Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Bad Bachelor
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://stefanie-london.com/
CITY: Toronto
STATE:
COUNTRY: Canada
NATIONALITY: Australian
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in Australia; married.
EDUCATION:Business degree.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Formerly worked in communications.
AWARDS:Australian Romance Reader Association award: best new romance author, 2014 finalist; Romance Writers of Australia RBY award: Short-sexy category, 2016 finalist, Pretend It’s Love.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Stefanie London is a writer of contemporary romance and romantic comedies. London grew up in Melbourne, Australia. She received a business degree and incorporated literature into her studies. Following graduation, London worked in communications. Finding a lack of fulfillment in her office job, she quit and became a full-time fiction writer. London and her husband live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Betting the Bad Boy
In Betting the Bad Boy, country-raised Paige Thomas moves to the big city of Melbourne to escape the limitations of a small town. After earning a college degree, Paige does not want to spend the rest of her life serving coffee at her parent’s cafe. She moves onto her best friend’s couch in Melbourne, convinced she will find a job and her own place in no time. Her timeframe is cut short when her friend explains that she will be moving in with her boyfriend, leaving Paige without a place to stay. Jobless and soon to be homeless, Paige is desperate.
One day, as she is walking down the street and contemplating her situation, she is mistaken as a job applicant for a barista position at First, a small cafe. She needs a job, but fesses up that she was not the person scheduled for the interview. The employer, Noah, dismisses her, but she holds his attention by betting him she can make him the best cup of coffee he has ever had. After she wins the bet, she gets the job. Paige views the job as merely temporary, but as attraction between she and Noah grows, she finds it difficult to leave. She is cautious, though. Noah comes from a difficult background and is not one to commit. As Paige considers her next moves, the attraction and humorous connection between the two grows.
A contributor to Lovely Loveday website described the book as “a great light hearted book with plenty of romance.” A contributor to Smut Matters website noted the book is an example of London’s ability to write “hot, romantic stories that make me laugh without actually crossing the line into straight up romantic comedy.”
Trouble Next Door
Trouble Next Door tells the story of an unlikely romance. Beckett Walsh is a workaholic, choosing to spend hours at the office working on his startup instead of at home with his fiancé. He thinks he has it all, but his world crumbles when his fiancé leaves him, sick of his long hours, and her father, the main funder for Beckett’s app, pulls out.
When Beckett’s neighbor, McKenna, knocks on his door to see if her package was accidentally sent to his address, he quickly sees that the woman may have just the knowledge to help him win back his girlfriend. McKenna is a makeup artist who is knowledgeable in the art of romance. Desperate to land a big makeup gig to finally get her freelance makeup business off the ground, she sees that she can make a deal with Beckett. If he can get McKenna a job working makeup for his sister, Kayla’s, high-society wedding, she will help him get his fiancé back.
A contributor to Smut Matters website described the book as, “another really charming read from Stefanie London,” adding, the story is “funny, charming, and sexy.” A contributor to Harlequin Junkie website described the book as “fun and a good old bit of sexy.”
Bad Bachelor
In Bad Bachelor, a notorious high-profile player and a tatted book-lover come together in an accidental romance. Reed McMahon is a leader in the PR world in New York City and notorious for his love of women and inability to commit. He is also famed for his skill in rebranding disgraced celebrities. Darcy Greer is a tough-looking Brooklynite who runs a struggling Brooklyn library. Darcy is weary of men after she caught her fiancé cheating just days before their wedding day. She is currently leading a fundraising effort at the library, which is the reason why the two come together.
When a new dating app emerges, detailing the worst men to date in New York, Reed is number one on the list. Eager to repair his damaged reputation, Reed decides to seek out pro bono work. His assistant recommends he aids in rebranding Darcy’s failing library. Despite his loathe of books and libraries, he agrees. Darcy is privy to Reed’s reputation, so initially the two clash. Yet as they continue working together, they begin to feel an attraction. As their romance blossoms, it seems that this connection may be just what Darcy needs to bring romance back into her life, and what Reed needs to finally commit.
Diana Tixier Herald in Booklist described the book as “a genuinely entertaining and memorable read.” A contributor to Publishers Weekly wrote: “London launches her “Bad Bachelors” contemporary series with a heartfelt novel that’s surprisingly deep despite the whimsical premise,” while a contributor to Kirkus Reviews noted: “London’s new series concept is vibrant and creative.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, February 1, 2018, Diana Tixier Herald, review of Bad Bachelor, p. 36.
Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2018, review of Bad Bachelor.
Publishers Weekly, January 22, 2018, review of Bad Bachelor, p. 69.
ONLINE
Harlequin Junkie, http://harlequinjunkie.com/ (January 15, 2018), review of Trouble Next Door.
