Blog Tour: Marriage of Inconvenience (Knitting in the City #7) by Penny Reid
Marriage of Inconvenience, an all new romantic comedy standalone in the USA Today bestselling, Knitting in the City Series by Penny Reid, is available NOW!
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Synopsis:
There are three things you need to know about Kat Tanner (aka Kathleen Tyson. . . and yes, she is *that* Kathleen Tyson): 1) She’s determined to make good decisions, 2) She must get married ASAP, and 3) She knows how to knit.
Being a billionaire heiress isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, it sucks. Determined to live a quiet life, Kat Tanner changed her identity years ago and eschewed her family’s legacy. But now, Kat’s silver spoon past has finally caught up with her, and so have her youthful mistakes. To avoid imminent disaster, she must marry immediately; it is essential that the person she chooses have no romantic feelings for her whatsoever and be completely trustworthy.
Fortunately, she knows exactly who to ask. Dan O’Malley checks all the boxes: single, romantically indifferent to her, completely trustworthy. Sure, she might have a wee little crush on Dan the Security Man, but with clear rules, expectations, and a legally binding contract, Kat is certain she can make it through this debacle with her sanity—and heart—all in one piece.
Except, what happens when Dan O’Malley isn’t as indifferent—or as trustworthy—as she thought?
Review:
It has taken me a long time to sit down and try and write this review. Books like this one make me wish I had all the words to do it justice. It is hard for me to put into words just how much I loved this story. How amazing Kat and Dan both were. How much I enjoyed every moment of this story. Because I did. Technically this is the end of the Knitting in the City series, and what a beautiful ending it was. I know the author said there may be some other stories between Neanderthal Seeks Human and this one, but this is still the last book in the series. And love is not a strong enough word for how I felt about this story. This was everything.
One of the things I love so much about this series, and Penny's books in general, is that she writes such beautifully flawed people. People you cannot help but love. People who are not perfect, have some serious issues at times, some serious hurdles to overcome, but they are still wonderful and deserving of love. How the author deals with mental illness when it comes up is wonderful. Because there is such a huge stigma with mental illness, but that doesn't define who you are. You are more than just that just as you are more than a physical illness. Also how strong and capable and wonderful her female characters are. They are ones that stick with me, and that doesn't usually happen. Sure I love female characters from other authors, but it is the male characters that I really connect with. But not with Penny's ladies. I wish they were real and I knew them and was bff with them because they are all so awesome! And they really embody what it is to be a family, even if you are not related by blood. These ladies are always there for each other, through thick and thin, to lift you up, to help you out of a jam, to do whatever you need without question because they love you. I love them so much. I wish I were part of this knitting group.
Now before I started reading this book I had read all the warnings from the author about how much Dan swears. Because he swears a lot. If you are not a fan of profanity then you should not read this book. For sure you will not like it if f-bombs offend you. Because there are a lot of them in this story. But saying that when I first read it I got to the end and thought "what is Penny talking about? Dan doesn't swear that much...." But then I went back and re-read some of the scenes from his point of view and he does. He really does. I just didn't notice it while I was reading because that is just Dan. That is just the way he talks. I don't mind swear words unless they don't fit the characters. Unless it feels off and pulls me out of the story. But Dan? It fits him. It is who he is. So then I re-read the book before writing this and thought I would notice the swearing more the second time around since I knew the story already. And I still didn't. I would get to the end of one of his chapter and think "there was hardly any swearing in that..." Then re-read some of it and see all the swear words I missed. Some of the more fun swear word combinations that I have heard people talk about I still don't know where they are in the book as I missed them both time I read it. Because that is just Dan so I don't even notice it. Oh, Dan.
