In the 3rd book of the Love, Lists and Fancy Ships series, we’re introduced to Jack Dunne, brother of Ollie from book 2, and Raine Hart, a med school dropout and musician who was busking her way around Europe until she had her equipment stolen (including the prized Gibson guitar from her grandfather) right out from under her in colorful, picturesque Cobh, Ireland. Left with only the clothes on her back, her phone and passport, and the spare change in her pockets, she stops into the Local pub for a pint. Shortly after, she meets the charming, handsome Jack and the attraction is instantaneous. After asking her opinion about what the pub needs to draw more traffic and listening to her constructively critical suggestions, he reveals that he’s co-owner and that he wants to offer her a job as their new events coordinator. It’s a temporary arrangement, only until she can earn enough to replace her equipment and revamp the pub. Of course, that’s more than enough time for them to give into their growing feelings for each other.
What elevates this heartwarming romance over other friends-to-lovers offerings are the challenges both main characters face. Jack, after years of physical abuse from his father, suffers from intrusive thoughts due to OCD and that, combined with having to move home to take over the pub following his death, caused him to give up his tattooing career. Raine has ADHD and has always felt she was a disappointment to her doctor parents, especially after she quit medical school to become a full-time itinerant musician. Neither one of them is confident in their talent, but they bond over their mental health issues, see in each other what they fail to see in themselves, and lovingly accept what makes them different. Ruiz has chosen a dual POV which enables her to use her characters’ own voices to describe what goes on in their brains that keeps them from trusting themselves to be in a relationship and sharing their talents.
Although this is only Ruiz’s third book, she has already established herself as a thoughtful writer who tackles everything from grief to mental illness with sensitivity, makes liberal use of humorous banter, and treats her characters with dignity. Fans of Chloe Liese and Talia Hibbert will love her books. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley Romance in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
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