Whitley Cox, $3.99, ISBN 978-1989081051
Contemporary Romance, 2018
In Whitley Cox’s Quick & Easy, Gavin MacAllister is back in Heather Alvarez’s life, wanting a second go at her. You know the story: he realizes that he’s ready to settle after shagging his way across the universe she’s his true love.
Okay, so he took her virginity ten years ago and then dumped her via a phone call. I mean, what’s the big deal, right? He’ll just show up on the day of her father’s funeral and surprise her. In her mood, she’d no doubt lay back happily and let him back into her… life. See? He has everything planned and it will go swimmingly.
He’s also the kind that insists on using a nickname for the heroine, one that she clearly dislikes, because come on, a guy can’t be a true blue romance hero unless he tramples all over a woman’s wishes. Modern women like those alpha antics from their beloved gentlemen, after all.
Why on earth, therefore, is she not receptive to his return into her life?
Fortunately, death doesn’t stop Heather’s father from being a plot device. His last testament, according to Heather’s mother, is that the two of them dance at his funeral.
I can only wonder what kind of parents our heroine must have to insist that she goes back to the callous twat that pumped and dumped her ten years ago, but hey, I suppose actually creating a relationship organically is too much work these days for an author. It could be worse, I suppose—the matchmaker could have been some prepubescent brat that speaks like a leering octogenarian.
Gavin knew he needed to give Hettie time. Time to celebrate her father properly, grieve with her mother. Then they’d talk. They needed to talk.
It’s nice that the author is aware of this.
It’s a shame that she doesn’t let the characters have their peace. No, let’s have the mother meddle!
Maybe the author has a bus to catch, so she can’t waste time on nuances and subtlety. Gotta mash those groins ASAP and move on to the next story!
So, this story is all about machinations, rushed sex, and then happy ending.
Sure, he has ten million dollars now—which, admittedly, is pauper money compared to the billionaires that I can’t swing an arm around in a room without smacking into one in the romance genre these days—and he can give her three orgasms in 20 minutes, but that just means he’s a great vibrator.
Is he a great husband material? Will their romance this time around last? Will these two ever stop talking like they are trying to outdo one another while auditioning for the same role in a sitcom?
The answers to these important questions will never be found here, hence this one is quite the underwhelming read. It’s quick and easy alright, but not in the right way.
