This was a sweet, cute, funny though somewhat frustrating friends to lovers romance that kept me turning the pages to see just how Ben and Maeve would overcome their own issues and get their HEA.
I really liked Ben and Maeve, I did, but boy did these two get in their own ways constantly. Ben is a good guy, but one who is lost in the man he once was and can’t seem to grasp that he can change and be more than he once was. Maeve is sharp, sassy and has a kind and generous heart. She doesn’t necessarily have a bleeding heart complex, but does tend to lose herself in those good deeds when she doesn’t want to face something head on.
Ben and Maeve mad their journey to their HEA really rough on themselves. First by drawing lines to save themselves (and each other) and then by tripping over their own feet when anything that they deemed ‘more than being friends’ came up. It was funny and frustrating all the same time, but once they stepped over the line with each other things got better and they established this flow that just worked for me. Then came the sinkhole. It wasn’t a surprise and while I got why it was such an issue, I have to say that I was totally #TeamBen and though I would have liked a little more in the way of grovelling, I liked the way things ended up for them.
While this isn’t the first book I’ve read by the author, this is the first of this series, definitely not my norm, but life happens and I’m hoping that I’ll find pockets of time to read the previous books in the series because I really liked all of the characters who are apart of Ben and Maeve’s lives and how they helped them both along the way. But overall, this was a quick and fun, if not a little frustrating, friends to lovers read that was low on angst but filled with great characters all around.
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
When Maeve Brennan isn’t at the distillery she co-owns with her brother, she’s feeding the homeless and fostering kittens. She doesn’t just talk the talk—she truly believes in being the change you want to see. But one thing she can’t seem to change is her dating status. It’s been months since she’s met a man more interesting than the tomcats down at the shelter. That is, until she crosses paths with River Hill’s newest—and worst—barista. But Ben’s made it clear he only wants to be friends, so Maeve will definitely stop thinking about his forearms. Probably. Maybe.
Ben Worthington never thought he’d be a mostly-out-of-work lawyer living above his best friend’s garage and working at a coffee shop, but there’s a lot about his life that doesn’t make sense. Like his attraction to Maeve Brennan, River Hill’s most beloved resident. She deserves better than him though, so he’s determined to keep it friendly. But being friends with a woman who’s everything he never knew he wanted is harder than he thought. And since Maeve has made it clear she’s not interested, he’ll stop thinking about her naked. Soon. Eventually.
But when the youth center Maeve volunteers at comes under fire from a big-city developer, Ben realizes he’s exactly what she needs. He might not be a high powered corporate attorney anymore, but he knows how to fight fire with fire. He just hopes she can live with both sides of his personality—the take-no-prisoners lawyer and the friendly, bumbling barista—because he’s pretty sure he can’t live without her.
Rebecca Norinne writes sexy, small-town romance featuring quirky heroines and tough-yet-tender heroes that'll make your heart go pitter patter. When not banging away at the keyboard, she is likely watching rugby, playing board games, or drinking a pint of craft beer.
Originally from California, she now resides in New England with her husband and two cats. Together, they are renovating a home built in the mid-1700s and trying valiantly not to be eaten alive by mosquitos.
Jamaila Brinkley writes both historical fantasy and contemporary romance, with strong themes of family and humor in both genres. Her Wizards of London series features magic and mayhem in Regency England, while her River Hill series features great food and strong friendships in idyllic California wine country. Jamaila lives outside of Baltimore, Maryland, in a house that is perpetually under renovation with her husband and twin toddlers. She blogs and tweets regularly about writing, parenting, and what’s she’s having for lunch.
Comments
Post a Comment