Review: Her Best Shot by Shannyn Schroeder

Title: Her Best Shot by Shannyn Schroeder
Hot & Nerdy Trilogy Book One
Publisher: eKensington
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, New Adult
Length: Novella/Word Count: 35,000
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

With college graduation looming, three childhood friends vow to make spring break their last blast of pure fun. But at least one of them didn’t count on such incredible heat…

Layla Sharpe is definitely more math ninja than bikini babe, and her future has been calculated with razor precision. Convinced to let loose over spring break, Layla is finally ready to party—until her car breaks down halfway to her destination, leaving her stranded in Georgia with a mouthwateringly hot pool shark. She knows more than enough about angles to learn the game, but this week she wants him to appreciate her curves…

Phin Marks has never met a girl like Layla. She’s more Star Wars geek than seductress, and when he offers her a place to stay while her car is in the shop, he’s counting on the attraction between them to set the nights ablaze, no strings attached. But every moment he spends with Layla makes it harder to let her go. Can he persuade her to gamble in the most dangerous way possible…on forever?

The Review:

Her Best Shot by Shannyn Schroeder is a scorching hot new adult romance that is fun, flirty and drama free. This first installment in the Hot & Nerdy Trilogy takes place over a few days and focuses mainly on the lead characters’ exploration of their sexual attraction but it is still a quick, enjoyable read.

Layla Sharpe is on her way to join her friends for spring break when car trouble leaves her stranded for a few days while she waits on repairs. She is drowning her sorrows in a dive bar when sexy pool player Phin Marks catches her eye. Layla impulsively accepts Phin’s offer to crash with him and their smoldering attraction quickly burns out of control.

The characters in Her Best Shot are fairly well developed for a novella. Layla is a smart, sassy and independent heroine but she is wound just a little tight. Phin is charming and easygoing, but he is not very forthcoming about his past. They come from completely different backgrounds but this diversity adds dimension to the characters and the overall plot.

Her Best Shot is a story that requires a suspension of disbelief to fully enjoy. Due to its short length, everything progresses between Layla and Phin at an accelerated rate. They are quick to jump into bed and their lust quickly gives way to love. The only conflict in the story results from Phin’s extreme reaction to Layla’s unexpected decision about her future. They resolve their problems fairly quickly with little angst but the book’s ending feels a bit abrupt.

All in all, Her Best Shot is an entertaining romance with likeable characters. It is a great beginning to Shannyn Schroeder’s Hot & Nerdy Trilogy that will leave readers eager for the next installment.