This was part 2 of the St. James series. It tells the story of Cat St. James, the fashion model sister of David and best friend of Vivi from Book 1. A year or so ago, Cat had a flirtation with Hank, a friend and employee of her sibling Jackson. She blows him off almost immediately and goes back to an old, abusive flame. When she finally leaves the abusive ex, she gets some bad health news that changes how she sees herself as a mate to anyone. Then she runs into Hank again at a family function and the two end up fighting feelings they both still had for each other. Later, thanks to some match making efforts by Vivi, the two end up spending more time together and eventually enter into a partnership as well as a romance. But they both have personal issues that keep them from getting what they both want. If it sounds complicated and convoluted, it is. Things were a lot more complicated than they needed to be.

For much of this book, I really disliked the heroine. I thought Cat was a mess. She was simultaneously too arrogant and too insecure. She was quite annoying. I honestly don't know what Hank saw in her. Hank, I really liked a lot. Until the end. Then he too became annoying. Vivi took the top prize for annoying in this book. She was unrelenting in her matchmaking efforts and it got to be too much.

However, this story was an interesting addition to the tale of the St. James crew. We find out what made Jackson spin out of control as well as see some consequences of his continual drunkenness. We see David and Vivi move on with their lives. And we see Cat facing an existential crisis or sorts. So overall, it adds to the series. But Cat annoyed me so much in the beginning that it was hard to feel the desire to go on. ( )

The second book in the St. James series features Cat, the supermodel sister. She's coming to the end of her career as a model and decides branding, using her name, to promote products is the way to go. She also receives some devastating news that makes her doubt settling down in a relationship and having a family. Meanwhile, Hank Mitchell, the carpenter and furniture-maker who works for Cat's brother, is still fascinated by her though she blew him off in the past.
I loved the first book but had some trouble with Cat and her attitude in that story. She's a little better here, but not by much. Hank was a sweetie and here he continues to be a guy any woman would love. Their relationship never seemed all that real to me. I never really got what they saw in the other that would lead to a long-term relationship. After a lot of angst between the two, the author never resolved that for me either. All of a sudden, everything is fine again without a lot of discussion about the issue that is the crux of Cat's problems.
Honestly, I'm more interested in Jackson's story, the next book. This was just okay for me. ( )