Starred review from February 8, 2016
In the fourth entry of the Something New series, Dawson (The Name of the Game) captures the small romantic moments that make a relationship work. Serious and smart Penelope Watkins, chief operating officer of the Chicago commercial real estate firm Donovan Corporation, has loved her best friend’s brother, NFL football player Evan Donovan, since she was in kindergarten. When they were teens, their heart-to-hearts turned into make-out sessions that quickly escalated—and led to him breaking her heart. Now that a concussion has ended Evan’s pro career, he’s sunk into a drunken depression. Anger and lust are beautifully intertwined as Penelope confronts him, shattering the 15-year silent pact never to be alone together, which they’ve observed at all of the Donovan gatherings. No one believes playboy Evan will settle down, not even Penelope. Skillfully weaving backstory into their current lives, Dawson has developed full-blown characters, spot-on dialogue, and realistic emotions. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callihan, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates
March 1, 2016
Dawson (The Name of the Game, 2015) doesn't disappoint with the fourth sizzling addition to her A Something New series. Penelope Watkins lost her heart to Evan Donovan when she was six years old. In high school, he was the football stud, and she was the prim and proper nerdnot exactly a match made in heaven, or was it? Hiding their mutual attraction, Evan and Penelope talked for hours and teased each other to the extreme. But their secret make-out sessions came to an abrupt halt the day Evan's dad died, and he pushed Penelope away. Now, years later, Evan plays in the NFL; Penelope has a successful career; and they avoid each other like the plague. Then Evan's career ends in a devastating fashion, and he falls into a depression, pushing everyone away. Penelope is determined to snap some sense into Evan for the sake of his family, but the second they are alone, all of the passion they shared comes flooding back. Readers will fly through Dawson's latest sexy and fun novel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)