Author: Jen (Page 1 of 204)

Synopsis:

They say love and construction don't mix. By that logic, hate and construction may as well be condemned.

LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Leeds had one short and contentious summer fling when they were teens―certainly nothing to build a foundation on. But a decade later, when their grandmothers have left them with shared ownership of their dilapidated Santa Cruz building, they're thrust back together and have to figure out how to brace up the pieces.

LaRynn has the money, but in order to access her trust, she has to be married. Deacon has the construction expertise, but lacks the funds. A deal is struck: Marry for however long it takes to fix up the property, collect a profit, and cut ties.

Thrust into a home without walls, LaRynn and Deacon quickly learn that it's easy to hide behind emotional ones, even in a marriage. But with all the exposure and pitfalls that come with living with the opposite sex (and none of the perks, much to their growing mutual frustration) they'll also have to learn what it means to truly cooperate as a team.

Filled with crackling tension, The Co-op is a steamy second chance romance about restoration and renovation, and uncovering all the things that build character within ourselves. It's about the never-ending construction project that partnership is, and finding enjoyment at every stage.

Review:

The Co-Op was a second chance adult romance, mixed with marriage of convenience and forced proximity.  The characters stood out and were easy to love, the story took us through an emotional path in a slow and steady way, and the ending was fabulous!  If you’re looking for an adult romance to spend your time with, add this one to your tbr.

Maybe if I show her she can count on me to have her back, she’ll open up and have mine, too. Maybe I’m an absolute sucker and I’ll get left at the end of this a lot more broken.

I adored LaRynn from the prologue.  She shared the most mortifying moments of her life with us, including ones I’m terrified of, and it made me click with her right away.  Headed back to her grandma’s house, LaRynn was going to help restore it with a man that made her heart pound for many reasons.  There was so much hurt and resentment between the two of them.  And they had so much work through, emotionally and physically.

I wish he smelled like stale beer or something that’d make my lip curl. Instead, he smells like some sort of whiskey. Smoke from a campfire with something sweet and dark and him. Intoxicating on his own.
“I’m sorry,” he says, his voice a low, grating rumble that tugs at something deep inside me. Fuck him for that, too. For having so much pull over me, for making me feel so out of control.

Deacon was my favorite.  From the reason why he called her Larry, to his ability to work through his thoughts, I loved him.  Especially since he seemed to have all the patience in the world for her.  While I adored LaRynn, she kept her walls up higher.  Was so protective of her thoughts.  So, I was thankful for moments when Deacon could vocalize things she couldn’t.  And stated that they needed to talk.  LaRynn just had to get there, and so while the miscommunication trope went on for longer in this book then I thought it would, I was so happy when they finally let it all out.

I told him I wouldn’t need anything. I promised, in fact.
But I like him. I like him so much it hurts.

Mixed in this story were moments from their past.  I loved how seamlessly it was woven into the present.  And those times allowed us to see a bigger picture of the two of them.  But past and present, there was always a lot of sexual tension between them.  Those times caused moments that will leave you smiling, laughing or sighing out loud.  It was impossible not to feel everything they felt.     

“It meant something,” grinds deeply out of him, sending shivers up my arms and heat to my ears.

With jealousy, messing with each other, embarrassment, hurt, friendship and love laced through the pages, this story was written so beautifully.  It was so quotable too and I highlighted a couple hundred passages and lines lol.  I especially loved the my wife moments, sigh.  This was my second book by Tara DeWitt and I can’t wait to read the rest of them!

The more it looks like a completed house, the more I realize how much we’ve been making it our home this entire time. With our messes and our music. All the memories from our past with our grandmothers, and the ones we’ve made together.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*