REVIEW: His Best Mistake by Lucy King

JayneB- Reviews / Book Reviewsbaby (non secret) / Contemporary / enemies to lovers / England / RelationshipsComments Off on REVIEW: His Best Mistake by Lucy King

Is it too much to ask for a relationship that works?

When Stella Grant realises her perfect romance is a lie and that she’s the other woman, she flees to her remote cottage in the Highlands to lick her wounds.

Billionaire currency trader Jack Maclean has nothing but contempt for the woman who stole not only his sister’s fiancé but quite possibly a family heirloom to boot. Nonetheless, he wants answers and he intends to get them. A quick trip north should do the trick. Never in a million years could he have predicted a kamikaze sheep and inclement weather would leave him stranded.

Jack might be gorgeous but Stella isn’t in the market for a man, especially one who hates her. No matter how attractive he finds her Stella is the very last person Jack should want. The trouble is, they’re all alone and the chemistry is irresistible, and, well, what happens in Scotland stays in Scotland, right?

Dear Ms. King,

I’ll be honest and admit it was the sheep in the blurb which caught my eye because I mean – kamikaze Scottish sheep. To my disappointment, the sheep were fleeting but then things got good with a heroine who actually stands up for herself and gets an overbearing hero to not only back down but apologize. And they talk. About the non-secret baby. Wow.

I know I’m not the only one who has read endless romance books which start off with the heroine put in a position of being wrong, or the hero thinking she’s in the wrong and he goes on the attack and she crumples like wet tissue paper and can’t or won’t defend herself. Well not here! Jack shows up, gets sideswiped by the sheep then gets all pissy at Stella – in his defense he’s on the warpath because he truly things Stella is the Evil Whore of Babylon who helped break his sister’s heart – and Stella comes back at Jack with both barrels, zings him with some home truths and gets him to admit not only to himself but to her as well that a) he pre-judged her and b) he was wrong and then he c) apologizes to her. Frankly, I was stunned and quite happy.

Strong emotions are raging, the attraction between them was instantaneous but for a while they valiantly fended it off as they privately castigated themselves for being attracted to this person under these circumstances which is just wrong! But eventually they give in and I’m okay with it because it was either hate or sex – they had to do something with the feelings swamping the place.

Jack then acts a little douchy and feels like a shit about it – bravo for that. Stella doesn’t mope over him or moon about the earth shaking sex or think it’s more than it was until the stick she pees on proves otherwise. And given the cover, no I don’t think this is any spoiler. Yes, in spite of taking precautions (at least they did try) an out of date condom does them in. Stella makes the decision that Jack deserves to be told despite the douchness and she calmly does so unaware that she’s just unleashed Jack’s worst nightmare because of the Angst in His Past. This actually makes sense and I can see why he would feel and act as he does. After a stunned moment, Jack rallies. Frankly, I was stunned and quite happy.

Then Stella still stands up for herself and doesn’t let Jack order or boss her around. When the Angst in His Past is explained, she’s understanding and decent and Jack springs into action and does right by the whole situation. Yep, still stunned and happy. There are misunderstandings, there is some friction, there are things to be worked out but by golly Jack and Stella appear to be doing all right. They seem to be trying and working things out. Until suddenly, they aren’t.

I can actually understand Jack’s reaction to something. It’s shitty but it’s honest and given the character development, it makes sense. Yet when he comes to his senses and begs forgiveness, I’m not sure I’d be as ready as Stella to accept. Jack’s last action really cut to her core as was also laid out in her character development. If I were her, I’d need just a bit more time to talk it out with the Scottish sheep before I was ready to fling my arms around Jack and believe that his head is finally in the right place for good. B-

~Jayne

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Jayne

Another long time reader who read romance novels in her teens, then took a long break before started back again about 20 years ago. She enjoys historical romance/fiction best, likes contemporaries, action- adventure and mysteries, will read suspense if there's no TSTL characters and is currently reading very few paranormals.

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