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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ever since I read Protecting What's His, I've wanted to know what would happen to Ginger's sister Willa. Here, we finally get that answer. I liked Willa in Ginger's book. She was very different from her Dolly Parton-esque sister, much darker and more introspective, but I loved her just the same.
We flash forward a few years and find that Willa has broken up with the golden boy she dated in PWH. She simply couldn't be the "perfect" girlfriend and it slowly killed her feelings for her high school sweetheart. Now, overwhelmed with guilt (I don't really know why), Willa wins a photography contest and uses the prize as an excuse to escape to Ireland. There, she stays in a family-owned B&B run by a sexy, grumpy former F1 driver, his wild and repressed younger sister, and their cuckoo-bananas mother who brings their guests cold tea and old biscuits every morning at 5 am.
I really liked Willa and Shane's relationship progression. Neither one of them were looking for love - in fact, they were avoiding it at all costs - but they couldn't deny their attraction and genuine connection. Shane certainly realizes much more quickly that they are meant for each other and even handles his demons related to his abusive father so he can be with her. However, Willa believes she's evil almost - a bad influence and bad person who isn't capable of a healthy relationship. I didn't quite understand how she got to this point from PWH, but she was both endearing and frustrating. I typically don't like when the FMC has to make the apology/romantic gesture at the end of the book, but I didn't mind it here. And traveling the world taking photographs while your hot boyfriend drives F1 is like the dream life.
We flash forward a few years and find that Willa has broken up with the golden boy she dated in PWH. She simply couldn't be the "perfect" girlfriend and it slowly killed her feelings for her high school sweetheart. Now, overwhelmed with guilt (I don't really know why), Willa wins a photography contest and uses the prize as an excuse to escape to Ireland. There, she stays in a family-owned B&B run by a sexy, grumpy former F1 driver, his wild and repressed younger sister, and their cuckoo-bananas mother who brings their guests cold tea and old biscuits every morning at 5 am.
I really liked Willa and Shane's relationship progression. Neither one of them were looking for love - in fact, they were avoiding it at all costs - but they couldn't deny their attraction and genuine connection. Shane certainly realizes much more quickly that they are meant for each other and even handles his demons related to his abusive father so he can be with her. However, Willa believes she's evil almost - a bad influence and bad person who isn't capable of a healthy relationship. I didn't quite understand how she got to this point from PWH, but she was both endearing and frustrating. I typically don't like when the FMC has to make the apology/romantic gesture at the end of the book, but I didn't mind it here. And traveling the world taking photographs while your hot boyfriend drives F1 is like the dream life.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was actually rather surprised by this book! Normally, I am not a fan of New Adult Romances, but this one actually had me caring about the characters and their problems. I could actually relate to some of what Willa was going through, and Shane immediately drew me in to wondering why he was such a grump. Their relationship was actually extremely well developed for how quickly it formed, it was also very believable as well. I was cheering for them by the end of the story! While this book is a bit on the short side, the story does not suffer for it, as it felt like the readers get a fully fleshed out and cohesive story. While I got this from the library on a recommendation, I will definitely be looking to pick up a copy!
If you liked "Runaway Girl" by Tessa you should read this one!
I had so much fun listening to this one and enjoyed the story. I like that it is a standalone novel, but also connected to the Line of Duty series (Willa is the sister of the FMC from Line of Duty 1).
What to expect: vacation romance, accents, family owned business, some F1 sprinkled in, spunky FMC
Spice: 3
I had so much fun listening to this one and enjoyed the story. I like that it is a standalone novel, but also connected to the Line of Duty series (Willa is the sister of the FMC from Line of Duty 1).
What to expect: vacation romance, accents, family owned business, some F1 sprinkled in, spunky FMC
Spice: 3
This book was very different from other books ice read by Tessa Bailey, but I enjoyed it! It had characters from her previous books that I haven't read (which I will!), but it's a standalone novel.
I love books where a character decides to go to another country to take a breather then falls for someone there, so good! So I was thoroughly interested in this story, and was excited to read it! Another book to add to my Tessa Bailey backlist book checklist ✅
I love books where a character decides to go to another country to take a breather then falls for someone there, so good! So I was thoroughly interested in this story, and was excited to read it! Another book to add to my Tessa Bailey backlist book checklist ✅
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved the setting, but the romance was too quick. Lots of steam, great setting, but the romance itself was weak.
I am going to start this review by saying I love Tessa Bailey's books - I counted 30 in my collection so I'm a fan. That being said, this was not my favourite but I think it's mostly a me problem rather than a book problem, and what I mean by this is that I couldn't get over the fact that Willa is 19, so reading the Tessa Bailey (TM) sex scenes was just too squicky for me. I found myself skimming/skipping those pages so lesson learned here is that some New Adult is just too new for me.
That being said, I didn't realize that I had met Willa before in another TB book, Protecting What's Theirs, until her older sister Ginger and her BIL Derek were mentioned....and that's when the lightbulb went off. And loving cameos as I do, I liked how Willa, our angsty, recovering-emo heroine thought about how much she loved her little family and how happy she was that they had found each other and had just had a baby girl that they had named Dolly.
That being said, I didn't realize that I had met Willa before in another TB book, Protecting What's Theirs, until her older sister Ginger and her BIL Derek were mentioned....and that's when the lightbulb went off. And loving cameos as I do, I liked how Willa, our angsty, recovering-emo heroine thought about how much she loved her little family and how happy she was that they had found each other and had just had a baby girl that they had named Dolly.
Mini Review: Short and Sweet
Spoiler Free.
An Irish getaway to mend a broken heart? Yes please. Willa needs an escape after a nasty breakup, and when she meets pub/inn owner Sean, let’s just say, said ex is quickly forgotten.
I can sum this up pretty easily with one word, Cute.(but never fear, in true Tessa fashion, also a little spicy!
Spoiler Free.
An Irish getaway to mend a broken heart? Yes please. Willa needs an escape after a nasty breakup, and when she meets pub/inn owner Sean, let’s just say, said ex is quickly forgotten.
I can sum this up pretty easily with one word, Cute.(but never fear, in true Tessa fashion, also a little spicy!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character