Books & Spoons Review for HER LEADING MAN by Maggie Dallen

Life’s not like the movies . . . or is it?

An avid knitter and manager of a yarn store in New York City, Caitlyn finds herself at loose ends after getting dumped by her long-time, live-in boyfriend. What better way to move on then to find a man like the old-school movie stars that she dreams about? But her first attempt at online dating is a disaster. Especially when the date turns out to be the new renter of a room in her apartment.

Wall Street powerhouse Ben needs a place to crash while his condo is being renovated. Love is the last thing on his mind since he’s just getting over a breakup. But he can’t resist a challenge, especially one like his prim and proper new roommate. A do-gooder with a heart of gold, Caitlyn is spearheading a fight to save an old theater, while Ben is working for the developer trying to tear it down. Sparks will fly, but they may not be enough to ignite big-screen romance . . .

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As a lover of old movies, Cary Grant, and knitting picking this book up at NetGalley was no brainer to me. And it turned out to be a fun read, a story filled with good friends and an intriguing romance storyline from a disastrous date to roommates to friends with benefits to... Yes, it takes a wild and windy road for Caitlyn and Ben to find their HEA. 
Caitlyn's self-esteem was a bit fragile after her ex took an ax to it as they broke up. Now she is finally ready to try dating again and in walks Ben, drunk, crude and insulting. Oh, Ben...
I liked Caitlyn, she is a knitting, old movie loving person. She is loyal to her friends, she has the no business sense, but she does what she loves, she has made a life she enjoys for herself, and now all she needed was her Cary Grant. 
Ben was also devastated after he found out his girlfriend and business partner were having an affair. Ben had some issues from his childhood when it came to his parent's relationship and his father's way of being a bully.  Ben could be fun, caring, considerate, and sweet one moment, yet he could be complete opposite at times especially when alcohol was part of the picture. And it was a lot, I  haven't noticed or paid attention to alcohol consumption in romance novels before, but here I noticed it, it stood out,  as the main characters over indulge several times with consequences to their lives. 
The author really did an amazing job with Ben's character development in this story. With so many scenes against him, she managed to turn the boat around so that I grew to like him and care for him, despite all his imperfections and rude behavior. 
I liked the story, it was lively, light and amusing at times. It was well written and had a good rhythm to it. It had a real life vibes to it from the evenings at the couch knitting and watching movies to the nights at the bar, and fun with the friends. The cast of characters has a wide variation of personalities, and I believe this series will be filled with upbeat, festive and fun people and events. A perfect read for a weekend evening, very much of a feeling of the eighties romantic comedy movies. 
~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

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KOBO

B&N

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