[NOVEL] King of Wrath by Ana Huang

Backlog#15

The last one.

I never read anything by Ana Huang, but I heard a lot about her Twisted series, like it's not that good, but it's still addicting. And when finishing reading this one I could feel it. It's I'd say a bit trashy, but in a good way of trashy, a fun way.

I'd compare it to the times when I read some tropy a bit melodramatic Chinese novels with lots of twists and turns.

She's the wife he never wanted...and the weakness he never saw coming.

Ruthless. Meticulous. Arrogant.

Dante Russo thrives on control, both personally and professionally.

The billionaire CEO never planned to marry—until the threat of blackmail forces him into an engagement with a woman he barely knows.

Vivian Lau, jewelry heiress and daughter of his newest enemy.

It doesn’t matter how beautiful or charming she is. He'll do everything in his power to destroy the evidence and their betrothal.

There’s only one problem: Now that he has her...he can't bring himself to let her go.

***

Elegant. Ambitious. Well-mannered.

Vivian Lau is the perfect daughter and her family’s ticket into the highest echelons of high society.

Marrying a blue-blooded Russo means opening doors that would otherwise remain closed to her new-money family.

While the rude, elusive Dante isn't her idea of a dream partner, she agrees to their arranged marriage out of duty.

Craving his touch was never part of the plan.

Neither was the worst thing she could possibly do: fall in love with her future husband.

Kings of Sin. Book 1

Come on, even the series is called Kings of Sin and it sounds kinda cool and cringe at the same time.

And I'm not gonna lie, I know it's obvious what type of literature it was, but I still had my fun.

So Dante was blackmailed into this one, Vivian was completely gaslighted about it. She tried to make this relationship work actually, because throughout the entire book she tried to become closer, then she noticed how Dante opened up a bit about himself and the next moment he is again closed off and they're back to square one of their relationship.

Dante never planned to marry, but the more time they spent together, the more the scales tilted. From one side he hated Vivian's father for blackmailing and putting his brother in a dangerous position, but from another side he was attracted to Vivian and she was becoming dear to him, so he was infront of a hard choice - vengeance or love.

I think the premise of this book is quite simple, but actuallythere is no need to invent stuff if the formula works.

But plotwise I already started to forget things. Basically because I started it before travelling and I was stressed and I finished it during a train ride and again I was stressed so I kept catching myself zoning out from time to time.

Yet I still had my fun with it with all the melodramatic tugging back and forth.

Note: it was actually helpful that I've read a ton of Chinese novels and got acquainted with some of the temperaments of Asian families. Helpful because if you have no idea why Vivian acts the way she does you might find it weird, like girl get away from your toxic family. But when you know more about it, motivation becomes clearer. I'm pretty sure if I had no idea I would be thinking - why don't you leave your family behind?

I had my fun, I hope to see all of her girlfriends having their own book, I noticed one will for sure (I haven't looked up the summaries of those books at all, so of course I have no idea what will happen next).

RATE: 4/5. For the fun I had. I am aware of shortcommings.

And this is the conclusion of the Backlog. All the books I've read in March (currently 9th of April).

The next one I'm reading now is the third book about Heng Yu, I once praised her story a lot since it was so non-mainstream. 

[Historical Romance] Lady Scandal by Laura Lee Guhrke

Backlog #14

I was on the roll with LLG and my eyes were on the latest of her. This is "Scandal at the Savoy" series that she is working on these years. Weird to say years but it is true, LLG releases book per year I think.

The first one was Bookshop Cinderella where FMC was taken to have a chance to have fun among the ton and spend her season with MMC and his sister.

The second book is about this sister.

Delia Stratham is a sophisticated, thoroughly modern woman who often flouts convention. Despite being well-born with plenty of money, she loves working at London's luxurious Savoy Hotel, coming up with ideas for the venue's lavish entertainments and then procuring whatever is needed to transform them into reality. Earning her own living planning the lavish banquets, balls, and parties for which the Savoy is famous gives her a satisfaction that none of her three marriages could—and she has no intention of giving it up.

But when fraud is uncovered at the Savoy, ruthless hotel magnate Simon Hayden becomes a major investor and vows to clean up the corruption and fire anyone responsible for the thefts. But is the beautiful, beguiling Delia stealing from the hotel, or is it just Simon’s heart she's running off with?

Scandal at the Savoy. Book 2

The premise of this book is pretty simple, Simon was appointed as a manager, because Savoy despite all the exterior glitz was losing in revenue for quite some time. He needed to investigate what is the cuase of it all and found out a big chain of corruption. But he couldn't make up his mind of Delia was a participant or oblivious lady.

It didn't help that Delia expressed some of her opinions on free stuff, ton paying in advance (because most of the nobles did not pay and only lived on credit as if it was an obvious thing to do, just because they had a title) etc. This is why it was hard for him to judge, only knowing her later when the sparks stopped flying around each time they met he realized that she is not that type of person, but one thing is to know and another is to find proof, so afterwards she will keep her position at the Savoy, since this place was important for her after the death of her last husband.

Actually proved to be a pretty nice book.

Although some may say that Simon took it too far with his suspicion, but I think he acted quite rational despite being completely charmed by Delia every time he saw her. He did not want the sudden passion to cloud his better judgement.

Delia actually had her own reasons to believe in things, partially she acted in accordance how other corrupt employees did, but she was oblivious to the entire situation overall. And she refused to believe that the person who took her away from misery could be so corrupt.

She is called a black widow behind her back, because she was married three times and all three husbands died, but they had their own causes of death. Delia herself says she has a worst taste in men. The first one had a d* addiction. Second was more of a romantic spirit, but she had no idea that he had mistresses and he died in a car crash with one of them. The last one was stable and older than her, now she wanted to have kids and live a life, but her husband died (I think smth like heart attack, forgot).

Now she was attracted to Simon at least as a lover, since she is a big girl and knows what she wants.

But has no idea that Simon's partially suspected her.

Note: The background of several characters is fictional, but LLG uses real people, like Ritz who opened his own hotel and was let go for unknown reason (so this is part of author's speculation). Savoy is still standing strong. I looked it up and it looked lovely.

Actually, she was innocent in all of those schemes that existed at Savoy, but it was decided to fire her regardless. Then she finds out and is furious, she wants to leave with Ritz to Paris and build a new hotel there. Bt she is not fully happy. Only when she talked to Ritz about her apartment she realized that Ritz used so much of hotel's funds inappropriately and wanted to fund her living in Paris and write it off as hotel's expenses. While she always paid for her bills she was shocked to finally see the truth.

But because Simon is righteous, he who was bound by obligation to never share the purpose of his investigation did not reveal to Delia anything, even if he wanted to. This is why by the last minute she did not hear the truth from him but waited for the note that she's fired from her position.

She was furious, he tried to make things better. No really he fell in love with her, was ready to propose and marry her. But the incident dropped a shadow on their relationship and she was still not informed.

I actually liked what he said at the end - would she find him as good if he actually betrayed the promise he made and shared the confidential things with her. But eventually he ssent her the letter with investigation results so she could see his sincerity and return to him. Yet she had the conversation with Ritz before she opened that letter.

And a happy ending when she returns.

Simon leaves Savoy and other hotel that was connected to a couple who hired him in the first place, but the husband was constantly sick and the wife was too hostile to Delia all the time and was responsible for her being fired.

Now he found investors to revitalize Mayfer in the face of Delia's brother and his friend, who actually have a feud.

The main characters of the next book actually have an extensive appearance in this one. It's a couple that wanted to elope but was stopped on the way. The man (Simon's friend) was deemed as dowry hunter, while the man thought his chosen one (Delia's friend) betrayed him because he was poor at that time. Now the man is rich and the girl is not so much, but she finally found herself a husband and he also is getting ready to marry. Exciting settings.

RATE: 4,25/5.

