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Record #4
Struck from the Record
Clay Maxwell is a smart, quick witted, sex-driven, manwhore with the good looks to match. Plenty of women have shared his bed, but only one has ever been constant, Andrea.
Their rules were simple. When they’re together, it’s just the two of them. When they’re apart, anything is fair game. And it worked. For ten years.
But one of them has changed the game…
Clay must decide if his player ways are worth losing the one girl who has always been there
Their rules were simple. When they’re together, it’s just the two of them. When they’re apart, anything is fair game. And it worked. For ten years.
But one of them has changed the game…
Clay must decide if his player ways are worth losing the one girl who has always been there
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2016
About the author
K.A. Linde
90 books9,665 followersK.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of the Avoiding Series, Wrights, and more than thirty other novels. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, traveling to far-off destinations, and dancing in her spare time.
She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband, son, and super-adorable puppy.
Visit her online at www.kalinde.com and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @authorkalinde.
Join her newsletter at www.kalinde.com/subscribe for exclusive content, free books, and giveaways every month.
She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband, son, and super-adorable puppy.
Visit her online at www.kalinde.com and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @authorkalinde.
Join her newsletter at www.kalinde.com/subscribe for exclusive content, free books, and giveaways every month.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 345 reviews
October 24, 2016
Yet again, I find myself a bit disappointed in a "spin-off" book about the brother of one of my favorite leading males. This is the second time in just a week or two that I've found myself in this predicament, so I should probably steer clear of this type of story for awhile.
'Struck from the Record' tells the story of Clay, Brady's younger brother. In previous books, he was the rambunctious, wild-card brother that I found endearing in his own way. I had looked forward to his story and really expected to love it. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.
Whereas Clay seemed fun and had a nearly tangible energy about him in the earlier books, I found him to be much more subdued in this book. In fact, he was kind of a downer. I kept wondering when that wild guy was going to show up, but it didn't happen.
On the other hand, I liked Andrea much more in this book than I did in the earlier books. I didn't have a favorable impression of her before, but this book showed a more human side of her. I loved how she was unfailingly loyal to Clay from childhood forward. Everybody should have an Andrea in their corner.
In the end, it was okay. It was relatively quick and somewhat entertaining. It didn't live up to my expectations, but maybe they were unreasonable. This was a middle of the road type of read for me.
'Struck from the Record' tells the story of Clay, Brady's younger brother. In previous books, he was the rambunctious, wild-card brother that I found endearing in his own way. I had looked forward to his story and really expected to love it. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.
Whereas Clay seemed fun and had a nearly tangible energy about him in the earlier books, I found him to be much more subdued in this book. In fact, he was kind of a downer. I kept wondering when that wild guy was going to show up, but it didn't happen.
On the other hand, I liked Andrea much more in this book than I did in the earlier books. I didn't have a favorable impression of her before, but this book showed a more human side of her. I loved how she was unfailingly loyal to Clay from childhood forward. Everybody should have an Andrea in their corner.
In the end, it was okay. It was relatively quick and somewhat entertaining. It didn't live up to my expectations, but maybe they were unreasonable. This was a middle of the road type of read for me.
June 6, 2016
5 stars!!!
I’ve read all of K.A. Linde’s books, and her Record series is by far my favorite. When I first met Clay Maxwell in his brother Brady’s books, I didn’t know what to make of him. All I knew is that I wanted more! I was so excited to get my hands on Clay’s book. It exceeded my expectations. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did the previous books in this series because no one could top Brady Maxwell, but I loved Clay’s book just as much!
Clay Maxwell is his own man. He does what he wants when he wants. He and Andrea met when they were young. They are together, but they have an understanding. They have rules.
I love Clay and Andrea together. They fit. Even though their relationship starts off as unconventional, I hoped that they could pull it together and become the real deal. I think they were always real, I just wanted them both to realize that they truly only wanted each other.
The chemistry between this couple was off the charts. I loved how dominant and take charge they both were. Kyla always does a great job with writing heroines that aren’t pushovers and stand their ground. I love that. Andrea was great and I loved that she stood for what she wanted even when it wasn’t easy. Clay and Andrea’s pasts both shaped them into how they were. Andrea’s parents and Clay always being in Brady’s shadow. Clay is a complex character and I loved seeing him grow. Clay’s path to finding himself and what he really wanted wasn’t always easy or smooth, but it was completely satisfying.
If you’re like me and wanted to see some Brady- you won’t be disappointed. I was so happy with how much Brady and Liz we got (I still get all giddy when Brady says ‘Airplanes’)- but I’m happy they didn’t steal the show. The focus was completely on Clay and Andrea, as it should be. Struck from the Record can be read as a standalone, but I can’t say enough good about the first 3 books in this series. If you haven’t read them, you’re truly missing out!
Linde always brings the angst in her stories. I’ve come to expect it and crave it. There are always moments that have me on the edge of my seat and make my nervous go haywire. This book has the perfect combination of angst, steam, romance and even some humor. I truly adored Clay and Andrea’s story and highly recommend it. The epilogue was perfection and left me in happy tears. 5 stars!
I’ve read all of K.A. Linde’s books, and her Record series is by far my favorite. When I first met Clay Maxwell in his brother Brady’s books, I didn’t know what to make of him. All I knew is that I wanted more! I was so excited to get my hands on Clay’s book. It exceeded my expectations. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did the previous books in this series because no one could top Brady Maxwell, but I loved Clay’s book just as much!
Clay Maxwell is his own man. He does what he wants when he wants. He and Andrea met when they were young. They are together, but they have an understanding. They have rules.
Romance was wasted on them, so they had entered into the arrangement of a lifetime. They could do whatever they wanted, but at the end of the day, they would be together.
I love Clay and Andrea together. They fit. Even though their relationship starts off as unconventional, I hoped that they could pull it together and become the real deal. I think they were always real, I just wanted them both to realize that they truly only wanted each other.
The chemistry between this couple was off the charts. I loved how dominant and take charge they both were. Kyla always does a great job with writing heroines that aren’t pushovers and stand their ground. I love that. Andrea was great and I loved that she stood for what she wanted even when it wasn’t easy. Clay and Andrea’s pasts both shaped them into how they were. Andrea’s parents and Clay always being in Brady’s shadow. Clay is a complex character and I loved seeing him grow. Clay’s path to finding himself and what he really wanted wasn’t always easy or smooth, but it was completely satisfying.
If you’re like me and wanted to see some Brady- you won’t be disappointed. I was so happy with how much Brady and Liz we got (I still get all giddy when Brady says ‘Airplanes’)- but I’m happy they didn’t steal the show. The focus was completely on Clay and Andrea, as it should be. Struck from the Record can be read as a standalone, but I can’t say enough good about the first 3 books in this series. If you haven’t read them, you’re truly missing out!
Linde always brings the angst in her stories. I’ve come to expect it and crave it. There are always moments that have me on the edge of my seat and make my nervous go haywire. This book has the perfect combination of angst, steam, romance and even some humor. I truly adored Clay and Andrea’s story and highly recommend it. The epilogue was perfection and left me in happy tears. 5 stars!
June 7, 2016
*****4.5 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
He didn’t even remember what a time in his life before Andrea was like. He’d been a kid. She was his entire adult life. She was the girl at every event. She was the girl he would come home to. Without her, what the hell am I supposed to do?
Die-hard K.A. Linde fans are going to really enjoy this one! She always delivers the kind of gut-wrenching angst that I crave for in my romance stories. I actually only read book one in this series and I’m not at all sure why I didn’t pick up the other books, but that being said, I had no problems following and completely loving this one! I do suggest that you read the previous books because you’ll want to experience all the trials and tribulations that Brady and Liz go through.
The story centers around Brady’s younger brother. Clay Maxwell has always lived in the shadow of his big brother, and he has resented him for many years. All he has ever wanted was to get the same attention and approval that his father so easily doled out to Brady. Clay has been labeled the bad boy and he couldn’t be more proud of that title. He likes his women loose and he shows them to the door when he’s had his way with them. There is only one woman who has withstood the test of time and that’s Andrea Billings. They met when they were both thirteen during one summer getaway at their parents’ vacation homes in North Carolina, and had been the best of friends ever since. When they end up attending the same college years later, they take their relationship to the next level. Their arrangement is very open and it has worked for them. Neither Clay nor Andrea wanted to be tied down and so they agreed to be each other’s person but when apart they were free to sleep with other people. This worked for about ten years until one crazy incident puts things into perspective for Andrea and she’s realizing that their arrangement no longer works for her. She wants a FOREVER kind of love with Clay.
