In case you missed it, Robin was here last week for an interview–and giveaway! Check it out here.
Keeping Mr. Right Now
by Robin Bielman
Blurb:
A temporary agreement neither could keep…
Brainy, organized Sophie Birch is no beach bunny. In fact, she’s totally out of her element among the sun-bronzed crowd at a film festival in beautiful White Strand Cove. When a surf lesson introduces her to Zane Hollander, suddenly she’s up close and personal with the world’s sexiest surf star. But what can a great-looking, experienced athlete possibly see in a klutzy out-of-towner who’s never set foot in the ocean?
Zane Hollander’s playboy reputation has never been a problem…until recently. Now his management team wants him on his best behavior to entice a meaningful new sponsor. Sophie Birch is the perfect girl to help reform his image. She’s genuine and respected—and their relationship is purely fictional. But the more Sophie blooms under the beachy sun, the more Zane knows he’ll just break her heart. Because nothing’s more important to Zane than following the tide.
Review:
A cute read that’s perfect for summer! Slightly nerdy smart girl gets the hot jock who spends most of his time shirtless and in board shorts–who doesn’t want to read that? 😉
Skipping a few years in school and living with overprotective parents has made Sophie more than a little socially awkward. She’s recently decided to forgo research work in favor of event planning, and the surfer-themed film festival offers her a chance to justify her career change.
Zane loves the ocean and has no complaints about his surfer lifestyle, but now he wants to use his influence to do good for others. He’s particularly interested in a nonprofit organization called the Surf Help Exchange–and it looks like they might want him for their ambassador. First, though, he has to clean up his image.
Enter Sophie–a “safe” relationship for Zane. Spend some time with her, stay away from the tabloids. What does Sophie get out of the deal? A “Mr. Right Now”–a guy to have temporary fun with while she’s in town for the festival. A win-win, right?
Riiiight.
Their relationship was cute to watch, as it slowly grew from friendship to something more. His surfer-god-with-a-heart-of-gold persona was a nice compliment to her sweet ready-to-move-on-from-unrequited-crushes nerdy girl-ness.
The morning after their first kiss, when they run into each other on the way to the festival:
“Zane!”
“Yeah?” he said, cool as a cucumber and tucking his chin a little tighter, eyes still in the downward dog.
“Are you trying to look down my blouse?”
“Yeah.”
She rushed a hand to cover the teensy bit of cleavage left exposed by the button-down silk shirt.
“Too late,” he teased, eyes lazily lifting to meet hers. “Are your panties black too?”
Holy snap peas. Was this how things would be now that they’d kissed? Was he hinting at wanting more? Maybe he’d slept on it and decided to forget the gentlemanly thing and take things further.
“Yes.” She stuck her neck out, just a little bit, and inhaled his delicious scent.
“Did you just sniff me?”
“You smell good.”
He lowered his head and, with his lips grazing that delicate spot under her earlobe, said, “You do, too, and I want to breathe in every part of you.”
Unthinking, she fisted the front of his shirt to keep herself upright. Quivers tobogganed down her body, surging and spreading to all her girl parts. “I don’t know what to say to that,” she murmured.
“You don’t have to say anything.”
See? Swoon.
For all his big-shot surfer ways, Zane was absolutely adorable with his younger fans. He always made time to make them feel special. It made him twice as hot, if that’s even possible.
Honor and Bryce (Zane’s friend/manager) are clearly being set up for a future book in the series, and it should be a good one–lovers with a past…
Keeping Mr. Right Now is a perfect beach read book–whether you’re at the beach or just wish you were 🙂
(I have to admit, I didn’t see the “Red Hot” label before the Bliss logo when I started reading, so I was a little surprised when the steamy scenes went further than I expected. Not complaining, though!)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Hi Becky! Thanks so much for this wonderful review! I’m so stoked you enjoyed Zane and Sophie’s story! 😀
Oh, and I forgot to say I love the picture Mini Moe took! MM’s got mad skills! Sorry there was no Zane. 😉
LOL–thanks, I’ll tell her! I was very sorry too 🙁 Though there actually were a few guys there attempting to surf–definitely no Zane!