update: 19/05/22 authors who listen to their readers???




when authors see any criticism their readers have put out, it’s extremely rare the author actually listens. some can get pretty defensive and isolate their readers by doing so. but most just don’t comment on any criticism at all which is totally valid too.

but the respect you garner as an author to take the time to listen to readers, hear their thoughts and then actually adjust their writing to better suit their readers? unmatched.

so seeing J. Saman adjust this book a little bit after a few arc readers (including me) had an issue with one aspect of the storyline, was honestly so insane to me. but in the best way. it’s really nice to know she values her readers opinions so much and actually cares what we think.

i already enjoyed so many of her books before, but now knowing the type of person she is also elevates my preexisting relationship with her books.

so im adjusting my rating to four stars now! im gonna leave my original review below since a lot of my thoughts are still valid, but the change she made has just elevated the book for me completely! so the part in my review below where i state that there was something that bothered me that Luca did in the four years apart... scrap that now

DNF

does it count as a DNF if I didn't even start the book. I opened it read the first sentence and closed it. tbh it doesn't seem to include information that I need to read the last book so I'm not going to waste my time.

I have been dying to get my hands on this book because I was so intrigued about the whole situation between Luca and Raven and I was not disappointed. It is raw, passionate and intense but oh so forbidden at the time. We delve into the history but the present is just everything between these two. There is this thread that connects these two and regardless of the history, the age gap and so much more, they are so tightly bound to each other and you cannot help but get caught up in your feels with them. I loved the concept, the tension, the passion and the little raw moments that add to the depth of the story. I adore this series but I think Luca has my heart out of all the brothers!

Edit: originally a 4.5★ but came back to change it to a full 5 after reading a similar book and realizing how much I really adore these two

Luca Fritz the playboy doctor with the reputation of loving and leaving them. Everywhere you look there are pictures of this playboy with a different girl almost every night. When everyone thinks this playboy will never change his ways and settle down that’s when he heart is captured by the beautiful Raven. Raven and Luca have known each other all their lives and she has harbored a crush on him for a long time, but with their age difference its always just seemed like a dream. On a night where Luca is drowning in his misery of an accident that could take his career away he hears the most beautiful noise and that leads him to a now grownup Raven. She is smart and wise beyond her years so Luca is taken back with how amazing she is and their conversations flow so seamlessly, he’s instantly captivated. Falling deeper for each other the more time together they spend they both know no one else would ever compare and that they’ve found the real deal. The love they feel is genuine, sweet, happens fast, yet they both have goals for their own futures and that can cause a serious rift. Years later they find themselves together again can Luca show Raven everything he done was for her? Will Raven ever forgive him and let him back in or will she walk away never looking back? Luca has his work cut out for him to show her that his love never left and she was always his. This story is one of heartbreak, love, and so much more. Luca knew his love for Raven was the real deal, he knew though she needed to follow her dreams so she never resents him for not doing so, and his sacrifice shattered them both but it was done with such an incredible intent behind it you couldn’t stay mad at him for it. He knew what he wanted when it came time for her to come back in his life and he never wavered. I have to say that Luca with his hot nerd ways was my favorite in this story because he did so much for the love of his life and it made me love him even more. At times I wanted to shake Raven and I know she was broken from their breakup, but i think a lot of that pain came from her issues with her own mother passing, so she made me a little mad how much she put Luca through. This series and this family has been amazing. The strength and bond that they all have is such a beautiful thing and they definitely needed it in this story to help each other through. Luca and Raven’s love story wasn’t an easy one, but what great love isn’t? ( ps.my man Jasper was in this one too…yep fangirled over here ) “We loved for such a short time, but I already know I’ll never be able to fully wash him from my skin.”

'The Doctor is in, and he's here to play! A tug-at-the-feels read that's as sexy as it is heartfelt.' - The British Bibliophile

Thank you to Greys Promotions for sending me an ebook Advanced Readers Copy for me to read and leave an honest review.
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How it feels good to be back in the Boston Billionaire Bachelor world! I joined this series with book two, Doctor Mistake, and I've been here for the ride ever since. Kudos to J.Saman for keeping the interest there with these fantastic novels!

If you haven't already, go back and read the other three books in this series before jumping in with Doctor Playboy & Luca Fritz. These books are standalones and can be read in any order and J.Saman is brilliant with bringing you up to speed on who's who if you're not familiar with any of the other books in the series, but I'd recommend starting from the beginning.

Now, are you ready to meet Luca Fritz? Dr Luca has been paged, and he's here to make his rounds.

Luca & Raven's story was set to be one of resisting tasting of the forbidden fruit, dealing with an antagonising age-gap and a second chance at a love that promises all the good stuff we love out of both a romance novel and more specifically, a J.Saman book. A book which has undergone tweaking by the author who so kindly contacted me to see if I would like to continue reading the 'before' version, or re-read the 'after'. I opted for the latter, and here's why.

I had read up to 60% of the way through this beautiful behemoth of a book when the message came through that there was another--updated--version that I could read. I won't disclose the reason why as that's private to J.Saman, but praise is very much due here for her bravery in changing quite a central element to the book. The change didn't affect the storyline majorly, and it didn't affect the way I saw or read the book, but it did make a huge difference to how we would see Luca. The former painted his reason for doing what he did in a not so positive light, and the change was made to erase that and write the wrong. Pun intended.

I'm always on the side of the belief that authors should write what they want, how they want, and we as readers should respect that no matter of what our personal opinions, thoughts or beliefs are. Even when faced with the inevitable criticism or comments from readers about any part of a book. J.Saman took the time to make this change--for whatever reason which again, is hers alone--in consideration OF her readers and their thoughts/feelings. As I've previously stated, this change did not affect how I saw either J.Saman as an author, or her work. But praise where praise is due, not many authors I know would make this change. Bravo!

I think it's a fair assessment to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, twice over! (Well, 1.5 times if we're being technical) You'll never forget a Fritz once you've encountered one, and Luca is definitely unforgettable. Yes he like many other book men, make mistakes that get us readers all riled up, but that only made for a more interesting story to the point of a possible second chance/happily ever after with his true love, Raven.

Their story was one that yes, could have been easily avoided of heartbreak and emotional turmoil but again, that wouldn't have made for a very interesting story. And Luca & Raven's story was for sure an interesting one!

*Bonus mention* - Epilogue 2?! Let's talk about you! Normally I don't read bonus excerpts into future books--I like to be surprised--but I did and holy wow! Kaplan is going to be phenomenal!

4.5 stars for Doctor Playboy!