Title: Find Me: A Holiday Romantic Comedy (Milwaukee Men at Work #4)
Author: Liz Lincoln
Published: December 5, 2015
Source: Scribd
Type: Audiobook
Blurb:
LAURA
Brady and I have been friends for years. But I’m not going to get through my first Hanukkah since my mom’s death without us finally becoming more.
For the past few years, I’ve travelled all over the world, trying to find somewhere to belong. Now, spending a week in Brady’s arms, I’m starting to think I was looking in the wrong place.
But can I convince Brady that this time, I’m not going to walk away?
BRADY
I’ve been in love with Laura since we were fifteen. Spending a week as more than friends is like a Christmas miracle. Except I know she’s not going to hang around and run her mom’s shop.
Part of what I love about Laura is her free spirit. I’d be an ass to ask her to stay just for me.
But how do I let her go, again, now that I know everything I’m giving up?
Check it on Amazon & Goodreads
Lately I seem to have come across OK-ish books. I miss a story that can warm my insights properly and I hoped that “Find Me” by Liz Lincoln would do that for me.
Laura returns home to Milwaukee for the holidays, looking forward to reunite with her best friend Brady. Her mother recently passed away, so she plans on finding some comfort in his arms, at least for a short while. Parallel to the romance, we have all the family affairs that need to be set in order. A quick read, this story has plenty of elements, some good, some not that great.
Let’s start with our female character. Half Jewish, half Catholic, Laura’s childhood was mostly a struggle: to please both traditions for Hanukkah and Christmas and to deal with an alcoholic mother. What I loved about Laura was her free spirit, her passion for traveling in areas where help is needed and to support misfortunate communities. But, as involved as she was in her travels, as superficial she appeared in her relationship with her mom or even with Brady. She didn’t think how her actions would hurt him on the long run. She simply took what she needed.
Brady appears hot and cold in the beginning. The reasons are later clarified, but I was confused for a short while. I like how he tried to bring a little bit or Christmas to a Hanukkah celebration, to comply with both cultures that Laura’s grown into. I see him more as a victim than a hero. He’s a good guy, emotionally tortured by his best friend.
Then we have all the elements surrounding the romance: the religion and family affairs. When it comes to the first, I didn’t feel Laura was attached to one side or the other. I am not criticizing that, I appreciate that at least she tried. Definitely, she is not one to stick with the religious traditions. Her focus is more on the activities she has with her best friend. When it comes to family, clearly hers is a dysfunctional one. One of her aunts is constantly complaining that Laura’s mom was a burden and Laura having no clue about her mother’s dreams or desires.
From plot point of view, nothing much happens. Laura has a few days to spend with her best friend, in bed (a lot). Here and there we get a hint of his feelings, while she is planning her next departure. There is no background on how she is financing said trip (or if I missed that, I apologize) and, what’s more, she seems to be dependent on Brady not only on a personal level, but also professionally, with him helping her understand the shop’s financial position.
Cover Review: Abs…why? I mean, yeah, the sex is quite a lot in this book, but so the festive month of December. The abs are not the center of attention. Are we all women so “abs-obsessed”? Is that how we come off? All the romance reads are focused on abs. The blue in “Find” stands out too much. Definitely, in my opinion, the cover choice could have been better.
The audio version was great. Kate Mitchel had a much challenging role I think, but that’s because Laura’s chapters were more than Brady’s and also because there were more female lines. She was excellent interpreting the aunts and the “loud” family moments. Matthew Holland was great as well, especially when transmitting Brady’s emotions. Both narrators were believable and their voices clean and clear.
All in all, I did not dislike the story, but I cannot say I liked it either. The plot lacks action (or at least I was expecting more) and the main characters threw me off at times. It was a quick read though.
About The Author 
Liz has been concocting stories as long as she can remember, and from the beginning they involved two people falling in love.
When she’s not writing, she spends her time rooting for the UW Badgers and the Green Bay Packers (or yearning for the return of football season), cross-stitching and embroidering sassy sayings or nerdy characters (Wonder Woman is her favorite), and drinking too much Diet Coke.
She lives in Milwaukee, WI, with her husband, two kids, three cats, and a turtle.
Lilly's Book World 