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What Matters
“It’s a good fear, Sam. I’d miss it if it wasn’t there...”Musical prodigy Eddie Dean gets everything she wants. The best violin, the best boyfriend, and a place at the best music school in London are hers until her father goes bankrupt. Once the financial facade comes tumbling down, Eddie’s broke and her boyfriend couldn’t care less. The doorstep of Jimmy’s Café is the last place she expects to wash up. Scrubbing dishes and serving fried breakfasts to pay her rent is as hellish as she imagined, and her new life is made worse by the disdain of her boss’s sneering grandson. Sam Nowak is arrogant, rude, and gorgeous, and if Eddie never sees him again, it will be too soon. Shame she can’t stop thinking about him. Dreaming about him. Craving him. And then there’s his best friend Dylan. Dylan is as light as Sam is dark, and Eddie wants him too. She can have him too—according to Sam—but when Sam reveals a vulnerability that could cost him his life, it’s time for Eddie to face the music. Does she still need to get everything she wants, or should she choose what matters?
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2017
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104 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 2, 2017
I could not be more disappointed in this book. This author also writes under a different name in the m/m romance genre and in that she is one of my favorite authors. I was SO excited when I saw that she was writing a m/f romance. I expected great things. What I got was a book I barely finished.
The plot is in the blurb (obviously) and the first 15% or so of the book was pretty good. I liked Eddie (female MC) at the beginning and it seemed like a great set up. The book went bad for me pretty early on because Sam (male MC) was an absolute, unmitigated asshole. He was dreadful to Eddie when they first began to work together at his family restaurant but I thought as he fell for her he would show her his tender side and start to be kind and loving to her. Nope. He continued to be rude and disrespectful to her throughout. He insults her every chance he gets. I hated him as much at the end of the book as I did at the beginning. Some examples of Sam talking to Eddie:
"I want you to piss off, but as that's unlikely to happen, you can go round and fill up the sauce bottles."
"You think I owe you a conversation, or some shit? Just because I fucked you the other night?"
"You want to feel special? Is that all this is, Eddie? You want the whole world to revolve around you?
"No! That's not what I meant."
"Great, 'cause I don't actually give a shit what you meant."
"How many times do you need telling before it sinks into your entitled brain?"
"You know what, Eddie? Fuck you."
Soooo........as you can tell, Sam's a prince among men. I guess this is all a matter of perception. Some people may not have an issue with someone talking to them like this but it doesn't work me at all. I don't call it romance. I don't call it a broody hero. I call it verbal abuse.
I mentioned that I liked Eddie at the beginning and I did. That didn't last though. While she wasn't as horrible as Sam was for me, she still wasn't a very nice person. She treats the people around her poorly, she's rude and disrespectful to Sam (two wrongs don't make a right & all that) and she's dreadful to her mother. Her mother, also not a nice person, is still her mother and I'm not a fan of telling her to "Get the fuck out of my apartment".
This also contains my least favorite plot devise and that is "The Giant Misunderstanding That Could Have Been Avoided With Communication". There's a few instances of it here and both characters are immature and fly off the handle and refuse to speak to each other, say mean things, send mean texts, blah, blah, blah. I'm completely befuddled as to why it's in this book. I know it's common in a lot of m/f NA (which is why I avoid them) but I've never seen this author use this plot device so I was completely shocked to see it here.
The sex. Some readers will think this next complaint is petty but it really irked me. They're together for the first time and he asks if she's on the pill and she says "yes" so they don't use a condom. They've just met and she's been sleeping with another guy. This drives me insane. Yes, she won't get pregnant but she (or he could) get any number of sexually transmitted diseases. I want a heroine that's going to take charge of her health not just lay there & leave her health up to the guy. ( keeping in mind this is not a committed relationship, just a quick screw at this point).
Then there is this really odd threesome with Sam's friend Dylan. It was hot, I'm not gonna lie, but it didn't fit in the story. I don't understand why it was there. It really served no point as far as the plot went. And.....for some reason Dylan had to wear a condom??? I mean he should have, but it was just this weird, arbitrary condom use. **best Scooby Doo confused shrug here** Also, the sex was super unrealistic. Eddie's only had boring, bad sex with her ex before and has never had an orgasm. She's also never given a blow job. So jump forward to the second or third time she's had sex with Sam. She's deep throating him (it mentions his dick hitting the back of her throat more than once) and then she's doing both him and his best friend, deep throating them both and taking both of their dicks at once. Now I appreciate a girl who throws herself into things but I feel she really jumped ahead of the learning curve. I actually thought at this point that I had misunderstood and this wasn't supposed to be a romance but was in fact an erotica story. And I was happy. But, then I was sad, cuz this threesome ended, Dylan just weirdly disappeared from the book as fast as he'd shown up and we were back to the romance portion.
By the end of the book they were all "I'll love you forever and ever". I have ZERO idea how they got there. There was no relationship development, no scenes of them being tender with each other, no communication, no feelings whatsoever. This was a huge case of "telling" the reader rather than "showing" them.
It makes me sad to say this cuz I'm usually such fan girl for this author but I really disliked this. A lot.
The plot is in the blurb (obviously) and the first 15% or so of the book was pretty good. I liked Eddie (female MC) at the beginning and it seemed like a great set up. The book went bad for me pretty early on because Sam (male MC) was an absolute, unmitigated asshole. He was dreadful to Eddie when they first began to work together at his family restaurant but I thought as he fell for her he would show her his tender side and start to be kind and loving to her. Nope. He continued to be rude and disrespectful to her throughout. He insults her every chance he gets. I hated him as much at the end of the book as I did at the beginning. Some examples of Sam talking to Eddie:
"I want you to piss off, but as that's unlikely to happen, you can go round and fill up the sauce bottles."
"You think I owe you a conversation, or some shit? Just because I fucked you the other night?"
"You want to feel special? Is that all this is, Eddie? You want the whole world to revolve around you?
"No! That's not what I meant."
"Great, 'cause I don't actually give a shit what you meant."
"How many times do you need telling before it sinks into your entitled brain?"
"You know what, Eddie? Fuck you."
Soooo........as you can tell, Sam's a prince among men. I guess this is all a matter of perception. Some people may not have an issue with someone talking to them like this but it doesn't work me at all. I don't call it romance. I don't call it a broody hero. I call it verbal abuse.
I mentioned that I liked Eddie at the beginning and I did. That didn't last though. While she wasn't as horrible as Sam was for me, she still wasn't a very nice person. She treats the people around her poorly, she's rude and disrespectful to Sam (two wrongs don't make a right & all that) and she's dreadful to her mother. Her mother, also not a nice person, is still her mother and I'm not a fan of telling her to "Get the fuck out of my apartment".
This also contains my least favorite plot devise and that is "The Giant Misunderstanding That Could Have Been Avoided With Communication". There's a few instances of it here and both characters are immature and fly off the handle and refuse to speak to each other, say mean things, send mean texts, blah, blah, blah. I'm completely befuddled as to why it's in this book. I know it's common in a lot of m/f NA (which is why I avoid them) but I've never seen this author use this plot device so I was completely shocked to see it here.
The sex. Some readers will think this next complaint is petty but it really irked me. They're together for the first time and he asks if she's on the pill and she says "yes" so they don't use a condom. They've just met and she's been sleeping with another guy. This drives me insane. Yes, she won't get pregnant but she (or he could) get any number of sexually transmitted diseases. I want a heroine that's going to take charge of her health not just lay there & leave her health up to the guy. ( keeping in mind this is not a committed relationship, just a quick screw at this point).
