Tag Archives: Dating

Wedding Date (Dating 6) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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Wedding Date (Dating 6) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Apple /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 1, 2020

Kelsey Phillips is over the dating scene.

All that time and energy perfecting your profile and taking just the right picture and articulating exactly what you’re looking for, only to get the same sleazy propositions? No thanks. She’s doing just fine on her own, so there’s no point in a fruitless hunt for “the one” that doesn’t exist.

Besides, she already has the perfect man in her life. Theo is the type of friend who’s always there for a laugh, a hug, or a drink– and no propositions.

So when he somehow manages to agree to be a groomsman in his ex-fiancée’s wedding to his cousin, the least Kelsey can do is be his date.

But why stop at doing the least?

Pretending to be in a relationship is easy. They already know everything about each other. And it sure isn’t hard to fake attraction to a guy as gorgeous as Theo. Soon enough, the only pretense left is that they haven’t fallen for each other for real… and the very small matter of the secret Kelsey’s been keeping. Can a fake relationship survive this real revelation?

•••••••

REVIEW:WEDDING DATE is the sixth and final instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, adult erotic, romance DATING series focusing on a tight knit group of friends. This is thirty-three year old, investment manager Theo Crawford, and twenty-seven year old PA Kelsey Phillips’ story line. WEDDING DATE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Several characters from the previous instalments cross over for familiarity.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Kelsey and Theo) WEDDING DATE follows the friends to lovers relationship between thirty-three year old, investment manager Theo Crawford, and twenty-seven year old PA Kelsey Phillips. Several months earlier, Theo and Kelsey were set up on blind dates only to have their respective matches fall in love with one another. Having just discovered his fiancé in bed with his cousin Craig, Theo struggled in the aftermath but found himself in a friendly relationship with our story line heroine. An invitation to his cousin Craig’s wedding to his former fiancé Jess, means Theo needs a plus one in an effort to prove he has moved on with someone else. Enter Kelsey Phillips, the woman with whom Theo will fall in love. What ensues is the fake boyfriend/girlfriend relationship between Kelsey and Theo that quickly turns into something more, and the potential fall-out as Kelsey has a secret that is about to be revealed.

Kelsey Phillips is a strong-willed, confident and sexy heroine who doesn’t do relationships and refuses to acknowledge the proverbial elephant in the room-her attraction to our hero Theo Crawford but when Theo struggles with the invite to his ex-fiance’s wedding, Kelsey steps up to make sure Theo has her support including the benefit of a girlfriend to his cousin’s wedding. Theo Crawford was quickly falling in love with Kelsey, and knew she was the woman that called to his heart but Kelsey was keeping a secret that was going to destroy any semblance of a happily ever after, and in this, Theo struggled with perceived betrayal, and the potential loss of the woman he loved.

The relationship between Kelsey and Theo is a friends to lovers, fake boyfriend /girlfriend relationship in which our couple are quick to fall in love. Kelsey is the one to push Theo into accepting his ex-fiance’s wedding invitation, and in this Kelsey is going to ensure Theo has moved beyond his heart break and pain. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters most of whom we have me in previous story lines. We are introduced to Theo’s siblings: Max, Mason, Camden and Ali, as well as their parents Patricia and Jim. I am hoping the author has plans for a Crawford siblings series.

WEDDING DATE is a story of friendships, relationships, family and love. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is flirty and seductive; the characters are energetic and fun. I will add I thought the ending was rather abrupt-I am thinking there are more stories to tell !

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Save the Date
Fake Date
Holidate
Hate to Date you
Rate a Date

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Twitter / Newsletter Sign Up

 

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Rate A Date (Dating #5) by Monica Murphy-Review tour

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Rate A Date (Dating #5) by Monica Murphy-Review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play /
Apple

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3gZnemN

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 14, 2020

Eleanor Murray is tired.

Tired of going on awkward dates. Tired of meeting men who just aren’t that into her. Tired of being set up on blind dates by her well-meaning friends.

She is a believer of true love, of finding that happily ever after, and she wants it. She deserves it. But at the rate she’s going, she’s pretty sure it’s never going to happen.

Until a friend creates a profile for Eleanor on a new dating app. At first, she’s reluctant. Dating apps aren’t the way to finding true love, are they? But then she makes a connection on Rate a Date, and this gorgeous, confident guy almost seems too good to be true…

Mitch Anderson has a secret.

He’s just moved to Las Vegas for his high profile job and after years of playing the field, he’s looking for a serious relationship. He wants to find a woman who likes him for who he is, not what he does. Meeting Eleanor on the dating app, he’s intrigued. Meeting her in real life while she’s in town for a bachelorette weekend, he completely falls for her. Now he’s in way over his head.

Their chemistry is combustible. They can’t keep their hands off each other. But will Eleanor forgive him when she finds out who he really is?

••••••••

REVIEW:RATE A DATE is the fifth instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, adult DATING erotic, romance series. This is hair stylist Eleanor Murray, and professional football player Mitch Anderson’s story line. RATE A DATE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Mitch and Eleanor) RATE A DATE follows the building relationship between hair stylist Eleanor Murray, and professional football player Mitch Anderson. Mitch and Eleanor are tired of the dating scene. Eleanor Murray soon discovers that her best friend has signed her up on the Rate a Date dating app, and her first ‘date’ doesn’t go too well. Meanwhile, professional football player Mitchell Anderson, bored with the one-night stands, and the stream of women only looking for fame and money, finds himself ‘talking and texting’ to Eleanor Murray, a woman who is quickly stirring something within our story line hero. A bachelorette weekend in Vegas for Caroline Abbott (Save the Date #1) finds Eleanor meeting the man who is currently starring in all of her fantasies and dreams but a man whom she will discover is keeping secret his true identity.What ensues is the quick building romance and relationship between Eleanor and Mitch, and the potential fall-out as Mitch’s professional life is about to be exposed.

Mitchell Anderson wants to fall in love. He wants a woman to call his own, and meeting Eleanor Murray gives Mitchell a hope for the future but a future that is currently predicated upon a lie. Mitchell knows he has to come clean but our hero struggles with revealing the truth to a woman who only knows that the man with whom she is falling in love, is an ordinary man. Eleanor Murray is lonely. One of the two remaining single women in her group of friends, Eleanor battles between head and heart when her friend sets up a dating profile in an effort to find Eleanor someone to love.

The relationship between Mitch and Eleanor begins as a meet and greet in Vegas having spent days and nights texting and talking. Now that Mitch and his team have moved to Vegas, our hero spends with weekend getting know the woman with whom he will fall in love but a lie of omission threatens their potential happily ever after. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top,sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters-most of the women we have me in the previous instalments.

RATE A DATE is a story of secrets and lies; friendships and love. The premise is heart warming, uplifting and fun; the romance is sexy and seductive; the characters are animated and sassy.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Save the Date
Fake Date
Holidate
Hate to Date you

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

“You’re just saying that.”“Not really,” I tell her truthfully. “You’re gorgeous.”

“Mitch.” She draws my name out, like she’s all embarrassed. “You really think so?”

“Oh, I know so.” I lean back, taking her in. “I can’t wait to meet you in person this weekend.”

“Wait a minute. You’re not some secret serial killer, are you?” She asks this with such seriousness, I start to laugh all over again.

“Even if I was, do you think I’d tell you?” I grin, unable to contain it. “I’d keep it a secret, right?”

“True.” She smiles. Laughs a little. “It’s just…my friends don’t want me to meet you by myself. They want to come with me.”

“Swear to God, I’m not a serial killer, Eleanor,” I say solemnly, holding my hand up and making the peace sign. “Scout’s honor.”

“That’s not what you do when you say scout’s honor,” she says quickly. Little Miss Smartypants. “You do your fingers like this.” She holds up her hand, the first three fingers up and pressed close together.

“How do you know that? Were you a secret Boy Scout? Have a brother who was one?”

“I, um, dated a guy who was an Eagle Scout.” Her expression turns sheepish. “He was really into the Boy Scouts.”

“Was that in high school?”

“Uh. No. College.”

I’m frowning. “College?”

“Well, he got his Eagle Scout status his senior year, but was still involved with the scouts through college. And—beyond.” She presses her hand against her forehead and briefly closes her eyes. “Fine, I went out with him after he graduated college. I never really went to college. I went to beauty school.” She drops her hand, sending me a meaningful look.

“So you went out with a guy who was still excited about being an Eagle Scout…and he was a grown man.” I start to laugh. “Sounds fun.”

“I’ve not had the greatest luck when it comes to dating guys,” she admits.

“Oh yeah?” I’m rubbing my chin again, contemplating her. Wondering what the hell is wrong with all the men in her life that they don’t know how to treat her.

And then I realize how lucky I am that they all blew it so now I have my chance.

“Yeah. I’m just—I don’t pick well. And I always get really awkward around guys.” She rolls her eyes. “I can say really dumb things. Or I just act all nervous and weird. I start to ramble.”

“Like now?”

“Yes.” She laughs. “Like now. I’m rambling. I’m totally rambling and you don’t look bored, so I take that as a good sign.”

“I think the rambling thing is cute. I like your awkwardness.”

“Wait until you see it in person.”

“I can’t wait to see you in person,” I tell her with a sly smile, making her blush. “I can’t wait to give you a hug. See what you smell like.”

“Mitch.” Her cheeks look on fire.

“What? I’m serious. You wear perfume?”

“Of course.”

“Use scented shampoo?”

“Duh. I’m a hairstylist.”

“Then I can’t wait to see how all those scents mix and create the essence of you.” Oooh, that was a good one. I didn’t even mean to say that. It just spilled out of my mouth.

“Aw, you’re being so sweet.” She sends me a heated glance. “Kind of sexy.”

“You think me talking about how you smell is sexy?”

“Honestly, Mitch? I think everything about you is sexy,” she says with a little sigh, right before she claps her hand over her mouth. “I probably shouldn’t have said that.” Her voice is muffled behind her palm.

“I love that you said that,” I say, warming up to this conversation big time. “I think you’re pretty fucking sexy too, Eleanor.” Hesitating, I wonder if I should tell her what I did in the shower.

Maybe not.

“Have you ever sexted with someone before?” she asks, sounding genuinely curious.

“I guess.” I shrug, not really wanting to answer her. Makes me feel like a slimy shit to admit that yes, I have. Lots of times. “Sort of. I’ve made plenty of  booty call messages. DTF, stuff like that.”

She frowns. “DTF?”

“Down to fuck.”

“Oh.” Her eyes are wide. Her mouth is formed in this perfect O. “Oh.”

“Back when I wasn’t big on relationships,” I add. “But I’ve changed.”

“You have?”

“Yeah. I’m looking for a special girl.”

“Really?”

“I want a long-term relationship.”

“It’s too bad you’re moving,” she says, sounding sad.

I don’t want to focus on that right now. I don’t even know if this girl is the one. She has great potential. But we need to meet in person first. Test it out.

“We’ll see each other this weekend,” I remind her.

“I know!” Her face brightens. “And I’m excited.”

“So am I, Eleanor.”

So am I.

 


 

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Twitter / Newsletter Sign Up

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HATE TO DATE YOU (Dating 4)by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt Tour

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HATE TO DATE YOU (Dating #4) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 7 , 2020

Stella Ricci is bored.

Her overprotective family barely let her out of their sight, despite the fact she’s a grown woman. Yes, she loves her job at her family’s café and she’s the best barista in the entire Monterey Peninsula, but is that enough? She’s thinking no. But what else can she do?

Enter Carter Abbott. Burnt out after the never-ending grind of selling high end real estate in Los Angeles, he’s returned home, unsure of what to do next. He needs someplace to crash temporarily until he gets back on his feet.

It’s easy for Stella to suggest Carter move in. Temporarily of course. It’ll give her someone to talk to. The only problem?

That one night stand Stella and Carter had about a year ago. They never talked about it. They still don’t really talk about it. Despite the fact that the old chemistry has come back full force. Living together has made that obvious. Should they admit that one night wasn’t enough? Or will dating each other turn into an epic fail?

