Auntee's Reviews > Fight or Flight

I Hate Myself For Loving You...

You remember that old Joan Jett song? Well that's what kept running through my mind while I was reading this book. Never had I read such animosity between the hero and heroine in a romance book. Yes, verbal sparring and snark, but this out and out rudeness and asshole behavior from the hero... jeez, I hated myself for continuing with this jerk! How are these two ever going to get along? Well, start with a good case of physical chemistry...

So continue I did, and I'm glad I did! Samantha Young has written one of my all time favorite romances (On Dublin Street) so I happen to trust her ability to make me like the characters. Eventually. Surely there was a reason for Scottish businessman Caleb Scott's boorish behavior...and I wanted to know!

Our heroine, beautiful interior designer Ava Breevort, meets our hero, sexy Viking-ish businessman Caleb Scott, in the Phoenix airport terminal where he rudely knocks into her while cutting in line. They spar, they yell, they tell each other off...yet you can also tell they are attracted to each other. And don't want to be. They meet up again in an airport restaurant (more sparring and rude comments), and end up on the same flight to Chicago (weather problems delay their eventual flight to Boston). More sparring and snark on the flight. Caleb leaves her with the line "I need you tae hate me." (This is so she won't want to sleep with him) okaaay...

Well, before leaving Chicago they meet up again (when Caleb rescues her from some unwanted advances at a restaurant.) They talk, have dinner together, and admit that while they don't really like each other, they're open to exploring their obvious chemistry. Just this once. And it was combustible. Truly epic.

I'll say no more, except to say that they meet up again in Boston (where Caleb is working temporarily) and agree to a no-strings affair. No relationship. Neither want one. Both have huge trust issues. We find out all about Ava's heart-breaking past, and all about why Caleb is such a huge asshole a lot of the times. (A woman has done him wrong!)

These two are so good together (physically), that gradually, without realizing it fully, they start to trust one another. There's a physical hunger and emotional need that develops, but it scares each of them. Which one will pull away? Can you ever go back when hurtful things are said? Is there a way to heal and move forward when the past seems to rule your present?

After a shaky start when I thought 'how am I ever going to like, let alone love, this hero" I started to get on board. The story was actually riveting--I didn't want to put it down. Samantha Young fully fleshed out the characters and gave them wonderfully detailed back stories (I love details!) and made me feel like I really knew them. Ava was a woman who was led to believe that her beauty was all that she had to offer. She liked to be in control of all things in her life and I was glad to see that she was eventually able to loosen up. I loved her relationship with her best friend, pastry chef Harper (can she please get a book?) and her past with her ex Nick and best friend Gem nearly broke my heart.

Maybe Caleb's past wasn't as fully developed, but there was enough there for me to see where his head was at and why we was initially so mistrustful of Ava and a judgmental pig. Yes, he had a heartbreaking past as well, was sorely betrayed by someone he loved, but there were times when I thought, 'you have to get past this, man. You're ruining your life.' Eventually, I ended up liking him.:)

All in all, a great read for me. While not my favorite Samantha Young characters ever, the story still packed a punch. Lots of angst, lots of hot sex, and some very, very emotional moments. I can easily recommend this one.
5 stars

My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via Netgalley