Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” —Groucho Marx

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

TEXT APPEAL by Lexi Ryan *Barrage* and Review & GIVEAWAY CBLS

 
Text Appeal
by Lexi Ryan
Self-Published/Indie
Contemporary Romance
Contains Comedic Elements
Heat Level: Steamy
Length: 245 pages

Available at*:
Also available in the iTunes store

“Text Appeal” will be on sale for 99 cents the week of the blog barrage (Dec 10-17).


Blurb:

Charlie 'The Devil' Singleton is the face of professional poker. Notorious for playing cards and women, Charlie's ready to change his ways, and the surprisingly sexy texts he's getting from Riley are making him bet everything...on her.

Riley Carter is nothing like the hotel heiresses who make the news. A girl who's determined to run her father's hotel empire can't share many traits with women who fill the gossip rags. But 'The Devil' has a way of tempting even the best behaved girls.

When Riley discovers the naughty messages on her cell have been coming from Charlie, not her would-be fiancé, she falls into a hot affair with the last man she expected. But consorting with the notorious bad boy puts her hard-won reputation on the line. Is Charlie worth more to her than a little TEXT APPEAL?

 
Reviews:
“Text Appeal is smart, sexy, filled with great writing and memorable dialogue, and features characters you won't easily forget.”--Barnes & Noble’s LOVE ROCKS Indie Review column

Readers will find themselves cheering for Riley and Charlie both. Lexi Ryan writes her dialogue with wit, humor, a bit of sarcasm, and throws in some wonderful chemistry! --InD’Tale Magazine

“Ms. Ryan's story is fun and flirty. Text Appeal won't disappoint!”--Storm Goddess Book Reviews

My Review:   

This was definitely an adult romance read with fairly explicit sex scenes and lots of surprises for the characters involved.  I enjoyed this book far more than I expected to.  It was fresh and interesting with characters very real to life, each of whom had pre-conceived ideas about who they were dealing with.  

Riley  had grown up wanting to please her father and gain his approval, overlooking what she may have wanted or needed for herself.   She appeared very straight laced and "perfect".   That in turn caused her boyfriend of several years to perceive her differently than as the "tigress" within.  Thus their love life lacked the luster that each of them needed to make it work.  Of course, Chaz was a jerk, being drawn to Riley's obvious forthcoming inheritance a little too keenly.   Then there was Charlie the "devil" Singleton who had been a womanizer from the get go, but had never experienced real love.   Riley did not perceive him as husband material, but as a way to have sex and fun...a good time Charlie, BUT  she didn't consider the real Charlie.  (I couldn't help but  picture Charlie Sheen when I'd read about Charlie).   Yes, Sheen's a mess, but Singleton had a lot of insecurities too.

Anyway, Lexi Ryan has great writing style and drew me into her story lock, stock and barrel!   I loved the growing bond between Charlie and Riley, loved the dwindling relationship between Riley and Chaz; especially loved the mix up with the text (sext) messaging.   The most important thing I loved was how Riley's father went from controlling his daughter to accepting her for who she was and what would indeed make her happy.   (We are never too old to change, thank heaven).   The story was very well written and was an enjoyable read!   So if you love romance, you shouldn't pass this one by, in my humble opinion.
 
Excerpt 
They were in the elevator. And it was moving. They were in a small, moving elevator. They were in a very small, moving elevator and she didn’t know how long they’d been here and how much longer it would take. Had they stalled?

Charlie cleared his throat and loosened her grip on his jacket. “Not that I’m complaining about having you this close to me,” he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. “In fact, I could get used to it.”

She was glued to him, she realized vaguely, but she couldn’t contemplate moving. Not until those doors opened.

“It’s just, Riley, baby, if you’re going to have your body this close to mine, I want you to be looking desperately at me, not a pair of elevator doors. Do you have any idea what that does to a guy’s ego?”

She frowned. “I’m not worried about your ego,” she muttered.

“Hey.” He was stroking her back, soft circles between her shoulder blades. “You’re shaking.”

“I prefer the stairs,” she whispered.

“Close your eyes.”

She shook her head, staring at the doors. Like Charlie had promised, the elevator was glass, and that relieved a little of her claustrophobia. If they got stuck, people would be able to see they were inside. They’d be okay. Someone would come help them.

The elevator’s second ding signaled their arrival, and the doors slid open to the famous bustling kitchen of the French restaurant she’d always been curious about but never visited.

The concierge smiled. “Reservations?”

“Singleton,” Charlie said. And just like that they were being led out of that death trap of an elevator and to their table.

When the concierge pulled out a chair for her, Riley gasped at the view. Their seats were right next to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the eleven-story-high view of the fountains at the Bellagio.

“Will the heights bother you?” Charlie asked in a whisper.

She shook her head and slid into her chair, angling it strategically so she wouldn’t miss a second of the scenery. “It’s beautiful.”

The concierge placed a leather-bound menu before her. She opened it and gaped. Quick mental calculations told her a basic meal here could more than pay for her next shopping spree at Frederick’s. When she looked up, Charlie was studying her.

“You’re doing it again,” she said, feeling her cheeks warm.

“Doing what?” Charlie asked, eyeing her over his menu.

Flames of heat licked higher in her cheeks. She wished she was one of those women with a cute flush, but hers pinkened her whole face. She leaned forward and lowered her voice to a whisper. “You’re looking at me like I’m the sprinkles on a brownie sundae.”

His gaze dropped to her mouth, then the little of her body not hidden behind the table. Though she was covered by a black, high-necked number she’d chosen for modesty, the heat in his eyes made her feel exposed. His focus shifted back to her mouth before he said, “Sweetheart, you’re the whole damn sundae, and I am more than ready for dessert.”

 
                                                About the Author:
Author of both contemporary and paranormal romance, Lexi Ryan writes smart, spunky stories that sizzle. She enjoys reading, sunshine, a good glass of wine, and rare trips to the beach with her husband and children.
Lexi lives in Indiana where she divides her time between her family, her writing, and her job as an English professor. You can find her at her website: lexiryan.com

Visit Lexi online at:
Website – http://lexiryan.com
Twitter – @writerlexiryan

 

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.

2 comments:

Lexi Ryan said...

Beth,

Thank you so much for being a stop of my "barrage"! I appreciate you taking the time to read and review TEXT APPEAL.

Good luck to everyone entering the giveaway!

Anonymous said...

Hi Beth! Thanks for visiting and for the follow. I'm following you back via GFC, Linky, NWB and Email :)

Michelle