Review: Wonderful contemporary romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 29, 2013
Ellie Holdsworthy needs help with her best friend Penny, she thinks Penny is getting married to the wrong person and wants to talk to her about her fiancé.  However Penny is angry at her and won't talk.  So Ellie is going to ask their mutual friend Gideon, as Ellie thinks Penny will listen to Gideon.Ellie's brother Gareth's best friend is Gideon DeLaney, who has known her family for years.  After his parents died he went to live with his grandparents and they immediately sent him to boarding school.  At school he met Gareth and they became fast friends.  Gareth and Ellie's parents welcomed him into their family as if he had been part of it for years.  And although he does have a sister named Harriet, she disappeared as soon as she could and never contacted anyone, his grandparents acted like she never existed.  Gideon has never looked for her because of pride and figured if she wanted to be found she would have come forward.Ellie recently got out of a long term relationship, one she thought would last forever, she thought by now she would be married and ready for kids.  So when Paul dumped her for another woman who was pregnant, she was devastated and did not tell anyone but Penny, she just could not face her family. Paul also did a number on her self esteem and she rarely wears clothes that show off her shape as Paul would laugh when she tried to look glamorous.Deciding that Gideon's family home would be perfect, they got set for the weekend.  His house is a beautiful home that he renovated after his grandparents died; he wants to make good memories there now.  So Ellie and Gideon drive up early as Penny, Will and Gareth will come up later. This leaves Ellie and Gideon to have the house to themselves for awhile as they get reacquainted; they have rarely spent any time alone.  They go to the market for supplies and while there they get into a wreck, not a bad one but they are startled and realized that someone could have been hurt, but it is like a dam releases and Ellie starts to cry, probably releasing all her pain from built up emotions.  All the sudden they are looking at each other differently; they suddenly can't get enough of each other as they enjoy the afternoon.Finally Penny and Will arrive, however things are strained.  Will does not talk much and Penny seems sad.  They end their evening early and the next morning Will gets up and leaves saying he is calling off the wedding.  The weekend is over and Ellie has gotten what she wished for, but she does not feel right and thinks she may have been wrong about the two.  They all go home and she and Gideon part ways as they both had said that the deal was only for the weekend with no strings attached.  She misses him.  When Gideon tries to help Will and Penny get back together, Ellie realizes she does not want to be without Gideon.  However they must work through several issues before they can commit.I really enjoyed this book.  I love both the friends to lovers and best friend's sister trope which this book has.  And although there is a mutual attraction, he is so scared about relationships because of his family.  His grandparents really messed up his world and the fact that his sister left and never tried to contact him hurt him deeply.  I enjoyed the relationship between Ellie and Gideon, the chemistry worked and you could tell they were passionate when together.  They really could not get enough of each other.  Penny and Will's relationship was a little rushed - both in the breaking up and then getting back together, however they are secondary characters so it worked.  I would definitely recommend this for a romantic read that had some angst and steam.Review also at Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind blog