As soon as I finished The Negotiator, I wanted The Charmer so I could dig into Hudson's story. So when I was able to score an ARC of The Charmer, I was thrilled! This second book in the series was just as good as the first! I loved it! Laugh out loud hilarious, so unique, romantic, super sexy and just a good time. Yes, this book was a good time. :-D
Hudson Carlyle is the notorious, playboy charmer of Harbor City and the Carlyle clan. Everyone sees the wit, smiles, the I-don't-care-about-anything-but-my-next-lay attitude and believe the facade he presents. He hides behind that mask, unwilling to share the real him with anyone because he guards a carefully held secret. His mother is depending on this charm to bring his brother Sawyer and Tyler, his estranged friend together again.
One night at a fundraiser event at Harbor City's Natural Museum, he spots a totally unassuming woman wearing the most hideous black dress who captures his attention. The woman is Felicia Hartigan, researcher of the honey pot ant, youngest of a large, boisterous Irish American clan, owner of the orneriest cat in creation, and sufferer of unrequited love for Tyler. Felicia has been in love with Tyler since he moved in next door to her family when they were kids, and he's never looked at her as anything other than the nerdy, shy but sweet little sister of the Hartigan boys. But with only weeks left before her thirtieth birthday, she plans on changing that. Little does she know she has a Henry Higgins waiting in the wings to help her achieve her goals.
At first, Felicia is resistant to Hudson's "help" and his insistence that he knows best how to attract Tyler. When she is hilariously proven wrong, she finally capitulates, but their battle of wills is never over. Neither is the attraction that both try to deny, but only grows the more time they spend together. What I loved about Hudson was not just his humor and multi-layers, but how he always thought Felicia was beautiful. He saw her when Tyler and others didn't. And Felicia also wasn't snowed by the facade Hudson presented to the world. She knew him like no others, which was why he felt safe with her to share his deepest secret of being the renown painter, Hughston. Their relationship was a joy to see evolve. From the passion they both shared that was HOT, they became not just friends but fell in love, though they both fought it because of their own doubts and insecurities. And can I say the grand gesture was SO good! Had me swooning!
But it wasn't just Hudson and Felicia that made this book. It was also the secondary characters like in The Negotiator. Hudson's family, Tyler, Felicia's brothers and sisters, Honeypot the cat and even the honeypot ants. They all formed this wonderful, heart-warming, funny, emotional, sexy tale. And I can't wait for Tyler and Everly's book!