Review by Booklist Review
Keeping house for the reclusive Patrick Halloran isn't what Lena Martel dreamed of when she came to Montana, but the job will pay her tuition and allow her to send money to her family back in New York. After an accident that nearly killed his brother and left Patrick disfigured, he wants nothing to do with anyone, not even the attractive housekeeper who slowly works her way into his heart. With the rules of their living arrangement firmly in place, Lena sets about making Patrick's house a home. The spicy meals that remind her of New York begin to bring him out of his shell. Their slow-building relationship shift, from employer and employee to lovers, is a matter of one of one step forward, two steps back as Patrick works out his grief and anguish over the accident. Together they are steaming hot as they move from leaving sexy post-it notes to phone sex and, finally, the real deal. Patrick's inability to let go of the past threatens to derail their new relationship but with some help from his friends he may stand a chance at happily-ever-after, too. Readers will appreciate the Beauty and the Beast feel of this entry into Castile's sexy Happy Endings series, which includes Stripped (2018) and Hired (2019).--Ilene Lefkowitz Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A reclusive model falls for his new housekeeper in this contemporary romance with noticeable "Beauty and the Beast" vibes.Patrick Halloran was on top of the world. First, he was a soccer star, then a model, and he was set to star in a Hollywood blockbuster. But then a vicious car accident changed his life forever. Scarred emotionally and physically, Pat retreats to his family ranch in Montana to live in isolation until art student Magdalena "Lena" Martel accepts the position as his new housekeeper. The rules are simple. She'll cook, clean, and avoid certain areas of the house. Despite the unconventional circumstances, Lena needs the money. With tuition to pay and a stepmom and younger sister to keep out of debt, she's willing to overlook her grouchy, nearly invisible boss. Slowly, Lena's fantastic cooking and the catchy music she blasts while cleaning have Pat emerging from his self-imposed exile. Post-it notes left behind graduate to texts and even to late-night phone calls, though the ultimate test will be whether or not Lena runs from Pat's disfigured body. Pat's trauma and regret are very real. He hates the man he has become, but he isn't sure the man he was before the accident was much better. Though Lena isn't without her own baggage, it's certainly overshadowed by Pat's journey to do as little as set foot outside his home. The romance is steamy and charming as a standoffish and frankly horrible first impression seamlessly morphs into a tentative friendship and more. Lena and Pat's relationship builds at a slow and steady burn that fights against their heavy emotional insecurities. However, the turning point, when a big misunderstanding threatens to ruin their happily-ever-after, doesn't have as much nuance as the way they came together in the first place.A sexy, modern fairy tale that caps off an entertaining series. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
