Aiden is still angry and grieving his twin brother Aaron's death; Zoe is one of the lawyers who represented the drug company in his settlement. But Zoe quits the law firm and goes on a sort of apology tour; she means to visit Aiden's parents, but finds him instead. And what Aiden needs is a fake fiancee, to help him win the chance to buy the campsite he and Aaron attended as kids (he thinks that the camp's current owners will look more favorably on families rather than individuals). Zoe agrees to the fake relationship, and even helps Aiden with his proposal to turn the camp into a rehabilitation and wellness site for recovering addicts, like Aaron. But as the two get to know each other, and challenge each other, they realize that they both need to make some changes to their plans. Of course, they end up falling for each other, and of course, their ruse is discovered, but they find their way back to one another.

Quotes

"We need to tell a story. That's what all good arguments are, really. Stories." (Zoe, ch. 6)

It's just time, I guess - [it] keeps moving forward, no matter how you try to stay perfectly still in your anger. (Aiden, ch. 8)

"How much work you do on something has nothing to do with whether it's the right idea." (Zoe, ch. 10)

It's scary, the way Aiden and I know each other, when we've spent all this time trying not to. (ch. 13)

"For helping me see that sometimes you start something for a selfish reason, but you can continue it - you can finish it for another kind of reason. A good, kind, unselfish reason." (ch. 20) ( )

A meditation on loss and guilt, Clayborn beautifully threads the needle with this couple. Zoe is a wonderful mix of a lovely personality hiding so much going on within her. Aiden isn't quite as interesting to me but they do work as a couple. Her writing, as always, is beautiful. ( )

Easy escape reading ( )

I'm at 17% and can't muster up interest to continue reading this one. I'm bored. Glad it's a library book. ( )

I didn't realize this was book 2 in the series, but I think it was OK to read book 2 without having read book 1, although I am planning to read book 1 and book 3!
I do enjoy Kate Clayborn's books, she takes characters who are dealing with some difficult issues and brings them to life. In this one, Zoe is an attorney who can't shake the remorse she feels about the O'Leary settlement she handled at her former law firm. This guilt leads her to Aiden, brother of the deceased. and his proposal to her to assist him in a plan that he has.
This plan involves a camp where he and Aaron attended. As Zoe and Aiden pretend to be engaged, their relationship develops, and the inevitable happens. However, it isn't supposed to last.
I am usually up for a romance every once in a while, and I enjoyed this one. ( )