Then there is this really odd threesome with Sam's friend Dylan. It was hot, I'm not gonna lie, but it didn't fit in the story. I don't understand why it was there. It really served no point as far as the plot went. And.....for some reason Dylan had to wear a condom??? I mean he should have, but it was just this weird, arbitrary condom use. **best Scooby Doo confused shrug here** Also, the sex was super unrealistic. Eddie's only had boring, bad sex with her ex before and has never had an orgasm. She's also never given a blow job. So jump forward to the second or third time she's had sex with Sam. She's deep throating him (it mentions his dick hitting the back of her throat more than once) and then she's doing both him and his best friend, deep throating them both and taking both of their dicks at once. Now I appreciate a girl who throws herself into things but I feel she really jumped ahead of the learning curve. I actually thought at this point that I had misunderstood and this wasn't supposed to be a romance but was in fact an erotica story. And I was happy. But, then I was sad, cuz this threesome ended, Dylan just weirdly disappeared from the book as fast as he'd shown up and we were back to the romance portion.
By the end of the book they were all "I'll love you forever and ever". I have ZERO idea how they got there. There was no relationship development, no scenes of them being tender with each other, no communication, no feelings whatsoever. This was a huge case of "telling" the reader rather than "showing" them.
It makes me sad to say this cuz I'm usually such fan girl for this author but I really disliked this. A lot.
May 1, 2017
No one is more upset about this than I am.
How can this...come from one of my favorite authors?
I'm just flabbergasted.
*cringes*
And I'm sorry...This is going to be unpleasant.
Eddie
A spoiled posh girl in a mediocre 'relationship' finds herself cut off from her parents financial fortune. Her daddy hits bankruptcy forcing her to...grow up.
She's twenty-two and never had to claim any responsibility in her life until now.
Biggest problem? She's got a major attitude problem. She's self-centered and quite simply, a snobby brat. This was intentional but any chance of redemption was lost on me.
I hated how she spoke to her mother. Her mom was exactly like she was in the first chapter! I have absolutely no respect for a character that treats her parents like she did for no valid reason.
Not cool.
Sam
Is your typical bad boy with a good heart. Sam was the drive that pushed me to finish this book. I loved how much he cared for his family, or grandfather that is. His history was sketchy. We know he's twenty-six and moved to London seven years ago. He's been burned by women before and likes to 'share' with his best mate Dylan. Dylan is bi and has his own mysteries.
I enjoyed the restaurant...I craved the food. But I wasn't hungry for their story.
The sex was awkward for me.
For instance:
Sam inquires if she's on the pill and takes her word and goes bare. Hmmm. This is pages after she's with her so called boyfriend Ian. Then the anticipated hot m/m/f scene, Dylan grabs a raincoat but not Sam...?
And she's rather inexperienced and never had a true orgasm but she's deep throating like a champ.
Ummm, okay?
Then comes the misunderstanding with a splash of drama. By this point, I was done.
I read 99% rainbow themed books these days....and this was a stark reminder why.
I like opposites attract.
I like enemy to lovers.
I was CERTAIN I would like this, hopefully love it.
I...did not.
*sad face*
It sucks not jiving with a book by someone you adore.
How can this...come from one of my favorite authors?
I'm just flabbergasted.
*cringes*
And I'm sorry...This is going to be unpleasant.
Eddie
A spoiled posh girl in a mediocre 'relationship' finds herself cut off from her parents financial fortune. Her daddy hits bankruptcy forcing her to...grow up.
She's twenty-two and never had to claim any responsibility in her life until now.
Biggest problem? She's got a major attitude problem. She's self-centered and quite simply, a snobby brat. This was intentional but any chance of redemption was lost on me.
I hated how she spoke to her mother. Her mom was exactly like she was in the first chapter! I have absolutely no respect for a character that treats her parents like she did for no valid reason.
Not cool.
Sam
Is your typical bad boy with a good heart. Sam was the drive that pushed me to finish this book. I loved how much he cared for his family, or grandfather that is. His history was sketchy. We know he's twenty-six and moved to London seven years ago. He's been burned by women before and likes to 'share' with his best mate Dylan. Dylan is bi and has his own mysteries.
I enjoyed the restaurant...I craved the food. But I wasn't hungry for their story.
The sex was awkward for me.
For instance:
Sam inquires if she's on the pill and takes her word and goes bare. Hmmm. This is pages after she's with her so called boyfriend Ian. Then the anticipated hot m/m/f scene, Dylan grabs a raincoat but not Sam...?
And she's rather inexperienced and never had a true orgasm but she's deep throating like a champ.
Ummm, okay?
Then comes the misunderstanding with a splash of drama. By this point, I was done.
I read 99% rainbow themed books these days....and this was a stark reminder why.
I like opposites attract.
I like enemy to lovers.
I was CERTAIN I would like this, hopefully love it.
I...did not.
*sad face*
It sucks not jiving with a book by someone you adore.
April 29, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. I nearly read it in one sitting! It is a contemporary romance with a heroine I totally fell for. Eddie is smart, occasionally a little cranky and trying hard to grow up and deal with her shit under trying circumstances. As you do. The hero, Sam, is a bit of a grump - which is just how I like my heroes and he cooks. There is loads of banter, arguing and lovely tension. The story was just right and I found it seriously sex positive, which was so good to read. There were some secondary characters I'd like to see more of too, and I am cannot wait for more. So good! Go read it now!!!
Want to read
January 7, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (1/7/2018)! 💝
May 21, 2017
DNF 32%. Darn it - I often enjoy stuff by this author and I enjoy m/f, but her heroine is unappealing (see below), the hero is too fabulous for reality, their first sex scene together didn't make sense, and they are younger than I prefer at only 22 and 26.
Details:
The heroine is supposedly a musical prodigy. Yet, we barely see her practice or think about music, or in a musical way, and when she does practice it goes so badly she worries she may not make first string in the college orchestra.
She is a vegetarian but dives into a plate of meaty stew in a heartbeat because it smells good.
She has incredibly expensive possessions including gold watches, silk dresses, and a Stradivarius, yet never considers pawning or selling any of them to make financial ends meet. In fact she throws away an expensive camisole.
She hates sex with her boyfriend (a man with a "thin dick" but zero positive qualities) but keeps on having it with him. She loathes the wine her boyfriend orders for her, but keeps in gulping it down.
Her father has just been publicly humiliated by going bankrupt in a splashy (but legal) manner, but she does not think of him for an instant or provide any emotional support whatsoever.
Annoyingly, when the heroine is down and out, everyone goes out of their way to save her. A cabbie gladly gives her a free ride. A cafe owner comes outside of his cafe to bring her hot tea and cosset her until she agrees to eat for free. A busy cafe manager gives her a job despite her being slow, inexperienced and late to work. Her flatmate stocks the fridge with free food for her, spends hours researching educational grants on her behalf and then loans her lecture notes for copying despite being ethically against such a thing. (Why is the world so nice to this idiotic, selfish girl? IDK.)
And, in the meantime, as I said, the hero is so very perfect in every way, it's hard to imagine him existing.
I kept at the book because I was trapped on a plane. Yet, when the heroine invited the hero who is HER NEW BOSS into her flat late at night to launch into a heavy sex scene after she's been totally exhausted physically and mentally by her first week of work, I tapped out. No, no, nope.
