A sexy story is undercut by a side character whose abusive behavior toward women is tolerated by both protagonists.
An independent PR consultant hired to fix the image of a highly dysfunctional family that runs a media conglomerate meets her match when a long-lost son reluctantly returns to the fold in Hunting's (Making Up, 2019, etc.) latest romance.
Lincoln Moorehead would rather use his Ivy League education to build sustainable communities in developing countries than work for his family’s media company, but when his father dies unexpectedly, he returns to New York, where he's talked into taking over as CEO. Only Wren, the PR consultant hired by Lincoln’s mother to keep his miscreant brother in line, keeps Linc’s interest. Wren is a straight shooter, witty, and very good at her job. In no time, Lincoln succumbs to a makeover and wardrobe refresh, as Wren drags him through the transition from building houses in the mountains of Guatemala to running meetings in the boardrooms of Manhattan. Wren has had it with the Moorehead family but hopes this gig will open doors to the funding she needs to start her own foundation. As Wren and Lincoln spend time together, their attraction grows undeniable. But family issues plague them, as Lincoln uncovers secrets about his parents that threaten to turn his family legacy into a pile of lies. Smart writing and snappy dialogue shine when Lincoln and Wren spar and circle around each other. Lincoln’s growing understanding of his family and his place within it is well done, but Wren’s troubled relationship with her mother is built on a simple misunderstanding that could have been solved with one quick conversation. The main problem is Armstrong, Wren’s charge and Lincoln’s “barbaric, vile, and demented” brother. This character is a “narcissistic egomaniac who abuses any shred of power he has,” especially over women, whom he serially harasses, demeans, and insults. It’s difficult to root for Wren’s success when it requires shielding men from the just consequences of their actions.
A sexy story is undercut by a side character whose abusive behavior toward women is tolerated by both protagonists.Pub Date: Aug. 27, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-250-18399-6
Page Count: 320
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2019
Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of...
Hoover’s (November 9, 2015, etc.) latest tackles the difficult subject of domestic violence with romantic tenderness and emotional heft.
At first glance, the couple is edgy but cute: Lily Bloom runs a flower shop for people who hate flowers; Ryle Kincaid is a surgeon who says he never wants to get married or have kids. They meet on a rooftop in Boston on the night Ryle loses a patient and Lily attends her abusive father’s funeral. The provocative opening takes a dark turn when Lily receives a warning about Ryle’s intentions from his sister, who becomes Lily’s employee and close friend. Lily swears she’ll never end up in another abusive home, but when Ryle starts to show all the same warning signs that her mother ignored, Lily learns just how hard it is to say goodbye. When Ryle is not in the throes of a jealous rage, his redeeming qualities return, and Lily can justify his behavior: “I think we needed what happened on the stairwell to happen so that I would know his past and we’d be able to work on it together,” she tells herself. Lily marries Ryle hoping the good will outweigh the bad, and the mother-daughter dynamics evolve beautifully as Lily reflects on her childhood with fresh eyes. Diary entries fancifully addressed to TV host Ellen DeGeneres serve as flashbacks to Lily’s teenage years, when she met her first love, Atlas Corrigan, a homeless boy she found squatting in a neighbor’s house. When Atlas turns up in Boston, now a successful chef, he begs Lily to leave Ryle. Despite the better option right in front of her, an unexpected complication forces Lily to cut ties with Atlas, confront Ryle, and try to end the cycle of abuse before it’s too late. The relationships are portrayed with compassion and honesty, and the author’s note at the end that explains Hoover’s personal connection to the subject matter is a must-read.
Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of the survivors.Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5011-1036-8
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
A thoughtful and pensive tale with intelligent characters and a satisfying romance.
A promise to his best friend leads an Army serviceman to a family in need and a chance at true love in this novel.
Beckett Gentry is surprised when his Army buddy Ryan MacKenzie gives him a letter from Ryan’s sister, Ella. Abandoned by his mother, Beckett grew up in a series of foster homes. He is wary of attachments until he reads Ella’s letter. A single mother, Ella lives with her twins, Maisie and Colt, at Solitude, the resort she operates in Telluride, Colorado. They begin a correspondence, although Beckett can only identify himself by his call sign, Chaos. After Ryan’s death during a mission, Beckett travels to Telluride as his friend had requested. He bonds with the twins while falling deeply in love with Ella. Reluctant to reveal details of Ryan’s death and risk causing her pain, Beckett declines to disclose to Ella that he is Chaos. Maisie needs treatment for neuroblastoma, and Beckett formally adopts the twins as a sign of his commitment to support Ella and her children. He and Ella pursue a romance, but when an insurance investigator questions the adoption, Beckett is faced with revealing the truth about the letters and Ryan’s death, risking losing the family he loves. Yarros’ (Wilder, 2016, etc.) novel is a deeply felt and emotionally nuanced contemporary romance bolstered by well-drawn characters and strong, confident storytelling. Beckett and Ella are sympathetic protagonists whose past experiences leave them cautious when it comes to love. Beckett never knew the security of a stable home life. Ella impulsively married her high school boyfriend, but the marriage ended when he discovered she was pregnant. The author is especially adept at developing the characters through subtle but significant details, like Beckett’s aversion to swearing. Beckett and Ella’s romance unfolds slowly in chapters that alternate between their first-person viewpoints. The letters they exchanged are pivotal to their connection, and almost every chapter opens with one. Yarros’ writing is crisp and sharp, with passages that are poetic without being florid. For example, in a letter to Beckett, Ella writes of motherhood: “But I’m not the center of their universe. I’m more like their gravity.” While the love story is the book’s focus, the subplot involving Maisie’s illness is equally well-developed, and the link between Beckett and the twins is heartfelt and sincere.
A thoughtful and pensive tale with intelligent characters and a satisfying romance.Pub Date: Feb. 26, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-64063-533-3
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Review Posted Online: Jan. 2, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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