Books of Tash

The front cover of this book proclaims it’s a Spicy Small Town Romance. This is a classic case of don’t judge the book by its cover!

Cute story but at 68% I was still waiting for the so-called spice. Sure, there is some heavy petting and an eventual BJ but goddamn I’m surprised the poor MMC hadn’t died of a serious case of blue balls! I don’t mind when the main characters are getting together (in some cases finally) and they are interrupted and its cute or funny but after the third time im starting to lose interest. The last quarter of the book is where all the spice is hidden, and it almost makes up for the buildup in the rest of the book. There is no third act break up so that somewhat redeems the constant edging!

Sam is an architect who has gone out on her own and is working on restoring an old house in the small town of Seascape where she grew up. She left her job in the city dramatically and was also dumped by her boyfriend for being too boring only for him to marry straight away to a friend of his family’s daughter. She is trying to prove herself on this job and doesn’t have time for a relationship or anything else but work.

Shay is the divorced contractor with a gorgeous son called Luca. He is busy trying to be a single parent with an ex who gives zero about her kid and only has him every second weekend so is the fun one. He has just brought the construction business from his uncle and father and used to be in finance but hated every second of it. His dad is a complete tool to him and makes him feel bad for leaving the finance job and his ex-wife.

Someone starts stalking Sam and leaving her notes and slashing her tyres. Its starts as small things and then ramps up. It makes for a good story arc, and I liked how it focused more on how the stalking was affecting Sam’s everyday life and the people around her rather than glamourising the stalker.