Andrea tries to open up her heart to Clay but he has his head so far up his arse, he truly believes that they have the perfect setup and he can’t fathom the thought of being monogamous. Gut-wrenching angst ensues and I ate up every juicy bit of it. Also, it goes without saying that there is a healthy dose of steam in this story that will have your temperatures rising ladies! K.A. Linde never fails when writing the schmexy!! She also has a knack for creating seriously douchey Heroes that you can’t help but fall in love with despite their idiotic tendencies. I loved Jack in the Avoiding series and I definitely didn’t have a hard time falling for Clay Maxwell. He was utterly clueless and a Grade A jerk most of the time but somehow he won this reader’s heart over rather quickly.
STRUCK FROM THE RECORD is now LIVE!!! Go on and do yourselves a favor and one-click!!
Amazon → http://amzn.to/1Ui5f7a
iBooks → apple.co/1UyIFvK
B&N → http://bit.ly/20Q6yyJ
Kobo → http://bit.ly/1TKIyw7
Paperback → http://amzn.to/1TGhKJn
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
He didn’t even remember what a time in his life before Andrea was like. He’d been a kid. She was his entire adult life. She was the girl at every event. She was the girl he would come home to. Without her, what the hell am I supposed to do?
Die-hard K.A. Linde fans are going to really enjoy this one! She always delivers the kind of gut-wrenching angst that I crave for in my romance stories. I actually only read book one in this series and I’m not at all sure why I didn’t pick up the other books, but that being said, I had no problems following and completely loving this one! I do suggest that you read the previous books because you’ll want to experience all the trials and tribulations that Brady and Liz go through.
The story centers around Brady’s younger brother. Clay Maxwell has always lived in the shadow of his big brother, and he has resented him for many years. All he has ever wanted was to get the same attention and approval that his father so easily doled out to Brady. Clay has been labeled the bad boy and he couldn’t be more proud of that title. He likes his women loose and he shows them to the door when he’s had his way with them. There is only one woman who has withstood the test of time and that’s Andrea Billings. They met when they were both thirteen during one summer getaway at their parents’ vacation homes in North Carolina, and had been the best of friends ever since. When they end up attending the same college years later, they take their relationship to the next level. Their arrangement is very open and it has worked for them. Neither Clay nor Andrea wanted to be tied down and so they agreed to be each other’s person but when apart they were free to sleep with other people. This worked for about ten years until one crazy incident puts things into perspective for Andrea and she’s realizing that their arrangement no longer works for her. She wants a FOREVER kind of love with Clay.
Andrea tries to open up her heart to Clay but he has his head so far up his arse, he truly believes that they have the perfect setup and he can’t fathom the thought of being monogamous. Gut-wrenching angst ensues and I ate up every juicy bit of it. Also, it goes without saying that there is a healthy dose of steam in this story that will have your temperatures rising ladies! K.A. Linde never fails when writing the schmexy!! She also has a knack for creating seriously douchey Heroes that you can’t help but fall in love with despite their idiotic tendencies. I loved Jack in the Avoiding series and I definitely didn’t have a hard time falling for Clay Maxwell. He was utterly clueless and a Grade A jerk most of the time but somehow he won this reader’s heart over rather quickly.
STRUCK FROM THE RECORD is now LIVE!!! Go on and do yourselves a favor and one-click!!
Amazon → http://amzn.to/1Ui5f7a
iBooks → apple.co/1UyIFvK
B&N → http://bit.ly/20Q6yyJ
Kobo → http://bit.ly/1TKIyw7
Paperback → http://amzn.to/1TGhKJn
May 31, 2016
4 STARS
”Why change when things are good?”
Fans of the series were so intrigued with Clay Maxwell who is the jealous and resentful brother of the political powerhouse Brady Maxwell that the author gifted us his story. Clay is very flirtatious and witty character. When it comes to women he’s a manwhore through and through. However it seems that he has some sort of open relationship with Andrea Billings from what a reader gathers from the previous books in the series that centers around his brother Brady Maxwell. In this book we find out the inner workings of Clay and Andrea’s pact/relationship.
For ten years their rules were simple. When they’re together, it’s just the two of them. When they’re apart, anything is fair game. This seemed to work for them until the games and feelings for one of them is too real and a tough question is asked.
”We’re not playing games tonight. How do you really feel about me?”
The reaction isn’t what a character had hoped for and/or expected to ever be asked…oh the heartache.
The story is as angsty as I hoped for from this author. K.A. Linde developed Clay’s character strongly throughout the story and I would attest that his transformation was a believable one. Since this story is told in Clay’s perspective I think that’s why I wasn’t fully sold on one character and her flip and I was actually strongly routing for another. Silly me, I know since there’s only ever been one who has had this Maxwell’s heart whether he knew it or not.
"Love was enough. Family is enough. Friends were enough. And he never wanted to forget that again.”
This is a well done story that can be read as a standalone. However I implore friends to try all of the books and meet Brady…who will always have this reader’s vote. The politics isn’t overdone in this series and pretty nonexistent in this book. The angst in the series as a whole is just enough to keep you propelling forward while embracing the satisfying ending and hoping like hell that this series never ends!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
”Why change when things are good?”
Fans of the series were so intrigued with Clay Maxwell who is the jealous and resentful brother of the political powerhouse Brady Maxwell that the author gifted us his story. Clay is very flirtatious and witty character. When it comes to women he’s a manwhore through and through. However it seems that he has some sort of open relationship with Andrea Billings from what a reader gathers from the previous books in the series that centers around his brother Brady Maxwell. In this book we find out the inner workings of Clay and Andrea’s pact/relationship.
For ten years their rules were simple. When they’re together, it’s just the two of them. When they’re apart, anything is fair game. This seemed to work for them until the games and feelings for one of them is too real and a tough question is asked.
”We’re not playing games tonight. How do you really feel about me?”
The reaction isn’t what a character had hoped for and/or expected to ever be asked…oh the heartache.
The story is as angsty as I hoped for from this author. K.A. Linde developed Clay’s character strongly throughout the story and I would attest that his transformation was a believable one. Since this story is told in Clay’s perspective I think that’s why I wasn’t fully sold on one character and her flip and I was actually strongly routing for another. Silly me, I know since there’s only ever been one who has had this Maxwell’s heart whether he knew it or not.
"Love was enough. Family is enough. Friends were enough. And he never wanted to forget that again.”
This is a well done story that can be read as a standalone. However I implore friends to try all of the books and meet Brady…who will always have this reader’s vote. The politics isn’t overdone in this series and pretty nonexistent in this book. The angst in the series as a whole is just enough to keep you propelling forward while embracing the satisfying ending and hoping like hell that this series never ends!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
November 6, 2017
I discovered rather too late while reading, that this horrible book is part of a series and it was too late to discontinue and start from the beginning.
So, as much as it pained me to have finished this hellish book, I did, on the count that I'm kind of OCD about starting things and not finishing them. Especially books.
Books usually fall under three categories for me:
1- I LOVE this book and would totally read it later over and over again!
2- This shit is dull, I fell asleep a hundred times while reading it and I will never touch it again so that I don't die of boredom.
And the dreaded:
3- WHY? Why does this book have to be so horrible!? Why do I have to hate it!?
See. I hate it when I don't like a book.
Books are life for me; I breathe them, I drink and eat them, (not literally...)
I can't live without them.
So that's why I hate it when one book comes along and ruin the whole reading experience for me.
And this book, was one of those rotten books that I despise.
I first saw the trailer for it on Facebook, it seemed intriguing and the plot sounded great and so I went to audible and started the audiobook.
But then I met the two main characters.
And here are the words I use to describe them:
-stupid
-no backbone
-stupid
-actions make no sense
-why did you do this?
-stupid
-annoying
-why is the heroine so annoying!?
-and why does the hero chase her annoying ass?
-if she felt that way, why is she telling him about it now and then blaming him for not understanding her point of view and not reading her damn mind?
