Book: Unlikely Pair by Chelle Sloan
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Unlikely Pair by Chelle Sloan
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)
Chelle Sloan continues to reign supreme with the latest entry in her Nashville Players series.
I've been (im)patiently waiting for Asher's chance at love after loss since his introduction in Unplanned Play. A grumpy hockey player, single dad to an adorably feisty four-year-old girl who also (secretly) bakes? He is LITERALLY what dreams are made of (ask me how I know). Everyone in his life is trying to set him up, believing he should be ready to move on from the loss of his childhood sweetheart turned wife, who passed away shortly after their daughter was born. But Asher isn't ready to open himself up to romance just yet. I love that he has the emotional intelligence to know his own heart and mind. He's stubborn enough to stand his ground, but he doesn't let that stubbornness close him off when something good—aka Sutton—enters his life.
Speaking of Sutton... she's AMAZING. Despite being handed the shittiest lot in life, she's genuinely kind. But don't mistake that kindness for weakness. She'll stand up for herself (in most situations—her piece-of-work sister and mother are a special case), and she's FIERCE when it comes to her son, Maverick. I love that she leaves the door open for Maverick to have a relationship with his father, even though Rob is one of the biggest POS exes I've ever read about. She can set her personal hurt aside to do what she believes is best for her son. It takes a really big person to co-parent with scum, but Sutton does it gracefully and with just the right amount of sass.
What makes Asher and Sutton's relationship so believable is that they build a genuine friendship first, with the romance coming much later. Neither is looking for love, so their feelings develop naturally through a delicious slow burn. They can be vulnerable with each other in a way that feels authentic, and they have SO much fun together. I melted every time Sutton earned one of Asher's rare smiles. And once things turned romantic (and spicy)? SWOON. So much swoon.
I spent much of this book wanting to punch secondary characters in the face for how they treated Sutton. I don't want to spoil the plot, but just know I needed some blood pressure medication after reading about the ways she's taken advantage of and looked down upon. Yes, it made it sweeter when Asher stood firmly in her corner. Yes, I jumped for joy when she asserted herself. And yes, the sheer audacity made me laugh at times. But DAMN, it was hard not to leap into the book and start swinging. I know Shelby would be on my side (IYKYK).
I LOVED this book, and I cannot recommend the entire series enough. If you want heart, tons of humor, and some spicing spice, READ READ READ.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC!