Review: A Favorite Among the Red-Hot Reads
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 15, 2014
Basically there are three things I want out of a Cosmo Red-Hot Reads novella: fun characters, an interesting story, and sexy times. I've enjoyed all of Red-Hot Reads that I've read, some more than others, obviously, but I have to say that Her Best Laid Plans might be my favorite.Let's start with the main characters, Jamie and Connor. Jamie recently got out of a long-term relationship that she put her life on hold for. Now, at 23-years-old she's housesitting for her mom's friend in Ireland for two weeks before getting ready to re-start college in the fall. Jamie is just someone I know. I know girls who pushed aside their dreams for a guy and who then break up with that guy and have to figure out how to navigate their lives. But, to Cara McKenna's credit Jamie was never pathetic or weird about figuring out herself out, she was a normal, fun, maybe a tad bit awkward young woman.Then there's Connor, the sexy Irish bartender who Jamie meets on her first night in Ireland. Yes, it's a little cliche, but I didn't think Connor was cliche at all. He's just a really nice guy, he's not quiet or brooding, he's fun, flirty, and, the best part, a little bit nervous around Jamie despite his obvious experience. Much like Jamie he's done other things with his life and is now going back to college in his late-20s.Jamie and Connor's story is great, yes because of the short nature of Jamie's visit it's very "instalove" but neither of them is mushy or planning the rest of their lives in two weeks. Their time together in Ireland is fun, I loved watching them explore Ireland and getting to know each other and I thought their feelings on Jamie going back home were very realistic. Both of them feel like there could have been something more to their relationship, but they both know it's unfortunately not the time for that right now.And the sexy times. Lots of steamy, hot, pretty believable sexy times that were also balanced out by non-sexy times scenes. Why did I never travel around Ireland while I was in college?I'll also say that if memory serves me correctly most of the Red-Hot Reads I've read have been told from alternating perspectives of the male and female characters, but this one was just told from Jamie's perspective, which I loved. It's nice to get the male POV too, but for something as short as a novella sometimes it's nice not to have to worry about squishing both points-of-view in there.I received an electronic review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley (thank you!). All opinions are my own.