This is the fourth or fifth book of Hart's that I've read. I absolutely love her writing. This book give a new twist to the author/book blogger relationship. I did have a few reservations while reading beginning with Amelia's shyness disorder and lack of socialization issues. She has a circle of friends yet none of them assist her with her issues. Putting that aside...I loved the storyline and the premise behind why Tommy and Amelia came together. I also got the feeling that this is book three in the Red Lipstick Coalition series. I wish I would have read the first two, although that did not deter from Amelia and Tommy's story. I loved the sneak peak into the last book of the series. I can't wait for it! Hart's books are always spot on! I read in one sitting...I couldn't put it down.



Amelia has never been properly kissed. A peck on the cheek. Quick touch of lips. Never open mouth, tongue tied kiss let alone the soul-searing, toe curling , forget-my-name kiss. She hides behind her books and editing service from everyone but her circle of friends. Amelia has only been working for USA Times for a few months, reviewing books. She is asked to attend a book signing by the infamous Thomas Bane, the bad boy of fantasy fiction and known playboy to Hollywood circles. He became famous for dating and appearing with Hollywood starlets and pop artists instead of his writing.

Tommy has been the bad boy for a bit too long. The last few times, he's gotten into trouble has been for good reasons. He was raised to take care of women not defile them. He has written numerous books, yet almost every one of them has been butchered by one blogger. Each time, she writes a scathing review--his book sales jump. Every book he writes is an attempt to satisfy or appease her--to try to address the issues that she finds with each book.

When he sees her at his book signing, it's kismet. He asks her to help him with his current writing project. He needs help with his writer's block and to strengthen his characters. He needs more than an editor...a muse...and something more. He also needs an image overhaul to prove to his publisher that he's reformed or at least calmed down a bit. Amelia can help him with everything he needs and more.

Can their fake relationship be more real to one of them than the other?

What will happen if the media finds out that the relationship isn't real?

Or worse what happens if both of them fall in love with each other?

How can they help each other?

( )

It's okay.
From the blurb I was a bit shocked that the idea of the marriage doesn't start til around 20% of the book. They do interact from the start though.
The issue for them is quite obvious early on, trust.
Ex drama.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
Heroine virgin due to her incredibly shy nature, she struggles to interact with people.
Breadcrumbs dropped for future books.
No cheating.
HEA.


Spoiler below for ex drama.

The ex drama is on his side.
She is a virgin, not even been kissed as she has major issues with shyness.
He slept with a woman a year ago, think it may have been more on his side but his huge issue is trust and it is because she tried to get close to him to use him for a story. ( the ex)
He woke to her trying to go through his computer.
There are no intimate details of them together. He's not a manwhore as such, a lot is just hype for his image concocted by his media team, his brother.
The ex turns up a few times, think she may make an offer to him, which he rejects, the ex tells the heroine a lot of lies to play on her insecurities, esp his past with women.
Spoiler.....
The heroine and the Hero have a row and the ex places a pic on Instagram of him in bed from last year, the time they were together. It makes out that after he rowed with the heroine, he went to the ex and slept with her but it's not true.
It is the 75% Mark, they row and she is feeling vulnerable, so she believes it.
There is nothing romantic between the Hero and the ex, he is never going there again.



( )

It's okay.
From the blurb I was a bit shocked that the idea of the marriage doesn't start til around 20% of the book. They do interact from the start though.
The issue for them is quite obvious early on, trust.
Ex drama.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
Heroine virgin due to her incredibly shy nature, she struggles to interact with people.
Breadcrumbs dropped for future books.

When they have a mess up, which i was waiting for, they both play a part in the mess up, there is redemption, on both parts.
No cheating.
HEA.

Spoiler below for ex drama.

The ex drama is on his side.
She is a virgin, not even been kissed as she has major issues with shyness.
He slept with a woman a year ago, think it may have been more on his side but his huge issue is trust and it is because she tried to get close to him to use him for a story. ( the ex)
He woke to her trying to go through his computer.
There are no intimate details of them together. He's not a manwhore as such, a lot is just hype for his image concocted by his media team, his brother.
The ex turns up a few times, think she may make an offer to him, which he rejects, the ex tells the heroine a lot of lies to play on her insecurities, esp his past with women.
Spoiler.....
The heroine and the Hero have a row and the ex places a pic on Instagram of him in bed from last year, the time they were together. It makes out that after he rowed with the heroine, he went to the ex and slept with her but it's not true.
It is the 75% Mark, they row and she is feeling vulnerable, so she believes it.
There is nothing romantic between the Hero and the ex, he is never going there again.



( )

I don't remember how I found this series but each book in The Red Lipstick Coalition seems to be better than the last. Four nerdy girls meet in college and continue to live together afterwards. They each have their own quirks but the one thing they have in common is that none of them have much self-confidence and they don't have much luck with dating.
In this book, Work in Progress, they shyest of the 4, Amelia - a book review blogger, doesn't do well with strangers, she works from home and is the only virgin in the group. She attends a book signing with a famous author, Tommy Bane. She has been vcritical of his work and he recognized her name as soon as she tells him who she is. He has a case of writers block and thinks she will be the answer to his prayers - helping him write his overdue book.
In the meantime, Tommy gets in trouble and needs to clean up his reputation. What better way than to marry a squeaky clean angel. Watching these two interact as each helps the other is a joy to read. What starts as a business arrangement turns in to a true love story and it is a heartwarming experience. ( )

4.5 stars

I now remember why I had waited to read this series. There had been some lackluster reviews and I was skeptical. I forget about that when I read Well Suited (book four) and then went back to the beginning to discover more about these amazing friends. I am glad to say I didn't listen to those lackluster reviews because I adored this book. This just goes to show that books resonate differently depending on the person.

I thought the backstory was perfect with him being a writer and her being a blogger. I liked that they connected with each other and that Amelia had the power to inspire him to be better. I liked that she didn't just give him "good reviews" on her blogs but instead was honest because after all isn't that what I want my reviews to help do? Spread the word, whether a book worked for us, and if so why and if not WHY? For me. I thought it was very well done. It reminded me to take reviews with a grain of salt. I loved Tommy. Perhaps because I read the books out of order and fell in love with him a little more through Theo's eyes. Did I have some issues with the story? Yes but not in the ways that other people seemed to. I was lost as to why everything needed to be so hush and private. It seemed overdramatic considering that they were not doing anything wrong by trying to protect their mom. Just my two cents.

Bottom line, I am glad I didn't listen to the reviews because I connected with this author from her snark to her characters (including the secondary ones), and was so engrossed with her style of writing that I have devoured three books of hers in a single day. ( )