Noah (5th Street, #1) by Elizabeth Reyes

Book Description: 

Veronica Cruz has been through hell and back. After disconnecting with the world two years ago to be at the side of her dying mother, she’s left alone, unemployed, overweight, and feeling a decade older than her twenty-eight years. When her best friend coaxes her into joining the local gym to ditch her depression and rejuvenate her life, she meets Noah. Assigned to help Veronica lose weight, Noah is everything she expected a young trainer to be—perfectly chiseled, supportive and motivating. Add to that, he’s incredibly sexy. He’s everything she’s ever looked for in a man. What she least expected was for him to fall for her, but he has. There's just one glaring problem: Noah is eight years younger.

Noah Quintanilla has his eye on a boxing title—someday. Down for a few months with an injury, his maintenance-boy pay at 5th Street Gym won't cut it. He’s finally given the opportunity to train. The catch? His trainee is an out-of-shape woman with a free week pass. Taking on the challenge, Noah stumbles into one of the closest friendships he’s ever known, and before he knows it, he’s in love. But Veronica’s not having it—the age difference is too much. Their platonic relationship means having to watch her date other men—something that would make him crazy. Believing he's the man for her, Noah sets out to prove that age is but an illusion, and there's more to him than just a number.

Christina's BookReview 

“Haven't you picked up on the irony of life by now? Things only just happen when you're not ready. When you're ready, you start trying, and gadamn I feel like trying right now.” 

RECAP:

Veronica has not had the best year. After suffering the lost of her mother veronica turns in on herself. After hitting rock bottom Veronica is obligated by her best friend to join the gym. Veronica goes along and at the end of the night she will have fulfills her friends wishes and return to her miserable existence. But fate has other plans. His name is Noah Quintanilla.

Noah Quintanilla has had a rough life. Moving from foster home to foster home has made him one tough man. The 5th Street gym is his family and he is finally given the chance to train. What Noah doesn't expect is a trainee much different from what 5th Street is used to. This trainee will be one that will change him forever.

What starts off as a friendship quickly changes for Noah and Veronica. But with the doubts and age difference between the two will these two ever get a happily ever after? Or are they at the wrong stage of their lives?

MY TAKE:

I won this book along with book 2 in a giveaway the author ran and was excited to start this. As a fan of The Moreno Brothers I couldn't wait to delve into this book. Although it was good I didn't enjoy it as much as previous reads from Ms. Reyes.

Noah and Veronica had a sweet friendship that blossomed throughout the book into a romance. While Veronica tries to work on herself and return to normal she also tries to deal with her growing affections for Noah, whose 8 years younger then her.  Unlike many twenty year old Noah has lived a very mature life. He isn't a boy and trying to get Veronica to see that is a difficult task which takes the whole entire book.

I liked the book but thought that the back and forth was a little drawn out which is why the 3.5 Stars. It consisted of the same things. They would flirt, she would back off, he would move forward. When they are finally together the book ends which is frustrating.

I recommend the book for the cute romance and the hot men of 5th Street. I look forward to reading Gio, book 2 in this series.

If you are a fan of Ms Reyes, I would say pick this up!
 

Happy Reading!