RELEASE/REVIEW: Rugged by Lila Monroe

Genre: Contemporary Romance

~Blurb~

Laurel Young needs a plan, and fast. After her reality TV boss has a major meltdown, not-so-fun employment seems inevitable--unless she can pitch the idea of a lifetime. When she sees Flint McKay's audition tape - flannelled, handsome as hell, and building a house with his own two hands - she knows she's found her secret weapon. The women of America are going to love him, especially if she can convince him to try building without the flannel shirt.

Only problem is, Flint didn’t make that tape - and he has zero interest in trading the wilds of Western Massachusetts for the bright lights of Hollywood. But Laurel isn’t the kind of girl to take no for an answer. Soon, she's knee-deep in rustic charm, and getting plenty of hands-on experience. And it turns out, this city girl and country guy may have a few things in common after all, like crazy hot chemistry, a wild side, and a weakness for good whiskey...

But can their behind-the-scenes connection last once the world falls in love with Flint? And will this be the big break both of them need- or leave them in the dirt?

Find out in Lila Monroe’s fun, sexy new novel!

*This is a stand-alone novel with HEA. No cliff-hangers!*

GOODREADS

~Book Review~

3.5 Stars

Laurel Young works behind the scenes in the TV industry, living in LA. Flint McKay is a do-it-yourself builder in rural Massachusetts.  Their paths would never collide if it weren’t for the audition tape that Laurel retrieves from the slush pile as her ticket to producing after her boss crosses the line over from the Reel World into the reality one.

Flint isn’t exactly sold on stardom. He didn’t make the tape and he’s not looking to become famous. But his family’s hardware business is suffering and after some convincing by Laurel who uses her lips in more than one way, Flint agrees to make the sacrifice.

But getting Flint to partake in the show isn’t the end of Laurel’s problems. She’s intent on keeping her production from being trashy, and falling in love or lust with the star might risk putting everything they both have on the line in jeopardy.

“Oh, the places you’ll go by not being repellent and morally bankrupt. That should have been in the Dr. Seuss book.”

There are some witty monologues, the story started out cute, and the plot, though slow at times, seemed solid.  But my rating dropped at the climax that turned me sour on the romance followed by a very drawn out resolution.  Up until the climax Laurel came across as a fairly strong female character. She was direct and she went after what she wanted. But how she handled matters in the last third drove me nuts. Misunderstandings that could be remedied with a simple conversation not only make the characters look immature, they also make the plot seem weak. Contrived drama was basically how I felt toward the story as the remainder of the book played out.

Laurel and Flint were on the road to a decent sweet story, but then it hits a detour and I couldn’t get past certain things that left me still questioning how genuine certain feelings were.  Where one over-reacted, the other under acted, leaving me overly frustrated and underwhelmed with the romance.

That’s not to say there isn’t steam in these pages.

“My black dress is like a blindfold, and I feel the heat of Flint’s breath as he positions his mouth over mine, a layer of think fabric between our lips.”

There is sufficient heat, although sometimes it unfolds where more important conversations probably should occur.  Told solely by Laurel’s first person point of view, some chapters by Flint might have helped with my doubts about the relationship.  

 AMAZON US    AMAZON UK

~Author Bio~

Amazon bestselling author, queen of the short-reads, and expert at playdough, Lila Monroe loves to read and write tales of sexy Billionaires. Combining her love of writing, sex and well-fitted suits, Lila Monroe wrote her first serial, The Billionaire Bargain. Lila enjoys writing, as it gives her a flexible schedule to spend time with her kids and a wonderful excuse to avoid them. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, who strips out of his well-fitted suits nightly.

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~Giveaway~

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