Hopeless Romantic Bookworm, https://hopelessromanticbookworm.com/ (May 16, 2017), review of Betting the Bad Boy.
Lovely Loveday, https://lovelyloveday.com/ (April 26, 2017), review of Betting the Bad Boy.
Smut Matters, http://smutmatters.com (May 12, 2017), review of Betting the Bad Boy; (November 13, 2017), review of Trouble Next Door.
About
IMG_0449_2 - Copy
Books that make you laugh a little, and love a lot.
Stefanie London is the USA Today bestselling author of over fifteen contemporary romances and romantic comedies.
Stefanie’s books have been called “genuinely entertaining and memorable” by Booklist, and her writing praised as “Elegant, descriptive and delectable” by RT magazine. Her stories have earned prestigious awards such as the RT Top Pick and have achieved bestseller status with USA Today and iBooks.
Growing up, Stefanie came from a family of women who loved to read. After sneaking several literature subjects into her ‘very practical’ Business degree, she got a job in Communications. But writing emails for CIOs didn’t fulfil her creative urges, so she turned to fiction and was finally able to write the stories that kept her mind busy at night.
Originally from Australia, she now lives in Toronto with her very own hero and is currently in the process of doing her best to travel the world. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, lipstick, romance novels and anything zombie-related.
Agent Details: Stefanie is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. For all foreign, film and other business enquiries please contact Jill@MarsalLyonLiteraryAgency.com.
Awards
Finalist – 2016 Romance Writers of Australia RBY award: Short-sexy category (Pretend It’s Love)
Finalist – 2014 Australian Romance Reader Association award: best new romance author
Interview: Stefanie London, author of ‘Betting the Bad Boy’
18
SHARES
SHARE
TWEET
EMAIL
By: Joyce Lamb | May 8, 2017 12:01 am
Joyce: Welcome to HEA, Stefanie! Please tell us a bit about your new release, Betting the Bad Boy.
Stefanie: Betting the Bad Boy is the third and final installment in the Behind the Bar series, which has been a blast to write. The series revolves around two brothers and their best friend who all run a restaurant/bar together in South Melbourne, Australia.
The last book is Noah’s book. He’s looking after the bar while the owner is away and he’s kind of hating it — responsibility isn’t really his thing. But when he hires a gorgeous barista to work with him, sparks fly. She has a “no dating colleagues” rule … but Noah isn’t one to follow the rules. Since it’s a romantic comedy there are a lot of laughs mixed in with the emotional and steamy scenes. There’s a sexy bet, a cocktail class that goes horribly wrong and a dare involving purple glitter ice cream.
Joyce: Do you write by the seat of your pants, or do you carefully plot your stories?
Stefanie: I’m definitely somewhere in the middle. I do some plotting because publishers often require a synopsis (that I may or may not stick to — oops!), and that means I do some basic plotting. I also like to have a good handle on my characters before I start working on a book, because the characters are truly the heart of the story. But a lot of important aspects of the book come organically as I write, and I enjoy that because it feels like I’m discovering the book as I go.
Joyce: What do you do when you get stuck?
Stefanie: I have a huge bookshelf behind my work desk, so I sit on the floor and read the opening pages of a few randomly selected books. I have no idea why that works, but it does. Something about regaining that excitement for words will have me back in my chair and writing in no time. I also will often get up and make myself a coffee or a tea. Sometimes stepping away for a moment is all it takes to get the brain going again.
Joyce: Would you like to share a favorite moment from your writing career?
Stefanie: My book Pretend It’s Love was nominated for the Romantic Book of the Year award in 2016 with the Romance Writers of Australia. I had wonderful friends who were attending the conference Skype me in for the award ceremony. Even though I live in Toronto now, I still feel a deep connection with the Australian writing community. So, being nominated for their big award (it’s basically the Aussie RITA Award) was hugely exciting. I may have cried when the conference team called to let me know!
Joyce: Is there a TV show that you’ve recently binge-watched?
Stefanie: Mad Men and The Night Manager. Both were incredible — great acting, a super talented cast and interesting plot lines. Now I’m onto Big Little Lies, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. There are so many quality TV shows these days!
Joyce: What are three romance novels on your to-be-read list?
Stefanie: Right by Jana Aston, Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan, Off the Clock by Roni Loren.
Joyce: What do you do in your spare time?
Stefanie: I read whenever I can, both for pleasure and for research. I also love games, of the board, card and video variety. My husband I are currently replaying all the old Resident Evil games and we just finished Unchartered 4: A Thief’s End, which was fantastic!
I love going for walks, especially in a nice park like Toronto’s High Park, and wandering around the city. Also, drinking coffee. That counts as a hobby, right?
