Hello everyone!
Back with another book review this week, and I also have to say I have FINALLY figured out how to schedule my blog posts.
I know, I know, where have I been living all this time, right?
Well, unfortunately, I don't usually have to think about scheduling in any event because I'm right by the computer in the evenings and I can press the 'publish' button without any kind of problem. But when I'm off with my friends or doing something else, then things might get a little bit difficult, so I tested it this Tuesday and TA-DA! It works!
I feel like a kid on Christmas morning haha!
Now on to what I'll be talking about here, which is another book by Serenity Woods, this one titled Tempting Autumn, the second in Ms Woods' Four Seasons series.
And since it's basically autumn now, what better way to commemorate it?
As is always the case with my blog posts, any of those which I have previously done by the same author in terms of book posts can be found at the bottom of this one. I think there's bound to be quite a few of them now!
Anyway.
After the events in Seducing Summer, the friends are back and sharing some much-needed love (and drinks) one evening, just chatting it up and catching up. Joining them is Birdie's older brother Hitch, who is a nature photographer and who usually, and I quote this 'is probably sticking his camera down the throat of a moose somewhere'. But he's here for a brief stop before he heads up north again, and it's he who notices that one of the four girl friends, Rowan, seems to be having a hard time.
Gently nudged by Callie to go investigate, Hitch talks to Rowan and she shares some more of her past with him because she wants him to understand her present situation (in which her short-term boyfriend has just dumped her, natch).
Long story short: Rowan was abused by her uncle as a child, and said uncle is now moving back to New Zealand with her aunt. No one else in the family knows about this, not even her twin sister, Willow, and she's all up in her head about how to handle it without causing strife in the family.
Hitch has a brilliant idea (okay, Callie has the idea, but you get it): why doesn't Rowan come with him on his trip? It's no-signal since he goes to way, way remote places, and she can recover and regroup before returning to deal with the family stuff. Initially hesitant, Rowan tells him she'll think about it, and later talks it out with Neve who has now moved in with her since Callie moved in with Gene (her fiancé).
Neve says she doesn't see a problem with the two of them going off into the blue together, so Rowan decides to text Hitch and agrees to tag along.
Anddd then it's time for fashionistas to pack for hiking!
I found it incredibly hilarious, considering Rowan is the girl who designs all the lingerie for the Four Seasons, but she was perfectly reasonable, honestly (and didn't take any stilettos for which I was SO thankful!). Hitch is still amused, but then again the guy packs a hefty 70 liter backpack to her meager 30 so ... you know.
Off they go, to their first stop in Christchurch where Hitch is going to be photographing some autumn-y leaves and stuff. Also, on a side note, he's waiting to hear back from some worldwide competition about nature photography which he entered, and Rowan is instantly supportive - and so are we! The guy deserves to win.
A little backstory for the man: his and Birdie's father unfortunately died in a work accident, and then their mother was diagnosed with cancer. Hitch nursed her for two years before she passed away, and then at eighteen fought for custody over his younger sister so that he could raise her until she was old enough for university, at which point both of them went. Basically, everything he's achieved so far in life, he's made on his own and wasn't given anything whatsoever.
So he's naturally mistrustful that anyone will see his talent, not that Rowan has any problem with it herself.
She's a bit busy with other stuff.
Namely: their attraction sparks off the charts when they're finally alone, but she can't go through with it, potentially because of what happened to her in the past (also with former lovers who were basically idiots). Hitch (or, well, his name's Nathan really) promises her he's not mad and he won't push, but maybe ... she'd let him help her? You know, as one friend to another?
We see right through you, Hitch, even if you have no clue. WE SEE YOU.
Ahem. Rowan agrees to this plan and they drive off into the unknown to a small-ish cabin in the middle of nowhere where they'll be staying for a couple of days while Hitch takes his photos.
This is the point where all the sexy times happen. And BOY is it smexeh.
But the thing I love about these books is that it's not JUST about sex, either. There's a story behind it all, and always tastefully done. There isn't much wiggle room for new inventions in romance, but I have yet to read one by Ms Woods I'd be thoroughly disappointed in.
She didn't disappoint me here, either, as Hitch slowly and carefully introduces Rowan to the world of pleasure, although he does admit he kind of didn't think about bringing condoms along so the main event will have to wait until they're back in Christchurch.
The time away (plus beginning to realize she's in love with Hitch and has been for years) helps Rowan to internalise certain truths about herself and her past, and also ... it's gecko time!
No, I'm serious.
Hitch and Rowan stumble across a big ass gecko that is supposedly extinct but just casually sunning itself and waiting to have its photo taken (which Hitch promptly does, too).
NOW they can return to civilisation.
And they can totally do it, too, but we also learn in the process that Hitch kinda lied: he did, in fact, have condoms with him during their getaway, and he feels bad for lying. Meanwhile, the general female population of the world is sitting here cheering him on for being a sensitive and thoughtful guy, but apparently, he's a bit deaf to that.
Returning to Wellington after pretty much doing everything BUT saying 'I love you', these two seem to be unable to get the hint they're meant to be together until a phone call that changes everything where Rowan explains she gets that Nathan doesn't need someone to tag along and bother him.
NATHAN says f- this, I want the girl, and pops up to be her date and moral support to the welcome-home party for her aunt and uncle (again, however, shout-out to Callie who tells him some easy truths), where they realize her uncle now has severe Alzheimer's and doesn't even remember Rowan (also that he tried to abuse Willow, too, but she told him to hit the road).
That night, Hitch gets the call that tells him he's won that photography award, and he also reveals he wants Rowan to tag right along with him and find inspiration around the globe. She's over the moon and agrees.
A year later, the friends (Callie and Gene now married and expecting their first child) are back in Christchurch in the autumn-y park where Hitch and Rowan had their first kiss, and Hitch drops down on one knee because when you're a smart guy, you don't let a woman like Rowan walk away from you, ever.
She says yes. Happily ever after!
Well, except for the foreshadowing that Neve, headed to a workshop for her marketing purposes, is going to get the surprise of her life since the keynote speaker at said workshop is her ex Rhett ...
But that's a tale for next Thursday!
xx
*image not mine
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