Details:
The heroine is supposedly a musical prodigy. Yet, we barely see her practice or think about music, or in a musical way, and when she does practice it goes so badly she worries she may not make first string in the college orchestra.
She is a vegetarian but dives into a plate of meaty stew in a heartbeat because it smells good.
She has incredibly expensive possessions including gold watches, silk dresses, and a Stradivarius, yet never considers pawning or selling any of them to make financial ends meet. In fact she throws away an expensive camisole.
She hates sex with her boyfriend (a man with a "thin dick" but zero positive qualities) but keeps on having it with him. She loathes the wine her boyfriend orders for her, but keeps in gulping it down.
Her father has just been publicly humiliated by going bankrupt in a splashy (but legal) manner, but she does not think of him for an instant or provide any emotional support whatsoever.
Annoyingly, when the heroine is down and out, everyone goes out of their way to save her. A cabbie gladly gives her a free ride. A cafe owner comes outside of his cafe to bring her hot tea and cosset her until she agrees to eat for free. A busy cafe manager gives her a job despite her being slow, inexperienced and late to work. Her flatmate stocks the fridge with free food for her, spends hours researching educational grants on her behalf and then loans her lecture notes for copying despite being ethically against such a thing. (Why is the world so nice to this idiotic, selfish girl? IDK.)
And, in the meantime, as I said, the hero is so very perfect in every way, it's hard to imagine him existing.
I kept at the book because I was trapped on a plane. Yet, when the heroine invited the hero who is HER NEW BOSS into her flat late at night to launch into a heavy sex scene after she's been totally exhausted physically and mentally by her first week of work, I tapped out. No, no, nope.
Read
May 9, 2017DNF at 72% therefore no rating.
Review to come soon, but this just was not for me.
Review to come soon, but this just was not for me.
Read
January 10, 2022Definitely gonna have to check out Dylan's book next!
May 2, 2017
I didn't expect any less from Garrett, or in this case Gracie :) I COULDN'T put it down, it was BEAUTIFUL, though naturally HIGHLY emotional - wanted to smack both MCs in the head too many times to count but I still LOVED it to pieces. So it's a girl meets a boy, not Garrett's usual boy meets boy, for me, it made no difference I loved it nevertheless and besides we DO get one scorching HOT scene with another guy so.. yeah..
Eddie Dean life seemed perfect from the outside. Rich, talented violin player studying in the best music school, a beautiful boyfriend. Yep, the life.. and yet besides the musical part it all comes crashing down when her father loses all his money. Penny-less she needs to figure out how to keep her life together with no help from her parents. Two people come to her help - the first being Arthur Novak, the owner of a small cafe near her house. He offers her tea and breakfast and she asks for a job. For the first time in her life she needs to have one in order to keep her life together. The second to offer her help and friendship is her flatmate Martha. While they never been truly friends before but Martha has so much love and care to offer, not to mention she helps Eddie figure it all out, ask for loan and offers little help she can in their daily lives. Without these two Eddie wouldn't have been able to have ANYTHING. But the one to steal her heart is no other than the grumpy Sam Novak, Arthur's grandson who works the cafe much more than his kind grandfather does.
This whole story is told from Eddie's POV and though at times I REALLY wanted to know what the hell Sam was thinking I don't think we truly needed it. He would have been a growling mesh as it is hehe. It was a little hard to like Sam, no wonder it took Eddie time.. but with attraction they both didn't have ANY problem. While her relationship with Ian (her not even boyfriend) lasted quite a long while, it was all for a show Eddie realized she has no desire to play anymore, or rather she needed real desire and she couldn't find it in the self absorbed Ian. Sam is obnoxious, grumpy, assuming and generally not a fun guy to be around (when he isn't sexually pleasuring Eddie..) yet somehow he DOES grow on Eddie (and yeah, on me as well), because when his true self shows we can see there's actually a good guy somewhere under the surface. Yet every time each of them makes a "wrong turn" the other makes a HUGE scene out of it. They both assume enough about the other, coming from different worlds. If not for Arthur and Dylan (Sam's best friend) mendling a little I don't think Sam and Eddie would have found their way to each other.
I really enjoyed this one. Though it was an emotional rollercoaster, it was also very satisfying to see how Eddie took back HER life and accomplished so much with belief and new found friendships. She would never have her old life back, but it didn't really show that she was missing it. I'm sure Sam and Eddie would find their way to happiness that lasts with mutual care and love for one another, a kind so very different than the one she saw at home. I believe in both of them, too stubborn to let their wishes taken from them and too passionate with each other and toward to world to let any dream slip their grasp.
Another GREAT book by Garrett Leigh, this time using the pen name Gracie Leigh (for a MF title). I've loved all of her books so there was really no reason for this book to be any different.
More Reviews HERE
Eddie Dean life seemed perfect from the outside. Rich, talented violin player studying in the best music school, a beautiful boyfriend. Yep, the life.. and yet besides the musical part it all comes crashing down when her father loses all his money. Penny-less she needs to figure out how to keep her life together with no help from her parents. Two people come to her help - the first being Arthur Novak, the owner of a small cafe near her house. He offers her tea and breakfast and she asks for a job. For the first time in her life she needs to have one in order to keep her life together. The second to offer her help and friendship is her flatmate Martha. While they never been truly friends before but Martha has so much love and care to offer, not to mention she helps Eddie figure it all out, ask for loan and offers little help she can in their daily lives. Without these two Eddie wouldn't have been able to have ANYTHING. But the one to steal her heart is no other than the grumpy Sam Novak, Arthur's grandson who works the cafe much more than his kind grandfather does.
This whole story is told from Eddie's POV and though at times I REALLY wanted to know what the hell Sam was thinking I don't think we truly needed it. He would have been a growling mesh as it is hehe. It was a little hard to like Sam, no wonder it took Eddie time.. but with attraction they both didn't have ANY problem. While her relationship with Ian (her not even boyfriend) lasted quite a long while, it was all for a show Eddie realized she has no desire to play anymore, or rather she needed real desire and she couldn't find it in the self absorbed Ian. Sam is obnoxious, grumpy, assuming and generally not a fun guy to be around (when he isn't sexually pleasuring Eddie..) yet somehow he DOES grow on Eddie (and yeah, on me as well), because when his true self shows we can see there's actually a good guy somewhere under the surface. Yet every time each of them makes a "wrong turn" the other makes a HUGE scene out of it. They both assume enough about the other, coming from different worlds. If not for Arthur and Dylan (Sam's best friend) mendling a little I don't think Sam and Eddie would have found their way to each other.
I really enjoyed this one. Though it was an emotional rollercoaster, it was also very satisfying to see how Eddie took back HER life and accomplished so much with belief and new found friendships. She would never have her old life back, but it didn't really show that she was missing it. I'm sure Sam and Eddie would find their way to happiness that lasts with mutual care and love for one another, a kind so very different than the one she saw at home. I believe in both of them, too stubborn to let their wishes taken from them and too passionate with each other and toward to world to let any dream slip their grasp.
Another GREAT book by Garrett Leigh, this time using the pen name Gracie Leigh (for a MF title). I've loved all of her books so there was really no reason for this book to be any different.
More Reviews HERE
November 22, 2017
*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*
The first non-gay romance contemporary book by Gracie Leigh (aka known as Garreth Leigh) was really awesome and I was hooked from the first page.
With Eddie the reader has a heroine who isn’t the shy, hesitant girl you are maybe well aware of other books. She is coming from a wealthy home but her money and lifestyle is soon vanished when her father reveals he is broke and can’t pay her bills anymore.