Joyce: What’s coming next?
Stefanie: I’m getting ready to kick off a new romantic comedy series with Entangled’s Lovestruck line, about a group of girlfriends who are all super unlucky in love in different ways. There’s a one-date wonder, a serial runaway bride and woman who always picks the wrong guy.
I’m also working on an exciting duology for Harlequin’s upcoming Dare line which has a fun masquerade ball theme. The first book is an unrequited love/best friends older brother storyline (anyone else addicted to that trope?? I love it!), which I have been wanting to write forever. While it’s on the sexier side of what I write, it’s still peppered with funny interactions because all my books have a sprinkling of comedy.
Joyce: Thanks, Stefanie!
About Betting the Bad Boy:
Self-confessed perfectionist Paige Thomas isn’t used to failing. But when a critical error in romantic judgment sends all her big city career dreams crashing down, she scrambles to find a job — any job — to make ends meet.
Noah Reid may as well have “trust issues” tattooed on his forehead. Being raised in the foster system didn’t give him a positive outlook on relationships, but now he’s looking after his best friend’s bar for one month, and he can’t do it alone.
Things get steamy when Noah hires Paige, but she’s determined not to repeat her mistakes and she bets Noah that she can keep her hands to herself while they’re working together. Too bad for her, Noah is an expert at breaking the rules…
About Stefanie
USA TODAY bestselling author of over ten contemporary romances with humour, heat and heart. Originally from Melbourne, Australia Stefanie now lives in Toronto, Canada, with her wonderful husband. She loves to read, collect lipsticks, watch zombie movies and drink coffee. Her bestselling book, Pretend It’s Love, is a 2016 Romantic Book of the Year finalist with the Romance Writers of Australia.
Find out more at www.stefanie-london.com.
Interview: Stefanie London
Posted on March 21, 2016 by Jen @ RtB
Stefanie LondonJen: Today we welcome Stefanie London to Romancing the Book. Stefanie, will you share a short bio with us?
Stefanie: Stefanie London is the USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance with humour, heat and heart.
Growing up, Stefanie came from a family of women who loved to read. After sneaking several literature subjects into her ‘very practical’ Business degree, she got a job in Communications. But writing emails didn’t fulfil her creative urges, so she turned to fiction and was finally able to write the stories that kept her mind busy at night.
Now she lives with her very own hero and dreams of travelling the world. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, French perfume, high heels and zombie movies. By day (and night!) she writes sexy, contemporary romance stories and she couldn’t be happier.
Website | Facebook | Twitter
Jen: Please tell us about your newest release and where the idea came from.
Stefanie: Loving the Odds is part of the ‘What Happens in Vegas’ series with Entangled Lovestruck. All the stories are based around a fictional romance convention taking place in a Las Vegas hotel. When Entangled put the call out for people to contribute stories to this continuity I jumped at the chance.
The idea came to me when I started wondering about unconventional reasons why someone might fly to Vegas. Most people go there to see the sights, to gamble, to see shows, go shopping etc. But what if someone was going to Vegas only to leave the day they arrived? This idea bloomed into Bailey’s character, who is going to Vegas without a hotel reservation and the sole mission of retrieving a person item that her ex-boyfriend has stolen from her.
She enlists the help of a very sexy commitment-phobic PR guy and lots of shenanigans ensue. These fun, quirky kinds of stories are my favorite to write!
Here’s a short excerpt:
Her gaze zeroed in on the fine blond hairs sprinkled like gold dust along his sun-tanned skin. The silver band of his watch glinted in the light as he moved, switching to his other arm. Rolled up sleeves should have made her feel anything unusual, but the way he did it, so slow and languid—as though he was fully aware of the effect he had on her—made it all the more enticing.
Her mind carried the action forward, this tame and benign form of undressing extrapolating out until she pictured him unbuttoning his shirt and yanking at the belt on his waist. Sliding the wool pants down his legs.
“So, how long have we been going out?” she asked, cringing at how soft and breathy her voice had become.
You’re one step short of being a drooling animal. Get a goddamn grip, Bailey Amanda Reuben!
But the only thing she wanted to get a grip on was him.
“How long ago did you break up?”
“Only six weeks.”
“Okay, why don’t we say we’ve been dating for a month?” A slow grin stretched across his face. “We’re still in the honeymoon phase and having lots of fantastic sex. How
does that sound?”
How did it sound? Like everything she hadn’t realized that she’d wanted until this very moment.
Sipping on her water, she willed her hormones to stop screaming at her. “My boyfriend…” She played with the idea in her mind as a cat might play with a toy on a string.
