Charm, with, engaging dialogues, a solid cast of supporting and supportive characters, high heat levels — these are my expectations from Melissa Bayden.
I'm sure that this one has it all too, but unfortunately, I just couldn't get into the book. I tried. I really tried.
Ella Baker is so overlooked that they even 'forget' to fire her at work. Brayden has used this 'overlooked loveable MC' in The Last Lavender Sister so she seems to like the concept. No issues with this profile. Almost immediately after she's fired, her best friend, Rachel, is there for Ella, opening her home and heart to Ella.
Ella shifts states and cities and lands at Rachel's — who is warm, welcoming and pretty much the best kind of friend.
Then Ella joins a book club and meets Em — who is Max, Rachel's ex.
It's not that the writing is bad. It's fine — though not up to the level I expect from Brayden.
I think that my real problem with getting into this book is how instantly likeable Rachel is. How intensely supportive she is.
I couldn't truck with the concept that Rachel would be recast, and Ella would probably be less than the same stellar friend to Rachel that Rachel was to her.
So for now, I've kept this one away — I don't want to say in my DNF pile — so into my 'aybe later' pile.
