A review by lauriereadsrom1
Always Mine by Laura Pavlov

emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Vivian Thomas was on her way to break up with her longtime boyfriend when she found him cheating on her with a co-worker. It hurt even though she had known in advance that the relationship was over, but what's worse is that only six months later, her ex is engaged to his mistress and has invited Vivi to the wedding. She immediately declines the invitation, but it makes her start to think about everything she's missed by dating the same guy since high school. She wants more experience before she settles down, and who better than her best friend Niko West, the ultimate playboy, to help her get it? Afraid of messing up their friendship, Niko does his best to resist Vivi's advances, but it's not long before the attraction between them becomes too powerful to ignore. When they realize how good they are together, will friendship still be enough, or can Vivi convince Niko that they're meant to be more than just a temporary fling? 

I loved this story so much! Niko and Vivi were completely adorable together, and the shift in their relationship from friends to lovers was perfectly paced. Niko's fears about being in a serious relationship were completely understandable after everything he went through in his childhood, but he worked hard to overcome them so that he could give Vivi the life she wanted and deserved. Beneath his sometimes grumpy exterior, Niko had a heart of gold, and the way he interacted with his little niece, Mabel, proved that his worries about turning into his father were unfounded. 

I highly recommend "Always Mine" for all fans of contemporary/small town romance. It's a fantastic start to Pavlov's new series and I can't wait to see what's to come in future books. (Hopefully one of those books will include a happy ending for Niko's friend and fellow firefighter Jace!)
 
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own. 
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