Of all the gorgeous grouches Melanie’s ever worked with, Declan Bain is without a doubt the worst. And as an aspiring costume designer still working as a wardrobe girl in L.A., she’s definitely met her fair share.So, when a weird development arises out of the blue, crossing their paths and effectively turning their lives upside down, waking up next to him in her childhood bed is only the second … the second most shocking result.
Finding out he’d actually wanted something to happen between them is the first.
And now that Declan’s fully aware of just how much she’s enjoyed working with his…um, wardrobe, all this time, he’s decided to collect on all the very dirty, very alcohol-fueled promises she made him before falling asleep.
Melanie really has no idea what she promised the man, but if it’s even half as wicked as the things he’s promising to do to her, she’s not sure she’ll survive.
But she’s absolutely willing to find out.
Previously published as Curve Struck (c) 2016 with revisions throughout and newly added/changed content.
Note that unlike the other 2019 catalog re-publications, this one doesn’t have a new/different extended ending because the one it had was pretty great. 🙂
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This book just blew me away!
First of all, I loved the connection between Declan and Melanie. They start out as enemies, only because neither thinks they’re good enough for the other and they both have extensive reasons to suspect the other’s motives. The chemistry is hot, hot, hot, but the obstacles are sky-high and getting over them gives this story a poignancy and depth that few authors can achieve.
Then we glide into the relationship part and find the odds are even more stacked against them as the public nails the plus-sized Melanie for aspiring to love the Hollywood golden boy. They’re forced to deal with cyber-bullying, doxxing, stalking paparazzi, as well as a couple of people who have a personal vendetta against both Melanie and Declan, all the while trying to figure out the implications of her mother’s connection to his newly-discovered uncle.
This isn’t a light and fluffy romance, as the external conflicts soon pale in comparison to the internal ones. Declan’s history is filled with pain and heartache, which adds layers of both conflict and understanding to his feelings for Melanie. The writing is absolutely superb, bringing each of these characters to life and establishing emotional touchpoints far deeper than one would suspect at first. It was a non-stop read for me, one that I know I’ll read again and again. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I always love a book in where a realistic woman (not a size 0) is the heroine and strives to get her man. But what I despise in a book is when a woman runs away. In this book, she ran away from him even though he was continuing to fight for their relationship. She took the coward’s way out and I hate women that do that. Running is not the answer to addressing problems.
My favorite Christa Wick curvy girl book, so far! There are so many things to love about this story. First, that these two are together, even when they are having problems, for more than half of the book. Next, love the movement that is started in the story. And then, there is the last part of the book – it’s all good! I’m not ready to leave this world; this is definitely a read-again book for me.
It was a bit lengthy. It was a good read.
it jumped around a lot. A bit choppy for my taste and not much of a developed story line or characters.
I like that the female lead is a bigger woman. Men need to appreciate all sizes.
Passionate, well-told story!
I loved this story! Declan and Melanie are passionate, angst-filled individuals. The story at times took me out of my comfort zone, as it dealt with subjects that have significance for me. But it was good exercise ! Melanie and Declan make an awesome couple, even as they work out the kinks in their relationship, and with the world around them. One of the impressive things about Melanie is her learned skill of understanding people by noting expressions, posture – body language. It works well for her until her own self-doubts get in the way. Her friend, Cammie, is such a sweetheart! She calls Melanie out on what she is doing when Mel’s being negative about things. Declan is pretty special. He’s difficult to get to know; he’s an actor – accustomed to making a false front look real. He sees Melanie as she is and loves her for it. And he stays with her through thick and thin. Do read. You’ll love it, too!
This was another hot steamy read from this author. Declan is Hollywood’s it guy and Melanie is in wardrobe. He has feelings for her but she can’t believe that he would want her for her size. When they do get together, forces try to keep them apart. Between his people and the paparazzi, it all starts to be too much. Can the two of them believe in what they have? Will it be enough? This was such a pleasure to read.
Thank you for the privilege of reading this book!
I thought that this was an awesome read. Declan and Melanie’s romance simply stole my heart and had me rooting so hard for this couple. I felt that Declan was epicly swoon worthy! I can’t ever remember saying this before, but he was a perfect combination of take charge alpha male and a big hearted genuine good guy that was harboring his own hidden issues and insecurities. I grew to really love Melanie, but it was a journey filled with complex feelings and some self-discovery along the way. She was a curvy girl that was spunky and strong but was also filled with anxiety and self-doubt over major body image issues. As a reader I think you expect that a book will engulf you in its story and have characters that are if not perfect, are at least stronger than you are and I think that is why my feelings for her were so complicated. I mean even though it is fiction, she was living a fantasy that not only every curvy girl, but most girls dream about. That unobtainable guy (the movie star, the rockstar, the sportstar, the BMOC or just that regular guy that’s so good looking that he’s so far out of your league that it is never gonna happen) noticed her, pursued her, desired her and loved her. So originally you are like, “Wow, why isn’t she jumping in with both feet” and “She must be crazy to not be loving every minute of this!” and that is exactly what I thought and felt at first. Then real life got in the way and I had to stop reading for a while and I really got to thinking about this character and I put myself in her place and you know what I realized? Some readers will find it very hard to understand where Melanie is coming from because they have never walked in her shoes. While for others, like me, Melanie will be brutally realistic. As we read we let ourselves imagine that in her shoes we would be able to unhear a lifetime of cruel comments and shame inducing laughter. That we could unsee the countless demeaning stares and cringe inducing smirks that we have had aimed at us. That we could forget the heart breaking jokes that we have been the punchline to and that finding love and having someone desire us would instantaneously heal our badly bruised hearts and battered souls. Unfortunately, reality does not work that way and that is reflected in this beautiful, sometimes painful, steamy romance. I would love to see Melanie’s best friend and roomie, Cammie get her own book because from ewhat we learn about her in this book she deservers her own HEA.
I have read the other books in the series and I enjoyed this one but it wasn’t five stars like the previous books. The story was good and I loved Declan and Melanie it just took a little while for the story to really get started. By the way I think Cammie is a kick ass best friend. I’m on to the next series. I haven’t decided which one I want to read next. I love your work Christa. Until next time y’all happy reading.
Love this book! Would have read in one sitting if my battery hadn’t died. And I’ll just let you think I am talking about my phone.