The Accidental Pinup by Danielle Jackson
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by NymphaeaRival photographers are forced to collaborate on a body-positive lingerie campaign, but they might have to readjust their focus when sparks fly.
Photographer Cassie Harris loves her job—her company Buxom Boudoir makes people look beautiful and feel empowered with her modern twist on classic pinup photography. Cassie’s best friend, Dana, is about to launch her own dangerously dreamy lingerie line and wants Cassie to shoot and direct the career-changing national campaign. But company politics and Dana’s complicated pregnancy interfere, and Cassie finds herself—a proud plus size Black woman—not behind the camera but in front of it.
Though she’s never modeled herself, Cassie’s pretty sure she can handle the sheer underwear and caution tape bralettes. She’s not sure she can work so intimately with the chosen photographer, her long-time competitor in the Chicago photography scene, Reid Montgomery. Their chemistry is undeniable on set, however, and feelings can develop faster than film…
A beautiful woman who knows she’s beautiful and a man who needs to be put in his place…sparks will fly.
I’ve never read anything by Danielle Jackson before this book and I’m glad I remedied that. This was a fun story, albeit a bit toxic in spots–but with reason. I flew through the story and got emotionally involved in their relationship.
Cassie is a bigger woman and she’s black. She’s been passed up for opportunities in the fashion industry and it drives her to be the best she can be behind the camera. I loved her drive and determination. Nothing will hold her back. Then there’s Reid. He’s a bit of a chauvinist and could use being knocked down a peg or two. Enter Cassie. I loved how she gave him a hard time–he needed it–and was strong in her interactions with him. I had a bit of a hard time with his character growth in the second half of the book, but that could’ve been me and my headspace when I read the book. I’m sure other readers will love Reid.
If you’re interested in something different, but still in the enemies to lovers and forced interaction tropes, then this is totally the book you need to read.
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