Plus One

Plus One is the new release from Brighton Walsh. The publisher is Carina Press and the release date was May 6, 2013. From the Carina Press website.~

Olivia hates the singles scene, so when her best guy friend, Ian, offers to be her plus one to a series of weddings she has to attend, she agrees. Although she doesn't want to complicate their lifelong friendship, she can't pass up the chance to have a steady date without the dating drama. What she doesn't expect is to now find Ian so incredibly sexy.

When Ian sees his old friend Olivia dolled up for wedding #1, the boyhood crush he once nurtured transforms into smoldering attraction. It doesn't take long for their no-strings arrangement to turn physical. But as Olivia's desire to stay "just friends" becomes clear, Ian's feelings are deepening. In the time they have together, how will Ian convince Olivia that one plus one can make for a lifelong pair?

I was lucky enough to get a review copy from NetGalley thanks to the publisher. I’m a huge fan of the friends-to-lovers story and couldn’t wait to give this book a try.

I have to say I laughed out loud so hard at the first date Olivia describes in this book. The fact I’m in property management might have made the pet urine statement funnier, but still a guy talking about pet urine on a date was so funny. Thankfully Ian steps in and offers to be Olivia’s date for the many wedding she has to attend over the next few months.

I loved that Ian had been in love with Olivia from the time they were teens and that Olivia was completely clueless. They really had some of the best banter and chemistry for a man and a woman who are just friends. In fact, for such a fast-paced story, I loved how their chemistry level only increased the more time they spent together. I totally got Olivia being worried her best friend and Ian’s older sister might be upset about her getting together with Ian, and loved how Emma set her straight about her real feelings.

This was a novella length (22,000 words) story and was a very fast read for me. I really enjoyed the author’s voice and look forward to reading more books from her in the future. In fact, I’d love to get Emma’s story after meeting her in this book.