Only one way to find out…

••••••••••

REVIEW: HATE TO DATE YOU is the fourth instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, adult DATING romance series. This is café owner Stella Ricci, and real estate agent Carter Abbott’s story line. HATE TO DATE YOU can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Stella and Carter) HATE TO DATE YOU follows the best friend’s brother relationship between thirty-one year old real estate agent Carter Abbott, and twenty-something café owner Stella Ricci. One year earlier Stella and Carter had a drunken one-night stand but when Stella woke up Carter was gone, and ghosted our heroine for close to one year. Fast forward to present day wherein Carter has returned to his home, having quit his position in Los Angeles, and desperately needs a place to stay. Enter Stella Ricci, his one-night stand; his sister’s best friend, and the woman with whom Carter will fall in love. What ensues is the building but secret relationship between Carter and Stella, and the potential fall-out as Stella is unwilling to commit to something more.

Stella Ricci has always been attraction to her best friend’s brother but struggles with their relationship and their one-night stand. With Carter her new roommate, Stella finds herself willing to accept a friends with benefits relationship but refuses to admit to something more. Carter Abbott knows he screwed up one year before but hopes to convince Stella to give him a chance. Falling for Stella was easy, but Stella refuses to settle down, and in this, pushes Carter out of her life.

The relationship between Stella and Carter is a sister’s best friend or best friend’s brother (however you want to see it 😉 ). Stella is fearful of revealing the truth to her best friend Caroline but Stella’s Nonna sees something between our couple that everyone else is struggling to see. As Carter begins a slow seduction of our story line heroine, Stella begins to pull away fearing losing her friends, her family and her independence. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Stella’s friends Caroline (Save the Date #1), Sarah (Fake Date #2) Candice (Holidate), Eleanor, Kelsey and Amelia; Stella’s parents Vera and Lorenzo Ricci, brother Michael, their grandmother Graziella ‘Grace’ Ricci.

HATE TO DATE YOU is a story of family, friendships, indecisions, and second chances. The premise is engaging and inviting ; the characters are flirty and feisty; the romance is spicy but struggles in the face of Stella’s reluctance for something more.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Save the Date
Fake Date
Holidate

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

 

I’m in the bathroom applying one last coat of mascara to my eyelashes when Carter suddenly appears behind me, his gorgeous face looming over my shoulder. Of course, like the dork that I am, I yelp with a jolt when I first spot him, stabbing myself in the eyeball with the mascara wand.
And like some sort of romcom hero, he rushes for me, his big hands curling around my shoulders and turning me around so I have no choice but to face him. Though I can’t even look at him, considering I’m bent over and holding both hands over my wounded eye.
“Are you all right? I didn’t mean to scare you.” He sounds troubled. Which is good. He should definitely feel bad for causing my injury.
Though really, I’m the one who overreacted and stabbed myself in the first place.
“I’m okay.” I stand up straighter, still cradling my watery, stinging eye. “It only hurts a little.”
“Drop your hand.” He turns away from me, snagging a tissue out of the Kleenex box that’s perched on the back of the toilet, then faces me once more. “Drop it,” he repeats when I still haven’t removed my hand.
Reluctantly I remove my hand from my face, my eyelashes practically stuck together. I’m sure I look a mess and I swallow hard, reaching up to dab at the tender skin beneath my eye, but Carter bats my hand away.
“Let me,” he murmurs as he brushes the tissue underneath my eye, picking up all the excess mascara. “Does it still hurt?”
“A little.” He’s so close. I can see all of his eyelashes, and they’re thick and dark and don’t need a lick of mascara on them, the jerk. He’s freshly shaven, his face nice and smooth, and I sort of want to rub against it. Like a cat.
“I’m sorry I startled you,” he says with the utmost sincerity. “I didn’t mean for you to try to take your eye out.”
A soft laugh escapes me. “I’ve stabbed myself in the eye before with a mascara wand. I’m sure this won’t be the last time.”
He finishes cleaning up the mess I made and then turns me so I face the mirror once more. “Now you’re perfect,” he says, squeezing my shoulders for the briefest moment before he lets go and exits the bathroom, heading straight into his bedroom.
I’m shaken by the encounter and it takes me a minute to get moving again. Since the afternoon at my nonna’s house, we’ve been friendlier. Not so friendly that we fall into bed together, but friendly enough. Which is…nice. I don’t like having hostile feelings toward Carter. What exactly did he ever do to me anyway?
Oh, he just rocked your world and turned you into a firm believer in multiple orgasms, then left you in the dust and never talked to you again.
Right. He did that. And it sucked.


