I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Just a Little Crush (Crush #1) last year (read review here) and enjoyed it so much that I jumped at the chance to also read an ARC of Just a Little Flirt (Crush #2). I'm so glad I did because I loved it every bit as much as the first book, if not more.
Too much time spent partying and hooking up with guys has left Fallon close to flunking out of college. But she's taking her summer internship in the pediatric ward of a hospital seriously and is determined to turn things around. She even bets a friend that she can make it through the six week internship without sleeping with anyone at work.
That was before she ran into (literally) Cade, who volunteers with his therapy dog, Scout, and spends time with the kids at the hospital. He's the hottest guy Fallon has ever seen and just happens to also be sweet and funny and genuinely interested in Fallon. But guys like Cade don't go for girls like Fallon, right?
A history of one-night stands since arriving at college left Fallon with quite a reputation. She's a party girl who isn't shy about her escapades. But an opportunity to be hired on as a staff member following her internship has Fallon determined to put her reputation to rest and be taken seriously. There was so much more to Fallon than just partying and random hook-ups. As I learned more about her background and her relationship with her ex-boyfriend, she became easier to understand and much more relatable. She was determined not to get burned again and thought she knew the best way to avoid it. True love and happily ever after might be for other people but not her.
I loved watching the relationship develop between Fallon and Cade. It was a slow burn, but with plenty of heat! Fallon was determined to not fall into her same pattern and not do anything to jeopardize her internship (plus win that bet). But her attraction to Cade was undeniable and, to her great surprise, it was more than that. Cade was fun and sexy and kind and considerate. But good guys like Cade just didn't get involved with girls like Fallon. Despite Fallon's doubts, Cade's attention doesn't wane and she finds herself more and more attracted to this guy... and not just to his looks.
Fallon was so determined that she didn't deserve a guy like Cade and I loved how Cade ever so patiently showed Fallon how he saw her. And that was my favorite thing about Cade - his patience and his willingness to give Fallon the time she needed to open herself to a relationship with him. Sweet and sexy, funny and understanding... Cade might be the best book boyfriend ever.
Despite the almost-instant attraction between these two, there was no insta-love and their relationship took time to build. Watching as they slowly got to know each other was a joy. I loved their banter and Pizzitola has an amazing gift with dialogue and humor. There were several laugh out loud moments which doesn't happen often for me.
Confession time: If I know in advance that an animal plays any significant role in a book chances are I'm going to pass on it. I'm just not an "animal/pet person" and don't typically enjoy books where animals/pets are featured. I even cringed a little when I first read that Cade was a therapy dog handler. But what a surprise it was to find that I loved what Scout added to the story. Not only did I not mind in the case but I warmed to Scout and I even got a bit emotional at one particular scene. The fact that I was able to overcome my initial bias and actually enjoy this aspect of the story is something that I credit completely to Pizzitola's writing.
There were so many times when I caught myself smiling as I read this book. It quite literally put a smile on my face. And that's what I loved most about this book. Pizzitola's creation of two characters that I was totally invested in, truly pulling for, and who just made me happy. This is only my second book by Renita Pizzitola but I already feel that I'll be reading anything she writes from now on.
Just a Little Flirt is the second book in the Crush series but can easily be read as a stand-alone.
Note: ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Find her at:
Website:
http://www.renitapizzitola.com/home
Twitter: @renitapizzitola
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