The Gist: A moving and intimate opposites-attract romance with a perfectly grumpy Hero and badass Heroine that explores family and the rewards of vulnerability.
Series: ABC Corp, #4*
Release Date: August 26, 2021
A woman working in a male-dominated field.
Organized, strong, and tenacious.
That’s how she has to be to succeed.
HUNTER OWENS
A loner.
He needs no one, has no ties, and his future is an unanswered question mark.
It’s all he knows.
Until the day their lives intersect.
He sees the woman she hides from the world.
She nurtures the part of him he lost long ago.
But they both agree—their connection is temporary.
They are only for now.
Can their stubborn natures allow them to bend and accept that maybe, just maybe, there is more to life than they believed?
That love can heal.
That happiness can exist.
That for now can be forever.
• Parental neglect and abandonment
• Verbal abuse (described, in the past)
• Medical trauma
• No OW/OM drama
• Does have the Hero (majorly) pushing the Heroine away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.
Format: eARC
Rating: 5-stars
*Each book in the series is Standalone
Note: I received Age of Ava from Melanie Moreland’s team in exchange for an honest review.
•••
Age of Ava tells the story of Ava Callaghan, eldest child of Aiden and Cami (see Aiden) and older sister to Ronan (see Finding Ronan’s Heart) and Liam (see Loved by Liam), and Hunter, the grandson of the grumpy old man who refused to sell his land to BAM. Hunter returns to his grandparent’s home after almost thirty years to put the place in order after his grandfather’s passing.
The book begins with Ava and Hunter’s meet-cute, which is quickly followed by Ava putting a corrupt city planner in their place. Impressed, Hunter asks Ava out, but having been hurt in the past, Ava is unwilling to risk her heart.
Insta-Spark Romance
When I read Ava and Hunter’s meet-cute, it reminded me of Moreland’s Insta-Spark collection. While I tagged the book as “insta-lust” on Goodreads, I think Moreland’s “insta-spark” tag is more accurate. In that collection, these instant reactions/sparks from the meet-cute demonstrate true connection and hint at the possibility of true love (the soul mate connection). Ava and Hunter’s connection was tangible, and their chemistry was kinetic.
Age of Ava is an opposites-attract romance. When done well, the couple’s opposition shows the reader each character’s individuality. In Age of Ava, Hunter and Ava’s differences meant they were pushing each other outside of their comfort zones; they forced each other to grow, which was heartwarming. Hunter encouraged Ava to seize the day and recognize that while she loves her job, it doesn’t have to – and shouldn’t – be her whole life. Ava’s close relationship with her immediate and extended family challenged Hunter’s beliefs that he’s a loner because he’s incapable of making meaningful connections. Ava’s family and their welcoming of him make Hunter realize that perhaps he’s avoided connections in the past because he associates them with vulnerability, opening himself up to hurt, as he still carries the hurt from being abandoned by his family as a child.
The Impact of Family
As in Melanie Moreland’s books, family – chosen, extended and immediate – plays a huge role in the Age of Ava. An interesting subplot and impediment to Hunter and Ava’s romance was Hunter’s opinion of the BAM family; his curmudgeon grandfather thought them selfish and power-hungry. These negative assumptions were affirmed by side characters in the book (although we discover they’re jealous and petty), which made it difficult for Hunter to reconcile what he’s been told with Ava’s welcoming personality and family.
I enjoyed how Hunter was unaware of who Ava’s family was when they first met, but that her family didn’t turn into a big secret or result in Hunter being an ass to her just because. It’s such a small thing, but I appreciated how Hunter realized he was wrong and let himself judge Ava – and eventually her family – by his interactions with them.
Interestingly, the main tension in Age of Ava was actually Hunter’s adamant belief that he wasn’t built to stay in one place (which, after finding out about his childhood, is obviously something that was taught to him rather than being an honest preference to live with no ties). There was a lot of angst concerning Hunter’s lack of commitment; he pushed Ava away for most of the book. However, he was never disrespectful to Ava (another aspect that is sadly unique in romance, ahem, Jaxson in My Saving Grace); he even acknowledged and accepted that there were genuine feelings between them, which highlighted Hunter’s concern that he’s incapable of staying, not feeling.
