The Negotiator (A Hot Romantic Comedy)

3.5 stars — OK, so I enjoyed so much of this book, but somewhere in the middle I started to lose focus while reading it, so I just can’t go full 4 stars on this one. I honestly don’t know if it was just me, I was tired, or if it was the book. I think part of my problem was that I had *just* read a fake relationship/billionaire trope story LAST WEEK, so it just felt a bit familiar you know? I love these tropes for a reason, but I think they stand up better when interspersed between other things. I really enjoyed both characters, and I loved them together. I loved how Clover brought Sawyer out of himself, and how Clover seemed to find a bit more purpose and direction while helping Sawyer. And they really did have great chemistry, I honestly believed their attraction to one another. In fact, them together was definitely the highlight. Part of that is because their individual stories weren’t really strong necessarily…there wasn’t a big background story for each of them, and while they both definitely grew, it wasn’t really a strong component of the story. It really was a fun romance in a lot of ways. And I guess that is one area where I wouldn’t have minded a bit of expansion…a bit more of what made each of them tick. We were told a lot of what made them tick, but I didn’t always see it. Clover was fun and spunky and I LOVED how she gave as good as she got. But I don’t think I ever quite understood what she was looking for out of life, or how she thought her life was going to go. I never really *felt* her passions and her purpose. Heck, I kind of wish I knew why she called herself Clover…never did get that. I did enjoy seeing her finally see the light about her Mom and the life her Mom chose though! And Sawyer could be awkward and adorable, and I loved how he couldn’t help but allow Clover to bring some fun into his life. And I LOVED how he turned everything into a negotiation, and how that was part of their foreplay. But, as with Clover, I guess I just didn’t understand his passion for his company so much as was told about it. He was a bit of a mess of contradictions at times. The secondary characters were not bad. I didn’t always get Sawyer’s Mom, but I didn’t dislike her. I enjoyed both Linus and Irving, though their parts were tiny. And I enjoyed the bits we got to see of Clover’s family…though I will admit I never really connected with her BFF Daphne. The standout for me for secondary characters was Sawyer’s brother Hudson. His one-liners made me laugh and laugh, and I loved the sibling relationship they seemed to have. So yeah, the romance was fantastic…I just wouldn’t have minded a bit more other stuff to flesh it out a bit.

Sawyer Carlyle is a workaholic billionaire, devoted to his family's construction business, but his indomitable mother Helene is determined to find him a wife, a boring society girl who wears the right clothes, reads the right books, went to the right school, and comes from the right family. As a joke Sawyer's little brother places an advert for a "buffer" to run interference for Sawyer. Clover is a woman on a mission to avoid boring matrimony and motherhood, she's travelled the world saving wildlife, building homes etc and has worked a series of unusual jobs to pay for her trips. She reckons buffer might be right up her street. His novel hits all the romantic comedy tropes. Falling for the boss, fake fiancé, opposites attract, short term romance, but it does it with a lightness of touch that I found perfect for my beach holiday.

The Negotiator by Avery Flynn.....10 NEGOTIATOR STARS!! I loved this story so much, as always Avery Flynn gives us a fun page turning book. Clover is a beautiful strong woman that teaches Sawyer a thing or two. Sawyer is my new book boyfriend, so hot and rich. I loves seeing this story play out, such a fun feel good book. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book from publisher via NetGalley.