 

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Twitter / Newsletter Sign Up

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Holidate (Dating #3) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt Tour

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Holidate (Dating #3) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt Tour

HOLIDATE
Dating #3
by Monica Murphy
Release Date: October 15, 2019
Genre: adult, contemporary,sweet, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Apple

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 15, 2019

Candice Gaines loves Christmas. Not only does she bask in the twinkling lights, sing Christmas carols and go crazy with the decorations, she’s also in the giving spirit, donating much of her time and wealth to various charities in the local area.

Charlie Sullivan despises Christmas. Though it keeps his family afloat, considering they own Sullivan Family Christmas Tree Farm, the main provider for Christmas trees on the Monterey peninsula. He’d much rather work among the trees versus have to deal with people.

But Charlie’s parents are taking on more philanthropic projects—and as their oldest child, they want him to be their official public representative. He just has to play nice and convince everyone he’s not a total holiday hater.

When Charlie’s mom asks Candice to accompany him to a variety of holiday parties and events, she reluctantly agrees. She thinks Charlie is a big ol’ Grinch, but is determined to change his mindset and help him spread Christmas cheer. Charlie finds Candice too chatty, too sweet, too much. Do people like her really exist?

Why yes, yes they do. The more time they spend together—along with a few kisses under the mistletoe—the more they start to like each other. Hopefully Charlie can convince Candice he doesn’t have a heart that’s two sizes too small before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve.

••••••••

REVIEW: HOLIDATE is the third instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, adult DATING romance series. This is Christmas tree farm owner Charlie Sullivan, and philanthropist and fund raiser Candice Gaines’ story line. HOLIDATE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Charlie and Candice) HOLIDATE follows the building romance and relationship between Christmas tree farm owner Charlie Sullivan, and philanthropist Candice Gaines. The holidays are about to get busy and Candice finds herself the ‘victim’ of a lie when she is asked by a well-meaning mother to accompany her son to a variety of holiday parties. Candice, with a holiday scheduled filled to the brim, isn’t exactly thrilled to be holding hands with the local Grinch but discovers there is more to Charlie than meets the eye. What ensues is the building relationship between Candice and Charlie, and the potential fall-out when the truth is revealed.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Candice’s friends Kelsey, Eleanor, Caroline (Save the Date #1) and Sarah, her brother Jared’s girlfriend (Fake Date #2), Joyce Rothschild, as well as Charlie’s mother Isabel Sullivan, his sister Victoria; and tree farm employee Isaac Jones.

HOLIDATE is a cute holiday themed story; a ‘Hallmark-esque’ sweet romance where the push and pull of enemies to friendship quickly escalates with each encounter. The premise is endearing; the romance is sweet (no $ex scenes, a few kisses and limited physical touching); Candice is energetic and over the top, almost childlike in her love of Christmas; Charlie struggles with the season and everything it represents. HOLIDATE is a light-hearted and delightful read.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Save the Date
Fake Date
Holidate

