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Review: Must Love Otters by Eliza Gordon
Author: Eliza Gordon
Format: ebook
Published: October 29, 2013 by West 26th Street Press, NYC
ISBN: 1630640107
Synopsis:
Hollie Porter is the chairwoman of Generation Disillusioned: at twenty-five years old, she’s saddled with a job she hates, a boyfriend who’s all wrong for her, and a vexing inability to say no. She’s already near her breaking point, so when one caller too many kicks the bucket during Hollie’s 911 shift, she cashes in the Sweethearts’ Spa & Stay gift certificate from her dad and heads to Revelation Cove, British Columbia. One caveat: she’s going solo. Any sweethearts will have to be found on site.
Hollie hopes to find her beloved otters in the wilds of the Great White North, but instead she’s providing comic relief for staff and guests alike. Even Concierge Ryan, a former NHL star with bad knees and broken dreams, can’t stop her from stumbling from one (mis)adventure to another. Just when Hollie starts to think that a change of venue doesn’t mean a change in circumstances, the island works its charm and she starts to think she might have found the rejuvenation she so desperately desires. But then an uninvited guest crashes the party, forcing her to step out of the discomfort zone where she dwells and save the day … and maybe even herself in the process.
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 4/5 stars
My Review:
Hollie Porter’s life pretty much sucks out loud. As a 911 dispatcher, you would think the worst part of Hollie’s job is the phone calls but no, it is the phone calls coupled with the horrendous coworkers. While most people leave work for the sanctuary of home, Hollie Porter doesn’t even have that. What she does have is a ridiculous boyfriend she cares very little for, three awful little dogs that belong to the ridiculous boyfriend and, a wretched neighbor who constantly insists Hollie go to the grocery store for her. With no end to the misery in sight and with her well-meaning father pushing for a marriage, Hollie finally snaps the tether in fantastic fashion. She dumps the boyfriend, kicks him and his little dogs out of their apartment and, calls in “sick” for a few days so she can cash in the Sweethearts’ Spa and Stay gift certificate her father gave her. In the midst of drunken courage, Hollie calls Revelation Cove and books her solo Sweethearts’ stay. In the midst of drunken stupidity, Hollie also explains in great detail to Revelation Cove’s Concierge Ryan why her ex is douchebag, her job sucks, why her boobs are burned and, that she absolutely loves otters. With the plan made and her bags packed, Hollie boards a small plane for British Columbia in the hopes of wildly and dramatically turning her life around.
Revelation Cove is just that, a wonderful and beautiful revelation and Hollie is instantly taken in by its charm. It doesn’t hurt that Concierge Ryan is totally easy on the eyes, full of knowledge about the site and its gorgeous surroundings and, more than willing to show Hollie around. Determined to spread her wings and fly and thoroughly enjoy her time away from reality, Hollie engages in frequent and humorous banter with Ryan but also finds herself quite taken with another guest, Roger. For several days, Hollie and Roger flirt, drink and play all with the implied knowledge that a wonderful sexual encounter is imminent. Hollie is smitten and hoping for the best until the moment she discovers Roger’s dirty little secret. Once again, Hollie Porter finds her life sucking out loud only this time, there is Concierge Ryan to help pick up the pieces.
The Bottom Line: Must Love Otters is light and fun summer read that kept me engaged from the beginning. It was very interesting to “see” the real change in Hollie from the beginning of the book to the end. Hollie just isn’t a nice person in the beginning and though you understand why, it is hard to like her. The moment I began to like Hollie and to really root for her was the moment she drunkenly calls Revelation Cove and books her solo stay. In that moment, Hollie decides to take charge of her life and make some real changes that are going to help her become a happier and more fulfilled person. Though she is somewhat afraid of what will become of her she is also determined and courageous and for that, I had to get behind her!! Of course, the road to her HEA is not entirely smooth and some of Hollie’s “finer” moments are some of the books’ most humorous moments. For me, the highlight of this read is Concierge Ryan. From the moment he makes his debut, he is a delight. Ryan is sweet, funny, smart and, more than anything else interested in finding his own HEA. Ryan’s banter and encounters with Hollie are sweet, funny, sometimes dramatic and, totally fated. In all, I totally recommend this read to anyone looking for a light, smooth and, easy romance.
About the author and where to find her:
A purveyor of fictions, Eliza Gordon has excellent taste in books, shoes, movies, and friends, and questionable sanity in the realm of love. Best leave that one alone. In real life, she’s a husband-and-wife team of controlled chaos who writes stories to help you believe in the Happily Ever After. The female half, Jennifer Sommersby, is repped by Daniel Lazar at Writers House.
