Tuesday 29 May 2018

Speakeasy - Sarina Bowen - Review





Speakeasy by Sarina Bowen 

True North #6




Sometimes you fall for Mr. Right. And sometimes for Mr. Right Now…

May

Did you hear the one about the girl who walks into a bar and catches her live-in lover kissing someone else? No? You’re the only one in town who missed it.

Luckily Alec is there to wrap me up in strong arms and carry me out the door before things get too ugly. And that’s not all Alec is good at. Our unexpected chemistry makes him the perfect rebound guy.

Alec

I should know better than to hook up with my rival’s little sister, but the fiery look in May’s eyes really turns my crank. She needs cheering up, and I’m just the guy for the job.

It’s not like I’ll fall in love. Not even after a string of scorching hot trysts, and the realization that we’re good at the same things: wild nights and familial disappointment. I don’t do love, never have, never will. So this is the perfect arrangement, for both of us. 


Nobody would approve, but nobody has to know…


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4.5 Stars 

I've yet to be disappointed by a title written by Sarina Bowen, and the sixth title in the True North series is at times intense and emotional read, but overall quite fun and heartwarming. 

May Shipley is one of those characters who's in the background but captures your curiosity, as was the case for me early on in the True North series.  I was incredibly eager to read her story and it didn't disappoint.  I will say I was kind of hesitant to read this story with her character being bisexual, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  If that's something that concerns you dive right in to Alec and May's story.  This pair have quite a lot more in common than you would expect rom a bar owner and recovering alcoholic. I loved that they are fallible, realistic and more than that relatable. 

I simply adored Alec Rossi, he's a complex and endearing character.  He's desperate to outrun his past persona as the good time, party guy.  A known ladies man, he's also very determined, hard working, capable, and desperate to achieve his goals and dreams. Alec has a depth to his character recognising in May his own feelings of inadequacy, disappointment and failure.  Alec is really kind, caring, compassionate and honest and will do anything for those he holds dear. 

Although May has made some questionable choices in the past, her family's inability to leave the past in the past, and with their need to hover over her constantly it's easy to see how she feels like a failure, when in fact she's quite resilient, hardworking and intelligent. 

I loved the banter and dialogue shared between Alec and May which is fun, flirtatious and full of humor.  It's captivating and only enhances the incredibly connection they share. 

It was wonderful to once again enter the world of the Shipley and Rossi families, with familiar characters making frequent appearances within the story line, and in some cases their stories continued to develop as well. 

If you love an emotional, family centred story full of heat, heart and humor look no further than the True North series. Speakeasy is up there as one of my favourite titles in the series, and whilst it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the whole series, to better understand the different dynamics between the characters and their back stories.  I hope that we will see more of the characters of True North in future titles in particular the other Shipley and Rossi siblings. 




Sarina Bowen is the RITA® Award winning author of over two dozen contemporary and LGTB romance novels. She most recently hit the USA Today bestseller's list in February, with Brooklynaire. Formerly a derivatives trader on Wall Street, Sarina holds a BA in economics from Yale University.

Sarina Bowen is a New Englander whose Vermont ancestors cut timber and farmed the north country since the 1760s. Sarina is grateful for the invention of indoor plumbing and wi-fi during the intervening 250 years. On a few wooded acres, she lives with her husband, two boys, and an ungodly amount of ski and hockey gear.

Sarina's books are published in a dozen languages on four continents. In 2016, The Romance Writers of America honored HIM by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy with a RITA award for Best Contemporary Romance, Mid-Length.