The Other Brother Review

Title:  The Other Brother
Series:  Beta Brothers #4
Author:  Hazel Kelly
Release Date:  July 7, 2019
Purchase Link:  Amazon

My Rating:  3 HEA Hearts

*A special thank you to the author for an arc of this book!

Synopsis:
College dropout Piper has been down on her luck for years, and she’s beginning to doubt whether she'll ever achieve her dream of becoming a professional chef. 

So when a handsome stranger who's frostier than frozen food offers her a job that seems too good to be true, she's in no position to ask questions. Yet the longer she works for him, the more she has.

Unfortunately, her billionaire boss is determined to keep Piper in the dark, especially about his past. But little does she know, her warm presence is making him think about his future for the first time in years, a future he increasingly hopes she'll be a part of.

Can New York's beastliest bachelor open his heart to the beautiful young woman he saved on a hunch? Or will his demons drive her away before he finds the courage to admit his feelings?

Review:
A heartwarming, modern Cinderella & Prince Charming story!  Ash and Piper meet in the grocery store produce department when she advises him on the art of picking out the perfect zucchini squash (cue the sexual innuendos) and then promptly disappears.  They meet for a second time at a charity event when he criticizes one of her appetizers as being too salty and then offers her a job as his personal full-time chef.  Piper is literally "Cinderella" - down on her luck, hungry & thin, and living and working in a bad situation.  She figures the rich, handsome stranger is the lesser of two evils so she accepts his offer, burns her bridges, and moves in with him.  Ash is a billionaire, but no one would mistake him as Prince Charming.  He's cold, bitter, and short-tempered, but not abusive.  Both of these characters harbor secrets from their painful pasts and refuse to open up and share them even as they grow closer.  The trust issues are evident, especially on Ash's part.  It's not hard to see the disaster waiting to happen.  

Readers are privy to both character's thoughts and feelings as the story unfolds.  I enjoyed seeing their emotional connection grow along with the sexual sparks.  The author's snarky humor serves to lighten the mood and tone of this book with several laugh-out-loud scenes.  I will say I was looking for just a little more depth in the plot line as it was a bit predictable.  I also wanted to feel more raw chemistry - more push and pull from and between these characters.   I've felt that energy to a greater extent with Kelly's previous books and hero/heroines.  Having said that, The Other Brother is a good slow burn romance with a beautiful fairytale happy ever after that will leave readers smiling.  A Must Read!

My Rating:  3 HEA Hearts . . .And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra