Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Review Tour: Must Like Spinach by Con Riley (Review + Giveaway)

Con Riley - Must Like Spinach

Author: Con Riley

Release Date: October 21 2016

Length: 84,200 words

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK 

Blurb

Jon's future in New York seems bright. He's on the corporate fast track as an executive problem solver, but somehow he can't help feeling hollow. Yearning for a life spent outdoors makes no sense if he wants to flourish in this city, nor does losing his cool with clients when they make bad decisions. Only leaving the East Coast behind for three months can save his business reputation.

His exile in Seattle has unexpected upsides. Jon's rented home has a garden where his true passions blossom. Itís overgrown yet idyllic—perfect if he didn't have to share it with another tenant. Tyler might be as cute as hell, and their landlady adores him, but Jon can't let himself fall for someone who seems lazy.

Three months could be enough time to see Tyler clearly, but choosing which to nurture long-term—love or a business career—might take Jon longer than one summer.

Jon's brilliant future as one of the newest hires at a fast-track company on the East Coast is on the tightrope after he lost his temper with one of his clients. Funny thing is that for Jon the idea of losing his place in the program because of that isn't quite as preoccupying as he's not sure if being a problem-solver is what he wants from life, after all. As a last favor to his mom, one of the firm's partners, sends him off to Seattle by himself as a last-ditch effort to help him out, only it just feels as if the noose around Jon's neck is tightening more and more. 

 While looking for a place to live for the three months he has to remain in Seattle, he finds an ad for an apartment that draws his eye in more ways than one. The place doesn't quite meet his standards when he gets there, making him dread telling that to the sweet landlady until he sees the backyard and falls for it, as memories from his childhood return to him. The only downfall is Tyler, who lives with Peggy, the landlady, who Jon thinks is a lazy bum trying to take advantage of an elderly sweet lady. 

 Three months doesn't seem too long, but will it be long enough so that Jon can finally decide what he wants to do with his life?

 I really liked Jon. I felt bad for how out-of-sorts he was over his job, especially after everything his mom had sacrificed so he would've had a better future. And even if it wasn't what he saw himself doing, he was really good at it, and I loved seeing the problem-solving side of business. It was really interesting. I adored him with Peggy, he was just so sweet to her, so loving, and it was obvious that love was returned ten-fold. I also loved that other side of Jon, the side he let out when he was in the garden, he was centered, more level-headed, more open. And of course, I loved, loved, LOVED him with Tyler, when they finally moved past first impressions and Jon realized how mistaken he'd been about Tyler all along. 

 I have to admit I wasn't too certain at first about Tyler, what with the book being told from Jon's POV, with Peggy being a bit secretive and Tyler running off or asleep every time they mentioned him, but I was very happy when the truth came to light and we were shown the true Tyler, who was a sweetheart and very hard-working and supporting. While their romance was very slow-burn, and it kind of fell to the background with everything happening at Jon's office and with his life, and then with Peggy, it was nice to see it all developing slowly but surely, as they worked towards the start of their HEA. 

 It also took me a while to get into the story because it's told in present tense, but as soon as I got used to it, it was a great read. It was well-written and engaging, with some neat twists that kept my interest until the very end, it was emotional and enthralling, a journey of self-discovery that made me cry, but that left me with a huge smile on my face. Very recommendable! 

 Rating 4.5 Stars!!!

 *** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.***




Con Riley lives on the wild and rugged Devonshire coast, with her head in the clouds, and her feet in the Atlantic Ocean.

Injury curtailed her enjoyment of outdoor pursuits, so writing fiction now fills her free time. Love, loss, and redemption shape her romance stories, and her characters are flawed in ways that makes them live and breathe.

When not people watching, or wrangling her own boy band of teen sons, she spends time staring at the sea from her kitchen window. If you see her, don't disturb herósheís probably thinking up new plots.

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