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

I go chasing after Charlie, thankful he hasn’t hopped back on that ATV and torn out of here. He’s headed straight for the giant red building, and I follow behind, having to pick up my step since one of his long strides equals about three of mine. He’s just so stinkin’ tall.
And handsome.
And gruff.
And he smells good. Have I mentioned that? He smells like a pine tree, of course, and his scent is mouth-wateringly delicious.
Ugh. I hate myself sometimes.
He pushes open the door of the building almost violently, sending it swinging wide, and I sneak in behind him, causing him to turn and practically snarl at me when he realizes I’m standing in front of him.
But I forget all about his snarl when I see how enchanting this room is. It’s not an office, but an actual store, filled to the brim with holiday decorations and knickknacks for sale. Candles are burning—I can smell cinnamon and spice wafting in the air. The scent of the real pine trees laden with ornaments standing in the room also lingers, and I breathe deep, closing my eyes for a moment so I can take it all in.
When I open my eyes, it’s to find Charlie standing there, his hands on his hips, his brow lowered. “Are you okay? That head injury still flaring up and giving you trouble?”
I roll my eyes. “No, you idiot. I’m enjoying the festive atmosphere.”
Oh, that was mean. I shouldn’t have said that.
But I don’t think he even noticed.
I slowly turn in a circle, pure delight flowing through my veins. I don’t know what to look at first, it’s all so beautiful. And there are layers upon layers of decorations. On the walls, cluttering shelves and tabletops, overflowing giant baskets. And of course there are the trees. They almost sag with their bounty of sparkling ornaments and twinkling lights. It would probably take me hours to explore it all, and I’m dying to start my exploration right at this very moment. “This store is so adorable!”
“My sister Victoria runs it.” He glances over at the counter where the register sits, but no one’s there. “I don’t know where she’s at, though. Maybe you could talk to her about—whatever it is you want to talk about.”
No way is he pushing this agenda onto his sister. Isabel wants Charlie to do this, and no one else.
“We’ve wasted the past five minutes with you huffing and puffing and refusing to speak to me.” I reach into my large bag and pull the folder out I wanted to show him. “Give me ten minutes. That’s all I need to talk about what we’re going to do over the next few weeks.”
He grimaces. Sighs. Tugs the cap off his head, all that gorgeous hair spilling across his forehead, and my fingers literally itch at the chance to push it out of his eyes.
But I restrain myself. Barely. 


 

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Twitter / Newsletter Sign Up

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Fake Date (Dating #2) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt tour

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Fake Date (Dating #2) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play /ibooks

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 17, 2019.

Working at Bliss Lingerie, Sarah Harrison deals with all sorts of—interesting clientele. Yet no one sparks her interest more than Jared Gaines, the ultra-rich, ultra-sexy businessman who frequents her shop, buying delicate little “gifts” for the women in his life.

But one day, Jared sends her a gift from Bliss. Then another—and another. So when Sarah walks into his office demanding to know why he can’t stop sending her gifts, he makes her an offer she somehow can’t refuse: be his fake girlfriend for the weekend while attending his brother’s engagement party.

Next thing Sarah knows, she’s in San Francisco, pretending to be in love with Jared. Not that it’s a hardship. Once you get the man away from the office, he’s much more relaxed. Sweet. Funny. Even…thoughtful? Oh, and sexier than ever, of course.

Their pretend relationship feels very real, very quickly. Soon Sarah’s in over her head. Could what she and Jared share turn into something real? Or is it all actually…fake?

•••••••••

REVIEW: FAKE DATE is the second instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, adult DATING romance series. This is thirty four year old, acquisitions billionaire Jared Gaines, and twenty four year old, lingerie sales clerk Sarah Harrison’s story line. FAKE DATE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Jared and Sarah) FAKE DATE focuses on the building relationship between thirty four year old, acquisitions billionaire Jared Gaines, and twenty four year old, lingerie sales clerk Sarah Harrison. For close to six months Sarah Harrison has been the go-to personal shopper for businessman Jared Gaines, a man whose taste in lingerie is exquisite and expensive. Believing Jared is nothing more than a manwh*re with numerous mistresses Sarah remains overly professional in the face of her unwanted attraction to a man she doesn’t like. When gifts of lingerie, expensive shoes and flowers arrive at Sarah’s door, our heroine battles between head and heart believing Jared is treating her no better than the women he leaves behind but Jared need a plus-one for his brother’s engagement party, and Sarah is the perfect woman for the job. What ensues is the fake girlfriend but building romance and relationship between Sarah and Jared, and the potential fall –out when Jared’s secrets all but destroy Sarah’s faith in a possible happily ever after.

