The Edge of Heaven (Book 1)
On the surface, this book shouldn’t really work. It feels like “how many romance novel tropes can we cram into one story?” Let’s see: fake date to a wedding, falling for the escort, hidden identity, getting back at an ex, idiots in love, and finally, there’s only one bed! Except Lindsey has proven to me time and time again that she is fantastic at both character and storytelling, which meant that I was immediately sucked into Julian and Archer’s situation and read with my heart in my throat for their happily ever after.
For all that this book’s main events take place over a handful of days, Lindsey still evokes the feel of a “slow burn” romance in the narrative. The story is a series of quiet, character-driven moments, even when tensions rise (both the angry and sexy kind). Archer’s love for his chose profession drips off the page in how he shares it with those around him, and it’s immediately apparent that this draws Julian to him whether he likes it or not (even when Julian is half-convinced Archer is making it all up). In contrast, Julian’s varied interactions with his family lead Archer down the same path.
Throw in some fantastic supporting characters (family, friends, and villains) and a wedding, and I’m hooked. This might not be the first book I’d recommend for readers new to Lindsey’s work, but it’s one I’d hope readers come to eventually. I fell in love with her writing all over again while enjoying it, and I can’t wait to read the sequel.
Rating: 4.5 (out of 5) stars. Cross-posted to Amazon and Goodreads.
Love in Slow Motion (Book 2)
“Slow motion” is not a metaphor in this title—Lindsey has proven once again to be the master of the slow-burn romance. However, instead of dragging, this story entranced me on every page as Ilan and Fredric circle each other. The characters have known each other for some time, but their dynamic shifted only in the past year. In typical romance novel fashion, communication is the tripping point to their happily ever after (in this case, disclosing their relationship to Fredric’s son/Ilan’s best friend).
Half the joy in this book is watching Fredric and Ilan start new phases in their lives. That they start these phases in the same town is reasonably incidental, but it does lead to one of my favorite moments in the book as Ilan puts the fear of G-d into a jerk going on a date with Fredric. Ilan is, of course, terribly surprised that Fredric is attempting to date men, and as a stand-in for the son who now lives across the ocean, sets out to prove that Fredric deserves so much better than what he got from his abusive ex-wife for so many years. Sparks inevitably fly, but sparks may have been flying for years, and neither man was prepared to acknowledge them before now.
I usually want to smack romance leads until they recognize what they have in their potential partners, but I was more inclined to coddle these two men until they got their act together here. That’s part of Lindsey’s writing gift, in which even the quietest of moments are poignant and romantic. This is another book of hers worth savoring. I highly recommend this series to readers looking for the perfect slow-burn romances in which time, like everything else about love, is incredibly relative. I look forward to returning to this series when more books are available.
Rating: 5 (out of 5) stars. Cross-posted to Amazon and Goodreads.