Add one hidden past. A dash of a pretend role. A shot of steamy chemistry. Put it in a shaker, then pour for one exotic cocktail on the rocks!Wesley Templeton was determined to not follow in his namesake’s path as a Cardiac Surgeon. Was he smart enough for it? Of course, he was a genius after all. Did he have the time and patience to master the craft? Absolutely. Was he going to let his … his controlling grandfather hold his trust fund over his head until he achieved what was expected of him? Hell no!
Harper Fairchild was the redheaded stepchild. Literally. Smart, nerdy, picked on, and often thought of as an outcast. Her social life was a dismal as her family relationships, so she left when she could and made a new life somewhere else. Unfortunately she found it was hard to break the mold of what cast her as undesirable. Until she loses a bet with a coworker and has to be made-over for a blind date. When that turns into another disaster she escapes to a bar to nurse her emotional wounds, striking up a conversation with the sexy bartender and wondering if she could keep up the ruse of the confident sexy chick she was pretending to be.
more
I liked the characters of Wes and Harper. They both had their own stories to tell and could each understand where the other was coming from once all the secrets were told.
I could really relate to Harper. I could understand that desire to be more than what you look like and having the confidence to make the change. Have the outside match the inside. I might have to look inside my closet the way she did hers.
Wes was an amazing character. I loved that he could have had everything handed to him but he decided to make it on his own. He is successful because of what he accomplished not what was handed to him or expected of him.
I wanted to like this more than I did, but I found it hard to connect with either Wes or Harper. Everything seemed shallow and superficial, I didn’t sense any sort of real chemistry between Harper and Wes, mainly because he was more attracted to the glammed up Harper, not true to herself Harper, and I found it a bit hypocritical considering Wes wasn’t presenting his true self to the world.
So much of everything in this book. The heat, the fights, the love, the arguments, the sexiness. You have everything you need in these pages. You definitely do not want to miss this addition to the CHC!!
Nerdy girl meets hot bartender, fun and lovable read.
3.5 stars
So this started a little slow for me and at times I found myself skimming. But the slow build up and Harper kept me reading. I love her spirit and her confidence. It took a little to get me to feel anything for Wes but I think his secret was just dragged out too long. I enjoyed their chemistry and how when they finally let go it all exploded.
This is the first book I have read from Natalie Ann this book has be wanting to read more from her. I absolutely loved this one. Not only it is an amazing addition to the cocky hero series but it is just a wonderful well written lovable book all on its own.
Wes is smart, cocky and good looking. But he is hiding who he really is. Harper is who she is. She is geeky, keeps to herself and does not put herself out there. One night changes things for her. She is set up on a blind date that goes horribly wrong. But in the process of being set up she gets a makeover done on herself. She doesn’t look like herself anymore. After her terrible date she ends up at Wes’s bar. He sees her and finds that there is instant chemistry. There is just something about her. But will her hiding who she really is from him change things? Will Wes be able to tell her the truth and stop hiding who he is? Loved watching these two come together. It was enjoyable to read this one. I loved Wes and Harper. Two opposites that find that they have more in common then they first believed. Another great book. I cant wait to read more from Natalie.
Wes and Harper’s story had me laughing, although they hide their secrets and go on pretending to make this story so interesting and will keep you reading to find out, the emotional roller coaster is intense and swoony. I recommend this sexy Bartender story.
Wes and Harper were more alike than they knew. I liked that they both did their own thing and against the advice and wants of their families. I also like that they were finding ways try to better themselves. I appreciated Wes telling Harper to make her changes for herself and not for him. It’s a good life lesson – to be and to wear what makes you happy, and not to impress others. A little motivation doesn’t hurt to get you started, however. This love story was different as they spent much of their time apart, so I was curious about how a love story was going to be told.
Another book from the Cocky Hero Club, another journey to the unknown…
I’m loving this so freaking much that I can’t have enough.
Natalie Ann is a new author to me and I really enjoyed what I’ve read.
Her writing is sweet and intense, just the way I like it.
I’ll definitely be following her that’s for sure.
Brainy Bartender is her latest release and explores the lives of Wesley and Harper.
Wesley had his life all mapped out by his grandfather. He was supposed to become a cardiac surgeon but that wasn’t in the cards for him.
Refusing to let his grandfather blackmail him, with cutting his trust fund, he becomes a bartender and one night on the job…
Harper is used to be seen as the ugly duckling. She’s used to be picked on and to feel like an outcast.
