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Blogger Site: WhiskeyintheJar Romance
Guest Reviewer at: Reading Between the Wines book club
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Avery is a wedding coordinator whose business she runs with her sister is up and coming. At one of her more affluent weddings she gets the attention of a mother, whose family is basically Texas royalty, who wants her to organize her daughter's wedding; it would be a huge boost for her business. Avery also meets Joe Travis, another member of a Texas royalty family, who just plain wants her. However, after being left at the altar a couple years ago, Avery is gun shy of getting involved again. So with her professional life on the rise and Joe and her friends trying to get her to allow her personal life to flourish too, Avery is being pushed and pulled in many directions.
Brown-eyed Girl is the long awaited fourth book in the Travis family series by Lisa Kleypas. Readers of the series have been chomping at the bit to read about little brother Joe getting his happily ever after. The character of Joe did not disappoint, he oozes so much charm you'd gladly sacrifice your last breathe to drown in it. The story is all from Avery's view point, so I did find myself missing Joe's internal thoughts and feelings; especially, the thinking behind wanting Avery so much. Avery allows the chip on her shoulder from being left at the altar to create a wall between her and Joe. She is at turns dismissive, cold, and hardheaded with not giving Joe a chance. Joe actively pursues her with calling, texting, and approaching her whenever he sees her. He never crosses the line into stalking but I very frequently found myself wondering just what in the world immediately drew him to her and why he kept trying. This is the land of romance, so I'm sure her inner beauty and all was the draw but seriously, Avery gave him no incentive to keep trying.
If Avery's reluctance had lasted for only the beginning of the book, I could have rolled with it but it lasts for over half. A relationship where one person is dragged along kicking and screaming, which basically describes Joe and Avery's, is just not that fun to read about. Quite frankly, I was more interested in Avery's sister Sofia and their employee Steven's relationship. They had the push/pull, feisty banter, and chemistry that made their romance interesting, investing, and believable. I felt their connection much more than Avery and Joe.
There were a couple storyline's swirling around, Joe trying to get Avery to give him a chance, Avery organizing the biggest wedding of her career (the groom is Joe's cousin Ryan and I hope we get his story next), Avery getting the chance to host a TV show in New York, and Sofia and Steven's drama. As you can see, Avery had a lot piled on her professional plate and it tended to steal the spotlight from her and Joe as they didn't get to spend as much time together as I typically like my couples to. It's Kleypas writing, so of course, it is overall good but while the meat of the story felt like it was there, I felt like the heart wasn't.
If you liked the previous books and characters of the series, you'll delight in knowing they make frequent appearances in this. We get updates on their lives; including the good and the bad, which I absolutely loved; Haven and Hardy fans better have tissues nearby. Brown-eyed Girl may not be the best of the series but Joe's charming, sweet, and sexy ways will seduce the pants right off you and should not be missed.