Readers who enjoy the ugly duckling theme will find themselves charmed by this romance between the geek and the businesswoman with a past full of betrayal. Keep reading to get a tantalizing taste of The Fix-Up by Tawna Fenske, along with my impressions of it, and then add it to your bookshelf. In honor of this release make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $50 SpaFinder GC too!
Uncovering this sexy geek’s charm is easy. Keeping her hands off of him is impossible.
While he may look like the love child of a movie starlet and an NFL linebacker, Ben Langley has the people skills of a half-drowned porcupine. Why socialize when there are chemistry labs and bad sci-fi flicks? If he has any hope of taking the helm as CEO of the family business, Ben needs an image makeover. Pronto.
Enter Holly Colvin, owner of First Impressions public relations and branding firm, and the woman who just saved Ben from the clutches of an over-attentive sales clerk. Holly’s rebranded hundreds of companies in her career, but she’s never rebranded a person. The guy clearly needs help, though, and she’s just the woman for the job.
With the clock ticking for them both, Holly and Ben face off over wardrobe malfunctions and business jargon that sounds a lot sexier than it should. But can Holly make Ben into the man he thinks he should be without losing the man she’s starting to love?
EXCERPT:
The saleswoman turned and scurried away, leaving Ben to stare down at the wife now affixed to his arm. She tucked her hair behind her ear and glanced the direction the saleswoman had retreated.
"I hope I read that right." The brunette scooted out from under his arm, and he instantly missed her softness. She looked up at him with those odd violet-gray eyes and smiled. "You looked like you were being eaten alive there, but too polite to tell her to back off."
"Eaten alive," he repeated, a little mesmerized by the woman's eyes. "I'm not entirely sure."
“Seemed like that’s what was going on. Salesgirl sees a big guy with a big budget and big—” she paused, then gave a small shrug.
“Well, sometimes it brings out the worst in women."
"Thank you," he said, meaning it. "I've been flying back and forth between cities all week, so I'm a little jetlagged and distracted. I guess I wasn't even a hundred percent sure I was being--uh--"
“Hit on? Ogled? Mentally undressed?"
"Right." He cleared his throat. "Not until you pointed it out. Thanks for the rescue."
“No problem. Pay it forward sometime."
“Is that real? It’s huge."
She blinked, then glanced down at the paperweight-sized rock adorning her ring finger. “Nah, I keep it in my purse for when I want to avoid getting hit on at ladies’ night."
“Does it work?"
“Not with the real jackasses, which probably defeats the purpose, huh?"
He nodded, not sure what to say to that. “I’m sorry, what was your name again?"
“Holly. Holly Colvin. I’m the owner of First Impressions."
“First Impressions?"
“We’re a public relations and branding firm that specializes in creating and remaking corporate identities.” She fished into her purse to pull out a business card. She held it out to him and Ben started to reach for it, but Holly withdrew her hand.
"Shit. Vampira the Sales Queen is headed back here."
Before he could say anything, Holly was sliding her hand around to cup his ass. For a few beats, he thought she was copping a feel, and he hoped like hell she kept doing it. Then he realized she was tucking her card into his back pocket. She grinned and tilted her head back to look up at him.
"Gotta commit to the role, right?"
"Right," he murmurred, staring down into those slate-speckled eyes. "We certainly do."
“I suppose we could throw in a little something extra if you really want her to buy it."
“Like what?"
Her lips parted slightly, almost like she was braced for a kiss. Or was that his imagination? It seemed hot in here, and he was getting dizzy, and now all he could think about was claiming those perfect lips.
“I’m sure you’ll come up with something,” she murmured.
Her mouth looked so soft, so inviting, and he could have sworn her lashes fluttered low the way they might if she were waiting for him to make a move. A big move.
He knew what he needed to do. What he wanted to do.
And with that, he bent and kissed her.
The saleswoman turned and scurried away, leaving Ben to stare down at the wife now affixed to his arm. She tucked her hair behind her ear and glanced the direction the saleswoman had retreated.
