Title: Working After AllAuthor: Cece Louise
Series: Happily Ever After All #4
Pages: 310
Publication Date: Aug. 14, 2024
Publisher: Jabberwocky Tales
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Synopsis:
Return to my hometown to work for my old crush for the summer? No problem.
Audrey
Kidding. It actually is a problem, especially because I’m pretty sure Jackson doesn’t want me working for him at all. Add in our awkward history, and our shared office just got a whole lot smaller.
Even though I’m the queen of screwing up, I’m determined to prove I have what it takes to do this job. Nothing is going to distract me. This heart is on lockdown, and I’ll maintain professionalism even if it kills me.
And with sparks flying between us like the Fourth of July, it just might.
Jackson
There are life’s little inconveniences—papercuts, roadwork, taxes—and then there’s Audrey Miller. My little sister’s best friend, and the bane of my existence due to her obvious and incessant childhood crush on me.
Now Audrey’s back and all grown up—and co-managing my restaurant and event venue.
I spent years avoiding her, but now that she’s my right-hand woman, I have no choice but to spend my days with her (and even some nights—don’t ask). But it doesn’t matter, because the only thing going on between us is business. At least that’s what I tell myself.
So why is the one woman I swore I would never want suddenly the only one I do?
A forced proximity, best-friend’s-brother, sweet workplace romance with will-they-or-won’t-they tension, hilarious awkwardness, and zero explicit content!
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Working After All, the fourth book in the Happily Ever After All series, follows Audrey, who has recently lost her job and fiancée and returns home to attend her cousin’s wedding. Know in her hometown as “Odd Audrey,” she doesn’t come back often but accepts her cousin’s offer to take over his job while he’s away on his honeymoon. It’s the perfect summer reprieve for Audrey while she saves some money and plans her next steps. The only problem is she has to work with her childhood crush.
Jackson spent years avoiding his sister’s best friend Audrey. So, he’s less than enthused when his partner suggests Audrey work with Jackson for the summer. Jackson soon realizes Audrey is all grown up and that he, and everyone else, might have been wrong about Audrey. Though he rejected her years ago, Jackson struggles with his growing feelings, but the more time he and Audrey spend together, the harder it gets.
I always get excited when I receive an ARC from Cece Louise. Her books are so fun and charming, and I always love the characters and romances. Audrey and Jackson are no exception. At first, I didn’t love Jackson and the way he treated Audrey. He’s a good guy, but he sure doesn’t let her down gently. Considering how much she’s suffered by the mean girls in her school, it was really disappointing to see the boy she put on a pedestal speak to her so harshly, especially after he seemed to gallant. Luckily, Jackson redeemed himself and groveled enough that I ended up loving him and his relationship with Audrey.
Audrey is fantastic! She’s a little spazzy and chaotic, and she’s definitely the sunshine to Jackson’s grump. They have such a lovely connection and more in common than they ever thought. Both characters feel like they can’t escape their labels, and both have been treated poorly by past love interests, so there are a lot of complicated and confused feelings as well as a fear of being too open and vulnerable. It was lovely to see both of them slowly let their guards down and give in to their feelings. The Ferris wheel scene, the fireworks, Jackson’s thoughtfulness and support, that ending! There are so many romantic and lovely scenes that totally melted my heart.
Many of the secondary characters were the main characters in the first three books, and I loved seeing how they were all doing. This series has some wonderful, swoon-worthy love stories, and though each book can be read as a standalone, if you’ve read them all, you’ll love seeing some of your faves. Some new characters are introduced, too, and there’s another romance hinted at. I can’t wait to see if Jackson’s sister or any of the other characters will be the focus in future books because she has a really interesting story.
A sweet, charming, and romantic story, there’s also a bit of intrigue, as money starts to go missing at Audrey’s work, and she and Jackson try to figure out who is sabotaging the business. There’s also the issue of Jackson’s ex, who also happens to be one of Audrey’s worst childhood bullies, Audrey’s fake engagement, and incidents in Audrey’s past that resurface. It all makes for a fun, heartwarming, and entertaining read!
Sure, she was unpredictable, persistent, and at times, chaotic. But I had spent so ling thinking of her as a nuisance, I had failed to notice one very important thing. She was dazzling.
Cece Louise writes clean novels filled with adventure, romance, and spirit for teens and adults.
Cece is an avid reader who has been making up stories in her head as long as she can remember. Despite all that daydreaming, she graduated summa cum laude with a BBA from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 2012.
When she’s not working on her latest story, Cece spends her time having adventures with her husband and two kids, hiking and biking in her home state of WI, and unfortunately, cleaning her house (which she is convinced is secretly inhabited by mischievous, mess-multiplying pixies).
Get “Saving Vengeance” eBook FREE at CeceLouise.com!
Want to learn more about Cece Louise and her books? Check out my interview with the author!
