Bro Code

Based on the plot premise and previous Kendall Ryan novels, I eagerly looked forward to “Bro Code”. The storyline is promising but the characters simply don’t measure up. In fact, they’re stereotypical to the point of banality. We have Ava who is running her father’s factory and lusting after Barrett, who is considered off-limits because he’s her brother’s best friend. Ergo, the “bro code” is in effect. They’re thrown together over a long weekend and Ava aggressively pursues Barrett after getting an eyeful of his “package”. Told from a dual POV, the story relies so heavily on the love/sex scenes, that there’s not much of a story without them. And I have no problem with explicit sex scenes. In fact, I’m a huge Romance fan and the sexier, the better. But there has to be a real story to build on. The dialogue is equally lacking and even sophomoric at times; e.g. “Just the brush of this man’s arm would send me into a state of euphoria.” Oh pulleeeze! (eyeroll) Added to all that, whomever was tasked with copy editing and proofreading must’ve been sleeping on the job. Each instance of mangled syntax, redundant phrases, and many typos causes the reader to stumble. It’s very distracting and annoying because it takes the reader’s focus away from the story and made this reader think the author is unconcerned about her reader’s enjoyment. This was the 19th Kendall Ryan book I’ve read and the ONLY one I rated lower than four stars. Had it been the first, it would also have been the last.

Bro Code was a fun, fast, and effortless. It would make for an excellent beach read. Ava and Barrett were adorable. I had such a great time reading their story and ‘watching’ them navigate the intricacies of their family lives and find a way to be together even when they thought it was against some antiquated moral code.Bro Code is a standalone novel. There are no ties to other books or series, though I wouldn’t mind getting to know more about Ava’s brother, his story seems very fascinating. Bro Code is written in dual first-person perspective, narrated by Ava and Barrett.Ava and Barrett made a great couple. They both were so strong and independent, but each had a vulnerability that made them endearing. They had a fun back and forth, and when they were trying to avoid their chemistry, I loved that they didn’t avoid those kinds of interactions. It made the simmering tension beneath the surface feel more intense and served to demonstrate how good they were when they were together.Obviously, as Bro Code is the title of this book, it played a large role in this book in keeping Barrett from pursuing Ava. It was frustrating, of course it was, I’ve never understood why a man wouldn’t want the person they are closest to – outside of their family – to not become a part of their family by being in a relationship with their sibling, but boys are strange, and this was a perfect example of their peculiar logic. It was interesting to observe how Ava and Barrett explored their connection and fall for one another.My only wish for this book would have been to find out more about Barrett’s family and everything that had transpired there. It seems like such a rich vein to mine, and it was barely touched on. There was enough information in the book to begin to understand the strained dynamic, but it felt like there was so much more going on there and I would have liked to have figured it out.Kendall Ryan is a diverse writer, she easily slips from romcom to emotional to erotic and back again, seamlessly. Her stories are engrossing and entertaining. Her characters are fierce, smart, and strong. I always enjoy reading her words and find myself consistently wanting more.

One of the Bro Code rules is that you don't date, make out and even feel attraction for your bet friend's sister. This is something that Barrett feels strongly about. Nick and Barrett have been friends for years. Barrett has been a part of the family for many years. Growing up he spent more time with Nick's family than with his own. Barrett comes home for Nick's dad's retirement party. The underlying attraction that Ava and Barrett have had for years comes bubbling to the surface.Barrett does he best to fight but Ava doesn't let him get away with it. Barrett doesn't feel like they will development a real relationship due to distance and the fact that he's super busy trying to make partner in the law firm he works for and Ava has taken over running her dad's factory after he's forced to retire due to his health.When Barrett is faced with a possible career making case that involves hurting Ava. He has to decide what he wants his future to be.Ava has to makes some very tough decisions in regards to the factory.I love how they were able to work through the hurt and misgivings to join forces for a better outcome for them all.I was surprised how accepting Nick was of Ava and Barrett's relationship when he was told about it. I expected him to atleast punch Barrett once. I must be a little blood thirsty.I love how her Mom saw right through them. Mom's 'see' everything. Especially things we aren't even aware of yet.I also loved the different aspect this story has. We have a build up of attraction, we have sexual chemistry, we have relationship and real life struggles. We also have dashes of humor.**Reviewed by Tina for JoandIsaLoveBooksBlog

You just don’t sleep with your best friend’s sister, it’s in the bro code. A big no no! However Barrett and Ava just can’t seem to avoid each other, they want to be together but they ‘know’ it can’t work. Nick would never forgive Barrett for sleeping with his sister.Sometimes though feelings, chemistry and the hot tension just wins. The sparks between these two made me giggle and roll my eyes at the same time. They are like horny teenagers but it’s clear that they want to be together.The path to true love isn’t smooth and Barrett makes a lot of mistakes especially when it comes to Ava’s factory, you’ll have to read to see what I mean but it’s definitely worth the read!

Kendall Ryan just needs to take my money... all of it! Every book I read, or listen to, I think is my favourite, and every time I’m proved wrong. Her writing is so captivating that I end up lost in the story, whether I want to be or not. Bro Code was no different, I loved the idea of this story and thought I’d enjoy it, but, it was so much more than I thought it would be. Kendall’s take on brother’s best friend is really awesome and add in the twists, I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next to bring everything together.These characters are so cute. I just adored Ava’s parents, they were so sweet and funny. I liked Nick, maybe he needs a story next.Barrett Wilson is a charmer for sure. He was sweet, and sexy. He also drove me half insane with his bro code excuse - my god, man! I may have thought about slapping him upside the head on more than one occasion. Ava is just awesome. I loved her character so much. She was committed and determined no matter what others said, I loved that about her. The love she had for the factory and the workers was commendable and made her such a strong character and I loved that.The relationship between Ava and Barrett was so cute. I loved their interactions. It was fun, since they’d known each other a long time, and lusted after each other for almost as long, seeing that finally come to fruition and them not be able to resist, it was the sweetest thing. The sex scenes were smoking hot and fit this couple and their story perfectly.In true honest fashion, and I know I’ve gushed about this book, there was one line that I didn’t like, that frustrated me a bit, it’s nothing major, personal taste and all that. But, since I’m still thinking about it, I’m mentioning it. Because, you can absolutely love a book, and still not like every aspect of it. That’s the joy of reading, right?

I would've given 5 stars but there was just a couple things that could've been better, pretty much the whole way through we're told that Ava is strong and hard headed, and will go after anything she wants... So when it all went down at the meeting I expected her to put up more of a fight, instead Barrett saved the damsel in distress... And she just stood there crying so I was a little disappointed with that. However, I enjoyed the plot and their relationship and all the sneaking around; it made the whole book very exciting and hard to put down. I also liked how they got married and lived together, but didn't have any babies or pregnancies... I usually find that in most romance epilogue marriage, babies and everything else happens all at once and it's a little unbelievable so this was quite refreshing. Definitely worth a read.

Story is about Ava & her brother's best friend they've been lusting after each other for year's but he's been abiding by "the Bro code" no such thing ...clearly if you read the book.He was very keen on pleasuring her first everytime, YAY!!! Good sex scenes.Not often you get male masturbation in what I'd describe as a chic book, glad that was in there.The fact that he was described as being XXL was a tad annoying but funny.Quick read, nicely wrapped up, maybe a tad cliche but who cares.

While it was a decent quick read, this book didn't hook me the way I wanted it to. The story felt half harted and not particularly original, though I do realise the brothers best friend thing has been done from most angles, there just wasn't enough to the book for me.