Jon Adamson hates Melbourne. It has always brought bad feelings. Jon is back to restore his family’s home to sale. After that, Tyler convinces Jon to stay to mend their relationship and offers him a job at Tyler’s company. Jon is reluctant to accept Tyler’s invitation but it is not like he has much going on for himself at home, so he joins the company. As Jon tries to heal the wounds of his past, he finds himself falling in love with Tyler’s office manager, Gabby.

Gabby Wade is struggling to find herself after her break-up with Jon’s brother, Tyler. Now that Tyler is married, Gabby wondered what the other woman has that she doesn’t. She has let go of herself, losing a part of her identity and her confidence. Jon gets straight under Gabby’s skin and the two don’t hit it off right away. Despite that, Gabby doesn’t deny that there is something there and she is scared to explore what it is.

The story has a lot of depth to it but the way it is executed fails. The characters are not likeable, well maybe I should just say that Gabby is hard to like. Initially, she appears frigid, uppity, and annoying. She came off like a cold feminist with too many assumptions. Eventually, she is developed into a more understandable character but I couldn’t wipe the bad taste out of my mouth.

Jon is not excluded from making assumptions as well. Due to Gabby’s hard behavior and her childish/boyish physical description, Jon believes Gabby is a man-eating lesbian. He knows that he didn’t make a good first impression with Gabby and extends his apologies and tries to make peace but Gabby is hard to let go. After several attempts, he stops trying to understand her. The two have some intense and emotionally impressive scenes together. The connection, though rough, is entertaining.

In my opinion, it is Jon’s emotions and how he copes with his personal demons that saved this story for me. His development is realistic. After surviving an abusive childhood and a rough relationship with his brother, Jon slowly let go of the guilt of not being there for his brother, Tyler, while Tyler suffered as well. The situation is painful but yet wonderful to read and eventually Jon learns to show some emotions and let people in. It is then that the relationship with Gabby blossoms.

Despite some of my minor gripes with the lead character(s), this is an enjoyable read.

~ Samantha