Smart, successful, and sitting pretty at the top of her game, Neera Malik has it all figured out.Save for the small issue of Gustavo Guillmand.The artist with a cult—and Instagram—following has a problem and it’s not his preference for shirtless selfies. No, he has an attitude problem, a minding his own business problem, an infuriatingly sexy problem. They can’t stand each other and they can’t … each other and they can’t stay away from each other.
This steamy enemies-to-lovers office romance originally appeared on the Read Me Romance podcast. This edition includes a seriously extended epilogue beyond the podcast content.
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While I’m not a huge novela fan…this is some read. I love the characters. You do get a good sense of who they are even knowing you arent getting a full length book. The heat level between these two is just off the charts! This is one of the steamest that I recall from Kate…but I love it! If you arent looking for some off the charts sexual encounters, this isn’t for you. If you appreciate that like many of us that read steamy romance do, give this one a shot. It’s a quick read and you get to visit talbots cove again and get a peek at some of our favorite Canterbury characters.
Rough Sketch is by far Kate’s hottest book to date. I mean smoking hot. That said it’s more than just hot it’s also a story that pulls you in about two seemly different people who find each other.
Neera is the woman behind the man, the “kingmaker”. Gus is an international artist you has a penchant for leaving carved birds on Neera’s desk. They seem so different in every way but together they burn so bright and compliment each other so well.
I loved Rough Sketch in every way. Gus was so ready to love Neera forever even if it took her awhile to let it happen.
I highly recommend Rough Sketch.
I received an advanced readers copy for a honest review.
This is a deliciously tempting, quick, beautifully written, dirty, sexy sweet novella that features Neera from Fresh Catch.
In Rough Sketch, Neera Malik and artist Gus Guillmand have this enemies to lovers romance that starts off. Neera comes from the corporate world and has this corporate look/feel going on while Gus is free spirit and is easygoing. Their relationship starts off as a enemies to lovers/opposite attraction. They had an instant attraction/chemistry/connection/lust going on. I enjoyed reading how their relationship develops and comes to be in this amazing novella while at the same time getting to dip back into the Talbot Cove world. It’s great getting to visit with past characters and see how they are doing.
This read is steamy, hot, sexy, exciting, fun, emotionally beautiful and full of feels. Love getting back in the Talbot Cove world…would like to visit again.
My Rating: 4.5 stars ******
I became obsessed with Neera’s no-nonsense sassy vibe in Fresh Catch but listening to her and Gus’ story on the RMR podcast made me absolutely fall in love.
These two are so different and the tension and chemistry between them is so explosive that I couldn’t stop reading. Novellas always seem to leave me wanting more but I felt like Neera and Gus’ book was complete. Theirs is a relationship that probably shouldn’t work but they are like two sides of the same coin. I loved everything about this book and loved the visit to Talbott’s Cove!!
Stunning! Heat level is scorching.
Neera and Gus are both such multi faceted characters. Much like the rest of Talbott’s Cove they find themselves and each other there. I absolutely love this story and recommend it. Made me ache.
Left me so pleased.
Rough Sketch is filthy little tasty treat from Kate Canterbary and has all the ingredients of what I love about her writing: smart, intelligent, witty writing, great banter, and she has reach new level super hot sexy times with this novella
It started life as a story for the Read Me Romance Podcast (narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Christian Fox), but Kate has added new material and you get to visit with familiar friends from the Talbot Cove world as well as follow the story of Gus and Neera – a great “opposites attract” story
The author packs a lot into this novella and you will be draw into the chemistry and attraction between Gus and Neera. A great, fun, sexy read that is well worth your time – 5 super hot stars *****
As usual Kate creates a masterpiece with Rough Sketch! This book is hot sweet and to the point! You can’t go wrong with Neera and Gus.
We met Neera in Fresh Catch and I always wanted a story for her. Well Kate delivered snd man is it smoking hot. His is an artist. She is a high powered executive. When the two meet they clash right away but Gus sees something in Neera. He sees the real her hidden by her high powers suits and ball busting attitude.
Find out what happens when artistic temperament and hidden desires collide. You won’t be sorry you did.
If you want to read a short, super hot, fun story then look no further because Rough Sketch fits the bill perfectly. Fans of Kate Canterbary will recognize Neera from Fresh Catch and will be thrilled that she finally got her own story! But those new to Canterbary’s brilliance will have no difficulty jumping into this complete standalone without Neera’s backstory. So old or new to this author, you’re going to love it!
Neera is the ultimate corporate success story. She’s a leader, she’s driven, she’s strong and she’s always in business mode. Enter Gus, the quirky artist in residence within her corporation. These two go at it hard with their antagonistic yet witty banter, making them the perfect match for one another. Their chemistry is intense and their couplings are sinfully sexy. Canterbary might’ve just written her hottest story to date!
Canterbary brings back characters from previous Talbott’s Cove stories so dedicated readers will rejoice as they catch up with some past favorites. I know I did a little happy dance when these folks showed up! But again….COMPLETE STANDALONE! So don’t shy away if you are a new-to-this-author reader! Canterbary has a way with words and her writing is both witty and informative. I definitely learn a thing or twenty anytime I pick up one of her books and Rough Sketch is no exception. Grab this one and enjoy the fun!
