Review: Charming, fun read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 9, 2013
This book felt very charming.  It's not that long, but it packs a powerful punch.  Nathaniel and Addie are at odds from the very beginning.  He's going to tear down a public rose garden that means a lot to her, and she's a part of the protest group. As she handcuffs herself to him and eventually when they're finding the key, Nathaniel ends up getting knocked down and hurt.  When he gets a call about visiting his family for the weekend, he needs a date and asks Addie to repay him by playing his girlfriend for the weekend.Addie has her own reasons for agreeing.  She's hoping she can show Nathaniel that there's more to life than money, e.g. save the rose garden. She convinces herself that she's acting altruistically by showing him that he's missing out on life.Nathaniel's mom and grandmother are great.  They run an alpaca farm.  Nathaniel is very protective of them, but wants to fulfill his businessman-father's dreams more than he wants to acknowledge the non-businessman side of himself.I loved some of the language in this book.  How many places will you read the phrase "the broiling pit of lust marinating her insides" or "She needed to stay on her side of this bloody debauched bed!".  It was lots of fun, even if I didn't know what some of the things were... I had to look up what a mulberry shirt was.I really appreciated how Addie was portrayed.  She was smart and capable.  She didn't diminish herself, but owned her choice of a simpler life and was happy that way.  I'm not sure that I felt Addie grew in any noticeable way, so maybe I'd classify this one as a little more retro; girl sees potential in guy and by loving him let's him grow into a better man.  Maybe I'd place it as one of the best mid-90s Love Swept books.  If that's the style you're looking to enjoy, this is a good book for you.