From New York Times Bestseller, Kendall Ryan, comes a sexy new standalone novel. My tempting, and very alpha friend Sterling Quinn is someone I consider off-limits. It's not just that we're friends, he's also cocky, confident, and British, which means he's a walking aphrodisiac. But lately he's been giving me the look. You know the one. When he thinks I'm not paying attention, and his gaze lingers for too long. And then we start working together, and that's when the sexual tension between us gets so thick, I want to hack through it with a machete. I want to make all these deep feelings I've harbored for him disappear, because there's no way this can end well. The lines between business and pleasure become irrevocably blurred, and I'm stuck between a rock, and Sterling's very, very hard place. Rather than keep a level head about our growing attraction, Sterling wants to go all in, showing me just how explosive we can be together. But I've been around long enough to know that this British bad boy is more than my heart can handle. I'm not about to be cast aside like yesterday's underwear when he's done having fun. Sterling’s never been told no, and he's not about to put his ego aside and play by my rules. But I never thought he'd fight so dirty.
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I twist the doorknob, and finding it unlocked,
let myself inside.
Sterling’s place is compact, but modern and
classy. It suits him. After a quick glance around the living space, I spot him
on the balcony outside, just beyond the glass doors at the far end of the
living room. He’s facing away from me, his hands gripping the railing, his head
bowed.
My smile from moments ago is gone. Seeing him
like this—looking distraught—brings the reality of our situation crashing back.
Sterling suddenly turns and we lock eyes. A
thousand emotions are revealed in his eyes, but mostly there’s anger. There’s
also a sadness in his gaze that I’ve never seen. It’s haunting.
I swallow a lump in my throat, wondering
what’s going on.
“Sterling?” I ask, slowly approaching the
balcony.
It’s beautiful—plush pillows and twinkling
lights, and a chilled bottle of white wine all nestled together in a romantic
picnic for two.
He lets out a heavy sigh and runs one hand
through his hair.
“This is beautiful,” I say since he hasn’t
spoken, hasn’t even moved from the spot where he’s rooted, and his stony
silence is killing me. “Are you okay?”
“Just fine,” he says curtly, his gaze looking
past me.
He doesn’t seem fine. He seems off. Why go
through all the effort if he’s just going to act sullen and withdrawn?
And what could have possibly changed in the
twenty-four hours since we last spoke on the phone? He seemed so excited—like
he hadn’t a care in the world. Now it seems he doesn’t want me here.
“If this is a bad time,
if tonight doesn’t work . . .” I trail off, my voice
suddenly shaky.
“The meal’s already prepared.” He brushes past
me, headed toward the kitchen.
Unsure what to do, I follow behind him.
He’s acting like an asshole, and I suddenly
feel so stupid for getting all done up tonight. I’m not going to stand
around and embarrass myself by begging for his attention.
“You know what? Never mind. This was a bad
idea, anyway. I’ll see myself out.” I turn and head for the front door, anger
and rejection dueling inside me.
It takes all of three seconds before
Sterling’s long strides catch him up to me by the door. His grip around my
wrist stops me. “Wait.”
I turn and face him. I’m halfway between
wanting to flee and staying to hear his explanation.
He releases a heavy exhale. “I received a
phone call just before you arrived.”
With him so near, the combination of his clean
soap and his spicy cologne intoxicates me. Memories of our intimate dinner rush
back. But apparently tonight is not meant to be a repeat. Waiting to
see what he’ll say next, I inhale and hold my breath.
When he doesn’t continue, I ask, “Is
everything okay?” 
REVIEW
The Fix Up was a fun an quirky take on marriage of convenience.
Sterling Quinn is a sexy guy who seems to have it all going for him. Nice guy, good job, fabulous friends, and the seeming ability to get any woman he could ever want. He's a good son, a care taker, and a guy who is trying to find his way through it all. Suddenly it all changes, he's given an opportunity to inherit a whole lot of money, which would be super helpful to him, but the catch is, he's got 6 months to marry or he loses it all.
Enter Camryn, best friend of his best friends wife and and PR extraordinaire. She's the perfect person to help him find a wife and get married before the deadline. Problem is, he's starting to think he's already found the perfect person, if only he could get her to see it.
Camryn is Sassy, she's independent, and having been hurt in the past, she's found it uneasy to trust especially when it comes to men. So when Sterling starts turning the charm around on her while she's trying to help him find a wife, she's not sure how to feel about it. Of course there's chemistry and attraction there, but she wants more than that.
The Fix Up made me laugh out loud several times, the banter between Camryn and Sterling is refreshing and gives us a look at how well they fit together despite any misgivings on their parts. I loved that Sterling was a take charge person and when he made the decision to go after Camryn, he put his whole heart into it, even if he wasn't always on the right track. This story was so much more than an arranged marriage to win some money. The chemistry sizzled and the buildup was amazing. I enjoyed every single character within the pages and what they added to the story to make it what it was. From Olivia and her comforting support for Camryn to Noah and his romantic advice for Sterling, it all added a needed element.
The Fix Up was the perfect combination of Romance and comedy with a bit of steam.
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