Review: Quick and easy, steamy read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 19, 2013
"Awkward was an emotion Eva was unfamiliar with, but she had a feeling she was going to perfect it this weekend."In this novella, Eva and Trevor, two intriguing, commitment-phobic characters from the Hard Feelings series are thrown together during their friends Meagan and Reed's wedding. Neither Eva nor Trevor do relationships. Eva's tough and closed-off. She just got out of a relationship with Luke, a guy who was far more into her than she was into him. While she didn't have feelings for him, her ego took a blow when he dumped her. Now they're both attending Megan and Reed's wedding and Luke is showing interest in giving things another try. Eva's not opposed to a wedding weekend hookup, but she knows that wouldn't be fair considering how he feels about her. What's a girl to do?"He was a genuine guy. If he ever changed course and decided to settle down with one woman, he'd be the perfect guy you'd want to take home to your parents. A guy that would shake hands and drink a beer with your dad, then do dishes with your mom. Probably play catch with your brother and earn a little crush from your sister. He was also the guy that would sneak you off into the bathroom while your family was preoccupied and f*** you on the sink…"Enter Trevor Owens: soldier, manwh*re, friend, knight in shining armor. Eva's always been attracted to him (and him to her), but she knows his deal. He doesn't do relationships; he sleeps around. They're good friends, but he's not boyfriend material. Except, this weekend he offers to be just that. If he and Eva pretend they're dating, Luke will leave her alone and she'll have a peaceful weekend with friends. After a weak moment, she agrees to his proposition. As they're playing the game, it starts to feel a little too real. Can they have a weekend of no-strings-attached fun or is there something more to their friendship? Could she really be his for more than just a weekend? You'll have to read and find out."If anyone knew and understood Eva's lack of intimate emotion – it was Trevor. They were cut from the same cloth that was missing the fall-in-love thread."Since this novella was told in from both Eva and Trevor's perspectives, the reader gets a nice look inside both of their heads as the weekend's events occur. I thought the dual POVs were pulled off well. I liked seeing the slightly softer side of Trevor. He intrigued me in Feel the Rush and I hoped he would eventually get his own book. Eva and Trevor are both likable, if flawed, characters. Eva's strong and tough. Trevor is hot and protective. Whether friends or involved in the fake relationship, they played well off each other. They had a spark that jumped off the page.This was a quick and easy, steamy read. I really enjoy Kelsie's writing style and characters. I blew through this novella in a little under an hour. If you're a fan of the Hard Feelings series – or of hot military men – you will want to read this one (and the whole series). As a fan of the first two books in the series, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this novella before its release. Thank you Penguin/InterMix and NetGalley! I'm very much looking forward to the next full-length novel in this series, A Beautiful Distraction.I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All quotes come from the review copy and may differ from the final version.