Beau Fortier starred in most of my cringe-worthy
teenage fantasies. I met him when I was a junior in high school, a time that
revolved exclusively around bad hair, failed forays into flirting, and
scientific inquiries into which brand of toilet paper worked best for stuffing
bras. That is, until Beau moved into the small guest house just beyond my
bedroom window.
A 24-year-old law student at Tulane, Beau was as
mysterious to me as second base (both in baseball and in the bedroom). He was
older. Intimidating. Hot. Boys my age had chicken legs and chubby cheeks. Beau
had calloused hands and a jaw cut from steel. Our interactions were
scarce—mostly involving slight stalking on my end—and yet deep down, I
desperately hoped he saw me as more of a potential lover than a lovesick loser.
Turns out, I was fooling myself. My fragile ego learned that lesson the hard
way.
Now, ten years later, we’re both back in New Orleans,
and guess who suddenly can’t take his eyes off little ol’ me. My old friend,
Mr. Fortier. But things have changed. I’m older now—poised and confident. My
ego wears a bulletproof vest. The butterflies that once filled my stomach have
all perished. When I was a teenager, Beau warned me to guard my heart. Let’s
hope he knows how to guard his.
I'm sure everyone is
familiar with the adage, don't judge a book by its cover? Unfortunately I do,
and I couldn't resist this cover. Added in that this is set in New Orleans, one
of my favourite places? I just had to read it.
I will confess that
I had to read this in two very separate sittings. Starting off, I was somewhat
confused why I was reading a romance novel that's hero was in college, and
heroine in high school, and had some trepidation about continuing. Don't get me
wrong, I'm all for romance, but it has to be all good, legal, and consenting. I
will admit that it did throw me a bit of a curveball to see the romance so
young (although I did google to check, and 17 is the legal age of consent in
New Orleans, but still, touch worrisome), but thankfully, our hero did keep his
distance and there is a moment at the end of part one which I'm still slightly
dubious about, but I was curious to keep going.
Thankfully part two
meets our hero and heroine at an older age and nothing worrisome about the two
engaging in a relationship. The setting is gorgeous - honestly, if you haven't
been to New Orleans, I'd highly recommend going, especially at Christmas-time,
it's stunning - and the pace was light-hearted with a good flow that keeps you
pushing through 2:10am in the morning to finish at 3:30am.
There are many times
in a romance novel that I look at the actions and tones of our characters and
it's hard to imagine it happening in real life as it just seems so far removed
from how I, or anyone I know, would act. But, Ms. Grey has an interesting take
in her novels that I didn't find that happening. There are a few awkward parts
from the actions of her characters in how they react, including an argument
occurring between our leads, that I haven't seen occur in any other romance
novel. I feel looking at his actions that he's wrong in how he acts, and he
semi-confesses to knowing this, but still goes ahead with it. Most other
romance novels try to put an argument that each thinks they're right, not
acknowledging their own faults, and while the argument is flawed, it's the
human element that adds to this novel. Acknowledging that romance characters
aren't perfect and do make mistakes add to the genuine romance in this novel
that even though we all want that happy ending, it doesn't need to be perfect
with no faults. To err is human, to forgive, divine.
Overall, I really
did enjoy this novel. As mentioned, I was a bit concerned about the beginning,
but it did blossom into a genuine romance between our lead characters, with an
element of humanity not often seen for this reader in other romance novels, which
was a great, welcomed change.
Rating: 4/5
Click here to purchase from Amazon.
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