Today I'm bringing you a heartwarming novella featuring a favorite theme of mine, friends to lovers. Keep reading to get a glimpse of When It's Right by Jeanette Grey along with my impressions of it. You can learn even more by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour. Make sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win a $25 bookstore GC too!
Fun as it sounds, Cassie is reluctant to accept Nate’s invitation. Little does he know, she’s made resolutions of her own—resolutions about finally getting over her long-standing crush on him. Telling herself this trip will be the perfect “last hurrah”, she packs her bag.
The trip is a fiasco from the outset. A car that won’t start, a freak storm that strands them on the side of the road, and a long drive with too much time for true confessions. Cassie’s rocks Nate to the core, leaving him wondering if the best thing that ever happened to him has been right in front of him all along.
EXCERPT:
"When I first met you, I thought… I used to think you were hot. Really, really hot.”
Nate’s breath caught, and his quiet, “Oh?” sounded choked, even to him.
“Yeah. I even…you probably could have called it a crush.”
Jesus Christ. Their whole friendship twisted and changed before his eyes. “You never said anything.”
She laughed low in her throat. “Can you blame me? With all those girls throwing themselves at you…”
She was right. She usually was. Part of what had drawn him to her off the bat was that she hadn’t flirted, hadn’t flattered him or tried to get him to go home with her. Instead, she’d just talked to him. Gotten to know him, and he had gotten to know her, free from the pressures of attraction.
Not that he hadn’t felt it for her, too. In his own way.
“I always thought you were cute,” he admitted.
“Cute?” She said it like it was an insult.
“Hot, but in a different way.”
“If that’s your way of saying I have ‘a great personality’…”
“But you do!” He stopped himself. Made himself take a deep breath and think. “I mean, I know that’s a code word for ugly, but it’s not. You’re attractive because you don’t try. Because you’re just yourself, and it makes you hotter.” The words were falling out of him entirely too quickly, truths he rarely even spoke to himself meeting the air. “You’re smart and fun and nice. And yeah, you’re gorgeous, but that’s not the point. You act like just one of the guys, but you’re not. You’re you.”
He didn’t know how else to say it. And now that he was letting himself think like that, he couldn’t turn it off.
Nate’s breath caught, and his quiet, “Oh?” sounded choked, even to him.
“Yeah. I even…you probably could have called it a crush.”
Jesus Christ. Their whole friendship twisted and changed before his eyes. “You never said anything.”
She laughed low in her throat. “Can you blame me? With all those girls throwing themselves at you…”
She was right. She usually was. Part of what had drawn him to her off the bat was that she hadn’t flirted, hadn’t flattered him or tried to get him to go home with her. Instead, she’d just talked to him. Gotten to know him, and he had gotten to know her, free from the pressures of attraction.
Not that he hadn’t felt it for her, too. In his own way.
“I always thought you were cute,” he admitted.
“Cute?” She said it like it was an insult.
“Hot, but in a different way.”
“If that’s your way of saying I have ‘a great personality’…”
“But you do!” He stopped himself. Made himself take a deep breath and think. “I mean, I know that’s a code word for ugly, but it’s not. You’re attractive because you don’t try. Because you’re just yourself, and it makes you hotter.” The words were falling out of him entirely too quickly, truths he rarely even spoke to himself meeting the air. “You’re smart and fun and nice. And yeah, you’re gorgeous, but that’s not the point. You act like just one of the guys, but you’re not. You’re you.”
He didn’t know how else to say it. And now that he was letting himself think like that, he couldn’t turn it off.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
With New Year's just around the corner Nate has decided it's time for a change. He's single again after dating a woman who left him feeling disappointed. In fact most of the women he's dated have left him disappointed. He thinks a radical shake-up will refresh him and help him decide what he really wants. His plan includes a spontaneous trip to Times Square to watch the ball drop that veers radically off-course, but does in fact show him what he really wants, after a car accident leaves him grateful to be alive.
Cassie fell in love with Nate the moment they met but didn't want to jeopardize their friendship by admitting the truth. She's stood by watching him go from one bad romance to the next remaining his supportive friend always. But she too needs a change and putting her feelings for him behind her is her goal for the new year. In the blink of an eye, and after a near-death experience, she realizes that putting her feelings for Nate behind her isn't as easy as she hoped it would be as they cling together in a reaffirmation of life that catches both of them by surprise.
Friends to lovers is a favorite trope of mine and Ms. Grey has brought to life one that is both sweet and sexy. Nate and Cassie are delightful characters who are immensely endearing with a journey to HEA that put a smile on my face. Nate is charming but clueless at times as to what he has right in front of him. Once it dawns on him how important Cassie has become to him he goes after her wholeheartedly in subtle yet romantic ways. Cassie is a strong-willed woman who values what she has with Nate but can't help wanting more. She wants it to be his decision, though when given the chance she too jumps at the chance to push their friendship to more. The evolution from friends to lovers is slow yet teeming with sexual tension. It's an ultimately satisfying journey that brought a tear to my eye and had me cheering at the same time. Ms. Grey created a heartwarming story perfect for the holidays or anytime you want an uplifting story of realizing the importance of what's right in front of you.
My rating for this is an A.
*I received this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
BUY LINKS: AMAZON | BN | SAMHAIN
Jeanette Grey started out with degrees in physics and painting, which she dutifully applied to stunted careers in teaching, technical support, and advertising. When none of that panned out, she started writing. In her spare time, Jeanette enjoys making pottery, playing board games, and spending time with her husband and her pet frog. She lives, loves, and writes in upstate New York.
WEBSITE: http://jeanettegrey.com/
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/#!/
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteWe usually just stay at home and bring in the new year with a toast, kiss and watch the ball drop on TV!!
ReplyDeleteOne of my very favorite kinds of evenings :)
DeleteThis looks great! Thanks for sharing with us! =)
ReplyDeletecloud.weaver.girl AT gmail DOT com
Thanks! It was a fun one to write.
DeleteWhat a great review, I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks! Hope you enjoy!
DeleteThank you so much for having me, and for the great review! I'm so glad you enjoyed the book!
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
Glad to hear you enjoyed the novel! I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeletejustforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
With my wife...in a secret place!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm celebrating New Year's Eve by having a small gathering of friends over to chillax, eat some yummy food, and toast in 2014 together.
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