When an escape makes two hurt people meet

Synopsis

In the latest Harlequin Romance by Rachael Stewart, a dog-sitting stint at a luxury Bondi beach house turns complicated when the gorgeous next-door neighbor makes an appearance…

TEMPTATION UNDER THE SUMMER SUN…

After her home and livelihood are demolished by developers, Fae agrees to house- and dog-sit for her wealthy stepsister in Bondi Beach. A fish out of water in this glamorous setting, Fae has her guard up when she encounters gorgeous neighbor Rick and his adorable Great Dane. But the philanthropic billionaire quickly challenges her perceptions, and their intense chemistry explodes into a passionate—but strictly temporary—flirtation. Because it’s clear Rick doesn’t trust easily, and Fae could never truly belong in his affluent world—could she? Yet it’s increasingly hard to imagine their trysts ever ending!

From Harlequin Romance: Be swept away by glamorous and heartfelt love stories.

My review

When her stepsister is on a honeymoon, Fae agrees to go house – and dog sitting in Bondi Beach. In fact, this opportunity couldn’t come at a better time, as Fae not only lost her home but also her job, as they were linked at the same place and bought up by developers. However, Fae’s life and her stepsister Sasha’s couldn’t be more different, as because even more obvious how wealthy Sasha in fact truly is. And when Fae meets her new neighbour Rick, who radiates wealth himself, she keeps her guard up. Of course, she is also following Sasha’s instructions, to keep as far away from him and his Great Dane Ralph. But Sasha’s dog Precious and Ralph have a mind of their own, and make Fae and Rick keep on meeting each other. While initially the don’t get along, slowly with some furry help, Fae realizes that British Rick isn’t what she thought he was. Because Rick makes her see things in another way, and Fae feels those high walls slowly falling down. And Fae makes Rick feel that he can trust people again. While sparks fly around, temptation that cannot be ignored and a fling is starting between them, their lives are also so very different…

I am always eager to read a book from this wonderful author. Some may say that ‘these kind of books’ are all the same, that there is nothing new to it, that they are predictable. But I never felt that way, because for me, these books, whether from this author or from another, they give me an escape from my own life. And yes, perhaps the end of romance books are predictable, but us romance – lovers, isn’t about the end, but it is about the journey the main characters are going through, and the ‘how’ of getting to that kind of ending, that isn’t always in the cards.

What I liked about this story, is that in the ‘before’ bit, it wasn’t a matter of broken hearts, wrongdoings from previous partners (or at least recently.

Yes, Fae’s world is turned upside down, as she lost her home and job as developers bought the property she was staying. And with her mother not nearby, Fae feels more alone and lonely than ever. And it saddened me, to read how strained the relationship with Sasha was.

It is not that Sasha is the evil stepsister that we know from the fairytales, because Sasha is the complete opposite. All that Sasha wants in fact is to be real sisters with Fae. But Fae, while she truly loves Sasha, finds it difficult to let people in. And the difference between them is so obvious when Fae arrives at Sasha’s house.

And it saddened me, reading how despite all the love that Fae has around her, she finds it difficult to open her heart to it all. Because of what she endured while growing up, the shame she thought she had to live, not having the freedom and being judged by other because of the choices of the person she wanted to be loved by the most…

Fae clearly needs to change the course of her life, but has no clue how to do it, or which direction to take. She is in an inner turmoil, and believes that her time in Bondi Beach will offer her the chance to clear her mind and give her the answers she need. And I just couldn’t wait to see the journey she would be going through.

A journey that she is going through with the help from an unexpected ally…

Of course I knew that Rick would be Fae’s love interest, no matter how badly they start of! But what I didn’t expect Rick to be so much. Not only is he from England (extra cookie points from me! 😊), he comes with a title. However, that is not what charmed him, but it is because he just has so much depth, his ability to understand Fae on a level that perhaps no one ever could.

And that all the while he has his own demons to fight, to chase away.

I admired how he is there for Fae, while he has seen the ugliness of people himself, when he was in the need of friends and allies the most. And no matter what he has been through, he shows his kind and gentle heart as he wants to make a difference and help those in need.

Seeing the bond between Fae and Rick grow, with the help of those amazing and loyal and loveable furry friends, was just so sweet and heartwarming. Where I was perhaps expecting for Fae and Rick to get quicker to ‘business’, I liked it how they both needed their time and space to understand what is going through between them and find the courage to give in (or not).

And of course I had a healthy dose of curiosity, as I just wanted to read if, how, and when they would understand that what Fae and Rick have, is so much more than just a fling. And how, when and if they would find a way to blend their different lives…

This book shows us that everyone goes through something difficult in life. And it isn’t easy to not only let it go, but also let people in, after all  the endured hurt. We see how one encounter can change everything. We see how one person can give you courage, hope and love…

Rachael Stewart put so much in this apparent light story, showing us the depths of it, the depths of characters. Once again she made me devour a wonderful story, a story that made my heart feel light and full of love too!