Sometimes when perfect falls apart, a little trouble fixes everything . . .
Twenty-one-year-old Kayla Turner has lost everything. After
spending most of her life taking care of her ailing mother, she just
wants to spot a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. So when her
late father-a man she barely knew-leaves her an
inheritance, she finally breathes a sigh of relief . . . until she
learns the inheritance comes with strings. Strings in the form of
handsome playboy Daren Ackwood, her father’s protégé. To see any of her
inheritance, she’s forced to team up with him. From
his expensive car to those sexy dimples, Kayla’s seen his type before.
But Daren isn’t who he seems to be . . .
Struggling to make amends for his family’s mistakes, Daren has a life
more Oliver Twist than Richie Rich these days. He’s beyond grateful that
James Turner included him in his will, but working with Turner’s
princess of a daughter to fulfill his cryptic last
wish is making Daren wonder if being broke is really so bad. Still,
she’s just as beautiful as she is stubborn, and the more time he spends
with Kayla, the less it feels right being without her. Soon Daren and
Kayla begin to wonder if maybe the best gift Kayla’s
dad could have left them . . . was each other.
4 Stars!
This is the book that I picked to
read sitting on the beach during my summer vacation and I was not
disappointed. I enjoyed this fun, romantic read. I have had a chance
to read two books by Chelsea Fine and have really liked both of them. I
am becoming quite the Chelsea Fine fan.
Kayla is in town to attend her
estranged father’s funeral. It has been years since she has seen or
spoke to her father. Daren Ackwood looked up to the same man and saw
him as a father figure. The pair knew each other years ago so they both
make a lot of quick assumptions without any merit.
Kayla’s father has included the pair
in his will but there is a catch and they soon find themselves
handcuffed to each other. As they work to solve the scavenger hunt,
both Daren and Kayla learn that they have misjudged each other. They
both learn a lot of things about each other and about themselves.
I found this book to be extremely
well written with a solid plot. I found the characters to be very
likeable although I have a hard time feeling sorry for Kayla because of
her good looks. The constant “nobody takes me seriously because I am
beautiful” theme is really the only part of the book that I did not
like. The chemistry between Daren and Kayla was authentic. I had a
really good time with the fact that they were literally attached to each
other throughout a large portion of the book. Let’s face it….the
handcuffs made the book much more fun.
This is the second book in the
Finding Fate series. While some of the characters and places are in
both books, each book in the series can be read as a stand alone without
any confusion. I would definitely recommend this book to others. I
plan to continue to read this series and watch out for other books by
Chelsea Fine.
I received an advance reader
edition of this book from Forever Grand Central Publishing and Net Galley for the
purpose of providing an honest review.
time writing stories, painting murals, and avoiding housework at all
costs. She’s ridiculously bad at doing dishes and claims to be allergic
to laundry. Her obsessions include: superheroes,
coffee, sleeping-in, and crazy socks. She lives with her husband and
two children, who graciously tolerate her inability to resist teenage
drama on TV and her complete lack of skill in the kitchen.
gestures at the closed kitchen door behind me as she approaches.
courtyard then glance over my shoulder. “It’s more like the place where I help
out in the kitchen, occasionally,” I say. “I like to cook so sometimes the
owner, Jake, let’s me jump on the line.”
have pegged you as the cooking type.”
I?”
obviously.”
the lightness of her smile does something soft to my insides. This is a
different Kayla than the one I was sitting next to at the bar. That girl was
stressed and burdened, but this girl… this girl is hopeful and happy.
the change in her tone is the inheritance. Does the idea of getting money
please her so much that she’s suddenly this cheerful person? Does it please me that much?
about my being happy, and realize with a sinking feeling that yes, the idea of
an inheritance has made me happy. Money would alleviate some of my problems
and, therefore, it gives me a security in my future that pleases me.
having so much control over my contentment. It makes me sound an awful lot like
my dad.
nodding to the courtyard around us.
lights strung above the area. “Right now it’s just storage space. But Jake
wants to make it into a dining patio. You know, so people can rent it out for
private parties or whatever.”
checking out the rose bushes that line the fence and the Tuscany-inspired mural
painted against the back wall.
closer so we’re both beside the painted wall. “Back to your humble abode at the
Quickie Stop?”
yeah.”
beyond the fence and the even darker streets that lead to the edge of town, and
frown. “By yourself?”
“Yeah. I’ve got my own driver’s license and everything.”
that’s fair.” I glance at the dark streets again. “I’m just a concerned citizen
that wanted to make sure you got home safely. That’s all.”
citizen. Would you rather I be going back to the Quickie Stop with someone?”
someone—anyone, other than me—rakes down my spine like nails on a chalkboard. I
don’t know when I got so possessive of this girl but holy hell. My veins are on
fire.
annoying.
possessive of women. Ever. Sure, I care about Amber and Pixie but that’s
different. I care about them like sisters. I’m protective of them. I couldn’t really give a damn who they, or any
other female in this town, go to bed with.
veins.
manner. “Not particularly,” I say coolly. “I just wasn’t sure if you had a ride
or not.”
lips. “And what, you were going to offer me a ride?”
over the pink fullness of her bottom lip and my breath hitches. She can’t say things
like “give me a ride” and touch her mouth at the same time. That’s just not
fair.
remember sweet, precious Monique, “except I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed
to take rides from strangers. And since that’s what you and I are…” I sigh
dramatically. “It would have just been a waste of time to ask you.”
fingers and I start to wonder if she’d let me kiss her. My guess is, yes.
Maybe.
the idea of kissing her, of touching her at all, also makes me a little
nervous. And I’m never nervous when it comes to women.
being strangers,” she says, and her eyes shine. “That can’t be healthy.”
have an inheritance to claim tomorrow. We have shit to follow through with.
Kissing her is a bad idea. A very bad idea.
so we’re only inches apart. “But I can’t seem to let it go.”
break eye contact.
her. I’m sure of it.
do to keep my nonchalant demeanor in place.
my voice with a crooked grin. “Strangers?”
raises me a tipped chin. Her eyes are steel and sure, not giving anything away,
and I suddenly feel unsure.
doesn’t back away.
thin seam of wet flesh forming between the soft skin of her pretty lips, and
all my reservations vanish.
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WOO HOO! CONGRATS WINNERS!!
LINDA B
Congratulations, Linda! There will be a new giveaway for the third book in this series posted on this blog next week so keep your eyes open for that one.