Naked

by Gina Gordon

[Lynn]

Sometimes a story is much so much more than expected. Naked definitely fits into that category.

A car crash left Violet Walker with physical and emotional scars. She's spent the past five months in Stillbride, hiding out in a little house she's purchased. She has plans to relaunch her career within her father's company but his unfortunate health diagnosis means she has even more to prove when she comes back. The hot guy renovating the house next to hers proves to be a short-term distraction, but can she walk away when the time comes?

Noah Young flips houses in his spare time and his current project is one close to his heart. He's not selling this one because he and his sisters have bought it as a retirement house for their Mom...it was previously their family home. Faking a fall off the roof works wonders to attract the attention of the woman who keeps watching him from her house. He wants to get to know her more and a short affair is just what he needs right now. Will a few short weeks be enough?

The physical attraction between Noah and Violet is powerful. The spark is always there but Violet also uses sex to shut down Noah when she isn't able to confront her fears and deal with her low self esteem and confidence. Help comes from an unlikely source as Harper Jones challenges her to see her life from a different perspective. Unfortunately lies by omission threaten to destroy the hopes and ambitions both protagonists desire, but this only leads a path back to each other when Violet confronts her biggest fear and exposes herself to him...naked!

Violet's struggles really struck a chord with me although I didn't always agree with how she tackled her issues. In contrast, Noah is the real deal...patient, compassionate, caring and incredibly sexy. Every woman's dream!

This is the second book I've read by Ms Gordon and definitely wont be the last.

4 stars

***arc generously received courtesy publisher Loveswept via NetGalley***