Hot in Hellcat Canyon (Julie Anne Long)
4.5 stars
Daaaaamn, this book!
This is romance with capital R. It reminded me of the early years of my reading romance, most especially Susan Elizabeth Phillips' books. The kind of romance with strong characters, including the secondary ones, and a very satisfying road to happily ever after.
I admit, it wasn't perfect. It took a while for me to get into it, as often the case with new-to-me authors. I had to familiarize myself with the writing style. But soon, the characters took over, and my GOD, the word play between J.T. and Britt was INVIGORATING! I think I got wordgasm because they were fun, witty, and smart.
Also, the romance was DELICIOUS. I always think that romance is what happened outside the bedroom (or maybe inside as well, but not always during the sex scenes). For me, romance is also the little things that your significant others do, in the slices of life that you share with them. It's not just about sex or lust, it's everything else. In here, I got all those in spades and I was loving every moment of it.
I got teary eyed over the wedding toast scene. And J.T.'s love declaration?? I should pribt it and frame it for others to see. That is a shoe-in for my (virtual) big book collection of BEST LOVE DECLARATION IN ROMANCE!!
“The part with us? That’s not the dream. We’re the real part. We’re the only thing that matters. The other stuff is the hurricane. You and me, we’re the eye of the hurricane. And you know... you know how your lungs just know to breathe in and breathe out? It’s like that with us. I breathe in, you breathe out. I don’t know how else to say it. I need you, Britt. When we don’t fight it... you and I... we just know. We just work... I am so in love with you.”
MY. FRICKING. GOD. *melt*
Now, I cannot wait to read book #2. The 'teaser' here about Eli and Glory is deliciously promising. Seems like there's going to be tension and angst. I'm salivating over the possibilities.
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