Release Day Review: "The Idea of You" by Darcy Burke

Synopsis:

Evan Archer has always preferred peace and solitude to the loud antics of his large, hard-to-navigate family. But when Archer Enterprises needs a new creative director, Evan jumps at the chance to claim the job he’s always wanted. Moving home is easier than he expected, but Evan isn’t prepared for the stunning A-list celebrity hiding out in his family’s garage apartment.

Following a major tabloid scandal, movie star Alaina Pierce escapes to Ribbon Ridge. She’s immediately drawn to the quiet, picturesque town and the incredibly sexy—if a little quirky—Evan. He may be built like a Greek god, but he’s honest and straightforward… so different from the Hollywood types she normally dates.


Their attraction is undeniable, but Alaina can’t elude the paparazzi forever, and Evan has no interest in being in the limelight. When the secret she’s been keeping is exposed, the idea of Evan—of real love and a family like the Archers—could vanish in an instant.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Review:

I've loved the books in the Ribbon Ridge series and The Idea of You didn't disappoint. It's the story of Evan Archer, one of the more elusive siblings. In each book, we've seen that many of the Archer children has socially-related struggles and the same is true for Evan. He suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, albeit milder than some I've known. The author does a great job of depicting Evan's Asperger's, including his inability to read social cues and his struggles with large groups and loud noises. I really thought it was well done because Even was very straight forward with Alaina about things that she could otherwise misinterpret. It took them a while to navigate how to make a relationship work and the struggles make Evan endearing to the reader.

I thought Alaina was incredibly grounded for a Hollywood starlet and I appreciated how down-to-earth she was. Even the "Hollywood" aspects of the storyline, to her, were just run of the mill. She didn't come to Ribbon Ridge looking for a relationship but I love how it found her when she was least looking for it.

I found this book very realistic. Evan's perceptions and understandings about his family were very realistic, as were his struggles with Asperger's. Alaina's desires for the future and her "go get em" attitude to meet her goals was relatable. We also were given the chance to check in with our favorite Archer couples!

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Links:

Goodreads • Amazon • Barnes and Noble • Kobo • iBooks

About the Author:
I live on the edge of wine country in Oregon’s Willamette Valley with my devoted husband (my own hero), a daughter and son who illuminate my world, and two Bengal cats. My first completed book was called The Magic Swan. Dedicated to my grandmother (who adored swans), I wrote and illustrated it in sixth grade. My daughter loved to have me read it to her when she was younger. The story is about a guy (swan, of course), Albert, who goes on a magic kick, much to the annoyance of his girlfriend, Gwen, who loves him just the way he is. Seeking to put an end to Albert’s newfound obsession, Gwen (with the help of her awesome pal Phyllis) pretends to need rescuing. Albert rushes to Ponderosa Falls to “save” her from certain doom! Gwen happily points out he saved her without magic…and Albert realizes he has everything he wants and needs in Gwen. Naturally they get married and have many baby cygnets. As you can see, by age 12 I was plotting happy ever afters (and demonstrating my inability to ever be an illustrator). Fast forward some number of years and I decided to get serious about writing a romance novel. Joining RWA was a huge step in attaining that goal, but understand: finishing a book is hard. And oh so rewarding. I’m thrilled to be represented by the brilliant Jim McCarthy of Dystel and Goderich Literary Management and excited for my books to be read and (hopefully) enjoyed!

Website: http://www.darcyburke.com