Want curled low in her gut. For once she wouldn’t seem weak. She wouldn’t be poor little Bailey, “the weird girl,” ending up on her own yet again. False as it might be, the promise of Julian’s shocked face was tempting. Very tempting.
“How do you think he’ll react?” Lance asked as their food arrived at the table.
“He’ll be surprised, I think.” The scent of freshly baked pastries wafted up and tickled her nose. She tore off one end of the croissant and then popped it into her mouth, chewing as she considered the possibilities. “Jealous? I don’t know. I guess I’m not too good at predicting these kinds of things.”
“Right.”
“He’s the kind of guy who always likes to have the upper hand and to be the one in a position of power. Seeing me with you…” She busied herself with pulling apart the rest of the flaky pastry. “Well, you’re clearly an upgrade.”
“Are you flirting with me, Bailey?”
“I don’t flirt.” She reached for her drink and relished the cooling liquid rushing down her throat. “I’m simply stating a fact. According to the things humans find conventionally attractive, you tick many boxes.”
He raised a blond brow. “How so?”
“You’re very…symmetrical.”
The sound of his laugh was like thunder rumbling in the distance. Something she should have taken as a warning but instead she found compelling and kind of thrilling. “I don’t think anyone has ever said that to me before.”
“Oh, it’s true. Your eyes are set apart a nice distance and your nose is straight. I can see…” She paused when she realized that he hadn’t meant it as an invitation for her to explain her theory. “You have a nice face.”
“So do you.”
She shrugged and fought the natural urge to dodge the compliment with a counter argument. “Thanks.”
“I don’t know your ex, but my gut tells me that he made a stupid mistake in letting you go.” Lance bit into his cherry Danish and his tongue darted out to catch a smear of red jam at the corner of his lip. “People don’t usually get you, do they?”
A lump formed in her throat. “What makes you say that?”
“You’re quirky.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s a polite way of putting it.”
Jen: What was your most romantic date?
Stefanie: My husband (who was my boyfriend at the time) whisked me off to a fancy hotel in the city. We were 20 at the time, so the fact that he saved up and planned the whole date out was incredibly romantic.
Jen: Favorite flavor of ice cream?
Stefanie: Vanilla bean or anything with honeycomb
Jen: Favorite sport to watch?
Stefanie: Baseball (Go Jays!!)
Jen: Favorite gift received from a fan?
Stefanie: Emails are the best, honestly! I love hearing from readers.
Jen: What is your guilty pleasure?
Stefanie: Watching Master Chef…but I don’t feel guilty about it 😉
Jen: How neat is your work environment?
Stefanie: Super neat! (I’m a Virgo)
Jen: What was the last movie you saw in the theatre?
Stefanie: The Martian
Jen: What TV family would you want to be a part of?
Stefanie: Not a family, but the precinct in Brooklyn 99
Jen: Describe your writing style in one word.
Stefanie: Humorous
Jen: Do you have a mentor?
Stefanie: No, but I have plenty of people to look up to.
Jen: Camping or hotel?
Stefanie: Hotel
Jen: iPhone or android?
Stefanie: iPhone
Jen: What’s next for you?
Stefanie: I’ve got a few series on the go at the moment. My Dangerous Bachelors Club series for Harlequin’s Blaze line is continuing with the second book (A Dangerously Sexy Affair) coming out next month. These stories are quite steamy and they each have a mystery element to them which is so much fun to write! I’m working on book #3 at the moment.
I’ve also got my Behind the Bar series with Entangled Lovestruck, which is set in my hometown of Melbourne, Australia and is set around a bar/restaurant and the men who work there. I’d love to add another book to that series, so I’m working on a story right now for it.
6/3/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1528056219264 1/3
Print Marked Items
Bad Bachelor
Diana Tixier Herald
Booklist.
114.11 (Feb. 1, 2018): p36.
COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
* Bad Bachelor. By Stefanie London. Mar. 2018. 384p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paper, $7.99
(9781492655176).
A year after she caught her fiance cheating on her on the eve of their wedding, Darcy Greer's friends try to
convince her to start dating again. Reed McMahon, a high-powered PR man, had decided that helping the
library beloved by his assistant is the perfect project for his pro bono efforts, despite the fact he hates
libraries and reading books. Darcy, a tough Brooklynite with piercings and tattoos, just happens to be the
librarian in charge of her library's fund-raising project, which pairs her with the impossibly handsome Reed.
Reed is facing his own struggles as a new app that warns women away from men behaving badly and which
is sweeping Manhattan has named him number-one bad bachelor. London respects the reader enough to
offer just enough titillation to inflame a romance lover's imagination without the explicit sexual details
found in lesser romance novels. As the story deepens and it becomes clear that, behind their tough exteriors
and professional expertise, both Darcy and Reed are vulnerable and wounded, London presents a genuinely
entertaining and memorable read.--Diana Tixier Herald
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Herald, Diana Tixier. "Bad Bachelor." Booklist, 1 Feb. 2018, p. 36. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A527771862/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=7da96e71.