Feminist Fiction
One of my favourite subplots in Age of Ava was how Ava had to navigate being a woman in a male-dominated profession. I loved how the book acknowledged the subtleties of sexism – the everyday stuff that makes being a woman in business exhausting: being talked over/not allowed to talk, constantly having your expertise questioned or played down, being excluded from meetings, and more! Ava’s reaction to everyday sexism was validating; it’s exhausting and harmful to your mental health when you’re constantly defending your expertise/job. I liked how Ava’s character arc focused on improving her mental health and finding that spark for the job she loves again.
In Conclusion
Age of Ava was one of those romance books that clicked for me. I loved Hunter and Ava, what they brought out in each other and their journeys. The family and workplace sexism subplots were engaging and pushed the plot forward. Best of all, there were no little details that bugged me; I’m not one to shy away from down-grading a book to 4.75 stars if there’s even a minuscule element of the plot that doesn’t gel with me (see Finding Ronan’s Heart 😅).
Age of Ava releases tomorrow, August 26, 2021!
Buy Age of Ava
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Other Books I’ve Reviewed by Melanie Moreland
My Saving Grace (ABC Corp, #1)
The Gist: A poignant forbidden romance packed with classic romance tropes: married in Vegas, grumpy Hero, employee-boss relationship and a second chance romance. The novel is riddled with angst and sweet moments and explores what it means to find The One at the wrong time and a Hero who will do all he can to win his girl back. Unfortunately, the plot suffers from a dumb misunderstanding, which detracted from my enjoyment of the novel.
Grace VanRyan has her life mapped out. Law school, a career with ABC, and a bright future ahead of her.
Until Jaxson Richards steps into the picture. He’s everything she hasn’t planned for. Older, sexy, off-limits.
And her new boss.
When the passion between them explodes, will her life blow up along with it?
Tags: Angsty-AF, Contemporary Romance, Emotional, Employee-Boss Relationship, Erotica, Forbidden Romance, Heartbreak, Marriage, Men You Hate to Love, Second Chance, Sweet Romance
Finding Ronan’s Heart (ABC Corp, #2)
The Gist: A delightful and loving story that explores independence, (found) family and meaningful connection. Yet, it falls short of 5 stars for its repetitive scenes and lack of depth in its climactic reveal.
“The Callaghan Triplets.”
“Three of a kind.”
All his life, Ronan Callaghan has been part of a group. Always looking out for his brothers. Never seen as an individual or judged on his own merits.
When his brothers veer onto their own path, he finds himself alone. Restless.
Then he meets her.
Beth.
A waitress who sees him just for himself. None of the trappings of his wealth or family.
A woman who only wants to know him—Ronan.
She captures his heart, but how will she feel when she discovers the truth he’s holding back?
Can he show her the man he really is?
That he would be rather be hers than anything else?
Tags: Coming of Age, Contemporary, Disability, Emotional, Erotica, Family Issues, Secret Keeping, Single Parent, Strong Heroine, Sweet Romance, Traumatic Past
Loved by Liam (ABC Corp, #3)
The Gist: An indulgently sweet companion romance to Finding Ronan’s Heart about the power of family and love yet fails to refresh its shared plot.
He has a successful business, a family he loves, and a life he thinks is fulfilling and complete.
Until a favor for his brother brings him to her.
She sparks something inside him. Something he had no idea he was missing.
One touch and he knows Paige Winters is the woman he wants.
She and her daughter become his focus. His world.
He only has to convince her to believe in them.
Liam entered Paige’s life quietly, but from the moment he took her hand, her world exploded.
Larger-than-life, he stepped in, brightening her days and filling her with happiness.
But she has more than her own heart on the line.
Her daughter, Lucy, has to come first.
As much as her soul yearns for him, can she trust his words?
Can the seeds love plants take root and bloom, growing over the past?
If Liam has anything to do with it, they will.
Author Note: You have read their story as told through Ronan and Beth in FINDING RONAN’S HEART. But readers have asked to see it through the character’s eyes – and my characters agreed. This is a companion novel to be enjoyed with Vested Interest: ABC Corp Book 2.
Tags: Disability, Single Parent, Sweet Romance
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