The way how Eddie and Sam met isn’t a perfect start, and both share a long time mixed feelings. The sexual attraction is there but the lovely feelings are just growing hesitantly and also a bit reluctantly.
Sam is a character you have a bit trouble to read. He is grumpy, makes faces and isn’t really charming towards Eddie – truth to be told he hasn’t any need in that the way she acted in the beginning and because of her purpose to work. Eddie is working in the café of Sam’s grandfather after he had mercy and sympathy with her. Mr Novak is a really nice guy but several times as grumpy as his grandson. :) The polish heritage of the two guys is nice entwinded in the story and sometimes the book feels cozy and domestic. :)
As I mentioned Sam isn’t a really charming hero so the romance you are maybe waiting for is very, very slow burning but… alas, those stories are the sweetest, right? ;)
It is really awesome how fast Sam and Eddie capture your hearts, at least they have a place in my heart. I like Eddie because she is fierce although she comes from a wealthy home and haven’t worked a single day before EVER but reality soon hits and she has to find her way. So, the book is partly a self-discovery for Eddie and she learns to achieve her own place in the society. :)
As I said the sexual tension is there between the two main character and I was thrilled when Eddie wasn’t reacting like a typical romance heroine when she was in bed with Sam. She is showing what she wants, she is self-confident and takes what she needs. :) Sam is her perfect counterpart, sexually and on a personal level.
The one scene with Dylan is also one which reveals a lot of the two main character and is – I won’t spoiler – hot as hell. ❤
The book has sweet parts, the romance isn’t cheesy or over the top, it’s more slow burning but there, of course. Sam and Eddie have different hard times to endure and spiked and spiced up with their attraction towards each other they are an explosive mixture.
5 out of 5 stars for this. Great non-gay romance debut by Gracie Leigh aka Garreth Leigh.
Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words
The first non-gay romance contemporary book by Gracie Leigh (aka known as Garreth Leigh) was really awesome and I was hooked from the first page.
With Eddie the reader has a heroine who isn’t the shy, hesitant girl you are maybe well aware of other books. She is coming from a wealthy home but her money and lifestyle is soon vanished when her father reveals he is broke and can’t pay her bills anymore.
The way how Eddie and Sam met isn’t a perfect start, and both share a long time mixed feelings. The sexual attraction is there but the lovely feelings are just growing hesitantly and also a bit reluctantly.
Sam is a character you have a bit trouble to read. He is grumpy, makes faces and isn’t really charming towards Eddie – truth to be told he hasn’t any need in that the way she acted in the beginning and because of her purpose to work. Eddie is working in the café of Sam’s grandfather after he had mercy and sympathy with her. Mr Novak is a really nice guy but several times as grumpy as his grandson. :) The polish heritage of the two guys is nice entwinded in the story and sometimes the book feels cozy and domestic. :)
As I mentioned Sam isn’t a really charming hero so the romance you are maybe waiting for is very, very slow burning but… alas, those stories are the sweetest, right? ;)
It is really awesome how fast Sam and Eddie capture your hearts, at least they have a place in my heart. I like Eddie because she is fierce although she comes from a wealthy home and haven’t worked a single day before EVER but reality soon hits and she has to find her way. So, the book is partly a self-discovery for Eddie and she learns to achieve her own place in the society. :)
As I said the sexual tension is there between the two main character and I was thrilled when Eddie wasn’t reacting like a typical romance heroine when she was in bed with Sam. She is showing what she wants, she is self-confident and takes what she needs. :) Sam is her perfect counterpart, sexually and on a personal level.
The one scene with Dylan is also one which reveals a lot of the two main character and is – I won’t spoiler – hot as hell. ❤
The book has sweet parts, the romance isn’t cheesy or over the top, it’s more slow burning but there, of course. Sam and Eddie have different hard times to endure and spiked and spiced up with their attraction towards each other they are an explosive mixture.
5 out of 5 stars for this. Great non-gay romance debut by Gracie Leigh aka Garreth Leigh.
Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words
May 1, 2017
I love a book that has you jump smack dab into the crazy lives of the main characters. What Matters grabs your attention from page one and keeps you turning page after page. As Eddie's pampered and charmed existence comes crashing down, we go on her journey of growing up, getting a grip and meeting her match. She has spirit, talent and a mouth that rarely holds back. Sam, oh growly sexy Sam. I must admit I questioned whether he'd get a grip and open up to Eddie. I wasn't disappointed. I loved their back and forth while they tried to keep their heads above water and find a bright spot in their chaotic lives. The heat between them was amazing and the special moment, was a yummy cherry on top. I will definitely read more from Gracie Leigh!
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September 19, 2022What I can always count on with this author when I begin one of their books is I am going to get complicated characters. Characters that are going to make mistakes, put themselves in harm's way and sometimes even do things that make me want to give them a mother’s tap on the back of their heads. But they are real characters, not just ink on a page, they live and breathe and are human. That's what makes me adore this author's work and what ultimately sets it aside from the rest.
While this is a sub-genre departure from the usual Garrett Leigh, it's not so far removed that the essence of what makes a Garrett Leigh book is absent. Sure, we have a woman lead in this book but Eddie still fits the complicated and complex role that she fits right in with all the others in the Leigh Universe.
Now speaking of Eddie. I like that the book begins with us being thrown straight into her drama and turmoil. She's a young woman, a university student who plays violin and who depends on her father for financial assistance. The book opens with Eddie's dad going bankrupt and Eddie falling down a hole of WTF am I supposed to do now? It's not unheard of that young people rely on their parents for financial support going through school and that many of them (my step son included) didn't have to do anything for money until they were absolutely forced to. So reading that Eddie was a novice at working didn't faze me. But now that she knows she needs to fend for herself, Eddie grasps at the reins of an opportunity that presents itself when she ends up in Jimmy's Cafe after a night of bad sex and not knowing what comes next.
Let's just take a moment to acknowledge the food in this book. Again, a signature of the authors work is food and how hungry their work can make you while reading. The life of anyone in the food industry is always a welcome and real aspect of their books and I always look forward to it. Also on a personal note, whenever a character states they don't eat meat, I get a happy grin.
Back to Eddie. Eddie who needs money. Eddie who has a boyfriend who is awful in bed.
***Side bar: Ugh. Ian. I have to mention him because he is Eddie's boyfriend when we begin but he was just so not...not anything really. I feel bad saying that but yeah. Ian was not.***
Anyway, Eddie who is 22 and lost. I liked Eddie. She is flawed but think back to the decisions you made at 22, go ahead I’ll wait for the cringe to fall from your face. Yeah. 22 was fun, eh? But she’s doing her best and when we meet the handsome man with the bedroom eyes that she is now working for aka Sam. Things start to heat up and I’m not just the temperature in the kitchen.
Sam, my man. You gruff dude with a slight chip on your shoulder. You my dear had me spinning from the jump. You’re a jerk and yet you do things like take care of your grandparents. You kiss like your life depends on it but you also tell the woman you’re with she annoys you but you’d sleep with her anyway. You’re competent, confident and crass and I craved to read your name on the page. When I found out your medical history, all your moods sort of made sense. Sort of. What am I saying, I’d probably forgive you for a lot.
“I don’t like you.”
Eddie smiled. “I don’t like you either.”
“So why am I here?”
“You tell me.”
Goodness, even the early push and pull between Sam and Eddie was delicious. I love that he shows vulnerability right away and that Eddie sees more than his grumpy side.
