Trust in Advertising - Victoria Michaels

Lexi White finds herself at a crossroads. After putting everything on hold to care for her ailing father, it’s finally time for her to start living her life again. An exciting new job holds the promise of a fresh start, until she comes face to face with someone from her past who has always stopped her dead in her tracks, and who evidently still has the power to make her forget her own name. This time around, Lexi’s a grown woman who refuses to back away from her dreams, even if it requires working with her old high school crush. Side by side. Every day. Will he end up being her downfall or exactly what she needs?

Vincent doesn’t even remember Lexi from high school, but he begins to take notice when the fiery young woman is hired as his new assistant. Quickly, Lexi turns his world upside down and becomes an invaluable addition not only to his team, but to his life. Having learned a few hard lessons about trust in the past, Vincent is reluctant to let down his guard, especially when it appears that someone is out to sabotage his family’s advertising agency. Professionally, they are dynamite together, but when sparks fly between them personally, will Vincent let lies and jealousy ruin everything between them, or will he finally learn not only how to love, but ultimately trust…in advertising? 

Trust in Advertising

by Victoria Michaels

I spent 4 days reading this book, and it was absolutely wonderful,  I just couldn’t put it down no matter how much it pissed me off!  LOL!  It was a little slow to start up, but I found myself so invested in the story and the characters, that I just had to know how this was all going to play out.

Lexie White lost her mother as a young girl, which forced her to grow up a little faster than most.  Then having to help her father run their household along with taking care of herself, she missed out on a lot as a child.  Once in high school,  the super shy Lexie had a massive crush on Vincent Drake, the most popular guy in school.  But he never knew, and in fact Lexie pretty much stayed to herself, and Vincent never knew she existed. Upon graduation, Lexie receives a scholarship to NYU to continue her education in advertising. After two years in college, she had to drop out to go back home to care of her father who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which is where she spent the next several years.

After the death of her father, a now 28 year old Lexie moves to San Francisco and is looking for work.  After having to drop out of college and having no experience or credentials in advertising, which is her dream career, she thinks she is going to have to end up taking a crap job.  After the encouragement of her friend Hope who lives across the hall from her, they scour the want ads together, and Lexie applies for some positions at a few local advertising companies.  She ends up landing a low level position with Hunter Advertising, a company who prefers to promote within.  By pure accident, Lexie moves up within the company very quickly becoming assistant to one of the top executives. Imagine her shock when she finds out on her first day in her new position that she has become the personal assistant to Vincent Drake.

The years apparently haven’t been kind to Vincent, the outgoing, charismatic boy from high school has been replaced with a brooding, pompous ass!  Vincent has gone through his personal assistants like the changing of his underwear, either firing them or they’ve quit because of his asinine behavior.  After his first face to face meeting with his new personal assistant (Lexie) goes really bad, it becomes apparent that he has no idea who she is.  For now Lexie is content to keep things that way, until his twin sister spills it to Vincent, and much to Lexie’s disappointment he doesn’t remember her from high school.  Vincent and Lexie really start to develop a friendship while working together,  and those friendly feelings start to blossom into more, but the biggest obstacle in their way is Vincent’s girlfriend, (wicked witch music)  Jade who is a bitch beyond words.  Jade is a  supermodel, and I wanted to punch her the first time she appeared, and it only got worse.  Jade was the central part of what pissed me off about this book, but as the story plays out, she plays a huge part in the plot. I still wanted to strangle her every time she showed up! 

There were situations involving Jade, Vincent and Lexie that made me want to beat the crap out of Vincent.

Over the years, Vincent has endured betrayal more than anyone should have to, and as a result he has become very guarded, and untrusting.  As the story progresses,  Lexie starts to see through his facade as he starts to let the barriers down for her, and she sees that there is still in fact that charismatic boy from high school lurking within.

The story between Lexie and Vincent is really sweet but doesn’t come without some turbulence. I loved their bantering, and watching these two fall completely in love.

This was really a great read, the plot was good. The characterization was outstanding!!!!

I mean, every single character in this book was so well written, from the H/h through the entire cast.  My favorites aside from Lexie and Vincent were Hope, Lexie’s best friend, and Sean, Vincent’s cousin.  I loved hope every time she showed up, she provided a lot of comic relief with her quick wit, and her tough girl attitude.  And she is a great friend to Lexie, listening, helpful, supportive, and ready to kick anyone’s ass that jacks with her friend.   And Sean…. *falls over swooning*  He is funny, easy going and is also a great supportive friend to Vincent along with being family. Vincent’s 5yr old niece was just too cute for words.  There are a ton of characters in this book, and they all play a role in this story.

I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes contemporary romance, it was like watching a good chick flick.  There were lots of laughs, and too many good quotes to start listing them.  Great Job Victoria Michaels!!!!