Accessed 3 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A527771862
6/3/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1528056219264 2/3
Bad Bachelor
Publishers Weekly.
265.4 (Jan. 22, 2018): p69.
COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Bad Bachelor
Stefanie London. Sourcebooks Casablanca,
$7.99 mass market (384p) ISBN 978-1-49265517-6
London (Trouble Next Door) launches her Bad Bachelors contemporary series with a heartfelt novel that's
surprisingly deep despite the whimsical premise. New York PR whiz Reed McMahon loves the ladies but is
allergic to commitment. When the dating app Bad Bachelors anoints him their number-one bachelor to
avoid, chiding him for his love-'em-and-leave-'em ways, the label soon goes from a minor annoyance to a
potential career-killer. His assistant, Kerrie, suggests he rehabilitate his image by providing pro bono PR to
a library in need--even though he hates libraries. Gutsy Brooklyn librarian Darcy Greer has been wary of
men since catching her fiance cheating on her just days before their wedding. When Darcy and Reed meet,
the chemistry is immediate and explosive. But can two polar opposites attract long-term? London tosses in
lots of delicious plot curves--including the identity of the Bad Bachelors founder and the real reason Reed
hates libraries--along with achingly flawed characters who'll have readers rooting for their romantic
success. Though on the surface this is a quirky match, London's skillful writing and expert characterization
carry the day. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Mar.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Bad Bachelor." Publishers Weekly, 22 Jan. 2018, p. 69. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A525839800/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=748a9a04.
Accessed 3 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A525839800
6/3/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1528056219264 3/3
London, Stefanie: BAD BACHELOR
Kirkus Reviews.
(Jan. 15, 2018):
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
London, Stefanie BAD BACHELOR Sourcebooks Casablanca (Adult Fiction) $7.99 3, 6 ISBN: 978-1-
4926-5517-6
A disgraced public relations executive agrees to help a struggling library with a fundraising event and is
surprised to find himself falling for the skeptical, sharp-tongued librarian he's working with.
Reed McMahon has spent years developing his corporate PR image, "a polished, curated, and tailored level
of perfection he prided himself on." His emotional life is pretty surface-level, too, and he's always been upfront
with women that he's not into relationships. Apparently, though, his past dates missed the memo, since
he's become the No. 1 villain at Bad Bachelors, a new app that reviews New York men. Suddenly his slick
demeanor, crazy good looks, and reputation for being able to rehabilitate disgraced celebrities have made
him a target. Reed is excellent at his job and makes a good living, though most of his salary goes toward
taking care of his ill father. Hoping that a pro bono project will help his own tarnished image, he agrees to
plan an event to support a Brooklyn library. Darcy Greer, the inked and pierced librarian, unexpectedly gets
under his skin despite her initial antipathy toward him, thanks mostly to those negative reviews. As the two
work together, however, Darcy sees a different man than the one described online. Flattered by his attention
and wildly attracted to him, Darcy agrees to a stealthy no-strings affair, but when word gets out, both Darcy
and Reed have a hard time dealing with the aftermath, especially since the consequences play on their
deepest insecurities. Author London's new series concept is vibrant and creative, though the Bad Bachelors
reviewers cast women in a questionable light.
A fun start to a sexy, engaging series.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"London, Stefanie: BAD BACHELOR." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Jan. 2018. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A522643093/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=af33f92e.
Accessed 3 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A522643093
REVIEW: Trouble Next Door by Stefanie London
Posted January 15th, 2018 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Category Romance, Entangled, Review / 3 comments
Trouble Next Door by Stefanie London: Beckett nearly had everything he wanted. Funding for his app, money enough to make his family secure, and the woman he wanted to marry. But when his fiancé leaves him, she takes the funding and any security Beckett might have had. His goal now is to get her back.
Offering her help in wooing back his ex in exchange for Beckett putting in a good word for her make-up services with his sister’s high-society wedding is McKenna. She’s always found Beckett attractive, but the last thing McKenna is interested is another man – she always seems to choose the wrong one. And Beckett, the man going after another woman, is definitely the wrong choice.
But Beckett can’t get McKenna out of his mind. He’s noticed her for years. Bright and sparkly with false lashes and glitter – the exact opposite of Beckett’s style – and turning out to be the one thing he really wants. Beckett has to decide if his plan is worth the cost of love.
I enjoyed Trouble next Door. McKenna certainly is sparkly energy, underappreciated, but full of energy and voice. Beckett, far less so, but I liked his quiet and studious attitude. He was blunt and upfront, and very much in control and focused on taking care of his family – even to the detriment of his own happiness.