Neera and Gus have absolutely explosive chemistry which combusts the virtual paper this is written on. Sometimes insta-lust doesn’t believably translate into an HEA for me, but Neera and Gus’s opposites attract/enemies-to-lovers story really worked for me. Oh, and did I mention it was filthy? But filthy in a really, REALLY good way.
Talbot Cove fans will get a peek into that world and get to visit some old friends which is always a nice bonus. Even if you’ve listened to the RMR podcast, there’s plenty of new material that makes this easily qualify as a one-click buy.
Rough Sketch definitely has Kate’s trademark witty banter. I live for these conversations both with others and the internal dialogue. It always makes me smile. While Kate’s books are usually nicely steamy, this one was even more so and I loved every second of it. It is a quick read but brings some of my favorite characters back, Cole, Owen, JJ and Brooke. Would I have loved more? Of course. I feel like I didn’t really get a chance to know Neera or Gus as well as I’d love to. They are likable enough, I just couldn’t love them like I do all of Kate’s other characters.
Have I got a book for you. That is, if you’re looking for a book with a good story, interesting characters, good heat and smart writing. Talk about two diverse characters. Neera is a smart, successful, hurried, voluptuous, no nonsense woman from Silicon Valley with a touch of daring to her fashion, who has her eye on the details and has a plan for everything. There’s more to her than you see. She brings to my mind the phrase, “Still waters run deep”.
Gustavo, (Gus) is a free minded artist, a little egotistical (or so it seems) with a less than conventional manner for doing things. He certainly doesn’t seem to have a self confidence problem. However, the way the author describes his innermost thoughts had me in tears and breathless at times. Other times he is quite the smart aleck.
On the surface neither of these characters seems to have a self confidence problem.
I don’t do spoilers. I don’t think it’s fair to the author. Besides, where’s the fun in me telling you everything. You need to read the book. What I will say is I will never look at a Jeep in the same way without thinking of a particular scene. Jeep’s new tag line is, “Have fun out there”. Believe me take that literally regarding this scene and bring a cool rag. You’re gonna need it.
As I said in the beginning the writing is so smart. You always learn something in this author’s writing. She also brings some social consciousness to the table. The thing is while you’re learning new terms there’s always an underlying meaning of the term associated with the story. Kate’s story really make you think, if you choose. Otherwise just learn some interesting facts. I also love the diversity of the author’s character.
Along the way we get to catch up with characters from past stories. Two of my absolute favorites are weaved into this book. I was over the moon when I realized they were in the book. They’re are too adorable for words. I had a smile on my face whenever they entered the story. All the returning characters added so much to the story.
Many questions came to mind while reading this like: How many of us actually live our dream? How is it that we let ourselves get sidelined or are we just afraid to really live our truth? Or do we delude ourselves with the notion that success is happiness? What is your definition of success? Like I said this story brings so much to the table.
So I’ve gone on way too long. As you can tell I really enjoyed this book. Wish it was longer. Spending time in Talbot’s Cove or anywhere in this author’s book worlds is always a pleasure. I never want to leave. Enjoy the salty weather in Talbots Cove as much as you enjoy the salty dialogue.
Gus Guillmond artistic free spirit and Neera Malik’s button down corporate persona could not be more opposite. Yet together they absolutely light up the pages of this book with their passion, their need for one another and their tempestuous relationship. Talk about rubbing each other in both the wrong and right ways….whew! On a weekend trip to Talbott’s Cove, the area works its magic on these two. As a result they find their “normal” and the town gets two new residents.
I just love revisiting Talbott’s cove. And this fast, dirty and sassy story of Neera and Gus is just the fix I needed!
The flow of Neera and Gus’s relationship is sharp and jagged, but also so, so perfect for the two of them.
I loved Gus’s determination to get Neera and to give her what she needed. He pushed her to show her that she needed to be “seen” and he did it in such holy hotness ways!
Neera has been a “kingmaker” her whole adult career. Taking care of others and was content to stand in the shadows. Then Gus comes along and shines a bright and colorful world that she could live in.
Smart, funny romance is what you get from Ms. Canterbary and this story is both! Well done!
Straight laced, good girl who gets the job done meets free spirited, can’t be caged, artist. This is a stand-alone novella within the Taboltt’s Cover series, and there is a lot packed into this story without the sense of being overwhelmed. Mix together serious sexy times with self discovery of what you want in life and learning how to voice those wants plus witty foreplay-esque banter and you have quite the intoxicating recipe. While all of the author’s characters have a sense of realism, the briefly mentioned awkwardness between the hero and heroine hit a new level of realism. A must read if you’re a fan of this author.
Yowza! If you need a story to get your engine revving quick-smart, pick up ROUGH SKETCH by Kate Canterbary.
It’s no secret that I am a fan of Canterbary’s writing, and even with this shorter novella length her skill is apparent. Busy career woman Neera Malik and artist Gus Guillmand have been thoughtfully and intelligently crafted. I enjoyed their introspective thoughts. The arguments are passionate, and the banter between them is top-notch. These enemies-to-lovers are driving each other and themselves crazy!
As for the romance? Canterbary’s a master at fanning the flames of attraction and building an intense romance. Simply put, these two were scorching hot and they definitely put on a show for us readers.
ROUGH SKETCH is book 4 in the Talbott’s Cove series. Characters from previous books do make an appearance but no assumed knowledge is presumed; this reads well as a stand-alone book.
I don’t know where Canterbary is taking us next: Be it one of her existing book worlds or a brand new adventure, I am signing up for the ride.