Dylan. Where oh where did you come from and are we going to get more of you? (I just realized we DO get more of you in your own mm novel). Not saying we didn’t get *ahem* a lot of you in this book but you dear sir deserve more on page time. I loved your friendship with Sam and how easily you fell in step with Eddie. And then stepped in WITH Eddie and Sam. What can I say, the three of you were hot and Eddie I’m jealous. I really should have stopped at that scene and not listened at work because a fair skinned ginger without a poker face is kind of a dead giveaway but there was no way I was going to stop after Eddie gave the green light.
Goodness am I rambling? It’s been a long time since I’ve done that. Guess that means the book was good, eh? It was good.
The narration was perfect! Chloe De Burgh delivered this story with the detailed professionalism that made this an easy listen. There are times when listening to romance with on page sex that can make me feel like a preteen watching something I shouldn’t; you know – shame and embarrassment, but De Burgh delivered this flawlessly and every word was simply part of the story.
What Matters is an aptly titled romance between two characters who really find out what matters most to them when they are thrust together and life and in love. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the romance of Sam and Eddie.
*audible provided by the author via their facebook group*
While this is a sub-genre departure from the usual Garrett Leigh, it's not so far removed that the essence of what makes a Garrett Leigh book is absent. Sure, we have a woman lead in this book but Eddie still fits the complicated and complex role that she fits right in with all the others in the Leigh Universe.
Now speaking of Eddie. I like that the book begins with us being thrown straight into her drama and turmoil. She's a young woman, a university student who plays violin and who depends on her father for financial assistance. The book opens with Eddie's dad going bankrupt and Eddie falling down a hole of WTF am I supposed to do now? It's not unheard of that young people rely on their parents for financial support going through school and that many of them (my step son included) didn't have to do anything for money until they were absolutely forced to. So reading that Eddie was a novice at working didn't faze me. But now that she knows she needs to fend for herself, Eddie grasps at the reins of an opportunity that presents itself when she ends up in Jimmy's Cafe after a night of bad sex and not knowing what comes next.
Let's just take a moment to acknowledge the food in this book. Again, a signature of the authors work is food and how hungry their work can make you while reading. The life of anyone in the food industry is always a welcome and real aspect of their books and I always look forward to it. Also on a personal note, whenever a character states they don't eat meat, I get a happy grin.
Back to Eddie. Eddie who needs money. Eddie who has a boyfriend who is awful in bed.
***Side bar: Ugh. Ian. I have to mention him because he is Eddie's boyfriend when we begin but he was just so not...not anything really. I feel bad saying that but yeah. Ian was not.***
Anyway, Eddie who is 22 and lost. I liked Eddie. She is flawed but think back to the decisions you made at 22, go ahead I’ll wait for the cringe to fall from your face. Yeah. 22 was fun, eh? But she’s doing her best and when we meet the handsome man with the bedroom eyes that she is now working for aka Sam. Things start to heat up and I’m not just the temperature in the kitchen.
Sam, my man. You gruff dude with a slight chip on your shoulder. You my dear had me spinning from the jump. You’re a jerk and yet you do things like take care of your grandparents. You kiss like your life depends on it but you also tell the woman you’re with she annoys you but you’d sleep with her anyway. You’re competent, confident and crass and I craved to read your name on the page. When I found out your medical history, all your moods sort of made sense. Sort of. What am I saying, I’d probably forgive you for a lot.
“I don’t like you.”
Eddie smiled. “I don’t like you either.”
“So why am I here?”
“You tell me.”
Goodness, even the early push and pull between Sam and Eddie was delicious. I love that he shows vulnerability right away and that Eddie sees more than his grumpy side.
Dylan. Where oh where did you come from and are we going to get more of you? (I just realized we DO get more of you in your own mm novel). Not saying we didn’t get *ahem* a lot of you in this book but you dear sir deserve more on page time. I loved your friendship with Sam and how easily you fell in step with Eddie. And then stepped in WITH Eddie and Sam. What can I say, the three of you were hot and Eddie I’m jealous. I really should have stopped at that scene and not listened at work because a fair skinned ginger without a poker face is kind of a dead giveaway but there was no way I was going to stop after Eddie gave the green light.
Goodness am I rambling? It’s been a long time since I’ve done that. Guess that means the book was good, eh? It was good.
The narration was perfect! Chloe De Burgh delivered this story with the detailed professionalism that made this an easy listen. There are times when listening to romance with on page sex that can make me feel like a preteen watching something I shouldn’t; you know – shame and embarrassment, but De Burgh delivered this flawlessly and every word was simply part of the story.
What Matters is an aptly titled romance between two characters who really find out what matters most to them when they are thrust together and life and in love. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the romance of Sam and Eddie.
*audible provided by the author via their facebook group*
September 29, 2022
Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5
A bit different for this author but I loved it.
My husband and I enjoyed listening to this audiobook while we were on a road trip. I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Garrett Leigh, including one other M/F book. Eddie’s (Edwina) secure life at university blows up when her father goes bankrupt. She gets a job doing the last thing she ever thought she’d do – working in a café where she meets the owner’s grandson, Sam.
I like that the story showed Eddie’s growth from a spoiled rich girl to someone who becomes proud of earning her own way. Sam is a bit of a jerk but he and Eddie seem to communicate best when they are snarking with each other and I can relate to that. 😊
Sam is a Type-I diabetic and that was probably some of the reason for his being a jerk at times. Many people may not realize how much blood sugar levels can affect a diabetic’s personality. Sam’s management of his diabetes was an integral part of the story and I felt that it was portrayed very realistically.
There’s an interesting (and HOT) scene with Eddie, Sam and Sam’s BFF, Dylan, that didn’t exactly fit into the story line but that was OK with me because I like 🔥🔥🔥. 😊
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request and my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5
A bit different for this author but I loved it.
My husband and I enjoyed listening to this audiobook while we were on a road trip. I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Garrett Leigh, including one other M/F book. Eddie’s (Edwina) secure life at university blows up when her father goes bankrupt. She gets a job doing the last thing she ever thought she’d do – working in a café where she meets the owner’s grandson, Sam.
I like that the story showed Eddie’s growth from a spoiled rich girl to someone who becomes proud of earning her own way. Sam is a bit of a jerk but he and Eddie seem to communicate best when they are snarking with each other and I can relate to that. 😊
Sam is a Type-I diabetic and that was probably some of the reason for his being a jerk at times. Many people may not realize how much blood sugar levels can affect a diabetic’s personality. Sam’s management of his diabetes was an integral part of the story and I felt that it was portrayed very realistically.
There’s an interesting (and HOT) scene with Eddie, Sam and Sam’s BFF, Dylan, that didn’t exactly fit into the story line but that was OK with me because I like 🔥🔥🔥. 😊
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request and my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
January 3, 2021
Really enjoyed this one. I’ve only ever read Ms. Leigh’s MM stories. Those always tear me up. What Matter wasn’t a gut wrencher but it had just enjoy angst to keep it from being a light, fluffy bit of nothing. Sam and Eddie were great. Loved the addition of Dylan and I see he gets his own book. YAY!!! This definitely hit the spot for a Saturday night read.
Stars: 3.5
Stars: 3.5
May 5, 2017
Loved
This was my first book by this author & I fell in love from the beginning. I loved the love/hate relationship dynamic between Eddie & Sam. And the other characters were genius.
This was my first book by this author & I fell in love from the beginning. I loved the love/hate relationship dynamic between Eddie & Sam. And the other characters were genius.
