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As office manager of the city’s leading luxury boudoir and pinup photography studio, lovable grump Samantha Sawyer has everything under control. With an eventful summer season on the horizon, Sam is balancing a hectic workload while preparing the Buxom Boudoir “Photobus,” a vintage coach bus converted into a mobile photobooth and meeting space, to make the rounds at Chicago’s bustling summer street festival roster. Sam’s busy schedule makes avoiding the difficult parts of her life much easier, but there’s one person who can see right through her to-do lists and icy façade, really see her.
A lot has changed in the last year for Russell Montgomery. Years of odd jobs and couch surfing around the country had left him scrambling, but after reconnecting with his brother, Reid (and coming as close to settling down as he’s ever been), Russ now works at a hot local restaurant. Russ has been welcomed into his newly engaged brother’s circle of friends—all except a close friend and coworker of Reid’s fiancée, an intriguingly stormy woman named Sam.
Luckily, Sam is certain that the chaos of her calendar will ensure their distance, and she won’t have to deal with Russ or his irritating, handsome smile. But when Russ is charged with the launch of a restaurant food truck for the festival circuit, the sizzling Chicago heat is no match for the fire between them….
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
August 8, 2023 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593739679
- File size: 315365 KB
- Duration: 10:57:00
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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June 5, 2023
Jackson’s dynamic and admirably inclusive sequel to The Accidental Pinup brings readers back to fashion studio Buxom Boudoir. Usually self-assured burlesque dancer Samantha Sawyer is in the midst of a crisis of confidence following her diagnosis with Graves’ disease and subsequent thyroid surgery that left her metabolism “essentially nonexistent.” To distract herself, she throws her all into her career as Buxom Boudoir’s office manager—but equally distracting is aspiring chef Russell Montgomery, the brother of her best friend’s fiancé. Russell is a dreamboat and a total flirt—a dangerous combination. Both on the verge of big career opportunities, they decide to limit their romance to just one summer. With the pressure of commitment removed, Sam’s barriers break down—but what happens when their summer fling sparks serious feelings? Jackson’s sophomore novel has all of the charm of her first, and while returning fans will be delighted to check in on characters they’ve met before, this works equally well as a standalone. The author makes Samantha’s journey to self-acceptance as her body changes achingly endearing. Surrounding its charming protagonists with a group of friends worth revisiting, this adorable rom-com has got the goods. Agent: Rebecca Podos, Rees Literary. -
February 1, 2024
Samantha, the manager of a photography studio, has kept bartender Russ at a safe flirty distance since they met last year. His wanderlust reminds her too much of her father, and she won't repeat her mother's mistakes. Russ plans on moving to New York for culinary school in the fall; despite feeling comfortable in Chicago, he expects to continue drifting around the country until then. But then Sam's father is hospitalized for a heart attack. Worrying about missed chances, she proposes a deal with Russ: they'll have a summer fling while they're both working on the summer festival circuit. But can they initiate a no-strings-attached relationship without feelings blooming? This slow-burn body-positive romance is satisfying, but it takes a while to get started. Emotions take a backseat to the bustle of the photography and culinary businesses, resulting in a story that feels less like a romance and more like a slice-of-life. Narrator Zenzi Williams has a knack for accents, but some of her character voices can blend together. VERDICT An enjoyable but somewhat slow-going sophomore outing for Jackson (The Accidental Pinup).--Katherine Sleyko
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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