2017 Carolyn Readers Choice Award FinalistA one-night stand between a hot shot divorce attorney and his best friend’s little sister threatens to uncover secrets neither of them wants to share.Venetia: I’ve always had a crush on my brother’s best friend Beckett, but he’s never looked twice in my direction. The last time we met, I was a little girl. Our paths cross again at my brother’s wedding. … paths cross again at my brother’s wedding. I’m all grown up now and ready to make him mine for a night, because that’s all any girl gets from Beckett. One night. No promises. No repeats.
Beckett: As a celebrity divorce attorney, I’ve seen the worst of relationships and marriage. I’ll never fall into that trap. One night with Venetia has me questioning my vow of bachelorhood. When she turns up pregnant, I want to be there for her, but her brother is going to kill me. Especially when I learn a secret about their family that will tear everyone apart.
What could possibly go wrong?
If you like friends to lovers, secret baby, best friend’s little sister romance, one-click this bad boy today.
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I was looking forward to Beckett’s story because for me he was the most interesting one of the three friends: Sam, Tucker and Beckett. He was the playboy, a driven lawyer, ambitious and gorgeous. He’s a senior partner in his firm but he’s still driving the old Jeep Wrangler he’s had since college.
Sam’s little sister, Venetia, has been in love with Beckett since she was fourteen and Sam brought his friends over to the house to swim in the pool. He never looked her way but she kept on crushing on him from a distance. Then one night during the weekend of Sam and Dakota’s wedding, Beckett wakes up with Venetia in his bed, after a sexathon night, and he doesn’t remember how they got there. They agree to treat it as a mistake but Venetia is offended. She keeps acting out during the weekend, offending Sam and Dakota because she can’t stand Dakota. She firmly believes Dakota is out to ruin Sam and she doesn’t listen to reason. It gets to the point where Beckett has to call her out on her attitude and this was a zinger:
“You’re young and spoiled. You bulldoze over everyone, expecting them to cater to your every wish. You say you’re an adult but you act like a brat. You need to grow up.”
I loved when he said that because she was getting on my last nerve, misbehaving and being generally obnoxious. I could tell she had the feelings of a poor rich girl, raised by nannies and in boarding schools, neglected by her busy father and socialite mother. She feels disregarded and ignored, hence she acted out to get the attention she needed.
“Was I so unlovable that no one wanted me? Why did everyone push me away?”
Six weeks later after the wedding, Venetia turns up pregnant and now she and Beckett have to make a decision. Venetia needs to decide whether to continue with the pregnancy or not. Beckett needs to decide if he wants to be involved with his baby’s life, co-parent with Venetia, and change his bachelor’s ways. They also face several issues, like facing Sam after getting his best friend’s little sister pregnant, their age difference, the difference in their status since she’s been wealthy all her life and Beckett comes from middle class roots. All their differences are wiped out by their nuclear chemistry and the importance of the baby they share. I loved reading about Becket’s journey from confirmed bachelor to man in love to expectant father, precious!
As always, the wicked Mr. Seaforth makes an appearance in this book, and as always to throw a wrench in the works. His involvement with Beckett’s firm forces Beckett to keep secrets that may explode in his face later on. Beckett feels guilty but client confidentiality forces him to keep quiet even though the secrets affect the people he loves. His stress levels rise similar to a pressure cooker on a stove. I felt for him, because he wants to do the right thing, but he’s a professional and he’s constrained by law.
Venetia turns over a new leaf during her pregnancy. Being responsible for another life made her reassess her attitude; she’s still stubborn as a mule but she’s more reasonable now. Also, she has pregnancy brain and tears. I didn’t like her a lot in the beginning and she wasn’t the woman I would have wanted for Beckett; I found her too emotional and volatile. But by the end of the story, she was more settled and mature. Once they were settled, she was vibrant and charming, and kept him on his toes.
“I didn’t love Venetia, did I? I definitely wasn’t going to leave her. Not ever. But was I going to be with her? Be. With. Her. The words called to me, taking on a new meaning, sounding so right it made my chest ache.”
There’s also a side plot involving V’s best friend Sydney, a reality TV actress involved with her co-star. Their involvement is mandated by the network, to sell the series, but she’s in love with Tucker. There’s drama and angst here, and I can’t wait to read their story which is left inconclusive here. Can’t wait for Tucker’s book!