[Historical Romance] Wedding of the Season by Laura Lee Guhrke

Backlog #13

These are old books by LLG. Although it's harsh to say "old" but they're from '10s and it's more than a decade ago. Wedding of the Season is a first book in a series called "Abandoned at the Altar", which is an interesting concept. With upcoming book by LLG she actually returns to this trope.

I am reading these for the first time? I'm just not sure which from the two series of American Heiress and Abandoned I've read and which I did not.

Thing is I got to know LLG when I bought a book in my native language. But the problem with licensing and publishing of western historical romances is that not always they translate the series, they might as well just pick a book from a series and I'm not sure if publishers are aware of the fact. But they pick what they deem interesting and translate the book they want instead of translating entre series just because it is a series in original.

(oh good old Avon covers, I miss them, I feel sorry for Avon to basically being swallowed, but life is life)

Abandoned at the altar...

Lady Beatrix Danbury had always known she would marry William Mallory. She'd loved him forever, and she'd never doubted he loved her, too. But when she made him choose between their life together or his lifelong dream, Will chose the latter...and left two weeks before their wedding.

Return of the duke...

Will has no illusions that Beatrix would welcome him back with open arms, but six years did not dim his love or desire for her. The only problem is, she's about to marry someone else. Someone safe and predictable...the complete opposite of Will. But can he stop the wedding of the season and win Beatrix back, or is it just too late?

Abandoned at the Altar. Book 1

The main conflict of this book is that our Duke wanted to travel to Egypt in the search of tomb of Tut. But Beatrix wasn't ready for such a sacrifice.

And it's not that she's a bad person, but actually I wish LLG would dive deeper into her controlled childhood. We basically should read between the lines how her own father controlled her so she would always stay the closest to him, Will even suspected that he allowed the two of them have such an extensive relationship because they were neighbors and her father expected Will to stay close. Only because Beatrix's mother eloped for love to Paris, to paint and be with her lover (she had some unknown devastatingly sad ending in poverty and infamy). This is why Beatrix's father did instil many of the things in her head throughout the years. And this is why when it came to choosing she couldn't choose her lover, because otherwise she would leave her father behind (almost like her mother).

Years later Will returns to England in the need of a sponsor and the one he thinks will help him is none other than Lord Marlowe (here we actually meet our beloved Lord Marlowe from "And then he kissed her", but he has no extensive role and I was not sure how old he was in this, but they had three kids and the youngest daughter wasn't even properly walking). But he also knows that right now his ex-fiancee Beatrix is going to marry another man, more stable, someone good.

He thought that years might have dulled the passion and love but he was wrong. They kinda loved each other but also wore spikes of disappointment that the other person did not choose them.

The lively exchange sparked and the feelings were boiling.

Because they knew each other for so long, were inlove for so long and were so passionate about each other. But when it came to making a choice it felt like one person must sacrifice for the other person completely. And if they did who knows how their lived would have turned out.

Beatrix may not be everyone's cup of tea, she is the epitome of a lady, she wants a quiet life and she wants kids, she loves her life (or so she thinks).

But you can see that she has a streak for some adventure, when her father was gone she followed her relative to "relax" and actually started driving an automobile. Started to feel alive again.

She also met her fiance, felt that they might not really have feelings for each other but they can have enough affection to make this marriage work.

And then Will came back and all those plans flew out the window.

Along the way the engagement was cancelled, but Beatrix still didn't want to leave the shores of England and follow Will, no matter how Will tried to remind her that she had so much passion for things they talked about many years ago, not just because she tried to carry on the conversation, but that she wanted to go on a journey herself.

But I'd say I liked the last scene, the thrilling ride to catch up with the leaving train was fine, finally choosing the man she loves even if the way they're going will drop a shadow of scandal. And Will actually stayed behind. Like two close souls that decided to choose a person instead of everything else.

Note: Interestingly the second book is about the ex-fiance 😁 and her relative who taught her driving (who is actually in the middle of very unhappy marriage right now) yet to read that one.

RATE: 3,75/5.

