Sports reporter Brinkley Reynolds recently moved back to her hometown of Cottonwood Cove after an incident with professional football player Lincoln Hendrix at a
press conference got her fired. To keep herself busy while she looks for a new full-time job, she's freelancing and trying out new hobbies such as organic vegetable gardening. Back in San Francisco, Lincoln's tired of being hounded by reporters trying to get the scoop on where he plans to play next season, so his agent offers him the use of his vacation home in Cottonwood Cove. Getting away seems like the perfect solution until he runs into Brinkley on his first day in town and thinks she's following him. The misunderstanding is quickly cleared up, but not before he learns that he's the reason she lost her job. Feeling guilty because that wasn't his intent, Lincoln tries to get Brinkley her job back, but she refuses to take it. He surprises himself by offering her an exclusive interview instead. As they get to know each other, their animosity gradually turns into friendship and then something more. But there's no way a relationship between them could ever work...or could it?
I loved the sparkling banter and steamy chemistry between Brinkley and Lincoln, as well as the fact that they formed such a genuine friendship before the relationship turned romantic. I also loved how quickly Lincoln integrated into Brinkley's family, joining her brothers for poker nights and spoiling her niece Gracie just because she'd had a bad day. The Reynolds family dynamics were easily my favorite part of the book. Their group texts cracked me up!
That said, there were times when I wasn't a huge fan of Brinkley herself. I liked that she was so independent and wanted to have a career that was separate from Lincoln's, but she made a much bigger deal than necessary out of certain things. Also, I had some issues with her code of ethics as a reporter. I'm not sure she ever really understood why what she did at the press conference was wrong, let alone sincerely apologized to Lincoln for her behavior. Also, maybe it's just a terminology thing, but it seemed really weird that she referred to Lincoln and the other athletes she interviewed as "clients" and/or said that they'd "hired" her. Were they paying her to write a flattering article based on information they fed her? If so, what she was doing was PR, not journalism. Otherwise, wouldn't the "client" have been the magazine that paid her when they purchased the finished story for publication?
At any rate, while I enjoyed "On the Shore," I felt like it was missing a bit of the magic of Pavlov's previous books. It's absolutely still worth a read, but the first two books of the series remain my favorites (so far).
*Review copy provided by the author via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own.
About "On the Shore"
He’s the GOAT of the NFL. She’s a hot-headed reporter who despises him. They’re in the same small town for the summer. What could possibly go wrong?
I'm more than aware of the responsibilities that come with being a quarterback in the NFL.
The upside—I get to do what I love every day, which is play football.
And I make more money than I know what to do with.
The downside—everyone wants a piece of me, and the press stalks me ruthlessly.
And one reporter in particular, Brinkley Reynolds, has crossed a line.
She takes things too far.
So yeah, I have her escorted out of the press conference.
Imagine my surprise when the same woman walks into the coffee shop in the small town where I’ve gone to get some privacy for the summer.
I accuse her of stalking me.
She calls me every name in the book before proceeding to make me feel very unwelcome in Cottonwood Cove.
Her hometown.
The place where she tucked tail and ran after I’d unknowingly gotten her fired.
So now I’m enemy number one.
That’s fine with me.
I’m not the biggest fan of her either.
She’s equal parts stubborn and aggravating.
But she happens to be the sexiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.
So I try to make amends.
I’m not the devil after all.
But she won’t give me the time of day unless I agree to give her my story.
One I’ve fought hard to protect since the day I started playing professional ball.
I don’t owe Brinkley Reynolds anything.
So why am I considering giving her everything?
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