Review: Nice Girl
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 13, 2013
I really enjoyed this book! It was not your typical girl meet (bad) boy, girl falls in love, they live happily ever after. This was more of a slow burn romance. I almost feel like it was more about the growth of the heroine, Grace, than her love story. Of course there is a love story in there or else I would not have enjoyed it as much but it sits in the background quite a bit while Grace's character grows into a woman that is ready to handle a relationship with a bad boy. I did love this about the story. I loved watching Grace learn to accept herself and what she considers her flaws. I do wish there had been more hot scenes between her and the hero, Vinnie.Mmmmmm, Vinnie. Vinnie is an ex-enforcer for the mob (I have no idea how he got out of that job, it's not mentioned) who has had a very hard life and doesn't have a very high opinion of women or relationships. When he meets Grace, it's not like he was all the sudden BAM "I love her and want her to have my babies!" or anything close. The author does a good job of spreading out their story over the course of several months so the reader doesn't get whiplash over Vinnie and Grace's relationship.While the whole story is told in first person from Grace's perspective, we do get a lot of information on Vinnie from the supporting characters so we can see his growth as well. Also it is noticeable in his scenes with Grace after a certain point in the story.There are a few things I didn't love about this book which is why it only got 4 stars from me. The first is a few editing mistakes that, while do not take away from the story as a whole, are there and may bug some people. I also was unsure about the amount of sharing that goes on in this book. Now I don't have a gay bff or anything close but do not think that on Grace's first day of work the IT guy (who happens to be gay) would take her out to coffee and spill almost every piece of information he had on his two bosses. Including things that I felt like were said in confidence to him. I mean, he tells that most people would keep private unless they were best friends and even then they would make them swear to never repeat it. The amount of openness in the respect was a little farfetched for me. I would have like to have seen Grace get some of her information on Vinnie from the source and not as water cooler gossip.This is a little bit of a spoiler so if they bother you, don't read this part.The main thing that left me wanting in this book is that they characters don't really get together until the very end of the book. They have a few kisses in the chapters leading up to the ending but there is just one sex scene with Vinnie and Grace. It's a great scene but I would like to know what happens next? I was left with so many questions. I would have loved to have gotten more out of these characters. What will happen when they go back to work? Will Vinnie stay overnight sometimes with her at her dorm? Where does Vinnie live? Does he love her? This is more of a happy for now ending for me than a happily ever after. That is all good but I so wish I had more!! Also, What about Anthony? I keep thinking maybe Dee (one of Grace's BFF's) will visit her in New York and end up getting together with Anthony but I am not sure. It would be awesome if so because I would get more of Grace and Vinnie (I hope).Okay, spoiler over!I will say that I am very anxious to read the other three books in the series. I didn't mention it before but Grace is one of four best friends that find their lives going in different directions after college but they still keep in touch. It was one of the parts I really liked. Almost every week they would do video chats over the internet as well as texts through the week to catch up. I don't have any friends that I am that close to so I really enjoyed reading about women who made their friendship a priority. Overall I really enjoyed this book. There were some laugh out loud moments and a few embarrassing ones as well as one that almost made me cry. I love a book that takes me through all the emotions and leaves me satisfied, even though I would have liked a little more, I still thought it was great!book provided by author for the purpose of an honest reviewreviewed by Megan