[NOVEL] Wild Love by Elsie Silver

Backlog #12

Because of the success of Chestnut Springs in terms of fast and entertaining reads I thought of picking up the "latest" series by Elsie Silver - Rose Hill. It is mentioned is CS and also the protagonist of the first book is none other than Willa's brother.

Sigh...

She's been driving him wild for years . . . the good kind of wild.

The kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend's little sister and knowing you can't have her.

Forbes may have labeled Ford Grant the World's Hottest Billionaire, but all he cares about is escaping the press and opening a recording studio in gorgeous small town Rose Hill. Something that comes to a screeching halt when he ends up face-to-face with a young girl who claims he's her biological father. Now, he spends his days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old, all while trying desperately to keep his hands the hell off his best friend's sister, Rosie Belmont.

After living in the city, Rosie came blasting back into town like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic. And one wide-eyed, desperate plea for a job is all it takes for Ford to hire her. He vows to keep her at arm's length. Tries to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her, verbal sparring is a type of foreplay―friction that soon turns to blistering heat.

Ford knows damn well he shouldn't cross this line. But shouldn't and can't are two very different things.

And the only thing he truly can't do is resist her.

Rose Hill. Book 1

I had a feeling when reading that Elsie Silver just took a jar with random tropes, shook it, took several cut papers from it and built a story around what she got.

I'd say this story tries to be several things at once and I'm not sure I like it.

Chestnut Springs weren't a very deep read anyway, but the characters felt kinda shallow to me.

The story follows several lines.

1st - Ford Grant has a daughter. The story behind it is kinda rediculous. Since their parents are wealthy but they did not want to have spilt kids they did not support any excesses, so what Ford thought about was being a sperm donor for money. Then she meets his daughter, whose father recently passed away, her mother is in a bad state and she needs help. I mean quite wild to me. Ford actually brings it upon himself to help the girl even before confirming she is his daughter. Ford does not want to overwrite her family and become a new one, basically he simply helps and they live together while her mom is getting help. Of course they all like the girl, although she is like 12 or smth (already managed to forget her age) she acts more mature. I mean she is fun to follow, but I think behnd all that relationship trouble between Rosalie and Ford she gets lost a bit.

There were several moments when she is said to be a cool kid instead of being shows, this is what I always have troubles with.

2nd - Rosalie and Ford. Tbh Ford acts like he is simping after Rosalie for so long, but I honestly don't get what kept him away from her. It's not like all those reasons felt too big. He was always there for her and even now when she needed a new employment after getting fired. But actually he starts to act up from time to time when he had no right to, so why he can do it now but decided not to do it then I was wondering.

My problem with how Rosie was described is that she basically noticed Ford now because he grew up and manlied up and wasn't as thin and lanky like before, basically was swooned by the masculine galore. But this felt so shallow. If it wasn't for her later figuring things out from the past she might never even noticed the guy. Anyway she suddenly has hots for him. But he is also her new boss.

This is the dynamic that I didn't like. Rosie got fired but basically it was before she could push the complaint about harassment, even though she was just touched but t is still harassment by her boss.

Now she is under Ford who actually reminds himself about being the boss all the time but it does not stop Rosalie, eventually doesn't stop them both. Felt weird.

I still have no idea why the plotline with the daughter was included, like what was the purpose of it all. From another side Rosie's lost journal (the one she actually threw out but was picked up by Ford) and the memory lane were quite a good path to take, but again felt a bit "not enough". It was nice to see the connection between past and the present to at least see why Ford is so hung up. Because partially this book does not play into Rosie's favor and you kinda want to get it why characters feel the way they feel and it's not simply an empty fact on paper.

In the end I felt unsatisfied. Maybe it's because my brain just couldn't coprehend why the story should involve so many things and thread in shallow waters when it could be nice story of having a nostalgic love and a chance.

After all Rosie spent so much of her time being the perfect child for her family, while her brother was always getting into troubles. She went to uni and landed a good job. But she realized that this life is not for her, but what about her achievements? What is truly important? Even her relationship that felt so good at first lacks in something she seeks from her partner.

