Do Me a Favor by Cathy Yardley [Review]

Do Me a Favor by Cathy Yardley
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: May 17, 2024

Purchase Links: Paperback | Kindle

Cathy Yardley
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Willa Lieu-Endicott moved from California to the Pacific Northwest to start over. Since her husband’s death, she’s been struggling to get back her old career as a cookbook ghostwriter. Unfortunately, her latest project—ghostwriting for a viral cooking sensation known more for his washboard abs than his meals—has her stuck.

Until she meets her new neighbor.

Hudson Clark, the handyman next door, lives on a farm with his parents and two adult children. He’s the opposite of everything she’s ever known. His happily chaotic life includes biker barbecues, an escape artist dog, and adorably menacing goats. He’s also got a sinfully sexy smile and a rumbling bass voice that makes her shiver. He inspires her.

From their first meeting, the two fall into an escalating cycle of favors, paybacks…and attraction, even though Willa’s trying to keep her distance.

They both have their own pasts to deal with. Now, they just have to figure out if they have a future.

Thoughts on Do Me a Favor: Oh, this was a sweet (and sexy) romance. Willia is coming off of being a caretaker for her now-deceased husband and is trying to find her footing with being a widow while coping with how she's going to pay bills. The house her aunt left her gives her a little breathing room as far as a place to live, but she's struggling with finding herself after the emotional drain full-time caretaking left on her. She's quiet and reserved and she tries very hard to do everything herself. Which is admirable, but not always the best path to take.

Hudson is intrigued by Willa the first time he meets her. She's careful and reserved and he can't stop thinking about her. He's also reached the point where the hookups he's used don't have the shine they used to have. Ans, again, Willa intrigues him. Soon they're exploring a cautious friendship and forging something that's getting closer to what Hudson is looking for in a relationship. It takes time and patience and some breaking down of walls, but it's heading in the right direction.

Speaking of breaking down walls, some of the biggest are Willa's desire to depend on only herself. But then, she's had to do just that for so long that letting people in is hard. And I do mean "people", not just Hudson. She had friends she pulled away from when her husband died. Her family is...let's just say they're complicated. They approach things from s different perspective than Willa does and it takes a some hard communication before Willa sees that.

A dog who loves to make an escape, a family with a lot of heart, a man who's stifled his dreams for long enough, and a lady who needs to learn how to lean on others and accept their help. *thumbs up*