The grandmother Enid Whitlock never knew recently passed away, leaving her a house and a bookstore in the small town of Paradise Bay, California. It's always been Enid's dream to run her own business, so she decides to quit her job and move across the country to claim her inheritance. When she arrives, it's not quite what she expected; both the house and store are in need of costly repairs, she discovers letters from her late mother that hint at shocking family secrets, and local bar owner Huxley Spearman is threatening legal action because of an arrangement he made to purchase the bookstore before her grandmother passed away. Suddenly it seems as if the only person who has Enid's back is her online gaming buddy, a man she's never even met in real life but who has become a good friend with the potential for more. Before long, she's also fighting an unwilling attraction to Huxley, though she's afraid to trust him after he treated her so poorly when she first got to town. Can Enid find a way to salvage her dreams, or will her new life in Paradise Bay turn out to be more of a nightmare?
I loved the fiery chemistry and witty banter between main characters Enid and Huxley, who was kind of a jerk to her at first but did a good job of redeeming himself over the course of the story. I particularly liked how determined Enid was to realize her dreams; she never gave up in the face of adversity or her family's opposition. I also enjoyed the aspects of the plot related to Enid's mother and the impact of her discovery of the letters on her relationship with her father and brother.
That said, while I understand why it was necessary for narrative purposes, I question why some of the events her mother conveyed in the letters (like her parents' engagement) wouldn't have been communicated over the phone. Her mother would have been in college in the late 1980s or early 1990s, so it's not like phones didn't exist or were difficult to access. These events still could have been referenced in the letters by saying something along the lines of "It was good to talk to you yesterday. I still can't believe I'm engaged!" (For the record, I realize that the phone vs. letter thing is not likely to bother most readers, but it frustrated me!)
Overall, I very much enjoyed "Meant for Me" and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. I look forward to the next book in the series.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
About "Meant for Me"
USA Today bestselling author Claudia Burgoa brings an enemies-to-lovers romance where the billionaire grump can’t help but fall for Ms. Sunshine.
I never thought I'd be the proud owner of a quaint small-town bookstore, but life has a funny way of surprising us.
With my virtual BFF's encouragement to seize the day and follow my heart.
I say goodbye to my corporate job and say hello to my new adventure.
Until I meet the town’s grumpy billionaire, Huxley Spearman.
He’s every woman’s dream.
Tall, devastatingly handsome…
But annoyingly arrogant.
And if making a new enemy isn’t enough, there’s more:
1. My long-lost Mother might be alive.
2. This bookstore is the money pit.
3. My checking account is in shambles.
4. My online friend wants to be more than my virtual crush.
5. And, somehow, I‘m falling for two different men.
Can love truly grow from a virtual connection? Or will a rough-around-the-edges man steal my heart?
This is a heartwarming tale of love, second chances, and a twist of the unexpected. In this spiritual successor to “You Got Mail” and “Pillow Talk.”
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