And although we have a chance to see the change in Ford from the past, but I dunno, I just wished there was more about them, like an in-depth walk down the memory lane. Past and present. The significance of it all intensified.

Sigh...

RATE: 3/5.

[Historical Romance] The Lord Next Door by Gayle Callen

Backlog #11

This is the second book I DNF-ed during the period. And I do not regret it. Some books are just not it.

And even if there is nothing particularly bad about them, but they're kinda bland.

I was surprised because the beginning was so vigurous and promising.

(this is a new cover, obviously, this novel is from '05 and the original cover is pretty much early Photoshop)

To rescue her family from financial ruin, lovely Victoria Shelby has no choice but to marry. Her options for a bridegroom are limited...until she remembers the shy servant boy next door. Then she discovers that her childhood friend is actually Viscount Thurlow—ruthless businessman, future earl, and a man whose family is shrouded in scandal.

After two rejected marriage proposals, David Thurlow needs a wife who will give him an heir, someone who will not only overlook his past but also be above reproach. Victoria is the ideal candidate—quiet, unassuming, and in desperate need of funds. But even as she strives to be the perfect wife, her calm demeanor masks a shocking secret...one that is overshadowed by David's slow, heated lessons in the art of seduction that threaten to transform a "convenient" marriage into a torrid and passionate affair.

Sisters of Willow Pond. Book 1

This book started promising.

Victoria had a journal hidden in the garden (let'd pretend it was in a place that would survive the weather) between two neighboring houses, but it was found by the neighbor's boy. The boy was actually the heir who pretended to be cook's son.

The two had an extensive exchange in the journal as means of communication, it was lovely to see how the two shared something about their lives, and although David used an alias and fake identity, he still held this connection close to his heart, but this connection became thinner at some point when the two grew up.

Now years later Victoria finds herself in predicament, her father who once was a figure with solid financial foundation left them with debts, soon they will be evicted from the house and have nowhere to go.

Note: Tbh several of similar premises made me think of what can woman in such situation do, since they're so dependant on men. Their father wasn't a lord, but a banker, but still.

Now that her two sisters went to work, she stayed in the house with her mother. She wasn't as talented as others in things that would be beneficial in a profession, she loved to play music the most and had affection for embroidery. But now they have nothing to sell in the house to keep on going.

And this is where she remembers the boy she conversed through journal and wanted to find him (yes, to marry him). Which to me already kinda dropped a shadow on the logic, since why would you think a cook's son will be able to handle this financially. Not to mention why would someone agree to such a burden, you're not so appealing.

But then she finds out that David is the boy and he actually a lord.

David needed a wife, while she needed a husband. Due to David's father infamy he couldn't find a wife among the ton, so he directed this attention towards Victoria and they made a deal.

I did not read much, Victoria felt kinda meek, but then I read that she will change and become almost a London's sensation... Since she is needed to support David in his political career as well.

But then when they basically only married or were soon-to-be married David had a meeting with a woman who was supposed to be his lover / mistress. Who actually was mentioned during one of the dinners and you could feel her weird vibes towards Victoria.

I'm not a fan of such situations in general. I don't say that a man like a woman should come into marriage as a blank sheet, after all it's historical setting as well. But the need to make him have someone almost before marriage made me feel the ick. And plot-wise I saw no need.

But Victoria is good-natured and the first thing she did was think how good it would be to connect / reconcile David and his father again. Mind you, she has no idea what the scandal was (for real no one talked directly what exactly happened) and this scandal made David bear the consequences for years. Why she thought it was a great idea I have no idea.

But this Victoria aka good wife material made me lose interest pretty quickly. The plot felt bland and not exciting at all. Although I could be thankful for one thing, there were time skips, which was nice.

It was obvious that all three books will be the Cinderella type of poor girl and a man in power coming like a knight in shining armor to save them and elevate their status.

So because I didn't vibe with the book I put it down. There is no need to hang on it just for the sake of finishing it. 

RATE: DNF.

[Historical Romance] How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days by Laura Lee Guhrke

Backlog #10

They had a deal...

