Staci Hart

The best romance of 2024 so far
5 stars

It’s been a few days since I finished this book and already in my mind I’m seeing this book through those lovely, soft hazy filters of movies of old. It’s become almost dream-like and I’m still basking in its wonder which is why this is my first ‘best of 2024’ read of the year.

This is the first book in what will hopefully turn into a new series and also the first book from Staci Hart in a while. And it was so worth the wait. What you get is show more an opposites attract, fish-out-of-water, small town romance that was both simple and sublime.

Jessa is in the small Tennessee town for her best friend’s wedding. She’s looking forward to spending time with her friend, having a relaxing break and hopefully finally getting her long-term crush to take that next step. What she’s not looking forward to is spending time with her best friend’s cousin, Remy, who, due to an accommodation mix-up, is now her roommate for the duration of the wedding.

Our Jessa is a British lady and I admit, I was expecting not to like her for a myriad of reasons. But from the moment she appeared on Remy’s doorstep, I was rooting for her. I don’t even know how to describe her other than to tell you she’s not hoity toity like I thought she’d be. She doesn’t turn her nose up when it shouldn’t be up. She’s not a bitch. There was something about her that I both could relate to and also admire. She was a strong woman and yet there was a vulnerability about her that caught at my heart. And fear not, fellow Brits - Jessa does not ‘jolly good, ol’ chap’ all over the place. It’s all very well done and I only counted 2 phrases a Brit wouldn’t say - and it was towards the end of the book when Jessa had been in Tennessee long enough to have picked up some of the lingo - so it’s all good.

Equally, Remy is quite hard to describe. Almost from the first second of meeting Jessa, he hits on her and proclaims that she will eventually give in and sleep with him. And yet I found him ridiculously charming and liked him from the first. As the story continues and we get to know him more, his appeal only increases. He’s still the roguish, boyish charmer but we, and Jessa, see the deeper side to him. He was one of those heroes that you don’t want for yourself - only because he was so perfect for Jessa that he couldn’t be anyone else’s.

There’s obviously the chemistry between Jessa and Remy that is hotter than the summers in Tennessee. Phew - this pair heated up the pages and that was when they weren’t doing anything but simply trying to make the other lose the bet they had going. When the gloves - and everything else - came off - wowza! And who knew that sex on a rooftop would become a fantasy?!

There’s a colourful cast of supporting characters who never take over but all add something to the story. As soon as we were introduced to Wilder and found a little bit more about him, I wanted to read his story (which is why I’ve got my fingers crossed for this to become a series) but I definitely didn’t expect everything to hit the fan the way it did. It played out almost like a farce and I was here for the drama. Pass me the popcorn.

There was just something about this book that pulled me in and made me fall in love. Jessa and Remy couldn’t have been from more different worlds or more different characters - but they brought something out in the other that really was magical. They realised they were happiest - more themselves - when they were with each other. It’s this kind of story that is why I fell in love with romance in the first place. The idea that someone will love you exactly as you are and for who you are and you will get your happily ever after - and your strawberry farm - well, it left me with a happy glow that I felt for days. I absolutely adored this book and will give it 5 stars all day long. show less

Read this and other reviews at Carlene Inspired.

Staci Hart is one of those authors that, when she has a new book release, I set aside every other book I'm reading and jump into hers. She always delivers and takes me on journeys I didn't even know I wanted to go on. Piece of Work was no different. Yes, I appreciate art and I have a long distance love for The Met, but I only occasionally reach for interoffice relationship novels. Here I am though, five starring Piece of Work, head over heels show more in love with cocky boss, Court, and wishing Rin was one of my best friends. I connected with this book, like connected as in I cried from 19% on and it wasn't even a sad, angsty book. I knew exactly what Rin felt like and reading about her journey and self-growth was just so emotionally satisfying for me. The characters were so perfect, the novel is both funny and romantic, and it is filled up with some of the best feminist, self-love inspiration.

"Nothing motivated me more than being told no."

