Doc Showmance
My thoughts:
My first book by Zoe Forward and I could tell straightaway she is an experienced author...and a veterinarian! All these wonderful scenes with animal patients (sometimes cute, sometimes heartbreakingly tragic, always realistic)- they must have been based on Zoe's real life experience. Trust me, they were one of the best aspects of the book. The enemies-to-lovers trope is full of tension and passion by definition, but here we have two ER vets with an unresolved conflict from college time being forced into fake dating on national TV, and you know it's a perfect recipe for lots and lots of drama. Add the snark, general grumpiness and (in my opinion justified) Olympic level grudge-holding ability of one of the protagonists and the easygoing 'sunshine' of the other one-no wonder sparks do fly! Dr Amber Hardin might come across as prickly, but when it comes to saving animal lives, she is one of the best. The ER clinic where she's finishing her residency year needs to bring in money and does it by hosting a reality TV show. Amber is contractually obligated to be on camera 30% of her working time. When her 'old nemesis' Ian Todd is brought in on the show, Amber knows she will have to endure working with him for a few months, but then the stakes are raised, as the producers would like Ian to become Amber's love interest. Our protagonists have their reasons for complying with this request, although it certainly makes their relationship super complicated. Ian genuinely likes and respects Amber and would love to get a second chance with her, while Amber struggles working out what is true and what is there just for the sake of rolling cameras. I liked the protagonists. Despite her grumpy, '#NoFilter' reputation, Amber is very truthful, loyal, and down-to-earth person, while there's definitely more to Ian than just his good looks and bright smiles. Whatever happened in the past to drive these two apart, they have a lot in common in terms of their values and their life outlook (their background couldn't have been more different). They are much more friends-who-are-bound-to-become-lovers than enemies, and it worked for me. I loved their first date! I wish the secondary characters were more developed, though. There was a lot of potential with Amber's siblings, each of whom could be a star of their own book. Who would I recommend this book to? Obviously anyone who loves animals and reality TV! It's an easy, entertaining book with likeable protagonists and a perfect happy ending. Hope Zoe Forward turns it into a series and tells us more about Bruno, Joley, Marino, and Nabi. Thank you to NetGalley, Giselle from XBT and the author for the revew copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. GIVEAWAY! |
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