ARC Review: Sealed (Willow Springs, #4) by Laura Pavlov

 

 Sealed by Laura Pavlov is live!

Book #4 in the Willow Springs series

 

A sexy-as-sin single dad. A sassy, hotheaded diva.  Two players. One game. What could possibly go wrong?

 

Amazon  |  Amazon Universal  |  Paperback

 



Blurb

Roman Amato is perfect on paper.

Sexy and broody and arrogant.

He’s a divorced single father, so he’s completely off-limits.

I’m not looking for anything other than a hot date to take to my sister’s wedding.

I have something he needs, and he has something I need.

The fake dating gods have shined down on both of us.

We write up a contract so everything is aboveboard.

Signed, sealed and soon-to-be delivered.

Rule number three is written in all caps…

NO CATCHING FEELINGS.

It couldn’t be more basic.

I pride myself on staying in control.

But from the moment I slip onto the back of his bike, I enter a gray area.

I despise gray areas.

This is supposed to be temporary.

Temporary is my specialty.

But Roman Amato makes it easy to want forever.

 

 

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Review

4.5 Big Sexy stars

This is such a gorgeous read! A single-dad, fake relationship romance with two absolutely sensational characters, and a love story that is sexy, swoony and emotional, and that completely stole my heart.

This is the fourth book in the Willow Springs series, but it can easily standalone. The series follows a group of five best friends, and we’ve followed them through high school, college, and now beyond, and this is the story of hot-headed, super-confident, Coco.

Coco is the loud, confident, ball-busting member of the group. Though born into wealth and privilege, she has a difficult relationship with her family, but she cherishes her girlfriends, who she loves fiercely, and she’s creating a fabulous life for herself as an up-and-coming stylist in the city. With her spoiled sister about to be married, Coco needs a date to take to the wedding. Not just any date, but somebody who fits the bill as ‘Big Sexy’, the fake boyfriend she’s been using to keep her family off her back (and who doesn’t actually exist), and also somebody who won’t catch feelings, and will consider the weekend the business arrangement that it is.

Enter Roman Amato. A broody bar owner, he is just as anti-relationship as Coco is, but physically he fits the bill – tall, gorgeous, tattooed, and he rides a motorcycle. Just the kind of guy she would go for… if she were interested. She also has something that Roman wants, so the two of them strike a deal, complete with a contract, that he will be her loving boyfriend for the weekend of wedding festivities, after which she will return the favour for his own family event, and then they’ll go their separate ways. Simple, right?

“I’m flattered, really. But I don’t date. I’m definitely not the guy for you. But thanks for the offer…”
Her head fell back in laughter. I just insulted her, and she couldn’t contain herself. What the fuck was her deal?
“Umm… yeah, that was a serious miscommunication. But you’re adorable when your head is so big it’s threatening to explode.”

In between running his own business and being the sole-custody single father to an almost-5-year-old son, Roman has no time for relationships, but something about the sassy, self-assured bombshell has Roman intrigued. And when she presents him with an offer he can’t refuse, he’s all in.

It’s such a great set-up, and from the very beginning the sparks fly between Coco and Roman. Though our initial introduction to him shows him being all gruff and broody, underneath all of that he’s an absolute sweetheart. A good guy with a huge heart, and supreme boyfriend skills. His hand holding, intense looks, steamy kisses and sweet declarations during their weekend together are gorgeous, and it’s clear that the two of them share a connection beyond their agreement. And though they may not have been interested in a relationship, when the contract runs out and neither of them are able to let the other go, everything is about to change.

He was in my space, pushing my wet hair away from my face.
“What is happening here?” I whispered.
“I don’t have a fucking clue, but I don’t know how to stop it.”

OMG, I love this relationship! Coco and Roman are so fantastic together – they laugh, flirt and banter, and their chemistry is just amazing. And when you add Roman’s son, Valentino to the mix, it’s a recipe of pure win. This kid is freaking adorable, and his connection with both his Dad, and with Coco absolutely melted my heart. There are lots of fantastic family moments, giving the story authenticity as Coco is swept up into Roman’s world. The two of them fall for each other in a big way, and it’s a sweet, sexy love story, with so much heart!

“This isn’t about the contract or keeping up appearances. This is exactly where I want to be.”

I loved Coco’s journey in this book. She learns and grows so much, and watching her soften her heart to allow Roman and Tino in, is so beautiful. And after experiencing such a hard time, I loved watching Roman open his heart to love. The chemistry between them is palpable, and everything that happens between them is easy and natural, and I loved watching them come together.

“You’re mine,” I said, teasing his lips with mine.
“Since the day I met you.”

There’s lots of great moments with Roman’s whole family (who are sensational), and Coco’s family which has its own very interesting dynamics. There is some drama, but it brings a nice intensity to the story and is handled well, and for the most part this is a beautifully functional romance, which is just the way I like it!

I loved seeing Coco’s girls there for all of the ups and downs. They have each other’s backs without question and are such a gorgeously tight-knit group. We get to see all of the couples from the previous books, which I loved, and we’re all geared up for the final book in the series which has been building since the very beginning – Ivy’s second-chance-romance with the boy who broke her heart in high school, now a huge country star. I’m here for it!

This book made me laugh, swoon and happy sigh, and I loved it.

4.5 stars!

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

Willow Springs

       

Frayed (#1) (Adelaide)
Review
Buy:  Amazon  |  Paperback

Tangled (#2) (Gigi)
Review
Buy:  Amazon  |  Paperback

Charmed (#3) (Maura)
Review
Buy:  Amazon

Sealed (#4) (Coco)
Review
Buy:  Amazon

Claimed (#5) (Ivy)
Review
Buy:  Amazon

 

Bonus Novella

Captivated (#5.5) (Clementine)
Free from Prolific Works

 

 

 


About Laura

Laura Pavlov writes sweet and sexy contemporary romance that will make you both laugh and cry. She is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome almost grown kids, and dog-whisperer to a couple of crazy Yorkies. Laura resides in Las Vegas where she is living her own happily ever after.

 

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