Love Out of Focus

by Rebecca Connolly

Mallory Hudson loves her simple life as a photographer, even if it isn’t as exciting as she’d hoped. When her cousin Jenna comes with a proposition to hire Mal for her very exclusive wedding at a resort, Mal reluctantly accepts, and her world goes into freefall.

Hunter McIntyre isn’t sure what it is about Mal that fascinates him, but he can’t deny that she has caught his eye. The more time he spends with her, the more time he wants, and soon the wedding at hand isn’t the one he cares about.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance, Fiction, Adult

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2018

About the author

I was born once upon a time, and I started making up stories right away. Eventually, I started writing them down, and never stopped! I have a day job, which gets in the way of my writing, but it pays the bills so I CAN write, so I guess that's okay! I am a bookworm, which I think is key to being a writer, and I am always looking for inspiration! I live in Indiana, am obsessed with hot chocolate, and I am on track to be the best aunt in the world.

Reviews

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characterization and amazing kissing scenes- just the right amount of romantic tension.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this one. I've really enjoyed a lot of her books and was excited to read a contemporary from her. It ended up being a mixed bag. The romance, tension and attraction were all great. And there was plenty of it, so I felt like it was a true romance. I liked the characters and their different personalities and quirks.

However there wasn't quite enough plot for me. I guess I'm gravitating toward more meaty stories. And the climactic drama felt contrived. I wanted someone to smack the heroine and tell her to just be reasonable. So it was tough to keep routing for her.

Overall, it was well-written and I'm sure there will be a lot of people that love it, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Content: Clean.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUN!!! So excited to see Rebecca branch out to contemporary. I wasn't even worried, I knew she would do a great job. This book was such a pleasure to read. I love good banter between characters and this had tons! I didn't want to put this one down:} Mal and Hunter were great characters with depth and heart. They were real and fun to read about. This had some great tension and some awesome kisses! This is a clean romance:}

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. A little insta-love for me, but a sweet, safe and clean read. The h was sort of silly and did the whole “I know you deserve better than me so I’m letting you go” thing, but other than that it was pretty cute. The H was a genuinely good guy and not a player at all. The MCs could have been more developed, but overall this was a decent read.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Connolly is known for her amazing Regency period romances. But I’m here to tell you that her contemporary romances are just as amazing. This book is a great example of that!

I loved everything about this book. I loved the characters, Mal and Hunter are the only two characters that you get to know through their own eyes. But the other characters are just as great!

Mal’s family are some amazing people! I loved the way they treated Mal, even though they haven’t seen her in a long time. And even though they are really wealthy and famous. And their friends were terrible! The author did a fantastic job making them all seem real.

I loved the setting. Who doesn’t want to hang out on a luxury resort in a beautiful setting?

And the love story…I loved it! It was beautiful and unsure for much of the book.

Make sure to get your own copy of this amazing book!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fantastic Romance!!!

Goodness where do I start with this book?! It was incredible from the beginning. The playful banter and wit between some characters had me giggling long into the night, and the swoon-worthy romance was out-of-this-world incredible! It was so easy to fall in love with Mal and Hunter. I loved their story, and am really hoping there is a sequel or at least more books about other characters from this book. I am already dying to read this book again, and will probably drool all over again at the toe-curling romance. A fantastic -clean- romance!!!

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been on my to-be-read pile for a long time, and I finally got around to reading it. I thought it was a good story, but I just didn't connect all that well with the characters. It was enjoyable while reading, but probably isnt one I would read again.

Content: Clean, kissing. No language or violence.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun story!

[Anna (The_Reading_Pantry) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read this years ago and it’s still held its own today! The story is adorable, Hunter is super attractive, and Mal was a fun character to know her inner thoughts. She’s so real and the ups and downs of the story drew me in.

This is a clean romance that is super sweet and adorable! The sunrise scene is still the best and super memorable. I want to go visit Lake Lure—it sounds gorgeous.

