kimbacaffeinate
Written on Jan 24, 2018
- I love the hotel setting and I have a weakness for brothers.
- This story features Dana Anders, the manager of the gourmet coffee shop within the Oceanix Resort. Her best friend Zoe Hart whom we meet in Keeping in Hot owns the coffee shop. Dana is snarky, fun and was a good friend who motivated Zoe in book one.
- Asher our hero is Dylan's brother and also made an appearance towards the end of the first book. From the moment Dana and Asher met we felt their chemistry and a whole lot of bite. I was excited about their story and what I thought would bring a "enemies to lovers" romance. It did sort of, but with a twist thanks to baggage Asher carries.
- The story focuses on the romance, but we also become caught up in the Jackson family from step-sisters to history with the boy's mother. It adds interest and explains some of our boy's behavior.
- Secondary characters like Asher's maid brought humor, warmth, and understanding.
- Stories about Asher's previous dates and their attempts to snag the hotel tycoon left me in stitches.
- Dana and Asher exchange barbs, he attacking her short curvy figure with munchkin comments and she him with talks about the bevy of emptyheaded Bettes he dates. It was fun, but there was also a mean side to some of these barbs that didn't set right with me. (see decaffeinated aspects)
- The two enter into an arrangement, where she pretends to be his "girlfriend" at functions. This offered some really fun moments that allowed the couple to get to know each other. I always enjoy arrangement tropes and this was delightful.
- This is a Romcom, but it also touches on emotional scars, human fears, and happily ever after. By the end of the story, I was completely caught up in this couple and their relationship.
Decaffeinated Aspects:
- I really struggled with Asher's behavior and the cutting remarks he made towards Dana. In fact, I was angry enough I almost set the book down. Dana is short and curvy but physically fit and struggles to maintain her figure. She isn't anything like the tall, barbie types Asher typically dates. When I first saw these two together in book one, I was so sure there was a story behind the digs. Like they had some sort of the previous encounter, but NOPE. Asher was simply an ass and the fat jokes were mean. The thing is, he knows he is an ass but cannot seem to stop himself. Fortunately, this behavior soon stops and we get to know them both. Landon allows for a lot of character growth.
- My second issue still centers around Asher's barbs and comments towards Dana but it is directed at Zoe and Dylan. I found it horrible that neither put a stop to the behavior and was further angered when Zoe defended Dana against a woman behaving badly towards Dana but didn't flatten her brother-in-law. Yes, it was explained, but it still irked me. Bullying is never ok and wrapping it up in humor doesn't make it ok.
While I struggled with some character behavior, Room for Two ended up being a fun, sexy romantic comedy with all the feels. I am looking forward to the next brother's fall, err, book.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer