I absolutely loved this contemporary diversity romance novel!
Stella Lane is not your typical romance novel heroine -- she is beautiful, yes, but she is a whiz at math, losing herself for hours in the econometric work that she loves, and suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, which causes her to feel uncomfortable when people touch her, has kept her clueless about how to be in a real relationship, and makes it incredibly difficult for her to relate to much of the world around her. One thing she knows for sure: She wants to be loved by a man and, since she has more money than she knows what to do with, paying for a professional male escort to teach her a thing or two seems like the perfect plan.
Enter Michael Larsen, a gorgeous man with a complicated life. Escorting to pay for his mother's medical bills is not something he enjoys, but Michael's dedicated to his family and is willing to work days at his mother's alterations/dry-cleaning shop, weeknights at the dojo, and Friday nights working women to help his family in any way he can. He refuses to turn out to be the man his father was, leaving his family when they need him most. Then Stella hires him and his world is completely turned upside down. He's smitten by her charm, her wit, her beauty, and her intelligence, and he is dedicated to being the only man to give her lessons in love.
What started as a simple lesson in lovemaking has both of them falling in love with one another. Can they get out of their own way to express how they truly feel, or will their vastly different worlds pull them apart?
Thoughts: I devoured this book in just a few hours. I absolutely loved it! The characters were adorable and the feelings they have for one another are so well written that it left me breathless at times. Stella tries so hard to be "normal" and truly cares for those around her, even if she's not sure how to express her feelings or read social cues. Michael is heartbreakingly sweet, deeply caring for everyone around him and handling all of his responsibilities with such poise and determination. His dedication to those he cares about makes it easy to fall head-over-heels in love with him. His sensitivity to Stella's Asperger's, even before he realizes she's autistic, is so incredibly sweet it will leave readers with a toothache. Michael is so patient with her and so attuned to her wants and needs that readers can't help but fall in love right along with Stella. The sweet yet passionate dynamic between Michael and Stella is one that readers will remember long after finishing this beautiful novel.
Enter Michael Larsen, a gorgeous man with a complicated life. Escorting to pay for his mother's medical bills is not something he enjoys, but Michael's dedicated to his family and is willing to work days at his mother's alterations/dry-cleaning shop, weeknights at the dojo, and Friday nights working women to help his family in any way he can. He refuses to turn out to be the man his father was, leaving his family when they need him most. Then Stella hires him and his world is completely turned upside down. He's smitten by her charm, her wit, her beauty, and her intelligence, and he is dedicated to being the only man to give her lessons in love.
What started as a simple lesson in lovemaking has both of them falling in love with one another. Can they get out of their own way to express how they truly feel, or will their vastly different worlds pull them apart?
Thoughts: I devoured this book in just a few hours. I absolutely loved it! The characters were adorable and the feelings they have for one another are so well written that it left me breathless at times. Stella tries so hard to be "normal" and truly cares for those around her, even if she's not sure how to express her feelings or read social cues. Michael is heartbreakingly sweet, deeply caring for everyone around him and handling all of his responsibilities with such poise and determination. His dedication to those he cares about makes it easy to fall head-over-heels in love with him. His sensitivity to Stella's Asperger's, even before he realizes she's autistic, is so incredibly sweet it will leave readers with a toothache. Michael is so patient with her and so attuned to her wants and needs that readers can't help but fall in love right along with Stella. The sweet yet passionate dynamic between Michael and Stella is one that readers will remember long after finishing this beautiful novel.