Sandy M’s review of The Stopover (Miles High Club, Book 1) by T.L. Swan
Contemporary Romance published by Montlake Romance 26 Sep 19
Once again a simple title and cover caught my attention. The blurb backed everything up, and I had hopes this would turn out to be a good read by an author I’ve not read before. My hope was well placed…and then it wasn’t.
The story begins wonderfully. Our heroine, Emily, is upgraded to first class on her flight to New York for a job interview. Tall, Wealthy, and Handsome sits down in the seat next to her. At first she’s not interested because he is older, but after a few glasses of champagne and some teasing and flirting – and their flight diverted to Boston because of a snow storm blanketing NYC – they spend a hot and sizzling night together. They, of course, go their own ways the next day, knowing they’ll never see each other again.
A year later Emily is back in New York to begin her dream job at Miles Media – three longs years she’s waited for this. When she’s taken on a tour of the place and steps into the CEO’s office, shock takes over as she comes face to face with her Jim from their stopover. He’s Jameson Miles – rich, powerful, and he still stirs her up with just a look. Jameson doesn’t do relationships. He’s a confirmed workaholic. But Emily is not like any woman he’s ever known – she doesn’t care that he’s wealthy and lives in a swanky, over-the-top apartment.
I do like Jameson a lot, both the sweet and sensitive Jim as well as the cold and abrupt CEO, even though he can be a bit too much at times. It’s Emily who is so very difficult to warm up to. She’s twenty-five and a brat. The “Don’t tell me what to do!” attitude gets boring and irritating after so long, and this goes on for at least three-quarters of the book. She always wants her way or no way, and then when it’s nearly too late, her selfish attitude finally changes. Jameson has his moments too along these same lines, which doesn’t work for him either since he is an older gentleman – late 30s – compared to Emily, and he’s a professional businessman. Yes, they bring the worst, as well as the good, out in each other, but it’s just way too much, especially when it gets insulting, and that does happen now and again.
Jameson’s brothers are all quite interesting, and I look forward to their books in the series. Wealthy and well-built, sinful to the core, and powerful to boot usually wins the day for me – as long as they’re not total assholes. And so far, the other three siblings are intriguing.
Another irritant is the author’s use of the same words over and over again – dust(s) (Jameson dusts Emily’s lip and other areas), everyone – and I mean everyone – smirks throughout the entire book, just as a couple of examples. That brings the enjoyment of the story way down when everyone does the same thing and acts the same way. It’s like reading the same character again and again. So while I do like most of the book, it’s those immature, repetitive times that keeps my grade from going any higher. Because I did laugh and chuckle here and there, that kept my grade going any lower. This book is definitely give and take.
Grade: C-
Summary:
I was upgraded to first class on a flight from London to New York.
The food, champagne, and service were impeccable.
The blue-eyed man sitting next to me, even better.
He was suave and intelligent.
We talked and laughed, and something clicked.
Fate took over and the plane was grounded, and we had an unexpected stopover for the night.
With no plans, we made our own.
We danced and laughed our way around Boston and had a night of crazy passion that no woman would ever forget.
That was twelve months ago, and I haven’t heard from him—until today.
I started a new job and met the CEO. You can imagine my surprise to see those naughty blue eyes dance with delight when he saw me across the mahogany desk.
But I’m not that carefree girl anymore. My life has changed, I have responsibilities.
I just got an email.
He wants to see me in his office for a private meeting at 8:00 a.m.
Naughty blue eyes have no place in the workplace.
What kind of private meeting does he have in mind?
No excerpt available.
