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Tag Archives: Unexpectedly Yours

Book Review – Unexpectedly Yours

21 Monday Mar 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ 3 Comments

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Book Review, Coleen Kwan, Unexpectedly Yours

This book was so much fun – check it out below and then run to get your own copy 🙂

*****

UY_1600Unexpectedly Yours

by Coleen Kwan

Releasing March 14, 2016

Entangled Bliss

Blurb:

He wasn’t what she was expecting…

Derek Carmichael has harbored a secret crush on his best friend’s older sister for years, but she’s always been out of his reach. Now that Hannah is back in their hometown and newly single, suddenly the five-year age gap doesn’t seem so huge. But convincing her to see him as more than just the kid she used to know is another story.

Hannah Willmett can’t believe how grown-up Derek Carmichael has become. The troubled kid from her youth has turned into a sexy, successful TV celebrity, but Hannah’s wary of his player past and the rampant rumors connecting him to beautiful socialites. Still, she can’t help but give in when their attraction reaches a boiling point.

Trying to keep their fling a secret from her overprotective brother is one thing, but when Hannah finds herself unexpectedly expecting, her life is thrown upside down. She and Derek may be becoming parents together, but that’s no basis for a happily-ever-after.

Buy Links:  Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

“Hey, pecan pie.” Derek beamed as he lifted the pie dish from the cooler. “You made it for me?”

“Just my way of saying thanks.”

“There are other ways of saying thanks.” His gaze drifted to her lips, leaving her in no doubt what he had in mind. “Ways just as sweet and tasty as pecan pie.”

Her trigger-happy desire surged again as she imagined his lips on hers. “God, Derek, I thought we were keeping things platonic.”

“I thought so too, but you brought pecan pie.”

“Pecan pie? That’s a turn on?”

“Well, yeah. That, and those shorts you’re wearing.” His gaze lowered to the denim cutoffs hugging her hips. “I think you put on those itty-bitty shorts on purpose just to torture me, didn’t you?”

She gulped. “It’s a hot day, and they were the only shorts I had.” Liar. She had other, more modest shorts, but for some reason she’d chosen these tight-fitting cutoffs with the frayed hem. Again, she blamed her subconscious.

He snickered at her, and she knew she wasn’t fooling anyone. “You’re right. It is a hot day. In fact, it’s so hot I think I need to do this.” He stretched his arm behind his neck, gripped his T-shirt, and pulled it off in one swoop. Tossing aside the T-shirt, he stretched out in the sun. “Ah, yeah. That feels so much better.”

Her mouth fell open, and she might have made a choking sound. Her eyeballs felt like they were on stalks as she gawked at Derek’s naked torso. What a magnificent sight. Sunlight bounced off his smooth pecs and bulging biceps. He didn’t have an ounce of fat on him. Hard, broad shoulders narrowed to lean hips showcased by his low-slung jeans.

He rubbed his chest, drawing her attention to the trail of fine, dark hair that tracked down the center of his body. “What’s the matter, babe?”

Babe. Heat seeped through her pores. Just one “babe” from him, and she was already melting.

“Uh, n-nothing,” she managed to stutter. For the life of her, she still couldn’t tear her eyes away from him.

“See something you like?”

She was almost panting now. Dammit, he was so devilishly tempting, but she was not going to cave in.

“Yes, I do.” She leaned toward him, slow and deliberate, until his eyes widened and he licked his lips in anticipation. Then she stretched her arm across him, brushing against his naked chest, and grabbed a bottle of iced tea. “This is what I’d like.”

She twisted the cap off and tipped a deep gulp of liquid down her throat. When she lowered the bottle, Derek was grinning at her.

“Nice move. You play hard.”

Her blood fizzed like she’d drunk champagne. It was such fun teasing and flirting with Derek. It made her realize she wasn’t old after all and that Derek brought something out of her that no one else did.

“You didn’t think I’d swoon at your feet just because you bared your chest, did you?”

“A guy can hope.”

*****

Review:

I think I was expecting the baby part of this to be the big stumbling block for them but that doesn’t come up until must later in the book.  The beginning is the back and forth for Hannah & her feelings for Derek.  I can kinda see where she’s coming from because she’s known him since he was barely a teenager and she was in a motherly role with her brother at that point so that would have meant she saw Derek as the same.  Now she’s coming out of a bad marriage with an immature guy so it’ll be hard for her to see Derek as mature, not a kid.  But she’s definitely not giving him enough credit 🙂  Derek has done a lot of growing up over the years but he never outgrew his crush on Hannah … and now he has the chance to act on it.  He’s just got to convince her that he’s all man.

