DISASTER GIRL is a standalone contemporary romance by Michelle Dayton. Tess Greene is a complicated woman who makes no apologies for the way she lives her life. Because of her mother’s mental illness, she had to grow up fast, but she is a successful and strong businesswoman as well as a devoted sister. The villain in this story is a shadowy misogynistic jerk who takes video of his sexcapades with or without the woman knowing and then posts the videos for profit without the woman’s consent. Even though she has nothing to feel bad about, if the sex tape of her is publicized, it could be a huge blow to Tess’ career as well as be embarrassing to have people view. Enter hacker extraordinaire, and all-around good guy, Max Hampshire. Max and Tess strike a deal to have him fix her problem if she eases the path to him getting a job at her company. Unexpected yet glorious fireworks happen.
I love this book. The main characters are both fab, but I totally empathize with Tess. She’s a strong and outspoken woman working in the business world, and people tend to underestimate her or judge her. I love the way Michelle Dayton writes Tess. Typically, I find that an author will take a character like this and turn her into an obnoxious stereotype. Tess is a realistically flawed character, but I liked her, and she never did the expected thing, and she’s a good mix of self-confidence and vulnerability. Her quick wit and capacity to care for people charmed Max as well as the reader. Because DISASTER GIRL is told strictly from Tess’ perspective, it helps give the reader a bit of uncertainty when it comes to Max and his feelings for her. I love the meet-cute between Tess and Max. They go to meet each other at a bar and wind up flirting, connecting, and being wildly attracted before figuring out that Tess is Max’s potential boss. When it comes to the attraction and chemistry between these two characters it seems very authentic and intense, with the relationship developing very organically. Few people seem to get Tess, and Max totally does.
DISASTER GIRL has a fierce and fabulous heroine, a sweet and slightly geeky hero, and they fall in love while demolishing a cyber-villain. The subplot involving the relationship between Tess and her mother added an extra layer of depth to the characters. Although this is the first book I’ve read by Michelle Dayton, I look forward to checking out her next one.
The only thing she knows better than walking into a disaster is digging herself out of one.
Tess Greene knows disaster—dating disasters, computer disasters, family disasters, you name it. But just when her life is finally almost perfect, she’s targeted by an internet celebrity who runs a revenge porn site admired by douchebags across the country. She has one month before the entire world will have an up-close-and-personal view of her sexual history. Tess has always handled everything on her own, but for this disaster, she needs backup.
Max Hampshire, a brilliant hacker, is exactly the lifeline Tess needs. What she doesn’t need is Max himself. She does not need his quick wit, sexy black-framed glasses, or all-around sweetness. The last guy who helped Tess left with his life crushed and his heart broken, so she knows that staying far away from Max would be safer for everyone.
But safety isn’t really an option when dealing with sleazy predators—or love…
Excerpt
I squeezed onto the one open stool and looked around. Abigail hadn’t said much about her hacker friend’s appearance except that he was tall, skinny, and always wore jeans and a hoodie.
I checked out every guy at the bar, but nope. No Unabomber. I sent Abigail a text: Your friend is late. Can you send me his number? Do you have a pic of him, btw? It’s crowded in here.
Ten minutes later, Abigail hadn’t responded and no guy had approached me. I glanced down at my outfit. How had Abigail described me? Originally, I’d thought to wear a white, loose-fitting sort of peasant blouse with my jeans and boots. Maybe if I looked demure and innocent, he’d be more inclined to want to help. But then I figured that admitting I’d gone to a hotel room with a total stranger and made a sex tape would pretty much take the ingénue act off the table. So I’d worn what I normally wear when I go out on a Saturday night: a low-cut halter top. If my offer of a thousand bucks wasn’t enough to convince him, maybe my boobs would help.
The guy in the navy suit sitting next to me at the bar had certainly looked over at them several times. In fact, right this moment he was downright staring. Amused, I gazed straight at his face until he raised his eyes and noticed.
He flushed and grinned at the same time. Behind his black-framed glasses, his eyes crinkled at the corners. “Sorry.”
I gave him a cheeky smile. “Don’t be. I wouldn’t put them out there if I didn’t want people to look.”
He snorted into his cocktail. “Are you always so candid?”
“Only to strangers,” I said truthfully. He laughed and finished his drink. It looked like a Manhattan, and I coveted it. Kat was driving so we’d had only one glass of wine with dinner, and I was ready for something a bit stronger. But I was saving that treat for whenever I finished making arrangements with Abigail’s contact.
He noticed me looking longingly at his glass. “I’d offer to buy you a drink, but I’m meeting with a colleague in a few minutes, and I don’t want him to bust me flirting.”
That explained the suit. The Gage was popular with investment bankers in the Loop, and high finance didn’t break on Saturdays.
“Are we flirting?” I flirted back. “So far you’ve just stared at my boobs and not bought me a drink. I don’t think you really brought your A game tonight.”
He turned on his stool to face me. “Oh, I brought it. I’m just very choosy about who I use it on.”
I scanned his tight hair, fresh shave, and crisp, blue tie. “Hmm. Well, definitely don’t waste it on me. You look good, but in my formidable experience, banker types aren’t good conversationalists and they’re selfish in bed.” I threw him a wide, sassy grin. I didn’t have Kat’s dimples, but I had straight white teeth and some cute eye crinkles myself.
His nostrils flared as he suppressed a surprised laugh. “That is very good to know. Thanks for sharing your assessment, and I’ll remember that the next time I run into a banker. Just out of curiosity, what would impress someone of your significant experience?”
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