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My Review:Title: After the Night
Author: Sandra Marie
Series: Romance for all Seasons #1
Published by: Indie
Release Date: October 1st 2018
Format: eARC
Pages: 164
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Source: the author
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2018 #LetsReadIndie Challenge, Lenoreo's 2018 New Release Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks
My rating:
Blurb:
She never thought she'd be the prince in the Cinderella story.
Cassidy Joanes met the man of her dreams during the annual Halloween office party. Only problem? He was wearing a mask, and she hasn’t a clue who he is—only that he can rock a Dread Pirate Roberts costume.
With only a few men in the office, she makes it her mission to find the man who swept her off her feet, only to be met with date after date of disappointment. And with a growing attraction to her boss, she’s not sure she can find her prince before she falls for someone else.
I received a free copy through the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
4.5-stars — Cute, real, authentic. That is the best way to describe this book.
I love that we have a hero and heroine that are just NORMAL. These aren’t your stereotypical book characters. They aren’t perfect specimens that blow everyone away with their beauty, etc. They feel normal. But they’re still very attracted to one another. I LOVE when I feel like the people I’m reading could be me, or my best friend, or whatever. And not just the heroine, but the hero too. Jon was a perfect example of NON-TOXIC masculinity. He was adorable, and charming, and sexy, and sweet, and caring, and he LOVES Disney!! Because why not?? WHY NOT?? And he blushes, and he’s nervous, and just…*swoon* I know I love me a beta boy, but Jon was more than just that. He was a nice guy. I love nice guys.
And Cassidy was freaking adorable too!!! She was all the things that Jon notes — fun, smart, sassy, AND beautiful. In a perfectly dorky way. I loved how diligently she worked at her job, and I LOVED the way she naturally teased and flirted with Jon. I loved that she was unapologetic for who she was. I loved that she was flat chested, and self-conscious of it! I love having someone real to read about.
And OMG the two of them together were just freaking hilarious and adorable. AGAIN, so authentic feeling. I loved the way they bantered when they were just Jon and Cassidy, and I loved the way they flirted when they were Buttercup and Westley. I *wanted* them to work it out. Desperately. And I love when people smile when they kiss. I love that happiness, it feels relatable.
Honestly, the only reason I rounded down instead of up is that occasionally I found some things a bit hard to believe…like Cassidy not knowing it was Jon. And their romance felt a wee bit quick at times. I didn’t actually mind that much, but I did notice. I was also somewhat unsatisfied with how the side plot with the missing money turned out…I know, odd, but it just left me…well…unsatisfied. I also wouldn’t have minded a more fictional resolution to the workplace drama surrounding their romance…it was a bone of contention, but in the end we didn’t get to know how it played out at the office.
There were some fabulous secondary characters in this one, and I can’t help but wonder how many will get their own stories. I loved the sneak peak we got into the next book that answered the question about one of them! I’m really intrigued by so many, so yay!!
On a side note, I loved that there were 2 clear instances of LGBT side characters, but they were so casually mentioned, like it’s just the way the world is…you know, probably because it is. You don’t see that often. Where it’s not part of the plot WHATSOEVER, it’s just a passing reference in some ways, but it normalizes it. I know that’s a small detail, but I noticed it.
So yeah. This book was a delight for me to read. It left me smiling and feeling good about the world, and there ain’t nothing wrong with that.
I think I need this book in my life. I’m so tired of all the BEAUTIFUL people in books.
You do need it.