Hello everyone!
And besides, Serenity Woods has the best titles, even if you've seen them elsewhere before.
With my helpful mug of tea at hand (it's cold outside today!) and the scent of cranberry rising in the air, I'm ready to dive right into this newest installment of her books.
Well, it's a stand-alone, obviously.
But it ties back to the first ever series I read from the author (read and loved, might I add, as I had to reread the trilogy soon after finishing this one!), and it's also a tie-in to the NEXT series she's going to be releasing, which I'd also be on the look out for if I were you.
Because what more could you possibly need than New Zealand, billionaires, New Zealand, happily ever after, and have I mentioned New Zealand yet?
As there's only a few days before the new trilogy starts its publishing race, let's get right down to Casanova.
As this book ties back to others, you'll find links to those at the bottom of this page, because, lo and behold, I've already read and reviewed them.
I'm snappy like that with books I like.
But I mean, what's NOT to like with the Three Wise Men series? Brock, Charlie and Matt were absolutely divine the first time around, and now, knowing that Casanova is leading into the books about the Kings' KIDS, well, I just had to read this one too, right?
There's also a funny story behind my adventure to getting the book in the first place.
Ms Woods has now moved most of her books to KU (Kindle Unlimited) and to Amazon in general. Now, as I use Kobo, that's a bit of a bummer, but LUCKILY she was kind enough to put Casanova up for sale with other retailers, and for only 0,99 too! Obviously I snapped it up in pre-orders, then waited on baited breath ... only to be told that something went wrong on publishing day and the e-book wasn't available for my e-reader.
Of course I also found out that I'd been charged for it, however, so, while 1 Euro isn't much, I figured it was a glitch of some sort and I better let Kobo know, just in case someone else pre-orders a different, pricier e-book, and ends up in the same spot (mind you, I simply ordered Casanova and bought it in the same breath, no harm done for me).
I spent a lovely ten minutes in the chatroom with one of Kobo's helpful people, and in the end they refunded my store credit for the double billing that happened, which I thought was rather nice of them. They didn't HAVE to do it, but they did, and it's another proof to me that they're the right people to entrust with my e-books.
Ahem.
Onward to Casanova!
Casanova is the story of Elise and Nik (full name Nikau but everyone calls him Nik), and the title comes from the agency Nik works for, Casanovas.
Why, do you ask?
Well, basically it provides ... escorts, but that's the wrong word. The agency provides male companions, mostly to business women who know what they want and how they want it, and it can be for anything. Mostly it's for sex, yes, but it could also just be a date for the night, someone to talk to, someone to iron your clothes for you (no joke, this happens in the book!), etc. You get the idea. I actually found it intriguing because we mostly see women in that kind of role, not often men, so I was immediately attracted to it.
Nik is working for the agency because his father is showing early signs of Alzheimer's and he needs to somehow pay for everything - and also hopefully earn enough to not only put down a deposit for his own house, but pay for some new medicine that might help his dad.
Elise, on the other hand, is a hacker by trade and she basically hacks into "secure" online locations, then walks into a firm, tells them she did it (with the help of her friend, Sarah), and offers to up their security. So, basically, she's a billionaire, not that she cares.
These two meet on her thirtieth birthday when Sarah hires Nik for the night, and while initially wary, Elise eventually capitulates and the two of them spend a sexy time in bed, though not before they play a bit of Dark Robot (a game developed by people at Katoa, the gaming company of New Zealand, that is ALSO represented in a book trilogy, which I've ALSO read, just haven't reviewed yet). Then they part ways, but what Nik doesn't expect is what happens next.
Elise calls Casanovas and hires him, exclusively, for a month, paying up front basically all the amount of money he'd need for the goals he wants to achieve.
And in return?
Elise says she really doesn't expect him with her all the while, but Nik is adamant they do this right, so they make a pact: he's basically going to be her boyfriend for a month, and they'll see how it goes.
This includes but isn't limited to exploring one another sexually (and I'm curious about all these positions that Elise apparently found online, because ... come on), emotionally, and breaking through the barriers each of them carries around their hearts.
Nik is a little easier than Elise in that regard, because while his story is sad - retired from the army and unable to find a good job, but also having been married and then divorced - Elise's takes the cake on that one.
She was not only married, but had a baby boy, and unfortunatelly the child died at three months old, which killed her marriage.
Not only that, but it also killed any wish she has of socialising, so she's mostly just cooped up in her penthouse apartment.
Nik sets out to not only woo her, but to show her the world isn't such a bad place after all, and he helps her get a tattoo reminding her of her dead son, plus goes with her to dinner at her best friend's place where we get to see Brock and Erin again from The Perfect Gift, and where Brock shows just what an awesome man he is because he practically offers Nik a job with We Three Kings, the foundation he and his brothers run, as they need a manager for a new branch opening.
Initially hesitant, and turning Brock down, Nik eventually does interview with the brothers (hello, Kings again!) and they're more than happy to hand him the job outright because they think he's perfect for the role.
So Nik won't have to be a Casanova anymore, but things with Elise aren't going as smoothly at the moment
As their one month arrangement draws to a close, Elise finds out she's pregnant, and freaks out, shutting Nik out among other things and people and calls it quits, much to Nik's dismay and confusion since he bought the engagement ring and everything.
That doesn't stop him from sending her flowers every single day though, but equally if it weren't for Sarah he might never have known the truth.
But Sarah, that BFF, calls him to say what's going on, that Elise is at an abortion clinic, and he tears off after her where they're finally able to get some decent, sane conversation in, deciding to do this together.
And as we fast-forward to a pool party with the Kings, their offspring (hello!) and Nik and Elise with their son Stefan, Elise tells Nik she's pregnant again.
The end!
If you're into hot, steamy romances with a guaranteed happily ever after and mature relationships, this is another book for you, friends. Because Ms Woods once again delivers on all her promises, and while I might have wanted to know more about Elise's relationship with her mother, what her reaction was when Brock told her Nik had turned down the job offer (because, hey, Nik didn't tell her about it at all) and maybe a little more of Nik quitting Casanovas, this was a fun, sun-filled read that once again brought New Zealand to life.
Also, I cried a little. My paternal grandfather was a long-term Alzheimer sufferer and it's just ... so painful. This brought back memories, but the tears were of the good kind. And I would absolutely have done the same as Nik if there was the slightest chance of getting my grandpa medicine to help!
I feel like Casanovas should feature in future books again sometime, maybe standalones, but there's a lot of potential in my (humble) opinion!
In the meantime though ... I loved this! And I can't wait for My Best Friend, the Billionaire.
xx
*image not mine
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