4.8 stars; needs better proofreading
This is a wonderful story. The protagonists are quite fun to “watch” together as they flirt, develop feelings for each other, and try to sort through their secrets so they can have their HEA. There are a lot of secondary characters that appear throughout the book, which are likely to appear in other books in the series. The ones who are friends of Percy seem rather interesting, and his family members are quite likable, too. Percy is also quite likable for his sense of responsibility and care for his family and friends. Finola knows she’s made a mess of things with her lies, and she is willing to accept responsibility for her actions. She has gumption, passion, a sense of humor, loyalty; and in spite of her flaws, she definitely redeems herself. The setting details convey a sense of mood, add vividness to the scenes, and provide context for the characters’ behaviors. The plot pacing is well done and keeps the reader engaged.
There are a few frustrations with the text: numerous random errors indicate a need for better proofreading (dogs don’t have udders, little words are missing, a verb will be in the wrong tense, a pronoun will be for the wrong gender, etc.). The end wraps up a little too quickly. It would be better for the reader to see the antagonist get his punishment than to hear about it happening “off page.” Finola clasps her hands way too often, and Percy seems to drink a lot for a man who rarely drinks. There is mention of domestic abuse, bipolar disorder, gambling, alcoholism and substance abuse. The sex details are typical for steamier romance novels but the scenes are short in duration and infrequent.
I recommend this book to readers who are married as they will appreciate the humor and nonverbal nuances more.