REVIEW: Life of the Party by Kris Fletcher

Life of the Party by Kris Fletcher: Jenna is looking for a second chance and a fresh start. She’s determined to move on from her past as the daughter of a crook and a party girl turned trophy wife. Working in her sister’s coffee shop is jut temporary until she can finally graduate from college and get out of Dodge. Between the accident and her divorce, she’s planning to focus on herself.

Cole wants to help others. That desire drove him into law school and now in his bid to become the town’s mayor. While he’s sexy, charming, and passionate, he’s also a workaholic who often doesn’t know the meaning of slowing down. With the help of good friends, he’s putting all of his efforts into winning the primary before facing off against the current mayor.

Cole has no time for a relationship, but he has to rethink that when he meets Jenna. She certainly makes an impression with her unique perspective and independence. Both feel the immediate attraction, but Jenna is wary when she learns that he’s a politician. She’s not fond of politicians as a whole, after the scandal her own father created, so no one is more surprised than she is when Cole offers her a place working for his campaign and she accepts.

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Honest to a fault, aren’t you Just Jenna?”
“Hiding things never struck me as a great strategy for success.”
“Wonder where you learned that one.”
“I guess maybe I was old enough to pick up a few things at my father’s knee.”

Due to Jenna’s father, she is the very last person who should be working on a political campaign, much less tempt Cole into a relationship. But Cole comes to find that he loves working with Jenna and having her so close. Both are aware of the potential fallout, but they can’t ignore their chemistry. Their relationship heats up as the pressure builds with election day drawing closer. The unexpected return of Jenna’s father only complicates matters.

“I keep thinking of Sleeping Beauty.”
“Tell the truth. You don’t want to be mayor. You have a burning lifelong desire to be Prince Charming.”
“Well, you know, if you’re a guy who’s into tights, it’s either Prince Charming or superhero. I’m lousy at flying and all that, so Prince Charming seemed like a more attainable goal.”

Life of the Party is an intriguing look at small town politics and family dynamics. Kris Fletcher created a strong and ballsy heroine who comes out fighting. Ms. Fletcher created entertaining characters in Jenna’s family and Cole’s friends. Life of the Party can be read as a standalone in the Calypso Falls series. Fans of Shiloh Walker and Mari Madison will enjoy Life of the Party.

Book Info:

Publication: January 17th 2017 | InterMix | Calypso Falls #1

In this all-new contemporary romance series, the five Elias sisters of Calypso Falls, New York, discover that love sometimes arrives in surprising ways…

Jenna Elias was always the life of the party, coasting on her charm and beauty, hiding the shame of the scandal surrounding her absentee father, a corrupt politician. But the party ended all too soon with an injury that left her partially paralyzed and a husband who simply left her. Now, at age thirty, she’s back in Calypso Falls. She leads a simple existence working in her sister’s coffee shop, but Jenna misses the joy she once had in her life. Then Cole Morrissey walks into the coffee shop.

As idealistic as he is sexy, the local lawyer is running for mayor of Calypso Falls. Drawn to Jenna’s quick wit and radiance, he asks her to volunteer for his campaign. As the two start working together, there’s no denying the powerful attraction they feel for each other. A desktop makeout session leads to much more. But when Jenna’s dad returns to Calypso Falls and wants to be a part of her life again, the association could spell political suicide for Cole—and the end of a once-in-a-lifetime chance at true love.