Okay, so here is the deal:
This book had the potential to be a romantic comedy about a couple who's been sleeping with each other for years now but haven't been monogamous because that's how they've arranged it.
But one day, one of them changes a rule.
But all this book ends up being is an annoying and stupid fest of characters that do and say things that don't make sense:
Like:
"I've just decided that I don't like you sleeping with girls, even though I've been more than fine with it for give or take fifteen years since we've had this fun arrangement where we sleep together but also sleep with other people too! I will give no explanation for my sudden need to change the rules!"
Well, that's not quite the exact quote from the heroine, but you get my gist.
This heroine came out of nowhere with her demanding nonsense and the hero somehow fell for it and started acting all pathetic without asking any questions...
Then the heroine got jealous when they "broke up" and he went to sleep with other people.
Um...bitch? Are you aware that he's been doing that for years and years and you've been okay with it?
I just hate these characters who somehow think that things will magically appear their way because they want them to.
And I'm supposed to believe the hero has loved the heroine from the beginning?
Based on what?
On the fact that the moment they "broke up" and it didn't seem to have any effect at all on the hero's sexual life?
I mean, he still kept gettin' it and sleeping with other girls and I'm supposed to believe he missed her all throughout his sex-fests?
These characters should go to actual hell for making me endure figurative hell while reading this book.
Ugh!
So, as much as it pained me to have finished this hellish book, I did, on the count that I'm kind of OCD about starting things and not finishing them. Especially books.
Books usually fall under three categories for me:
1- I LOVE this book and would totally read it later over and over again!
2- This shit is dull, I fell asleep a hundred times while reading it and I will never touch it again so that I don't die of boredom.
And the dreaded:
3- WHY? Why does this book have to be so horrible!? Why do I have to hate it!?
See. I hate it when I don't like a book.
Books are life for me; I breathe them, I drink and eat them, (not literally...)
I can't live without them.
So that's why I hate it when one book comes along and ruin the whole reading experience for me.
And this book, was one of those rotten books that I despise.
I first saw the trailer for it on Facebook, it seemed intriguing and the plot sounded great and so I went to audible and started the audiobook.
But then I met the two main characters.
And here are the words I use to describe them:
-stupid
-no backbone
-stupid
-actions make no sense
-why did you do this?
-stupid
-annoying
-why is the heroine so annoying!?
-and why does the hero chase her annoying ass?
-if she felt that way, why is she telling him about it now and then blaming him for not understanding her point of view and not reading her damn mind?
Okay, so here is the deal:
This book had the potential to be a romantic comedy about a couple who's been sleeping with each other for years now but haven't been monogamous because that's how they've arranged it.
But one day, one of them changes a rule.
But all this book ends up being is an annoying and stupid fest of characters that do and say things that don't make sense:
Like:
"I've just decided that I don't like you sleeping with girls, even though I've been more than fine with it for give or take fifteen years since we've had this fun arrangement where we sleep together but also sleep with other people too! I will give no explanation for my sudden need to change the rules!"
Well, that's not quite the exact quote from the heroine, but you get my gist.
This heroine came out of nowhere with her demanding nonsense and the hero somehow fell for it and started acting all pathetic without asking any questions...
Then the heroine got jealous when they "broke up" and he went to sleep with other people.
Um...bitch? Are you aware that he's been doing that for years and years and you've been okay with it?
I just hate these characters who somehow think that things will magically appear their way because they want them to.
And I'm supposed to believe the hero has loved the heroine from the beginning?
Based on what?
On the fact that the moment they "broke up" and it didn't seem to have any effect at all on the hero's sexual life?
I mean, he still kept gettin' it and sleeping with other girls and I'm supposed to believe he missed her all throughout his sex-fests?
These characters should go to actual hell for making me endure figurative hell while reading this book.
Ugh!
June 10, 2016
Have you met the Maxwells? Well if you haven’t you need to, ASAP. The Record series is one of my favorite series. I fell head over heels in love with Brady Maxwell and was always intrigued by Clay Maxwell. Clay is the wild, say what he wants, younger brother.
When Kyla mentioned this book was coming I was so freaking excited to read Clay’s book and immediately thought who is his love interest could be. I knew he was with Andrea, sort of, but didn’t understand their relationship.
Andrea and Clay have been together since they were kids, but had an open relationship. I never truly understood that when I was looking at their relationship from the outside, now I get it. Andrea and Clay are damaged people and terrified to open up themselves up to love. This open relationship gives them what they need, partner for social gatherings, great sex, and friendship without the risk of rejection.
Like so many girls who enter into friends with benefits relationships things change and Andrea wants more. She is ready to open herself up to being hurt and take a risk on Clay, but he isn’t as willing to leave what he knows and loves.
I swear Kyla writes angst like no other and this one kept me hooked from the beginning. It also gave me those heart palpations that I always get when I am terrified of what her characters will do. I always say I am not big on angst, but when she writes it I am hooked. I love how I immediately got pulled into this story and wanted more.
Clay and Andrea are both damaged goods, but their vulnerability made me love them more and understand them. I was hooked from the beginning, but every moment these two were together gave me a huge smile on my face. I adored this book, I cannot think of anything I would want to change. It’s fun, sexy, light hearted, but has depth. It’s truly perfect. If you haven’t met the Maxwells, jump in, you won't be disappointed!
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
When Kyla mentioned this book was coming I was so freaking excited to read Clay’s book and immediately thought who is his love interest could be. I knew he was with Andrea, sort of, but didn’t understand their relationship.
Andrea and Clay have been together since they were kids, but had an open relationship. I never truly understood that when I was looking at their relationship from the outside, now I get it. Andrea and Clay are damaged people and terrified to open up themselves up to love. This open relationship gives them what they need, partner for social gatherings, great sex, and friendship without the risk of rejection.
"I remember falling in love for the first time with this beautiful girl who was giving me the time of day. Me and not my brother. Who cared about me and kissed me."
Like so many girls who enter into friends with benefits relationships things change and Andrea wants more. She is ready to open herself up to being hurt and take a risk on Clay, but he isn’t as willing to leave what he knows and loves.
I swear Kyla writes angst like no other and this one kept me hooked from the beginning. It also gave me those heart palpations that I always get when I am terrified of what her characters will do. I always say I am not big on angst, but when she writes it I am hooked. I love how I immediately got pulled into this story and wanted more.
Clay and Andrea are both damaged goods, but their vulnerability made me love them more and understand them. I was hooked from the beginning, but every moment these two were together gave me a huge smile on my face. I adored this book, I cannot think of anything I would want to change. It’s fun, sexy, light hearted, but has depth. It’s truly perfect. If you haven’t met the Maxwells, jump in, you won't be disappointed!
"You make me crazy, Andrea. All I want is for you to be happy. I would do anything to make you happy."
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2017
2 Stars
Overall Opinion: I'm extremely disappointed in this book! The first half was going great, and then BAM! I felt like we started the extended epilogue of the record trilogy instead of a book about our mcs. The book seemed to have lost focus, and it frankly became boring IMO. I was in the mood for some angsty goodness (like K.A. Linde is good at), but sadly is just didn't hit the mark. Also, this is probably not safe for my safety gals! It had a ton of potential for what I was looking for, but just didn't get there :(
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Andrea and Clay's story. They meet when they are 13, but start up an open relationship with one another in college. Some traumatic event happens, and it has Andrea wanting to change things between them. Clay is extremely hesitant, because he was happy with their ~10 year relationship the way it was. There are some big reality checks for both of them, some sexy times, and some scenes from the characters in the other books...but they do get a HEA ending.
POV: This focused on Clay in 3rd person narrative (and Andrea for the end).
Overall Pace of Story: Not that great, and my biggest complaint. I felt like after the 55ish% mark it slammed the breaks and went incredibly slow. I skimmed a good bit after this point. It focuses on other couples, and it felt like nothing really even happened! Before that point I thought the pacing was good, and I never skimmed.
Instalove:No, they have been together for years before story starts.
H rating: 3 stars. Clay. He was a mess, but he did eventually come around and get his priorities straight.
h rating: 3.5 stars. Andrea. I liked her, but I wanted her to make the H grovel a little bit more.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull:Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: No
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not technically
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had a cute epilogue with a HEA ending
How I got it: It was part of my kindle unlimited subscription.
