Managed by Kristen Callihan Series: VIP #2
Series Rating:
Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform on November 14th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Rock Star, Romance
Pages: 348
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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It started off as a battle of wits. Me: the ordinary girl with a big mouth against Him: the sexy bastard with a big...ego.
I thought I’d hit the jackpot when I was upgraded to first class on my flight to London.
That is until HE sat next to me. Gabriel Scott: handsome as sin, cold as ice. Nothing and no one gets to him. Ever. He’s a legend in his own right, the manager of the biggest rock band in the world, and an arrogant ass who looks down his nose at me.
I thought I’d give him hell for one, long flight. I didn’t expect to like him. I didn’t expect to want him. But the biggest surprise? He wants me too. Only in a way I didn’t see coming.
If I accept his proposal, I leave myself open to falling for the one man I can’t manage. But I’m tempted to say yes. Because the real man beneath those perfect suits and that cool façade just might be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I just might be the only one who can melt the ice around his heart.
Let the battle begin…
I think that anyone who read the first book in this series, Idol, was absolutely going to pick up this book. Gabriel Scott, “Scotty” to almost everyone, was a small but potent part of that book. He made an impression immediately, and when I finished Idol, I knew I wouldn’t be ok until I got his story.
Fortunately, Kristen Callihan listened to me, (probably not, but it’s nice to imagine) and Scotty’s story was next. I don’t know how Callihan does this, but Gabriel and Sophie didn’t even kiss until almost 70% through this book and it was still one of the hottest books I’ve read all year.
Sophie and Gabriel meet-cute on an airplane. I’ve done that long US to London flight a few times and it can be brutal. I’m quite sure a seatmate like Gabriel would make it a whole lot better. Even if he is initially very grumpy about the fact that he has a seatmate. He bought both of the seats in his row specifically so he wouldn’t have to sit with anyone. He’s displeased to see that due to overbooking, his empty seat is now taken. Frankly, this is a great setup for a meet-cute. You’re trapped with this seatmate for a very long time. It’s a little different in first class because there’s usually a divider screen you can put up (as long as the new-t0-first-class passenger who got there first and had to try out every single button hasn’t broken the screen before the other person sits down) but it’s still a forced proximity situation that just works.
Gabriel’s surliness is no match for Sophie’s constant cheery chatter (alliteration not intended but allowed to stand) and by the time they land in London he’s already smitten, though in true romance hero fashion, he tries very hard not to be. Which doesn’t really work because it turns out they’ll be working closely together.
These two were opposites in every way, but that was a big part of what made them work so well together. The banter between these two was absolutely perfect. Cute and snarky without being overly treacly. Kristen Callihan has this amazing way of writing that doesn’t sound like she sat at her keyboard and said “Ok, now I’m going to insert some fun banter.” It just flows. Writing like this is why Kristen Callihan is one of my favorite auto-buy authors. There’s a part of Sophie’s past that I didn’t see coming at all and gave a really compelling reason for Gabriel to stay away. For all of Kill John to stay away, in fact. Genuine conflict in today’s world can be difficult in romance novels. In 2016, there aren’t really very many compelling reasons for a couple who wants to be together not to be. Hell, Prince Harry is currently dating an actress, so even the royals are coming around. Sophie’s past is one of the most sincere “we’re going to have to figure out how to get through this” situations I’ve seen in a long time, and Kristen Callihan manages to get them through it quickly without overdone, overwrought drama.
The bottom line here is – go get this book. If you haven’t read Idol yet, I recommend you read that first, just so you have the fun of meeting Gabriel there and anticipating his book. (He’s actually referred to as “Scotty” by everyone except Sophie. He’s Scotty in Idol.) Then grab this one. You will not regret it. Then when you’re finished with that, join me in stalking Kristen Callihan on Twitter for any clue as to what’s coming next. I assume all of the members of Kill John will be getting stories, and I’m fascinated by every single one of them.
