This lovely, steamy romance offers up a caring heroine and a closed-off hero with a sprinkling of sport, a touch of art and the smallest hint of a second chance. I really enjoyed it, and although it’s only my first taste of this series (and what this author has to offer) it stands alone perfectly well.
Lilliana is great. She’s a smart woman who’s turning her family’s ancestral home into a B&B because she can’t think of another way to fund its upkeep. It’s hardly a dream career for this trained artist, but since she has absolutely no confidence in her work, then it’s all she has planned. She’s a nice person, kind and caring, especially with her friends, and she wears baggy t-shirts to keep her considerable assets hidden. Despite her insecurities and body issues, though, she’s neither shy nor lacking in confidence. Instead she’s funny and friendly and I warmed to her immediately.
Unlike Alec, whose past betrayals have caused him to shut down completely. He’s a bit brusque, rather cold and is so suspicious he always jumps to the worst possible conclusion regardless of the people involved. Which means he does hurt Lilliana’s feelings several times with his accusations, and yet there is goodness in Alec. It takes a while for him to thaw out, but underneath all his hurt feelings he is a good guy – he’s just out of practise.
I loved the relationship between these two. The way Lilliana brings Alec back to life with her trust and how she makes him laugh. Likewise, I loved the way Alec sees her and makes her feel beautiful, not to mention the faith he has in her art. The pair of them are adorable, even if Alec is jumpy and reluctant and seems ready to bolt at the slightest hint of emotion, while Lilliana keeps her secret a little too long. The chemistry between them is scorching hot, but there is so much more to their relationship than sex and I loved watching them grow closer.
This book is about more than just these two, though. It’s also about the town they live in and particularly one young footballer that Alec coaches. The storyline with Hunter is just another great way of seeing how much Alec changes across the story, and how much help Lilliana has to offer him in life. Hunter’s also a good kid and there’s a very short scene between him and his twin that grabbed my heart. Fans of the series will likely also enjoy seeing old characters come back again, while if you’re new to it all like me this will probably leave you wanting to know more.
Overall this is a cute, easy, feel-good romance with plenty of steam and some really adorable moments. The romance is completely satisfying, the setting is good and I enjoyed it from start to finish. I will definitely be catching up on the rest of the series soon and keeping my eye out for anything else this author has to offer in future.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)