A quick, fun enemies-to-lovers tale that’s equal parts hilarious and sexy.
An ambitious country transplant gets saddled with an infuriating plus-one in this romance.
Hadley Donavan moved to Harbor City with big dreams—namely, taking nonprofit organizations to the next level as a charitable giving consultant. Sadly, things aren’t going to plan. She’s broke, shares a tiny apartment with a roommate, and is fired from her job thanks to an unexpected kiss at a work event with Will Holt, an old-money CEO and the “evil” twin brother of Hadley’s best friend, Web. Now Hadley’s heading home to Nebraska for her sister’s wedding and a week of festivities with her tightknit, blended family, with Web as her platonic date. But thanks to a last-minute bout of food poisoning, it’s Will—who’s fighting his lust for Hadley while questioning her intentions with his open-hearted brother—who shows up at the airport to escort her to the wedding. As they fake a relationship for her relatives, the city boy’s and country girl’s clashing personalities soon result in an unforgettable sexual encounter. While Will wins over her protective but loving relatives through quirky game nights and a surprise dance at a retirement home, Hadley must reconcile her growing feelings for him with the secret she’s keeping from her family: that her supposedly glamorous urban life is actually full of uncertainty. Though Will uses the term “gold digger” one too many times in describing Hadley’s possible motivations, Flynn’s writing is sharp and sweet, with two finely drawn main characters with relatable obstacles and hang-ups. Hadley wants to find success in Harbor City while making a difference, and Will—an orphan with a privileged but lonely upbringing—is fiercely protective of his twin brother. Hadley’s extended family is a pure joy to read about, especially her nurturing rancher stepfather, Gabe Martinez, and PawPaw, her spunky grandfather who proudly juggles three girlfriends. PawPaw quickly figures out Hadley and Will’s relationship lie and their growing affection for each other. Intimate scenes strike the perfect balance of sensual and emotional.
A quick, fun enemies-to-lovers tale that’s equal parts hilarious and sexy.Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-64063-912-6
Page Count: 330
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Much like the holiday itself, this Christmas romance has its ups and downs.
The adult children of two rock stars attempt to reunite their mothers’ band.
Octavia Dawkins and Trina Gallard headlined the band Steel Birds in the 1990s. When they were pregnant at the same time, they had an epic fight that destroyed both the band and their friendship. Octavia’s son, Beat, and Trina’s daughter, Melody, grew up in the spotlight, but Beat was fawned over by the press, while Melody’s awkward teenage years made her the object of derision and disdain. Thirty years after the band’s dramatic and mysterious breakup, its biggest hit is experiencing a resurgence of popularity. Beat and Melody agree to appear on a livestreamed reality show in which they'll try to broker a reunion, hopefully to culminate in their mothers’ appearing on stage together on Christmas Eve. Beat plans to use the money to pay off a blackmailer threatening to reveal a shameful family secret, while Melody hopes to shake up her strained relationship with her mother. The palpable, intense chemistry between Beat and Melody turns them into instant celebrities, leading fans to embrace their on-camera romance with even more intense fervor than the possible Steel Birds reunion. Bailey’s novel delivers madcap, humorous adventures, including a delightful reunion for Trina and Octavia. However, as characters, Beat and Melody seem out of sync with the plot. Both are bitterly aware of the cruelty of fame, so it's hard to believe they would willingly subject themselves to the kind of scrutiny required by an all-day livestream. An uncomfortable subplot links traumatic experiences during Beat’s teenage years to his sexual proclivities as an adult. Eventually, everything is tied up with a bow, but the easy resolutions for so many long-standing feuds and family dramas feel pat and unearned.
Much like the holiday itself, this Christmas romance has its ups and downs.Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2023
ISBN: 9780063308299
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
A compelling romance worth reading again, or for the first time.
A former bully and his childhood victim meet again.
Ever since Alfie Bell went south to London, he’s not felt quite comfortable “oop north” in South Shields. In fact, he doesn’t really feel comfortable anywhere, despite his career successes. Though closeted when he left, he’s now out to his friends and family, but still struggles to accept himself in many ways, and can’t shake the uncomfortable feeling that he no longer fits in anywhere. When he’s home for a wedding, his discomfort drives him to a small bar where he meets a stranger, Fen, who is antagonistic but still wants to go back to Alfie’s hotel for a one-night stand. It’s not until after their encounter that Alfie realizes he actually does know Fen—they went to school together and, back when Alfie was in the closet, he was one of the boys who’d bullied Fen mercilessly for years. Now, Fen says he just wanted to see “the school bully demonstrating what a good little cocksucker he’s grown into.” The revelation shocks Alfie out of the life he’s settled into, and he finds himself leaving his important job and friends in London to drive his fancy sports car back home and try to apologize so he can see Fen again. Despite his understandable reservations, Fen has always daydreamed about Alfie and is curious enough to see whether he’s actually changed, so they begin spending much more time together, leading to some scorching-hot moments as well as many complicated emotions for both to work through. This is the fourth volume in Hall’s series of Spires stories, but it can be read as a standalone. Though this is a rerelease of a book Hall self-published in 2018, fans will be thrilled to revisit Fen and Alfie’s story, especially as Hall has annotated it throughout, sharing thoughts about the Northeast England setting, his intentions while writing the book (and how he reflects on them now), and how to write a Geordie accent. Though it’s likely not for readers who don’t care for former-bully-to-lover stories, any others looking for a steamy, emotionally driven contemporary romance will be delighted.
A compelling romance worth reading again, or for the first time.Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781728251325
Page Count: 512
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2024
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