‘Tis the season for an office romance! Working beyond nine to five and barely getting by, Melanie Thomas is eager to celebrate the impending holiday season and to toast the start of her dream marketing job over drinks with her boyfriend. Unfortunately, he has different plans—like seeing other women. Indulging in a pity party with tequila, Melanie confides in a sexy stranger at the bar. It’s … stranger at the bar. It’s almost Christmas, one night of letting go won’t hurt anything, right? Turns out it just might—when the stranger is her new boss. Determined to succeed at her job, Melanie won’t be scared away. This is her chance, even if her hot boss has her feeling all merry and bright and wishing for a less than professional relationship.
Matthew Ryans is burned out and on thin ice at the company he helped build unless he gets his head back in the game. Yet, his head, both upper and lower, are quickly becoming obsessed with his new assistant. Still, he can’t seem to fully begrudge Melanie’s distracting presence and the Christmas joy she brings with it. Especially considering that her enthusiasm has him reenergized. For once, he is longing for Mondays, but with his heart and job on the line he can’t risk blurring the lines no matter how strong the lure of holiday mistletoe is.
Will their holiday passion be able to fuel mutual career success, or will it only get in their way in the New Year?
ABOUT:
-HEA (Happily Ever After) ENDING
-STANDALONE (not part of a series, no cliffhanger, fully wrapped-up novella)
-QUICK READ
-OFFICE ROMANCE
-CHRISTMAS MERRIMENT
-LOL LINES
AWARDS:
-2018 Contemporary Romance Writers Stiletto Finalist
-2018 Tampa Area Romance Writers TARA Finalist
-2018 Maine Romance Writers’ Strut Your Stuff Finalist- 2nd Place Contemporary Winner
-2017 Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest – 2nd Place Winner
more
Can They Make It “Mine to Five,” & Still Make A Living…
She’s ExXxpecting a congratulatory Celebration…
But She arrives to find NO BoyFriend at the Venue of Her NOW Humiliation!
Sooo She commiserates with Her Drunken StoolMate…
Only to indulge in a ONE-NIGHT-STAND,
At least THAT’S the assumption when She wakes IN the Morning!
Well She’s got NO Time for a Meet-&-Greet…
Sooo She’s Outta there… Quickly beat’n Her Feet!
But She’s IN for quite the Surprise,
As She greets Her NEW BOSS~
Her ONE-NIGHT-GUY…
LIVE IN Her NEW Office, look’n mighty Shocked TOO!
Sooo it’ll be a Challenge mak’n IT “Mine to Five” with their Attraction running Sooo HOT,
And it’s just a matter of Time before they cave…
Going from “Mine to Five” indecently!
I was granted, via B00|{$P®0UT, an ARC of Tara September’s “Mine to Five.” I recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time… Happy Reading!
1:Hate IT! Didn’t finish; usually only given if/when some contents truly objectionable (i.e. main characters does something awful & gets away w/it!)
2:Don’t like IT! Rating means I felt the writing was poor, editing was bad, I don’t care for characters, or book had some major flaw.
3: I like IT, BUT! There are minor issues… Rating means there’s editing issues, needs character development, is too unrealistic, or has issues– I do not consider it an overall bad rating.
4:I like IT a lot. Great, Solid Story w/ few if any inconsistencies or errors. This is a HIGH Rating, & I rarely give OUT a Higher Rating.
5: I LOVE IT! It’s Spectacular, & I’ll read IT Over & Over Again. Few books Receive this rating from me. HowEver, those that DO become Classics.
Great story and a fun rom-com. Melanie and Matthew were such a great couple and loved them so much. So cute together. They may have met in an unconventional way but watching them realize that they were actually meant to be was so good to watch. Their chemistry was really good and the storyline was good. You won’t be disappointed in reading this book. It was a quick read with great characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
After a really devastating day all Melanie wants to do is have a few drinks and have a little pity party for one, so she can wake up the next day and kick some butt during her first day of work. Then she happens upon a sexy stranger that shakes her out of her bad mood, and treats her to a night she’ll never forget… one she will just tuck away as a secret night of fun!
That is until she shows up for her first day of work the next day, and realizes her new boss is none other than her partner from her sexy little romp from the night before!
Mine to Five is a delightful little literary romp that will stir up lots of smiles and swoons… this charismatic couple brings some serious heat and humor to the pages! The minute these two wander onto the page you will be drawn to them. Their complementary personalities, witty banter, and undeniable chemistry make them a match made in literary heaven! I had fun watching them try to behave in the work place and not give in to their passion for one another, it was an entertaining little game of cat and mouse. If you like romantic comedies than I suggest you add this one to your reading list, it promises to keep you thoroughly entertained from start to finish!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
Mine to Five is an enjoyable and fun read with wonderful characters, a funny storyline, enjoyable plot, and a steamy romance. The primary characters are Melanie and Matthew and the unexpectantly meet a bar and end up sharing their woes and disillusions. Much to their surprise the next day, they find out Melanie is Matthews new assistant and he is her boss. How will their attraction progress with this new situation? I recommend this fun Romantic-Comedy read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed Melanie and Matthew’s story. It’s a sweet and steamy romance and it held my interest all the way through. I really could feel the attraction between these two, they are a perfect match. The storyline was a good one. It has a little holiday theme and I loved the part where they went for a Christmas tree and got to meet their respective moms after that.