Jared Gaines doesn’t do relationships; having been burned in the past, Jared refuses to fall in love, having hardened his heart to romance and love. Meeting Sarah Harrison sparks something deep within our story line hero, something Jared struggles to accept or acknowledge. Sarah Harrison has raised her younger brother and sister since the death of their parents four years earlier. Having spent no time on herself Sarah battles with Jared’s offer of a fake relationship knowing that her heart has already started to fall for the man who struggles with family and friends. Watching Jared falter with basic social skills, Sarah quickly discovers that Jared has closed himself off from said family and friends.

Jared’s personality and actions will be difficult to accept for many romance readers. Oft-times immature and cold, Jared struggles with ordinary and everyday social encounters including his treatment of our story line heroine. Demanding and petulant, almost child-like in nature, Jared steps over the line on one too many occasions, and Sarah must remind him about his poor behaviour, and treatment of other people, and herself.

The relationship between Jared and Sarah begins as a business arrangement wherein Sarah becomes Jared’s personal shopper at Bliss Lingerie. Jared’s attraction to Sarah finds our hero ‘using’ Sarah to ‘shop’ for his many ‘women’, only for Sarah to discover that she has been the only woman for several months. The $ex scenes are passionate and intimate but mostly implied, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Sarah’s sister Andie, and their brother Brent; and Sarah’s co-worker Bethany, and boss Marlo; Jared’s brother Kevin and his fiancée Rochelle, their sister Candice, their father Marcus Gaines, and his wife Mitzi. We are reintroduced to Sarah’s friends: Caroline Abbott ( Save the Date #1), Stella, and Kelsey.

FAKE DATE is a story of family, grief, acceptance and love. The premise is entertaining; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic but Jared’s actions and behavior are questionable and problematic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one Save the Date

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

“Mr. Gaines,” I say, pasting on my best customer smile when he lifts his gaze to mine.
His dark brown eyes flash with an unfamiliar gleam and my breath catches in the back of my throat. “Back so soon, I see.”
“You know I can’t resist you, Miss Harrison.” His smile is slow. Wolfish, if that’s really
a thing. I read it in a romance novel once, thought it was kind of silly, but right now, it’s working for Jared.
His entire demeanor right now reminds me of a predatory creature. His face is all hard lines—stern, straight nose, granite jaw, sharp cheekbones, steely eyes. Yet his mouth, his lips are soft. Full. Lush.
Kissable.
Shaking my head at the wayward thought, I return his smile, trying my best to remain
polite. Professional.
“Is there anything in particular you’re looking for this afternoon?” I’m surprised by how steady my voice is, considering I feel like my insides are sloshing back and forth, like I’m on a boat in the middle of the ocean.
“You don’t have anything pulled aside for my appointment?” He raises a single brow, the expression on his face practically daring me to say no.
Well, guess what? I’m about to say it.
“No, I didn’t pull anything aside.” I shrug when he glares at me. “You never told me the nature of your visit.”
He glances about, making sure no one is around, I’d assume. And lucky for him, there’s no one in the store currently. It’s the middle of the week, early afternoon. We normally don’t get too many customers at this time.
We are the only two people in here. Even Marlo has disappeared.
“Perhaps you can show me some of your newer items,” he suggests.
“I can do that.” All new arrivals are at the front of the store, so we’re in the right spot. I lead him to a table showcasing our latest bra and panty design. “Celestial is the theme for spring into summer.”
I point to the bras made of thin, sheer netting and pink silk, tiny pale pink stars stitched in a scattered pattern across the tulle fabric. They leave nothing to the imagination, and the panties are the same.
“They hide nothing.” He holds up a pair of brief-cut panties, turning them this way and that. Every time he holds underwear in those big hands of his, I melt a little inside. I don’t know why he affects me like this.
“You’re right. They don’t,” I agree, grabbing a thong and flipping it over to the thin
string of lace that makes up the backside. “But they’re terribly sweet.”
“Sweet?”
I glance up to find him watching me. “Sweet yet sexy,” I counter, my cheeks going hot
from the way he’s studying me so carefully.
“You like the celestial theme?”
I nod. Press my lips together so I don’t say something I regret. Like, I love this theme, or Do you want me to model the panties for you?
Yeah. That’s a bad idea.

 


 

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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