Cover Image: Train Wreck

Train Wreck

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Member Reviews

A little fun, a little cute, but didn't really grab me.

Sorry for the delayed review. I have been working this year to catch up on my netgalley backlog. I appreciate the opportunity to read this story.

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This was an enjoyable read. The story was a bit predictable, but I still really enjoyed it. The characters were great. I really liked them and seeing the story in both of their views. It really shows the progression of both characters. Derek was my favourite character. I really liked how he loved Pepper, and tried to make her open up more. He was sexy, smart, and determined. Pepper is known for making trouble. She is clumsy, but so full of heart and passion. I felt bad because her family treats her like every problems that she faced was her fault. The chemistry between both characters was great. I am glad that the ending was a happy ending. Overall, a great read.

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I really wanted to like this book but it/certain scenes just dragged on too much in my opinion,. I know the author is painting a picture for the reader and developing the characters at times it was a bit unnecessary. Plus, from the synopsis, I thought the book would be a little funny at times but there I was disappointed again. Not a bad read, but not a great one.

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Copy kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sounds like a good plot for the story, but I'm just not feeling it. Can't really pinpoint why, but not too interested, so I'm putting it down.

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Super cute romance with moments of hilarity and seriousness. Derek and Pepper are trying to make it own their own and without the influence of their families. Fun characters and an HEA.

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I enjoyed Derek and Pepper's relationship in this one! So many unexpected twists and some laugh out loud moments as well!

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Genre: Romance - Comedy, Brother's best friend
Stand-Alone: Yes
Part of a Series: Yes Book 1 of the Life Sucks series.
POV: Pepper and Derek
Steam Level: Slow burn to steamy

Train Wreck is a super cute and quick read. While I definitely giggled while reading this it wasn't crazy laugh out loud funny. Pepper is klutzy and some of those klutz moves make it funny. The best part of this book, though, was the theme of loving and cherishing your partner and loving them for who they are. This made this book very sweet. This is the first book I've read by Elise Faber but definitely not the last.

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This is a funny, romantic comedy which actually made me laugh out loud in places.
A nice easy read that does not need to be taken seriously.

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Unfortunately this was a DNF for me as I found the heroine to be a tad bit immature. I absolutely love this author but found this to be slightly awkward. Thank you for the opportunity!

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I really enjoyed this book! I loved the characters. Pepper is the butt of everyone jokes. She decides to try her hardest to stop making headlight news. She does wild crazy things that put a big spotlight on her all not on purpose which keeps her in the news with her parents being famous. What does Pepper do next? It involves Derek her brothers best friend who has witness all her screw ups and hasn't seen her in 5 years. Now thanks to Derek she is back in the spotlight again with Derek. Its an interesting story of these two reconnecting. But what is going to put a big damper on this is when Peppers parents asking Derek for a favor that he has to follow through on if he wants the money to make his film. What is he to do? I love the conflict her and how he is drawn to Pepper.
What I love most is Pepper and Derek their connection and chemistry is what drew me and keep me reading cover to cover in one sitting. I love a great book with characters I connect with and develop feelings for and care about. The author does a great job of character development and plot. I loved it!

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If ever there was a more endearing character than Pepper, I have yet to encounter him/her. Pepper stole my heart from the beginning of the story. So misunderstood, never given the chance to redeem herself in the eyes of those who were just waiting for her to falter again, she never conceded defeat...she was finally living her life her way.

The by play between Derek and Pepper was priceless...the author had created two characters who were perfect for each, even though Pepper didn't think she was good enough for Derek, or she believes he was just waiting for another calamity to befall her, or those around her. My heart broke for her so many times, yet at the same time, Pepper's attempts to absolve herself of the misfortunes surrounding her, were heartwarming.

I so enjoyed this author's writing and the flawed, yet endearing characters she created and I hope to read more of her books in the future.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Push and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

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Pepper O'Brien is many things: daughter of a film producer, Hollywood royalty, a cute redhead ... but mostly she is known to be a train wreck. When disasters happen, she is always present and always gets blamed for the cause of the disaster ... and she's tired of it. So she takes off to the quaint seaside town of Stoneybrook to find a purpose to her life. Derek and his father are the lawyers to Hollywood royalty, but he's tired of all the plastic people and wants to make a name for himself in documentary films. It is at this seaside town that he "saves" Pepper from another disaster and then he realizes that she is his best friend's little sister ... all grown up! Pepper has had a crush on Derek since ... well, forever. As Pepper's father is bank rolling Derek's film, he asks Derek to "keep an eye" on Pepper. Derek agrees, but not for her father ... but because he wants to see why she makes his heart beat faster. And the catastrophes and hilarious antics go on from there.

