“…what I love most is that Ms. Clare adds her own flare of romance, laugh-out-loud moments and very sexy scenes to the story. She seemed to have mastered what I love most about small town novels.” ~ Under the Covers

Brenna and Grant have been at each other’s throats since this survival expedition company had started. They were like cats and dogs and can never get along but damn their attraction was of the maps. Opposites attract after all. Grant is a control freak and Brenna had no kind of direction in her life, but they couldn’t have been more perfect. They just needed the extra push to get together.

In this installment, Grant’s parents visit and being that Grant is still single they attempt to set him up. Of course, Brenna tries to get him out of it by pretending to be his girlfriend. Oh and they play every part of their make-believe relationship to the fullest. I somehow expected what was to come and obviously this will be the beginning of their beautiful relationship. As they played along, bits of pieces of their personalities are revealed and steadily, they fall for each other.

I thoroughly enjoyed Brenna and Grant’s story. They are quite easy to like. Both have good personalities, good humor and damn, Grant is hot! Okay, Brenna too. I have to give her credit because she was bold in her “exploration” of Grant’s body. I thought their story was romantic and very adult. Though some scenes were predictable, what I love most is that Ms. Clare adds her own flare of romance, laugh-out-loud moments and very sexy scenes to the story. She seemed to have mastered what I love most about small town novels.

There is a big set up for the next book’s characters which is Grant’s sister Elise and Rome the new hired instructor. Elise who plays a wallflower is very interested in Rome who looks like a total bad boy. Now I’m hoping and predicting that The Virgin’s Guide to Misbehaving will be the hottest one of the series. I may be too eager , but Rome is tatted, very handsome , and his persona screams a whole lot of hotness. I mean, need I say more?

*ARC provided by Publisher

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Excerpt

“So,” Justine said after a long moment. “How are you doing, Grant? How’s the social life? You keeping busy? Getting out?”

He gave Elise’s bag a shove, trying to make it fit into the small trunk. It wasn’t working, so he paused, sighed at the stack of suitcases, and turned back to the others. “What do you mean, Mom?”

Justine exchanged a look with Reggie. “I was just asking, darling. We worry about you and how alone you are.”

The look on Grant’s face became shuttered. “I’m fine.”

Yowch. His tone had gone positively arctic. Dane had been right—he sure was touchy about this sort of thing. Elise gave Brenna a quick, apologetic look.

“But darling, you need to get back on the horse. Get out and see new people again. You’re too young to be spending your life a widower. I know it’s hard but you can’t go through life moping.”

Grant glanced over at Brenna as if chagrined that the conversation was taking place in front of her. “Now is not the time, Mother.”

“I’ve invited Bonnie’s daughter to dinner with us, son. I wanted to let you know before we all got to the restaurant.”

Wow, that was bold of the woman. Brenna had to give her props for being on the ball . . . if it wasn’t such a dick move to pull on Grant. He needed time and space, something his mother clearly didn’t understand. Brenna felt oddly protective of Grant in that moment. It was clear that he was still wounded from his wife’s death.

“You invited her to dinner?”

“It’s just a little hello, son. Nothing to get all worked up about,” Reggie interjected, taking his wife’s side. “We both think it’d be good for you.”

“Mother.” Grant’s tone was a warning.

Justine ignored it. “She’s a lovely girl. I think you’ll like her. And she’s a marketing major, so you’ll have so much to talk about. She’s very pretty and career driven and very understanding.” His mother stressed the last word. “She won’t rush you.”

That was really a low blow. Outraged, Brenna pushed forward. This was rude and cruel and thoughtless of them. And if someone was going to be thoughtless and obnoxious to Grant, it was going to be her, damn it. She was never cruel, at least.

“Don’t,” Elise told her in a soft voice as Brenna pushed forward. “They always do this.”

“Not today,” Brenna said cheerfully.

She stepped between Grant and his parents. “You can’t invite this chick to dinner tonight.”

“Brenna,” Grant said, now turning the warning voice on her.

Justine regarded Brenna for a long moment as if sizing her up, and then smiled. “I’m afraid it’s too late, my dear. She’s already been invited to dinner.”

“Then uninvite her,” Brenna retorted. “Having her there is rude.”

Elise covered her mouth, her gaze flicking to Justine.

“Uninviting her is even ruder,” Grant’s mother replied, the smile on her face still. Her voice had

gone a little brittle, as if remaining polite were testing her patience.

Now Brenna was getting angry. Grant put a hand on her shoulder, trying to pull her backward and separate her from his parents. Why was he defending them when they were harassing him? An idea struck, and she gave Justine a little smile. “I guess this ruins the surprise, then.”

“Surprise?” Reggie asked.

Brenna turned and put her hands on Grant’s collar, tugging him down and kissing him full on the mouth. She turned back to Justine, Reggie, and Elise. “Grant didn’t want to tell you guys until after dinner. He likes to keep people guessing.”

“He does?” Elise asked, clearly shocked as her gaze flipped between Brenna and Grant and then back to Brenna.

She glanced up at Grant, but he was still standing there, his mouth slightly agape, staring down at her. She leaned up and bit his lower lip, tugging on it in a sensual move of ownership. “So shy. It’s adorable.” She looked over at Justine and smiled again, this time a genuine smile since she now had the upper hand. “That’s why you can’t invite this girl. She’s just going to see me and my boo being affectionate all night.”

And just to make her words have punch, Brenna gave Grant a slap on the ass.

Meet Brenna & Grant

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[about-author author=”Jessica Clare”]

GIVEAWAY

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Signed set of Jessica Clare BlueBonnet series published by Berkley:

  • The Care and Feeding of the Alpha Male
  • The Girl’s Guide to Manhunting
  • The Expert’s Guide to Driving a Man Wild

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