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Pages: 101
Goes Well With: Fresh seafood and a fruity drink
Spring may still be a few weeks away, but if you’ve had enough of the cold temperatures, you can enjoy a temporary escape to tropical climes with author Nancy Fraser’s short romance, April Love.
For several years, it’s been Eleanor Martin’s job to know the ins and outs of Jess Norton’s life. As the confirmed bachelor’s prim and proper private secretary, she knows who he dates, how he spends his spare time, and—of course—every detail of his professional life. So when a new client asks Jess to build a guest house on Grand Cayman Island, he asks his able assistant to join him on the trip.
Once they arrive on the island, though, the warmth and romance of the relaxed island atmosphere threatens to turn their strictly-business relationship into something else.
Of course, you don’t have to be a super sleuth to know where this story is heading. But despite the formulaic plot, April Love is still a charming short romance—thanks, in part, to the likable characters (and, of course, the tropical setting).
Eleanor is a straight-laced secretary who takes her job very seriously. She preaches against inappropriate behavior in the office, and she refuses to let her hair down (quite literally)—even after she arrives in this tropical paradise. Once she gets caught up in the magic of the island, however, something changes, and she learns to lighten up. Though she’s an admirable character in the beginning of the story, the change is still a welcome one—and you’ll be relieved when she starts letting down her guard.
Jess, on the other hand, is a playboy with a heart of gold. Despite his devil-may-care attitude toward life and relationships, he’s hiding just a spark of romance—one that even he finds surprising. And when the town’s most eligible bachelor begins to fall for the serious secretary, it makes for a delightful fantasy.
The story’s greatest flaw, however, is its inability to convey a real sense of time. The book is a part of the Golden Decade of Rock and Roll series—and, according to the cultural clues, it takes place in the spring of 1958. Unfortunately, though, outside the occasional minor details and brief references, it feels like it could take place in any time period.
Had it been given more ‘50s flair, April Love could have been a more distinctive romance. But, with its charming characters, its tropical setting, and its often steamy romance, it’s still a toasty-warm way to thaw the polar vortex—if only for an hour or so.
Ed. Note: For more on April Love, visit TheWildRosePress.com.
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