This book is laugh out loud funny ... the part about the throught spray had me rolling on the floor laughing. This is a sweet, steamy and funny book that shouldn't be missed.

I received a copy courtesy of the author through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

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This was a great story with great characters. It flowed nicely without rushing the story. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author! Read it and you won't regret the time spent.

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I'm starting to believe and trying to accept that this author just isn't for me. It happens.
I can't seem to connect with either her writing style or her characters, and considering that those two are the most crucial elements for me to enjoy a book, the 2 star rating shouldn't be too surprising.

On the one hand, we have Pepper. She's always been a terrible klutz with a major streak of bad luck, growing up in a family of well put-together movie stars and film makers. After yet another catastrophic incident in Hollywood, Pepper is sent back to her hometown by her domineering father in order to live down the media attention and her embarrassment.
Boy, did she annoy the stuffing out of me. I've always disliked clumsy heroines, but Pepper takes it to a whole new level. Is there anything she can do without hurting herself or the people around her? I hated the entire damsel in distress act so much. I believe it was supposed to make her cute and quirky, but it just made me repeatedly roll my eyes at her incompetence. Add to that major insecurities and self esteem-issues despite her being gorgeous and sweet and kind, and Pepper made it to my worst heroines shelf. Congrats!

On the other hand, there's perfect abs-Derek, former teen crush and her brother Paul's best buddy, who sweeps in and saves Pepper's life and the day. Cue more saving. And more saving. And more saving. And...... You get the drift.
Of course, Derek is perfect. Perfect looks, perfect charm, perfect dimples, perfect life.
And that's about all I can say about him. He's an absolute cardboard cutout character, your typical bossy, charming alpha male that can do no wrong. Nothing wrong with him, but nothing memorable either.

Then there's some stuff about a wedding and an asshole ex-fiancé, art-making and an intrusive, insensitive father, and... I don't know. I couldn't really find it in me to care about all of it.

This just wasn't for me, and I think it's best that Elise Faber and I part ways here.

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Hmmm..... Pepper & Derek..... what a pair. Pepper has the worse luck with having accidents. One leads her to being saved by Derek. This book is fast paced and very well written. It is a really sweet read for me. I love the writing style.

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I found this to be a bit too cliche for my liking. The klutzy-accident-prone beauty falls for her brother's friend. It's all too stereotypical for me and very predictable.

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This had everything I need in a book. Good read. Hot guy and clumsy girl. Loved every minute of it.

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I received a copy of this through NetGalley for my honest review

A completely enjoyable, light-hearted, funny romance. Pepper is the epitome of a train wreck, but in a charming way. If there is a calamity to be find, she finds it. Her family has her convinced that she is a joke, so she decides to go find her own way in life without their constant reminders of how inept she is. Enter Derek, a figure from her past that she has crushed on from a very young age. He realizes she is more than just what everyone thinks she is, and an endearing little romance begins.

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I really liked the two main characters and I liked how the guy kept making kind (but not creepy) gestures even when Pepper kept pushing him away. I especially liked the friend and daughter that lived next door and the complex story line that the friend had with her husband. Pepper's dad and brother were really unredeemable. They were awful. I had anticipated that Pepper would finally be seen by them and then they would apologize and change their ways. But no, that's not what happened. I mean, I guess that's realistic to real life, but it sure was a bummer. Overall, I liked it.

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Elise Faber has written a true summer read. Light and a moving story and very poor passage of time (sometimes it is written as if multiple days are the same day), this is a good, quick read.
Fan of romance? Worth the read. Christian nothing bad reader? You could easily skip things. Not disgusting, but it does have at least 4 scenes. So, there is that.
About Pepper who is trying to separate herself from her rich and controlling family and a childhood friend comes into her life.
Nothing fantastic, but a solid read. A few rounded characters, a lot of interesting stories that are not explored.

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