Format Read: eGalley
Source: the author in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: August 20, 2012
Buying Links: Entangled | Amazon* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.
Blurb from goodreads:
A sexy category romance from Entangled's Brazen imprint...
He’ll give her everything she desires...except his identity.
Flower shop owner Alexa Conroy had it all before the recession hit and her customers fled to cheaper shopping grounds. Desperate to make ends meet, she sells her dream home and moves into the rundown apartments above her shop. When she spots six feet of sexy distraction—complete with muscles, piercings, and tattoos—ripping up flooring, Alexa knows the karmic windfall she’s due just landed on her doorstep.
And the attraction’s definitely not one-sided.
Dillon James, reluctant heir to the corporation about to foreclose on Alexa’s shop, is not about to jeopardize their scorching chemistry by admitting he’s not the building’s handyman. But with only weeks until her business goes under and his identity is revealed, Dillon must find a way to convince Alexa cooperation isn’t a dirty word, help her save the shop from his brother’s greed, and persuade her that he’s not the enemy...or risk losing the only woman who’s seen the real him.
Bea's Thoughts:
Yes, I've had this ARC for nearly two years. *hangs head in shame* I finally got around to it, phew, and because I hung onto it for so long, it fits into two, yes TWO, reading challenges for the current year. WOO HOO!
I didn't love the story but I did enjoy it. There was a good mix of romance, sex, and humor. Dillon and Alexa are both likable people though both could have used more back story. We got more for Dillon than we did for Alexa. I didn't read book one in the series, which focused on Alexa's brother, so there may have been info there but this story was light on it. For example, Dillon several times refers to Alexa's sad eyes but we're never given a clear explanation for why she is sad. Yes, her business is in trouble but we get hints, hints only, no facts, that her sadness goes deeper. Also, I had mixed reactions to her hatred for Value Hardware. Yes, they own her building and she's been receiving notices from them concerning her late rental payments but her hatred seems too deep and strong simply for them doing their business. Also, is a hardware really her only competition locally? There aren't any other florists? None of the grocery stores sell flowers or offer arrangements? Is my town that unusual that it does? So, while I understood her resentment at their tactics and her dismay at their size, her hatred just didn't make sense.
Dillon is practically perfect - sweet, sexy, thoughtful, hardworking, both cocky and modest. He is superficially a bad boy; he has tattoos, a piercing, rides a motorcycles and prides himself on going his own way. But he also works hard, is a devoted volunteer with a Habitat for Humanity-type organization (that alone endeared him to me), is polite, generous, college educated, and a savvy business man. Too good to be true, right? Except that early on, he lies to Alexa about something very important. He tries, half-heartedly, to tell her the truth early on but fails. And of course, the longer he waits, the harder it becomes to tell the truth and it eventually blows up. I liked that Alexa, after initially falling apart when she finds out, picks herself up, marches right into Dillon's territory, and fights back. Is there a happy ending? Maybe, maybe not. But it's true to the story so I was happy. You'll have to read for yourself to find out.
Quinn gives us interesting characters, steamy sex scenes, and a story that is a pleasant way to pass the time. I'll probably pick up the others in the series.
Nice review :)
ReplyDeleteHey better late than never, right? I've got a couple that have been on the review pile that long too so I'll hang my head with you. lol
ReplyDeleteI have this waiting for me. I read book 3 and enjoyed it just haven't had a chance to get back to the earlier ones. I was just giving a character a mental talking to for the same kinda thing. JUST TELL HER! lol And of course they always wait too late and get caught. Oys.
They do, so annoying.
DeleteOh well done for tackling another book on your challenge, Bea! Nice review! He definitely sounded too perfect :)
ReplyDelete