May 4, 2017
3.5 stars. This was good.
June 6, 2017
I really enjoyed this Contemporary Romance by Gracie Leigh.
Full review coming soon.
Full review coming soon.
May 5, 2017
So I just finished this book and I’m sitting here trying to decide if it’s terrible or brilliant. Eddie and Sam - these two knuckleheads, oh who am I kidding, let’s call it as it is. These two ASSHOLES annoyed the shit out of me the majority of the book and to be honest, if this had been a new-to-me author and I didn’t love the side characters so much I might have DNF’d it. However, I’m going to give it the higher rating because any book that draws this much of a reaction out of me, no matter how much I can’t stand the MCs, must be good writing.
A quick aside - there is mention of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending which I absolutely adore (almost as much as Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis) so I am listening to it while I write this review. My musical roots are steeped in heavy metal which is mentioned in the book as well thanks to Sam’s love for the head banging stuff but I figured the classical would be much nicer to write to. :)
This is an enemies to lovers, opposites attract story which is usually my jam BUT Eddie is an entitled, privileged bitch most of the time and I just could not relate to her. Even early on when I saw glimpses of a changed woman, she would snap back to her irrational and indignant ways. If that wasn’t bad enough, although I liked Sam’s sarcasm, he also had his moments of being a total dick so between the two of them I was exhausted from their miscommunication and fighting. I had to constantly remind myself that these two are still very young and that Eddie wouldn’t change overnight so it was going to be a work in progress for her. I just couldn’t help but feel that this is why I switched from reading M/F to M/M so many years ago and I wanted to be proven wrong so badly. I will say that as annoyed as I was with Eddie, I did appreciate her willingness to work towards her independence and to not seek out a man who could save her. That would’ve been a giant NOPE for me so I was pleased the story didn’t go that way.
What saved me from bailing completely was Eddie’s flatmate and friend Martha, and Sam’s father Artur. I have no idea why Martha would stick around and take the constant abuse from Eddie. Eddie takes her for granted and is quick to bark at her before really listening and I just couldn’t see how anyone would put up with that. She is clearly a better person than me for constantly looking past the neglect and seeing the good in Eddie. Artur was the lovable, grumpy old man who doesn’t take slack from anyone and that always works for me because I’m a total sucker for bickering banter.
I did like Sam’s best mate Dylan too and I wouldn’t mind reading more of his story but in this book the evening he spends with E & S felt more like an advertisement for the author’s M/M books than something that might’ve happened naturally. On top of that, Eddie’s fantasy of seeing two men get it on, which is mentioned a few times, started to sound more like the fetishization of gay sex than something that she really wanted in her own relationship. I mean, I’m all for open relationships but it felt forced and that made it awkward.
What I realized in the end is that there is enormous character growth and even though it was frustrating as hell, it was worth the trip to get to the HEA, or at least HFN because when E & S finally got on the same page it gave me all the happy, warm fuzzies. They might not be the type of characters I would normally want to read about but it was nonetheless a very good story.
A quick aside - there is mention of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending which I absolutely adore (almost as much as Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis) so I am listening to it while I write this review. My musical roots are steeped in heavy metal which is mentioned in the book as well thanks to Sam’s love for the head banging stuff but I figured the classical would be much nicer to write to. :)
This is an enemies to lovers, opposites attract story which is usually my jam BUT Eddie is an entitled, privileged bitch most of the time and I just could not relate to her. Even early on when I saw glimpses of a changed woman, she would snap back to her irrational and indignant ways. If that wasn’t bad enough, although I liked Sam’s sarcasm, he also had his moments of being a total dick so between the two of them I was exhausted from their miscommunication and fighting. I had to constantly remind myself that these two are still very young and that Eddie wouldn’t change overnight so it was going to be a work in progress for her. I just couldn’t help but feel that this is why I switched from reading M/F to M/M so many years ago and I wanted to be proven wrong so badly. I will say that as annoyed as I was with Eddie, I did appreciate her willingness to work towards her independence and to not seek out a man who could save her. That would’ve been a giant NOPE for me so I was pleased the story didn’t go that way.
What saved me from bailing completely was Eddie’s flatmate and friend Martha, and Sam’s father Artur. I have no idea why Martha would stick around and take the constant abuse from Eddie. Eddie takes her for granted and is quick to bark at her before really listening and I just couldn’t see how anyone would put up with that. She is clearly a better person than me for constantly looking past the neglect and seeing the good in Eddie. Artur was the lovable, grumpy old man who doesn’t take slack from anyone and that always works for me because I’m a total sucker for bickering banter.
I did like Sam’s best mate Dylan too and I wouldn’t mind reading more of his story but in this book the evening he spends with E & S felt more like an advertisement for the author’s M/M books than something that might’ve happened naturally. On top of that, Eddie’s fantasy of seeing two men get it on, which is mentioned a few times, started to sound more like the fetishization of gay sex than something that she really wanted in her own relationship. I mean, I’m all for open relationships but it felt forced and that made it awkward.
What I realized in the end is that there is enormous character growth and even though it was frustrating as hell, it was worth the trip to get to the HEA, or at least HFN because when E & S finally got on the same page it gave me all the happy, warm fuzzies. They might not be the type of characters I would normally want to read about but it was nonetheless a very good story.
May 10, 2017
The imposter in the kitchen laughed, and in any other circumstances, in any other man, the sound would’ve been glorious – deep and rich. “Dear God. Pops promised he’d take someone on, but he never said it would be some prissy rich kid. Jesus Christ. Are you serious?” ~ What Matters, by Gracie Leigh
I’m a sucker for a great opposites-attract story, and Gracie Leigh nails the trope perfectly with What Matters.
Gracie Leigh, I should add, is the new pen-name of the ultra-talented M/M romance novelist, Garrett Leigh. I’ve been reading Ms Leigh’s gay romances for a few years, and gobbling them up as soon as they are published. When she announced that she was also writing contemp M/F fiction, I didn’t hesitate to grab a copy.
Back to the story. Eddie (Edwina) is twenty-two years old, a student at the prestigious Goldsmiths University, and has the world at her feet. Her music studies are going brilliantly, and her wealthy parents pick up all her bills. Cabs are her preferred mode of transport, and her Stradivarius violin would probably be worth more than my house. All this changes with one phone call. Her father is declared bankrupt. If she wants to stay at University, she needs to find a student loan, and if she wants to stay in her flat, she needs to find a job.
Her boyfriend is beyond useless, and she knows she’ll get no help from him. As her world crashes around her ears, she winds up drinking tea in a greasy-spoon café, and taking a job there. Waiting tables and helping in the kitchen – how hard can it be? Yep. It’s tough. And it’s not made any easier by the resident cook / manager, Sam. He runs the café alongside his grandfather, and he’s the one that Eddie has to spend the most time with.
He infuriates her with his sarcasm and couldn’t-give-a-shit attitude, and she can’t decide if she likes him or hates him – and so it begins.
The story is told entirely from Eddie’s POV, and I liked seeing Sam, and his world, through her eyes. It’s sexy too, with an unexpectedly HOT scene in the middle * fans myself *
When I read a Garrett Leigh book, there are certain things I look for, and I was delighted to see them in this first Gracie Leigh book too:
- character depth – even though we only see through Eddie’s eyes, she paints a clear picture of Sam
- angst – yup; plenty of that
- no quick fixes – Ms Leigh makes them work hard
- believable flaws – to say Sam is suspicious of Eddie’s motives is the understatement of the century!
