This review is a bit spoilery so proceed with caution.
I’ll start by saying that I am a huge fan of J.B. Hartnett’s work and I was very happy to be given the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Bride in Bloom. I am overjoyed that my search for the perfect book boyfriend has come to fruition. Ms Hartnett has given us Cameron. The man is almost perfect…sweet, kind, good looking, sexy and a little bit kinky too. I’m a sucker for a sexy tradie. Give me a man with a tool belt, hammer in his hand who also has a brain and I’m drooling. The story is about a lovely sweet woman named Victoria who thinks she is about to marry a wonderful man. Unfortunately things don’t go according to plan and Cameron was a witness to the whole debacle. Cameron himself is getting over a very yucky divorce from a conniving, manipulative, cheating wife. While he was still married he met Victoria and recognised the beauty in her. When they were both single Cameron was determined that Victoria would see the beauty he sees in her and makes it his focus.
J.B. introduced us to some wonderful new characters and some old friends from Nico’s story. Cameron’s family is loving and supportive and his Mum had me laughing from the very beginning. I am hoping that there will be stories for Drew, Kath (maybe even together) and Ruby.
In the previous stories by this author there is an underlying darkness that is sometimes hard to take. This story was different. There were a lot more laughs, some really sweet scenes and some very hot and sexy scenes too. I spent nearly the whole book with a smirk on my face. Sometimes the smirk dropped, but it was never for too long.
My only complaint, was that I thought the deception dragged out too long. I knew it was coming but seemed to take forever to get there. Drove me bonkers.
One of my favourite things about this author is her talent in producing characters that are real people. I love that her heroines realise their partners are not perfect, expect them to make mistakes and an apology goes a long way. I love that the heroes realise that their partners are always right (OK, mostly right), can sometimes get emotional and may need a bit of girl time. It made me laugh that her characters like checking out sexy pictures on Tumblr and they think that no child should know that their parents have sex and know what sex toys are.
J.B. Hartnett you have produced another brilliant book, completely different to the others, but still wonderful in it’s own way. Can’t wait to see what you have for us next.
For people wanting to know about triggers and stuff - there is a M/M scene that the heroine witnesses, didn't bother me. Some people have also mentioned that Cameron came across as a bit stalkerish, I didn't feel that at all.He knew he wanted her and kept an eye on her to make sure she was OK.