ARC REVIEW: Up To The Challenge (Anchor Island, #2) by Terry Osburn

Buy The Book:

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / BOOK DEPOSITORY / BOOKS-A-MILLION

Author's Page:

Goodreads / Blog / Twitter

Genre:

Contemporary Romance/ New Adult

Summary on Goodreads:

Opposites attract in a sexy tale of unexpected love

When the Dempsey patriarch suffers a heart attack, Lucas Dempsey steps up to keep the doors of the family restaurant open. The proverbial prodigal son returns home to Anchor Island—putting family first and his quest to make partner at his high-powered law firm on hold. Sporting a bruised ego after losing his fiancée to his older brother, Lucas would rather walk on glass than spend six weeks within spitting distance of the happy couple. But family duty calls. And that duty includes working side-by-side with a tantalizing spitfire intent on driving him mad.

Tough-as-nails boat mechanic Sid Navarro is happy to trade her tools for an apron to help the Dempseys in their time of need. That is, until she realizes she’ll be working alongside Lucas, the man she’s loved from afar since she first laid eyes on him in high school. Lucas could charm the paint off a schooner, but Sid knows she doesn’t fit his girl-next-door type. To show her true feelings would mean certain heartbreak, but the temptation of Lucas in her bed might be more than she can resist.

After a rocky start punctuated by verbal barbs and exasperating arguments, things heat up between them—big-time—but their steamy affair turns more than casual in a matter of weeks. Sid’s life has become the dream she’s always wanted, and Lucas has fallen hard for the last woman he ever expected to love. 

But this affair has an end-date, as Lucas must return to his life and career in the big city, a place where Sid would never fit in. When the end comes earlier than expected, walking away turns out to be a challenge neither of them wants to win.

Up to the Challenge is a sexy, fast-paced, romantic story of family, island life, and finding love in unexpected places.

RATING:

***REVIEW***

Arc provided via Netgalley in exchange for honest review.

I didn't read anything by Terry Osburn until this book, so I had no expectations when I started reading it. What dragged my attention at first was the pretty & romantic cover and the premise with a promise of a fun, easy and romantic story and I was in desperate need for one of those after a couple of heavy reads. I was already a few pages into the story when I realized that this book is a part of the series and that this is actually the 2nd book with Meant To Be (Anchor Island, #1) as the first one, but fortunately, both books can be read a s standalones. 

"We've got six weeks. You want to make this a pissing contest, give it your best shot." He leaned so close, she could feel his breath on his lips.

"Move your hand a little higher, and you'll know there are no shortcomings here." Sid jerked back, the heat from his body still imprinted on her hand. Her heart beat double time, and she feared he'd see how tempted she was.

"You wish, pretty boy."

Just like the premise promised- this was a fun, romantic and fast-paced story which I liked very much. It's a true rarity for  me nowadays to find a book with such a likable female heroine, so imagine my surprise when I found it in this one. Yes, I had a big girl-crush on  Sid Navarro. She is definitely my favorite character in the book. I liked her even better from the main male character Lucas. Why is that? Well, the main reason is that she isn't your typical girley-girl, but more of a tomb-boy who is totally oblivious to her beauty, isn't afraid to speak her mind no matter the situation or the people involved and whose favorite word in the dictionary is "fuck." In short, she is everything that Lucas didn't look for in a woman.

"You're more the boy next door trapped in a porn star's body."

"Is that what you're wearing?" Sid looked down. "What's wrong with this?"
He tucked the menu under his arm. "Your shirt says 'Mechanics Do It With Lube.'" His shirt should have said Captain Obvious. "Yeah, so?"

Sid was in love with Lucas since high school, but he was always going for those Barbie-type of girls and didn't notice her. Stupid, stupid guy. Another thing I loved about her is that despite of her strong feelings for him, she wasn't one of those clingy and whiny women who threw themselves on their feet when the guy in question walks in the room, but more of those feisty and independent types who don't need a guy to fight their battles. Lucas, on the other hand, was exactly the opposite- calm, closed-off with that "I know the best" attitude and he preferred city life over island. That's why Sid's main goal, when he came back home, becomes to show him how wrong he was in all aspects. Lucas was one tough cookie to break, but he never had a "opponent" like Sid who live for challenges and when she makes up her mind about something, you can consider that thing already a done deal. There was an undeniable chemistry between them from the very beginning which ended up in some pretty hot & steamy scenes. It made me wanna play pool again (you'll get it, when you read it ;). The plot of the story to be honest wasn't anything spectacular or new. What won me over is the humor and strong family bonds and friendships on the island which give you that warm and fuzzy feeling.

The book would definitely be a fun romantic comedy if it were ever made into a movie. I would highly recommend it to readers who want a drama-free, cheerful & romantic story. See, I don't read only masochist reads! ;)

..When she didn't respond, Lucas scooted closer. "What do you say? Are you up to the challenge?"
"Fuck yes", she said...

xoxo