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BOOKWORM REVIEW: Curves for Days by Laura Moher

 

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥

Having the winning lottery ticket is not quite what the hype promises. Or so Rose Barnes thinks. The curvy, recently unemployed lottery winner has locked herself in her tiny apartment to block herself from the media and practically strangers looking for a piece of the $80 million payout. Having had enough, she runs away in the middle of the night and lands in Galway, NC with a brand-new identity and attitude on life and a $80M secret from everyone in town.

The only problem is that Angus Drummond, the man she hired to fix up her new home, seems to be the only person immune to her charm. (Well, there is Miss Ames in the local diner, too, but a hearty scowl from Rose usually addresses that situation.) The gruff and massive handyman always seems to rebuff any kind gesture Rose offers, but as they spend more time together fixing up Rose's home, her sunny disposition melts away Angus' broody exterior.

As they get closer, will Rose be able to share the $80M-sized secret from him?

I loved the premise and delivery of this story. I mean, I came for the enemies-to-lovers, close proximity romance, and Laura Moher gives us the pleasant surprise of two main characters coming into their own. 

Rose was fantastic as a FMC. I love her transition from a locked-in, down-on-her-luck waitress to a self-assured, ambitious go-getter. There is fantastic body-positive representation in this read that does not shy away from engaging the important aspects of navigating life as a fat person. 

Angus stole the show from me, though. He certainly had his baggage, and I love how he turned into helping others like him navigate through those mental and emotional issues. A burly, broody man who is a jack of all fixing trades AND a licensed therapist? YES PLEASE.

We also get a fun tug-of-war as our two main characters grapple with their attraction to one another and their inability to communicate this due to their respective hang-ups. I also love that when we got to the spicy parts, Angus stayed true to his character, exercising impeccable thoughtfulness around Rose's insecurities. 

As much as I wanted to focus on how wonderful the main characters are (because they absolutely are), I also wanted to give a shout-out to a charming ensemble of supporting characters. Their warm charisma and unique but kind personalities -- yes, even you, Miss Ames -- made me want to relocate to Galway as well.

This is the first of the series, and I cannot wait for what Laura Moher has in store for us for the rest of it.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Laura Moher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **

ABOUT THE BOOK

How is Rose Barnes supposed to build the home (and life) of her dreams when her big, burly contractor keeps scowling at her?

Rose Barnes has got curves for days—and to Angus Drummond, the big, bearded contractor working on her new house, she's the perfect thorn in his side. Little does she know Angus is perturbed on a daily basis by his attraction to this cheery, smart-ass woman with her sunshiny enthusiasm, her kindness, and her beautiful body.

Angus feels he has a debt to pay to the world and doesn't deserve love until he pays it. Best to keep his mind on his work and his hands to himself. But the more Rose sees of Angus's gruff, honorable thoughtfulness, and the more rusty laughter she surprises from him, the more she wants him too.

As their unlikely friendship becomes love, antagonism turns to partnership, and Rose's house becomes a home. But Rose is keeping a secret that could blow up everything with Angus, and sure enough, it comes to light at the worst possible time...


MEET LAURA MOHER

 I write contemporary romance novels set in the fictional town of Galway, North Carolina. I've lived in Colorado, the Louisville Kentucky area, Champaign Illinois, and, now, in Minnesota, but until a few years ago my home was in the western Carolinas not far from where I envision Galway to be. Sometimes I'd swear I can still smell that sweet mountain air. I close my eyes and see the hills stretched out in misty layers of blue and green all the way to the horizon.

I create love stories for the kinds of characters it would be good to know in real life. People you could entrust your loved ones to. They're not perfect, and they've not all had easy lives, but they'll never abuse or humiliate or intentionally treat badly anyone who isn't a danger to them. Real life is hard enough; I don't want to add awful, harmful characters to it.

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