BRACE FOR ROMANTIC IMPACT THAT ROCKS THE HEART AND SOUL
“All I want for Christmas is Branson Ford … the catnip to my kitty. The one I’ve been prowling after for two long years.” … BUT … “I have the tiniest of crushes on Hunter … my co-worker. My very charming co-worker.” And therein lies the rub.
Charming doesn’t even begin to cover how much this smart, funny, and heart-melting co-worker romance was the antidote to my current book malaise. I’ve been so ready for a pure-hearted, feel-good romance of substance, and this one was a huge epiphany. It not only made me fall in “book love with love” again like it was the first time, but it came with the heady realization that I’d become semi-jaded by a sameness baked into stereotypical romance heroes – but all heroes are NOT carbon copies or cookie cutter replicas of each other. Hunter Johnstone is in a panty dropper class all his own and simply blows all the competition away. In fact, Hunter totally broke the mold for me.
From the first page, this infectious, holiday-aura romance was pitch perfect and romanced the socks off me. After all, ya gotta love a true Sagittarian hottie – and it takes one to know one. We share the same Zodiac sign and I just “got” him on every level. Hunter mirrors the best of “Sag” attributes in living color.“I believe in a strong drink, clever conversation, an excellent first kiss, and a good fuck.” Ah, that’s my man Hunter in a nutshell. Straightforward as an archer with his arrow.
Smart cookie Katie’s an up-and-comer at a media company with aspirations beyond just being boss Branson’s incomparable assistant; and Hunter is one of their top producers. They dig each other, KNOW each other, share all kinds of flirty fun and insights in daily chats before Hunter’s meetings with boss buddy Branson. But they never cross the co-worker line. Hunter knows Katie’s gaga for Branson, and she’s well aware that women drop at Hunter’s feet. They aren’t compatible anyway, right? Besides he calls her “kid” (it’s a Casablanca thing) and he isn’t a long-term relationship guy. Right? Both are really just waiting for “the one” ... but just might be each other’s forest standing in front of the trees. Still, he’s a bright spot in her day. Easy on the eyes. A walking travelogue of exciting adventures. Zero mouth filter. Not someone to get serious about though. Not like the British hotness that is Branson. Besides, Katie’s diehard determination is to couple up with boss Branson at all costs. Oh, WE know who really belongs together, but this couple took me on one of the most entertaining, swervy, romantic rides-to-true love that one can share between the pages of an addictive book. It’s Notting Hill, Casablanca, and every swoony fairytale romance rolled into one.
It all heats up when Katie makes her big move … flops … and Hunter helps her win over Branson with a charade. What happens involves an earthshaking kiss, a deadline, some rules, and an unconventional romance that captured my heart. Katie’s a drop dead gorgeous sexy secretary, feisty and irresistible with the foolish idea of using one guy to get under another. Will Katie let what she thinks she wants get in the way of what she really needs? The nuances of this pair just clenched my heart: “Have you ever had a crush on someone like that?” ~~ “Yes”, he breathed. EVERYTHING he meant was stuffed into that one word.
Their conversations are about something -- NOT nothing -- as they get to know each other on a deeper level. Even her funny witticisms charmed -- NOT throwaway jokes, silly behavior, or filler dialogue to propel the story.
“I’m not the man you originally wanted. I want you to want me more than you want him. I’ve been in love with you for longer than you can imagine. My Katie McGee.”
There’s so much beneath the surface of this pair and if their romance doesn’t wrap around your heart, you don’t have one. Me? I got choked up and my heart beat like a hummingbird.
I lapped up every minute of the unfolding fake romance, real romance … whatevah. It was adorably winsome, sexy, and sigh worthy from start to finish. Clearly, each book in the series will be even better than the last, and Colette-Runow have barely hit their stride. Can’t wait to see what else they have in store for Zodiac-themed love. This book gave me romantic shivers all the way through, and OMG it truly is the perfect antidote to 2020.
“I don’t do anything unless it’s with intention.” ~~ “You can’t say things like that.” ~~ “Why not?” ~~ “That’s how girls fall in love,”I whisper.