Pretty much…this book is super fun and still a solid read.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first contemporary novel I have read by Ms. Connolly. I love her regency style novels & even though contemporary romance isn’t my favourite genre I wasn’t disappointed with this story. I loved the interactions between Mal & Hunter. From day one so to speak you can feel that they have a connection, which just continues to build.
Hunter is intense - the ultimate brooding/swoon worthy hero - the sort of character that doesn’t like very many people & doesn’t let them get too close - he is all about business & keeping himself to himself but he is brought out of that by his attraction to Mallory. He is an all or nothing kinda guy & is loyal, loving & caring with it.
Mal is fiercely independent & is also a little overwhelmed when it comes to forging & maintaining close relationships but she can’t help but be drawn to Hunter. She fights it initially, but eventually their connection grows too strong for her to ignore.
I really enjoyed how the story focuses not just on the relationship between Mal & Hunter but looks at their family & close friends relationships with them too.
I also really appreciated that this was a clean read! And of course with a feel good ending. I will be more than happy to read any sequels to this story!

[MJSH · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first full-length novel by Rebecca Connolly that I have read and it was enjoyable. The story moved quickly and had tons of bridesmaid drama, which made it rather interesting. The story is well-plotted and well-written with genuine, lovable, memorable characters.
Mal is a talented photographer who has always felt like the “poor relation” when with her father’s side of the family. Yet she forgoes all her insecurities to photograph her socialite cousin’s weeklong pre-wedding pampering and wedding itself. Hunter is Mal’s cousin’s fiancé’s best friend - a charming but introverted, intense, focused, yet tender and thoughtful CEO who runs a corporation as well as the resort where the wedding is to take place. Yes, their romance is a whirlwind and pretty fast....but, man, can Hunter turn on the charm! Who wouldn’t fall in love with such a man?
The dialogue is pretty funny and the secondary characters like Dan and Taryn who are Mal’s photography assistants, Jenna and Caroline who are Mal’s cousins, and Tom who is Jenna’s fiancé all steal the show at one time or another.

I was given a copy of this book via Kathy at I Am A Reader and was under no obligation to post a review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

[Jacy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my favorite. I skimmed a lot. It was very sensual without being sexual. And I felt like the male lead came off as creepy rather than romantic.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mallory is surprised when her famous socialite cousin, Jenna, invites her (persuades her, strong-arms her) to be her wedding photographer. Mallory hasn't had much interaction with her father's wealthy side of the family since her parents died when she was young. Jenna and her twin sister, Caroline, have missed Mallory and are looking to re-connect through this wedding.

Mallory is planning to do her job and avoid the wedding party as much as possible. She is convinced that hanging with wealthy socialites is not her thing. And falling in love with the rich, elusive Hunter is definitely not in her plans.

I loved Mal's interactions with Hunter and her cousins. A few of the bridesmaids were mean and snobby, and I do wish that some of those characters had been built up a little more. They created some conflict and then they kinda disappeared.

But overall I really liked Hunter and Mal and did not want to put their story down until everything was resolved!

Content: Clean
Source: Kindle Scout

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun and enjoyable read. I loved reading this book! Mal was asked to be the photographer at her cousin's wedding. She goes expecting nothing more, but is included in the wedding party. The groom's best friend Hunter is there as well. They meet and sparks fly, however after the way she grew up Mal doesn't expect this to last and when Hunter's ex comes in the picture, she finds herself leaving. After some time and much communication they finally find a happily ever after.
I was given an ARC of this book and left the review voluntarily, all opinions expressed are my own.

