Publisher: Carina PressPublish Date: Out Now
How I got this book: NetGalley
Peppa Grant’s fellow employees may call their new CEO Mr. McSexy, but she’s also heard that he’s aloof and distant. Cameron McCormac certainly seems cold toward Christmas when she meets him at the company’s annual party…but he’s also the sexiest man Peppa has ever seen. And when he offers to forgive the damage she accidentally caused to his expensive car in exchange for accompanying him to his family’s holiday get-together, she agrees.
Cameron needs a date to the family party to get his matchmaking relatives off his back. Their chemistry is instant and undeniable, leading to an incredible one-night stand. But Peppa wants love and family, while Cameron’s only interested in temporary pleasure. When their relationship takes an unexpectedly serious turn, will he run the other way—or will he give love a second chance?
*Blurb from Goodreads*
I was in the mood for a good quick romance, and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this debut from Johns’.
Peppa really doesn’t want to tell her boss that she side-swiped his car while dressed as a fairy at the Holiday party, but she knows that she can’t NOT tell him. When Cameron tells her that he wants her to come as his date to another Christmas part, in lieu of having to pay for the damages to his car, Peppa agrees somewhat reluctantly.
Although Cameron isn’t looking for anything serious, there is something about Peppa that calls to him, that has him keep coming back for more. And while Peppa is looking for a family and partner, she is somewhat disheartened by Cameron’s inability to figure out what exactly he wants from her. But when Peppa has a seriously health issue, will Cameron realize just how much he wants everything she can offer?
I really enjoyed this book, and even though there are some typical romance plots, it didn’t feel like a re-used theme. And while this story is only about 100 pages or so, it felt like there was so much more to the story than what is typically in a 100 page novella. There was so much emotional drama in this story, and it pulled me in and kept me engaged from the first page.
I was so impressed with how well Johns’ portrayed the hero and heroine. I honestly fell for both Cameron and Peppa right away. There was so much more to each character than we initially see. I loved that as Peppa helped Cameron peel back the layers, more and more about his character is revealed, and my heart kept going out to him. I’m a big fan of having our heroes be a little tortured, and when it’s over the heartache of loosing his first true love, that made him all the more loveable in my eyes.
Like Cameron, Peppa had been through something horrific as well. When she realizes that despite everything her dream is coming true, she doesn’t waste anytime with lies or doubts. Instead, she goes for it all and lives everything to the fullest. There wasn’t one minute when I wasn’t rooting for her one hundred percent.
I thought that the romance was great as well. What started as a practical joke that Cameron was playing on his family turned into a hot and steamy night together. From there the sexual tension gave way to a fun and flirty friendship. And while Peppa was falling in love, Cameron was doing everything he could not to, and failing horribly at it. Once these two finally declared their love, it was a beautiful moment.
I give One Perfect Night a B+
