Hi bookish friend!
I was in the mood for a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers type of story when I came across Mason’s Regret. It’s Book 10 from the Timberwood Cove series. Despite 9 other books before this, I still enjoyed it as a standalone.
He didn’t want me then … can I risk my heart now?
Twelve years ago, I thought Mason could be the one, but he wasn’t ready to be tied down, especially not to an omega like me. And when my brother’s sudden death left me raising his little girl, I had to forget all about the man who refused to be there for me. I never expected to see him again, and I couldn’t dream that I’d be his mate. Mason wants to try again, but this time it’s my turn to reject him.
But the adult Mason is a hundred times more considerate than the guy I knew in college, and even though I should protect my heart, I can’t help but start to open up again. Maybe it really is time for a second chance.
Even if we are ready to give it a shot, a lot of things have happened in the past twelve years. And when our relationship is tested, those years might be too much to overcome… (via Goodreads)
…okay, but I may have a problem in the first chapter of the book. For the most part, this is a standalone — meaning, obviously, you shouldn’t need the previous books to understand River and Mason’s story.
Except that the first scene of chapter 1 is the direct continuation of the last scene of Book 9.
As I’ve mentioned above, I haven’t read the other books. This is my first encounter with this series. So reading the 1st chapter feels a lot like being dropped in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
There’s a prologue that takes place years before the current timeline and with River leaving. Then, in the present timeline, River and Mason are already mid-arguing, and I have no idea how that happened. It’s disorienting.
Once I get past that, I’m able to enjoy the story as it is. And I enjoyed reading this a lot. It manages to tick my boxes: reconnecting with an old (sort of) flame, the angst, the pining, the caring. I love all of it. I loved that the author does not prolong the misunderstanding. Though I wish for a longer part when they finally reconnect as friends in their adulthood. Not just 1 chapter (or 2 story days).
The writing is tight, and the story is paced well. The main leads are likeable too — flawed but good people. Sadly, my interest ends there. I am not compelled to read the other books. I am not interested in the entire pack. Eventually, I gave in and tried Book 9 to see how River and Mason meet again. I skim through the book and some of the other ones from the series, too. And I noticed something.
Something’s off with the writing.
The earlier books feel different from Mason’s Regret. Different in terms of style and tone. Nothing really grabs me and makes me want to read properly. But what if Book 10 is just their best book so far? Maybe I’m just not in the mood for the other tropes and dynamics offered in the previous books.
That’s what I thought until I googled Liam Kingsley to search for their other books outside of this series. Turns out, this is their only series. According to some discussions online, Liam Kingsley is the pen name used by multiple ghostwriters hired by the publishing company to write this specific series. Nothing wrong with that, I guess. But that explains the difference in quality of each book.
I love this book, and I hope, whoever is behind this story continues to write. Hopefully, I’ll stumble upon their book again.
Favorite lines:
“I feel like I really want to kiss you. But friends don’t kiss the way I want to kiss you.”
Sparks rocketed. though my mouth and set my heart racing. This chance to kiss River, to taste him, touch him, was more than I could have ever wished for.
Have you read this book? What are your thoughts?