Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781488085390 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Harlequin |
| Publication date: | 11/01/2018 |
| Series: | City by the Bay Stories |
| Sold by: | HARLEQUIN |
| Format: | NOOK Book |
| Pages: | 368 |
| File size: | 1 MB |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Ava's Prize
4.3 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
3 reviews.
 |
I have to admit that Kyle is difficult to warm up to. But that's not totally his fault. He created a medical warning device and then sold it to a large tech company, not realizing that in exchange for making millions and millions of dollars, his product would be denigrated into something it wasn't meant to be. But he likes having the money and he likes doing things to take care of his family. He has filled his home/office with lots of toys to make up for the loneliness that he feels. He grew up with few friends, thanks in part to a severe food allergy that made it difficult for kids to understand him and his needs. They even betrayed his trust in a most horrific way. So he finds it extremely difficult to trust people. Sure there are a lot of people who like to surround him in life, but they are more interested in the celebrity status than anything actually deep and meaningful. No one really knows the true Kyle.
He's also brilliant, but stuck right now because he is supposed to deliver the next amazing idea to this company, and his brain is fried. So he decides to create a contest for other inventors to contribute their ideas for a prize. Only they don't realize that is going to essentially steal their idea in exchange for the prize money.
Ava is part of the reason that he has come up with this contest idea. She and Kyle met after a freak accident on a photography shoot. When she and her friends came to see his office/home, they were casually talking and indirectly the idea was proposed.
Ava works primarily as a paramedic but also spends a lot of time caring for her mother who suffers from the relapsing version of MS. She is also wicked smart and has a lot of great ideas. She is also quite lonely because she is so focused on her mother. She works long hours to make sure that her mother can afford the care and medication that she needs and doesn't worry about social gatherings. She does have her friends, and she is very close with her friends. But romance is definitely the last thing on her mind.
I feel sorry for both of these characters. I know from personal experience how difficult it is to take care of ailing parents, only I was a lot luckier than Ava in the help that I received to do so. And I feel sorry for people like Kyle who have been ostracized for something out of their control, like his food allergy. I understand why he has shut himself off from the world, but just wish he could allow himself to open up.
Somehow the two of them have an attraction to each other, pretty much from the start. Kyle's attraction to Ava makes a lot more sense to me. I don't quite understand why he flicks a light in Ava, at least not at first. But the heart wants what it wants, right?
As the story goes on and the two are working with the other team members on this invention contest, you find that these two people, who are so set in their ways, are actually starting to soften. Ava is realizing that she needs more in her life. Kyle is realizing that you can have true friends and relationships out there. Of course, the true motives behind the contest are going to throw some massive wrenches into the works. But once the seeds of love are planted, all can win in the end, right?
I enjoyed reading this storyline, as it was different than most other romances out there. I also enjoy characters who are deeper with more complexities that they have to work through. It allows for measurable growth, which you want to find in a good book. And I like those ro
|
|
Ava’s Prize is a story of two people who may appear at first glance to be complete opposites, yet in reality are very much alike in their heart of hearts.
Kyle Quinn is, honestly, very unlikable at first – and yet even then there is a glimmer of what really lies beneath the surface of his heart. Specifically, his ultimately-good heart and the loneliness he experiences in spite of his wealth and success. In contrast, Ava Andrews is instantly endearing, the kind of character you want for a friend, and her life is brimming with friends and family who love her and invest themselves in her (and she, them). The supporting characters made this story for me, though, and I especially enjoyed the scenes in Kyle’s arcade – lots of fun and goodnatured competition.
Bottom Line: Ava’s Prize is a solid story with electric romantic chemistry and several sweet moments. Both Kyle and Ava experience steady character growth over the course of the novel, and readers will experience a wide range of emotions as they follow the plot. The fact that several characters have specific medical needs not usually seen in contemporary romance adds another dimension to this already layered story and keeps readers invested in the characters.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
|
|
Set in the hot Northern California startup market, Ava’s prize took me for a ride I have actually lived through. There were many places in the book that truly hit the nail on the head for me so know that the things going on in the story actually happen in real life.
At its heart, Ava’s Prize is about Ava Andrews and Kyle Quinn. These two need to come to terms with what they perceive as their own…failings…before they can feel – and be – successful in life and love. Kyle starts off a bit stiff, at least to me, but he really does have a heart of gold. And Ava, well, she doesn’t show her soft side often but when she does, she shines. Wait until you meet Ben, a kid who is a big part of the backstory, and you’ll want to adopt him, hug him, and then give him anything he wants. Adorbs! Kyle’s sister? Well, alls well that ends well but that’s all I’ll say.
Ava and Kyle go through a lot, mostly torturing own selves, to finally be together but we all knew that it could happen. Getting THEM to believe it was the hard part.
|
Explore More Items
