ASIN: B00CNQ7HKU
ISBN-13: 978-0345533722
Publisher: Random House
Line: Bantam
Release Date: Oct 29, 2013
Pages: 370
Digital Retail: 7.99
 |  |  |  |
Genre: Contemporary
Heat Level: Hot
Rating:
Perfect for readers of Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Rachel Gibson, this sizzling romance tells the story of a sexy small-town mayor and a notorious “bad girl,” who discover that home really is where the heart is.
Monica Appleby is a woman with a reputation. Once she was America’s teenage “Wild Child,” with her own reality TV show. Now she’s a successful author coming home to Bishop, Arkansas, to pen the juicy follow-up to her tell-all autobiography. Problem is, the hottest man in town wants her gone. Mayor Jackson Davies is trying to convince a cookie giant to move its headquarters to his crumbling community, and Monica’s presence is just too . . . unwholesome for business. But the desire in his eyes sends a very different message: Stay, at least for a while.
Jackson needs this cookie deal to go through. His town is dying and this may be its last shot. Monica is a distraction proving too sweet, too inviting—and completely beyond his control. With every kiss he can taste her loneliness, her regrets, and her longing. Soon their uncontrollable attraction is causing all kinds of drama. But when two lost hearts take a surprise detour onto the bumpy road of unexpected love, it can only lead someplace wonderful.
“Molly O’Keefe is a unique, not-to-be-missed voice in romantic fiction.”—New York Times bestselling author Susan Andersen
Review
The premise for this story is interesting. The town of Bishop is facing some difficult times and Mayor Jackson Davies is looking to save the town. He devises a plan to enter a contest and bring a cookie manufacturing company to Bishop. I’m assuming cookie companies will bring the much needed revenue to Bishop that Jackson is looking for.
Monica Appleby remembers her times in Bishop and they are not some of her happiest memories. Her parents had a dysfunctional relationship with ended in tragedy. Monica and her mother ended up as D-list celebrities with a reality show. Now Monica has a chance to come back and tell her story about Bishop. The only problem is that a hot-headed Mayor is refusing to let her shed any bad light on his town.
Monica and Jackson are clearly on opposite sides of the fence but it doesn’t stop them for combusting with passion whenever they are around each other. Jackson is fighting hard for the town despite the resistance and Monica is struggling with penning her tell all book. The town hasn’t seen so much excitement in years.
Yes, this is a light and quickly moving story but there are some tender and deep moments. Jackson and Monica both have to deal with the trauma from their past. Jackson lost his parents and he is responsible for his sister. His sense of responsibility sometimes gets in the way of his logical thinking. He is not looking to let anyone else into his world. This is tricky with a blooming relationship in the background. Monica must face her past in Bishop and heal the wounds with her mother.
Small town romances are some of my favorite contemporary tropes to read. Ms. O’Keefe delivers another fun and racy read. With an influx of quirky and entertaining characters, the author leaves rooms for other characters to have their story told soon.
Reviewed by Samantha