If I Say Yes


As part of Keeley's W.H.I.R.T.Y. read-a-thon, I'm bringing a slight variation of "Why Haven't I Reviewed That Yet"!
I intend to bring an extra highlight to all those books that I have read, but not posted a review for.
Between the 11th - 17th May, I will be posting a new book every day.

The second in my W.H.I.R.T.Y. week is If I Say Yes, by Brandy Jellum.  I joined in her blog tour last month, and included a review of If I Say No (Say Something #2).
Unfortunately due to a ridiculously busy month, and other pressing reviews, I never got round to posting this review.  So read on and enjoy!



If I Say Yes (Say Something #1)

by Brandy Jellum

5 out of 5

Synopsis
Elizabeth Lewis was the child of Hollywood’s darling couple, until her father murdered her mother.

Six years later, she has traded her flashy, luxurious lifestyle for one of safe anonymity as a literary agent. With a different name and appearance, Liza Winter is living the life of her dreams—one where she’s known for who she is instead of what her father did. Except her apartment should be condemned, her car only starts when it wants, she hates the romance genre she has been assigned, and the CEO’s deliciously attractive nephew is out to ruin her carefully laid plans.

Reid Harder has never met an obstacle he couldn’t overcome. When his new position in the romance department comes with a benefit his uncle didn’t mention, he decides to wage a war against the intelligent, beautiful Liza to destroy every argument she has for turning him down. Still, the closer he gets to winning the prize, the more he realizes that the woman is keeping secrets that may endanger not just her life but his.

Will Liza overcome her mistrust of Reid to reveal her secrets before he learns the truth and walks away? Or will a grudge-wielding apparition from her past make her the next deadly Hollywood headline?




Review
After her father murdered her super-famous actress mother in front of her, Elizabeth Lewis disappears to escape the media circus, and every painful reminder forever.  As Liza Winter, she lives the quiet life of a literary agent, with the one aim of becoming the best rep and the one name in Horror/Thriller.  The only problem is her boss insists she works in the Romance department, which gets trickier when her new manager, the boss' handsome nephew, steps in.

I loved this book.  I always relate to emotionally shut off, career-minded women - no idea why...

Liza is really cool.  She has a plan, which involves being one of the youngest people to climb the ladder at a major book agent company.  Her plan definitely doesn't include getting involved with anyone.  After all, she's learned the hard way that if you allow yourself to love someone, you're handing over the ability to hurt you more.
I thought it was very entertaining that she was stuck in the Romance section by her boss, to try and get her to broaden her skills.  Poor Liza is so bloody stubborn!  She would rather take the drastic option of quitting, than solve the problem in front of her.

Reid is her new manager (yes, the book agent is called Reid).  He decides to set new challenges for Liza, to try and get her to accept her role.  When he finds out that she's as stubborn as a mule, and feisty to boot, his aims start to change to something more personal.

The other main character is Liza's best friend Eli, the only person she kept in touch with from her old life.  No spoiler here, it's obvious that Eli is in love with Liza from the beginning.  For the most part, he's very sweet and understanding.  But there were times when I really did wonder about him.  If you love someone and know them deeper than anyone else; why would you constantly try and take that person to places where she feels uncomfortable? (i.e. restaurants and clubs that Liza fears she'll be recognised as Elizabeth Lewis)

There was a plot, which I enjoyed.  I'm fed up of romance stories that don't have substance to them.  I was so relieved that If I Say Yes stepped up to the mark.
I would say that the book is a 70/30 mix of Romance and Thriller.  Aside from the prologue, where we are shown the darkest day of Liza's life, the first half of the book reads purely as a romance novel.  There is an underlying theme of a threat to Liza's new life, and it build nicely to the culmination.
I was impressed when the bad guy was revealed - I usually guess who, but this one caught me by surprise!

Overall, it's not perfect, but it is completely enjoyable and well worth picking up this book.
Also, on a random note, I blame this Say Something series for getting this song stuck in my head for the last bloody month.

Check out the review for book 2 - If I Say No

Goodreads link
Amazon.co.uk

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Demon Made Me Do It - Indie Love Blog Hop

Trick or Treat Book Blog Hop

Birthday Bash