Kristie J’s review of Caveman by Jo Raven
Contemporary Romance published by Amazon Digital Services 29 May 17
I bought this book for two reasons. The first I will admit is totally shallow, I really like the cover – including cover model. But the second reason is I read the whole Inked Brotherhood series and enjoyed them and this book is a spin-off on those books. While the hero is a jerk times 10 through a good part of the book, because I already knew him from a previous story, I knew why he is the way he is.
Matt is a widower whose wife died after a long battle with cancer. He is left with a young son and daughter. He’s never really either grieved nor accepted her death, and so the way he copes is to take his young children away with him to a small town where he barely survives. He has a difficult time handling fatherhood and does so by drinking and taking sleeping pills. He desperately needs a nanny for his kids while he works as a mechanic.
Octavia is the young woman who applies for the position. While only 18, she has held the responsibility of taking care of her family, her mother and younger brother and sister. She wants to continue and is desperate to find something in this small town they live in. Her first meeting with Matt is a disaster. He refuses her the job with no explanation, not even letting her in the house and he’s rude to boot.
But because this is a romance with a story to tell, Tati, as the kids call her, is hired. Matt is very hot and cold, one minute being caring and protective of her, the next pushing her away as hard as he can. It’s because he is so attracted to her, but there are issues around that. He’s ten years older than she is. That didn’t bother me much as she’s kind of an old soul. He feels guilty because he’s attracted to another woman but hasn’t let go of his wife yet.
This is an angsty book and I read it while in the mood for angsty. Oddly enough, the only issue I have with it is an overabundance of sex once things got going, but it’s easy to skim that if I get tired of it. I would rather have too much than not enough.
I haven’t done any kind of reviews for the other Inked Brotherhood books by Ms. Raven, but since I have read them, I knew going in that this would be quite emotional. Some readers might have issues with how nasty Matt can get, but since I understand where he is coming from and what’s behind his actions, it didn’t bother me.
Included in this book are chapters from the other books and while not 100% sure, I think the whole story where we first meet Matt is in this book. So it’s quite a good deal and gives you a sense whether this is an author one would want to continue with.
Grade: B
Summary:
Matthew Hansen is the kind of handsome that has grown women whispering behind their hands and giggling like schoolgirls.
Dark, tall and mysterious, he’s a newcomer to our little town. He’s a gritty, grease-covered mechanic, and a single daddy.
Sweet, right?
Plus he’s looking for a nanny – and I am desperately looking for a job.
Sounds like the perfect deal.
Only he’s a jerk. An uncivilized, hulking brute. Zero manners. Zero interest in making me feel welcome in his home. Downright rude.
But oh so sexy.
And I need the job. I can do this.
One thing is for sure: I can’t fall for the Caveman. No matter how sexy he is. How mysterious. How tortured.
That’s the only rule – and one I’m about to break.
No excerpt available.