From the moment she met the devil-may-care Duke of Margrave, Edie knew he could change her life. And when he agreed to her outrageous proposal of a marriage of convenience, she was transformed from ruined American heiress to English duchess. Five years later, she's delighted with their arrangement, especially since her husband is living on another continent.

But deals are made to be broken...

By marrying an heiress, Stuart was able to pay his family's enormous debts, and Edie's terms that he leave England forever seemed a small price to pay. But when a brush with death impels him home, he decides it's time for a real marriage with his luscious American bride, and he proposes a bold new bargain: ten days to win her willing kiss. But is ten days enough to win her heart?

An American Heiress in London. Book 2

Well, this was a good book but it also felt like a let down.

Edie is mentioned in the first book, she is kinda that one time when Belinda was mistaken and considered the union of Edie and Stuart as her personal failure, having no idea that this was Edie's goal to have a nominal husband all along, just so she won't have to return to New York where all her nightmares originated.

Stuart had a near-death experience in Africa and in those last moment he thought of Edie. Now that he survived he wants to go back and become a real couple with his wife, even if it means to break his promise.

By now he has no idea why Edie is s against their marital life and asked him to leave, so at least he holds hope in his heart that he can capture Edie's attention and they could be husband and wife.

I must admit some of his wording wasn't the best (by the way it sounded) that actually he wanted family, something eternal to have. I could understand the idea, but just the wording wasn't to my liking.

Stuart offers a 10-day deal, so they try to communicate and date to know each other more and by the end of it Edie must take initiative to kiss Stuart.

Edie is terrified at first, she is too traumatized by her experience (she was obviously SA'd in New York) and she can't imagine going to bed with another man. She has enough money to get out of the estate that became her own home just to distance herself and live a peaceful life she acquired.

Honestly, I felt so bad for Edie, although I may not agree with what happened in the end, but I just felt bad that he life and the joy she could have was destroyed by a man. She was stigmatized, her reputation ruined and it was a stroke of luck that she met Stuart who was ready to strike a deal with her, her money in exchange he goes to Africa, out of sight out of mind.

With their agreement of 10 days Stuart was really attentive and took things step by step, you could feel his sincerity. Part of the book they want to outwit each other.

All before he finds out the truth about what happened in New York.

Fro one side he tries to heal Edie and from another he has a plan how to destroy the man.

I must say I was not a big fan of how the whole deal was resolved.

Maybe it should have served as a comparison, but it kinda painted Stuart in bad light.

Because when they finally reached the final stage Stuart basically got lost in pleasure (too pent up after pining for so long) and forgot to pay attention to Edie only finding herself in a wrong condition. Like how is he different from the other man in that moment. And this moment was such a cliffhanger. In order to atone Stuart was ready to accept any punishment Edie wanted to bestow on him, but eventually when they had the peak heart-to-heart talk Edie explained why she froze. It's like things were different with Stuart, although she knows they're two different men but she realizes there is a room for change, but she also has her moments, she can progress from it, they can discuss what to do with it, she felt sorry for years her experience haunted her and ruined her life. All in all it felt like Edie came out of that experience by herself. But I honestly wished there was more depth to this part and more explanation.

This is why I say it felt like a letdown.

I could explain it only by how Edie left me with so many feelings throughout he book and how she felt, that I wanted that moment to be more profound, almost catrphic for her and myself as a reader.

So even if I like Laura Lee Guhrke as an author I do not think that every of her books will be perfect for me or that they can't have misses.

RATE: 3,5/5.

[NOVEL] Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens

Backlog #9

I actually loved this one.

By now I think I've read several books that have age gap romance, but maybe it's the first time where I truly felt like people belong to different age demographic and FMC really had adult vibe to her.

Plus it has such a great outlook on the modern dating in general.

A hilarious love story about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker.

Columnist Anna Appleby has left her love life behind after a painful divorce. Who needs a man when she has two kids, a cat, and uncontested control of the TV remote? Besides, she’d rather be single than subject herself to the hell of online dating. But her office rival is vying for her column, and no column means no stable source of income. In a desperate attempt to keep her job, Anna finds herself pitching a unique angle: seven dates, all found offline, chosen by her children.

