Stirred up – Leigh Suznovich

This is the first book I have read by Leigh Suznovich. It’s her 3rd ever book!

The first thing I loved about this book was the authors note it explains where the book fits into the world you are about to enter. I hadn’t read the other two books and was totally able to still enjoy this one. I will however be off to read the other two and get a better picture of the couples that are mentioned.

I also loved that it wasn’t your typical girl meets boy blah blah fest. Celeste had been incarcerated and was getting her life back on track and Gage was abandoned by his mother and is a bird dad! He has two very smart parrots.

There are some difficult issues raised in this book so please read the content warnings before diving in.

But I actually adored this book. Celeste has had a shit start in life she was a foster kid and had some really horrible foster parents. She gets triggered by men who think it’s ok to treat women like objects (WHY does this still happen! Why can’t women just be allowed to live their lives without being objectified?) she also has Endometriosis (just another awesome thing women have to deal with) and needs surgery but because she is fresh out of the slammer, she has no medical insurance. (This book made me so thankful I live in NZ!)

Gage is the manager of his family’s bar, and his dad has just been diagnosed with Parkinsons. He is hoping to take over the ownership of the bar when his dad retires, His brother does the books and has no interest in the bar, and his cousin works there as well so he can have a break. His abuela also helped in the bar and her recipes are served in the kitchen. His dad gives him an ultimatum he must get married before he passes on ownership of the bar. Gage’s mum left when he was young and Gage has abandonment issues so he is totally not interested in settling down and he defiantly does not want children (god I adore it when this is in books, not everyone wants a partner and kids but most romance books seem to use this as a blue print for the perfect life.)

So, Gage and Celeste come up with the perfect plan to both get what they need……a fake marriage. It doesn’t stay fake for long and its so delicious how Gage goes at Celestes pace and doesn’t force anything. Also, the fact that he gets off without her even touching him chef’s kiss!