A one-week road trip.Two relationship-phobic adults.What could go wrong?Max Carmichael finally has a shot to work with a legendary music producer and be something more than a band manager. But first, he has to demonstrate his skill by taking a road trip to scout new acts. The new job will give him the money he needs to help his parents with their struggling London pub and his little sister, who … little sister, who needs rehab. And if he has to spend one week with a free-spirited American woman who drives him crazy, he’ll do it. Even if she is a seductive redhead. Max doesn’t do redheads. Ever.
Althea Grayson has been living on Santorini for years. She’s a trained chef who aspires to open a restaurant that serves amazing food to everyone, not just the people who can afford it. The only thing standing in her way is money. A paid road trip as a traveling companion is a means to an end; it will pay her way back to San Francisco to claim her trust fund and put her on a path to seeing her dream come true. And If she has to spend a week with a grumpy Englishman who drives her nuts, she’ll do it. Even if he is a sexy beast.
NOTE: Max and Althea are secondary characters from the Indigo Series. It is not necessary to read the Indigo Series before reading Built to Last.
more
This is my fourth book from Kate Mcbrien and this one is more traditionally written than her predecessors. Built To Last is a enemies-to-lovers book that starts out a little on the slow side but that builds each characters personalities traits up before they connect. I found this more intriguing than annoying because I absolutely hate insta-love.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to read the Indigo Series to read this standalone but it definitely helps with certain scenes in this book.
I found each character in this book wildly different than her previous books but that didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy them just as much. Certain traits may annoy some other people but don’t let that deter you. This atmosphere of the book is also extremely different than in the Indigo Series. It wasn’t what I expected at all.
The road trip elements is what pulls this novel together. This is where you see Althea and Max’s relationship flourish. The song element only pushes the atmosphere even more. You get to see a certain side of their personality shine. Some people might not like songs being mentioned and used but I do. I personally loved it, music is definitely a part of my life. And it only served for me to better understand them.
Overall, we get to see how much the characters mature over the space of chapter one to the end by staying true to themselves and coming together to make choices that benefited them both.
I recommend for people who love music and road tripping!
ARC generously provided by Netgalley and the Author.
Built to Last is the first book in the Hidden Hearts series by Kate McBrien. It is a spin-off series to the Indigo Series where we first meet Max and Althea. I was looking forward to their book after they met in Greece to be with Justin and Lucy. The synopsis explains the book perfectly so I will make this fast.
Max and Althea are both at a crossroads in life. Max wants to move into the production side of the music industry and Althea wants to open a restaurant. For them to achieve their dreams they need to travel together across the county scouting bands without killing each other. Max isn’t exactly a fan of fiery redheads and Althea isn’t a fan of men with sticks up their asses. He likes classical music and she is obsessed with the Grateful Dead. Can they make it to San Francisco in one piece?
I enjoyed this book. Max and Althea definitely have a fun banter between them. They also have so much more to them when things get deeper and deeper.
Quotes:
“Where’s the snarky girl?”
She gave him that quirky grin. “Oh, she’s not far away. She can come out to play at a moment’s notice.”
Max laughed—a real laugh—and that surprised him.
“I might be a redhead, but don’t ever sing that cheesy song to me again.”
“How could you not like ‘Tomorrow’?” Max asked with a deep chuckle. “I thought every redheaded girl wanted to be Annie.”
“Not this one,” she said with a groan.
“You’re the most real woman I’ve ever known.” He pulled back, his eyes heated with lust, then blinked a few times.
Loved this first book in the new Hidden Hearts series from Kate, its a spinoff from the incredible With You series and we get to check in with many of the same characters including Justin and Lucy.
This story features housekeeper and Grateful Dead fan Althea and the former Indigo Manager Max. They first meet at Justin and Lucy’s wedding at their villa on Santorini. Although Max has an aversion to redheads due to a past disastrous relationship he is as intrigued by Althea as she is with him. As Althea and Max listen to the Grateful Dead he realises that despite himself the is starting to be attracted to her. Unfortunately he sees a text on her phone and believing that he has been betrayed by a redhead once again he refuses to hear Althea’s explanation and angrily leaves.
Althea has to deal with some family issues and heads back to San Francisco. On the way she runs into a still angry Max in New York. When record producer Phil Rothstein offers Max the chance to do some talent spotting for him on the west coast and Althea to help him she readily agrees but Max thinks that it will be a disaster.
It’s hilarious how Althea’s quirky ways and concern for others starts to break down Max’s barriers and he sees that she is much more than he first thought. Just as they start to enjoy their new found passion a misunderstanding involving Max’s past blows them apart.
Once again Kate gives us a beautiful love story about two people who are deeply hurt by their pasts, but come together to love and heal each other. Althea comes across as light-hearted and fun the complete opposite of Max who appears to be stiff and stubborn (maybe it’s his Englishness) at first but it’s fun to see how Althea tames her sexy beast. Expect to feel a roller coaster of emotions as these two eventually find their HEA.
Kate is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers and I am looking forward to enjoying more in this series.