Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good enemies to lovers romance with a bit of mystery. Time is running out for Maddie to comply with her grandmother's demand that she marry before she turns thirty or lose the family company. Maddie is smart, independent, stubborn, and in no mood to comply. Deciding to pick someone so outrageously unacceptable that her grandmother will have to relent, Maddie discovers the perfect partner. A fellow guest at the wedding she's attending is Jack Daly - her family's sworn enemy and her schoolgirl crush.
Jack and Maddie's brother Caleb were best friends in high school and college. They started a business together that was poised to make billions until Jack was accused of selling company secrets to the competition. The company crashed, and Jack went to prison, though he was let out early on a technicality, and Jack's reputation was ruined. He's slowly getting it back, but it is a painful process.
I loved the first meeting between Jack and Maddie. He noticed the beautiful woman across the room but didn't realize it was Maddie until a few minutes later. She'd changed a lot in nine years, from a teenager to a woman. On the other hand, Maddie recognized him right away. She was horrified to discover that they were both in the wedding party. They did an excellent job of avoiding each other at the rehearsal dinner, but Jack later rescued her from an overzealous suitor. I enjoyed seeing Maddie make her proposal to Jack, though I ached for him and the hurt he felt. I loved his counteroffer - use her forensic accounting smarts to help him prove that he was set up.
The chemistry between Jack and Maddie was evident from the start and made their fake engagement believable to those who saw them. Maddie certainly raised a firestorm of reactions when their relationship went public. But a funny thing happened on the way - Maddie discovered that she really liked Jack. He's kind, intelligent, and sensitive. I enjoyed their banter and seeing them get to know each other. It doesn't take long for them to give in to their attraction, which opens the door to stronger feelings. I loved seeing Maddie's belief in Jack's innocence grow.
But trouble looms when Maddie receives information that looks very bad for Jack. Then her family gets into the act. I must say that they made me angry with their willingness to cut Maddie out of their lives rather than trust her judgment and her abilities. I ached for both when Maddie's doubts came back, driving them apart. Jack's pain was tough to see. Luckily, something in Maddie still believed, and her brain kept working on the problem. I loved her "light bulb" moment and its results. The truth didn't surprise me, as I'd had suspicions earlier, but I loved watching the fallout. I hurt for Maddie and Jack, who both believed the other wouldn't want them any longer. I loved the ending and seeing the joy they both felt. I also laughed out loud at their discussion of her grandmother's plans.
#netgalley
Jack and Maddie's brother Caleb were best friends in high school and college. They started a business together that was poised to make billions until Jack was accused of selling company secrets to the competition. The company crashed, and Jack went to prison, though he was let out early on a technicality, and Jack's reputation was ruined. He's slowly getting it back, but it is a painful process.
I loved the first meeting between Jack and Maddie. He noticed the beautiful woman across the room but didn't realize it was Maddie until a few minutes later. She'd changed a lot in nine years, from a teenager to a woman. On the other hand, Maddie recognized him right away. She was horrified to discover that they were both in the wedding party. They did an excellent job of avoiding each other at the rehearsal dinner, but Jack later rescued her from an overzealous suitor. I enjoyed seeing Maddie make her proposal to Jack, though I ached for him and the hurt he felt. I loved his counteroffer - use her forensic accounting smarts to help him prove that he was set up.
The chemistry between Jack and Maddie was evident from the start and made their fake engagement believable to those who saw them. Maddie certainly raised a firestorm of reactions when their relationship went public. But a funny thing happened on the way - Maddie discovered that she really liked Jack. He's kind, intelligent, and sensitive. I enjoyed their banter and seeing them get to know each other. It doesn't take long for them to give in to their attraction, which opens the door to stronger feelings. I loved seeing Maddie's belief in Jack's innocence grow.
But trouble looms when Maddie receives information that looks very bad for Jack. Then her family gets into the act. I must say that they made me angry with their willingness to cut Maddie out of their lives rather than trust her judgment and her abilities. I ached for both when Maddie's doubts came back, driving them apart. Jack's pain was tough to see. Luckily, something in Maddie still believed, and her brain kept working on the problem. I loved her "light bulb" moment and its results. The truth didn't surprise me, as I'd had suspicions earlier, but I loved watching the fallout. I hurt for Maddie and Jack, who both believed the other wouldn't want them any longer. I loved the ending and seeing the joy they both felt. I also laughed out loud at their discussion of her grandmother's plans.
#netgalley
