The One That I Want by Piper Sheldon

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Title: The One That I Want
Author: Piper Sheldon
Series: Scorned Women's Society #3
Published by: Smartypants Romance
Release Date: February 23, 2021
Format: eARC
Pages: 345
Genres: Romance, Retelling, Contemporary
Source: Smartypants Romance
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2021 COYER Winter
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:

Blurb:

There is no such thing as luck.

Roxy Kincaid isn’t a biker chick anymore. She’s made herself more than Jethro Winston’s castoff, and she’s never going back to her old life with the Iron Wraiths. But one summer night, a charming stranger threatens to sweep Roxy off her feet. Ignoring fate and their instant attraction, she has to get back to her real life in Green Valley. He couldn’t be the one that she wants when he’s exactly the thing that could ruin everything. If only she could stop thinking about him.

Luck is everything.

Sanders Olsson is going to fix his mistakes. He’s determined to show his best friend he’s a reliable business partner not the distracted flake he’s been lately. But he has to listen when the universe brings him a sign in the form of a guarded beauty he can’t keep his eyes off. Their instant connection is almost magical but she leaves without giving him even a last name. When fate gives Sanders a second chance in life and love, he sets out for Green Valley without a backward glance.

Their summer lovin’ happened so fast but what will it take to make it last?

‘The One That I Want’ is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #3 in the Scorned Women’s Society series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

My Review:

I received a free copy through Smartypants Romance in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

3.5 stars — This one started off really strongly, I was totally intrigued by Roxy and Sanders!  But the book fizzled for me…maybe it was my mood, I have no idea.

Honestly, I don’t mind insta-love/lust…depends on how it’s done.  I definitely felt that immediate connection between Roxy and Sanders on the dance floor — it was ridiculously hot.  And then as we got to know them more, it truly felt a bit like an opposites attract story.  I loved that neither of them could help themselves, you know?  It was great chemistry, both steamy and beyond.

And I was curious about what was going on with Sanders in particular, b/c you knew he was running from something.  I will admit the way things played out over the book, I had some different suspicions that didn’t manifest.  I’m not sure what it was, but I ended up being dissatisfied with his journey.  Maybe I didn’t buy it?  It was hard, he was such a strange character with his flaws — overeager, panicky…  So maybe the growth did fit who he was.  I’m not sure.  I loved how goofy and adorable he was, but I think I wanted something more from the emotional side (even though we did get a lot there).  See?  It might just be me.

Roxy was a hard nut to crack.  I could see how desperate she was for that elusive something (respectability? acceptance?).  But something kept me from completely connecting with her.  I was soooo curious about her past, and how it had shaped her.  And we definitely got some from that, but again…I was dissatisfied.  Seriously, I’m not sure what I wanted that I didn’t get, but…I didn’t quite get it.

As I mentioned at the beginning, their chemistry was honestly fantastic.  I even loved the way they connected emotionally here and there.  I think I wanted something more obvious and sustained at the end.  But they really were adorable together.

What didn’t work for me?  The overt Grease references.  I think I wanted something more subtle.  For some reason they came across forced and awkward to me.  I wonder if it would be different if I wasn’t a fan of the movie, because maybe those bits of dialogue would seem more natural.  But they didn’t.  I actually ended up liking the more subtle connections — like the way Roxy was trying to protect her reputation, but it wasn’t her bad girl reputation it was the reputation she was trying to develop.  And I loved how sunny and determined Sanders was.

I was also a bit bummed that we didn’t get quite as much SWS time.  I’ve only read Kim’s story thus far, but I enjoyed the girl group time in that one more than in this one.

I really enjoyed Skip, but I feel like he got shortchanged with Sanders.  I feel like Sanders never really saw the big picture where Skip was concerned…or at least the picture that I saw in my head.  I wanted more for him.

So yeah.  Weird.  I wish I could be more concrete.  I wish I could be more confident in my feelings.  But this is what you get instead.