Review: Cute, Clean and Completely Adorable
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 26, 2013
This is the first work I've read by Gina Ardito, but it won't be the last.  I completely enjoyed this sweet little novella, and would recommend it to those who enjoy romance without explicit sex or language.After breaking up with a shallow ex-boyfriend, Vivi must attend a party...alone...at which her ex-boyfriend and his new (skinny) girlfriend are also in attendance; how humiliating!  Sebastian "Bass" Lawrence, sees Vivi and is so intrigued by her that he steps in as her date.  Bass has also been burned by romance, so he and Vivi, having both sworn off romance, become the best of friends.  They even start a business, Cupid To Go, an escort service for people in need of a date.  Vivi acts as Cupid, while Bass is a silent partner.Enter Ava Featherstone, former super-model, soon-to-be-ex-wife of wealthy attorney Cecil Bannerman, and potential (demanding) client of Cupid To Go.  When Bass comes to take Vivi to lunch -- as he often does -- Ava spots him and says HE is the one she wants to serve as her attentive boy toy, all to save face with the media.  Vivi is surprised when Bass agrees.After Vivi leaves her office, Ava points out to Bass that he's in love with his partner.  Bass is shocked to realize she's right (this isn't a spoiler, I promise).  He quickly agrees to Ava's plan to make Vivi realize she can't live without him.  When he leaves Cupid To Go in Ava's company, Vivi realizes she's in love with Bass.Here's where it gets painful -- but in a romantic-please-let-there-be-a-HEA kind of way.  Ava's contract demands that Bass appear totally devoted to her, which means Vivi is suddenly spending a lot of time alone.  Even the holidays, which she's always spent with Bass, are miserable affairs with her miserable family.  Vivi is miserable, Bass is miserable -- the only people happy are Ava and the media, who are predicting wedding bells for "SebAva".Vivi has the perfect Christmas gift for Bass.  Bass has a great gift for her, too, but they can't see each other to exchange them.  And now I'm getting close to spoilers, so I'm going to stop.This truly was a sweet little romance.  Part of me wanted to grab Bass and shake him and say, "Really?  You're not this stupid!"  Another part of me had to laugh at his cluelessness.  I also enjoyed that we get both Vivi's and Bass' POV throughout the story.  I highly recommend this novella as a short, sweet read!