Melt

By Carrie Aarons

Synopsis

You scream. I scream. We all scream during … well, you get the point.

After a failed eight-year relationship and a cross-country move, the last thing I’m looking for as a single mom is a new flame. In fact, diapers, walls marked in crayon, and daycare pickup are the only things on my to-do list.

Enter Jake Brady, your friendly neighborhood food truck owner whose dimples and delicacies won’t seem to leave well enough alone. With more popularity than the president, his wine-infused sweet treats have our nation’s capital hooked. He’s spontaneous, smug and all-American gorgeous; a dangerous combination considering he has no interest in taking on the responsibilities that rule my life.

But when we can’t seem to sample enough of each other’s … desserts, things start to get complicated. Jake is biting off more than he can chew, and when I watch him with my daughter, I can’t seem to freeze my melting heart.

Maybe it’s his waffle cone. Maybe it’s his … banana split. Either way, I think I’m in trouble with a cherry on top.

Review

MELT is the first book I’ve read from Carrie Aarons, and I found it so enjoyable that I’ll be reading her again. It was a sweet and easy read, one that kept me turning the page from beginning to end.

No one ever told me that dealing with a toddler was like deciding whether to cut the red wire or the blue wire.

I really liked Samantha and her gorgeous three-year-old daughter, Lennon. After finally having the courage to leave her deadbeat partner and father of her child, she moved across the country to try and give herself and her daughter a better life. She’s a hard worker, and I really felt for her when she was trying to find the perfect balance between being a single woman, a mother and a provider.

I loved Jake, who is kind, friendly and an all-around great guy. Though how he ended up so nice is a mystery considering how absolutely awful his family is. I liked that he finally came to terms with the fact they were never going to support him the way they should, and that the best thing for his mental health was to simply walk away. He did run a bit hot and cold with Samantha because of Lennon, but I guess that’s understandable for a man who enjoyed being a bachelor before meeting Samantha.

While I enjoyed this story, there were a couple of things that I wish had gotten more attention. I would have liked some closure in regards to Jake and his family. Does he still speak to them and are they a part of his life? I also would have loved to have seen the opening of his new store, especially since there was a lot of talk about it throughout the story.

MELT is told in dual POVs, is a stand-alone and comes with a HEA for Jake and Samantha.

My Rating: