best friend Reed to go to a ballroom dancing class to prepare Reed for her wedding. Reed invites one of her star residents as well. Elizabeth Samuels, Sam, has gone to medical school and is now halfway done with her residency. Terri has a rule of never getting involved with a resident, but Sam has a magnetism about her. Sam is a reluctant would-be doctor, only there because of the grandfather's will. When she finds out some information about his past she resigns and pursues her true passion; photography. Terri and Reed are shocked, Sam is a star and one of the best residents they have had. Terri tries to stop Sam from quitting and to not fall for her, but it doesn't work. She has fallen for her and Sam feels the same, both too stubborn to let go of what they think it's a rough start. I think from about 1/3 of the book onwards their relationship starts and it no longer is about the star resident that left the hospital, it's mostly about Terri and Sam in bed.

I would have liked to have more of the story in the hospital and the fall out from that. Now it just feels like an elaborate intro to the characters without actually getting to know them. It's hard to connect to the characters because of how the story is set up. I felt the book was lacking real development, but at the same time, it was an enjoyable read. I don't really understand how I could find it a nice read when it was lacking in parts I usually put some high value on, but I did enjoy it.

Was this review helpful?

The first thing that caught my eye about Jamie Clevenger’s newest novel, Just One Reason, was the simple but very attractive cover. The wave creeping up to the drawn heart in the sand evokes many pleasant memories, and visually sets the stage for a really good romance.

This is the third book in the Paradise series. This novel tells the story of Dr. Terri Anderson and Elizabeth Samuels (Sam), but the reader also gets to see the two couples from the first two books. In fact, part of the plot revolves around preparations for Reed and Julia’s (the couple from the first book) marriage. This is another one of those themes where at least one of the two protagonists does not want romance in their lives. Terri specifically does not want a girlfriend, especially a resident who she will have to work with. She has been burned in the past and would prefer to spend her free time (what little she has) at home bingeing on Netflix. Life and hearts don’t always listen to us, however, and these two ladies must make their way through some angst, misunderstandings and wild emotions before they find their way to each other. And of course there is the little problem of a forty-one million dollar inheritance.

This is a pretty good closing novel for this series. The writing is excellent, as we expect from Ms. Clevenger. The characters are well-developed, and their connection is hot. I have no other words to describe it. I actually connected with these main characters pretty quickly which is a must for me to enjoy most stories, especially ones that are character driven. This book not only gives us an appealing love story, but it also wraps up the tales of the main characters in the first two books of the series. That makes this a satisfying book for those who have read the whole series.

I don’t believe you have to read the first two books to enjoy this one. The story of Sam and Terri is lovely on its own, but if you want to know about all the characters you will meet in this novel, it might be best to read the whole series in order. I can recommend them all to romance lovers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bella Books for the chance to read and honestly review this book.

Rainbow Reflections: http://rainbowreflections.home.blog/

Was this review helpful?

When I read the blurb for this book about doing something for forty-one million dollars, I thought about the recent Zoom session I had with friends when someone bought up a similar question about money. There were so many reasons given what they would or would not do. So I was looking forward to this character’s reasoning and final decision about her potential forty-one million dollar inheritance.

As I was reading this story, the author portrayed two very intelligent and confident woman, one a 40 year old attending doctor, and the other a 31 year old resident. They each seemed set in their perspective roles. Even though they were immediately attracted to one another, Terri did not want to have anything to do with a resident again after the failure of her second marriage. However, everything seemed to change rather quickly after Sam wanted to quit the residency program and go back to her first love of photography, thereby forfeiting her grandfather’s forty one million dollars inheritance. He left it to her with the stipulation that she take over his medical practice. With thoughts of quitting and Terri constantly on her mind, Sam was not as focused as she should have been and that proved dangerous to her patients.

The beginning of the story focused on the the medical aspect of the story and Sam’s indecisiveness of whether or not to complete her residency program. After that decision was made, the focus shifted to an intense sexual relationship involving some BDSM. There was a safe word involved if needed. The decisiveness then shifted from that residency decision to whether or not Sam and Terri wanted an actual relationship. After a while, I just wanted these women to sit down and have an intelligent conversation and make a concrete decision. It actually wasn’t until the confrontation between Sam and her parents that I felt there was finally some depth to this story.

If you read the author’s previous books, Reed and Julia with their children were secondary characters in this one. They were also planning their wedding. Mo and Kate also made an appearance. I enjoyed the scenes between these couples and their obvious love for one another.

I didn’t enjoy this book as much I did the others. One of the other books that I read by this author also had commitment and decisiveness issues, but it had witty and emotional dialogue that took it to a different level. It didn’t feel like these characters in this story had a good strong emotional connection, unlike their sexual connection and compatibility which was very evident. I think it just needed more of a balance to it.

3.5 stars

An ARC was given for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Terri has been burn before and vow never to get involve in a work romance ever again. The vow is tested when she meets Elizabeth but everyone calls her Sam a new resident at the hospital.

Sam stand to inherit millions of dollars from her Grandfather and to take over his medical practice if only she follow the rules of his will. Sam starts to question if she wants what her grandfather want of her especially when she learns some things about the man she always tries to impress and looks up to.

As Terri tries convince Sam she can be good doctor and not to walk away she having a hard time keeping her attraction to Sam under control. Sam wants more with Terri but as she thinks about wether to be a doctor or not she afraid Terri won’t let her in.

This was a good read I like the glimpse of the previous couples in the first two books Reed and Julia and Kate and Mo.

Was this review helpful?