This review is based on the audiobook. I liked the narrator, Verla Bond. She did a pretty good job.
I was recently introduced to this author and after this audiobook, she definitely has been added to my must read list.
This delightful story brings us Melanie Thomas and Matthew Ryans.
One night at a bar, while Melanie , a marketing employee, was having a pity party after discovering her boyfriend was seeing other women, Matthew , a burnt out marketing executive was realizing his job was on the line. When they cross paths, they had a one stand night, neither realizing that they would ever see each other again.
Imagine their surprise when Melanie is introduced to her new boss, Matthew.
What at first was an uncomfortable arrangements , turns into a secret relationship and the best turn in events.
But what happens when Melanie is thrown a curveball? Will this be another step back in her personal and professional life, or will this holiday season become the best one ever?
This was an engaging story from start to finish and one worth your time.
A Lovely Holiday Quick Read – Smart And Steamy With A Sweet Happy Ending! In Matthew & Melanie’s Slow Burn Romance, A Has-Been Marketing Genius Finds The Inspiration He Needs In His New Young Assistant
Melanie Thomas, twenty-four, has worked tirelessly over the past months and it has finally paid off. With an MBA from NYU, she set her sights on marketing and has become an online marketing guru. She begins her dream job tomorrow at the McCain Marketing Agency as the Creative Assistant of Marketing for Mr. Ryans, Senior VP of Consumer Products and an award-winning marketing genius. As a grad student Melanie had done a case study on him and admires his brilliant campaigns. Mr. Ryans has always worked solo in the past, however. Mr. McCain himself hired Melanie, explaining that Ryans has been in a funk, and she is being assigned to team with him on a trial basis.
Melanie agrees to meet her boyfriend at Surge, a hot upscale nightclub in Manhattan, in what she anticipates to be a celebration. Getting stood up is the last thing she saw coming. Professor Joseph Kinnear had been her first serious relationship. After over a year and a half together, she never thought it would end like this. All dolled up in her red dress and alone in the crowded club, she had thought he wanted to take things to the next step, not toss her away over a phone call.
Matthew Ryans, thirty-eight, knows his job is in jeopardy. He has two big pitches coming up in December, and his career depends upon them. After a decade at McCain, he had anticipated being named CEO upon McCain’s retirement. He can hardly believe it might end like this, but marketing is a fickle field. Ryans had achieved success by doing everything his way, but in the end his devotion to work may have been the cause of his burnout. Tomorrow he will have to learn to work with his new assistant, but it is probably the beginning of the end for him.
Matthew had lived a playboy lifestyle, schmoozing with the elite, which is almost a requirement for making it to the top in his field. He finally settled on Bianca, a Broadway dancer and choreographer, and they have an arrangement of sorts. She loves to be the center of attention and has many admirers, but that suits Matthew just fine. He is not the jealous type, never has been. He doesn’t understand what has overcome him and left him uninspired of late. He heads to Surge to drown his sorrows, and cannot believe his luck when the beauty in the red dress sits beside him.
Matthew and Melanie meet as strangers at Surge, but hours later they meet again under very different circumstances. As mature adults, they both agree to keep things professional and forget about the night before. Melanie takes her career seriously. She doesn’t want to risk being accused of sleeping with the boss to get ahead. Matthew never crosses the line at work and knows he needs to keep it that, even if he had met Melanie before she became his assistant. Although things are awkward at first, they agree to begin anew. They build a working relationship, but their long hours and easy comfort with one another make friendship inevitable. When jealousy enters the pictures, though, it becomes harder to deny the true nature of their feelings.
In Matthew and Melanie’s slow burn workplace romance, a has-been marketing genius finds the inspiration he needs in his new young assistant. They make a perfect team, but their story gets complicated once they mix business with pleasure. This is a lovely holiday quick read – smart and steamy with a sweet happy ending. It is nicely written and plot-driven. The characters are nicely developed given the length. The story is written in third person. The POV alternates between Matthew and Melanie. I rate this book 4.5 stars.
This was one of those “you might like” suggestions from Kindle Unlimited and I’m thankful for the recommendation. At less than two hours this was a quick, sexy, easy yet well written story.
My first time reading Tara September, but I will definitely check out more of her work. Matthew & Melanie have an anonymous one-night-stand and find themselves new work mates the next day. I really like the way September pulled off this trope – not only with allowing Matthew & Mel the opportunity to get to really know each other but I could feel how they also click as a working team AND a couple. At 38 & 24, this also fulfills my love of May/December romance though it isn’t a huge issue or plot point in the story. There’s a lot of sexy banter, a few steamy scenes, interfering secondary characters, a misunderstanding, and a fabulous finale.
Since this isn’t part of a series… I really would have liked a little epilogue to solidify their HEA – but I felt like Matthew & Mel had all their dreams come true.
I also really loved the cover for this book.
