Welcome to the first book in Olivia Dade's newest series set in fictional Harlot's Bay, Maryland. The author is known for highlighting smart, quirky, curvy heroines, and the latest book AT FIRST SPITE is no exception. At her engagement party, Athena Greydon overhears a conversation between her fiancee' and his brother. The gist of the discussion was more of what the older brother, Dr. Matthew Vine III, had been saying the entire whirlwind relationship- Athena would make a horrible wife for Dr. Johnny Vine, a pediatrician. Athena is sick of her teaching job and ready for a change so she quits her job and uses all her savings to buy a 10-foot house her fiancee wants as a wedding gift only to get dumped 4 weeks before the wedding. With nowhere else to go, Athena moves into Spite House even though it shares a brick wall with her ex and she will have to face him once he comes back from the dream honeymoon trip she planned to Hawaii. While she settles into life in the small coastal town, she makes friends including the grumpy bakery owner who listens to erotic monster romance books, members of the local book club, and strangely enough, Dr. Matthew Vine the f#$%ing Third. Both Athena and Matthew must navigate long-held beliefs about themselves and their roles to be able to find their HEA. Sprinkled throughout the story are hilarious situations such as Athena's love of random Google facts and numerous pranks being pulled. Without giving a spoiler, my only negative was that I felt the decision made by the author for the main male character's sexual experience was unrealistic. That said, I frequently laughed out loud and can't wait to see who the next couple to find love in the next installment of the HARLOT'S BAY series.
Bestselling author Olivia Dade welcomes you to Harlot’s Bay in this delightfully sexy rom-com about a woman who buys the town's famous Spite House, only to realize the infuriating man she can't stand lives right next door—and their unwilling proximity might spark something neither can ignore.
When Athena Greydon’s fiancé ends their engagement, she has no choice but to move into the Spite House she recklessly bought him as a wedding gift. Which is a problem, for several reasons: The house, originally built as a brick middle finger to the neighbors, is only ten feet wide. Her ex’s home is literally attached to hers. And Dr. Matthew Vine the Freaking Third—AKA the uptight, judgy jerk who convinced his younger brother to leave her—is living on her other side, only a four-foot alley away.
If she has to see Matthew every time she looks out her windows, she might as well have some fun with the situation. By, say, playing erotic audiobooks at top volume with those windows open. A woman living in a Spite House is basically obligated to get petty payback however she can, right?
Unfortunately, loathing Matthew proves more difficult than anticipated. He helps her move. He listens. And he’s kind of…hot? Dammit.
Matthew may not regret ending his brother's engagement, but he does regret what the breakup has done to Athena. He'll help her however he can. If that means finding her work, fine. If that means enduring nightly steamy story hours, so be it. And if that means watching Athena through their windows a bit too often and caring about her a bit too much…well, nothing can come of it. She’ll never forgive him. Even if she did, how could he ever tell his beloved younger brother the truth—that Matthew wants the very same woman he encouraged Johnny to leave?
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