One day, after losing a bet, she does a makeover and went to a blind date but that date went horribly, she sees herself at a bar pretending…
Sweet, perfect, intense.
This book had this and so much more.
Let’s not forget to add the hot stuff. We have a few scenes that will make you blush.
Perfect plot, well written, sweet, intense, and emotional.
It was great to witness the change in one of the characters. It was great to witness the flower blossom.
Things were happening and in some parts I was mad.
Seriously?? Let’s talk about some mean people.
Why do people only tend to see the material side of things and not their emotions?
Why do people keep bullying others because they are different?
This book explores this and you’ll fall in love.
Wgatca ptenier for my Natalie.
I loved it. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Another fantastic reading escape. My only wish is that Wes’ secret didn’t drag out as long as it did when Harper’s came out .
We meet Wes and Harper who are both nerds are trying to hide from each other. Harper’s friend give her a makeover & she meets Wes at a bar . It did take me a bit time to get in the story, it was a quick and fun read.
4 Stars
What happens when two people cross paths that are each hiding something personal? In this case, fun, flirty time together they becomes complicated as time passes. Wes and Harper are funny, sweet and sexy, though neither one is very good at relationships. I loved the way they worked through issues in a realistic way, though I would’ve loved to see them figure things out a bit sooner. Overall, this is book kept me engaged and I enjoyed the characters a lot.
Cara – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
Good story. I’m not a fan of some of the choices the author made with Wes and his development but I really liked Harper so that even it all out LOL The story-line itself was fun and flirty and paced just right except the end. The end came at me like wait, what? that’s it?, so it read super rushed. Like one minute something is happening and then bye LOL Eh, so not one of my top favorites, but it isn’t a bad read.
If you’ve read the Fierce Five Series, you’ll notice a few of those characters make an appearance in Brainy Bartender (based on Graham Morgan from Stuck-Up Suit by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland)
This book is from the Cocky Hero Club collection. It has a good backstory and likable characters. The story has a good message and good intentions. However, it was a little slow and fell a little flat for me. The other issue is that it is told in 3rd person. I am not a fan of 3rd person. I don’t feel like you get the depth & feel of the characters. It was a decent read but I felt things were missing and some just didn’t work for me. I encourage you to read it and make your own conclusion.
***ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.***
This was a good book. I like nerdy characters so this was up my alley having two of them. Sometimes I wanted to shake Wes. I wasn’t too happy with him for being mad at Harper for something he was keeping secret as well. I loved Harper. I enjoyed watching her find her true self and her inner confidence. That was a beautiful part of the book.
Brainy Bartender by Natalie Ann is part of the Cocky Hero Club Series but can be a standalone book. This is the story of Harper Fairchild and Wesley Templeton. Harper has never fit with her family nor the way life tries to make her do so. Harper doesn’t put much effort in her looks so she feeds into how people some look at her. But when she looses a bet she goes through a make over and goes on a blind date. That date of course didn’t go well and it lead her to the bar Cardiac Attack. Wesley’s family expected him to follow the family tradition especially since he was so smart. But he became the black sheep and started working as a bartender which he secretly owns the Cardiac Attack. When Harper walks into the bar he is immediately attracted to her which leads them to talk and get to know one another. But they are both not presenting their true selves at first. Enjoyed their story.
This story was just missing something for me. Whilst I’m not a fan of stories written in the 3rd person, the actual storyline of this book was quite good but it just missed that extra ‘something’ to hook you. Not a bad read overall.
After a blind date gone wrong, Harper ends up in a bar where she meets Wesley. Both are kind of shy but have some instant chemistry. The book was good but 3rd person isn’t one of my favorites to read and Wesley’s secret kind of dragged on a bit. Still a decent story though.
3.5 stars
Wesley isn’t going to let anyone control him, especially not his grandfather. Instead of becoming a cardiac surgeon to get his trust fund, he instead becomes a bartender. It’s there he meets Harper after she loses a bet and is made over for a blind date.
I thought this story was a good read. It did feel a little rushed in the resolution, but overall the characters were interesting and likeable. It was my first read from this author and I enjoyed it.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
This book is written in third person which is not my favorite, I don’t know why it bothers me so much but it definitely takes away from the book. That being said this book was well written with enjoyable characters.
**I was generously provided with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review**