Engaging the Office Enemy by Kristin Canary, California Dreamin' Book 5 | A Mini Book Review of a Sweet Romantic Comedy
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary advanced reader e-copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review. Also, this blog post includes affiliate links. You can view my affiliate disclaimer here.
I hate fakers—and Dax Nyhart is as fake as they come. I also hate to lose.
My nemesis has been stealing all the best clients for the last year at the marketing firm where we both work—and not because he’s better than me. Because 1) his uncle is the boss and 2) he kisses up to people.
And I’m sick of it. So when he asks me to fake an engagement so he can land another job—far away from me—I agree. It’s only one dinner, right?
Yeah, sure. One dinner turns into an entire Caribbean cruise. But I’ll do anything to get rid of this pain in my backside. Even pretend to like Dax. Or love him, as it were. Even hold his hand, laugh with him … kiss him. Discover that maybe there’s more to Dax Nyhart than meets the eye.
The problem? I have no idea what’s fake and what’s real anymore. I’m afraid this game we’re playing might leave me losing more than just clients to Dax. And this loss might be the most painful of all.
Fans of Jenny Proctor and Emma St. Clair will love this closed-door, friends-to-lovers romantic comedy with lots of sizzle and spice, but no on-page explicit content.
MY REVIEW: ★★★★★/5
Hands down, my favorite book in the California Dreamin’ series! Alexis, Dax and their story drew me in immediately and their chemistry was on FIRE! Not to mention, much of the story takes place on a cruise ship – how fun!
HIGHLIGHTS:
Fake engagement · Office enemies to lovers · Vibrant personalities (and hair!) · Tough backgrounds · A Carribean cruise · A shared bed · A job interview · A common goal · Simmering chemistry!
This story couldn’t have been more fun to read! I simply couldn’t put it down. I was immediately drawn in by Alexis’ snarky personality and introverted ways. She reminded me a lot of myself and was easily relatable. Dax had me captivated from the beginning with his smooth demeanor and the author did a great job revealing little bits of his personality at a time, making him the perfect swoon-worthy match for Alexis. There was a raw side to each of the characters that gave this story depth and made it raw. Throw in a mutual if-you-help-me, I’ll-help-you arrangement, some hilarious scenes, the characters’ personal growth and a tropical cruise and THIS STORY WAS PERFECT. I loved it. Can’t rave it about enough. Go ahead, just read it!
Content Notes For This Book (Not the entire series):
Main Character Age: Late twenties/early thirties-ish
Romance: Clean - detailed kissing, touches and embraces, a shared bed (no explicit content or state of undress).
Profanity: None
Violence: None
Negative: None
Spiritual: None
Alcohol: Alcohol consumption, several scenes surrounding drinks.
Potential Triggers: Characters deal with pain pill addiction in their family (not seen in book), and a parent who has left the family and committed infidelity.
Summary:
I have thoroughly enjoyed this clean, hilarious, yet romantic series from Kristin Canary and definitely give this story a thumbs up and a solid recommendation!