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: I'm extremely disappointed in this book! The first half was going great, and then BAM! I felt like we started the extended epilogue of the record trilogy instead of a book about our mcs. The book seemed to have lost focus, and it frankly became boring IMO. I was in the mood for some angsty goodness (like K.A. Linde is good at), but sadly is just didn't hit the mark. Also, this is probably not safe for my safety gals! It had a ton of potential for what I was looking for, but just didn't get there :(
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Andrea and Clay's story. They meet when they are 13, but start up an open relationship with one another in college. Some traumatic event happens, and it has Andrea wanting to change things between them. Clay is extremely hesitant, because he was happy with their ~10 year relationship the way it was. There are some big reality checks for both of them, some sexy times, and some scenes from the characters in the other books...but they do get a HEA ending.
POV: This focused on Clay in 3rd person narrative (and Andrea for the end).
Overall Pace of Story: Not that great, and my biggest complaint. I felt like after the 55ish% mark it slammed the breaks and went incredibly slow. I skimmed a good bit after this point. It focuses on other couples, and it felt like nothing really even happened! Before that point I thought the pacing was good, and I never skimmed.
Instalove:No, they have been together for years before story starts.
H rating: 3 stars. Clay. He was a mess, but he did eventually come around and get his priorities straight.
h rating: 3.5 stars. Andrea. I liked her, but I wanted her to make the H grovel a little bit more.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull:Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: No
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not technically
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had a cute epilogue with a HEA ending
How I got it: It was part of my kindle unlimited subscription.
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers
May 27, 2016
4.5 Taming Mr. Clay Stars
I’m always nervous when I go into K.A. Linde’s books. She’s the queen of angst and I know I’m going in for a rocky ride, but there’s something about tension, pulling my hair out and epic love stories that just gets me hooked on her stories.
I love the Record series and I was over the moon when I found out she was extending the series. Struck from the Record is a standalone. The first three books are about Liz and Brady. Struck from the Record is Clay’s story, Brady’s little brother.
Clay and Andrea have an unconventional relationship. They have been boyfriend and girlfriend for over a decade, but what makes them so different is that they are in an open relationship. I love the premise of this story! I’m a sucker for best friend books and even though they are together, they are somewhat not.
The chemistry and tension between Clay and Andrea are off the charts hot. I couldn’t get enough of it. Clay is Mr. Playboy. He loves women and as much as he cares for Andrea he wants to have his fun. Clay is the typical Hero you love to hate. You hate his playboy ways, but you also love it. He’s charismatic, smart and very good looking. He doesn’t have to work for the ladies and it just makes his social life completely easy to pick up women.
Andrea is no wall-flower and I love that! She’s strong and successful and very confident in her relationship with Clay. You would question how she could be in a relationship with him that way, but it just works for the both of them. She’s no pushover and I love how she can standup to Clay. That’s probably one of my favorite parts of the story.
I really liked the Clay and Andrea dynamics and what makes it so fun to read are the games they play with each other. There’s this beautiful tug of war between the two characters that really sucked me into the story. I never knew how a character was going to react and I was on the edge of my seat. It’s never a dull moment in the K.A. Linde world right?
As much as I love the Brady and Liz story, Clay and Andrea are becoming one of my top favorite couples in the series. I can’t wait for the next book which is the little sister’s story! Yay, I never want this series to end.
An ARC was provided
REVIEW | AMAZON
REVIEW | AMAZON
REVIEW | AMAZON
AMAZON
I’m always nervous when I go into K.A. Linde’s books. She’s the queen of angst and I know I’m going in for a rocky ride, but there’s something about tension, pulling my hair out and epic love stories that just gets me hooked on her stories.
I love the Record series and I was over the moon when I found out she was extending the series. Struck from the Record is a standalone. The first three books are about Liz and Brady. Struck from the Record is Clay’s story, Brady’s little brother.
Clay and Andrea have an unconventional relationship. They have been boyfriend and girlfriend for over a decade, but what makes them so different is that they are in an open relationship. I love the premise of this story! I’m a sucker for best friend books and even though they are together, they are somewhat not.
The chemistry and tension between Clay and Andrea are off the charts hot. I couldn’t get enough of it. Clay is Mr. Playboy. He loves women and as much as he cares for Andrea he wants to have his fun. Clay is the typical Hero you love to hate. You hate his playboy ways, but you also love it. He’s charismatic, smart and very good looking. He doesn’t have to work for the ladies and it just makes his social life completely easy to pick up women.
Andrea is no wall-flower and I love that! She’s strong and successful and very confident in her relationship with Clay. You would question how she could be in a relationship with him that way, but it just works for the both of them. She’s no pushover and I love how she can standup to Clay. That’s probably one of my favorite parts of the story.
I really liked the Clay and Andrea dynamics and what makes it so fun to read are the games they play with each other. There’s this beautiful tug of war between the two characters that really sucked me into the story. I never knew how a character was going to react and I was on the edge of my seat. It’s never a dull moment in the K.A. Linde world right?
As much as I love the Brady and Liz story, Clay and Andrea are becoming one of my top favorite couples in the series. I can’t wait for the next book which is the little sister’s story! Yay, I never want this series to end.
An ARC was provided
REVIEW | AMAZON
REVIEW | AMAZON
REVIEW | AMAZON
AMAZON
March 16, 2017
2 disappointed snowball stars
DNF'd @ 89%
This just became a different book at 51% and I lost interest.
This is not for the SG Posse. Sorry, Ladies. Sometimes I'm like Icarus and I fly to close to the edge and get burned ;) But I gotta have some angst in some of my reads or I'd choke on all the fluffy bunny fur.
I think the whole open relationship intrigues me because I've known 2 couples in longterm open relationships. In both cases it was the female who tired of the "open" part of their relationship. One ended in divorce after 12 years because she wanted monogamy and he declined. The other wanted monogamy after their first child, he declined, at 40 she asked again...now they're in their 60s and it's still open and she's spent years repressing her rage. So I'm always curious how an author can make this work.
In this book it's the h that wished for change and the H declined. I was all in with this book until they separated. The H slowly came to terms with wanting only the h, but I was left feeling he'd cheat at one point. He kept making remarks about other women physically or sexually in his POV headspace even after he decided he only wanted the h...and I could never completely buy his come to Jesus moment. I felt he feared being without her as an anchor in his life more than her being the "one" for him. Not sure he could ever really do monogamy longterm.
The "avalanche" of OW during their split was kinda heartbreaking. The h knew about it, and as far as I could tell, was celibate during that time. He was faithful for a month before he went on his OW spree...started by his "snowball," Candace. My problem with that is that he wouldn't try to see the h or prove to her he wanted her. He just gave up, gave her "space" and went on his merry way fucking OW. He never "fought" for her or really tried to force communication during their separation or even before when she was trying to reset their boundaries. In fact, he pretty much avoided ALL serious attempts at communication. Meanwhile, he didn't want to lose the h but wasn't willing to give her celibacy for a couple of months to prove it.
There's a little bit of talk about building trust, when their relationship had not required it before, but it's brushed under the rug. I feel if the novel had spent more time with H/h working through their serious issues and less time on a wedding where the H made repeated comments about his missed opportunity with the woman getting married to his BROTHER and his growing "friendship" with a platonic OW he demands the h get over cuz they're BFFs now, this could have been an awesome look into the reality of what happens when you close the doors on an open relationship.
DNF'd @ 89%
This just became a different book at 51% and I lost interest.
This is not for the SG Posse. Sorry, Ladies. Sometimes I'm like Icarus and I fly to close to the edge and get burned ;) But I gotta have some angst in some of my reads or I'd choke on all the fluffy bunny fur.
I think the whole open relationship intrigues me because I've known 2 couples in longterm open relationships. In both cases it was the female who tired of the "open" part of their relationship. One ended in divorce after 12 years because she wanted monogamy and he declined. The other wanted monogamy after their first child, he declined, at 40 she asked again...now they're in their 60s and it's still open and she's spent years repressing her rage. So I'm always curious how an author can make this work.
In this book it's the h that wished for change and the H declined. I was all in with this book until they separated. The H slowly came to terms with wanting only the h, but I was left feeling he'd cheat at one point. He kept making remarks about other women physically or sexually in his POV headspace even after he decided he only wanted the h...and I could never completely buy his come to Jesus moment. I felt he feared being without her as an anchor in his life more than her being the "one" for him. Not sure he could ever really do monogamy longterm.