I can’t call it the most exciting romance, but they had an attraction I appreciated. Plus, I’m always a fan of opposites, and these two certainly were that. I do wish the characters had a bit more development. I felt they had a lot going on, such as McKenna’s family’s issues with her less-than academic lifestyle, but it was much more an overview of those issues than anything else.
Overall, though, for those who enjoy an opposites attract, I recommend Trouble Next Door by Stefanie London. It’s fun and a good old bit of sexy.
Book Info:
Publication: November 13, 2017 | Entangled Lovestruck |
McKenna Prescott is the queen of picking the wrong men. When her latest boyfriend dumps her, she decides to devote her time to “exploring herself” (read: drinking wine and ordering sex toys online) and starting her freelance makeup business. That is, until an embarrassing delivery mix-up puts her sexy, gruff neighbor in her path…
Beckett Walsh is married to his job…which is a deal-breaker for the woman he’s supposed to be marrying. Even worse, his would-be father-in-law has pulled support from Beckett’s startup and now Beckett stands to lose everything. But the gorgeous, crazy makeup artist from down the hall has an equally crazy but mutually beneficial idea: if he convinces his sister to hire McKenna for her high-society wedding, McKenna will teach him about what women want so he can get his fiancée back.
All he has to do is make sure he doesn’t fall for the wrong girl.
ARC REVIEW – TROUBLE NEXT DOOR BY STEFANIE LONDON
POSTED NOVEMBER 13, 2017 BY SMUTMATTERS IN ARC, CONTEMPORARY, REVIEWS / 1 COMMENT
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
ARC Review – Trouble Next Door by Stefanie LondonTrouble Next Door by Stefanie London
Published by Entangled Publishing, LLC (Lovestruck) on November 13th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 192
Format: eARC
Source: the author
Goodreads
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks
four-stars
three-flames
McKenna Prescott is the queen of picking the wrong men. When her latest boyfriend dumps her, she decides to devote her time to “exploring herself” (read: drinking wine and ordering sex toys online) and starting her freelance makeup business. That is, until an embarrassing delivery mix-up puts her sexy, gruff neighbor in her path…
Beckett Walsh is married to his job…which is a deal-breaker for the woman he’s supposed to be marrying. Even worse, his would-be father-in-law has pulled support from Beckett's startup and now Beckett stands to lose everything. But the gorgeous, crazy makeup artist from down the hall has an equally crazy but mutually beneficial idea: if he convinces his sister to hire McKenna for her high-society wedding, McKenna will teach him about what women want so he can get his fiancée back.
All he has to do is make sure he doesn’t fall for the wrong girl.
Another really charming read from Stefanie London. McKenna (I will absolutely spell that wrong at least once in this review because I have a niece named MaKenna), Prescott, having been recently dumped, has sworn off men to focus on herself. Which – haven’t we all. It rarely works out the way we think it will. In order to aid herself on her journey of self-discovery, she drunkenly orders a bunch of sex toys, which are delivered to her neighbor instead of her. Because, in her drunken state, she typed her transposed some of the digits in her apartment number. That’s our general setup, and while we’ve certainly seen “mis-delivered packages, hijinks ensue” before, what follows is pure Stefanie London.
First, a quick note – if you don’t follow Stefanie on social media, you should. She loves makeup. Seriously – loves it. So much that I was surprised to realize that this is the first makeup artist she’s written. And she loves to experiment with it. I love seeing what she comes up with, because I love seeing people take risks and try new stuff with their makeup. My own style is mainly “which color of everything most closely matches my own skin so you can’t even really see it?”, so seeing Stefanie try these amazing eye looks and new lipsticks feeds my pretty-makeup-loving soul and makes me wish I had any idea what I was doing.
Back to the book. McKenna and Beckett Walsh are neighbors, so they know each other in a vague, nod-in-the-hall way, but they’ve never spoken. Not until McKenna needs to knock on his door to ask for her box of sex toys. After a quick couple of conversations, they realize that each of them can help the other. McKenna is willing to help him figure out how to get his ex-girlfriend back, and Beckett will put in a good word with his sister, Kayla, who is engaged to a member of a big deal family. McKenna realizes that if Kayla will hire McKenna to do her wedding makeup, it could be exactly the boost she needs to launch the freelance makeup business she’s been trying so desperately to get off the ground.
I just… I just really liked these two. Beckett can be seen as cold, but he’s really not. He’s just more comfortable observing and using as few words to express himself as possible. He’s singularly focused on getting his own business, a financial app, off the ground, and he has no room in his life for anything else. Which is why his girlfriend left him in the first place. He’s constantly worried about his family, his mother in particular, and he just doesn’t want anything to get in the way of what he feels is his responsibility.
