Curves for Days

By Laura Moher. Pub Date 8/22/2023

4*s. Best enjoyed when you need a cozy sassy/grumpy romance.

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“Sexy Southern romance with a charming plus-size heroine and a gruff, grumpy hero.

Rose Barnes feels best when she’s invisible—so when she wins the lottery and is suddenly thrust into the spotlight where everyone wants something, hiding out in a small town in North Carolina makes perfect sense.

Rose has got curves for days—and to Angus, the big, burly, bearded contractor working on her new house, she’s just plum perfect. Rose is surprised to learn that Angus has a sense of humor and a soft heart beneath that gruff exterior. Angus can’t help noticing that wacky Rose is smart, funny, and has a sexy underwear stash that leads him to some very unprofessional fantasies.

As their unlikely friendship becomes love, Angus becomes determined to help Rose overcome what he believes are financial troubles. But with Angus’s need to always give more than he receives, Rose’s multi-million secrets could mean the end of a beautiful relationship.“

REVIEW:

First of all, I had the hardest time putting this down while it was the current read in my Kindle. I read a chapter. Then another. Then another. Before I knew it, I was 60% of the way through this and it was definitely past my bedtime. 

Angus and Rose’s relationship was a slow burn. They did not like one another at first. Then they became great friends…then something far more. It was told over months of time, two people with hard pasts learning to open up and trust someone else to the best of what they could. The heat was mostly great, but it was the absolute care of compassion that they developed that really made this book what it was. 

I love thick girl contemporary. It’s a recent love of mine and I find it super entertaining and understandable, as I’ve been those characters. Thickness hasn’t always had its day, but it’s coming into its own as society loosens its grip on women’s soft bodies. It is a major turn on to read a book that explores us beyond just what we look like and our acceptance of ourselves, and this had that in spades. Rose experienced so much in her time that wasn’t necessarily driven by her size, but by someone using it against her after they had violated her. It explored that deep distrust when someone has been left alone and hurt like this character was. To be able to escape and find family in a place so far away from where you’ve spent your life is something incredibly special, and I love that arc for Rose. 

Angus accepting his own worth and allowing someone to give him care was also fantastic. To see him come alive throughout the story as Rose gives him a soft place to explore his feelings again and allow himself to love not only someone else but also the person inside was beautiful. For them to grow like this together? 

I really enjoyed this novel. I won’t lie, it was a little slow in some parts and I had to read ahead just to get to the conflict –I know, a cardinal sin! I loved how it was handled. It was a very realistic scenario between two people, and the resolution was very sweet, exciting, and left me feeling light hearted and gooey (it’s a romance…if that’s a spoiler, you’re probably new to the genre). 

I definitely recommend to anyone wanting a cozy romance where the plot doesn’t get too heavy and you like slow burn enemies to friends to something more romance.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for this honest review.