As the second oldest of six kids (and many more cousins) in a close-knit Irish-Italian family, 21-year-old Skylar Marcelli had plenty of experience with small children. She hoped to open a preschool in her hometown of Jasper Falls someday but needed to finish college first. The problem was how to finance her degree; she'd recently completed an associate's degree in early childhood education at the local community college, but neither she nor her family had the resources for her to transfer to a larger school for her bachelor's. On her way to deliver a pizza for her grandfather's restaurant one afternoon shortly after Thanksgiving, Skylar drove past the town square and saw a little girl wandering alone without a coat. She stopped to help the little girl, Addison, find her way back to her father, who turned out to be the town mayor, Rhett Buchanan. In desperate need of a new live-in nanny for Addison and grateful for Skylar's help in bringing her back to him safely, single dad Rhett offered Skylar the job on the spot. She accepted, happy for the chance to move out of her family's crowded home and put her new salary towards college expenses.
I really enjoyed the book's opening chapter, which painted a vivid picture of what a family gathering was like for Skylar and her extended family. My favorite part was her uncles, who accidentally blew up an apple pie when they tried to deep fry it as a test run for a Thanksgiving turkey. Fortunately, no one was hurt (though there was a big mess), but it did lead to further hilarity in the form of Skylar's grandmother threatening to discipline her grown sons with a wooden spoon. I also enjoyed the story's holiday/Christmas theme, and Rhett's daughter Addison was a cutie. The relationship she developed with Skylar and her family was very sweet.
Unfortunately, I was less enthusiastic about the romance between Skylar and Rhett. Age gap
has never been my favorite trope, but I don't mind it if both partners seem like equals in the relationship. To me, that was not the case here. Rhett often came across as controlling and overly alpha, whereas Skylar seemed passive and too eager to please him. The word
"delicate" was used to describe her so many times I lost count, which certainly didn't help create an impression of strength and maturity. Beyond that, I thought their chemistry was only so-so, and the proposal at the end seemed very rushed.
"Pining for You" wasn't necessarily the best match for me, but I do think it will appeal to fans of the age gap trope. I still plan to pick up
future books in the series, should it continue.
*Review copy provided by the author via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own.
About "Pining for You"
An unexpected job offer to work as a nanny for the most eligible bachelor in Jasper Falls, leads to an unforgettable Christmas full of drama, mistletoe, wannabe mob bosses, and mayhem!
Rhett Buchanan has single-handedly revitalized Jasper Falls since taking office as mayor. This handsome, single dad appears to be the picture-perfect man, but beneath all that small-town charm, he's hiding a dark past.
Skylar Marcelli is relieved to move out of her overcrowded, childhood home and into the mayor's mansion as a live-in-nanny, but her boss is sexy to the point of distraction, and his high expectations leave her eager to please...
The holiday rush slides into a holiday crush, when cold winter nights heat up with sexual tension, an explosion of passion, and an unforgettable Christmas punch that lands Skylar on the Naughty List and at the center of a Jasper Falls scandal.
♥ If you love big family chaos, warm holiday traditions, and age-gap romance, you will love PINING FOR YOU! ♥
ALSO INCLUDES:
An original holiday recipe for Holiday Irish Cream--the perfect gift for a chaotic, big family Christmas!
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