met her match

4 stars

A fun, entertaining modern romance.

I don’t read romance books very often, but once in awhile I take a break from the books I normally read and check out one or two. There’s nothing wrong with them, it’s just they are often very predictable, cookie-cutter books that aren’t challenging to read. But, if done well, can be fun and a nice break from the more dense, complex fantasy books I typically read. I’m happy to report that I really enjoyed this book. It is the same “meet-cute, girl likes boy, an obstacle must be overcome, and then we get a happy ending” romance book that we all know and love, but it was well-written and the characters are likable. The story is cute and it was fun to read.

Terri Rayburn lives in the small lake town of Summer Hill, Virginia. She has an undeserved bad reputation from high school, but keeps her head held high and works tirelessly managing her fathers lake resort business. When she returns home from a business trip to find a tall, dark and handsome stranger living in her house, she suspects that her dad and step-mother are playing match-maker. Nate Taggert is just her type, but there’s a problem. He’s engaged to the “perfect” and popular daughter of the town’s mayor.

Nate just left his position working with a diplomat overseas and is trying to figure out his next step. He surprised himself by falling for a girl from a small Virginia town and before he knew it, had agreed to move there from D.C. to open an investment business using their family’s contacts to get started. While waiting for his permanent home to open up, he is offered the use of a beautiful home overlooking the lake. Thinking that the home’s owner is away in Florida, he is surprised to discover that Terri lives in the house.

Nate and Terri agree to be “roommates” for the duration of Nate’s stay, and they enter into a companionable existence. Far from being the soft, Ivy league frat boy she suspects, Nate turns out to be a hard working and capable help around the lake. Before you know it, Nate has become a beloved figure to residents and guests alike. While Terri and Nate both recognize that he’s not available, it doesn’t stop the sparks from flying. It also doesn’t stop Nate from digging into the mystery of Terri’s past, or from trying to right a wrong.

The book is a quick and easy read. The characters are well-written and there aren’t too many corny shenanigans. One of the things that always drives me crazy about romance novels is that the love interests never bother to actually talk to each other, so stupid misunderstandings create ridiculous drama that could be averted with a simple 5 minute conversation. Fortunately, this book does not have any of that nonsense. It also doesn’t position Terri as a home wrecker or Nate as a cheater, which I also don’t like in a lot of romance novels.

Overall, this was a fun, light, enjoyable read that I recommend you read.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.