Monday, April 24, 2017

REVIEW: Before I Ever Met You by Karina Halle


OUR REVIEW:

Shel: This is the best office/forbidden/single parent romance I've read in a while. Honestly. It had everything I would want in an office romance that is strictly off limits. It had the swooniest swoonfest of a male character, Will McAlister, and the lovely yet infuriatingly stubborn, Jackie Phillips (let the record show that I LOVE that Jackie is a curvy girl. I love a heroine who has curves!). Their chemistry was evident from the first time they were on the page together and it just freaking simmered and sizzled and sparked throughout the entire novel. Even when they weren't together, the way they thought about each other was hot. *fans self* It also had multiple levels of forbidden/this can never work romance--Will was Jackie's boss annnnd they both worked with or for her father. Also, Jackie needed this job for more than the obvious reason and being with Will could blow up in her face (let me pause here to say that I absolutely appreciated how Halle showed how much Jackie had to lose and didn't let that go unnoticed). Then there's Jackie's extreme reticence to let her heart get involved. And lastly, she has a son she needs to shield from any extraneous heartbreak. So many reasons and obstacles this romance faces before it can even get started, right?! Right. But Karina Halle has her ways and those ways involve lots of steamy hotness, humor, wonderfully romantic scenes, epic internal wars, and so much more. It's been a while since I've started and finished a full length novel in one day but I was completely captivated by Jackie and Will's story and I just could not put it down. Court: I think you said all the perfect things! Now what shall I say, right?!! I love her curviness too, and that it was appreciated instead of meh'd. I loved how much Jackie really put herself    first and grew in a way that clearly she hadn't for most of her adult life...and she started making decisions for herself and Tyson instead of the man in her life. And how bizarre was her Dad, am I right? There were some great scenes, and I liked their dynamic together. I enjoyed that we got both POV, and were able to get in both of their heads for a good long while. I also enjoyed their profession...in an "animation" studio, so that was kind of a cool dynamic-rich guy but not your typical rich guy persona, for sure. 

Shel: I have no idea how Karina Halle does what she does but I hope she keeps doing it for a long time. Court: Umm..yes x 1000!

Shel: *makes a pitch for Alyssa and Emmett to have a book (separately or together*...*adds a pitch for Tiffany to have one too because she was hilarious*... *also can't wait for more characters from the Dirty Souls duet to have books*... *and Rocked Up to come out*... OMG. I need to stop. Court: No, my dear you do not! Haha! I enjoyed this one, and yep...those characters...especially Alyssa (she was fun) I could read a lot more about, so gimme gimme gimme!

SYNOPSIS:

I first met William McAlister when I was just a teenager.

He was handsome, had a beautiful wife and was on the verge of success, having just joined my father as his business partner. Mr. McAlister was full of smooth charm, but back then he was barely a blip on my radar. Just a family friend.

Fast forward ten years: I’m 25 years old and a single mom trying to make things right for her seven-year old son. I’ve made some mistakes, grappled with my demons and now I’m back in the city of Vancouver, getting a second chance at a better life.

I’ve started by working for my father’s production company as an executive assistant. My first day on the job and I already know I could have a promising career there.
That is until I see Will McAlister for the first time in a decade.

Now recently divorced and as sophisticated as always, Will has gone from being my father’s friend and business partner to something so much more.

We’re both older, for one thing, and he just oozes this worldly confidence and stark sexuality. Combined with his tall, muscular build and sharp suits, strong jaw and bedroom eyes, Will has turned into one hell of a distraction.

A distraction I’m having a hard time staying away from, considering his office is right across from my desk and I work with him in such close proximity.

But it’s just a harmless crush, right?

It’s just an innocent fantasy of screwing him on his desk, right?

It can’t ever be more because he’s my father’s best friend, business partner, and my boss.

Right?

Wrong.

Before I Ever Met You is a contemporary standalone romance, a light-hearted swoony read that will make you believe in love again 

Learn more here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34621496-before-i-ever-met-you?ac=1&from_search=true

1 comment

  1. Ohhh, this one sounds interesting! I haven't heard of this author before (I don't think), but I'm so on board for this office romance! It sounds so swoony and I love the forbidden element! Awesome review :)

    Ashtyn @ Wonderland’s Reader!

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