This is another of those stories where their issues are caused by their lack of communication – making assumptions, not talking and reacting with emotion.  If they just got over themselves and talked it would have been a much shorter book (but where is the fun in that 🙂 ).  Hannah is very caught up in what she “should” be doing and how it will look to others that she forgets to ask herself what she wants to do.  And because of Derek’s childhood he still has some issues with acceptance, regardless of how successful he’s been since he left town.  I feel bad for him but that causes a lot of his issues with Hannah because he reacts with his heart instead of his head whenever he feels unwanted.

I know that for some people the communication issue is a no-go so I want to warn you now.  I’m usually on the not-a-fan side when it comes to that kind of story but for me Kwan handles it really well.  I never got overly frustrated or wanted to smack them and I always consider that a win 🙂  It definitely isn’t everyone’s favorite storyline but her writing is so well done and that helps to make it work.

*****

ColeenAuthor Info:

Coleen Kwan has been a bookworm all her life. At school English was her favorite subject, but for some reason she decided on a career in IT. After many years of programming, she wondered what else there was in life — and discovered writing. She loves writing contemporary romance and steampunk romance.

Coleen lives in Sydney, Australia with her partner and two children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys avoiding housework, eating chocolate, and watching TV shows like Criminal Minds and Masterchef.

Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

Two (2) $10 Amazon Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8966/

*****

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Spotlight – Unexpectedly Yours

04 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour

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Beachwood Bay series, Melody Grace, Unexpectedly Yours, Untouched

If you are looking for a yummy Christmas romance, Melody Grace has a story just begging to be read.  AND she’s even giving you an early present, because the first story in her Beachwood Bay series is now free!

Check out all the details below.

*****

Unexpectedly Yours 31-10Unexpectedly Yours

By Melody Grace

Blurb:

Sophie Young has been dreaming about the perfect Christmas in New York ever since she was a kid. But when her boyfriend bails on their romantic trip for two, she finds herself stranded in the city on Christmas Eve, with only a holiday-hating smooth-talking, utterly sexy stranger for company…Rock-star Austin Kelly is fed up with Christmas – he’s more interested in who’s going to be cozying up under the mistletoe. But when his little black book comes up empty, he finds himself on a whirlwind tour of the city with the most unlikely partner in festive fun…The snow is falling, but things are definitely heating up inside. And by the time the clock strikes midnight on New Years Eve, there will be plenty to celebrate with old friends and familiar faces back in Beachwood Bay.

A heart-warming, sexy new stand-alone holiday novella from New York Times bestselling author Melody Grace!

Purchase on iBooks – http://bit.ly/1pS0V5Q

Add to Goodreads – http://bit.ly/10XbQz9

NYCChristmas

*****

Haven’t started reading the Beachwood Bay series yet?  Untouched is free!

Untouched CoverUntouched

by Melody Grace

Blurb:

Emerson Ray is trouble. Juliet knows it the minute she lays eyes on Beachwood Bay’s resident bad boy. Forced to spend her summer before college in the sleepy beach town, she never expected to crash into the most devastating guy she’s ever met—or for Emerson’s blue eyes to strip through her dark secrets, and make her feel a desire she’s never known. Their connection is undeniable, but Juliet is torn. She knows, once she gives him everything, there’ll be no turning back.

Juliet McKenzie is dangerous. Emerson can tell from the way she blows through all his defences, laying bare the demons he’s carried alone all his life. He’s left a trail of broken hearts and empty beds in his wake, but Juliet is different. Her innocence is intoxicating—and the passion she keeps hidden, just below the surface. He wants to be the only one to set it free, but with every kiss, he’s closer to losing control and doing the one thing he swore he never would: fall in love.

One summer. Two damaged hearts. Their story is only just beginning…

UNTOUCHED is a prequel novella to the USA Today Bestselling UNBROKEN. It also can be read as a stand-alone story.

Free on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1GSYLYY

Free on iBooks: http://bit.ly/1sIPBUh

*****

melody-graceAuthor Info:

Melody Grace is the New York Times bestselling author of the Beachwood Bay series. A small-town girl turned SoCal beach lover, after spending her life with her nose in a book, she decided it was time she wrote one herself. She loves steamy romance novels, happily-ever-afters, and lusting after fictional menfolk. She is author of USA Today & international bestselling Beachwood Bay series.

Website     Facebook     Twitter

*****

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FTC Disclaimer - see bottom of page for complete statement, but please be aware that in many cases I am provided a book to read. However my opinions are my own & no guarantee of positive review is given by any party.

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I have received ARCs of books free from NetGalley (and many moons ago from BookTrib.com) to review but the majority of the stories are either bought by me or provided for free from the publisher, author, or PR company. The opinions I share are my own and in no way are influenced by an author or publisher. There is no promise of a positive review by any party and there is no additional compensation. Unless otherwise noted, I am not affiliated with any contest or other event mentioned on this blog and I do not receive a paid endorsement for any post.

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