KISS ME books: July 2019

Blog Tour: Million Dollar Marriage by Katy Evans

Million Dollar Marriage by Katy Evans

Release Date: July 23, 2019

Million Dollar Marriage, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by Katy Evans.

If someone had bet Nell a million dollars that she would be saying “I do” to a complete stranger on national television, she’d have called them crazy, but with her crushing student loan payments sending her deep into the red, she’s out of options. This should be nothing more than a business transaction—until she sets eyes on her groom, and everything changes.

The game is on the instant Luke spots Penelope “Nell” Carpenter. He’s out for the money, yes, but getting a little dirty with Nell doesn’t sound too bad either. Everyone knows he’s not the marrying kind, so it’s a good thing it’s just for show. God knows he’s the worst guy his pretty wife should pick for real.

They have nothing in common, but if they want the grand prize, they’ll have to beat out eight other couples. Proving that total opposites attract should be easy enough…as long as they don’t fall in love in the process.

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Excerpt:

I’m going to lose my lunch. It’s the live finale the entire country has been waiting for. The arena is packed to the gills with reporters, cameras pointed at us. Flashbulbs go off, and my future seems to flash through my eyes with them. Everything depends on what will happen in the next hour. We could give our answer in a split second, but not now. I know the announcer will drag things out to the point of sheer madness. Recaps of poignant moments from the season, interviews with contestants, performances by “special celebrity guests” who are also fans of the show. It’s all meant to build up to the moment of truth. Every one of the people in this arena, every one of the thirteen million people watching at home—they’re all waiting on the edge of their seats with the same question. Will they . . . or won’t they? I wish to god we could just give our answer and be done. He’s so close, but he might as well be a million miles away. Our fingers entwined, he waves at the crowd cheering our names. His hand isn’t the least bit clammy. I manage a peek at him, his chiseled features, his relaxed smile, and my throat catches. No wonder the world is in love with him. No wonder he’s been the fan favorite since week one. This is it. The end. Or . . . I look over at him and say, “Luke . . . I’m not . . .” He shakes his head almost imperceptibly. “It’s okay,” he murmurs, his fingers stroking my palm. “Breathe, Penny. Just breathe.” So I do. But air is not the only thing I need to make me okay right now. We’ve been through so much, more than most couples will go through in entire lifetimes. And now we’re about to make the decision that will shape our future. To think, seven months ago, I didn’t even know Luke Cross. Three months ago, I despised him. But somewhere along the line, things changed. Somewhere along this crazy little adventure we’ve been having, played out on television for the entire world to see, I did what I told myself I’d never do. I don’t even know how it happened, but as I look back, it seems so inevitable. Like I couldn’t have stopped it, even if I’d tried. But just because it was meant to happen doesn’t mean it will last forever . . .

About Katy:

Katy Evans is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her debut REAL shot to the top of the bestselling lists in 2013 and since then 9 of her titles have been New York Times bestsellers. Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages across the world.

Connect with Katy:

Email: katyevansauthor@gmail.com

Facebook: http://bit.ly/KatyEvansFB

Twitter: http://bit.ly/KatyEvansTW

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/KatyEvansGR

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Website: http://www.katyevans.net/

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/KatyEvansNews

Million Dollar Marriage by Katy Evans

Million Dollar Marriage (Million Dollar, #2)

Katy Evans' Million Dollar Marriage features Luke who we previously met in Million Dollar Devil and his heroine Penelope Carpenter or "Nell." If you love shows like The Bachelor and/or The Amazing Race, this book might be something up your alley. I enjoyed this one but it certainly wasn't my favorite. For those of you who have read Lizzy and James' book, Nell makes Lizzy look an angel in comparison. And oh boy, was Lizzy pretentious but at least she felt more compassionate towards James. Luke and Nell, on the other hand, have absolutely nothing in common except for their circumstances which prompted them to be on the show. Not only was she judgmental towards Luke and called him a "thug," I had issues with her personality and attitude. She simply wasn't nice or cooperative towards her "husband." And yes, they had to get married in this reality show.

Initially, I sympathized with Nell because of her wallflower status, book smart/intelligence, anti-social awkwardness, and quirky behavior but as the book progressed, I saw another side to her and it wasn't pretty. Similar to Lizzy, Nell was pretentious and frequently looked down on other people -- including Luke. At times, I questioned why Luke would ever be interested or attracted to her because they were polar opposites. As for Luke, I really liked his character -- even if he did seem like a jock with more muscles than brains most of the time. I couldn't help but think he was very different from the Luke we met in Million Dollar Devil who was quiet, serious, and protective of his friends. Anyway, it was really hard to see the "love" between Nell and Luke, especially one that would warrant them to pursue a relationship with each other after the show was over. Most of the time, it felt more like lust.

Nevertheless, I did really like the adventure and reality show aspect of this book. It was unique and I liked the fact that Nell and Luke were complete strangers and had to work together despite being very different from each other to win the game. Some parts were really funny like the time Nell was strapped in front of Luke and they had to go through a maze together while being chased by a "ghost." In the end, I did enjoy this book and if you're looking for a fast-paced book featuring characters that are complete opposites in a reality show type of setting then this book is for you!

* This ARC was generously provided Social Butterfly PR and Katy Evans for an honest review. *

Rating: ★★★☆☆