"I hope I read that right." The brunette scooted out from under his arm, and he instantly missed her softness. She looked up at him with those odd violet-gray eyes and smiled. "You looked like you were being eaten alive there, but too polite to tell her to back off."
"Eaten alive," he repeated, a little mesmerized by the woman's eyes. "I'm not entirely sure."
“Seemed like that’s what was going on. Salesgirl sees a big guy with a big budget and big—” she paused, then gave a small shrug.
“Well, sometimes it brings out the worst in women."
"Thank you," he said, meaning it. "I've been flying back and forth between cities all week, so I'm a little jetlagged and distracted. I guess I wasn't even a hundred percent sure I was being--uh--"
“Hit on? Ogled? Mentally undressed?"
"Right." He cleared his throat. "Not until you pointed it out. Thanks for the rescue."
“No problem. Pay it forward sometime."
“Is that real? It’s huge."
She blinked, then glanced down at the paperweight-sized rock adorning her ring finger. “Nah, I keep it in my purse for when I want to avoid getting hit on at ladies’ night."
“Does it work?"
“Not with the real jackasses, which probably defeats the purpose, huh?"
He nodded, not sure what to say to that. “I’m sorry, what was your name again?"
“Holly. Holly Colvin. I’m the owner of First Impressions."
“First Impressions?"
“We’re a public relations and branding firm that specializes in creating and remaking corporate identities.” She fished into her purse to pull out a business card. She held it out to him and Ben started to reach for it, but Holly withdrew her hand.
"Shit. Vampira the Sales Queen is headed back here."
Before he could say anything, Holly was sliding her hand around to cup his ass. For a few beats, he thought she was copping a feel, and he hoped like hell she kept doing it. Then he realized she was tucking her card into his back pocket. She grinned and tilted her head back to look up at him.
"Gotta commit to the role, right?"
"Right," he murmurred, staring down into those slate-speckled eyes. "We certainly do."
“I suppose we could throw in a little something extra if you really want her to buy it."
“Like what?"
Her lips parted slightly, almost like she was braced for a kiss. Or was that his imagination? It seemed hot in here, and he was getting dizzy, and now all he could think about was claiming those perfect lips.
“I’m sure you’ll come up with something,” she murmured.
Her mouth looked so soft, so inviting, and he could have sworn her lashes fluttered low the way they might if she were waiting for him to make a move. A big move.
He knew what he needed to do. What he wanted to do.
And with that, he bent and kissed her.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Readers who enjoy rapid-fire dialogue between a geek who's not what he seems and the woman struggling to make a name for herself will find themselves drawn to this fun and flirty read. After an unconventional meeting these two apparent opposites find a scorching connection that gets put in jeopardy over the heroine's fears of losing her identity again in the name of love. With just this one small speed bump though readers will be taken on a carefree journey that will often put a smile on your face courtesy of the playful banter and charming hero with his hidden layers of sexiness.
Ben is more comfortable behind the scenes as he enjoys using his brain over dealing with his self-proclaimed awkwardness. Being named CEO of his father's company though, and desiring to make his father proud, forces him into the spotlight where he'll need all the help he can get to learn the fine art of schmoozing. Ben may start off as insecure but he quickly shows flashes of being an Alpha which was a sexy dichotomy to his normally quiet and sweet nature. He may think he's not good with women but his romantic actions completely win you over as he's not afraid to admit his feelings and ask for more. He's surprisingly talented at dirty talk too though he's completely unaware of it which added another layer to his sexiness and him to my list of book boyfriends.
