He’s not into commitment. She’s looking for forever. But neither of them can deny the sizzling attraction between them. Layla St. John has the talent, creativity, and drive to start her own clothing line. What the big-hearted entrepreneur lacks is the capital. So when a celebrity photographer offers to connect her with investors if she’ll let him feature her in his photography series about … about Caribbean carnival culture, it’s a deal she can’t refuse. But Layla can’t help being attracted to the brilliant artist. Too bad he’s her little brother’s former best friend and way too young for her.
Quincy Johnston has spent the past ten years making a name for himself as a photographer and avoiding complicated relationships. But when an impromptu trip to his small hometown, Pleasure Cove, leads to a chance encounter with the woman he’s been crushing on since he was a kid, Quincy gets a taste of the deep connections he’s been missing.
Can Layla and Quincy move past their relationship fears and take a chance on turning their short-term, secret fling into a shot at forever?
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You haven’t read this story before–the perfect book to read when you want an escape!
A new brother’s best friend romance from Reese Ryan!
Romantic, steamy, full of color and life.
Candidly Yours by Reese Ryan is a lovely romantic comedy about a woman in her forties and a man ten years her junior who happened to be her younger brother’s friend in high school.
Layla knew Quincy since forever; he was her little brother’s best friend in high school. But when she met him by chance at a local restaurant, she was surprised to find out he was not a young kid anymore.
Quincy lost his stutter, filled out all in the right places, and became a famous photographer. The only thing that did not change was his crush for Layla.
Layla raised her siblings after her mother passed away and worked hard to establish her bridal/ carnival costume atelier. She always liked Quincy, but she was having a hard time accepting that their age difference was not that relevant anymore.
When he invited her to take part in a documentary he was filming on the various carnival cultures around the world, she was reluctant, but could not resist accepting.
The characters are adorable. I loved the fact that Layla, like me, is in her forties. She is so centered, responsible, always putting everybody else’s wishes first.
Quincy is also a sweetheart. He might not have been ready for commitment, but he was always so thoughtful and romantic.
Their love story happens mostly during a delightful trip to several carnival festivals, including locations like Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The rhythms, the food, everything emanated sensuality and appealed to the senses.
As a girl born and raised in Brazil, I really enjoyed the carnival references.
Candidly Yours is a fun and short read, perfect for an afternoon on the beach. I read it in one sit, I just could not put it down.
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I’m a huge Reese Ryan fan, and Candidly Yours is what I’ve come to love about her books. Romantic settings, wonderful characters and beautiful writing paired with brother’s best friend and unrequited love/crush tropes. Not to mention an older woman/younger man? Oh yeah, this is right up my alley and should be on every romance lover’s bookshelf!
I ADORE Reese Ryan, and this story offers the perfect combo of friends-to-lovers, brother’s best friend, and May-December romance!
I’m always excited when Reese Ryan has a new book! Plus I really love a good friends to lovers romance, especially when one of the characters is firmly in the no-zone because they were best friends with a brother or sister. Yum!
A brother’s best friend romance set against a Carnivale backdrop? Yes please!
Candidly Yours was a very intriguing read. Quincy and Layla story was very romantic and spicy. It was great to revisit Pleaseant Cove and to travel to the different Carnival , it made me want to add these places to my bucket list. This story was so full of love and emotions that I teared up in a couple of places.
I really enjoyed this story.
This book is so gooooood . Layla and Quincy are so sweet and cute and sexy and definitely belong together. The differences that lay between them make for drama that I was here for.
To see the crush he had for her morph into grown folks business was beautiful and I just cried a little . This book was worth all my time and I think you will enjoy as well.
And the HEA is just so frigging cool
Brother’s best friend! My favorite…