5 SMOOCHES!
SYNOPSIS:
It all started with a mysterious blue note sewn into a wedding dress.
Something blue.
I’d gone to sell my own unworn bridal gown at a vintage clothing store. That’s when I found another bride’s “something old.”
Stitched into the lining of a fabulously feathered design was the loveliest message I’d ever read: Thank you for making all of my dreams come true.
The name embossed on the blue stationery: Reed Eastwood, obviously the most romantic man who ever lived. I also discovered he’s the most gorgeous. If only my true-love fantasies had stopped there. Because I’ve since found out something else about Mr. Starry-Eyed.
He’s arrogant, cynical, and demanding. I should know. Thanks to a twist of fate, he’s my new boss. But that’s not going to stop me from discovering the story behind his last love letter. A love letter that did not result in a happily ever after.
But that story is nothing compared to the one unfolding between us. It’s getting hotter, sweeter, and more surprising than anything I could have imagined.
Something new.
But I have no idea how this one is going to end . . .
REVIEW:
I love the collaborative works of Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. Individually, both authors are fantastic, but there is something undeniably special about their co-written books. Their words blend together seamlessly, effortlessly transitioning between their writing styles and meshing into addictively unputdownable stories. Every. Single. Time. This pairing is brilliant, and I can’t get enough of them.
Hate Notes is the latest from Keeland and Ward, and I absolutely loved it. A mash-up of enemies-to-lovers and workplace romance tropes, the storyline was fresh and original. The underlying theme threading everything together in this story was fate. A couple destined to be together; pure luck playing a key role in their first meeting; and a divine intervention–via a meddling grandmother—bringing them together in the workplace. Keeland and Ward penned a uniquely creative love story here with a hero who stole my heart despite how prickly he sometimes could be and a heroine who was whip-smart and funny. This couple bickered and bantered their way through a good portion of the book, and those interactions were just as fantastic as the slow-burn build-up of their romance.
Hate Notes was a heartwarming, hard-fought love story that I devoured in a day. Endearing characters, an engaging, emotional storyline that made me laugh and swoon, this was a completely engrossing page-turner that I simply did not want to put down. Hate Notes by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward gets five smooches from me!
~Danielle Palumbo
