Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

*Beware of Spoilers*

I obtained a copy of How He Really Feels from the author, Lisa Suzanne – a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review – thank you by the way.

Synopsis provided by author on Goodreads:

Julianne Becker is desperately in love with her boss, Nick Matthews. She has daydreamed about him since the day she first met him a year earlier, but she is firmly stuck in the friend-zone until New Year’s Eve, when the game completely changes and she finds out how Nick really feels about her. They embark on a sexy affair that’s everything Julianne ever dreamed of… except she can’t tell anyone about it. What will happen if anyone finds out about their secret relationship? And how will her lifelong best friend, Travis Miller, react when Julianne begins a relationship with someone who isn’t him?

How He Really Feels is a novel that explores relationships and love between coworkers and friends. It contains some adult situations and is intended for mature readers

 Review:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I was vested in the blossoming love affair from practically the beginning.  The growth of the secret love affair sped along at a comfortable pace (very believable) and as the book progressed, the intensity progressed as well.  What I had a bit of a challenge with was the way that Julianne behaved once the love affair was discovered and Nick broke off the relationship.  She makes one bad decision after another, cheating/getting physically involved with Travis (her best friend from childhood) the same day as the breakup.  Albeit it was alcohol induced but still.  I kept thinking…what…are they, teenagers or what?  What is sad is that Travis is in love with Julianne, the unrequited love angle so he views this attention as his dream come true….getting the girl of his dreams.  Almost immediately Julianne feels remorse (thank goodness in my opinion) because she realizes these actions are not going to make her fall out of love with Nick and in love with Travis. During this time Nick realizes that love is more important than the job and reconsiders his break up. He goes to Julianne and indicates he has resigned and he wants Julianne back.  Now for irresponsible action number two on Julianne`s part, she is not honest with Nick about all that transpired while they were apart.  Wait for it…..yes….Nick finds out and NOT from Julianne.  Could we not see that coming from a mile away?  I had absolutely no sympathy for Julianne…honesty is always the best policy.

Naturally, forgiveness is finally achieved on all fronts (okay…not from Travis and his broken heart but…). As true love triumphs (don’t we wish it always did), I enjoyed the later portion of the book where Nick takes Julianne home for her recovery from a car accident and creates the life she has been looking for.

The one story line which could have used more closure was between Julianne and her best friend Travis.  We are left hanging as Travis just leaves town in his attempt to move on from being dumped by Julianne.  But that is the last we hear about Travis and at least from this reader’s perspective, I would like to see the nice guy shine in life as well!  Hopefully in the next book, that story line can get some closure.

The writing had just the right amount of sophistication and raw energy (you know what I mean…..wink wink nudge nudge) when needed. 🙂   I have not read a love story / romance in the last number of months that I have enjoyed more.