McKenna, on the other hand, is a force of nature. She has no filter, no pause button. She tends to say exactly what’s in her head without thinking it through. She lives her life out loud, her whole sparkly, glittery self, and she has no time for anyone who wants her to tone down and get a “real” career, whether that’s the asshole breaking up with her at the start of the book or her family. Together, they were just so charming. And funny. And sexy.
My biggest problem with the book, the main reason it was four stars instead of five, is Beckett’s determination to get his ex-girlfriend back. He knew that they didn’t belong together, he knew that he didn’t love her, but when they broke up, Sherri’s dad pulled his offer of seed money for Beckett’s business, and the business couldn’t make it without that money. It’s just not a great look for Beckett, deciding to sentence himself and Sherri to a lackluster life because he needs that money. He knew what he was doing, he just decided that it didn’t matter as much as getting his app up and running. His family needed that money, and he didn’t care what he had to do to get it.
Obviously Beckett eventually pulls his head out of his ass, but the fact that he even entertained the thought of using Sherri that way rankled with me a bit. But I do love a quiet, stoic hero, and he never actually went through with his plan to get her back, so I eventually forgave him.
Overall, this was exactly what I’ve come to expect from Stefanie London. Beckett and McKenna were adorable to watch fall in love, their story was funny, charming, and sexy, and really what else could you ask for?
ARC REVIEW – BETTING THE BAD BOY BY STEFANIE LONDON
POSTED MAY 12, 2017 BY SMUTMATTERS IN ARC, CONTEMPORARY, REVIEWS / 0 COMMENTS
I received this book for free from Entangled Publishing, Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
ARC Review – Betting the Bad Boy by Stefanie LondonBetting the Bad Boy by Stefanie London
Series: Behind the Bar #3
on May 8th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 218
Format: eARC
Source: Entangled Publishing, Netgalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks
three-half-stars
two-half-flames
Self-confessed perfectionist Paige Thomas isn't used to failing. But when a critical error in romantic judgment sends all her big city career dreams crashing down, she scrambles to find a job—any job—to make ends meet.
Noah Reid may as well have "trust issues" tattooed on his forehead. Being raised in the foster system didn't give him a positive outlook on relationships, but now he's looking after his best friend's bar for one month, and he can't do it alone.
Things get steamy when Noah hires Paige, but she's determined not to repeat her mistakes and she bets Noah that she can keep her hands to herself while they're working together. Too bad for her, Noah is an expert at breaking the rules...
This is the third, and I believe final, book in Stefanie London’s Behind the Bar series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. One of the things I really like about Stefanie London’s books is her ability to write hot, romantic stories that make me laugh without actually crossing the line into straight up romantic comedy. This was a perfect example. Opening with a discussion of a cupcake latte that looked like “unicorn vomit”, this book was everything I’ve come to expect from this series. Paige and Noah’s meet-cute involved mistaken identities that were quickly cleared up, and they moved pretty quickly into the wanting-each-other-and-refusing-to-admit-it stage of their relationship, which is where the titular betting came in. But to be clear, this is not a book-defining “I bet I can sleep with that chick” bet. Paige and Noah bet on a lot, but none of it is mean-spirited.
Noah bets that Paige wants him. Paige bets that she can keep her hands (and lips) to herself. There’s not much substance to the bet, though, and it’s usually only referenced in a jokey “Oh, right. We’re not doing this” kind of a way.
Paige was intriguing. She’s a transplanted country girl, recently moved to Melbourne to escape the life she didn’t want. She worked in her parents cafe, which is where she learned the skills that convinced Noah to hire her even though she wasn’t actually the interview he had lined up for that afternoon (which they also bet on). She was determined to leave the country and make a life for herself in a large city, but that is not as easy as she expected it to be. She’s sleeping on a friend’s couch while she tries to find a job, but she’s not having any luck with the job and the couch suddenly has an expiration date. The job at First, the bar Noah is currently running, is supposed to just be a way to get some money coming in while she continues her job search, but she quickly finds the job to be a lot more enjoyable than she expected. And the eye-candy certainly doesn’t hurt. But she can’t imagine telling her parents that she broke their hearts by not wanting to work in their cafe only to move to Melbourne and work in a cafe there. So she continues the job search.
Noah was… I liked Noah. I got a picture in my head really early on and I liked what I saw. I just felt like there was a little less to him. He’s the perpetual single guy, no commitment for him, thank you very much. He hasn’t seen commitment work out for very many people in his life, and he’s decided not to bother going after it himself. He likes women, he likes sex, he’s just not trying to keep either of them around for very long.
