Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5
From high school, up until he became a successful attorney Jacob Snowden was convinced that love had it out for him. “Everyone left,” were the words he lived by. His mother, his high school sweetheart, his father, and his fiancé, all left Jacob just when he felt it was safe to let down his guard. Not any longer. Jacob was a determined man, set at keeping people at a distance. If his six foot one, military-made body didn’t scare people off, his permanent scowl surely did. At almost forty, Jacob’s social life was non-existent, but he told himself his work fulfilled him. He helped people get out of their loveless marriages. Jacob Snowden was one of the best divorce lawyers on the east coast and was damn proud of it. So, imagine his disdain when a wedding planner moves into the suite directly adjacent to his… an insanely masculine, male wedding planner.
Wylde Sterling had made quite a name for himself in his hometown of Roanoke, Virginia, working for a wedding planner that catered to the elite. He was known for his charm and impeccable taste. Yep, he was incredible at giving couples the wedding of their dreams. But he wanted nothing more than to plan his own. After striking out in love more times than he cared to admit, Wylde decided to start his own business in a new city, hoping Richmond would give him a fresh start. Things started out wonderfully – until he started to piss off the angry divorce attorney next door.
Wylde could see past Jacob’s mean scowl, knowing there was a reason for it. It was the man’s defense mechanism, his means of keeping people away. Everything in Wylde told him to stay away, but he believed Jacob just needed to meet a man who had been hurt as badly as he had.
The Secrets in my Scowl had me swooning from the start. I loved reading about Jacob’s past and how it shaped him. His experiences felt real and the author did an excellent job describing the military elements and the settings. I’m glad this part was included in the story and not narrated as a confession by Jacob later on. It lets the reader understand him without labeling him an ass.
Wylde’s introduction was a bit slow. Perhaps because I was still into Jacob’s story and wanted to see more of him. It was almost like starting the story all over again. But waiting for them to meet was worth the wait. It was explosive, luscious, and enough to keep the reader into the possibility of a relationship from there on.
The MCs had great chemistry. They weren’t perfect but worked well together. Their pasts made them who they were and it was nice to see them grow through the story. Their profession might look opposite from each other, but in reality, the author brought them together throughout Wylde’s comfort words to Jacob. Their UST was flawless.
Yes, the ending was a bit cliché, but it’s part of the magic. The story was fun and engaging and included great secondary characters. Patrick is one of my favorites. Emotions ran high, but the angst wasn’t overwhelming. Both main characters are snarky and compassionate on their own way. I’m glad Wylde wasn’t the stereotype wedding planner, and I felt sorry for all his mishaps before he started dating Jacob.
I deducted a quarter of a star because I’m a picky reader. I wanted to know more about the future of Jacob’s high school sweetheart, and a more descriptive encounter during the divorce preceding Jacob’s involved at the end of the story– a middle finger, perhaps? Also, I think the plot line with Jacob’s mom was unnecessary. Overall, these comments are more about me as a reader than the story itself.
Jay Aheer did an amazing job finding the right models for the cover. The composition has all the important elements of the story—which are brought into the perfect balance. The blue hue is a bit bland, but it goes with other covers designed by Jay for the author.
Sale Links: Amazon | ARe | Smashwords
ebook, 286 pages
Published: Oct 28, 2016, Via Star Wings Books
ISBN: 9781370823741
Edition Language: English
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 