Review: Take My Breath Away by Christie Ridgway

Title: Take My Breath Away by Christie Ridgway
Cabin Fever Series Book One
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: HQN
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From USA TODAY bestselling author Christie Ridgway comes a sparkling new series set in the California mountains, where Hollywood glamour meets rustic charm, and the sparks fly among the unlikeliest of couples…

Poppy Walker has a plan to restore the family resort, and she’s sticking to it. So when a good-looking guy with plenty of cash rents one of her half-repaired vacation cabins, she figures he’s just what the handyman ordered. But when a storm blows through, it takes down some trees, her roof and then…her self-control. Even though she’s been burned before by a wealthy passer-through, she can’t stay away from the brooding but gorgeous stranger in the bungalow next door.

Former teen idol turned Hollywood exec Ryan Hamilton wants a private place in which to endure his very personal heartbreak. Finally, at this rustic mountain cabin, he has all the seclusion one man could want—until sparks begin to fly with his sexy, formerly chilly landlady. By the time the weather dies down, they’re both hot, bothered and certain they’re still wrong for each other. But there’s no telling how they’ll face the new storm brewing on the horizon…

The Review:

Take My Breath Away, the first novel in Christie Ridgway’s Cabin Fever series, is a delightfully sweet yet very sexy contemporary romance. In a town where love affairs between the locals and the wealthy visitors have an automatic expiration date, Poppy Walker learned the hard way to keep her distance from the tourists, but Ryan Hamilton quickly awakens her long dormant desires.

Poppy is determined to re-open the family’s dilapidated resort despite of her siblings’ strenuous objections. With very little cash, but a whole lot grit, she has just begun her repairs when she agrees to rent one of the cabins to Ryan. Shocked and dismayed by her attraction to Ryan, Poppy maintains a safe distance from her gorgeous renter until unforeseen circumstances force them into seclusion along with Poppy’s adorable young son Mason and Ryan’s brother Linus.

Poppy and Ryan are fabulously developed characters that seem to be completely wrong for each other. Poppy is fiercely independent, a little naive and hopelessly optimistic. Ryan is jaded and tormented by the heartbreak of his past. One of the things they both have in common is their inability to confide in one another until they are absolutely forced to reveal their secrets. Poppy and Ryan also share a strong attraction and while they are surprisingly willing to give in to their passion, they each continue to guard their hearts from further pain.

In addition to Poppy and Ryan’s storyline, love also blooms between Linus and Poppy’s cousin Charlie. They rekindle their summer romance, but both are hesitant to commit to a real relationship. Their backstory is written as a screenplay which is confusing at first and makes the story feel a little choppy.

Take My Breath Away is an extremely heartwarming novel with an endearing storyline and charming characters. The plot is very engaging and realistic and the romance between Poppy and Ryan is slow-growing and believable. While the storyline is mostly light-hearted and laced with laugh out loud humor, there are also a few heartbreaking scenes that are tear-inducing. The brief, but intriguing, glimpses of Poppy’s siblings neatly set up the future installments in the Cabin Fever series.

All in all, Take My Breath Away is a lovely, heartfelt novel of healing and love that old and new fans of Christie Ridgway are sure to enjoy.