Surrey is the girl the guy dates just before he finds his dream girl. She starts a new semester the recipient of a heartbreaking wedding invitation and the victim of a hidden camera prank. Shocked to find out the guy behind the prank is in one of her classes at BYU, she's even more annoyed when he starts asking her out. As the semester progresses and she sees no end to his pestering, she decides the quickest way to get rid of him is to give in and date him, then wait for his dream girl to show up and take him away.
Previously published as A Cocky Catch.
Champenois quickly immerses readers into the world of a Brigham Young college student, where student marriages are not uncommon and vows to reserve kissing for engagement or marriage are commonplace. Though the culture of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints may be unfamiliar to readers, the author capably integrates some of the practices of church members into the storyline, imbuing the narrative with authenticity.
The humorous moments add spark to the clean romance between Croft and Surrey, offering a refreshingly different focus from the physical aspects at the forefront of many contemporary romances, honing in instead on what the characters actually admire and like about one another. The tone shifts when Surrey is faced with a stalker, and the fast-paced narrative becomes more riveting, blending smoothly with the lighter material. Readers outside the faith might wish for more detailed explanations of practices/events unique to the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, but this does not detract from the romance of this sparkling debut.
Takeaway: This engaging romance finds a Brigham Young student facing unexpected love.
Great for fans of: Tiffany Odekirk, D.A. Featherling’s Kissing Frogs.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Artfully Annoying by Annika Champenois should be at the top of every romance reader's to-read list. Surrey, our heroine in this rom-com, is gorgeous, the kind that attracts admirers like bees to honey. Except that every one of her boyfriends, just when she thinks they can’t be more in love with each other, suddenly meets their dream girl and gets engaged. Croft, on the other hand, is the unapologetic perpetrator of the hidden camera prank Surrey fell prey to at the beginning of the semester. Croft is adamant about pestering Surrey until she agrees to date him. Sick of him, Surrey has an idea. If she dates him, won’t he, like all five of her ex-boyfriends, find his dream girl and move on? Except there are more hidden cameras than either of them bargained for.First of all, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the banter. Surrey, though lovely and kind, is strong enough to hold her own against Croft’s antics. You won’t fall in love with Croft at first, but over time, you will warm up to him and start to enjoy their banter. Annika Champenois gives us a solid reason why Croft switches from tormenting Surrey to chasing after her. The cover of A Cocky Catch is simple, yet effectively communicates that you have entered a world of romantic comedy, complete with witty dialogue, heart-melting romance, quality friendships, and engaging neighbors. There are no graphic scenes but the chemistry between Surrey and Croft is palpable. An engaging read which is highly recommended.
