Picture Perfect (Limelight #2)
Being the daughter of a big-city mayor, twenty-one year old Skye Summers has giant shoes to fill in her first real job out of college. With the public spotlight on her family, and her dad’s expectations running high, she jumps at the chance to work side-by-side on an important project with her sexy new boss.
Playboy entrepreneur Landon Steele has built a successful entertainment PR firm and broken more than a few hearts along the way. He’s counting on his enthusiastic new assistant to help him expand his business into LA… until he discovers she’s a pampered rich girl who’s in the public spotlight as much as his famous clients. Still, he agrees to give her a chance, and soon the two are heating up the bedroom as well as the boardroom.
But when Skye’s ex-boyfriend threatens to reveal a dangerous secret from her past, her job, relationship with Landon, and her father’s career are suddenly all on the line. Will she be forced to leave Landon? Or will she pursue her heart, regardless of the cost?
~ Xpresso BT
| B&N
Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: Nice contemporary setting, with some of the rich & famous vibe considering Skye’s dad and the circles her and Landon frequent.
Characters: Skye was interesting. Considering the fact she came from what we might call privileged upbringing, I liked the “I wanna do shmit myself” vibe she emanated constantly throughout the read. She used her experience with shmoozing but tried to solve issues on her own every time. I can’t say I was terribly attached to her, but that might be due to the appearance of the abusive assy ex right at the beginning there. Many of the ‘humanizing’ tools (ie dramatic/traumatic experiences characters have gone through that make you root for them and get emotionally attached) tend to backfire with me, specifically any violence-related ones. Instead of getting attached I detach from the character most of the times. So I liked Skye and wanted her happy ending to happen, but I wasn’t biting my nails for it to happen, sadly. Of course, this is a highly personal thing, the normal emotional response tends to be the opposite of mine, so most likely you’ll love Skye from the get-go. Let’s be clear here, her reaction to it was authentic and believable, and well done if we can use the term under those circumstances, it was just my response to it that was out of whack.
Landon had a lot of potential, but for me it didn’t lead to me falling for him either. True, I love asshole-ish characters, villain types, totally unrepentant bad boys (and I favor them not being redeemed either as the story evolves, but angsting hardcore, lol – I R evil reader, keep in mind). So Landon has the potential to be alphalicious for me, but he didn’t fructify it in the end. He was too much of a sweet guy underneath it all, I think, lol.
The two of them made a great pair, they had great chemistry and they made perfect sense as a couple.
Plot: I liked the abusive ex tangent and how it pushed Skye to evolve. The office romance / smexeh boss trope was filled with romantic tension and I enjoyed the story.
Writing: First person, past tense narrative, Skye / Landon POV. Liked their different voices.
Curb Appeal: Great cover, hooking blurb, definite impulsive buy material for my contemporary NA needs.
All in all, this was a good read for me even if I didn’t fall for either of the characters. Which is why chances are it’ll be even better for you guys, I mean the story on its own carried on perfectly for me to enjoy it without crushing on any character – that’s saying something.
I fully recommend it if you’re into the characters with some violence in their past, sort of vanilla-like, sweet-ish (though I wouldn’t say fluffy!) office romance trope.
Giveaway
About the Author & Links:
I have a soft spot for romance novels with happily ever afters and a hot spot for alpha males! I currently live outside Toronto, Canada with my hubby and two small children. Life is busy, but never to busy for a good story and to share my love of reading and writing with others.
My debut New Adult Contemporary Romance, Rumor Has It, releases December 6, 2013.
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The characters sound interesting but when you can’t completely relate it’s always difficult to be really interested about the wau they’ll end… But well it also sounds like a nice book to read like that. I don’t read a lot of contempory romance but I really like one from time to time. Thanks for the review.
Melliane recently posted…Reborn by C.C. Hunter
Definitely a nice book 🙂 Yep, I read contemporary less than other genres too, but as you say, I feel like reading one from time to time 🙂
Glad you liked it overall, even if you never really connected with Landon. It sounds like it has the kind of characters who need to grow on you. Great review, Livia!
Giselle recently posted…Review: The Dark World by Cara Lynn Shultz
Thanks!
I like that the story stood on its own because sometimes all of those fictional crushes can be distracting! Great review, and thanks for the chance!
Carmel @ Rabid Reads recently posted…Early Review + Giveaway: House of the Rising Sun by Kristen Painter
God, yes, I have so many fictional crushes I think I’m this close to going crazy, lol. Thanks!
I think you and I have the same tastes when it comes to characters and such, I love strong heroines who prefer to save themselves as opposed to damsels in distress, waiting for their savior to come.
Braine Talk Supe recently posted…Liking It: Salem TV Series
Yep, we’re definitely on the same page with the kind of heroines we like 😀
Thanks for being part of the blog tour! 🙂
Elisabeth Grace recently posted…Stock Up For Summer SALE!!!
My pleasure 🙂
Heh. I like asshole guys too, but still have a big heart. This sounds really good, overall.
Christy recently posted…Love, In English by Karina Hall
Haha, asshole guys with big hearts sounds like a treat xD
I’ve got a list as long as my arm of NA romances I need to read, so I’ll probably pass on this one for the time being. But I’m glad you liked it even though you weren’t totally invested in the MCs 😉
You’re putting it mildly, lol, it’s gotta be like a gazillion times longer than that, haha. I freak out each time I contemplate all the titles I know about and SO wanna read, and I’m doing a conscious effort to ignore a lot of them out there for now just so I don’t go nutty with frustration, haha. Sooo much to read, so damned little time, however much it is, lol!
The publisher actually requested a review for this book but I wasn’t sure about it because of it being NA. After reading your review though, even if you didn’t fully connect with both characters, I think I’ll also give it a shot. I do enjoy office romances once in awhile and it helps to know that this isn’t one of those NAs that almost borders to being erotica with the sex scenes. Great review Livia! you convinced me to give this a shot 🙂
Amir recently posted…New Co-Blogger! Welcome Ella!
Hehe, thanks, awesome to hear! I hope it’s gonna be a fun read for you too 🙂