Review: Saucy little vacation romance with a surprise ending
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 29, 2014
I'm really angry with this book right now mainly because the main character Jamie Webb gets to hook up with a hot Irishman and I can't! I've always wanted to visit Ireland and whimsically meet a charming local at a corner pub and have hot monkey sex. Well if I can't live it then why not experience it vicariously through Jamie right?From the start I knew I Jamie was a girl I would like. After a breakup with her boyfriend of four years where he upended her life yet again she's come to Ireland on vacation before she starts school. Any woman who is strong enough to pick herself up and visit a place almost worlds away such as Ireland is OK in my book. Jamie has spent the last few years of her life doing what her boyfriend wanted by moving to California only to have to move herself back to Boston when that fizzled out. She's a stronger woman than me because if I had rearranged my entire life for a guy and then he dumped me for my efforts my inner Medea would have come screaming out! her first night in Ireland fresh off the plane she meets the sexy and charming Connor. The instant connection and chemistry between them is just the tip of the iceberg for the two and for the next ten days they spend her time there getting to know each other. Inside and out.I was having a Deja Vu' moment throughout this book and I couldn't pinpoint why until Connor and Jamie end up in a place called Dingle. That's when the light bulb went off and Her Best Laid plans reminded me of the highly UNDERRATED film Leap Year with Amy Adams. Similar in plot both stories revolve around a woman passing through Ireland and falling for a charming Irish guy. Where Matthew Goode portrayed a gruff and somewhat off putting bloke Connor was the opposite with his open personality, engaging charm and sexy swagger. I loved him right off the bat and call me biased but maybe it was because he was Irish and I have a hard on for accents. Connor was a playful chap and I loved his banter with Jamie throughout. Much like her he's had his share of life circumstances that have held him back from pursuing his schooling and I loved that the two bonded over this. They had similar interests in career paths where Jamie was interested in architectural design Connor was more into how things worked together to make something extraordinary.The vacation romance fling was sexy and exciting watching Connor and Jamie spend more time together. I thought as the book chugged along that they made a cute couple and wondered how everything would pan out for them. Then I got worried because I found myself falling a little too hard for a couple born of a fling with an expiration date on it. With Jamie living in Boston and Connor living in Ireland I had to wonder to myself what kind of relationship could they possibly have and why are they falling deeper into this if they have to say goodbye. I'm only newly familiar with McKenna's writing but I'm slowly discovering she is a genius at writing stories with couples who feel realistic in portrayal and the situations surrounding them. I didn't have to be sad long because she brings everything together in her sexy little novella to a full circle that had me misty eyed and excited. Jamie and Connor were a great couple and I highly enjoyed going on the journey with them.McKenna brought this little tale to life with every new destination the characters visited and getting a clear picture of my beloved fantasy destination of Ireland was an amazing thing for her to accomplish. A friend of mine swears by her work and now I'm slowly starting to agree with every new book of hers I open. Her Best Laid Plans was a delightful novella packed full of witty banter, engaging characters and a story book ending to make you melt into a puddle. This may have been my second experience with this author but I can already tell she's one to watch out for so if you haven't checked out her books yet I have to suggest you hop on the bandwagon wit the quickness!