Intercepting Sydney: McKinney Enterprises Seattle Book One

I think I can tell you for free that this story is something we have all seen/heard a million times. It is the classic modern-day Cinderella tale. You have Sydney, a girl who is treated like a slave by her household and pretty much spends her life scrubbing dishes and being exhausted. Then, in walks the “prince,” Ward McKinney, the super rich, handsome guy who saves the day. Ward basically falls for her after holding her hand once; trust me when I say it really does feel a bit like a cheesy movie. You know exactly how the love story is going to end before you even finish the first chapter. That predictability is why this book gets 4 stars instead of 5. It plays it very safe with the romance. With all of that out of the way, though, the other parts and plots that were focused on were actually really captivating, like how Sydney gets her revenge and finds a new family. The part that I would say everybody will have a thinner focus more on is not the kissing but the pure exhaustion Sydney feels. There is this part where her stepfather forces her to cater a business conference for 100 people all by herself. She has no help and no sleep. You feel her desperation and anger in your gut. It makes you want to scream at the unfairness of it. Then, Haynes gives us the best moment in the book. Ward does not just write a check to fix it. He and his tough guy bodyguard, Ice, actually sneak into the kitchen. They put on aprons, chop vegetables, and bake muffins to save her. Seeing these big, powerful men doing grunt work just to let Sydney take a nap is genuinely touching. It shows that they care about her as a person, not just a pretty face. So, while the "billionaire saves the poor girl" part is actually very old news and predictable, the deep friendship with the bodyguard Ice, the rescue of Sydney’s little sister from boarding school, and the corporate takedown make this book worth reading. It makes you feel good to see good people win, even if the fairytale romance is a little hard to believe.