The "avalanche" of OW during their split was kinda heartbreaking. The h knew about it, and as far as I could tell, was celibate during that time. He was faithful for a month before he went on his OW spree...started by his "snowball," Candace. My problem with that is that he wouldn't try to see the h or prove to her he wanted her. He just gave up, gave her "space" and went on his merry way fucking OW. He never "fought" for her or really tried to force communication during their separation or even before when she was trying to reset their boundaries. In fact, he pretty much avoided ALL serious attempts at communication. Meanwhile, he didn't want to lose the h but wasn't willing to give her celibacy for a couple of months to prove it.
There's a little bit of talk about building trust, when their relationship had not required it before, but it's brushed under the rug. I feel if the novel had spent more time with H/h working through their serious issues and less time on a wedding where the H made repeated comments about his missed opportunity with the woman getting married to his BROTHER and his growing "friendship" with a platonic OW he demands the h get over cuz they're BFFs now, this could have been an awesome look into the reality of what happens when you close the doors on an open relationship.
May 29, 2016
Clay Maxwell is everything I love in a leading man. He's a jerk, he's crass, he's a brooding screwed up womanizer. He's emotionless and rebellious and he says and does all the things that would piss most women off. I won't lie, he pisses me off too, but in the very best ways because his unapologetic behavior only made me hungrier to see his hardened walls crack. Someone has to get in there, someone has to tame the beast, someone has to crack the code that is Clay Maxwell and I devoured Struck From the Record hungrily, anxious to see it all go down.
They had rules, and they were simple. When they were together, it was just the two of them. When they were apart, anything was fair game.
Friends since they were kids, Clay Maxwell and Andrea Billings have had an unconventional relationship. When they're together, they're together. But when they're apart, they're free to see and do whatever and whoever they please. When one of them calls, they drop whatever they're doing and they enter into a sexy game of cat and mouse. Their game works because they do. Clay is the guy that never intends to settle down and Andrea is the girl that'll never ask him to. Their understanding of who they are to each other and what they each want is what makes them work. But true to KA Linde form, things get messy, rules get broken, hearts are shattered.
This wasn’t how their little game was supposed to end.
It never ended this way.
KA Linde makes me forget how much I struggle with third person narrative. Right before I opened Struck From the Record, I was reading another book written in the third person point of view and I was having such a hard time connecting with the characters and the storyline. I couldn't FEEL the things I should have been feeling. I set that book aside and started SFTR and I was IN it immediately. Linde crafts such a well developed, seamless story that pulled out every emotion I love to feel while reading. It didn't matter that I wasn't in either character's head because I still felt every ounce of frustration, lust, longing, heartbreak, and love the way the reader is intended to. With every new release, Linde impresses me more and more with her smart writing, with the voice she gives her characters and her stories, with the fluid, polished way she crafts a book.
The angst queen seriously nailed this book. Struck From the Record is high on the angst, high on the drama, high on the raw emotion, but it also feels very honest, very authentic. This isn't a story that's overly dramatic for the sake of being dramatic. It's a story of relatable characters with seriously screwed up emotions whose misguided attempts at figuring out their lives result in a series of tumultuous run ins, bad decisions, and eye opening realizations. It's a story of Clay Maxwell finding love and finding himself in the process. This story is sexy and it's painful, but it's also peppered with humor, witty banter, and such a sense of satisfying closure for every character in this series.
As far as KA Linde books go, this is one of my favorites. This story is solid. Polished. Messy. Evocative. Sexy. Angsty. Everything from the cover, to the seriously smart writing, to these characters that I hate to love and love to hate at times is simply spectacular. My favorite thing about this author is her ability to take characters we've vilified, characters that do and say all the wrong things, characters rife with flaws, and demand we fall in love with them. I felt nothing for Clay Maxwell in the previous books in the Record series. He was a thorn in my side, an obstacle in the way of Liz and Brady's happily ever after, a character that appeared to cause strife and reek havoc. In Struck From the Record, I fell in love with him more than I ever thought possible. He's a screwed up mess of a character that just became the jerk of my dreams.
They had rules, and they were simple. When they were together, it was just the two of them. When they were apart, anything was fair game.
Friends since they were kids, Clay Maxwell and Andrea Billings have had an unconventional relationship. When they're together, they're together. But when they're apart, they're free to see and do whatever and whoever they please. When one of them calls, they drop whatever they're doing and they enter into a sexy game of cat and mouse. Their game works because they do. Clay is the guy that never intends to settle down and Andrea is the girl that'll never ask him to. Their understanding of who they are to each other and what they each want is what makes them work. But true to KA Linde form, things get messy, rules get broken, hearts are shattered.
This wasn’t how their little game was supposed to end.
It never ended this way.
KA Linde makes me forget how much I struggle with third person narrative. Right before I opened Struck From the Record, I was reading another book written in the third person point of view and I was having such a hard time connecting with the characters and the storyline. I couldn't FEEL the things I should have been feeling. I set that book aside and started SFTR and I was IN it immediately. Linde crafts such a well developed, seamless story that pulled out every emotion I love to feel while reading. It didn't matter that I wasn't in either character's head because I still felt every ounce of frustration, lust, longing, heartbreak, and love the way the reader is intended to. With every new release, Linde impresses me more and more with her smart writing, with the voice she gives her characters and her stories, with the fluid, polished way she crafts a book.
The angst queen seriously nailed this book. Struck From the Record is high on the angst, high on the drama, high on the raw emotion, but it also feels very honest, very authentic. This isn't a story that's overly dramatic for the sake of being dramatic. It's a story of relatable characters with seriously screwed up emotions whose misguided attempts at figuring out their lives result in a series of tumultuous run ins, bad decisions, and eye opening realizations. It's a story of Clay Maxwell finding love and finding himself in the process. This story is sexy and it's painful, but it's also peppered with humor, witty banter, and such a sense of satisfying closure for every character in this series.
As far as KA Linde books go, this is one of my favorites. This story is solid. Polished. Messy. Evocative. Sexy. Angsty. Everything from the cover, to the seriously smart writing, to these characters that I hate to love and love to hate at times is simply spectacular. My favorite thing about this author is her ability to take characters we've vilified, characters that do and say all the wrong things, characters rife with flaws, and demand we fall in love with them. I felt nothing for Clay Maxwell in the previous books in the Record series. He was a thorn in my side, an obstacle in the way of Liz and Brady's happily ever after, a character that appeared to cause strife and reek havoc. In Struck From the Record, I fell in love with him more than I ever thought possible. He's a screwed up mess of a character that just became the jerk of my dreams.
August 30, 2017
I loved so much Clay's book!! I have a weakness for these kind of heroes! I loved Brady, but I felt for Clay as well & his book was definitely amazing! I can't wait for Savannah's now! :)
September 5, 2017
3.5 Stars
Brady's books are definitely better and I'm not a fan of the whole open relationship, playing games trope. But it was still a sweet read:)
Brady's books are definitely better and I'm not a fan of the whole open relationship, playing games trope. But it was still a sweet read:)
June 8, 2016
5 stars!
Everyone has that author that is an auto-1 click. K.A. Linde is that author for me. Her writing just does it for me. Lol, that sounded a little weird right? But I'm being serious. With every new book I read of hers I fall harder and harder for her writing. Struck from the Record was so much more than I expected. I didn't realize we would get so much of Brady and Liz. And Clay....SWOON!
I was intrigued with Clay from the first time I met him in the Record series. He was the cocky, don't give a shit about anything but what he wants bad boy. My favorite type. (But only in books!) His story isn't an easy one. Clay is the black sheep of the family. Always 2nd best to Brady. He just wants his chance to shine and make his father proud.
Andrea and Clay have an understanding. They are together, but like to play the field. They also like to play games. But sometimes, games can go bad. What happens when one wants to change the game? Just like in typical K.A. Linde fashion it makes for an angst-worthy ride!
I LOVE the man Clay became when push came to shove. Seriously, I swooned like a mad woman whenever he put his heart on the line. And I loved how Andrea wasn't afraid to stand up for herself and let Clay know when he was being a jackass.
Let me tell you my favorite part.
"Airplanes, baby!"
Brady and Liz's part in SftR was OFF THE CHARTS AMAZING!! I want to go back and re-read all over again to see them some more. And Savannah has me dying for her book. I need that back story!!
If you're looking for a wild, angsty and HOT read, Struck from the Record is the book for you. If you read the Record Series, you definitely don't want to miss Clay and Andrea's story.
*an arc was provided in exchange for a honest review*
Everyone has that author that is an auto-1 click. K.A. Linde is that author for me. Her writing just does it for me. Lol, that sounded a little weird right? But I'm being serious. With every new book I read of hers I fall harder and harder for her writing. Struck from the Record was so much more than I expected. I didn't realize we would get so much of Brady and Liz. And Clay....SWOON!
I was intrigued with Clay from the first time I met him in the Record series. He was the cocky, don't give a shit about anything but what he wants bad boy. My favorite type. (But only in books!) His story isn't an easy one. Clay is the black sheep of the family. Always 2nd best to Brady. He just wants his chance to shine and make his father proud.
Andrea and Clay have an understanding. They are together, but like to play the field. They also like to play games. But sometimes, games can go bad. What happens when one wants to change the game? Just like in typical K.A. Linde fashion it makes for an angst-worthy ride!
I LOVE the man Clay became when push came to shove. Seriously, I swooned like a mad woman whenever he put his heart on the line. And I loved how Andrea wasn't afraid to stand up for herself and let Clay know when he was being a jackass.
Let me tell you my favorite part.
"Airplanes, baby!"
Brady and Liz's part in SftR was OFF THE CHARTS AMAZING!! I want to go back and re-read all over again to see them some more. And Savannah has me dying for her book. I need that back story!!
If you're looking for a wild, angsty and HOT read, Struck from the Record is the book for you. If you read the Record Series, you definitely don't want to miss Clay and Andrea's story.
*an arc was provided in exchange for a honest review*
June 14, 2016
Clay Maxwell. What am I going to do with you? I need to start off by saying I was not #TeamClay at all. I sort of loathed him throughout the first Record books. I wanted his story, but I was not convinced I would like him at all. I am now convinced. He doesn’t take Jack’s spot, well because I really just don’t think that is possible (EVER). But he did worm his way into my heart and knocked Brady down a peg or two.
From what we’ve learned about Clay in the prior books, he’s a bit of a man-whore, he’s somewhat in a relationship but he isn’t monogamous and he’s not a big Brady Maxwell fan. But now we get to know the real Clay. We get to understand his unconventional relationship with Andrea and the reasons behind why it worked for them. We also get to understand why Clay had issues with Brady and how that shaped his life and controlled his goals. It was ultimately a little soul crushing to experience Clay in his younger years, in the shadows. My heart hurt for him and the way he struggled to be true to himself but how he wanted the approval of his father and brother. He was so unexpected.
There wasn’t much about Andrea that I did not like. She ran a little cold out of the blue (for Clay at least) and although I would typically lay all the blame at her door – I understood her and her decisions. It hurt, but it was right.
K.A. Linde did a superb job showcasing Clay Maxwell. She gave this character so much depth and took me from loathing to loving within a chapter. I have loved every book from this author that I’ve read and I know for years to come I will enjoy reading everything else she has in store for us.
From what we’ve learned about Clay in the prior books, he’s a bit of a man-whore, he’s somewhat in a relationship but he isn’t monogamous and he’s not a big Brady Maxwell fan. But now we get to know the real Clay. We get to understand his unconventional relationship with Andrea and the reasons behind why it worked for them. We also get to understand why Clay had issues with Brady and how that shaped his life and controlled his goals. It was ultimately a little soul crushing to experience Clay in his younger years, in the shadows. My heart hurt for him and the way he struggled to be true to himself but how he wanted the approval of his father and brother. He was so unexpected.
There wasn’t much about Andrea that I did not like. She ran a little cold out of the blue (for Clay at least) and although I would typically lay all the blame at her door – I understood her and her decisions. It hurt, but it was right.
K.A. Linde did a superb job showcasing Clay Maxwell. She gave this character so much depth and took me from loathing to loving within a chapter. I have loved every book from this author that I’ve read and I know for years to come I will enjoy reading everything else she has in store for us.
October 22, 2016
Struck from the record is the name. Clay Maxwell is the game. That’s right we got to experience our very own Clay! He was hot, sinful, and oh so very talented with Ahem well, let’s not go there alright?
Clay was like a well-kept secret in the Record series. I loved the mystery that surrounded him, and how we get to know his development from the past to present. The author did a great job bringing the A-Game that is Clay Maxwell to life.
We start off with Clay trying to rise to the top of his career, as well as keeping one foot onto the dating seen. Clay has always had a long-term open relationship with Andrea, a childhood friend he met during the summer growing up. After being with her for such a long time, he begins to take things for granted, and things start to change for their relationship. Something that could be deemed tragic happens, and that’s when the so-called openness comes to an end. It takes Clay awhile to figure out exactly what he is doing with his life, but we get to watch the growth.
I was very nervous in the beginning, but by the end, everything came to a full circle with Clay. I pretty much devoured this novel very quickly. I found myself not stopping until I was finished.
4.5 bad boy lovin Clay Maxwell stars.
Clay was like a well-kept secret in the Record series. I loved the mystery that surrounded him, and how we get to know his development from the past to present. The author did a great job bringing the A-Game that is Clay Maxwell to life.
We start off with Clay trying to rise to the top of his career, as well as keeping one foot onto the dating seen. Clay has always had a long-term open relationship with Andrea, a childhood friend he met during the summer growing up. After being with her for such a long time, he begins to take things for granted, and things start to change for their relationship. Something that could be deemed tragic happens, and that’s when the so-called openness comes to an end. It takes Clay awhile to figure out exactly what he is doing with his life, but we get to watch the growth.
I was very nervous in the beginning, but by the end, everything came to a full circle with Clay. I pretty much devoured this novel very quickly. I found myself not stopping until I was finished.
4.5 bad boy lovin Clay Maxwell stars.
May 28, 2016
If you've read the previous books in this series, featuring Brady and Liz, than you had to feel like me, desperate to learn more about Brady's siblings, Clay and Savannah. Thankful for me and other fans of the series, the author listened, and in this book, we finally learn more about the elusive, Clay Maxwell.
Clay has grown up living in Brady's shadow. Never good enough. Always the other brother. That hurt at a young age, and festered into something bigger with time. As a result, Clay has guarded his heart. Luckily, he had his perfect match in Andrea. I didn't get their relationship in the previous books. Some women say they want a no strings relationship, but eventually, feelings form and they want more. But Andrea was different. She watched her parents destroy each other and eventually divorce. She wanted no part of that emotional war. So like Clay, she guarded her heart. They were the perfect match for ten years. Seeking pleasure with each other, but also having an open relationship with no jealously or resentment.
They often played a game with one another, chasing away the other's potential conquest for the night. As the synopsis mentioned, one night, the game is changed and leads them down a path neither expected.
While this book has angst, as you'd expect from an author with the label, the Queen of Angst, this book didn't seem as intense as the previous books. Maybe it was all of the years this couple shared, that I knew they'd find a way back to one another. Maybe it was that it was obvious strong feelings were there, just not communicated. Maybe it was that the author glossed over their time with others - because I personally hate hearing those details. Whatever the reason, I felt like everything would work out.
What I found most interesting with this book was how much I liked Clay. He's conceited beyond belief, is entitled, yet hates the power his last name holds, and he's a bit of a blockhead when it comes to chasing down what he wants. As dumb as he was a times, his behavior seemed very realistic. As we know, men aren't the best communicators. Clay not only puts his foot in his mouth at times, he doesn't express what he truly feels. But I felt like there was a natural growth for him. The whole idea of "you don't know what you had until it's gone", is clear with Clay's change.
As for the heroine, her change didn't seem as believable. It's pretty much overnight and she doesn't really give Clay a chance to adjust. One small incident convinced her that Clay was on the same page, which didn't seem right. And I was frustrated with her as Clay tried to right his wrongs. The whole thing was drawn out more that it should have been. But Clay proves how much he has changed in the end, and it was actually very sweet. Sweeter than I expected.
Fans of Brady and Liz will like the roles they played in this book. They are both protective and supportive. Each offering advice to Clay on how to repair the damaged caused. This book also repairs the animosity that Clay felt towards his brother, as he sees him in a new light. And we'll get at least one more book with Savannah. Her little love triangle should be an interesting one.
