Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Release Blitz and Review: Smooth - Tracy Ewens

Title: Smooth
Author: Tracy Ewens
Genre: Contemporary Romance

If only life came with a guarantee.
Patrick McNaughton wants more. More people drinking Foghorn’s beer, more money to push their brewery past the competition, and more cooperation from his brothers, who have no sense of urgency. He’s all about conquering one challenge on his way to the next, so long as there’s a remote chance of winning. That’s why Aspen Pane sits in the office down the hall, oblivious to his attraction. Patrick has always wanted more with her, but he never was one to risk it all.

Aspen Pane has more than enough. As business manager for Foghorn, she keeps the brewery in the black and lives up to the nickname the McNaughton brothers gave her—Wonder Woman. She’s worked hard her whole life for the money she now has in the bank, the small house she calls home, and time with her friends. So, even though it seems everyone close to her, including her brother, is inconveniently falling in love, Aspen sticks with her to-do list. Because love risks everything and she doesn’t do that for anyone.

After an unexpected flight and an eccentric venture capitalist thrust them into a battle of wits and lies even they’re not sure they can win, Patrick and Aspen must learn the difference between making a connection and making money. They may need to face their fears and risk it all in the name of finding a new work-love balance.


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Smooth - A Love Story
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Exclusive Excerpt:
“Aspen, Patrick is a lucky guy. See that he puts a ring on it and soon.” Joel kissed her hand, and she couldn’t decide what was more off-putting: that he managed a wet hand kiss or that he still believed that BeyoncĂ© reference was funny. Despite both, she managed a smile and a thank-you for what had truthfully turned into an entertaining evening. Patrick shook hands one last time and didn’t push for anything further. He was subtle that way. He knew when to push, which made one more thing Aspen appreciated.  

Once they’d checked into their hotel, they both walked out onto the adjoining balconies of their adjoining suites—Patrick sat in the cushioned chair in his suit minus the jacket and tie and Aspen in her dress, slippers, and one of the gorgeous robes hanging in her bathroom, took a seat on her patio.

“Not bad for a fake date, am I right?” She led with sarcasm because he was quiet. The energy between them was difficult to navigate outside of work, out from behind their laptops. Now that the evening was quiet, it felt like things could be shared, but it was safer to stick with their familiar back and forth.

“Do you date, Aspen? You know, other than guys you’re not attracted to anymore or fake dates?” Patrick obviously didn’t get the memo that they were sticking with sarcasm and small talk. His face was serious, but he was looking up at the night sky.

She tightened her fluffy robe. “Lucas is the guy I’m not attracted to?”

He nodded and then glanced at her, still no sarcasm.

  “I… date. Rarely. I’m not looking for men I find attractive.”

“Why?”

  She pulled her legs onto the seat and tucked them under her robe, as if she could hermit crab her way out of her feelings. “I don’t know. I like having the upper hand.”

Review
5 Stars
Smooth is the tenth standalone novel in the A Love Story series and the second novel with Foghorn Brewery as its setting. Patrick McNaughton is the business and marketing side of Foghorn Brewery, he and his brother's dream true, though not without a lot of work. He's a business man, the kind of guy who takes on every challenge with determination to always win. The only challenge he's never been ever to face is Aspen Payne, the girl he's adored from afar since their schooldays and Foghorn Brewery's Business Manager. A rough flight and a demanding venture capitalist push Patrick past his limit and along the way he realizes it's time for him to finally make a move. Aspen doesn't believe in love or fairytales, but as she and Patrick mix business and pleasure she may just find room in her heart for something more.

"Nearness she could think away; feeling was another story."

Talk about a stunning, realistic novel. Tracy Ewens has done it again with Smooth, giving readers two complex, relatable characters and a romance that doesn't feel like the kind that can only come true in a book. It's a story that feels genuine; two longtime friends finding romance as business partners and learning to juggle the work and home life balance. Patrick is a determined, serious, and incredibly sweet guy. His POV is such a delight to read, because he's seen what true romance is with his parents and he believes in hope and love. Aspen rivals Patrick though, with sheer determination to never let herself be caught feeling anything more than casual happiness. She thrives off work, only giving bits of time to her family and friends before going back to her computer. Her POV is filled with justification behind why she's single, why her mother is always chasing more, and how she couldn't possibly have feelings for Patrick McNaughton. I loved reading how Patrick whittled her defenses down, exposing a heart she refused to let beat for another. It was so romantic and really allowed Smooth to be a very different romance than many books feature.

"She was like a red ale. Hints of caramel in there somewhere, but with a dry finish that would knock him on his ass if she knew he wanted a taste, let alone an entire case."

Tracy Ewens is such a descriptive writer, with Smooth featuring the brewery more like a secondary character than just a workplace and location of interaction. We see the operations, the brothers as they work through struggles and successes, and there's an entire subplot focused on Patrick and his inability to give up on the venture capitalist who is dangling money in front of them, the kind of money that could move them forward far quicker than their three-year plan. Then there's the dialogue, the characters verbalizing their thoughts and feelings more than just thinking them. I really connected with the characters and felt like I was part of the story, not just watching it unfold as a reader. I really appreciated the pacing of the novel, though it comes across as a bit slow at first, it's clear than Tracy Ewens is laying a foundation for the story, something readers new to the series can connect with and longtime readers enjoy revisiting. It allows for the romance between Patrick and Aspen to follow suit, the shaky foundation of their romance taking up most of the book and delivering a stunning, passionate ending.

"Do you want to play lists now?"

I'm a newer Tracy Ewens reader, but a huge fan already. Each book is so good as a standalone, but reading it as a series now is even better. I love the natural way the romances work out and how character driven each story is. Smooth was such fun to read, especially with how similar the characters were with their denial of feelings and eventual acceptance of the attraction they shared. It's the kind of book you can't set down and find yourself emotionally invested in. I smiled a lot and maybe even cried a little. I recommend everyone who loves a genuine romance novel to pick up a book in the A Love Story series by Tracy Ewens.
Check out these love stories:
Premiere - A Love Story
Candidate - A Love Story
Taste - A Love Story
Reserved - A Love Story
Stirred - A Love Story
Vacancy - A Love Story
Playbook - A Love Story
Exposure - A Love Story
Brew - A Love Story
 
About Tracy Ewens:

Tracy Ewens shares a beautiful piece of desert with her husband and three children in New River, Arizona. She is a recovered theater major who walks her dog Jack, drinks copious amounts of tea, and reads well past her bedtime.

Connect with Tracy:Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | BookBub | Amazon | Goodreads | Website





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