Review: Ivy Entwined – Laura Simcox

When Ivy Callahan returns to her hometown as mayor, she doesn’t expect much to have changed. But now her ex-fiancé is the town planner, the biggest business is closed, and the only store interested in Celebration, NY is a Megamart. On top of it all, the liaison for the big, bad, box store is Marcus Weaver, her childhood crush. And he’s still as dangerously delectable as ever.

Marcus unwillingly spent his teens in Celebration with his vindictive, drunken uncle. As far as Marcus is concerned, the town’s only use is to cement his rise up the corporate ladder. He needs that Megamart opened, and Ivy is his ticket. But the sexy, stubborn mayor could also be his downfall.

As the unemployed townspeople put on the pressure, Ivy needs to do something. With a fresh downtown-renewal project in the works, Ivy could stop Marcus and his Megamart before they kill the town’s spirit. But with sparks flying between Ivy and Marcus, they each need to decide what’s more important: their careers or their hearts.

Series: A Something to Celebrate Novel
Release Date: August 26, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Source: Provided by Publisher
Reviewer: Shannon
Rating:

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Reviewer’s Thoughts

Anytime a book had a grandmother that swears like a trucker, I’m bound to love it.  Not only does IVY ENTWINED have a potty mouthed Gramma, but it has a mayor with a tendency to be a bit foul and a hot investor looking to fulfill his dream over owning his own “big box” store in his old hometown.

Ivy and Marcus were two characters that I could have continued to read, even if all they were doing were driving each other nuts, because of the chemistry they had.  They could rub each other the wrong way one minute and with a wink or a sarcastic reply, be all over each other the next.  Beneath both of their stubborn exteriors, they both wanted what was good for their hometown and be with each other.  Their relationship may have started with half truths, little white lies and heaped with family deception, but they both learned that despite all of that and the fact that they won’t always agree on things, they needed each other.

Marcus and Ivy aren’t the only characters that draw you in.  Ivy’s Gramma and her parents, Delia and Brian, add an element to both Marcus and Ivy’s life that they needed.  Most of that time that little added something meant laughs for the reader, but while we could laugh at Ivy and Marcus’ expense, would could also see the Callahan family helped Ivy and Marcus to not be so serious and enjoy each other.

I look forward to more books by Laura.  This was an absolute joy to read and I hope to catch up with the resident of Celebration, NY again soon.