LOVE AT FIRST SPITE – Anna E. Collins
Graydon House
ISBN: 978-1-525-89979-9
January 4, 2022
Contemporary Fiction

Seattle, Washington – Present Day

Interior designer Dani Porter was all set to marry her longtime love, Sam, when she discovered that he was cheating on her with the realtor that just sold them their house. Now split from Sam, Dani plots a plan of revenge to get back at him. She decides to buy the small lot next to his house, with plans to build a house that will be used as a vacation rental and tall enough to block his view. With the help of a couple of friends, Dani purchases the lot and starts the process to hire the construction company. Now she needs to find the architect to help design it. Working at an architecture company means she has access to numerous candidates. Her gaze lands on Wyatt Montego, the snippy, but incredibly handsome, and talented architect.

Dani approaches Wyatt, and while he is arrogant with her at first, he agrees to help her with the project. But working closely together—discreetly—soon leads to a tentative friendship, then a mutual attraction. Dani is supposed to still be getting over Sam, but she starts having feelings for Wyatt. One thing leads to another, and soon they are more than friends. But Dani hasn’t told Wyatt the whole truth, namely that the house she is having built is her “spite house.” She is building it to get back at her ex. Can she truly be over Sam if she is trying to get under his skin? What about her growing feelings for Wyatt?

Dani’s plan for revenge doesn’t go as smoothly as she expects in LOVE AT FIRST SPITE. However, it does bring her closer to fellow employee Wyatt, who has an office reputation of being surly and difficult to work with. But he is the best architect in the company. Dani half expected him to turn her down when she approached him about the project, but he seemed intrigued by the challenges the small property would bring. After breaking up with her ex, Dani’s life is in an upheaval, which includes moving into a new place after a recommendation from a bartender friend. The owner, Iris, is a bit eccentric, but who doesn’t love someone who loves her two dogs like they are her children? There is also Dani’s cousin, Mia, who is ready to help Dani inflict pain upon Sam. The three ladies are a hoot together in their interactions.

While Wyatt might be a stuffy person to work with, he turns out to be intriguing outside the office. Certainly, Dani never expected Wyatt to “loosen up” around her. It was supposed to be a business deal between them, but he gets as much involved in the project as she. However, will the fact that he doesn’t know that Dani is building it to spite her ex play a part in determining whether they can expand upon their attraction? The relationship between Dani and Wyatt doesn’t go smoothly, but what about the house? A cute and intriguing tale from the first page, don’t miss LOVE AT FIRST SPITE.

Patti Fischer