Book Review: Pining by Stephanie Rose
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Pining
by Stephanie Rose
Category: Contemporary Romance, New Adult Romance
Tags: Office Romance, Tortured Hero, Ex-Con
Published November 2020
Rating: ★★★★
Amazon | Goodreads
Oh, how I love a romance where the hero has to fight his own inner demons before he can find and accept love.
When Anthony was a teen, he got caught up in wanting more than the life his single mother could provide, but one fateful choice landed him in jail. Now out, he’s trying to start anew and make up for disappointing those who loved him.
His new boss is willing to give the ace mechanic a chance, and Anthony isn’t about to take it for granted OR mess it up, even though he’s falling for the boss’ daughter.
This was a sweet, slow burn romance between the ex-con and the boss’s daughter who saw the man beyond his record.
I loved the chemistry and connection between Anthony and Victoria that grew out of a sweet friendship that blossomed over their mutual obsession over comic books.
Bonding over comics gave them such a strong connection and showcased how much they really had in common, making them the perfect pair. The only hang up seemed to be that they were co-workers but in Anthony’s mind there was more than her father, his boss, that stood in their way of happiness.
Though I loved Victoria who was a young, sweet heroine still finding her footing, Anthony was the one who stole the show for me.
“I may have been out of jail, but I had no idea when I’d really be free.”
I loved how his storyline didn’t focus on a sordid experience in prison, which is a common theme with stories about ex-cons. Instead, it focused on his self-worth in how he viewed himself as an ex-con and how his outlook affected his new relationship. It was a refreshing take on this type of romantic hero and made for a great story.
I understand that Stephanie Rose has written books about both sets of Victoria’s parents but this book can easily be read as a standalone. This was my first book by this author and won’t be my last. I really enjoyed her writing which had great pacing and gave an overall wonderful story.
If you like romance books with ex-cons and just a good, sweet love story, then this book is for you.
*Thank you to Stephanie Rose for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
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