Review: Great Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 12, 2014
I received this book from the author and Story Cartel in exchange for a honest review.I liked this book.  It reminded me of a clean version of a Harlequin Presents Romance.The Hero: He comes across as self-assured and confident, but underneath that he is vulnerable.  He is totally different from how the world sees him.  He manipulates the circumstances to get the heroine to be his intern for two months, but does not run rough-shod over her.  He wants to take it slow so he does not scare her off.  I think he was really lonely.  I loved how considerate he was when she was sick.  He never took advantage of her.The Heroine:  She is a hard-working and resilient character.  After her mother died, she has been single-handedly taking care of her father and brother.  She does have some issues dealing with being afraid of not fitting in with people not in her social class.  This all stems from when she used to go visit her grandmother.  Her grandmother was rich and many of her friends made it clear to her she did not fit it with their set.The Story:  In France, Sophie is attending her grandmother's funeral with her father and brother.  Suddenly, she notices someone she has not seen in four years.  Jean-Luc Olivier was a one-night stand she had four years ago at her 18th birthday party.  After their night together, she told him she had to leave because she had a fiancée.  That was a total lie.  At the funeral, Jean-Luc speaks to her father and finds out she never had a fiancée.  All these years, he believed that she was a gold-digger and like all the other girls that threw themselves at him.  Despite those beliefs, he has never forgotten about Sophie.  Now, he is determined to win her heart.  So, he concocts a plan.Back in London, Sophie is completed with her studies and is awaiting her work placement.  Her tutor informs her she will intern at Pascha Silks in Lyon, France.  He tells her Jean-Luc Olivier asked for her specifically.  She has no option, but to accept.She arrives at Pascha Silks and sees Jean-Luc.  He shows her around, but for the first few weeks leaves her alone.  It is all part of his plan.  He knows he has to take it slow with her so she does not run away again.  Eventually, he gets her to go out to dinner with him.The rest of the book deals with Sophie and Jean-Luc's eventual HEA.  There are some bumps in the road for that to happen, but it does happen.Overall, a satisfying contemporary romance with a hero determined to win over the heroine.