The series name is right. This is definitely a slow burn, maybe even a very slow burn. But the wait is worth it in the end.

The banter in this book is off the charts. The slowness of the build was impeccable. Not knowing exactly how the HEA at the end would go was a major winning point for me.

Portia was my favorite character, we didn't interact with her much but she was an excellent character who brought the full story together.

Also read the acknowledgements they are personal and the author shares a good message in them.

This is my first J.T. Geissenger book and I can't wait to read more. ( )

I loved the first book in the series so I am really sad that this one didn't work for me.

She is lusting after her married boss and he( the Hero) has sex with a woman who is not the heroine at the start of the book.

I get that in this type of troupe the heroine needs help to snag her crush/dream man that seems unattainable and the Hero helps her wishing she'd notice him or he gets to know her in the process of helping her and falls for her but in this story she is too invested in her so called unattainable man.

I also really dislike the main characters being intimate with people other than each other. The scene is there I think to prove he is a reformed man whore but it could have been done without the deets.

Slow burn is fine but this feels like a mad dash to get together in he last 90% or so.

so.
well.
That last chapter and epilogue really boosted the rating of this book. I love a memorable & funny wrap-up. The Ugly Duckling premise with a twist here. The heroine is insecure in an understandable, relatable, clueless way. The writing style is just so-so for me overall. I don't mind straightforward style, but sometimes J.T.G has a lot of tell and not a whole lot of show. Fortunately, she's growing (IMO) and does a wonderful job building a sweet intimacy between the main characters for a fun slow-burn romance. I delighted in the friendship between the MCs-the humor and the honesty. And I ached quite a bit with the hero. I don't know if I didn't love it as much or it was better for not having his point of view. Cam would have the ability to disarm anyone, and it reads really clear so maybe that was a good choice, especially with a heroine who had so much growth to do.

Sorry, I'm thinking out loud I think.

So why not a 5? Simple. I don't mind an insecure heroine, and I love when a couple is at their best together. But Cam lectures Joellen about her self-worth A LOT. I'm cool with him expressing admiration and fondness for her, but it got a lot old for him to go on tirade after tirade about how her insecurity was baseless. Honestly, him treasuring her was quite enough.

Another reason? Easy. Caricature villains, while great in children's stories and comic books, aren't my favorite in romances. Depth please. In all the people.

One last thing? Done. Romance leads the way in sexual empowerment and expression. Likewise, it needs to lead the way on unacceptable, power-hungry criminal sexual behavior that should not be brushed aside. In this particular book I don't want a scene-particularly one between a boss and subordinate-that the heroine herself diminishes. I don't have trouble with the follow-up chain of events (I see that as a natural response, taking control), but for her to say being groped did not hurt her aggravated me. She had clearly said no as well. If she wanted to let it go-that's her deal. But please, authors, give a name to these acts. She was hurt.

ugh, I don't know what to rate it, but it's somewhere between a 3.5-4. It was really really good, but clearly for me, not perfect. ( )

By some coincidence I started reading this just after finishing Penny Reids 'Beard Science', even though this book was on my tbr probably for a year. It deals with body confidence, self respect etc.
At first I got some Wallbanger vibes, but quickly transformed into something more.
It has its own flaws, so I'm giving it 4 stars, but putting it on my faves shelf ( )

That one got and a place among my favourites although I don't know if it'll stay there. Just that it's how I feel at the moment.

I didn't even really want to read that book in the first place. I don't know, the plot all seemed way too familiar and used, and I'm not a particular fan of the ugly-but-turning-out-to-be-beautiful-girl trope to begin with. But for some reason this book was there precisely at the moment I needed it. Precisely when I was myself swimming in a pool of self-doubt (is that a word?) and self-bashing, just not feeling good about myself, this came along, and precisely Cam went along. I kind of loathed Joellen at first and I thought it was because it was obvious she was awesome and was laying too thick on her not being it, but I believe it was because it reminded me a little bit too much of myself. I could relate way too well for my tastes (although for other reasons). Cameron's words kind of resonated with me, and made me want to believe in myself again, so that's surely why at the moment I feel that good about that book. We'll see how that goes if I ever read it again.

But also, there were lots of moments that made me laugh my ass off so I'm also quite sure that won me over even when I wasn't sure I'd stick to reading it.

Give it a go, and see if you'd like it. I know I did. ( )