Told from the alternating perspectives of main characters, Rin and Court, Piece of Work follows the two as Rin takes on an internship role at The Met with Court and his assistant. What seems doomed from the start transforms into a tale of girl power, romance, and owning your future. Rin is like a butterfly, cocooned in the simple world of college and books, but destined for so much more. I really appreciated the thought put into Rin's changes, both in personal style and in her personality. Staci Hart put a lot of emphasis on the ability of a woman to be strong, smart, and beautiful for herself, not for anyone else. A lot of the personal things she went through in the novel I have been through myself, so I easily could put myself in her shoes. I loved Rin's thought process on her clothing and makeup and how she found positive power in the change. Court is as handsome, smart, and cocky as they come. He's sort of like every artistic girl's dream guy, only he's damaged and even the most perfect woman for him will change his mind. Oftentimes in rom-com the male character doesn't develop nearly as much as I'd like him to, his change too swift, not Court from Piece of Work though. He's cliche in many ways, with a meddling father and an awful ex, but his self-development throughout the novel is anything but cliche. His thought process was so fun to read and his embracing of Rin's newfound courage was fantastic. Their interactions were so perfect, even when they were doing things that made me roll my eyes or yell at them. Speaking of interactions, Rin has the best set of friends ever and Court has some epic villain family members. While Rin's friends are lifting her up, Court's family is tearing him down, and yet the two find ways to come together and be something more.

"I wasn't accustomed to-pride. It felt good, strong."

"I didn't want to hide anymore. I wanted to be seen."

Of course, it wouldn't be a review of an interoffice relationship novel if we didn't talk about Court's role as Rin's boss. He's the sort of boss that can't be ignored, both due to his looks and his presence. Those two hit it off from the start, though for once it's about their smarts and their shared admiration for historical art. It's forbidden, absolutely, but it makes for one of the best forbidden relationship storylines. There are so many sparks flying between the two and the romance heat is only turned up higher by the beautiful setting of The Met. With renaissance art everywhere, smut in the library, meddling coworkers, and friends that I'm positive are people I know in real life, it's a rom-com you can't ignore.

"So I kissed him instead and hoped."

I easily could go on about this book for longer, it is just that good. Piece of Work is one of those books I will read again and again. I highly recommend this one from Staci Hart, whether you've read every book she's written like I have or if she's a new-to-you author. show less

Rin is a six-foot-tall part-Asian woman who has scored an internship at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of her doctoral process. Her boss's boss is Court Lyons, a handsome but cold man who is determined to bring Michaelangelo's David to the US for an exhibit.
I was annoyed almost from the first page when Rin trips going up the steps to the museum (I hate the 'clumsy but cute anyway' trope). I rolled my eyes when she shows up for her first day of work in old jeans and a ripped sweater show more (she's mid-twenties, not sixteen). Within two days, Rin has transformed from a naive mess to a couture-dressed femme fatale who can walk perfectly well in high heels and seduce all the men around her.
I kept reading because there are lots of good reviews, and I generally like Ms. Hart's books. Maybe Court would be cool and I could ignore Rin. Nope, Court is an a-hole. Now that Rin is so sexy and beautiful, he grabs her by the p*ssy - literally - twice - because... I honestly don't know why and how this is okay. I get this is fiction. I ignored all the poor research, especially in art history, because maybe Florence would allow the David to be displayed (in a book). (BTW, it is not free to get into the Met, in case anyone plans on visiting). But Court's behavior was not okay because it was a power display at that point in the story and I loathe that Rin was okay with it. The author could have put the same scene in if there was some seduction first (it's fiction so I'm not averse to boss/employee relationships per se) or it wasn't the result of a Cinderella makeover; there's a lot of different ways it could have gone. But this was a patented Trump-Weinstein-Ailes assault.
I finished the book but it didn't get any better. The stupid blackmail scheme - ugh. Anyway, not for me. show less

Favorite Quotes:

His mama made him join the team when he talked back to her for the last time in Klingon. She told him he had to join the baseball team or move out.

I swear, he says everything he thinks out loud. In the middle of a lesson about the silent e, he raised his hand and asked, Is the e silent because it's dead?

You've ghosted more girls than a haunted house.

You flirt like you're applying for a job you're not qualified for…

You didn't just change my life. You gave me one worth show more living.

My Review:

I always look forward to reading a Staci Hart tale as it’s guaranteed to be a gleefully fun experience. Her writing is highly entertaining, laced together with clever wit and lively banter, and as a bonus, smoking-hot sensual scenes that leave me gasping with fans on high speed and clutching for hydration. No doubt there must have been a near-constant smirk on my face throughout perusal.

I adored these delightful characters as much as I did their engaging story. They were lovely people and deserved good things. I reveled in my time spent with them and would have eagerly devoured 500 more pages of the same. show less