So Kat and Dan. They have been this kind of thing in the background of the other stories. We knew going into this that something happened in Vegas, but not what. And oh these two. If they could both use their words more they could avoid a lot of their issues, but I understand why they don't. I loved these two so so much. I know a lot of people were waiting for this story and for me it definitely didn't disappoint. It was so much better than I imagined it would be. Because Kat? Oh, my heart hurt for her. She is so hard on herself, takes on so much guilt for things that are not her fault or within her power to control and I just wanted to take it all away and make everything better for her. Because she is honestly one of the kindest, sweetest, nicest, more genuine people you will ever meet. She is wonderful, but her whole not wanting to be a bother or ask anything of anyone else was heartbreaking. Because it causes a lot of issues for her. Plus I know a lot of ladies who do this. Who think like she thinks about things. Who don't want to be a bother so don't ask for help when they need it. And it makes my heart hurt. Because that is what friends and partners are for. To be there for you when you need them and when you don't. To love you for no other reason than being yourself. Kat definitely has been working on herself and trying to be a bit more forgiving of herself, but it is hard. When you are in that mindset for so long and constantly see the worst in yourself and others it is hard to shake off. That and some history of mental illness in her family and some not so good parenting growing up lead her to be so much stronger and more resilient than she knows. I loved Kat hardcore. She may not have the best blood relatives, but she definitly has the best chosen family.
And Dan? Oh I loved him. He was everything. He was so kind and sweet and gentle with Kat when she needed it. He would do anything for her. They way he thinks about things, especially some of the things that Kat thinks are huge deals, was amazing. He is the best! He had some misconceptions about her based on the way she presented some things about herself, but he still falls for her even with all that. And once he realizes what is going on and has happened? Oh, he is the best! Seriously. I know all of these guys in this series are awesome, and Drew is like the best thing ever for me personally, but Dan? Dan stole my heart with how amazing he is. And his mom? Oh. Penny was killing me with all the touching family stuff. Because his mom is the best. For real. I see why Dan is the way he is - he has wonderful female role models. He doesn't always think much of himself, puts himself down at times for not thinking of Kat first, but he always does even if he doesn't realize it. He hasn't had the best role models for what romantic love is so it is a bit rocky at times with him and Kat, but once he gets his head wrapped around it everything was wonderful. Because these two are meant for each other. And nothing and no one can get in the way of that.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book for voluntary review consideration
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Excerpt:
Staring at his chin, because I couldn’t quite lift my eyes any higher, I cleared my throat. “Should we get ready for bed?”
“Sure,” he said, his voice a rumble. Dan’s eyes were on me, I felt the weight of them. My hands came to the hem of my skirt and I hesitated, feeling winded for some reason. Sneaking a glance at him, I immediately wished I hadn’t. His gaze was watchful, but it was also unmistakably hot in a way that seemed at once both avaricious and accusatory. The vice tightened around my lungs.
Kiss him! Just freaking kiss him! You want numbered steps? Fine. You kiss him- check. He kisses you back- check. Then you make out- check. Check the boxes.
I licked my lips, balling my hands into fists at my sides again, preparing to follow my hasty list.
But then he said, “Undress me.”
My breath caught. On instinct, my eyes lifted and collided with his in much the same way our bodies had collided at the top of the stairs just moments ago. Jarring. Startling. Thrilling. This time I couldn’t look away because this time I was falling. He made no move to catch me.
“What? What did you say?”
His eyes narrowed, which served only to increase the intensity of his gaze from smolder to inferno. “Take my clothes off.”
I stared at him, licking my lips again, and shaking my head. That wasn’t one of my steps.
Lifting my chin, I moved to kiss him. He leaned to the side, evading me even as his eyes dropped to my mouth.
“Take off my shirt and I’ll give you a kiss.” He’d used his naughty-secret voice.
An explosion of heat erupted in my belly, and now I was hot all over. I couldn’t figure out if the heat was embarrassment or arousal or both.
He didn’t give me a chance to figure it out. His hands lifted and he undid his cuffs; then they moved to the top button of his shirt.
“You better take over,” he said darkly, “or else you’re not getting that kiss.”
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About the Author:
Penny Reid is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances, Penny works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.
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