Review by Booklist Review
Actress Emma is known to fans as Princess Anya for her role on the popular show Dark Castle, so when her character dies at the end of the season, she feels adrift. She seeks solace at Rosemont, a stunning and peaceful estate in California. Its owner's grandson, Lucian, is also spending time there, and he is no stranger to fame and loss; the ex-hockey star had to retire from the game for health reasons. At Rosemont, he's fixing up the place and baking fancy treats, a skill he learned from his French great-grandfather when he was a kid. Emma and Lucian are unable to deny their attraction, but breaking down their protective walls and revealing their true emotions is much harder. Callihan (Dear Enemy, 2020) excels at writing truly delicious scenes, culinary and sensual, but the novel's overall pacing is uneven, and some of the characterization is cursory. Still, the lead characters are easy to love, and it's comforting to watch them grow together and deeply fall for each other.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Actress Emma Maron finds out her character on a popular TV series is getting the ax on the same day she discovers her boyfriend cheating on her. Desperate to escape her uncertain future, Emma accepts an invitation to stay at a private California estate, Rosemont. The grounds are only rivaled in beauty by another guest at the estate, the owner's grandson Lucian Osmond, an ex-hockey player who is using his time at Rosemont to recover from a career-ending injury. Emma is confused by the gruff Lucian, a man as complicated as the patisserie he secretly bakes for her breakfast every day. But as their public personas finally begin to give way to their private desires, Lucian and Emma will find that they both have dreams of a life together. VERDICT Callihan (Dear Enemy) constructs a romance full of aching emotions while taking on toxic fame and the perils of contact sports. Descriptions of Lucian making delicate treats are a delight, and the cast of secondary characters doing their best to subtly ignore the sexual tension between Emma and Lucian are the icing on the cake. This title stands alone, but those who enjoyed Dear Enemy will also enjoy glimpses of returning characters.--Elizabeth Gabriel, Milwaukee P.L.
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