More “slow” than “slow burn,” I enjoyed parts of this but some of it really dragged. It’s very plot-focused, with a romance that’s on the back-burner for much of the story. We learn a lot about these two as individuals, their pasts and feelings for each other, but they don’t spend much time on the page together and are too sedate to have any real chemistry. The tone is also jarringly different than the vibe the cover gives off – I thought I was in for a fun rom com, and instead got a serious and emotional read. Combined, those elements impacted my reading experience and left me feeling disconnected. There’s nothing wrong with the book; there just wasn’t enough to keep me hooked.
The story follows Katrina, a widow who suffers from anxiety. After some past trauma, she’s been leading a very introverted life, hiding her identity and avoiding most contact with people. The person she feels most connected to is her bodyguard, Jas, a longtime companion who she has started to have romantic feelings towards. Thinking that her feelings are likely one-sided and probably caused by proximity, Katrina believes it might be time to start looking for love elsewhere. However, when an innocent interaction with a stranger goes viral, Katrina seeks isolation. Alone in their bubble, Katrina and Jas’ feelings for each other grow and come to the surface.
While I love a good slow burn romance, this lacked the spark that’s necessary to keep a reader interested. I wanted more time with Katrina and Jas together, but that took a while to happen. I found myself skimming ahead to see when they would interact next – those scenes are what make the book. There were things that I loved – the diverse characters, the rich backstories, and the likability of the couple – but they weren’t enough to overcome my boredom with parts of the story. If you go into this expecting a heavier, serious, slow burn romance, then you might enjoy it more, but my initial impression was definitely different than the book I ended up reading. I received an ARC via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Releases April 21st
Kindle Edition: https://amzn.to/3b5jxsd
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2V74ZTs
Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3bas7Gb
BLURB:
In Alisha Rai’s second novel in her Modern Love series, a reclusive investor goes viral, shoving her into the world’s spotlight—and into the arms of the bodyguard she’s been pining for…
OMG! Wouldn’t it be adorable if he’s her soulmate???
I don’t see any wedding rings <eyes emoji>
Breaking: #CafeBae and #CuteCafeGirl went to the bathroom AT THE SAME TIME!!!
One minute, Katrina King’s enjoying an innocent conversation with a random guy at a coffee shop; the next, a stranger has live-tweeted the entire encounter with a romantic meet-cute spin and #CafeBae has the world swooning. Going viral isn’t easy for anyone, but Katrina has painstakingly built a private world for herself, far from her traumatic past. Besides, everyone has it all wrong…that #CafeBae bro? He isn’t the man she’s hungry for.
He’s got a <peach emoji> to die for.
With the internet on the hunt for the identity of #CuteCafeGirl, Jas Singh, bodyguard and possessor of the most beautiful eyebrows Katrina’s ever seen, offers his family’s farm as a refuge. Alone with her unrequited crush feels like a recipe for hopeless longing, but Katrina craves the escape. She’s resigned to being just friends with Jas–until they share a single electrifying kiss. Now she can’t help but wonder if her crush may not be so unrequited after all…
Jeeves Reads Romance 