*Restoration* by Noelle Adams is story surprised me with its depth. The premise initially intrigued me—being stranded on a deserted island with an obnoxious boss is a scenario ripe for conflict and unexpected bonding. I expected a straightforward romance, but the story offered more.

Edmund Worthing, the spoiled and seemingly useless employer, reveals layers I didn't anticipate. As the protagonist, I could feel the frustration and resentment toward Edmund, but how his character evolved throughout the story was both believable and satisfying. The island setting forces both characters to confront their vulnerabilities, and watching their dynamic shift from hate to understanding kept me engaged.

The pacing is steady, and the moments of introspection add a nice contrast to the more intense survival scenes. There's a balance between the external struggle of surviving on the island and both characters' internal journey, making the romance feel earned.

One thing that stood out was how the author handled the transformation of the relationship. It wasn't rushed, and the gradual shift in feelings felt authentic. I found myself rooting for both characters as they learned to see beyond their initial impressions of each other.

While the plot might seem familiar, the execution made this book stand out. The emotional depth and character growth were handled carefully, making the story more than just a romance. It's a tale of personal restoration as much as about finding love in the most unexpected places.

A new twist on forced proximity. When Edmund and Autumn get stranded, long suppressed sparks fly. He's her boss, and she gave notice before they were stranded. I could not put this book down as they navigate being stranded and facing the real feelings they have for each other. Highly recommend!

Two months notice...

Instead of Two Weeks Notice, Autumn has to give two months notice, as she is the personal assistant to Edmund Worthing, who is anything but worthy. He's useless, frivolous and unlikable. They of course, capsize his yacht and then have to rely on each other to survive. Autumn is capable, but has enable Edmund. He's a man-child with too much money, time and not enough commonsense.
But, I do enjoy Noelle Adams writing and always read her.
Recommend.

Is it possible to write a cozy shipwreck book? Restoration (I don't know how the title relates) is part of the Worthings series, but stands completely alone and was a very cozy shipwreck book.

Autumn is the PA to a billionaire failson Edmund, managing every aspect of his life, including planning his dates and just facilitating the way so Edmund can remain useless. Autumn has sublimated herself completely into this demanding and well-compensated role ("Never making a show. Always hoping to fade into the background"), but realizes she's stagnant in it, and sticking there through comfortable inertia, but not exploring what she wants from life. So she resigns, and her two months notice will be spent sailing with Edmund on his yacht in the Pacific.

Naturally a storm capsizes there boat on the beach of the deserted island they were headed to. Naturally they have a big enough piece of the boat to be a shelter, a crate of supplies, and a source of fresh water and ripe fruit. Naturally they decide to act on their mutual attraction (and the realization they might spend the rest of their lives together alone) and bang it out all over the island.

Adams is always clever and her nuanced with her books than the tagline would suggest. Oh it's a billionaire/employee, shipwreck forced proximity? Sure! But rather than have Autumn been pining for Edmund, she's basically recognized his hotness but doesn't respect him enough as a person to be attracted. He's come to appreciate and rely on her utterly, but only recently come to look at her differently (yep, it's a he-falls-first, in a way). He learns competency, she learns to let go of her role as the only capable one. The culture clash when they are rescued adds an element of "what do we do back in real life" and the resolution was so heartfelt, with the kind of HEA that could have been a near-miss save for the willingness to be vulnerable and hold on to happiness.

I received this book as an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I am a fan of this writer. Having said that I am not a fan of this story. The main male character is not a likeable character at all and reminded me of the Hugh Grant movie 2 weeks notice.

Like most Noelle Adams books, a very quick read. I wasn't sure how to feel about it. I think the forced proximity worked well but parts of the story didn't seem realistic.

I loved this book! My first time reading anything from Noelle and can’t wait to read more, especially the rest of the Worthings Series.
This follows Autumn who has been Billionaire Edmund Worthing for 6 years, she never intended to stay this long, she wants to complete her MBA so hands her notice. The long planned trip alone with Edmund is her last job, when plans change Worth detours to take in a Pacific deserted island his friend raved about. On route they hit a massive storm and end up ship-wrecked.
They both come together to ensure they find water, shelter and food. With everyday that passes they get closer, I loved the slow burn and spice between them.
No spoilers as to whether they get rescued, you’ll need to read to discover ☺️
Thank you NetGalley, Noelle Adams and Victory Editing for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this installment of the Worthings series. I believe they are all distantly related and have different tropes. In this book Edmund "Worth" Worthing is a young man whose parents died when he was 15. Since that time he's been basically a playboy, dating models and actresses, and not all that serious.

Meanwhile Autumn has been his assistant for 6 years. She does most things for him, and started working for him while she was in graduate school. Autumn is finally ready to move on and restart her life, but just before she officially quits, they have one final trip together on Worth (though she calls him Edmund)'s yacht. They're on the water for a couple of months and then get shipwrecked on a private island.