*An ARC was received for an honest review.
For more reviews, visit
Clay has grown up living in Brady's shadow. Never good enough. Always the other brother. That hurt at a young age, and festered into something bigger with time. As a result, Clay has guarded his heart. Luckily, he had his perfect match in Andrea. I didn't get their relationship in the previous books. Some women say they want a no strings relationship, but eventually, feelings form and they want more. But Andrea was different. She watched her parents destroy each other and eventually divorce. She wanted no part of that emotional war. So like Clay, she guarded her heart. They were the perfect match for ten years. Seeking pleasure with each other, but also having an open relationship with no jealously or resentment.
They often played a game with one another, chasing away the other's potential conquest for the night. As the synopsis mentioned, one night, the game is changed and leads them down a path neither expected.
While this book has angst, as you'd expect from an author with the label, the Queen of Angst, this book didn't seem as intense as the previous books. Maybe it was all of the years this couple shared, that I knew they'd find a way back to one another. Maybe it was that it was obvious strong feelings were there, just not communicated. Maybe it was that the author glossed over their time with others - because I personally hate hearing those details. Whatever the reason, I felt like everything would work out.
What I found most interesting with this book was how much I liked Clay. He's conceited beyond belief, is entitled, yet hates the power his last name holds, and he's a bit of a blockhead when it comes to chasing down what he wants. As dumb as he was a times, his behavior seemed very realistic. As we know, men aren't the best communicators. Clay not only puts his foot in his mouth at times, he doesn't express what he truly feels. But I felt like there was a natural growth for him. The whole idea of "you don't know what you had until it's gone", is clear with Clay's change.
As for the heroine, her change didn't seem as believable. It's pretty much overnight and she doesn't really give Clay a chance to adjust. One small incident convinced her that Clay was on the same page, which didn't seem right. And I was frustrated with her as Clay tried to right his wrongs. The whole thing was drawn out more that it should have been. But Clay proves how much he has changed in the end, and it was actually very sweet. Sweeter than I expected.
Fans of Brady and Liz will like the roles they played in this book. They are both protective and supportive. Each offering advice to Clay on how to repair the damaged caused. This book also repairs the animosity that Clay felt towards his brother, as he sees him in a new light. And we'll get at least one more book with Savannah. Her little love triangle should be an interesting one.
*An ARC was received for an honest review.
For more reviews, visit
June 8, 2016
DNF @ 26%
Unfortunately, this was just not working for me. I loved the other books in the series but this one was just too convulated for me. The whole "relationship" between Clay & Andrea (they can sleep with other people as long as at the end of the day they were together) was just distasteful. And both the H and h got under my skin.
Unfortunately, this was just not working for me. I loved the other books in the series but this one was just too convulated for me. The whole "relationship" between Clay & Andrea (they can sleep with other people as long as at the end of the day they were together) was just distasteful. And both the H and h got under my skin.
Read
July 25, 2016Dnf 45%
I don't like Clay or Andrea and I don't particularly care whether they end up together or not. Even regular appearances from my very favourite Congressman Maxwell isn't enough to keep me reading, I'm not feeling this one.
I don't like Clay or Andrea and I don't particularly care whether they end up together or not. Even regular appearances from my very favourite Congressman Maxwell isn't enough to keep me reading, I'm not feeling this one.
May 24, 2019
I wish I could've enjoyed this more (I did like the first three books) but even Joe Arden's voice couldn't save it. The hero was dumb one too many times. It's hard to believe he loved the heroine when he carried on sleeping with others.
June 8, 2016
Struck from the Record (Record #4) by KA Linde
4 stars!!!
For those that have read the first three books in this series will know that Clay Maxwell was the brother of Brady Maxwell whose story was covered in the first three books. Clay Maxwell was always in the background, lurking, he was a character that was intriguing, seemed a jack the lad and was full of resentment for all and everything to do with this brother. Clay Maxwell was an enigma and it was this air of uncertainty regarding the man behind the name that made his story all the more intriguing. I was eager to pull back his layers and unearth the real Clay Maxwell.
Clay Maxwell is a man with issues, but the crux of the matter is, are his issues real or just a figment of his imagination…a few misconstrued comments that has led to him brooding and hating for no reason at all? He has grown up in his father and brothers shadow, two highly successful politicians and the pressure to emulate was suffocating. That all-consuming fear of not living up to expectations and the apparent conclusions being drawn of not being loved or wanted because of failure.
But, underneath all those pressures was a man who was fun, flirty and a man-whore despite having a ten-year relationship with a girl he had been attached at the hip to since childhood. Andrea and Clay’s relationship was unconventional at best, an open relationship whereby when together, they were all that mattered, however, when apart anything was game…they played “The Game.”
Andrea had her own insecurities, especially with regards to love and relationships hence her relationship with Clay, however, sometimes wants and needs change whether you expect them to or not. I must admit, I found Andrea hard to relate to, however, she grew on me eventually…just. I felt that maybe I would have benefitted from having her point of view too, maybe being inside her head would have given me a better insight into her and her emotions.
So what happens when “The Game” changes?
Overall, this was a classic KA Linde angsty read, delivered with fantastic writing as usual. Addictive and all-consuming and a real page turner. I have loved this series, while I love my political reads the politics take a back seat in this book and instead we are treated to the world of lawyers and art galleries. Brady and Liz as you would expect, appear throughout and it was great to catch up with them and we finally get…aaaah, you’ll have to read it!!
www.theromancecover.com
4 stars!!!
“I just decided I couldn’t be me without you.”
For those that have read the first three books in this series will know that Clay Maxwell was the brother of Brady Maxwell whose story was covered in the first three books. Clay Maxwell was always in the background, lurking, he was a character that was intriguing, seemed a jack the lad and was full of resentment for all and everything to do with this brother. Clay Maxwell was an enigma and it was this air of uncertainty regarding the man behind the name that made his story all the more intriguing. I was eager to pull back his layers and unearth the real Clay Maxwell.
Clay Maxwell is a man with issues, but the crux of the matter is, are his issues real or just a figment of his imagination…a few misconstrued comments that has led to him brooding and hating for no reason at all? He has grown up in his father and brothers shadow, two highly successful politicians and the pressure to emulate was suffocating. That all-consuming fear of not living up to expectations and the apparent conclusions being drawn of not being loved or wanted because of failure.
“Didn’t realize what I had until I lost it.”
But, underneath all those pressures was a man who was fun, flirty and a man-whore despite having a ten-year relationship with a girl he had been attached at the hip to since childhood. Andrea and Clay’s relationship was unconventional at best, an open relationship whereby when together, they were all that mattered, however, when apart anything was game…they played “The Game.”
“Because you like the games. You thrive on the games. You said it yourself…”
Andrea had her own insecurities, especially with regards to love and relationships hence her relationship with Clay, however, sometimes wants and needs change whether you expect them to or not. I must admit, I found Andrea hard to relate to, however, she grew on me eventually…just. I felt that maybe I would have benefitted from having her point of view too, maybe being inside her head would have given me a better insight into her and her emotions.
“I don’t want to tame him. I like him the way he is – wild and mine.”
So what happens when “The Game” changes?
“Life-changing and completely unpredictable.”
Overall, this was a classic KA Linde angsty read, delivered with fantastic writing as usual. Addictive and all-consuming and a real page turner. I have loved this series, while I love my political reads the politics take a back seat in this book and instead we are treated to the world of lawyers and art galleries. Brady and Liz as you would expect, appear throughout and it was great to catch up with them and we finally get…aaaah, you’ll have to read it!!
“Shit had been fucking fine for too long to shift the paradigm of their relationship.”
www.theromancecover.com
June 5, 2016
I really enjoyed the first three books in the Record series, and was excited to get Clay's story. Clay, the enigmatic and hilarious younger brother of politician Brady Maxwell, has been in an open relationship with his girlfriend, Andrea for ten years. He's a shameless flirt, and a bit of a wild card. Commitment has never been his thing; the open relationship has always been the most he's been able or willing to give.
Then, in almost a blink of the eye, everything changes and Clay must decide if he's willing to give more of himself than he's ever given before—or lose the one woman who has always stood by his side.
