To save a bookshop, to protect your heart

Synopsis

A love story she didn’t see coming…

When book lover Jade Taylor applies to manage the Little Bay Book Shack on Nantucket Island over the summer, the last thing she needs is the distraction of billionaire resort owner, Liam Haven.

But things take an unexpected turn when Liam becomes Jade’s boss – a man who only reads contracts for pleasure…

In a bid to save the bookshop from being absorbed into the Haven resort, Jade is determined to teach Liam that there’s more to life than acquiring real estate. And if she can make him realise happily ever afters do exist, might she be able to save the island’s bookshop in the process?

My review

Jade Taylor needs to prove herself, that is exactly why she accepted the job to manage the Little Bay Book Shack on Nantucket Island over summer. But what Jade didn’t expect was that already on her first day, she would meet Liam Haven. And out of character, they spend a wonderful night together, even if it’s with no strings attached. So when Jade discovers that Liam is not only her boss, as he just bought the book shop, but that he is also planning on closing the shop permanently, it’s an understatement that Jade is not amused. Hearing about this, Jade has a new mission: to show Liam how important books are to people, even if Liam never reads a book himself. Yet no matter how much Jade and Liam are clashing over the future of the book shop, that initial attraction they had, doesn’t appear to be disappearing at all. And the more that Jade learns about Liam’s ways and reasons of being so closed off, the more Jade realizes that behind that tough attitude, is something completely different. If only she could show Liam that there is no need for hiding and that there can be a happy end even for him?

It’s not a secret that I always enjoy reading books from this author. So of course I was very eager to read this next book of her!

Although I need to say I was a bit shocked about those first chapter, as things got steamy rather quickly. Now, I am not a prude, as I have read several steamy stories and I am not ashamed about that, but it was just not what I expected to read so early on! 😊 But it was also necessary for the storyline, as we needed Jade and Liam to have this physical attraction early on, to only have an emotional attraction and growth later on.

I liked Jade right from the start. Even if I am not the kind of person that would do what Jade does in this book, there are also many similarities and there is just an instant connection I had with her. Those differences between me and her, I am absolutely not talking about her and Liam on the first day, or wanting to shame her in any way. But it is also, and perhaps mainly, about her leaving her home behind, and travel many miles, for a temporarily job.

Yet I admired her for it, as not only she is following her passion and her love for books, but also as she wants to show the world that she is more than just a pretty face. At the same time, it also saddened me, as she has the need to prove that, as she is often being judged for her looks, but also compared to her sister.

Jade is such an open, warm, loving and even sunny character, I could understand how easily people are captured by her, and how easily she makes friends in a new place. But she is of course also the kind of person that gives everyone a fair chance. We see this in the way she clashes with Liam over the book shop, but how she cannot stand the gossiping about him, or the rude remarks that are made about him. Remarks that are not always correct to be made…

It would be too easy to classify Liam as obnoxious, only cares about money and himself. And yes, his behaviour would apparently only confirm the above. But it is also so very clear that his tough attitude, his nonchalance towards other is just a façade. A façade to let anyone see how insecure in fact he is, and how much the past has scarred him.

And yes, throughout the book, he makes a lot of wrong decisions, he says the absolute wrong things, especially to Jade. But in a way, I couldn’t blame him for being so clumsy when it comes to feelings. Because he had to protect himself for so long, and out of fear, he has become this closed, even standoffish character.

Liam is for sure having a difficult time in this book. Because he has always been able to keep his distance from everything and everyone, with the exception of his grandma, that he loves more than anything. Yet when Jade arrives on the scene, he is out of depth.

So it was lovely to see how Jade is able to slowly break down those walls. And how funny it was to read how Jeremy just doesn’t care and keeps on poking that bear that Liam can be! 😊

This story for sure shows us a lot of growth. Jade learns not only about what makes her heart beat faster, but how to be independent. And she also learns that she is more than enough, that she isn’t lesser than anyone else. And that anyone who made her believe that, or dent her self-esteem, is just an idiot. All this while Liam learns to open up, to allow people in his heart. He learns that there are people that genuinely care about him, and that will always have his back, no matter how many stupid things he may say or do. But most important, that even if love can be a scary thing, and that it may have hurt him in the past, it can also be a wonderful thing.

Kathryn Freeman wrote a great story, with yes some steamy scenes, but never losing the bigger picture. We see that passions are not always shared, but that openness can make us understand them better. And that despite the scars of the past, with the right person(s) having your back, even the biggest wounds can be healed. And that in love, even the cheesiest gestures can be the most perfect ones!