[Leslie Books and Socks Rock · Rating 3 out of 5]

To my knowledge, this was my first Rebecca Connolly read. And I read another photographer themed romance which was so bad...this was pretty great. The drama at the end was farfetched considering the character is so independent. And I wondered if they'd ever end up together. I loved the scenes when Hunter and Mal were together. The epilogue, while sweet, I didnt think was fitting. The clean romance didnt grab me either.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of this author’s Regency romance novels but this is the first I have read of her contemporary novels. I’ll be checking out more of them after this. I really enjoyed this story. It’s not a groundbreaking departure from the genre’s popular tropes, but there are some fun details with the photography, the extended family, and the beautiful location. It’s well-written and has some fun characters. I was really rooting for the two main characters. The hero was just swoony. The timeline for falling in love was pretty compressed, but the author convinced me that it happened for them. This author is masterful at creating romantic tension that you can feel down to your toes, and this book is no exception. It’s intense and sizzling without the overt sex. I only had two issues with this book. The first was really more a personal preference: when people constantly call their significant other “baby” or “babe”, it’s just…cringe. So sometimes I had to just roll my eyes or grit my teeth when that was happening a lot. My other problem was the reliance on the “big misunderstanding” in the last part of the book. My frustration was somewhat mitigated by the explanation throughout the book of the heroine’s insecurities and how that really morphed her unreasonable assumptions into challenges that even she quickly realized were unfair, even if she stubbornly held out in resolving the difficulties. So I didn’t love that section of the story, but overall it was an excellent book and I recommend it for romance lovers.

[Lillian Cummings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mallory has worked really hard to make a name for herself so when her cousin comes to ask her to do the wedding photos she is shocked as she hasn't really seen the family in awhile. But this is a big opportunity for Mal & her two interns so she agrees to go off to a secret location. She is about to find out why she keeps to herself as the bridesmaids are mostly awful and they just put the bride down all the time. She can't believe that her cousin would even be friends with them. She just wants to take the photos and go back home but everything is about to change when she meets Hunter. He owns the resort and he is very rich and that makes things complicated as Mal isn't looking for anyone right now but just maybe a quick fling would be okay. But Mal realizes that she feels something for Hunter but she is scared and she runs. Hunter doesn't understand why she left and he has tried calling but Mal never answers. She is miserable without him but it is for the best as they are two completely different people or is that just an excuse not to admit that she has fallen in love with him. Hunter can't get over her he loves her and he wants a future with her and he just can't let her go. But will Mal let him in? A good read.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extra ⭐️ for the author. First half of this book was quick paced, as in they “fell in love” within days, then it annoyed me for a bit until the end. It had laugh out loud parts, good characters, good writing. It just annoys me when someone assumes something and doesn’t talk it out. That’s all I will say about that. I still liked the book overall. Mainly because this author makes me LOL. I feel like this book should be a part of a series. I would be happy if it were.

EDIT: the more I think about this book, the less I like it. 😕 so I’m taking the extra star ⭐️ off. The positives outweighed the negatives up until the wedding reception. (except I really didn’t like that he drug her through a house and “tossed her” into a pantry. That is not okay.) Pretty much all that happened after that left me annoyed or questioning, so the negative outweighed the positive and ruined the whole book for me. I won’t give specifics because they would be spoilers. Other than I did not quite understand the issue Mal had with rich people, and this was a major factor in the story. She had cut off her extended family (and it sounds like they let her)... but it seemed they had been real close... it didn’t make sense to me. There were quite a few things that didn’t make sense to me.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great heartwarming story. Mal is a talented, down to earth photographer. Her celebrity cousin, with whom they have become a little estranged during the years, invites her to her big event wedding, offering her to make the wedding photos and to do some add photos for the gorgeous resort where the wedding would be. There Mal meets all the snobby friends of her cousins... and Hunter - the reserved, rich owner of the resort and best friend of the groom. He is drawn to her almost immediately and sets to win her heart.
I liked the chemistry between these too, the way they get to know each other and discover that not all is what it seems at first glance. They had to resolve their own insecurities and decide if their two worlds would meet somewhere in the middle. Although some things at the end were not very convincing for me, overall it was a cute romantic clean story with some toe-curling kisses.
I would very much like to read more about the other great characters in this book - Caroline, Reed, Audrey, Lucas and even the bride and groom Jenna and Tom. They turned out to be lovely people with more depth in their character.

