Review: Love the series idea even if this one is a little too short for my taste
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 07 21, 2014
I read book one of this series before I read this little prequel and I'm glad I did.  I fell in love with the idea and went back to read this one.  I might not have continued if I had started with this one.Here's what worked..I love the series idea of stories that are set around The Chatsfield hotel chain.  It's beautiful places and beautiful people kinda stories -  very escape oriented.  The Chatsfield family is also very tied to the series and I'm interested to learn about the different kids.  I'm already wondering about Lucas and what's up with him.I really love this premise.  Girl pretends to be engaged with guy and guy shows up at the event.  Yeah, that has fun written all over it.I love the idea of the sister falling for the brother's best friend.  Those stories are always yummy.  These two had a history and already cared for each other.  The chemistry is there, at least since their Christmas almost kiss.  Marcus is fighting the best friends sister issue and his commitment to his job.  He doesn't see the possibility of more in his life.  He needs convincing.What convinces him was perfect.  It happened fast but I totally loved it.I so loved the scene where Marcus finds out that Juliet is pretending to be engaged to HIM. It happens in mixed company and he has to decide if he will play along.  Totally cute.They are hot together and it's clear they should be together.Here's what didn't work...It was too short.  It's a prequel and a novella but at only 61 pages, it was just too short for me.  It does a good job of introducing the hotel chain and some of the family.  It's clear that there are some interesting stories here but I wanted more of this story.I just felt like another 50 pages would have made this so much better.  Maybe a little more awkward before they fell together and a little more trying to resist would have made it better.  It could be the love of pretending in me that feels this way but I just wanted more pretending.While I love the cover, it doesn't match the story much.  Juliet feels like she doesn't fit in with the elite she's hanging out with.  Her clothes, her extra curves, her more plain looks are all part of why she made up the story in the first place.  That women on the cover fits just fine in the world of The Chatsfield.  I prefer covers that fit the story.