Mabel Lynn received the best present for her twenty-fifth birthday—her estranged grandpa’s senior living complex. All she had to do was manage it successfully for one year, and then it was all hers. Easy peasy, right? That’s what she thought, too, until mysterious break-ins, vandalism, and the hot detective staying in the apartment below her seemed to pop up at every turn messing with her concentration.
Brent Parrish had a job to do, and it did not include falling for the quirky, tap dancing, noisy manager of the senior living complex currently under investigation. He was to move in, solve the case, and move on. Easy peasy, right? That’s what he thought too, but when the danger escalated, Brent’s focus turned to protect her at all costs. He just hadn’t expected it might cost him her.
M.K. Condry writes contemporary romance that’s equal parts steamy and smart—designed to make you blush, laugh, and maybe text your partner something filthy. Her heroines are the kind of women you want in your corner (or at brunch), and her heroes? All dirty talk and sinful charm—the kind you’d fantasize about.
She’s a genre-hopping reader with a hard “HEA required” rule. When a story plays it too safe, she hunts down the dark, the taboo, or the downright unhinged just to crank the dial back up.
A Southern California homebody through and through, M.K. likes her bed made, her laundry folded, and her meals planned—until a plot twist pulls her under. By day, she writes. By night, she reads until reality fades.
Silver Linings tells the story of Mabel Lynn who received a birthday gift from her estranged grandfather. The gift is the ownership of a senior living complex called Silver Linings. Prior to owning the place, she became the probationary manager of it. However, something illegal was going on inside the complex which led the police to investigate. There she met Brent, a detective who was assigned to the job. It started as a job for Brent to get to know Mabel however he eventually fell in love with her.
There are a lot of surprises and twists in the story. I was able to figure out some of them but I did some wrong guesses as well. It must be the case that I was not in full attention at some point.
Silver Linings does not only tackle the romance between Mabel and Brent. There’s more about the story like healing an estranged relationship of a father and a daughter, friendship, and more. There are great letters as well.
Final Thoughts on Silver Linings by M.K. Condry
Silver Linings is an insta-love, detective romance led by a quirky heroine and a hot, romantic, and sexy detective hero. Brent is very possessive of Mabel and in some cases, he was being jealous of Mabel’s maintenance personnel and friend, Samuel. He was very attentive to Mabel and definitely very husband material. Not only did they have a sweet relationship but they also have some hot and steamy moments.
What I like the most about the story is Mabel and her grandpa’s exchange of emails. I really have a bias in reading letters in this case in the form of emails that are great to read. I did enjoy those letters. I find them brief, on point, sweet, and in some cases funny.
Overall, Silver Linings is a fun and romantic read. The level of suspense is light and manageable and it did not really bring me to the edge of my seat. If you are looking for a sweet and romantic read with slightly eccentric characters and the best grandpa in the world, then Silver Linings is highly recommended. With these things in mind, I give Silver Linings by M.K. Condry my 4.7-star.
This book was funny! I really like how this book overlaps a lots of things—steamy romance —humor with whole community of quirky friends, family, and the senior living residents—and some mystery. Really good and can’t wait for the next one!
Silver Linings is a perfect weekend treat. Much like a cheesecake, it’s sweet, rich, a little tart, a lot naughty, and has a comforting, nostalgic flavor. A breezy-quick read at just under 200 pages, the book has the feel of a longer novel, and is packed with delightful characters and plot-twists. The dialogue is spot-on, the scenes are vividly detailed, and the spice… oh MY!
25-year-old Mabel is quirky to say the least, with her hourglassy figure poured into kooky thrift-store fashions. A bit of a loner, she manages the Silver Linings retirement complex, gifted to her by an enigmatic grandfather she’s never met due to a family estrangement. A fan of tap dancing, strange musical instruments, and good cooking, Mabel is content – or is she? – with a boyfriendless existence.
That is, until she meets the hot man who’s subletting his aunt’s apartment, directly beneath the tappity-tapping of Mabel’s adorable shim-sham toes. Brent is a decade-older man’s man, a detective with a charming old-fashioned streak that makes him a bit of a Mad Men-style alpha. When they meet, sparks ignite a lusty wildfire… but little does Mabel know, Brent is there on a secret long-term stakeout, investigating criminal activity centered around the apartment complex.
No spoilers, but the plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat with new theories every few chapters. The steamy bits were the ideal amount of open-door smutty (and I may never look at a hospital bed the same way, lol). The supporting characters are dynamic, and I adored the suspense of watching subplots unfold. Get ready for an irresistible HEA!
Treat yourself to a slice of this luscious, saucy little book with its delicious dash of mystery. The perfect read-it-in-a day romance. FIVE STARS, all lined with silver!
I really enjoyed this fun read, and found myself laughing out loud several times and smiling throughout. I loved the sizzling chemistry between Mabel, a modern-day reimagined Betty Grable pinup, and Brent, an old fashioned dick a la Sam Spade. The two are thrown together by the forces of fate, living only a floor apart from one another, before collaborating to solve a mystery at the seniors’ home that Mabel has suddenly inherited from her grandfather (whom she has never met but develops a relationship with via letters as the two cleverly correspond throughout the book). Lots of twists and turns as the plot unfolds, fab side characters and oh yes, some very hot, steamy scenes between the MCs that will leave you panting for more.
A young woman in need of a career gets the gift of a lifetime from a grandfather she has never met. Eight hours away from home, she rushes into her new life, finding a world of friends and happiness. The fly in the ointment is vandalism and problems at the Senior complex she is managing. Surrounded by good people who care about her, there’s trouble but people are always there to take care of her and help. Characters are fun and comfortable, and the details are slowly revealed to the reader. An enjoyable book, but be prepared, because the bedroom door is WIDE open!
Mabel is a young woman who receives a surprise gift from her estranged grandfather- ownership of a senior living complex if she completes a 1-year probationary period. She turns out to be well suited for the position but there are issues with vandalism that keep occurring. Also, unknown to her, the complex is being investigated for a criminal activity. This was fun to read and had great characters. I hope to see them again.