I loved Clay in the previous Record books. He was one of my favorite side-characters, always good for a laugh or a little bit of charge to the atmosphere. He fell a little flat for me here—the impish flirt that I loved so much was missing, and I'd have liked to see more of that with Andrea. Understandably, their relationship was going through a tremendous shift, but I just missed that about him. I feel like a little bit of lightness might have helped me invest more in their relationship. I heard a lot about the history and depth of their relationship, but I felt like I didn't always see that in their interactions.
I struggled a little with Andrea, too. Not the decisions she made—I completely understood where she was coming from and the line she drew in the sand. I just had a really hard time warming to her. She's not...a warm person. I didn't relate to her at all. I did enjoy her character arc, and there were moments toward the end that were sweet and heartwarming, but overall, she wasn't someone I was able to connect to, so while I enjoyed her story, I didn't feel it the way I would have liked to.
I completely enjoyed the time I got to spend with Liz and Brady and my favorite bits of the whole book were Liz and Clay's interactions with each other. Liz was the only one who seemed to draw that spark I was looking for out of him, and those moments were adorable and hilarious. I also loved how Clay's relationship with his family evolved, and how that added depth to the changes Clay made in his life over the course of the book. There were some incredibly sweet Maxwell family moments, and I cannot wait to get Savannah's story!
In all, Struck from the Record was an entertaining read. I loved the ending, and adored the epilogue. It was a bit of a bumpy ride for me, but I'm so happy to have gotten Clay's story and, best of all, his happily ever after. ~ Shelly, 3.5 stars
Then, in almost a blink of the eye, everything changes and Clay must decide if he's willing to give more of himself than he's ever given before—or lose the one woman who has always stood by his side.
I loved Clay in the previous Record books. He was one of my favorite side-characters, always good for a laugh or a little bit of charge to the atmosphere. He fell a little flat for me here—the impish flirt that I loved so much was missing, and I'd have liked to see more of that with Andrea. Understandably, their relationship was going through a tremendous shift, but I just missed that about him. I feel like a little bit of lightness might have helped me invest more in their relationship. I heard a lot about the history and depth of their relationship, but I felt like I didn't always see that in their interactions.
I struggled a little with Andrea, too. Not the decisions she made—I completely understood where she was coming from and the line she drew in the sand. I just had a really hard time warming to her. She's not...a warm person. I didn't relate to her at all. I did enjoy her character arc, and there were moments toward the end that were sweet and heartwarming, but overall, she wasn't someone I was able to connect to, so while I enjoyed her story, I didn't feel it the way I would have liked to.
I completely enjoyed the time I got to spend with Liz and Brady and my favorite bits of the whole book were Liz and Clay's interactions with each other. Liz was the only one who seemed to draw that spark I was looking for out of him, and those moments were adorable and hilarious. I also loved how Clay's relationship with his family evolved, and how that added depth to the changes Clay made in his life over the course of the book. There were some incredibly sweet Maxwell family moments, and I cannot wait to get Savannah's story!
In all, Struck from the Record was an entertaining read. I loved the ending, and adored the epilogue. It was a bit of a bumpy ride for me, but I'm so happy to have gotten Clay's story and, best of all, his happily ever after. ~ Shelly, 3.5 stars
October 6, 2016
I loved Brady Maxwell so much. He and Liz had a dynamite storyline and they kept me breathless from start to finish. I knew he couldn't be upstaged by his younger brother and bad boy Clay -- and well, I was right. Even so, Clay and Andrea kept me interested and intrigued with their story and I always love a good friends to lovers story. This was an excellent addition to the terrific "Record" series. I'm excited to see what little sis, Savannah, brings to the series next.
June 22, 2016
It was amazing how much Clay grew as a person throughout the story. I think the story would been more developed if we had had Andrea's point of view. I just felt like a huge chunk of the story was missing without her perspective. I can't wait to read Savannah's story and the drama that will surely ensue.
June 8, 2016
Review coming soon!
June 9, 2016
If you into monogamy & believe in that one true love that binds you to one person than be advised & stay miles away from this book.It follows the convoluted story of one lost soul & one opportunist both who consensually 'cheat' for over a decade.
They have this magnetic obsession that allows them freedom to fuck whomever they please as long as it does not infringe upon their personal time with each other until one of them becomes drastically unhinged & loses the plot entirely resulting in the other one seeking refuge inside any crevice he can find at a local meat bar nightly until he comes to his senses.
I could mostly understand Clay's journey to monogamy even though it is a slippery wet slope to redemption for him.Andrea's enlightenment is a bit more obscured as we get no real understanding as to why she instigated such an unconventional relationship all those years ago aside from using her parents divorce as an excuse to start it.We get insider information & fresh perspective into Clay's rampant sexual dalliances with ow but not so much with Andrea's escapades.It is mostly hinted at secondhand.
And because we ride with Clay 99% of the book the reader bonds a lot more with his character through every facet of his development from blindly whorish to sensitively monogamous.Andrea on the other hand comes across as being coldly manipulatively,sexually needy most of the book.It's only in the epilogue you get a peek inside of her soul.
I enjoyed both the writing & the story even with the monumental misunderstandings that often ended up in cringe worthy decisions.Despite all that & my puzzlement at their 10 plus years of screwing each other & anyone else within sexual radius it all comes together quite nicely in the end.
They have this magnetic obsession that allows them freedom to fuck whomever they please as long as it does not infringe upon their personal time with each other until one of them becomes drastically unhinged & loses the plot entirely resulting in the other one seeking refuge inside any crevice he can find at a local meat bar nightly until he comes to his senses.
I could mostly understand Clay's journey to monogamy even though it is a slippery wet slope to redemption for him.Andrea's enlightenment is a bit more obscured as we get no real understanding as to why she instigated such an unconventional relationship all those years ago aside from using her parents divorce as an excuse to start it.We get insider information & fresh perspective into Clay's rampant sexual dalliances with ow but not so much with Andrea's escapades.It is mostly hinted at secondhand.
And because we ride with Clay 99% of the book the reader bonds a lot more with his character through every facet of his development from blindly whorish to sensitively monogamous.Andrea on the other hand comes across as being coldly manipulatively,sexually needy most of the book.It's only in the epilogue you get a peek inside of her soul.
I enjoyed both the writing & the story even with the monumental misunderstandings that often ended up in cringe worthy decisions.Despite all that & my puzzlement at their 10 plus years of screwing each other & anyone else within sexual radius it all comes together quite nicely in the end.
June 16, 2016
**I enjoyed it but nothing close to as good as Brady :D I kinda feel bad now cause Clay always felt left in Bradys shadow and I'm doing it to him again!! I cry!!! lol but seriously Brady is still hot :D**
This makes me one happy biatch!! happy dance!
This makes me one happy biatch!! happy dance!
April 26, 2018
2.5 Stars was fun to catch up with the Maxwells, it’s been a while and I was long overdue for Clay and his philandering ways. The first 55% or so was angst and all its wonderful glory, Andrea and Clay are what I look for in this author’s angsty style but once the issues resolved I found the new Clay dull and only a shell of his former self. His character changes were rather extreme and I was reading a much different book. Heavy on the cheese and over the top romantic antics. Ultimately I was kinda bummed in the change of direction and everything I once loved about Clay was suddenly a past time. He held no resemblance of his former self and it was far too drastic for my liking. This pains because I was loving this one so hard and in a matter of pages I had to force myself to finish. The cheese was nauseating.
October 17, 2019
It was a bit anti-climatic. The build up of their relationship as secondary characters in the drugs three books gave me high expectations, and while I did enjoy it, Clay and Andrea were just okay. There weren’t any surprises.
Audiobook
Audiobook
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January 25, 2020DNF
June 10, 2016
Struck From The Record was definitely and interesting read for me. I went in without knowing anything about the series. I liked from the beginning. I loved the way he carried himself even if he was a manwhore. Clay was the type of person who knew how to have a good time no matter what he was doing. Clay and Andrea's relationship was very very different and I didn't quite understand it a first but once the story started progressing I started to understand and knew something was going to happen between the two. Clay has something happen to him, that has him and Andrea shaken up. Andrea wants more out their agreement but Clay being the type of guy he is, it has him terrified. In the end after a few rough months Clay cleans up his act and finally starts to realize what Andrea really ment to him and he goes and gets his girl.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*
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