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Review

4.5 stars

I love this book! It’s fun, it’s flirty, it’s full of sensational banter, but also has just enough of a serious undertone to it to bring the emotion when needed.

Our heroine is Reese. Hiding from an violent, stalker ex-boyfriend, she has changed her name and travelled across the country to stay with family and attend College. On her first day, she spies a hottie across campus, and she is instantly smitten – not insta-love, there’s none of that here, it’s all insta-attraction, and lots of it.

“He was hotness exemplified. That was my new name for him, actually: Hotness.
…
His dark, wavy hair called to me – Reese, Reese! Run your fingers through my wild, gorgeous, untamed mane. It did. For real.
…
And that face. I swear, angels sprouted up around him and began to sing in harmonious worship of that glorious face.
…
Every female instinct in me wanted to reach out and trace the wrinkles in his brow he was making as he frowned.
Must. Soothe. The hottie.”

And then she learns that the object of her ogling is Mason Lowe, gigolo (yeah, it rhymes, lol). She immediately writes him off as somebody she doesn’t want to get involved with (as you would), but it doesn’t stop the insane chemistry between them. And it ramps even further when Reese gets a babysitting job, only to discover that her charge is Mason’s 12 year old disabled sister.

So, being forced somewhat into each other’s lives, a friendship develops, and it is absolutely sensational! Mason is used to being pretty much shunned at school on account of his profession, but Reese is completely accepting of him, and so open, asking him questions about him and his lifestyle, and he answers her honestly.

“Actually, that explanation makes you sound kind of noble, you know, with you falling on the sword of absolute depravity to save your family. You’d probably make a good Saturday afternoon movie.”

“So, you don’t give out freebies? Like ever?” That just sounded so bizarre to me. I would’ve thought a gigolo would be a complete man-whore, even off the clock.
But when his jaw went dead still as he stopped chewing and he said, “Are you…asking for one?”

They are both so matter of fact about it, that it hardly seems like a big deal at all – except that it’s the one thing that’s keeping them apart when they so clearly want each other. And the banter and flirting reaches epic heights as they joke about their feelings and the futility of it all.

“I still want to be your friend, Reese. I will be your friend. I just…I need some time and space to control my…my horny guy urges.”

And the text flirting is gold! “Thanks for staying my friend even though I want to jump your bones.”

I absolutely adore both Reese and Mason, and the relationship between them is gorgeous. It really is a best friends / soul mate sort of thing, and I loved every moment of them together. And even though they aren’t actually together, what they have between them is very special. It’s natural, it moves at a great pace, and the UST is phenomenal.

“Every woman treats me that way, Reese. I’m not a person to them. I’m just…a good time or something vile to be avoided at all costs. And then you came along and you…you hugged me. You are the first person who sees me, Mason, not sex for sale.”

Mason has a beautiful vulnerability about him, feeling tainted and not worthy of Reese, while she has the obvious issues that anybody in her position would have, but they communicate well, and are absolutely functional together, so by the time the romance finally comes, it’s sensational.

“You’re the warm sun that shines when everything else is dark,” he went on, lifting his hands to rest them on the wall on either side of my face. “A smile and a hug in a roomful of disapproval. You’re…” Wincing, he pressed his forehead against mine. “You’re everything.”

So beautifully swoony!!!

The focus is very much the relationship between Reese and Mason, with other characters playing a minor part – Mason’s sister, Sarah is gorgeous, Mrs Garrison is evil and disgusting, and the jury is still out on Reese’s cousin, Eva. She is Reese’s best friend, but I actually didn’t like her very much. But her digs provided some great opportunity for Reese to defend her man.

Even with all of the joking around, there are some dramatic moments, and some beautifully tender scenes. And yes, there is sexy time.

The story is paced really well and comes to the inevitably exciting finish which was expected, but also had a bit of a twist. And there’s even an epilogue.

I absolutely loved this one. A great, fun read. I highly recommend it.

4.5 stars.