Reader Review: Jamie Donovan is supposed to be the happy, carefree one of the Donovan family, the friendly bartender that everyone, including most women, just loves. I must admit, I wasn’t looking forward to his story as he seemed to be just another overgrown frat boy in arrested development. However, near the end of the first book in this series, we saw glimpses of him being something different, enough for me to want to jump right into this one. My instincts were dead on as there is so much more to Jamie than anyone knows or imagines. This man is gorgeous and his personality and face just sparkle with invitation, and therein lies the contradiction. Jamie has layers beneath that beautiful veneer, which doesn’t help his case with his brother, Eric, who doesn’t take him seriously. Jamie is secretly preparing himself to be better at handling more responsibility at the family brewery but is also afraid to let his family know in case it’s just another of his failures. When Olivia Bishop connects with Jamie, it doesn’t seem like a match made in heaven but they bring out the best in each other. She’s a divorced, serious and staid 35-year old University instructor to Jamie’s 29. Olivia is looking to be more “fun” and Jamie’s the perfect man to bring out her playful side. She’s able to reach beneath that veneer somewhat and see parts of the man no one else seems to get. Olivia is also helping him develop his business ideas. While the interludes between Olivia and Jamie are pretty steamy, Dahl has magnificently created romance, erotica and emotional depth in these perfectly written scenes. You cannot help being drawn into both characters as the narrative shifts between them with ease. I was captivated. And, there are scenes that brought me to tears as both Jamie and Olivia struggle with their baggage of the past when faced with confrontations of the present, he with his brother, Eric, and she with her ex-husband, Victor. I loved this story, better than the first in the series, which I also liked. Dahl’s writing style continues to be a big attraction with her ability to move the story at a perfect pace and craft great dialogue. This is a writer to watch and I cannot wait to start the last book in the series.

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