Truth and Dare - Ann M. Trader

 A bright and talented environmental engineer, Goldie Vreeland understands facts and figures, but Max Corda, her secret office obsession, remains a puzzle. On the eve of a business trip to a coastal island, fate intervenes, pairing her with her sexy crush. As she thinks about sharing the same space with Max for a week, her world veers dangerously off course.

Fueled by success as engineer and president of his family’s firm, recently divorced Max needs to jumpstart his life. When his father unexpectedly assigns him to Goldie’s project, his closely guarded attraction to her comes front and center. Thoughts of spending a week alone with this beautiful intelligent woman make his internal compass glitch.

Romance stirs with the island breeze, so simple when they’re hundreds of miles away from normal. But as Goldie and Max return to reality, will they discover real love is more than a game?

 

My Review

Truth and Dare tells the story of Goldie and Max, a couple so well-suited that it almost seems surprising that they haven't already got together. They have both been drawn to the other, but haven't believed that the other would be interested. When they are thrown together on a business trip, it soon becomes clear that they are destined to be a couple.

There are of course the usually 'paths to true love' bumps that you can usually expect, but that just adds to the enjoyment of the story. This is a very well-written book, about a couple finding their way to one another. It does contain my least favourite plot device in romance books (which I'm not going to share to avoid spoilers) but even that didn't detract from my enjoyment.

This is the first in a series of books about the Vreeland family, all of whom are named after wildflowers. (I've never heard of a Goldenrod flower before, I'm sure poor Goldie's parents could have found a prettier flower name for her though!) I'd be very interested to read more from this family.

Excerpt 

Max walked toward me, thumb hooked under the shoulder strap of his bag, and smiled. Clearly, he aces the masculinity test with no preparation at all. He tilted his head, like he was thinking over something. Obviously, he had no idea he could ask me anything, and I’d say yes. Readily. Breathlessly.

 “So,” he said, dragging out the word, “about dinner tonight—”

 “Oh, I got it,” I said, waking up my phone. “Sofia texted me everything. Reservations downstairs at seven o’clock.” From the look of his furrowed brow, I wondered if I had a fleck of apple skin stuck between my teeth from my mid-flight snack.

 “Yeah…there’s been a slight change of plans. You and Ethan were having dinner downstairs. I have something else planned for us.”

 Us. The word sounded dreamy coming from his mouth, floating through the air like a kite in springtime. My toes curled inside my sandals.

 “That text,” he said, gaze flickering to his phone, “was from one of my best friends from college. We’re meeting him and his wife for supper. I don’t know what the hell got into Ethan.” He rubbed his knuckles under his chin. “You can’t come to the coast and eat hotel food. Even this hotel’s food.”

 I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “No, of course not.”

 “We’re meeting Jack and Leigh at Thibodeaux’s at eight.”

 Thibodeaux’s. The name twirled through my thoughts.

 Max leaned a shoulder on the wall, and our gazes met. “It’s this fantastic urban grill—gorgeous waterfront views—fresh catch served daily. Exceptional food and service—”

 As exceptional as you…?

 “—so, how’s that sound?”

 My heart skipped a pair of beats, then I relaxed into my natural Goldie grin. “Sounds wonderful.”

 

Author Bio

I enjoy spending time with my family and exploring recipes on the lighter side of southern comfort foods. I’m a member of Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, and I love relaxing on my back porch to read and write. These days I take walks around my neighborhood, but when I was sixteen, I hiked the Grand Canyon with a group of friends. I love watching television dramas (in no special order): Palm Royale, The Buccaneers, The Bear, Emily in Paris, Outlander, Shrinking, Shogun, Outer Banks, Stranger Things, The Crown, and Peaky Blinders and reading a great romance book.