Magnetic Medic by Alexa Padgett

Aidy Wright never expected to move back home pregnant and alone, but she's slowly finding her feet. Now working at the family architecture firm, she's finishing her masters thesis and just bought her own place. On move-in day, she discovers her neighbour across the hall is Ryder Mackay, an old friend of her brother. He's handsome, kind, and a paediatrician to boot. In short, he's the perfect guy, but it's the very worst time. Or is it?

This is a solidly entertaining romance with a lot to like! Firstly, Ryder is incredible. His external perfection is tempered by a painful past and refined by his own character arc, sparked but not dependent on Aidy. I really appreciated that he's only half-white and while racism isn't a factor, it's not completely glossed over either. Him and Aidy have sparks from the beginning but don't act on them for a while. When things got rough, it happened in a believable if frustrating way, and their communication problems stem directly from their well-documented issues.

Aidy is also awesome, with her determination and drive despite a rocky adolescence. I also loved that Aidy had supportive friends and am sure one of them is going to feature in a future book *waggles eyebrows*. I did feel they sort of dipped out of frame as the book went on however. Finally, I adored Rosie, because who doesn't love a puppy with such a huge personality?

I didn't realise until putting this review together that this is part of the Cocky Hero Club wider universe with many contributing authors, which certainly explains why some characters seem more like returning characters from their own book. There's over a hundred books and I'm not sure how they all link together, but if they're all as good as this one, I'm keen to read more!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley; all opinions are my own