Title: Love Happens Anyway
Author: R.J. Scott
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Novella (154pgs)
ISBN: B077WSVY2B
Publisher: Love Lane Books (2nd December 2017)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Hiring a boyfriend for Christmas; what could possibly go wrong?
Derek is facing yet another Christmas where his life feels out of control. He has a new career that doesn’t feel like his, and parents who would just love to see him settled down. All he needs is a temporary buffer for the parties he has to attend, and for his parents to leave him alone. Enter, Luke.
Luke is twenty-thousand dollars short for the renovations on Halligans; his family’s bar in New York’s Financial District. A favor for a buddy has him agreeing to play the part of boyfriend to a guy with more money than sense.
But when the spirit of Christmas works its magic on the two men, and they begin to fall for each other, Derek runs scared, and Luke needs space.
It doesn’t matter what obstacles you throw in the way of love, or how much you run in the other direction, because, when you’re least expecting it, whether you want it or not, love happens anyway.
Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK
Review: Derek CEO of his family’s ad agency, he’s also well loved by his parents but the pressure to settle down has had him coming up with a fantastic boyfriend… a boyfriend his parents really want to meet. In desperation he hires a complete stranger to save the day, not realising that Luke really is the man of his dreams.
Luke has had his life crumple about him and in a last ditch attempt to save his family’s bar he agrees to be a pretend boyfriend in the run up to Christmas, Derek turns out to be the man that Luke could easily fall for but can he convince Derek and himself that what was built on lies could be made real.
This is a super sweet story that is just perfect for a cold winter’s night. Both Derek and Luke are wonderful characters, their attraction to each other is instant but their circumstances have them both holding back.
Derek is feeling the pressure from his parents to settle down, he also feels hemmed in at work; unsure of what he’s doing and if he’s doing things right. Luke lost his career due to injury, and he could also lose his family’s bar if he doesn’t come up with a way to get the money for it. These guys meeting solve each other’s problems but then what are they to do when they both want more?
This is a really cute story, we fall for both Derek and Luke, and both men reach out to us with their individual circumstances and feelings. We are drawn into their budding relationship, how they come to lean on each other and respect each other, and finally as they fall in love.
It’s a feel good warm fuzzy story, you can’t help but be drawn in from the first pages and you keep reading to discover how the guys will explain away their real relationship when the fake one is over… after all Luke’s name really isn’t Marcus 😉
RJ Scott knows what her readers love, but she also welcomes new readers with her warm sweet stories of two hot men falling in love. Writing this story she hit a big nugget of gold, loveable characters, interesting storyline, cute kittens and snowmen… what more could you want in a sweet romance set at Christmas.
I’d recommend this to true romantics, those who love hot men finding love, overcoming personal fears and embracing family.