"If you'd asked me what love was two years ago, I probably would've said, 'It's this amazing feeling that obsesses and possesses you; it's what me and my husband currently have.' If you ask me that same question today, I'll say, 'Please get the hell out of my face.'"
Claire Gracen's life is picture perfect. Her career as a marketing director is on the brink of being legendary, and her marriage to her high school sweetheart has never been stronger. No, wait. It has. It used to be amazing and fulfilling, but one day Claire realizes that she's been living a lie and her best friend and husband have committed the ultimate betrayal.
Broken and depressed, Claire is in need of something new--new city, new job, new friends.
When she happens to attract the interest of the sexiest man she's ever met, a man significantly younger than her, she immediately turns him down--only to later discover that this man is Jonathan Statham, self-made billionaire and CEO of Statham Industries. Her boss.
Jonathan Statham is unlike any man she's met before. He's used to getting whatever he wants--whenever he wants, and he isn't about to take no for an answer.
Sexy, unpredictable, and charmingly clever, Mid Life Love is a story that will captivate you, entertain you, and force you to fall deeply in love with the characters. For Mature Audiences
Genre - Adult/Contemporary Romance
I received this eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Engaging, Intense, Steamy and So Much Fun!
The Review:
Mid Life Love is a wonderful, fulfilling, romantic, spicy tale of two people coming together despite downfall! This heart-stirring and well written story matched with compelling and passionate characters made for a most excellent read and I am so glad I was asked to read and review it by the author, Whitney Gracia Williams!
Story...
Claire Gracen has been trying to cope over the last four years with the betrayal of her ex-husband and ex-best friend. She’s raising two teenage daughters, working at a job she hates and trying to survive the tedious singles-meets her friends keep taking her to. She wants to move on from the treachery but her will is broken. She is broken.
In walks Jonathan Statham, the CEO of the company she works for and he literally turns her world into one long, romantic gesture that she tries desperately to hide and resist. He’s eleven years younger than her and she thinks there’s no future in their relationship.
Characters...
Claire...
Sometimes I loved Claire... sometimes she infuriated!
Claire was the quintessential jilted woman. She fell victim to the divorce game. The circumstances were destructive and it shattered her self-esteem, leaving her rethinking everything she thought she knew, what she thought was true about herself and left her doubting herself as a person, as a wife and as a woman. I understood her conflict. When she meets Jonathan, she wants to give into the new desires he stirs within her but she’s reluctant because of the age gap and the huge ego blow she’s taken from her cheating ex. She thinks she can't be that sexy, beautiful women now that she’s divorced with two teenage kids. She thinks she’s damaged goods. So I get why she acted the way she did, but her character left me conflicted as she irritated me at some points, left me fire mad at others and then softened me with her sweet and caring side on the rare occasion.
Claire has this trusting, wonderful, sincere man ready to take on the world for her and she treated him like she was ashamed of him. She was sometimes too rude and not in the playful bantering way that become customary between them but in a harsh way that was hurtful and soul crushing. She couldn’t trust what she and Jonathan had and it felt like she didn't even want to try at times.
Jonathan...
Sometimes I loved Jonathan... sometimes I just wanted to throw him down and have my wicked way with him!
Jonathan is the absolutely perfect hero. *swooooon* He’s brilliant, savvy, unbelievably handsome, has an excellent head on his shoulders and he’s important and wealthy but he’s not arrogant. He’s demanding and passionate and when he unleashes his alpha male (OMG - *fans self*), he is INCREDIBLY YUMMY!!!
Jonathan had a horrific childhood but it didn’t leave him dark or terribly scarred. However, what I loved most about him was he was affectionate and indulgent with Claire, always putting her first. He took her hang-ups, her desires and her apprehension into account in everything they did. Even to his own disadvantage. I felt like Claire didn’t deserve him most of the time. He was so giving and loving and as bad as his past was, he deserved someone who was going to put his needs and his desires before themselves.. in everything!
But...
There’s a bit of a twist that I DID NOT see coming and once it was spelled out, it made a lot more sense than Claire just being insufferable. I loved that I didn’t see it coming to, because it made the realization much more piteous and I truly felt bad for Claire... But I'm still mad at her! lol!
The Ending...
My stomach was in knots the last seventy five pages! Angsty doesn’t even begin to describe the way that part of the story unfolded. I was so filled with apprehension, I had to put the book aside and gather myself before I could read the last ten pages! THATS when you know you have an incredible read... When the emotions are so intense, you have to step away to get some air before continuing on. Loved it!
The Wrap Up:
Claire was the only reason I didn’t give this a full five stars. I wanted to, believe me. But she was just too dislikable at times. She needed some serious redeeming for me to really fall in love with her character and we didn’t get to see enough of it before the book ended.
However, between laughter at all the ridiculous sPhone slogans, the flamboyant conversations on girls night out, the twins amusing competitive talk, being charmed and seduced by the interactions between the mains and the anxiety at the climax, I experienced a range of emotions while reading Mid Life Love. And once I started it, I simply didn’t want to put it down and I spent my entire Saturday reading and loving this book!
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