An intriguing but uneven love story.
An advertising hotshot locks horns with a former fling in this workplace romance.
Craig Keller’s life is complicated. Though he’s the sexy and successful owner of one of Los Angeles’ hottest ad agencies and has money to burn, the 40-year-old also has twice-weekly therapy appointments. He must finally deal with the traumatic death of his beloved older brother (not to mention Craig’s issues with his father) and a custody arrangement for his two young children with his ex-wife, a frigid former model. Things only get worse when Hayden Towne, the “agency siren” with whom Craig’s been enjoying a red-hot affair, reveals post-coitus that she’s leaving the agency and poaching his clients to start her own firm. Determined not to let Hayden topple him professionally, Craig approaches competing agency Mitchell Vance & Mercer about a potential merger, so together they can conquer the increasingly digital world of advertising. The only problem? One of the partners, stunning redhead Jane Mercer, is also an ex-lover of Craig’s—and as she’s now married, she doesn’t want daily contact with him. Though Jane relents and the merger proceeds, she doesn’t want anything to do with Craig until one fateful day when their tentative truce turns hotly physical. But what happens when the once-irrepressible bad boy starts catching feelings for his new colleague? Royce grew up in LA and once worked as a Las Vegas marketing and PR executive, and clearly the fast pace and constant drama of the world are as enjoyable for her to write about as they are to read. But it’s difficult to root for a character that is dubbed a “sexist pig” in the first few pages and, over the course of the book, does very little to remedy that image. Craig comments on the appearance of nearly every woman he encounters and crosses professional boundaries more than once—including a one-night stand with a potential business partner, an older woman whom he describes in insulting terms. He never really seems to change even when that stasis means hurting others.
An intriguing but uneven love story.Pub Date: May 3, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-951130-77-0
Page Count: 278
Publisher: Dagmar Miura
Review Posted Online: July 6, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.
Two people with bad luck in relationships find each other through a popular Reddit thread.
Emma Grant and her best friend, Maddy, are travel nurses, working at hospitals for three-month stints while they see the country. Just a few weeks before they’re set to move to Hawaii, Emma reads a popular “Am I the Asshole” Reddit thread from a Minnesota man who thinks he’s cursed—women he dates find their soulmates after breaking up with him, and the latest one found true love with his best friend! Emma has had a similar experience, which inspires her to DM the man and commiserate. She’s delighted by her witty, lively interactions with software engineer Justin Dahl, and is intrigued when he suggests that if they date each other, maybe they’ll each find their soulmate afterward. Emma upends the Hawaii plan and convinces Maddy to move to Minneapolis for the summer so she can meet Justin in person. The overly complex setup brings Emma and Justin together and the two hit it off, with Justin immediately falling head over heels for Emma. Jimenez then pivots to creating romantic roadblocks and melodramatic subplots centering on each character’s family of origin. Justin’s mother is about to serve six years in prison for embezzlement, which means Justin must move back home to care for his three much younger siblings. Emma was traumatized by her own mother for much of her childhood, left to fend for herself and eventually abandoned in the foster system. When her mother shows up in Minnesota, Emma must face her traumatic childhood and admit that she has prioritized her mother’s well-being over her own. There is little time devoted to Emma’s painful efforts to heal herself enough to accept Justin’s love, which leaves the novel feeling unsatisfying.
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781538704431
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.
A reluctant princess is thrust into deadly political intrigue in Perry’s sweeping, high-stakes romantasy.
Odessa is the overlooked and underestimated princess of Quentis, whose life takes an unexpected turn when a deal is struck between her father and the formidable Turan warriors force her into an arranged marriage with their enigmatic prince, Zavier Wolfe. Intended as a mere formality to secure trade routes and military alliances, the betrothal spirals into something far more dangerous when ancient magic, a ruthless Guardian, and a looming war threaten to upend everything she knows. Finally emerging from the shadow of her seemingly perfect half sister, Mae, Odessa must navigate court politics, monstrous creatures, and her own uncertain place in a world where survival often depends on strategy rather than strength. As tensions rise, she finds herself entangled with the dangerous, enigmatic Guardian—a man whose silver eyes hold secrets of their own. Perry’s worldbuilding is lush and immersive, crafting a kingdom rife with old magic, deadly beasts, and political machinations that add depth. The pacing is relentless, carrying Odessa from one life-altering event to another as she grapples with duty, defiance, and a destiny she never chose. Her internal conflict is compelling, torn between the expectations placed upon her and the fierce independence that threatens to make her an outcast in her own kingdom. Romance simmers as Odessa struggles to reconcile her obligations with her growing attraction to the Guardian, whose past is as shadowed as his reputation. Mae is introduced as Odessa’s political foil, and although her presence drives much of Odessa’s internal drama—being constantly overshadowed or underestimated—she’s mostly seen through Odessa’s perspective. Her motivations, ambitions, and political maneuverings might have benefited from deeper exploration to give more nuance to the power dynamics. However, Perry’s evocative prose and intricate plotting make for a gripping tale. Readers looking for a slow-burn romantasy with rich political intrigue and a protagonist forced to create her own fate will find much to enjoy.
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9781649378514
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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