But he was clearly a good guy, book title notwithstanding. He still has a great relationship with two of his foster sisters, and an rocky relationship with the third. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to run the bar in Des’s absence, but he stepped up to do it so his friend go on a babymoon with his wife, and he was really good at it. He was great with Paige, when he was with Paige. When they weren’t actually together, he had a tendency to let his inner demons get the better of him and he did and said some really dumb, hurtful things. Which he would always own up to, I’ll say that for him, too. So I did like him, I just felt like he was a little less of a known quantity than Paige. There was just a little less there there.
This was a perfect wrap-up for this series. Everyone from the previous two books was here, they’re all well on their ways to their own happily-ever-afters, and the bar is even going to open a second location. I was happy to hang out at First for the brief amount of time we spent here, and as usual, I’m excited to see what Stefanie London will do next.
ABOUT STEFANIE LONDON
Growing up, Stefanie came from a family of women who loved to read. Her favourite activity was going shopping with her Nan during school holidays, where she would sit on the floor of the bookstore with her little sister and painstakingly select the books to spend her allowance on. Thankfully, Nan was a patient woman.
Thus, it was no surprise Stefanie was the sort of student who would read her English books before the semester started. After sneaking several literature subjects into her ‘very practical’ Business degree, she got a job in Communications. When writing emails and newsletters didn’t fulfil her creative urges, she turned to fiction and was finally able to write the stories that kept her mind busy at night.
Now she lives with her very own hero and dreams of travelling the world. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, French perfume, high heels and zombie movies. Recently she gave up her day job to write sexy, contemporary romance stories and she couldn’t be happier.
Blog Tour + Review: Betting the Bad Boy by Stefanie London
May 16, 2017The Hopeless Romantic Bookworm
BettingTheBadBoy500Betting the Bad Boy
Behind the Bar #3
By: Stefanie London
Releasing May 8, 2017
Entangled Lovestruck
Self-confessed perfectionist Paige Thomas isn’t used to failing. But when a critical error in romantic judgment sends all her big city career dreams crashing down, she scrambles to find a job—any job—to make ends meet.
Noah Reid may as well have “trust issues” tattooed on his forehead. Being raised in the foster system didn’t give him a positive outlook on relationships, but now he’s looking after his best friend’s bar for one month, and he can’t do it alone.
Things get steamy when Noah hires Paige, but she’s determined not to repeat her mistakes and she bets Noah that she can keep her hands to herself while they’re working together. Too bad for her, Noah is an expert at breaking the rules…
Link to Follow Tour:
http://tastybooktours.com/tours-master/2017/4/3/betting-bad-boy-stefanie-london
Goodreads Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34738007-betting-the-bad-boy
Goodreads Series Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/series/160771-behind-the-bar
Buy Links:
AMAZON | B & N | ITUNES | KOBO
Author Info
Stefanie LondonStefanie London is the USA Today bestselling author of over ten contemporary romances with humour, heat and heart. Growing up, Stefanie came from a family of women who loved to read. Thus, it was no surprise Stefanie was the sort of student who would read her English books before the semester started. After sneaking several literature subjects into her ‘very practical’ Business degree, she got a job in Communications. When writing emails and newsletters didn’t fulfil her creative urges, she turned to fiction and was finally able to write the stories that kept her mind busy at night.
Originally from Australia, she now lives in Toronto with her very own hero and is currently in the process of doing her best to travel the world. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, lipstick, romance novels and zombie movies.
BETTING THE BAD BOY BY STEFANIE LONDON
April 26, 2017
cover111552-medium.pngBetting the Bad Boy by Stefanie London is scheduled to be released on May 8, 2017 by Entangled Publishing, LLC and is a romance novel. I really enjoyed reading this book because it is a great light hearted book with plenty of romance. The main character in this book is Paige. She comes from a very small town but decides to move to Melbourne after getting her college degree. She is determined to make it on her own and failure is not an option for her. At the beginning, she is living with her best friend, but she is moving out soon to live with her boyfriend. This move will leave Paige not only without a roommate but jobless as well. This is where she happens to be in the right place at the right time and gets mistaken for the next job applicant at a small coffee café. Here she meets Noah while being interviewed. When she admits that she isn’t the applicant he kind of blows her off. She then bets him she can make him the best cup of coffee he’s ever had. Noah bounced around the foster home system while growing up and this has made him fear commitment. This fear makes his attraction with Paige even harder. This I feel is why Noah and Paige bet their way through many of the things they face both with flirting and maybe a relationship. The writer creates a lot of back and forth between Noah and Paige. This competiveness is what makes this romance novel one to read. I really enjoyed reading London’s book and look forward to more. **I received an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.**