ARC Review: ‘Bracing the Storm’ by J.C. Reed
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Bracing The Storm
by J.C. ReedPublished by Self-Published on May 27, 2025
SubGenres: Contemporary Romance
Format: eArc
Pages: 258
Source: the author
Audience: 18+/Adult
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From New York Times bestselling author J.C. Reed comes a small-town, enemy-to-lovers, billionaire romance.
The guy I just met at the mansion I inherited from a complete stranger?
He's drop dead gorgeous. Sexy. And rude with a Capital R.
Turns out he's not the hot gardener as I wrongly assumed. He's not
only a famous rock star who grew up in the house, he's also ready to
fight for it. And being both hot-headed and Irish, he's going to fight
hard and dirty.I'm not moving out. Full Stop.
But neither is he. So we agree on some simple rules.We'll play roommates for a while. What could possibly go wrong?
Living together with an Irish Hothead will surely cause a major storm.
Let's hope bracing that storm won't turn into a hurricane.
Bracing the Storm is the first book in a duet by J.C. Reed. As a fan of Rockstar Romance, I couldn’t resist reading this book. It features a heroine who inherits a mansion in Ireland, and upon her arrival, she is unfortunately forced to deal with a grumpy yet handsome stranger who lives there and is about to make her life miserable while she tries to sell the place.
The book is told entirely from Lori’s perspective, and while reading, I felt a great deal of sympathy for her due to Patrick’s treatment of her. It wasn’t her fault that she inherited the mansion; she was simply trying to do what was best for herself, especially after losing her job. I admired how she handled Patrick; she refused to let him win, even though he had every right to fight for the place she had inherited. Ultimately, the truth about who he is and what the mansion means to him is revealed.
Lori and Patrick had epic banter, and in the small town, everyone was aware of the growing dynamics between them. This banter eventually gave way to romantic tension, which ultimately developed much more, and I was completely on board with it. My favorite thing was how unaware Lori was of Patrick’s true identity; even he was confused that she didn’t recognize him while others did.
My only issue is that I wish I could have read Patrick’s point of view to understand his feelings for Lori better. From the heroine’s perspective, I could infer a bit of what he might be thinking, but not much. The ending of the book definitely caught me off guard, and even the heroine was caught off guard. No spoilers from me, but if I were Lori, I would be fleeing, too, after what happened and not being able to trust Patrick. Now, I have to wait for the next book in the duet to find out what happens next, which shouldn’t be a long wait since this year is passing by so quickly.
Overall, this is a great beginning to Lori and Patrick’s story, and I give it four stars. I’m eager to see what challenges J.C. Reed has in store for the characters next and whether Lori will achieve a happily ever after with Patrick after what happened in this book.
Single/Dual POV: Single POV.
Cliffhanger: Yes.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you enjoy reading a Small Town Romance story where a heroine inherits a mansion and must deal with a grumpy roommate, then check out this book. Just be aware that it ends on a cliffhanger.
What to Expect:
🎤Rockstar Romance
🎸Small Town Romance
🎤Enemies to Lovers
🎸Grumpy/Sunshine
🎤Forced Proximity
🎸Sassy Heroine
🎤Secrets
🎸Emotional Scars
About J.C. Reed
J.C. Reed is a multiple New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author and a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist. She writes steamy contemporary romance with a touch of mystery and suspense. When she's not typing away on her keyboard, forgetting the world around her, you can find her chatting with her readers on Facebook.
J.C. Reed's Surrender Your Love trilogy has been translated in several languages. For more information about her books, visit the My Books Worldwide section.
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