Series:
Love Unveiled (Book 3)
Mixing business with weddings
Both up for the editor-in-chief position at Veil
magazine, Addison England and Carter Payne are fierce adversaries. But despite
their bickering, the pair has to work together and prove themselves before the
magazine's Christmas deadline. Stepping in to pose as the bride and groom for a
wedding shoot starts the unexpected change from rivalry to romance…until they
discover the “fake” vow exchange was entirely legal. Now the newlyweds have to
decide if power really is their ultimate endgame.
Terrific conclusion to the series. Addison has been
working her tail off for years to earn the editor-in-chief job when her boss,
Colette, retires. She's so close now she can practically taste it. So, imagine
her shock when Colette's nephew, Carter, shows up in New York, also ready to
take the helm. Carter is also stunned, as he had been promised the job years
earlier.
I definitely got the impression that Colette had ulterior
motives for setting up a competition between Addison and Carter. They start
with sharing an office, which grinds on their nerves. They are given competing
assignments, which Colette will judge. It was fun to see how much alike Addison
and Carter were, with their laser-like focus on work, lack of social lives, and
disinterest in romantic relationships, though neither could see it at first. Underneath
the antagonism were sparks of attraction that they tried to ignore.
I loved watching their relationship develop. They got off
to a rough start with an awkward meeting that set the stage for some of Addison's
anger at Carter. But as the days passed, Addison couldn't deny that Carter was
good at his job. I had a good chuckle at Carter's bemusement over his
attraction to her, and at the same time, he was trying to beat her for the job.
Addison also tried denying it to herself and others. I liked watching their antagonism
turn more towards teasing and snark as they grew to appreciate each other's
abilities.
As the competition deadline grew closer, Carter and Addison
had one more hurdle to overcome - whose idea would come out on top for the
magazine's main spread? Both had fantastic visions, and it was easy to see how
each idea was a winner. I liked how Collette had both follow through with their
ideas. It was heartwarming to see how Addison helped Carter with his. But
things get complicated when he shows up the next day to help with her photo
shoot. Thanks to a blizzard, he and Addison have to become the models. The
effect on each of them was undeniable, and it became harder to resist their
growing feelings. Trapped together by the weather, they give in.
Imagine their shock when they discover that the fake
wedding ceremony they went through for the photo shoot was all too real. Now,
they are faced with the dilemma of whether to stay married. What effect will
Colette's decision have on that question? I did not see Colette's plan coming, though
Addison's reaction didn't surprise me. The twists and turns of the final resolution
were fun to follow and were the perfect ending.
The secondary characters were terrific. Addison's
besties, Daphne and Everly, were fantastic in their support roles. I loved how
they were TeamAddison all the way, though that didn't stop them from commenting
on Carter's looks and abilities. They could see what was happening before she
did and had no trouble pointing it out. I laughed out loud when Everly gave
Sabrina the dog to Addison. Despite Addison's insistence that she wouldn't keep
her, it was easy to see the writing on the wall. It was hilarious to see Sabrina's
reaction to Carter. I liked getting to know Colette a little better and seeing
a more personal side of her. My favorite secondary character was Joe, the man
at the marriage license bureau. His commentary was great, and I'm pretty sure
he played a significant role in their fake marriage that wasn't fake.
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