Holly is a strong-willed woman left bruised by her ex husband who wanted her to devote herself to his career rather than find her own path. It's left her desperate to keep her business afloat after he once again tries to tear her down. Meeting the geeky and uncertain Ben becomes the answer to her financial prayers as his hiring her will help her pay off her business loan. The more time they spend together the more business and play mix which has her fearing for her future of self-sufficiency. Though she tries to keep her hands off him, his charm and subtle sexual innuendos wear her down in a fast-moving relationship full of sexual tension. Holly's immensely self-assured but untrusting when it comes to men. The constant push/pull that she enacted towards Ben left me frustrated and a bit disappointed as he did nothing to make her doubt him. Her late attempts in trying to right her wrongs though were a nice modern twist and ultimately redeemed her in my eyes.
This was a quick read with a main couple who clicked immediately with a connection that was crackling and teeming with sensuality. Their interactions were playful, fun, and flirty with banter that makes you smile as well as blush. Ben is the quintessential hero as he stands up for himself, making his own mark in the world and never giving up his true nature. He's sweet and sexy and you can't help wanting to jump his geeky bones which makes Holly immensely lucky. Along with this compelling main couple comes the duo of supportive friends, Parker and Miriam, who are larger than life, funny, and outspoken. They're a good soundingboard and pointed out the obvious when needed. Though Ben's issues with his father are cliched they provided the necessary push Ben needed to become his own man, a man you want to drool over, in a story that is ultimately a feel good tale of the power of love and I recommend it to those looking for an afternoon of sexy escapism.
Ben is more comfortable behind the scenes as he enjoys using his brain over dealing with his self-proclaimed awkwardness. Being named CEO of his father's company though, and desiring to make his father proud, forces him into the spotlight where he'll need all the help he can get to learn the fine art of schmoozing. Ben may start off as insecure but he quickly shows flashes of being an Alpha which was a sexy dichotomy to his normally quiet and sweet nature. He may think he's not good with women but his romantic actions completely win you over as he's not afraid to admit his feelings and ask for more. He's surprisingly talented at dirty talk too though he's completely unaware of it which added another layer to his sexiness and him to my list of book boyfriends.
Holly is a strong-willed woman left bruised by her ex husband who wanted her to devote herself to his career rather than find her own path. It's left her desperate to keep her business afloat after he once again tries to tear her down. Meeting the geeky and uncertain Ben becomes the answer to her financial prayers as his hiring her will help her pay off her business loan. The more time they spend together the more business and play mix which has her fearing for her future of self-sufficiency. Though she tries to keep her hands off him, his charm and subtle sexual innuendos wear her down in a fast-moving relationship full of sexual tension. Holly's immensely self-assured but untrusting when it comes to men. The constant push/pull that she enacted towards Ben left me frustrated and a bit disappointed as he did nothing to make her doubt him. Her late attempts in trying to right her wrongs though were a nice modern twist and ultimately redeemed her in my eyes.
This was a quick read with a main couple who clicked immediately with a connection that was crackling and teeming with sensuality. Their interactions were playful, fun, and flirty with banter that makes you smile as well as blush. Ben is the quintessential hero as he stands up for himself, making his own mark in the world and never giving up his true nature. He's sweet and sexy and you can't help wanting to jump his geeky bones which makes Holly immensely lucky. Along with this compelling main couple comes the duo of supportive friends, Parker and Miriam, who are larger than life, funny, and outspoken. They're a good soundingboard and pointed out the obvious when needed. Though Ben's issues with his father are cliched they provided the necessary push Ben needed to become his own man, a man you want to drool over, in a story that is ultimately a feel good tale of the power of love and I recommend it to those looking for an afternoon of sexy escapism.
My rating for this is a B.
*I got this book from NetGalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Tawna Fenske is a romantic comedy author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Her offbeat brand of romance has been praised by Booklist as “A tame Carl Hiaasen on cupid juice,” and RT Book Reviews nominated her debut novel for contemporary romance of the year. Tawna is a fourth generation Oregonian who can peel a banana with her toes and who loses an average of 20 pairs of eyeglasses per year. She lives in Bend, Oregon with her husband, step kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets.
EMAIL: tawnafenske@yahoo.com
WEBSITE: http://www.tawnafenske.com
TWITTER: @tawnafenske
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