DESIGNED FOR LOVE (Texas Nights #4) by Kelsey Browning-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 24, 2014

Ashton Davenport: Hot blonde. Old Money. Off-limits.

That’s how Mac McLaughlin sees her, anyway. And now that he’s enduring a temporary self-imposed exile in tiny Shelbyville, Texas, he’s seeing her way too often. Mac only wants to succeed as the contractor for the Lily Lake development in order to rebuild his reputation and return to Dallas, pronto. A sexy distraction like Ashton was not in the plans.

Mac McLaughlin: Hot builder. Cash poor. Hands-on.

Ashton kissed her trust fund goodbye and left her life as a society princess to prove she could make it on her own. Developing Lily Lake is her big chance, but it’s hard to stay focused working side-by-side with bossy, rough-around-the-edges Mac. Especially when he pulls off his shirt.

When the discovery of an endangered species derails the project, Mac can’t afford to stick around for a stalled job. His and Ashton’s explosive chemistry aside, he’s outta there…unless she can convince him that they just might be able to build something together.

••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: DESIGNED FOR LOVE is the fourth installment in Kelsey Browning’s contemporary, adult Texas Nights romance series focusing on the small town of Shelbyville, Texas. This is poor little rich girl/interior designer Ashton Davenport and construction foreman Michael ‘Mac’ McLaughlin’s storyline. DESIGNED FOR LOVE can be read as a stand alone. Some of the previous storyline characters, including Beck and Eden from Problems in Paradise (book 3) have small cameo roles throughout the novel.

Told from close third person (Ashton) point of view DESIGNED FOR LOVE focuses on Ashton Davenport-a young woman who walked away from her trust fund leaving the big city of Dallas, Texas behind to try and make it on her own. Born into wealth and expected to follow her family’s bidding, Ashton ventured out on her own to focus on a career in interior design. When Ashton’s grandmother offers Ashton a chance to oversee a new land development in Shelbyville, Ashton jumps at the opportunity only to discover that there are people willing to do just about anything to see the plans fail. Enter Mac McLaughlin, Ashton’s new general contractor and a man who hopes to overcome the failings of his past.

The relationship between Mac and Ashton is one of contempt and disdain. Mac is blinded by Ashton’s family connections and sees Ashton as a spoiled rich kid playing a game with other people’s lives. Mac needs this job opportunity to rid the demons from his past and Mac sees Ashton as a thorn in his chance at redemption. Their attraction to one another is immediate. Ashton is unaware as to why Mac’s feelings lean toward hate and scorn but as their relationship begins to build, the fall out from small town mentality will affect everything including Ashton’s future and Mac’s heart. The sex scenes are seductive, provocative and comedic-ever had sex in a hammock or with a small but terrifying dog nipping at your…um, butt?

The secondary characters include Ashton’s grandmother-a feisty woman who is willing to use any and all means at her disposal to get what she wants done. The townsfolk and surrounding population of Shelbyville see an environmental disaster in the making and attempts to stop the construction will push Ashton into the limelight and out of a job.

DESIGNED FOR LOVE is a romantic, wondrous and oft times comedic look at two people destined for one another but caught up in a game brought about a meddling but well meaning old lady. There are moments that will break your heart balanced by moments of humor and fun. Kelsey Browning’s TEXAS NIGHTS series is about family and love; letting go of the past; and acceptance in a small town not accustomed to change and growth.

Reading Order
1.Personal Assets
2.Running the Red Light
3.Problems in Paradise
4.Designed for Love

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy