Member Reviews
This was a cute story about two different aspects in life coming together and falling in love. I quite enjoyed the live hate relationship that was happening for most of this story.
Huh. I ended up enjoying this more than I expected to.
This story follows Lauren, a stuffy good girl and unemployed city planner, and Jamie, a secretive, British graffiti artist.
Lauren is very passionate about one thing: keeping her home town beautiful and clean. So when Jamie aka KaveMan starts defiling Yale by leaving his pieces on public buildings, she makes it her mission to catch him in the act and thus expose him to the world - and the police. Jamie, on the other hand, sees his art as a way to express himself and spread beauty. He just didn't bank on a hot, mental stalker always turning up on his crime scenes when all he wants is to finish his tour and be on his way back home. But their plans are foiled when the exhilaration of the hunt and their instant attraction when they eventually meet get the better of them.
This was a lot of fun to read. While I feel like I've encountered the good girl vs. bad boy/ hate to love trope countless times before in romance books, this was actually a very unique and original set-up. I've never read about a graffiti artist before and I was really intrigued by the concept. I liked the way G.G. Andrews pulled it off and how she managed to convey Jamie's struggles whether to keep his secrets or open up to another person he cares about, as well as Laurel opening up to new ideas and ways of thinking.
I also loved how Laurel and Jamie tried to convert each other. Laurel's attempt in particular made me laugh so hard I had tears in my eyes.
On the other hand, while the characters were actually fairly likable and they did kind of grow on me after a rather bumpy start, I was never fully able to warm up to them, and neither did I feel their connection. I never really got why they were so into each other.
Also, one thing that actually really put me off was that I felt like the author tried too damn hard to make Jamie sound British. He sounded like a cliché come to life and rather ridiculous. I don't think I ever want to hear anyone use the term "shagging" again.
All in all, though, this was fun and enjoyable, and I can totally see myself reading the sequel.
Loved this funny love story. Jamie is a famous elusive graffiti artist. Laurel is unemployed and when Jamie artwork affects her lectures she's determined to find and turn him over to the police. As the chase begins her motives and feelings change. As they pursue a relationship their secrets tears them apart. A huge gesture from Jamie provides the confidence in their future. Recommended read
Laurel, a laid-off city planner, is bitter from compromising her dreams and still losing her sensible job. So when she gets a glimpse of the mysterious KaveMan, whose dream is apparently painting others' property in her hometown of New Haven, she's determined to find him, unmask him, and ruin his so-called career--even if it means losing some shoes and self-respect in the process.
But why does chasing KaveMan make her feel more alive than she's felt in years?
KaveMan isn't used to sharing his real self, let alone his real name. But when he's caught by Laurel Xavier, he starts to realize the one woman he yearns to whisper his secrets to is someone who would scream his identity from the highest rooftop. That would mean the end of his work, his passion. It can't ever happen.
Unfortunately, he bloody well can't seem to stay away from her.
Laurel is a frustrated city planner who’s been laid off. She hates graffiti and doesn’t approve of KaveMan and his “art tours” that he does around the world. When he ends up in New Haven, where Laurel lives, she appalled that he’s defacing her city. She almost catches him at one point when she’s lecturing at Yale but he evades her. From then on she’s determined to catch him and turn him in. No one knows who he really is and she wants to bring him out into the open.
KaveMan aka Jamie manages to stay away from Laurel until she writes an editorial piece in the local paper. She basically tells him that if he wants something to paint, he can paint her yard fence. When she wakes up one morning and finds her fence painted white – along with fairies and elves – she’s shocked. When the man himself actually knocks on her door and introduces himself as KaveMan she’s not sure what to do. She’s incredibly attracted to him but how can that be when she doesn’t like what he does?
Despite her feelings on his art Laurel eventually finds herself in bed with Jamie and falling for him. Their relationship is complicated by so many things – the least of which is that he’ll be leaving a couple of weeks. Both Jamie and Laurel have to learn to trust – not only in each other but in their feelings.
This was such a sweet story. I truly didn’t think that it would be because of the whole graffiti aspect of the story. I guess I thought it would be a bit grittier but I was pleasantly surprised at the romance in the book. I loved watching Laurel and Jamie come together and fall in love. GG Andrew has a lovely sense of romance and that has come through in all of her books that I’ve read.
The story also involved Laurel’s sister, Kim, who is a kleptomaniac. She’s gotten in trouble with the law more than a few times but she’s trying to be better. When a new cop moves into town he has no idea about Kim’s “issues” and they’re incredibly attracted to each other. Unfortunately when Scott finds out who Kim is he’s probably not be so attracted any longer. This part of the story was a bit sad. Kim truly had a problem - as well as a criminal record - but wanted Scott to see her as someone else. Since this says that it’s book 1 in the Love and Lawbreakers series I can only hope that we get to read Kim’s story in an upcoming book. I look forward to it.
The story was sweet and funny with a good portion of sexy to top it all off. I definitely recommend this book. I know I’ll be re-reading it sometime in the near future.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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