[Our Book Confessions · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt a little more predictable than some of her other books, but still filled with sweet and sassy conversations and relatable characters you love to get to know. Rebecca writes such multi-dimensional characters that her novels are as much about human nature as they are about a beautiful story.

She also writes the complexities of romance to a tee. There is a point where Hunter describes Mallory’s laugh and says, “It was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary.” Which shocked me for a moment, usually author’s have the male protagonist describe a woman’s laugh as magical or bewitching. Then Rebecca his next words, “Except it was. It was absolutely extraordinary.” That’s when she gave me yet another reason to adore her writing. Love is so multifaceted that it happens different for everyone, and yet it somehow makes even the most ordinary things extraordinary. A true romance writer understands that and can express it. So though not a favorite of hers, it was great writing.

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[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Connolly at her finest in the modern setting! This woman knows how to write clean passion. Oh my!! Hunter is intense and smolders right off the page!! Mal agrees to be the photographer for a family’s top secret socialite wedding. Despite being with family, Mal feels like she’s way out of her league. Then she see’s Hunter and her world turns upside down. I know it’s very fairytale like the way their whirlwind relationship comes together, but it’s just sweet and perfect. An awesome escape for an afternoon. Hunter knows all the right things to say to draw Mel out and convince her that he has eyes only for her. The scenic descriptions and wedding drama are the idyllic backdrop for a swoon worthy, breathtaking (literally), heart stopping romance. I couldn’t read it fast enough because I just treasured all the warm, happy feelings. Sure, there’s some drama and tension, as expected, but it builds to an absolute perfect ending!!! I received a complimentary copy from the author and allowing opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

[Ballet in AK · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book although why the 'mean girls' weren't sent packing is beyond my understanding. It was a wonderful romance with a strong male protagonist who could be a bit domineering at times, I liked that about him, but it could be a bit of a trigger to others. The female protagonist was likable and yet her stubbornness caused numerous problems for her. I did appreciate how much self-control she practiced in face of the 'mean girls', though. It was an admirable quality and showed her maturity.

The romance was envy-escape-worthy and some truly romantic scenes were consistently played out throughout the book. The physical part of it all consisted of steamy, passionate kissing and that was all. It remained clean, which I appreciate.

I agree with one of the other reviewers that the section of the book that came post 'huge-misunderstanding' wasn't my favorite part, but I can see why the author included it. Mal and Hunter's love needed to be tested.

A romantic escape with a wonderful HEA!

[Heather Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It grabbed me from the first page. I really liked the characters. It was witty and artistic. That is up until the pantry kissing scene. Then my opinion of Hunter took a nose dive. I understand his reasons for being over protective (as they were explained later in the book), but it didn't just seem over protective to me. It boardered on an abusive relationship. He seemed out of control and his actions were consistent with someone who is abusive rather than concerned for someone he loves. I think it could have been done a little better so he didn't grab her arm or treat her like a child, yelling and forcing her to get in his truck. I liked that it was clean. I liked that Mal stood up for herself and was still professional. I liked that she was who she was and didn't apologize for it even around influential people. I may read it again to see if my feelings about Hunter change. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Shauna Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, light read
This was a book I needed right now. It was fun, enjoyable, and engaging. Mallory is a professional photographer working to make it on her own. Her relatives are wealthy and move in high society but she wants to make it without their connections and she is. However, when her favorite cousin approaches her about being the photographer for her wedding as well as the week leading up to it, Mal just can’t refuse. She is soon thrown into the society whirl of the rich but along the way she is reminded of the love she shares with her family. She also meets the best man, Hunter, who she is immediately drawn to but she is the bride’s poor relation and he has money he made, as well as family money. He fits with the glamourous people and she is simple. Yet somehow, he seems to be drawn to her. Can two people from such different backgrounds find a middle ground especially when one has preconceived notions? I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little bit to get into this book but once Hunter and Mal meet, the book got better for me. I felt like it dragged near the end, too, but I was happy with the ending so, it made up for that.
I liked all the characters, although, there were a bunch to keep up with. I’m guessing more stories could come from these characters, though.
Mal was fun, stubborn and sometimes frustrating (especially near the end) and Hunter was hot, kind and a little intense...oh, and he really had a thing for pet names...baby, babe, honey, sweetheart, love, etc...
I felt conflicted because at times Mal and Hunter annoyed me and other times I loved them...not sure if that was more on me or if their personalities shifted a lot. Oh well, I guess no one is perfect. ;)
All in all, it was a cute story.

[Vibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swoony romance!

I liked Mal, but I wasn't totally onboard with her at first - she could be pretty off-putting. But the author did a great job of making her insecurities believable and fairly relatable.

Hunter was a little too good to be true, but still made a yummy hero. All things considered, it was a little hard to believe that he didn't even consider the possibility that Mal might have seen him talking to his ex (I don't consider that a spoiler since it's obvious it's coming from the moment Sophia brings her up to Mal the 1st time).

It also felt like the story was just a little dragged out, but that might just be because I've been reading a lot of books recently. Still, I enjoyed reading it, & I do hope this is the beginning of a new series - the secondary characters were so well done that I'd like to read more about what happens with them too!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I mean - that was unexpected. Although I always enjoy Rebecca Connolly's writing, I hadn't read any contemporary books of hers - in fact, it really isn't my favorite genre. But I wanted to change things up - and I am so glad I did.

I am not sure what I expected when I started this book - but I sure didn't think plan for the Chicago scene... I loved so many aspects of this story - but mostly it was just a romantic escape that most any woman would willingly pack her bags for. It is a story about love at first site, a whirlwind romance that through heartache, developed into an unshakable bond. Loved it from beginning to end!

I hope we get to hear more from the Hudsons and McIntyres, because there were a lot of fun and interesting characters that need stories of their own.

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish at 54%. A romance based entirely on physical attraction and making out? No, thank you. Plus, the guy is supposed to be 'intense' and 'focused', but he really is just aggressive and controlling. For example, soon after they sort of start dating (read: making out), she is having a regular conversation with another guy. That guy starts to hit on her and she is about to tell him that she's not available, when suddenly the "hero" comes up from behind and 'growls in a low voice', "Spoken for". Then he tells her, "Please don't play with fire, baby. I'm the jealous type." What!?! If a guy like that was interested in one of my friends, I would suggest she run for the hills or get a restraining order.

[The Flipped Page (Susan K) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance, sweet, contemporary; stand alone read
Gorgeously detailed settings, well-drawn characters, and fantastic fall. Map and Hunter’s story was a lovely, intense fall. While definitely fast, the characters were my perfect kind, honest, committed, caring, and perfect mix of hardworking, talented, sincere. Two hurting hearts not realizing they were perfect with each other when they finally met.
I’m not doing this justice. The male character in partyicukat was the epitome of a string hero, without being overbearing or wimpy (some women writers make the male characters seem like a tweaked female character). Lovely settings, compelling back stories, and the wedding at Hudson’s resort a perfect place for them to spend time to fall truly all the way.
Perfect sweet, escape read.

[Lori R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from its sexy characters, beautiful settings, to the story line, the banter, and everything in between. I was so sad when I reached the end of the book. Mallory Hudson just felt like my new best friend. She is smart, fun, and a great photographer who gets to be reacquainted with her relatives she has not seen in ten years. Hunter McIntyre owns the resort that is the backdrop for Mallory's cousin's wedding. The chemistry between Mal and Hunter is off the charts. It is a wonder that sparks did not catch the resort on fire. It is a beautiful, sweet, and clean romance and I hope the author will write a story about Caroline and Ryan next.