Party of Two (The Wedding Date, #5) by Jasmine Guillory Published by Berkley Books on June 23, 2020
Pages: 320
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Review Copy Provided By: Berkley
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A chance meeting with a handsome stranger turns into a whirlwind affair that gets everyone talking.
Dating is the last thing on Olivia Monroe's mind when she moves to LA to start her own law firm. But when she meets a gorgeous man at a hotel bar and they spend the entire night flirting, she discovers too late that he is none other than hotshot junior senator Max Powell. Olivia has zero interest in dating a politician, but when a cake arrives at her office with the cutest message, she can't resist--it is chocolate cake, after all.
Olivia is surprised to find that Max is sweet, funny, and noble--not just some privileged white politician she assumed him to be. Because of Max's high-profile job, they start seeing each other secretly, which leads to clandestine dates and silly disguises. But when they finally go public, the intense media scrutiny means people are now digging up her rocky past and criticizing her job, even her suitability as a trophy girlfriend. Olivia knows what she has with Max is something special, but is it strong enough to survive the heat of the spotlight?
I was provided a review copy; this did not influence my opinion of the book.
You know how when you are on a roller coaster and you’re just coasting along while eyeing that hill, and know there will be a thrill at the other end of it? While reading this book, I found myself wishing for that hill. This was a slow read, with the focus on the volunteer experiences, cake and pie discussions, and quite a bit of inner monologue.
Also, I did not like Olivia in this book. All of Guillory’s female characters have been such strong women, but Olivia’s inner monologue and actions didn’t portray a strong woman. Yes, she was a lawyer with her own firm, but her thoughts and some of her decisions were that of an insecure person, someone who is not worthy of nice things or attention.
❝but what if he sends cakes like this to every woman he had the slightest interest in?❞
Why do women in romance books question if a man does XYZ with/to/for other women, besides them? Are we women as a whole really that insecure and believe we don’t deserve XYZ, and/or are we this untrusting of the men we meet?
I have loved all the previous books in this series, so I’m gutted that this one didn’t work for me.
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