Review: Delightful read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 24, 2013
How do you make the woman who's your best friend and business partner understand that you had forever in mind and not just a one night stand?Jaxon Grey should have never let Pepper Holts, the woman he loved, toss him out after their one night of passion. For her, it was like that magical night never happened. They were back to business as usual at the office, but their friendship was feeling the strain no matter how much Pepper tried to pretend everything was normal.So Jax concocted a plan to get Pepper alone and away from Miami. He was determined to make her realize there was more between them than business and friendship, even if he had to resort to manipulation and restraints to get the sexy, stubborn woman to stay around long enough to listen. But, he knew he'd have to do more than tell Pepper what was in his heart; he'd have to prove the depth of his love in the many ways that mattered.After a breast cancer false alarm, Pepper and her friend and business partner Jaxon set out for a night of celebration that ended up becoming something more. For Pepper, that something more was one big mistake. It made her realize that the feelings she had for Jax ran way deeper than love for a best friend, and she knew Jax didn't do love and would never feel the same way about her. She'd pretended for months that that night never happened, and it seemed Jax finally got the message when he took an extended break from their company.But now that it was time to close on a big business deal, Jax was still nowhere to be found, so Pepper set to work tracking him down and found him in a remote cabin in Colorado. Yet, upon her arrival at the cabin where Jax was staying, Pepper found out that their relationship was no longer business or friendship as usual. To prove the depth of his love for her, Jax set about using every persuasion skill he possessed to make her realize he truly wanted her forever.Laurel Cremant is a relatively new author and is certainly one to watch. She has taken a fairly common plot of friends to lovers and make it totally fresh with a hero and heroine that are delightfully characterized. Pepper and Jax are well-matched but differ in ways that make them perfectly complement one another. Jax is a big, brainy techno-geek who's focused on product development until Pepper's breast cancer scare makes him realize he feels more than friendship for her. Pepper is a sassy, savvy businesswoman who packs a mean punch in and out of the boardroom, but she's convinced herself that what she feels for Jax is appreciation for a sexy, brainy guy and deep, abiding friendship.Be prepared for a fast-paced read featuring a strong heroine, a steadfast hero, and a pleasing resolution to this couple's dilemma.(Contains light bondage, spanking, and a very hot scene of one-upmanship in the shower.)Reviewed by Angie Just Read...for TheRomanceReviews.com