I loved the first novel in this series, so it didn’t take much to convince me to read this one. Not only was it a quick read, it brought the intensity that the first one did but in a completely different way.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
One-Sentence Synopsis
A pregnant woman determined to maintain her independence fights her attraction to her best friend’s brother-in-law, a difficult feat when they find themselves spending time alone together. For a full synopsis, see this book’s Goodreads page.
In Last Week’s Episode
Tony is Ray’s brother and Beth is Holly’s best friend. To give you a refresher, Ray and Holly were the couple from the first novel that hooked up and won the lottery. Ray and Beth have their own things going on. Beth is pregnant from a fling and the father doesn’t want parental rights. This is fine by Beth. She knew she wanted kids, but she also knows she doesn’t want to get married, and she’s more than willing to be a single mother if it means she keeps her independence.
Mutual Willpower
Tony is still dealing with feelings from his divorce, the challenge of raising his two daughters, and the mission of keeping his store open. From the first time he met Beth, he was attracted to her, but he didn’t act on it because the timing was off. When the two meet again at a dinner thrown by Ray and Holly, they find the attraction is still there. Once again, they don’t think they should act on it, and so they don’t.
This Old House
The best laid plans, right? But then, Ray makes Tony take a vacation (he’s kind of a workaholic) and stay at their house while he and Holly are visiting Niagara Falls. It looks to be a lonely week, but when a storm knocks out Beth’s power, she ends up at the house too. That’s not a set up for some sex and romance or anything.
Opposites Attract
Tony is a little unsure and shy, so of course he’s adorable. He’s completely drawn to Beth in all her pregnant glory, and while not many novels have a pregnant heroine, it worked for this book. It was sweet without becoming fetishistic. Beth, on the other hand, is all about the sex, and the fact that she wants to show Tony all kinds of tricks sets the stage for some hotness.
The Romance Factor
The way these two hold back is painful in a good way. You want them to be together, and yet they fight their feelings every step of the way. Then when they realize how much they miss each other, it brings all the feels. 4/5
The Steam Factor
The foreplay is awesome and the sexual tension is amazing. When Tony and Beth finally get horizontal (or vertical, depending on the position), it’s flaming. There is little left to the imagination, but it’s well written and highly erotic. 5/5
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed the originality of this novel’s premise and the development of the characters. It was well written and entertaining, and though it didn’t take long to read, it was hard to put down. I’m not sure if there’s going to be more in this series since there’s only 2 brothers (I think). But I would definitely read more by this author, as I really enjoy her style.
The Romance Factor 