The next 2 mos are Autumn learning to let go and Edmund learning to become more serious about himself. I liked the two of them and was happy with the HEA for the both. A nice series that fits in "all" the tropes :)

I received an advanced copy and am giving an honest review.

OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK!!
After spending six years as an assistant to reckless, entitled Edmund Worthing, Autumn has finally had enough. She wants more in her life than scrambling to fulfill his every whim and demand. He's got too much money and too little responsibility, and he never takes anything seriously. So she hands in her resignation letter. After they return from an extended cruise on his new yacht, she’ll go. The last thing they expected was to get caught in a sudden, devastating storm at sea. Now they are stranded on a deserted island together and everything is possibly. Even to fall in love.
This was such a great story right from the beginning! So moving and deeply emotional. It’s hot and sexy, but full of meaningful moments and dialogues that warm your heart and break it at the same time. I fell in love with these characters almost form the first page. But once they are alone in the island, everything was even more engaging.
I loved the way Edmund takes care of Autumn and how they help each other. The steamy moments were really nice and the end was absolutely perfect.
I highly HIGHLY recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved the concept but the relationship was lacking.
Stuck on a deserted island with nothing else to do but survive and talk? You would think that deep conversations, heart-to-hearts and confessions about unrequited feelings would have taken place.

What we got was a glossy survival experience where everything fell into place, minimal character development and an out-of-the-blue romance because we as the readers are given a paragraph of the hero's 'love' for the heroine. No context, minimal background and lack of depth.

This could have been such a great story but the execution needed work.

I enjoyed reading Restoration by Noelle Adams. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Noelle Adams has become my ultimate comfort author and I adore her books!

4.75🌟!

Imagine what happens when a seemingly Air headed billionaire hero with heart of gold and a no nonsense, serious heroine who works for him are stranded together on an island with only basic things.
Edmund and Autumn were made for each other. They had mutual understanding, respect and friendship between them. I loved how they complimented each other’s personalities so perfectly.

Survival romance is something I enjoy immensely. There is something so fascinating about it when a hero and heroine are forced to survive and work together. So you can guess how much I loved this book.

This was fun, steamy and a quick read that I couldn’t put down.
Absolutely recommended.

—Opposite attracts, forced proximity.
—Boss x employ.
—Stranded, Survival romance.
—standalone and 🔥!

P.s All my reviews are posted and links are given below.

4.5 ⭐️
Read if you like: workplace romance, boss x personal assistant, forced proximity, stranded on a deserted island, survival, shipwreck, he saves her, caretaking, one shelter, no third act breakup

I absolutely loved this book! I can always count on Noelle Adam’s writing to get me out of a slump.

Edmund is a billionaire who needs guidance and for someone to make the decisions for him. Despite this, he has an incredibly kind heart and I found it so sweet that he had a soft spot for Autumn 🥰
Autumn is Edmund’s rock, she does everything for him until she comes to the realisation that she is holding her life back by staying to work for him.

When they get stuck on a deserted island in a shipwreck they get to know each other in a way they never would have in the “real” world. I loved this survival story and how you can see them slowly falling for each other 💕

I recommend this book if you’re looking for a quick read with forced proximity and a survival romance

I am an avid reader of all things Noelle Adams. I was so excited to have the opportunity to read and review an ARC of her latest work.

The pictures that this author was able to paint in the reader’s mind were so beautiful and clear, I felt like I was on the island with them.

In the beginning I was afraid that I wouldn’t like Edmund’s character, but he ended up having a very caring side. Autumn took care of every minute detail in Edmund’s life but he never really saw her as anything more than his assistant- they truly deserved their HEA!

Noelle Adams is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine.Restoration is her latest book and it doesn’t disappoint.

The second book I've read by this author, and RESTORATION reminded me of all the reasons why I love her writing! A friend of Autumn's dad got her a job as a personal assistant to Edmund "Worth" Worthing. Six years later, she finds herself still doing the same thing and realizes she needs to go back now to what she initially planned to do and finish her Masters or she never will. Edmund, the billionaire, can't imagine what he'll do without her... after all Autumn helps him with everything, including packing his suitcases. Autumn gives her resignation later and will finish her position after they come back from a cruise... but what happens after if they've been shipwrecked from said cruise for several weeks and are in forced proximity and attraction and feelings ignite? Autumn is used to taking care of Edmund, can Edmund in return also take care of Autumn? I loved Autumn and Edmund, their opposite personalities, their banter, and the intensity between the two.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co=op and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I Loved It!!!

Edmund is a billionaire who has relied on his personal assistant for the last six years, maybe a little too much.

Autumn took the personal assistant job as a temporary solution - thinking she’d go back to University to finish her MBA.
Six years later she is still Edmund’s P.A.
After finding the courage to finally resign she agrees to accompany Edmund on a sailing trip before she leaves, a kinda working notice.

They find themselves in an impossible situation, where they realise how they truly feel about each other, but what will happen when the situation is over???

It was a beautiful, if not funny at times story - just what I needed on a tough day like today.

I will certainly be going to read the first three books in this series and I look forward to more by this author.