Teri Wilson

Terrific conclusion to the series. Addison has been working her tail off for years to earn the editor-in-chief job when her boss, Colette, retires. She's so close now she can practically taste it. So, imagine her shock when Colette's nephew, Carter, shows up in New York, also ready to take the helm. Carter is also stunned, as he had been promised the job years earlier.

I definitely got the impression that Colette had ulterior motives for setting up a competition between Addison and Carter. They start with sharing an office, which grinds on their nerves. They are given competing assignments, which Colette will judge. It was fun to see how much alike Addison and Carter were, with their laser-like focus on work, lack of social lives, and disinterest in romantic relationships, though neither could see it at first. Underneath the antagonism were sparks of attraction that they tried to ignore.

I loved watching their relationship develop. They got off to a rough start with an awkward meeting that set the stage for some of Addison's anger at Carter. But as the days passed, Addison couldn't deny that Carter was good at his job. I had a good chuckle at Carter's bemusement over his attraction to her, and at the same time, he was trying to beat her for the job. Addison also tried denying it to herself and others. I liked watching their antagonism turn more towards teasing and snark as they grew to appreciate each other's abilities.

As the competition deadline grew closer, Carter and Addison had one more hurdle to overcome - whose idea would come out on top for the magazine's main spread? Both had fantastic visions, and it was easy to see how each idea was a winner. I liked how Collette had both follow through with their ideas. It was heartwarming to see how Addison helped Carter with his. But things get complicated when he shows up the next day to help with her photo shoot. Thanks to a blizzard, he and Addison have to become the models. The effect on each of them was undeniable, and it became harder to resist their growing feelings. Trapped together by the weather, they give in.

Imagine their shock when they discover that the fake wedding ceremony they went through for the photo shoot was all too real. Now, they are faced with the dilemma of whether to stay married. What effect will Colette's decision have on that question? I did not see Colette's plan coming, though Addison's reaction didn't surprise me. The twists and turns of the final resolution were fun to follow and were the perfect ending.

The secondary characters were terrific. Addison's besties, Daphne and Everly, were fantastic in their support roles. I loved how they were TeamAddison all the way, though that didn't stop them from commenting on Carter's looks and abilities. They could see what was happening before she did and had no trouble pointing it out. I laughed out loud when Everly gave Sabrina the dog to Addison. Despite Addison's insistence that she wouldn't keep her, it was easy to see the writing on the wall. It was hilarious to see Sabrina's reaction to Carter. I liked getting to know Colette a little better and seeing a more personal side of her. My favorite secondary character was Joe, the man at the marriage license bureau. His commentary was great, and I'm pretty sure he played a significant role in their fake marriage that wasn't fake.

#netgalley… (lisätietoja)

Fun enemies to lovers story. Daphne and Jack have been at loggerheads since he started his job as the magazine's fact-checker. It seems that he annihilates every article she writes with his red pen. She gets even by messing up the items on his desk - he's a little OCD about their arrangement. Everyone on staff has noticed the tension between them, and they are all holding their breath for when their boss catches wind of it.

Daphne is afraid that the day has come when she is called to Colette's office and finds Jack there, too. It's a great relief that she seems unaware of their feud until she assigns them to work together on an undercover story by pretending to be an engaged couple. They are horrified by the idea, and Jack refuses by claiming he has other commitments. But when his mother tries to rope him into her society galas, suddenly working with Daphne doesn't seem so bad.

Watching the relationship develop between these two totally different people was so much fun. Jack is a planner, always in control of his life and emotions, and a by-the-book guy. Daphne is spontaneous, bubbly, and over-the-top in fashion. Neither expects the sparks of attraction that flare between them as they pretend to be in love. For two people who seem to dislike each other intensely, it was intriguing to note that they knew each other very well. I loved seeing them realize there was more to each other than they previously suspected. I enjoyed seeing how their differing approaches to writing the required articles blended to make something stronger than either could do individually.

Matters become more complicated when Jack and Daphne encounter his former fiancée in their undercover class. The next thing they know, Jack's parents know about their "engagement" and pull out all the stops to celebrate. I loved Jack's growing protectiveness toward Daphne as he began to understand her insecurities. There is also a sweet scene where Daphne comes to Jack's rescue when he has a family emergency. At this point, each realizes that their relationship no longer feels fake, and neither knows what to do with those feelings.

I loved the ending and seeing how each one found a similar way to let the other know how they felt. It was fun to see the boss lady, Colette, show a more human side than before.

I loved the secondary characters. Daphne's besties, Everly and Addison, do a terrific job supporting her, whether listening to her, advising her, or calling her out when she's lying to herself. The whole "fashion closet" routine is a riot. I also adored little Olivia and her effect on Jack's life.… (lisätietoja)