Genre: Romantic Comedy
~Blurb~
Joel Anderson doesn’t take anything seriously.
Not his relationships, which have been few and far between since his brutal divorce. Not the drama of working in a tattoo parlor, which seems to be around every corner. When things get him down, he smiles and cracks a joke. But he’s not the kind of man you cross, or you’ll find yourself at the wrong end of his fists.
Annika Belousov takes everything seriously.
Like her job as a reality television producer, given that she typically has something to prove. Or her love life, which is defined by a series of requirements — affluent, ambitious, accomplished, to name a few. Definitely her family, who worked their whole lives to afford her every opportunity, a sacrifice she doesn’t take lightly. When she’s tapped to produce a reality show at Joel’s shop, she doesn’t think twice, just goes in for the kill, as if there were any other way.
The second Annika walks into Joel’s shop, he makes it his mission to crack her open, but she’s not having it. He’s all wrong — too crass, too hairy, too un-serious. But it doesn’t take her long to find out there’s more to him than smirks and tattoos. And what she finds could put her career and his heart on the line.
Not that Joel cares. Because for the first time in a long time, he’s found his tonic.
~Book Review~
3 Stars
Joel Anderson is a tattoo
artist running his shop, Tonic. Railroaded by his brother and employees, he
agrees to a reality TV show about the trade. Annika Belusov is the producer
assigned to run the show.
Told via Joel and Annika’s
alternating first person POV, the opening scene jumps right into the premise
with a blast of insta love/lust on Joel’s part. I felt it needed a little more
build-up as well as a stronger introduction to the characters. Their initial
meeting and dialogue felt awkward with a lot more tell than show. I just didn’t
feel their connection. And then Annika
describes herself as a “frigid bitch” and Joel as a “hairy fucking guy” and I
honestly wondered why the readers were supposed to be attracted or endeared to
either of these characters. Frankly if this had been a sample on Amazon rather
than an ARC, I would have moved on to the next book right there.
I’m not a fan of reality TV
in the real world; however, that’s not stopped me from enjoying other books
with this reality TV premise. But I don’t think I’ve encountered a heroine in
the position that Annika is in who was so unlikable, with such little
integrity, and disregard for treating people like human beings.
“They were just meat puppets, pawns in a game to move around, crash into each other, all while trying to make sure we caught it all on camera.”
The main couple was largely
the problem I had with getting into this story.
First it was Annika’s cold response to innocent people, and later it was
Joel’s bratty behavior over something that seemed immature for a thirty-eight
year old man.
This is listed as a romantic
comedy; however, I failed to find humor in the story. I think it would more
aptly be categorized as simply a contemporary romance. There is some reality TV contrived drama/angst
and a love-hate romantic angle with a predictable misunderstanding. I do give
the story points for avoiding some clichéd pitfalls that I expected, but it
didn't fall prey to. On that note, many minor characters exhibited more
maturity and sensibility than Joel or Annika.
There are quite a few sexy
scenes, and thankfully they are just Joel and Annika. It's getting harder these
days to find romances that don't exploit sex scenes with other people, so I
also give this romance points for sticking to the main couple.
All in all, it’s simply an
“okay” romance, nothing terrible but nothing spectacular. If you are looking
for a reality TV romcom or love-hate romcom, there are definitely others I’d
recommend instead; but if you're simply looking for a safe read, this one
should fit the bill.
From roots in Houston, to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's sleeping, cleaning, or designing graphics.
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