After reading Get a Life, Chloe Brown, I knew I just had to read the trilogy by Talia Hibbert. I often buy books and forget I own them. So I was delighted when I discovered I already owned the second novel, Take a Hint, Dani Brown, as an e-book. Thanks past me!
Chloe’s sister Dani aka Danika is the lead in the second novel. She is a bisexual professor who has given up on relationships. She broke up with her ex-girlfriend because things were getting too serious. Not great that they are colleagues. Things are a bit icy at work. The novel begins with Dani hilariously casting a spell to bring her a hook-up buddy. She doesn’t need a relationship, just good sex. After she unwittingly is trapped in an elevator, her work friend Zaf rescues her. He literally sweeps her off her feet to become the answer to her spell. The whole thing is captured on social media by nearby students. The internet assumes they are dating. Dani does think he’s attractive. She soon propositions him to pretend to be in a relationship.
Zaf is a former Rugby player with a burgeoning charity foundation. He quit professional sports following a family tragedy. He could use the publicity to help with donations and exposure. He’s been a bit aimless while working security at the university. He has some anger issues that translate as being overzealous with the rules. But he has always been sweet with Dani. He loves romance novels and is absolutely smitten with her. He knows it might end in heartbreak but agrees to a friends-with-benefits arrangement. Dani doesn’t have time for a career and romance. She is preparing for an important presentation attended by a professor whom she idolizes. They spend most of the book denying their feelings. And sleeping together A LOT. It takes a heart-to-heart with her sisters for Dani to get the hint that she’s in love.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown is the third novel completing the Brown sisters’ trilogy. Eve is the autistic younger sister in the Brown clan. I instantly liked her in the first novel. She has spectacularly quit or left jobs and schools under terrible circumstances. Most recently, she planned a wedding and let the doves escape before they did their job. Oops. Soon after, her parents tell her to move out and get a job that she keeps. They were pretty generous and didn’t immediately kick her out. Eve doesn’t take it well. She takes an emotional drive through the countryside and ends up at a bed and breakfast. She meets the straight-laced owner, Jacob, and they don’t exactly hit it off. Eve accidentally hits Jacob with her car. She feels guilty and stays the night to take care of him. He is desperately looking for a chef to help him win a local food festival. He needs the award to drum up reservations for the inn. Against Jacob’s wishes, his best friend coordinates with Eve to help with the contest and the housekeeping. During their work, their angry banter soon turns into sexual tension. It’s a very sweet grumpy-sunshine romance. Eve’s horniness was also hilarious. Jacob couldn’t resist her despite his best efforts.
I appreciated how the book portrayed the leads’ distinct personalities. It showcased how autism isn’t one-size-fits-all. Jacob knows he is autistic. It takes him a while to warm up to people. Eve is more outgoing but known as eccentric with her family. Their time together makes Eve realize they have autism in common. The story focuses on Eve embracing what she’s always been good at. She is good at hospitality and an excellent cook. Her skills complement Jacob’s eye for organization and business acumen.
All the series’ characters are truly loveable, including all the family side characters. If you like steamy sex scenes, Hibbert never disappoints in these novels. They have an excellent mix of romance, life observations, and humor. I also liked the realistic portrayal of interracial romance without the culture clash as the central theme. I would love to have a whole book on Zaf’s family. I do hope we see more of this world. The third novel was my favorite, but I highly recommend you read the entire series. You don’t have to read in order, but I think it’s more enjoyable.
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