REVIEW: Getting Out of Hand by Erin Nicholas

Getting Out of Hand (Sapphire Falls #1) by Erin Nicholas, sets the ambiance for Ms. Nicholas’ new small town series, Sapphire Falls. The characters are unveiled, the sleepy little town is described, and the dynamics as well as the hierarchy between the different townsfolk are divulged. After reading the first few chapters, I already felt like a member of the small Nebraskan community, anxiously awaiting to taste Adrienne’s candy confections, while sipping a cup of gourmet coffee, as I peruse through some handmade jewelry, in the soon to be built tranquil shopping district. Its location to be somewhere within the city limits.

Serenity shopping and dining may be a pipe-dream, unless the mayor can secure the land and convince the investors to finance the project build. The gorgeous mayor usually gets what she wants, by using her innate arsenal of feminine wiles, and relying on her extremely overqualified assistant to manage the crux of the project.

Adrianne Scott is a Sapphire Falls newbie. Originally from Chicago, she decided two years ago to leave the public relations rat race and make Sapphire Falls her home. She is a smart, beautiful, and kind woman who seems to always maintain the peace among her colleagues and friends. The simpler life has made her a stronger and healthier person. Her slightly aggressive sexual appetite has lain dormant for a while now, until she meets the unlikely man of her dreams.

Former high school nerd and genius Mason Riley has returned to his home town at the insistence of his business partner Lauren, and the fact that the mayor needs his money. After escaping Sapphire Falls over eleven years ago, he has put his unique brain to work and has become a well known and respected researcher in the field of agriculture. He is now a very good-looking man, wealthy, and uses his smarts to help the poor in underdeveloped countries. What’s left? He needs a woman to make his life complete, and thus far his efforts have proven futile.

Romance is in bloom when Adrienne and Mason instantly click, and as a result, they fall head over heels for each other in only three days time.

I liked this book, however I found the pace to be quite slow. I felt a connection to all the book characters in some form or another and wanted to get to know them on a more personal level. I love the reunion theme and Ms. Nicholas does a seamless job of incorporating Mason into the hubbub that he never felt a part of while he was growing up. Adrienne’s ability to truly understand Mason’s idiosyncrasies as well as his research, put a smile on my face. Especially when she permitted him to write on various parts of her body, so that he would not forget a potential breakthrough idea or formula.

Overall, a satisfactory romance and I am hopeful that the second installment flows at a much quicker pace.

Book Info:

Erin Nicholas; 1 edition (July 13, 2014) | (Sapphire Falls #1)

Sapphire Falls has few good memories for Mason Riley. So what’s he doing in the middle of the annual town Festival/class reunion eleven years after leaving town without a look back?

Letting the most popular girl in town—then and now—kiss up to him.

Mason has come a long way from the nerdy outcast Sapphire Falls remembers. His genius IQ has helped him make a name for himself with everyone from the World Health Organization to the White House. He’s also got the bank account to make the Mayor of Sapphire Falls herself—the girl who broke his heart in high school and the one who now wants him to donate to the town’s big building project—take notice.

He can’t wait to tell her no in person.

Adrianne Scott loves Sapphire Falls. The sleepy little town where her college roommate was elected Mayor has been the perfect place to escape the fast-paced, high stress sales job she had in Chicago. She’s happy, healthy and the new project means her dream candy shop can now become a reality. Everything is good in her quiet life. Until Mason Riley comes home.

Mason sure doesn’t look—or kiss—like a socially awkward geek. In fact, he makes Adrianne’s heart pound like nothing she’s ever experienced. Which means she needs to stay far away from him.

A great plan, until her friends inform her that Mason’s donation to the project is dependent on keeping him away from the Mayor while he’s in town.

Now all Adrianne has to do is keep Mason busy, distracted and feeling good about—and generous toward— his hometown… oh, and avoid falling for the world-saving, nerd-turned-hot-guy in the process.