Will & Nora
Love at First is an enemies to lovers story that begins with a chance encounter as teenagers and turns into a quest for soulmates many years later. Clayborn does a nice job of developing the main characters, Will & Nora, as they grapple with painful childhoods since they were essentially 'orphaned' and are now grieving for lost family members. They both learn to be vulnerable again and discover how to be loved. They learn to trust their own feelings - which surprises even themselves. As Nora put it, she was tired of living two lives, she wanted to live one. The romance is slow to build but is quite steamy. I enjoyed the sense of community and 'found family' in this quaint apartment building and the quirkiness of neighbors seemed very realistic. I really enjoyed Clayborn's Love Lettering and both stories deliver a strong sense of place.