Raphael's Fling is the second in Alix Nichols’ series featuring French brothers named Darcy. The first book, Find You in Paris, had a deliberate connection to Pride and Prejudice. I was hoping for another Austen tie-in, but didn’t detect it here. Our heroine, Mia, works at D’Arcy Consulting where she has been having an affair with the hunky, womanizing boss, Raphael D’Arcy. They have a meet-cute at a Christmas party where she is dressed as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and he’s come as Olaf the Snowman. They have a fun, flirty discussion on the balcony with her having no idea that the snowman is actually her boss. They get to know each other without having their attraction simply based on sexual attraction.
The book switches back and forth between current time and flashbacks. So we meet Mia and Raphael once their affair has already started. We just have to find out what complication is going to ensue and how they’re going to meet it. We need to find out if Raphael can get over his reluctance to get involved in a serious relationship and whether Mia where get over her reluctance to carry on an affair with her boss. She also is ashamed of her behavior because her parents are very socially conservative and apparently think that she and her sisters are virgins. That plotline was a bit unbelievable. And she seems to have an easy time finding jobs whenever the plot demands it of her. I somehow expect that jobs for specialists in medieval Europe aren't that easy to come by.
I was really enjoying this book through the first half. It all gets resolved rather quickly and easily. Given the plot complications that pop up in the latter half of the book, I would have anticipated a little more angst and difficulty with settling everything.
I always enjoy Nichols’ style and the contemporary French settings for her novels.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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