Love Him Breathless

I don't enjoy “romances” where the two MCs are consistently saying mean things to each other. That's not love to me, that's cruelty. There's a little bit of softness and affection between Fitz and Antoine, but it doesn't happen until the end. Before that they bicker (not particularly good-naturedly), sling insults, and insist they are only interested in a physical relationship. And then suddenly the two men realize they are in love with each other. Sorry, doesn't work for me. Another quibble: I know people read series for a reason, but each series should stand on its own, and this one doesn't. Even though this is just #2 of the On the Market series, Antoine is the twin brother of Marcel featured in [b:Temptation 51456283 Temptation (Breaking the Rules, #2) E.M. Lindsey https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1582000163l/51456283.SY75.jpg 75863797] from the Breaking the Rules series, and the book takes place in Cherry Creek, which was the setting for an series by entirely different author [a:Kate Hawthorne 17636987 Kate Hawthorne https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1654632999p2/17636987.jpg]. MCs from that series keep popping up here as well, taking the focus away from the main couple.I thoroughly enjoyed Lindsey's Iron & Works series ([b:Free Hand 44752509 Free Hand (Irons and Works, #1) E.M. Lindsey https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554153249l/44752509.SX50.jpg 69385197] et al) but I was lukewarm on the first book in this series and actively disliked this one. Maybe I should quit while I'm still a big fan and move on to their new series, Tidal Wave, which features members of a motorcycle club - sadly, not one of my favorite tropes either. TL, dr: I need something warm and fuzzy these days, and this book didn't provide it. YMMV if you like more of an edge.