From awkward encounters to unexpected connections, Anna gamely begins to put herself out there, asking out waiters, the mailman, and even her celebrity crush. But when a romantic connection appears where she least expected it, will she be brave enough to take another chance on love?

I think the best thing I liked about it is how it handles dating, both online and offline.

Anna actually did not plan to date ever again, her kids were growing up, she had her job, everything went fine. Her marriage happened to be a disappointment because despite supporting her husband through the most depressing period of time and doing everything for the family, her husband did not see her efforts and decided to move on and move out. Basically seeking an easy way out in my opinion, he took care of his health, got into gym, divorced, saw his kids only few days a week, pretty neet that he didn't even do kids laundry when they were at his place, less obligations with his new girlfriend, also having audacity to give passive agressive remarks about how Anna looked. It's obvious I didn't like her ex-husband as a character.

I wasn't actually a fan of his girlfriend as well, because she passed as this vegan girl, who will scare your kids with bloody videos and traumatize them for life. She has no say in their upbringing, but feels the need to call themselves family etc. Girl, you're not their mom, chill. You're not even officially a wife, double chill.

In the midst of coming out of her divorce the publication she works for is being bought out and she may lose her job, now she has to bear more of herself and write thing demanded of her to keep it. So even if she's not happy about it, she chooses to follow through.

This is how her dating story for the column begins.

But on the opposite side of her is the younger co-worker who feel like he wants to take away her column. Ambitious and outgoing and it feels like he never had problems with dating. Hell, he might have dated every woman she knows at work.

Although his portrait in her head is like that, full of prejudices, the real person is way different from her impression and there is a reason for everything and he doesn't hate her at all.

Back to dating. This was an interesting part full of rollecoaster emotions. Because all men were so different.

For example the online dating guy who could not keep up with the previous topics happened to use a proxy when looking for dates, basically she never talked to the person in question before the date.

Or someone's dad from the school who seemed a pretty fine person, but when he started to pour shit on his ex and do some red flag things you were honestly worried for Anna's safety.

But there were also good people, like the mailman, they may have had a great date, it was unusual and in the end they could become friends.

Despite the even amount of weirdos and nice people it still held some sort of feeling of - don't be afraid of asking people out, try new things and maybe you will like them.

And along that line we have her rival Will Havers. At least she considershim a rival since they feel like clashing at work and she's the only woman not charmed by him.

Unlike Anna, Will is single, always sophisticated and good-looking as if he wakes up at 5am every day. But the real Will is so much more. He indeed has ambitions, he wants to do things greater than what he has now, but he stuck at this place for the sake of his family. He wants to expand his portfolio, this is why he wants to join Anna on this venture of dating with strangers. Will never disliked Anna, I think on the contrary he had something for her for some times. But their work together forced them together.

I kinda liked that the relationship may not be anything huge, but emotionally at least for Anna it was a rollecoaster. Like sometimes flirting, sometimes becoming daring, then doubtful, then disappointed, it was a whole array of emotions she went through. She came to like him a lot, but what is love sometimes - ability to let go. And this is what she planned to do. She knew his past, knew what he wanted to for his career, knew he was capable of more and did not want to bind him to herself and this relationship or having long-distance relationship or promise something where she already had a life and children and she did not want to deprive him of it when she knew he mentioned wanting kids, so she used his past story to hurt him and push him away.

It's lovely she had the bravery to fix it and confess on a large scale.

It was so fun to see how in the result of this venture she got several friends, told her husband what's on her mind and found new love.

I am truly great I found this novel randomly and decided to read it. The characters felt more dimensional, kids were like kids (annoying lol))) and the emotional ride felt multi-faceted and interesting.

Note: the novel isn't spicy, I mean you know they did the thing, but it does not go into descriptions of it and I'm not mad at it, it's a great emotional journey, a fun story.

RATE: 4,5/5.