An engaging, lighthearted novel likely to appeal to all romance readers.
A straight-laced New York businesswoman inherits half of a sex-toy shop in Portland, Oregon, from her free-spirited aunt.
Cade Elgin seems downright conservative to her artistic family. Her parents own one of New York’s most famous art galleries, and although Cade has an eye for discovering new artists, she spends most of her time managing the business side of things. After her Aunt Ruth’s funeral, Cade learns she has inherited half of her quirky aunt’s sex-toy shop, Satisfaction Guaranteed. The other half was left to Selena Mathis, Ruth’s friend and tenant. The shop is in dire financial straits, and even though she knows it’s a lost cause, Cade agrees to work with Selena to try to turn it around. Cade has never had much luck with girlfriends or sex, so she finds Selena’s sensuality and playfulness hard to resist. Meanwhile, Selena admires Cade’s easy confidence and calm demeanor. Selena has her own personal struggles with ex-lover Alex, who wants to get back with Selena after finally leaving her husband. Alex was one of her professors, and after their affair ended, Selena dropped out of art school and burned all her paintings. Determined to stay celibate until she straightens out her life, Selena tries to avoid her strong attraction to Cade while dodging Alex’s high-pressure push to reconcile. Cade and Selena are likable characters in a sticky situation, and they respect each other’s faults and foibles. Cade learns to let loose while Selena rediscovers her love of painting. Much of the novel’s humor derives from the differences between Cade and Selena, but Stetz-Waters never makes either of them the butt of the joke. It’s a truly funny rom-com that’s full of heat and heart.
An engaging, lighthearted novel likely to appeal to all romance readers.Pub Date: June 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5387-3552-7
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
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
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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