In this second of the Kingman Brothers series, Aiden Kingman is reunited with the woman he mistakenly wronged seven years ago…and this time around, he’s determined to make things right.
Seven years ago, Aiden Kingman had to choose between betraying Delanie Clark and her father or staying loyal to his father’s company. He chose his father—losing Delanie in the process—and he’s regretted it ever since. Now as CEO and partner in Kingman Partners International, he needs to finalize buying a retreat property, but there’s one major hold up: Delanie is the contract negotiator for the owner, and she doesn’t trust him.
Delanie and her father lost everything when Aiden’s father lied about his intentions for buying her family’s mountain retreat. She swore that she would never have anything to do with Aiden Kingman again. But now she’s facing him across the negotiating table, and sparks that had previously been stamped out reignite between them. When tragedy places the deal on the line, will they put their history behind them? Or will the deal cost them both their second chance at love?
Release Date: Jul 9, 2018
Series: The Kingman Brothers
Book: 2
Heat Level: Hot
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Imprint: Pocket Star
Price: $2.99
This book was unexpected, in a good way!
The rich, fantastic world Nina Crespo has created is filled with charismatic, sexy, characters that I couldn’t get enough of in book one. I was super excited to dive into Aidan’s story, and found myself right back in sync without missing a beat. Note: the book was unexpected because I envisioned a different heroine for Aidan. But, I set aside my book bias (I’m happy I did) and gave the true heroine a chance.
Big kudos to the author for absorbing me right back into the world she created with properly placed reminders from the previous story without losing me. Also, Aidan, while not as hot as his older brother King, is all sorts of sexy in his own right. I mean, how can you turn down a man who loves sci-fi and history shows and is willing to take care of a woman when she is sick. Was that a spoiler? I hope not.
This story also featured my favorite trope, second-chance romance. Delanie, our heroine, was betrayed by Aidan and his father in the past. A business deal gone sour set her on a path completely different than what she’d originally intended. When faced up against Aidan in what appears to be a comparable situation, it’s her past colliding with the present. Delanie is the only part of this book that annoyed me… a smidge. At times I felt she took her prejudices towards Aidan too far. Beyond what would be fair and accommodating… for me.
Crespo makes up for Delanie’s mishaps by giving her some cosmic revenge. Not to mention, Aidan grovels quite well. I thoroughly enjoyed how these two never stopped loving each other and the attraction pours out on every page. It’s this blend of sensuality with plot I found fabulous and Crespo does it too perfection.
Add in a bit of forced proximity, with a spray of enemies to lovers and there’s plenty to keep the fires burning and the conflict tumbling. The true antagonist in this story is their past, one that keeps coming back to haunt them, and takes on a visual form of Aidan’s father. The resolution and grand gestures were quite unexpected, and I felt the author truly took the story to a place I found much more fulfilling then a simplistic ending.
My favorite scene: Delanie gets Aidan on her couch, under her terms. If she’s giving into her attraction it won’t be to fall prey to his usual schemes. No, sir. This woman takes what she wants and returns the favor if she feels like it.
Overall, if you enjoy Alisha Rai’s series or Jessica Lemmon’s Billionaire Bad Boys I think you should check out the Kingman’s. Now, if I can only get Meagan’s story.
~ Landra
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