In the first book of the Original Heartbreakers series, Gena Showalter takes a bad boy straight out of prison and places him in Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma where Jase Hollister hopes to find some peace. Unfortunately trouble with a capital T finds him in the form of Brook Lynn Dillon, a busybody who tries extra hard to keep her partygirl sister in line.

I will warn you that the circumstances in which Jase and Brook Lynn meet are unconventional so I had to give Showalter a hand at being original. However, there is also a chance that it can put some people off. I didn't like it at first because it made me wonder how Brook Lynn and Jase could have a relationship after what had happened to them but as I continued reading, I found that I could eventually forget about that and just enjoy their romance. This is a pretty big deal if you ask me because Showalter isn't just capable of making you believe in a romance but she also makes you believe in a romance with a faulty start. I'm really impressed by that!

It seems that both characters aren't looking for a relationship but it's impossible to deny the chemistry that the both of them have. As a longtime fan of Gena Showalter, I was happy to see that she stuck to her roots and stayed within that she is most good at. The humor is in this novel is absolutely amazing and brought numerous smiles to my face. It keeps it from getting too dark, which I prefer in my Contemporary Romances but that isn't to say that there isn't a lot of heart as well.

Showalter introduces several secondary characters expertly, building towards their own stories. I'm very much looking forward to see what the author has planned for Jase's friends. Each one of them brings something fun to the table so I'm sure reading about them will be a blast. The only one I'm not sure of is Brook Lynn's sister, who seems to be an uncontrollable ball of fire. She has some major fixing up to do but I'm eager for the challenge. THE CLOSER YOU COME is a promising start to the Original Heartbreakers series!