The Pretenders of Copper County (Copper County #1)

Here's May Archer's latest: "The Pretenders of Copper County." It's the first novel in her Copper County series.

["It was supposed to be a straightforward protection job. Remove the target from Vermont, get him to the safehouse, keep him there until his mafia uncle testifies, get back in my employer’s good graces.

Boom, done. Easy.

But it turns out things get complicated real fast when your target is an adorkable, accident-prone cutie with a shockingly low sense of self-preservation, zero clue that he’s related to the Fromadgio crime boss, and 100% too much inclination to chat happily with strangers.

When Chris compromises our safehouse (and accidentally starts a “lowkey, unavoidable” bar fight), our only option is to go undercover… pretending to be campground hosts in Copper County, New York.

Make that married campground hosts. (Long story.)

Now I’m hiding out with a guy who’s obsessed with action-adventure shows and hand-knit sweaters, and whose most fearsome talent is arranging charcuterie boards, all of which is far less helpful in a gunfight than you might think.

And worst of all… the sweet little virgin I rescued is growing on me.

Somehow I find myself listening to his happy chatter when I should be watching the woods, trying to figure out how his mind works when I should be getting us out of this predicament, and appreciating the way he looks in my shirts when I should be focused on getting my career back on track.

But when the Fromadgios’ enemies finally find us, protecting Chris is no longer just a job. I’ll do anything to protect what’s mine… and there’s nothing pretend about it."]

I don't know if that meet-cute/meet-awkward was really adorable and hilarious or just really unfortunate and kinda sad. Poor Chris went from thinking he was on his first date to thinking he was being kidnapped, and Reed...didn't help (then again, he didn't know that he needed to tone it down). It caused a looot of angst and hurt/comfort, let me tell you. 

These two were fuuucking adorable. It was rough for a bit, but when Reed finally allowed his feelings out, he was all in with Chris. And Chris was all in from the very beginning. Even if they were both aware of the ticking clock following them. They were sweet and open and protective and possessive and understanding. They made each other feel safe and happy and seen and free. Even if Chris was a hopeless disaster (and freaking adorable while doing it)--Reed found it entirely too endearing. 

Even though I skipped Copper County and read all of Winnesome, I looooved how this series, this book specifically, took us from Little Pippin Hollow to O'Leary to Copper County. It was a wide and beautiful tour of May Archer's universe (well the New England towns). And the mysterious Sunday brother doing all of the touring. 

Trigger Warnings: blackmail, stalking, violence, and more. 

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