Piper Evans: elementary school teacher by day–avid romance reader and anonymous podcaster by night. She has a quiet, reclusive life, taking care of her mother, who lives with mental illness, avoiding her regrettable ex, who bartends in town, and trying to make inroads in the tight-knit island community that still sees her, five years in, as an outsider.
And she’s happy with how things are–really–until British royals rent the property next to hers and their brooding bodyguard decides she’s a security threat. Piper quickly realizes that one person’s fairy tale is an ordinary woman’s nightmare as a media frenzy takes over the island and each run-in with Harrison Cole is hotter and more confusing than the last. But beneath Harrison’s no-nonsense exterior lies a soft heart, one that could tempt a woman who’s sworn off attachments into believing in white knights.
But when Piper finds herself smack in the middle of a royal scandal that rocks the island she’ll need more than Harrison’s strong arms to shield her–she’ll have to do a little rescuing herself. With careers, hearts, and friendships on the line, Piper and Harrison will have to decide what they’re willing to give up for a chance at their own happily ever after.
Release Date: Aug 31, 2021
Heat Level: Hot
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley
Price: $9.99
Piper has lived in a small town in Canada for a few years now but she has yet to feel like an insider. It doesn’t hurt that her main focus is her career, her sick mother and her secret love for romance novels. She doesn’t socialize as much as she should. When a British Royal couple moves in next door, her life starts to get more interesting.
Harrison is the royal’s bodyguard. The couple needs a break from their duties and Harrison is there to help keep the peace. The problem is that his new neighbor makes it hard. Some how she gets intwined in their lives and Harrison realizes he may want to keep it that way.
To be clear this is not the best book I’ve read by this author. However, it ticks enough of my boxes for me to read the book through in one sitting. It gives an enemy to lovers kind of vibe which is my favorite trope lately.
I liked Piper and her love for romance novels. I totally got her need to defend her love for reading them. Why should it be a secret? She deals with so much in life with her family and her own mental health. The author handles the subject matter very delicately. In fact, I actually learned a thing or two from reading Piper’s story.
Harrison and Piper’s chemistry is smoking from the beginning. Granted, Harrison is not initially feeling Piper but as he gets to know her, he falls hard. I liked that there is more than just the bodyguard thing to him. He is dedicated to his job but he wants more in life. I rooted for them to both be free of their burdens. The author really infused a good deal of humor and banter to help lighten some of the heavy tension that was laced throughout the book.
The story is full of low to medium angst as the author throws in a bit of scandal and drama. The two characters navigate it pretty well as they try to figure out if they have a future together.
If you want a light and easy contemporary romance story, then this is the perfect read.
~ Samantha
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