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Piece of Work

This contemporary romance started out incredibly promising if you can overlook the initial setup of an intern/supervisor pairing.

Rin is a statuesque heroine, who wears heels that bring her above 6’0”. She lives with a great group of girlfriends in New York in an unfathomably beautiful brownstone that no one her age could afford in real life. She’s an art nerd who really comes into her own and gains some confidence. However, that’s about all the good things I can say because things go off the rails rather quickly.

The hero, Court Lyons, starts off fine. I don’t know if he then bumps his head or gets struck by lightning, but he turns into a grossly manipulative asshole who becomes toxically possessive of Rin. There are several scenes where he makes a move on her and blames it on the way she’s dressed.

The romance quickly spirals into one melodramatic scene after another with numerous scheming, jealous women and Court’s domineering behaviors. Rin’s roommates/friends have a come to Jesus talk with her about Court and though it wouldn’t be a romance without an HEA, I sincerely hoped some other romantic interest would show up at the last second.

I’m on the fence about continuing. If all the heroes are akin to Court, I’m not going to have a good time. Unfortunately, Rin’s friends were awesome and I’m genuinely curious about their lives.

– Amanda

Marble isn’t the only thing that’s hard at this museum.

His body is as chiseled as Adonis. His lips are as sculpted as David. And his ego is the size of the Guggenheim.

You know the type—wolfish smile and the gravity of a black hole. The kind of man who sucks all the air from the room the second he enters it. My cocky boss thinks this internship was wasted on me, and he doesn’t hesitate to let me know.

But he’s wrong, and I’m going to prove it to him. If I can stay away from his devil lips, that is. Lips that cut me down and kiss me in the same breath, leaving me certain he’s on a mission to ruin my life.

And maybe my heart, too.