Nicole Reads

*happy sigh*

What a sweet read. Julie James does it again. This woman writes the equivalent of cookie dough: comforting, reliable and delicious.

I am one of those people that likes to read realistic portrayals. I want my heroes and heroines to jump out of the page. I don't like reading about perfect people: those that are good at everything they do and everyone loves and admires them just cause. I want to see them bleed, I want to relate, and if I can't relate, I want to feel for them. 

Victoria and Ford fulfilled these needs for me. They are great characters with flaws, and messy problems but their attitude made them lovable. Their banter was fun, their chemistry was great, their kisses were steamy.

*happy sigh*

It seems I’m starved for chemistry.

Hell, I can't think of a single character in that book that I didn't like.

I completely understand what Victoria is going through. As someone who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, I felt for her and reading the prologue nearly gave me a panic attack considering it describes one of my worst nightmares. Victoria made me wish I had the luck of finding a therapist as great as hers. She also made me wish I had the luck of moving next door to the hottest, most understanding guy ever.

Ford was nothing short of a dreamboat even with those pesky commitment issues. He was loyal and trustworthy, not to mention a dreamy carpenter. Gotta love a man that builds things.

This book is mostly drama free. No over the top angst or anything like that. It’s all about the characters, the overcoming of their painful childhoods, and giving themselves a chance.

Also, seeing how Ms. James handled the secondary storyline of Ford’s sister made me love her even more.

I really love it when authors surprise me. I was expecting so much drama but it didn’t happen so yay!

The reason this doesn’t get a full five-star rating? I was surprised to realize that Victoria was half Latina. There was no indication of her roots until she mentions her father’s last name and she brings a Cuban dish to a BBQ. I expected something more… defining other than her golden skin. I'm not talking about turning her into a stereotype or a caricature but something< else that would be slightly more defining.