- delicious hero – Sam is definitely swoon-worthy
It was a delightful, intense read, and I hope Ms Leigh has more lined up. Maybe one with Sam’s fun-loving best friend Dylan? That would be good * nods head *
Four glowing stars :-)
**I received this book for free from the publisher or author to facilitate an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
May 11, 2017
*3.5 stars*
When I learned that Lamda Award winner and one of my favorite MM authors, Garrett Leigh, was going to try her hand at writing a contemporary MF book I was beyond excited. Garrett's books are always packed full of memorable characters with compelling story lines and after reading the blurb for What Matters, I knew I had to read it. I'm glad I did as there were many things to like about the book.
I will admit though that it took me a little bit to like the main characters Eddie (short for Edwina) and Sam, but once I became invested, I was all in. Eddie Dean is a spoiled little rich girl that learns how sheltered she's been once her father suffers a severe financial setback. She's set to lose her place at a prestigious music school, her cushy apartment, and finds herself in desperate need of a job. Fate steps in and she winds up at Jimmy's Cafe working for the first time in her life at a job she has no idea how to perform. In the beginning this goes about as well as you'd expect, not helped at all by the presence of Sam Novak, asshole extraordinaire. And when I say asshole, boy is he ever, and not one of those nice ones with a hidden soft center either. Nope, Sam is harsh and cold and it took me a long time to see much that was redeeming in the man.
That being said, I enjoyed watching Eddie grow as a character. She changed from someone being served everything she wanted on a silver platter to being proud of herself for accomplishing even the smallest of things on her own. And yes, as the book proceeds and Eddie and Sam begin their relationship she softens Sam up enough that he became mostly likable. Their relationship, especially the sexual side, was a bit hard to get behind though. And I definitely had a few cringe-worthy moments reading the sex scenes. Not because they weren't well written because, after all this is Gracie (Garrett) Leigh we're talking about and the woman can write anything like the master she is, but because their first time having sex Sam asks Eddie if she's on the pill, she says yes, and he foregoes a condom. I'm sorry, what? These two barely know one another and already there's no condom? Ugh, no. There were some hot and steamy parts, the threesome with Dylan for sure, but it still all felt a bit forced.
All in all I will say I'm delighted to see Garrett spread her wings and give MF a try. For her first attempt, she wrote a story that definitely shows her talent and I hope she continues to try new things. Do yourselves a favor and check out What Matters then proceed to read ALL her other stuff as well. I know you'll be blown away by just how brilliant a writer she is.
*this review will also be posted on www.prettysassycool.com*
When I learned that Lamda Award winner and one of my favorite MM authors, Garrett Leigh, was going to try her hand at writing a contemporary MF book I was beyond excited. Garrett's books are always packed full of memorable characters with compelling story lines and after reading the blurb for What Matters, I knew I had to read it. I'm glad I did as there were many things to like about the book.
I will admit though that it took me a little bit to like the main characters Eddie (short for Edwina) and Sam, but once I became invested, I was all in. Eddie Dean is a spoiled little rich girl that learns how sheltered she's been once her father suffers a severe financial setback. She's set to lose her place at a prestigious music school, her cushy apartment, and finds herself in desperate need of a job. Fate steps in and she winds up at Jimmy's Cafe working for the first time in her life at a job she has no idea how to perform. In the beginning this goes about as well as you'd expect, not helped at all by the presence of Sam Novak, asshole extraordinaire. And when I say asshole, boy is he ever, and not one of those nice ones with a hidden soft center either. Nope, Sam is harsh and cold and it took me a long time to see much that was redeeming in the man.
That being said, I enjoyed watching Eddie grow as a character. She changed from someone being served everything she wanted on a silver platter to being proud of herself for accomplishing even the smallest of things on her own. And yes, as the book proceeds and Eddie and Sam begin their relationship she softens Sam up enough that he became mostly likable. Their relationship, especially the sexual side, was a bit hard to get behind though. And I definitely had a few cringe-worthy moments reading the sex scenes. Not because they weren't well written because, after all this is Gracie (Garrett) Leigh we're talking about and the woman can write anything like the master she is, but because their first time having sex Sam asks Eddie if she's on the pill, she says yes, and he foregoes a condom. I'm sorry, what? These two barely know one another and already there's no condom? Ugh, no. There were some hot and steamy parts, the threesome with Dylan for sure, but it still all felt a bit forced.
All in all I will say I'm delighted to see Garrett spread her wings and give MF a try. For her first attempt, she wrote a story that definitely shows her talent and I hope she continues to try new things. Do yourselves a favor and check out What Matters then proceed to read ALL her other stuff as well. I know you'll be blown away by just how brilliant a writer she is.
*this review will also be posted on www.prettysassycool.com*
May 10, 2017
Tumultuous, sexy and delightful
Full review:
“He’s an enigma, but I kind of like that, when he’s not being a total dick about it.”
Now, how to start this review? Wait, I have it.
There is having a chip on your shoulder and then there is Eddie.
Or…
There’s having a chip on your shoulder and then there is Sam.
In a world where opposites often attract, these two might as well be mirror images of each other when it comes to attitude and a smart mouth, even if their backgrounds couldn’t be more different. From the very first moment Eddie and Sam meet they exchange insults as if they’re going out of fashion. And yet, there’s no denying the attraction between them.
Of course, giving in to that attraction doesn’t mean they suddenly undergo a personality transplant and as good as they are together, not to mention incredibly sexy, they can’t get away from misinterpreting each other and constantly saying and assuming the worst. Every time I thought that now, at last, they’d figured out that maybe they ought to talk to each other, and maybe take the time to think before opening their mouths they’d be at it again and thus lengthen their game of push and pull.
To be honest, there were one or two things in this book that would have made me unhappy in the hands of a lesser author. I don’t usually have a lot of time for stories in which the source of all problems is the protagonists’ refusal to actually talk to each other. And I have even less time (both in real life and in my stories) for people who ignore others when they try to connect.
Sam and Eddie, being who they are, did both those things as a matter of course but much to my surprise it didn’t annoy me. The main reason for that is the quality of the story telling. In this book, with these characters, it just made sense that they would bounce off each other in the way they did. And I can’t deny that their verbal fights made me laugh more often than frown. And of course, Eddie is young, and her life has just been turned on its head, so it was easy to forgive her for not always reacting in a level-headed way.
I’m delighted that Eddie didn’t turn into a whimpering fool as soon as she was robbed of all the creature comforts she’d been accustomed to. Just as I admired the realistic way in which Sam’s health issue was dealt with. And of course there was Dylan…sighs…Dylan. If he doesn’t get a story of his own I may have to have harsh words with the author.
Overall What Matters was a captivating, very well written, sexy, and ultimately endearing story. I really hope this won’t be the last we hear from Gracie Leigh.
Full review:
“He’s an enigma, but I kind of like that, when he’s not being a total dick about it.”
Now, how to start this review? Wait, I have it.
There is having a chip on your shoulder and then there is Eddie.
Or…
There’s having a chip on your shoulder and then there is Sam.
In a world where opposites often attract, these two might as well be mirror images of each other when it comes to attitude and a smart mouth, even if their backgrounds couldn’t be more different. From the very first moment Eddie and Sam meet they exchange insults as if they’re going out of fashion. And yet, there’s no denying the attraction between them.