Title: Mine to Five
Author: Tara September
Format: Audio
Narrator: Verla Bond
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Office, holiday
Standalone: Yes
Part of a Series: No
POV: Melanie and Matthew
Steam Level: Steamy but not too graphic
4/5
Mine to Five is a cute contemporary office romance. It’s a fast listen – funny and sweet. Melanie’s fiery temper was hilarious and I loved both Matthew and Melanie’s moms. Taking place in a little over a month Mine to Five warms up the holidays with the chemistry between Matthew and Melanie.
I received this audiobook for free. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I have read and enjoyed books by Tara September in the past and Mine to Five is no different. I loved Matthew and Melanie’s story. Their chemistry was undeniable. It was another plus for me when it was set during the Holiday season, making the romance extra magical. It was pure delightful to read. I adored it!
I am giving Mine to Five a very well deserved five plus stars. I recommend the quick read for readers who enjoy a great romance.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
A well written and well narrated office romance. Sweet with heat – I loved the characters and their dynamic. I enjoyed the mom’s as well as the ex’s involvement too. Overall it was a really good read / listen. Melaine and Matthew are both career driven characters that both have character growth within this read. Melanie is able to take a firmer stand with the relationships and Matthew realizes that some relationships are worth more.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
*this review is based on the audio version of this read.
office romance with a twist
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed: 02-09-20
Melanie Thomas was a woman with something to celebrate. She had finally made that transition and it was a time to be happy, excited, and preparing for the future. Not that her current boyfriend was supportive. She should have known sooner that things were not right. There were signs. She just chose to ignore them. Then it all comes to a head. Do she go back or move forward?
Matthew Ryans was a man on the fast track to being completely burned out. Lost. Drifting. He thought all may be lost until he find that one encounter makes him look forward to the new day. The new excitement working though him.
Mine to Five was not a new concept of romance, but it did give you some different ways to look at things. It allowed for a different outcome. This year the new one will start of with more in store for two souls that needed something different to their future.
Verla Bond gave a distinct portrayal of both male and female. She carried the narration with clarity.
Mine to Five was a great read by Tara September. Melanie plans on celebrating the upcoming holiday season and starting her dream marketing job with her boyfriend. Unfortunatley for her, he wants to be seeing other women. She decides to confide in a stranger at a bar and let go for one night. Unfortunately foor her that stranger happens to be her new boss, Matthew. His job is on the line and his new assistant, Melanie, is distracting him. I really enjoyed this book. I loved Verla Bond’s narration and the life that she brought to the characters. I can’t wait to read more by Tara September.
I really really liked this novella and Tara September yet again wrote a beautiful lovestory about a very swoon worthy hero, Matthew Ryans and a strong, smart woman, Melanie Thomas who in the midst of a very difficult time in their lives find friendship and love in each other.
“Two strangers clinging to each other’s company and comfort—one of those New York moments.”
After a bad breakup with her boyfriend of two years and the day before she starts her dream job Melanie has a sexy hook-up with a stranger. The day after she remembers nothing except waking up in a strange apartment and that she has to start her new job with a very bad hangover. When she turns up at her new job the stranger turns out to be her new boss, Matthew Ryans and they have to work very closely together on two very big add campaigns and to help Matthew find his spark in his work again. They become really good friends and colleagues but their attraction to each other becomes stronger and stronger and at the end they can’t keep their hands of each other. But what happens when he suddenly gets a promotion and she can’t follow him in the ranks, where does she fit into his life then?
I really loved this couple and even though they can’t be together they somehow figure out how to spend every bit of time they have together as friends. On thanksgiving with their mothers or getting Christmas trees with family and friends or dobble dates or late nights working.
The only thing I didn’t like about the book was that she at the end was so quick to judge him and not letting him be able to explain what happened or that he did everything he could to fix the mistake made by his boss. The thing he had to do to prove himself to her was pretty big and life changing for him and if she had listened to him they could have talked it over without all the drama and time apart.
But it had a very sweet ending and HEA and it ended on a good note for me.
I can definitely recommend this book if you are in the mood for a very sweet and fun colleague/friends to lovers romance with great characters, holiday cheer and a very sweet HEA.
I got this book from the author Tara September in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the book from start to finish. The characters have chemistry and are well developed and engaging. The storyline flowed smoothly and easily.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This rom-com was such a fun book to read with the great character and storyline development that as I turned each and every page Melanie and Matthew kept me totally engaged as their story unfolded!
Melanie is looking forward to the holidays with her boyfriend. Him, not so much. His new interest in life – other women. She’s so upset when he stands her up that she spills her story to a complete stranger in a bar, where she consumes mass quantities of tequila. The next morning, she does the walk of shame, and has to really hustle to be at work on time. it’s the first day of her new job, and guess who her new boss is? Yep, the complete stranger in a bar. When they recover from the shock, they agree to move on and not speak about that night. Matthew’s having trouble – he finds her extremely attractive – but he’s on thin ice at work, and the last thing he needs is to become involved with his new assistant. This book was laugh out loud funny much of the time. These two are meant to be together, even if they had a rocky start both personally and professionally. This is my first read from this author, but not the last.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.