Cedar Hill Romance, Book 1
Heat Factor: The perfect balance of plot-driven steam.
Character Chemistry: It was instantaneous and inevitable
Plot: Two extremely bright individuals strike a business deal that gets very complicated (and just absolutely, divinely delicious).
Overall: I was so impressed with this book–it was a genuinely well-balanced read.
I have been really thinking about WHY I like some of the books I’ve been reviewing and trying to get above my own personal tastes lately–and this one was a perfect example of a book I both loved for personal reasons and one that I believe was just simply well-executed.
For starters, PERSONALLY I loved that the characters felt like a good match for one another. They are both focused on very specific short-term goals that overlap in a mutually beneficial way. They desperately need this business dealing to go well. I could see well before I felt the characters did that they were going to be well-suited to one another and I thought the author did an incredible job of making me (the reader) feel like I was in on something the characters had NO idea was coming. It was utterly absorbing.
Also, from an EXECUTION standpoint, the author did not shy away from her characters being messy. I could see some people being a little prickled by Logan’s single-minded pursuit of sex and his open dislike for working with businesswomen–he’s not shy about it. He knows why he feels this way and he’s a little embarrassed about it. PERSONALLY, I loved that she didn’t overtly change these viewpoints, but it was so obvious that they did change. She didn’t make this into a story where love magically and completely changed a person–it was slow and it was after some bumbling and it felt real. I loved that she threw a few curveballs in that were integral to the plot but didn’t cause unnecessary or distracting drama. For example, there’s a big curveball when the Logan and Diana finally hook up (she’s a virgin)–but it’s just seamlessly integrated into the bigger picture and it provides an opportunity to see Logan’s sensitivity burst open.
From a PERSONAL standpoint, I loved the side characters. I could see the next books starting from little seeds in this book, but it wasn’t distracting. The end was both a clear Happily-Ever-After AND it was sexy/sweet/romantic. It was wonderful.
This one is a hands-down win for me–and I think you’ll love it too.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
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