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ckinkopf's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lauriereadsrom1's review
4.0
Jessica Bailey, known to most of the world as pop star Jade, has just completed a grueling two-year international concert tour and is looking forward to a much-needed break. Unfortunately, she arrives at her home in Eastport Bay to find the police investigating a possible burglary. They find no evidence of an intruder and assume that the alarm system simply malfunctioned, until the next night when the intruder returns. She escapes unharmed, but all signs point to a stalker. Jessica's older brother Hap insists on hiring the security firm founded by his best friend, ex-Navy SEAL Wilder Lowe, to keep her safe. Wilder initially plans to assign his top employee to act as Jessica's bodyguard, but when Hap presses the issue, he's forced to take the assignment himself. The problem is that Wilder has secretly been attracted to Jessica for years, but Hap has always been clear that his little sister is off limits. Wilder knows that being in such close proximity to Jessica will make it difficult to keep his hands off her - something that only grows more difficult when they travel to a private tropical island to hide out while detectives continue the search for her stalker.
Jessica and Wilder had a complicated history because of Wilder's long-standing friendship with her older brother as well as the mutual, but mostly unacknowledged, crush they shared back in high school. They even kissed once, but Wilder pushed Jessica away afterwards and pretended it never happened because he was so afraid to lose Hap as a friend. The chemistry between them was as strong as ever when they met again as adults, but Wilder's fears were equally strong. He was also concerned about living a life in the spotlight because of a scandal in his past and the possible impact it might have on Jessica's reputation if they got involved. However, Jessica knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to fight for it, and in the end Wilder's fears were no match for her.
While I enjoyed the romance between Jessica and Wilder, there were a few details about the plot that IMO could have been tightened up. For example, Wilder refused to tell anyone, including Jessica, where they were going before they left for the island. When they landed, she didn't even know what continent they were on. How did she know to pack so many bikinis and skimpy sundresses? Also, how did Wilder earn enough money to buy his own private island? I'm sure the private security business can be lucrative, especially when dealing with high-profile clients, but islands don't come cheap. Was he out of the military long enough to amass that kind of fortune?
Despite those few nagging questions, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance. I look forward to the next book in the series.
*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Give Me Books Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.
Jessica and Wilder had a complicated history because of Wilder's long-standing friendship with her older brother as well as the mutual, but mostly unacknowledged, crush they shared back in high school. They even kissed once, but Wilder pushed Jessica away afterwards and pretended it never happened because he was so afraid to lose Hap as a friend. The chemistry between them was as strong as ever when they met again as adults, but Wilder's fears were equally strong. He was also concerned about living a life in the spotlight because of a scandal in his past and the possible impact it might have on Jessica's reputation if they got involved. However, Jessica knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to fight for it, and in the end Wilder's fears were no match for her.
While I enjoyed the romance between Jessica and Wilder, there were a few details about the plot that IMO could have been tightened up. For example, Wilder refused to tell anyone, including Jessica, where they were going before they left for the island. When they landed, she didn't even know what continent they were on. How did she know to pack so many bikinis and skimpy sundresses? Also, how did Wilder earn enough money to buy his own private island? I'm sure the private security business can be lucrative, especially when dealing with high-profile clients, but islands don't come cheap. Was he out of the military long enough to amass that kind of fortune?
Despite those few nagging questions, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance. I look forward to the next book in the series.
*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Give Me Books Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.
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