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Charming You

Charming You, February 2016
Thirsty Hearts #1
by Kris Jayne

Self Published
Featuring: Micky Llewellyn; Nick Halden
384 pages
ISBN: 0157996204
EAN: 2940157996208
Kindle: B019M5GZV6
e-Book
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"Romance, secrets, and a little mystery"

Fresh Fiction Review

Charming You
Kris Jayne

Reviewed by Sharon Salituro
Posted March 14, 2016

Women's Fiction Contemporary | Romance Contemporary

Micky was fed up with men. No matter what man she chooses, he always have a secret he doesn't want to get out. The last man was the worse; he would spend a lot of time with Micky, but never on a weekend. Of course, he was married. Micky decides to bury herself in work. Until one night on the way to a dinner date with her brother Pete, her car will not start. Enter Nick, who is hotter than hot. Come to find out they both work in the same building. Nick is a lawyer; one of his company's biggest clients is his future father-in-law. Vanessa, Nick's fiancée is keeping a secret. Vanessa finally tells Nick, and he calls off the wedding. However, Vanessa doesn't want to call it off. Nick helps Micky get her car started and would like to take her out for a drink. Micky refuses, but Nick doesn't give up. Micky finally decides to go out for a drink with Nick. She is really interested in Nick until she hears that he is engaged. Nick tried to tell Micky that it isn't real, but she decides to stay away from him. Easier said than done. Nick tries everything to charm Micky. CHARMING YOU is the second book I have read by Kris Jayne. I love this one as much as the first one I read. Kris Jayne combines romance, secrets and a little mystery. While you feel sorry for what Nick is going though, of course you have to understand Mikey's side. I can relate to Mikey's feelings since I have come across the same kind of men in my life. Some you can trust; others you should run away from as fast as you can. Kris Jayne also includes characters from her other books, which is one thing I really enjoy when I read books in a series. I always like the background on the other characters so you know what is going on with them. I will definitely have to get my hands on the other books in the Thirsty Hearts series. I will be reading more by Kris Jayne. Ms. Jayne, you are one great romance writer. I tip my hat to you.

Learn more about Charming You

SUMMARY

Micky Llewellyn has trusted men before—with disastrous results. Now, she’s focused on her career, her friends, and making sure she doesn’t let another charming man lie to her and break her heart. Nick Halden’s life has unfolded according to plan—a career at a top law firm and an engagement to the perfect socialite (he hopes). Fate throws them together, and in their struggle to balance love and ambition, they have to decide what they want before they lose the one thing that matters.

Meet the heroine: Micky Llewellyn
Occupation: High-tech marketing
Drink of choice: Slightly dirty vodka martinis
Favorite thing: The smell of a man in bed
Pet peeve: Liars and cheaters
Biggest weakness: Tall, dark, and handsome men with green eyes and a secret

Meet the hero: Nick Halden
Occupation: Corporate lawyer
Drink of choice: Scotch whisky
Favorite thing: A woman in knee-high boots — and nothing else
Pet peeve: Manipulative in-laws
Biggest weakness: Sexy brunettes who don’t let him get away with anything

EXCERPT FROM CHARMING YOU Uh-oh. Nick's demeanor shifted in front of her. She'd wandered into forbidden territory. Micky tilted her head and examined the handsome, in-control man sitting across from her.

His lips pressed together in dismay. Something about his past relationship had gotten away from him. She wondered what kind of woman it would take to make a man like Nick polish off an ounce of Scotch in less than nanosecond. She'd never had that power over a man. She should let it go, but she couldn't help herself.

"Christmas in Paris? Must be nice. Didn't your family mind your being away?" she asked and then waited. Nick shook his head almost imperceptibly.

"We left after Christmas and just spent the New Year there," he replied.

"We?" Micky inquired.

"My fiancée and I," he admitted.

Micky took a deep breath to settle the anger that popped up inside her. She dug her heels into the floor and pressed against the padded back of the booth.

"Not 'ex-fiancée?'"

Nick looked away from her and sighed.

"She broke things off. I tried talking to her, and she wouldn't even return my phone calls. That was months ago. Then, suddenly this week, she surfaces again. We're supposed to have dinner to sort things out. I don't know," he said and shrugged.

"Yet, you're here with me," Micky bit out, hoping she could keep her temper in check. These men and their prevarications got her hackles up.

"Having a drink." A smile tilted his full lips.

"Don't you think it's kind of shitty to be having drinks with one woman while you're still engaged to another?" "You looked upset in the elevator, and I thought it would be nice to have a friendly drink. We're going Dutch, remember? I can have female friends. What have we done that's inappropriate? Nothing."

Confronted with Nick's matter-of-fact assessment of their meet-up, Micky had to admit that, for her, it wasn't nothing. And she doubted that the pull of attraction went one way. She contemplated grabbing her purse and stalking out of the bar. "We've flirted," she admitted, which only served to amuse him further.

"Really? You seemed pretty pissed off the other night even though I'm not entirely sure why."

"That's funny because the thing that pissed me off then has turned out to be true. You casually talked about being into all manners of women. So many women, so little time, I guess. Now you tell me that your called-off engagement might not be called-off. It makes me wonder if that's all some elaborate tale to keep me thinking you're available when you're not," Micky snapped, the control she had over her ire dissipating.

"Believe me, I'm not one to date more than one woman at a time. Most guys may say they want lots of women in their life, but trust me, I don't need the drama."

"Women bring drama?"

"Not necessarily, but I've found that the level of crazy in a man's life rises exponentially with the number of women." He sighed and started to speak again, but Micky cut him off.

"I see," she said, looking around the bar for the waiter.

"No, wait. I just mean that juggling women is a bad idea and a habit that I broke myself of a long time ago."

"Have you? Because I don't care what you say. I've seen the way you look at me, and it is most definitely inappropriate if you're promised to someone else. Is it so hard to wrap up one relationship entirely before looking for your next conquest?" The green in Nick's eyes deepened. He leaned over the table.

"You're right. I'm attracted to you. I'd love nothing more than to drag you upstairs to one of the rooms in this hotel and strip those uptight business clothes off of you."

Micky dropped her gaze to the drink in front of her, unable to look Nick in the eye. The hairs on her neck rose and vibrated. His words scalded her.

As infuriated as she was, she couldn't deny the twist she felt in her belly as her insides turned liquid. She squeezed her eyes shut, only opening them when she heard Nick continue after a heated pause.

"But I haven't even come close to doing it. I know my situation is complicated right now, and I wouldn't start something I couldn't finish."

Micky looked up at him again. He clenched and released his fists, then pulled his splayed hands slowly toward him across the tabletop. His breathing hitched.

The waiter came to the table, and Micky handed him her credit card without even seeing the bill. Nick did the same. They sat in silence and waited for the bow-tied server to return with their split bill. Micky's heart kept pounding. Signing the bill and slipping her card back into her purse, Micky knew…she couldn't see him again.


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