Publishing November 16, 2021
Synopsis:
Following Spoiler Alert, Olivia Dade returns with another utterly charming romantic comedy about a devil-may-care actor—who actually cares more than anyone knows—and the no-nonsense woman hired to keep him in line.
Alexander Woodroe has it all. Charm. Sex appeal. Wealth. Fame. A starring role as Cupid on TV’s biggest show, God of the Gates. But the showrunners have wrecked his character, he’s dogged by old demons, and his post-show future remains uncertain. When all that reckless emotion explodes into a bar fight, the tabloids and public agree: his star is falling.
Enter Lauren Clegg, the former ER therapist hired to keep him in line. Compared to her previous work, watching over handsome but impulsive Alex shouldn’t be especially difficult. But the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to keep her professional remove and her heart intact, especially when she discovers the reasons behind his recklessness…not to mention his Cupid fanfiction habit.
When another scandal lands Alex in major hot water and costs Lauren her job, she’ll have to choose between protecting him and offering him what he really wants—her. But he’s determined to keep his improbably short, impossibly stubborn, and extremely endearing minder in his life any way he can. And on a road trip up the California coast together, he intends to show her exactly what a falling star will do to catch the woman he loves: anything at all.
My Review:
This was really cute. Some of the plot was rehashed a bit from the first novel, so it didn’t feel quite as strong as a stand-alone, but I loved Alex and Lauren’s dynamic.
Alex is A LOT and he knows it. He has ADHD, is charming and goofy, and constantly, constantly teases Lauren and tries to get her to open up. Lauren knows how to be professional and close herself off so that she’s perfectly blank because she’s taken a lot of abuse in her life. And I loved seeing her let go and let herself be seen.
My favorite moments were when the two of them were alone together, because they could just *be* together and it was so sweet.
The sex wasn’t my thing but I skipped over it and didn’t feel like I missed anything. Aside from some teasing references to it, it was contained in one section so it didn’t overwhelm the plot which I appreciated.
Also my favorite was Alex’s unabashed love of fanfiction tropes. The joy he got when there was only one room at the hotel and it had *only one bed!* His love of the soulmate trope, and the tooth-achingly sweet gesture towards the end, which I won’t spoil but oh, you have to read it.
Overall, sweet and fluffy and charming.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing an e-arc for review.
Favorite Quotes:
Lauren Clegg might well be the most frustrating human being on the face of this planet, and coming from him, that was a fucking indictment.
Only to find, instead of a frown or weary resignation, an expression of dawning delight. “Let me get this straight.” He braced his hands on the counter and leaned in closer to the clerk. “There’s only… one bed?”
The young man blinked at him. “Yes, sir.”
When Alex pumped his fists in triumph, punching the air, Lauren and the clerk both jumped.
“This is the best day of my fucking life!” he shouted. “Only! One! Bed! My second-favorite trope!”
He swung around to beam at her.
“Do I want to know?”
“He couldn’t help but snicker. “Probably not. But I’ll send you links to my favorite sex pollen fics anyway. I have a few bookmarked.”
“Oh.” her fingers curled against his belly. “I, uh, may not need you to send me the links, then.”
When he tried to move far enough away to see her expression, she clung to him like a limpet. “Lauren Chandra Clegg, have you been looking at my bookmarked fics?”
Her entire body seemed to radiate fresh heat, and she didn’t need to answer out loud.
You have,” he crowed. “You’ve read about pegging and consentacles and–“
Whimsical Dragonette 