Of course, giving in to that attraction doesn’t mean they suddenly undergo a personality transplant and as good as they are together, not to mention incredibly sexy, they can’t get away from misinterpreting each other and constantly saying and assuming the worst. Every time I thought that now, at last, they’d figured out that maybe they ought to talk to each other, and maybe take the time to think before opening their mouths they’d be at it again and thus lengthen their game of push and pull.
To be honest, there were one or two things in this book that would have made me unhappy in the hands of a lesser author. I don’t usually have a lot of time for stories in which the source of all problems is the protagonists’ refusal to actually talk to each other. And I have even less time (both in real life and in my stories) for people who ignore others when they try to connect.
Sam and Eddie, being who they are, did both those things as a matter of course but much to my surprise it didn’t annoy me. The main reason for that is the quality of the story telling. In this book, with these characters, it just made sense that they would bounce off each other in the way they did. And I can’t deny that their verbal fights made me laugh more often than frown. And of course, Eddie is young, and her life has just been turned on its head, so it was easy to forgive her for not always reacting in a level-headed way.
I’m delighted that Eddie didn’t turn into a whimpering fool as soon as she was robbed of all the creature comforts she’d been accustomed to. Just as I admired the realistic way in which Sam’s health issue was dealt with. And of course there was Dylan…sighs…Dylan. If he doesn’t get a story of his own I may have to have harsh words with the author.
Overall What Matters was a captivating, very well written, sexy, and ultimately endearing story. I really hope this won’t be the last we hear from Gracie Leigh.
May 17, 2017
Musical prodigy, Eddie Dean, has had a wonderful life, and gets everything she wants. But that all stops one day when she gets a call from her father, telling her that he's broke, and can no longer pay for her life. And that wonderful boyfriend couldn't care less, as it's not about him. She finds herself in front of Jimmy's Cafe, where she lands a job, even though she's never had to work, but serving customers, and washing dishes, no matter how hellish, will help pay her bills, so she grits her teeth. It's not helping that her boss' grandson isn't so nice to her, as he looks at her with disdain, and judgement. And even worse, she feels an attraction to the douche, and can't get him out of her head. Add in his best friend Dylan, and the chaos only gets crazier. It took me a bit to really get into the story at first, but once I warmed up to Eddie, the pages were turned faster, as she really did her best to grow up. Still not sure how I feel about Sam, because he was so awful at the beginning, and I'm not in agreement with some of his questionable choices throughout the story. Then add in Dylan, well, I just didn't feel much connection with him at all. Now that I got that out of the way, I do want to gush about the fiery flames of sexy scene goodness, as no panties will be safe, instead will end up as a pile of ashes. I feel like Gracie Leigh has a talented writing style, so watching her evolve will be fun. She definitely wrote a story with characters living a realistic life, and they were flawed, which I loved. Anyway, I enjoyed this story, and CANNOT WAIT to see what she puts out next!
April 28, 2017
WHAT MATTERS is the 1st book I have read by Gracie Leigh (pseudonym of Garrett Leigh). I heard it is also her 1st M/F book and was recommended to me by a Good Book Buddy. I'm so glad she did!!
Eddie Dean was at 22 living the life with everything she could want given to her. That is till suddenly her stockbroker father went bankrupt. She was in her 3rd year of London's top music school Goldsmith's University and an accomplished violinist. She shared an up scale apartment with her best friend and fellow musician. She had the use of a credit card paid by the generosity of daddy. In one phone call she found her life as she knew it come tumbling down. Eddie was suddenly broke and if she wanted to save herself, she would have to do it on her own. When no one, including her boyfriend, seems to care she finds herself washed up on the doorstep of Jimmy's Cafe. Where an old Polish man named Mr. Novak fed and reluctantly gave her a job.
Scrubbing dishes and serving fried breakfasts to pay her rent, was definitely not something she had seen coming in her future. Eddie's new life was made more hellish by the dislike and distaste shown to her by the new boss's sneering grandson Sam Novak. Instead of quitting, she needs this job, so is determined to prove her worth and win over the arrogant, rude, but oh so handsome Sam.
Eddie Dean was at 22 living the life with everything she could want given to her. That is till suddenly her stockbroker father went bankrupt. She was in her 3rd year of London's top music school Goldsmith's University and an accomplished violinist. She shared an up scale apartment with her best friend and fellow musician. She had the use of a credit card paid by the generosity of daddy. In one phone call she found her life as she knew it come tumbling down. Eddie was suddenly broke and if she wanted to save herself, she would have to do it on her own. When no one, including her boyfriend, seems to care she finds herself washed up on the doorstep of Jimmy's Cafe. Where an old Polish man named Mr. Novak fed and reluctantly gave her a job.
Scrubbing dishes and serving fried breakfasts to pay her rent, was definitely not something she had seen coming in her future. Eddie's new life was made more hellish by the dislike and distaste shown to her by the new boss's sneering grandson Sam Novak. Instead of quitting, she needs this job, so is determined to prove her worth and win over the arrogant, rude, but oh so handsome Sam.
October 19, 2017
I read this for my reading challenge this year to read more than one MF books.
Good thing is, Garrett Leigh written as Gracie Leigh offered her first MF book to read.
I admit I was kinda staggering and scare what if I wouldn't like it or even hate this.
As many MM readers usual 'high standard' in romance, I doubted I'll like this.
But it didn't happen, I liked this book, despite of Sam's annoying behavior and Eddie's slutty attitude, this one was enjoyable. The sex, especially the three-way, was freaking hot.
And I liked Dylan, a lot. I bet he has a story with Sam in the past.
I wouldn't mind to know it in the future. In Dylan's MM book, perhaps?
*ARC provided by the author for a chance of reviewing this title.*
Good thing is, Garrett Leigh written as Gracie Leigh offered her first MF book to read.
I admit I was kinda staggering and scare what if I wouldn't like it or even hate this.
As many MM readers usual 'high standard' in romance, I doubted I'll like this.
But it didn't happen, I liked this book, despite of Sam's annoying behavior and Eddie's slutty attitude, this one was enjoyable. The sex, especially the three-way, was freaking hot.
And I liked Dylan, a lot. I bet he has a story with Sam in the past.
I wouldn't mind to know it in the future. In Dylan's MM book, perhaps?
*ARC provided by the author for a chance of reviewing this title.*
August 4, 2017
I LOVE Garrett Leigh and was looking forward to this book... I could not have liked these characters less. It started out OK, the heroine was strong and driven; the hero was a bit of a schmuck, but that was OK. It just never got better. Still a huge fan of her work and other books, this one just didn't work for me.
September 16, 2022
Everything Garrett Leigh writes is gold! This story, to me, was no different! It’s raw, gritty, and I like how the MCs have such a disdain for each other T the beginning but yet by the end love and care for each other so much. They each learn valuable things from each other about judgement and life.
January 21, 2021
So I finally got around to reading this... Entirely for Dylan, and for Dylan boning ladies.
I love when a character with fluid sexuality is actually involved in scenes and relationships, rather than focusing on one aspect of their sexuality and leaving the rest to happen off screen.
I love when a character with fluid sexuality is actually involved in scenes and relationships, rather than focusing on one aspect of their sexuality and leaving the rest to happen off screen.
May 8, 2017
There has to be a book two with the 3 of them!
Read
May 15, 2017DNF'd at 35% :(
June 6, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. I loved these characters, and the conflicts felt honest and fresh. I even enjoyed the random threesome.
overall just a really enjoyed this book
overall just a really enjoyed this book
April 27, 2018
Maybe around 2.5 stars. Nope that didn't work for me well.
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