A book about bearded, ginger men and the hijinks they find themselves in?  Sounds like this book was written specifically for me!   Penny Reid has written a very enjoyable, funny, romance novel that kept me entertained the entire time.  I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a quick, fun read with likable characters and a happily ever after.

Jessica James, a recent college graduate, has moved home so she can pay off her student loans before fulfilling her lifelong dream of traveling the world.  When she sees her longtime crush Beau Winston at a party, she immediately remembers all the time she spent with him and his twin brother Duane while they were growing up.  While the thought of Beau makes her flushed and tongue-tied, the thought of Duane brings back unpleasant memories of tricks played and mean words exchanged.  When she mistakes Duane for Beau however, she finds herself confused.  How can she be attracted to Duane? And will starting a relationship with him mean she will be tied to her small town life forever?

I really liked this book from the first page to the last.  I am sick of reading about simpering heroines who don’t have a mind of their own and who comprise their dreams for men.  That’s what made the main character Jessica James so likable.  She has dreams of leaving her small hometown and won’t let anything get in her way.  She speaks her mind and doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do but she is also comfortable enough in herself that she knows when to seek advice from friends and family.  I liked her from the very beginning and loved her by the end.  Duane was also a great character because while he didn’t hide his feelings from Jessica, he never pressured her to change for him.  He was upset that her plans would take her away from him but he understood her in ways that even her family didn’t.  These are characters that act like adults, treat others like adults, and stay true to themselves.  IT WAS SO REFRESHING.   The side characters were also interesting enough that I would read the follow up books in this series to see what happens to them.  Like all romance novels, there has to be some sort of obstacle or impediment that gets in the way of true love and this book was no exception.  The development of the Iron Order biker gang story line fit well and did make a difference in the overall plot so I didn’t mind it.  So many books seem to add an obstacle for the sake of adding an obstacle but Reid did a good job of finding something that would make sense to the plot and resolve quickly so we could get back to the romance.  This was not a very steamy book, with a few “fade to black” moments and some quick make out scenes so it’s great if you are looking for a light romance.

Overall, this book was a delight.  Mostly funny, with a few moments of angst, and filled with characters that speak their mind and know what they want.  I would recommend it and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Author:  Penny Reid

Published:  2015

Rating: 4 Stars