Special Release Day Price!Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills and USA Today bestselling author Tia Louise are back with an all-new romantic comedy filled with Southern sass and steamy scenes that will have you laughing out loud and fanning yourself. Pour the sweet tea and get ready… is to get under a shiny new stud…”
As soon as Mr. Tall, Blond, and Handsome walks into that bar, I know he’s the hook-up I need to get over stupid Cheater Kyle.
A few stolen kisses in a dark hallway, and I’m pretty sure we’re headed for a home run—until he disappears without a trace.
Whatever. Men are all snakes in the grass, and I don’t need a new one anyway.
I resolve to forget about his perfect lips (and chest of steel) and instead focus on turning my Granny’s old beach house into a profitable B&B.
What I don’t expect is for him to show up the next day in my kitchen.
You see, my sexy mystery man is none other than Jax Roland, the drop-dead gorgeous home improvement star of The Right Stud, and he’s got an offer I can’t refuse.
With a suitcase in one hand and a hammer in the other, he wants to move in and renovate my old house while he films his new show.
But my roommate has secrets, and they threaten to rip our blossoming friendship—and possible love—apart.
When push comes to shove, is Jax really The Right Stud or is he just another nail in the coffin of love?
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The Right Stud is a romantic comedy that explores how difficult it is for two people, who are insanely attracted to one another, to not cross the line when it comes to keeping their relationship a professional one, which means that Ashton and Jax’s story also illustrates how difficult things can become when the heart and the body get deeply invested into a connection that seems to have an expiration date, not only due to the hero’s career but also because there are a few pieces of crucial information that Jax holds close to the vest and for someone who has already been lied to by a person who meant everything to her, those details could destroy both of Jax and Ashton’s relationships – ones that have come to mean everything to both of them.
From my perspective, a lot of Jax and Ashton’s issues revolve around internal conflicts more so than external ones…that’s not to say that they don’t have to deal with outside interference, but both characters struggle with themselves and their choices, which then drives them to act and react in ways that lead to bigger issues between them.
In a way, I feel like there were more internal conflicts than external ones. Both characters struggled with themselves and their choices, which then drove them to act and react in certain ones that lent to bigger issues between them. Ashton definitely gets stuck inside her head way too much and she uses the excuse that she needs to ‘think’ about things in order to avoid certain situations. Don’t get me wrong, I get that Ashton doesn’t want to be hurt again and I was her biggest cheerleader when she finally takes back some control when it comes to her anger over her ex’s behavior, town gossips, and a set lies that might just hurt her more than anything her ex had done to her, but she definitely gets in her own way, which then makes things difficult between her and those she likes/loves.
Jax is a bit of a wildcard; his two ‘careers’ seem completely contrary, and it’s that idea along with the fact that readers know the secrets he’s keeping that might frustrate some readers, but because readers are privy to his internal thoughts, it’s easier to accept why he made the decision he did because as his feelings grow for Ashton, drastically complicating things, tough decisions are made and win or lose Jax determines the risks he’s willing to take and those that he’ll never be comfortable with due to his conscience as well as what Ashton comes to mean to him.
I really liked Ashton and her drive to carry on for her Granny. It’s obvious that they shared a special bond and I like that the authors carried that bond forward with Mrs. C. Mrs. C. is not a replacement, but she is someone who was friends with Ashton’s Granny, which means that her Granny’s memory will always be there due to Mrs. C.’s presence.
The secondary characters in The Right Stud definitely add so much to the story line and the burgeoning relationship between the hero and the heroine. Mrs. C. is an absolute riot. She definitely steals the show in every scene that she’s in, and I feel like the authors could put a book together of all of Mrs. C. sage and raunchy words. She and Rufus are the perfect ‘comic relief’ in some fairly heavy scenes., and the fact that she has no filter is what made me love her even more. She’s a straight shooter who gives sage advice even if it’s delivered a bit crassly and she helps Ashton to realize some things about herself, her life, and her dreams, which is exactly what her granny would have done if she was still alive.
Jean Claude Van Ram is an amazing side character and I loved the fact that he’s still there at the end of the story. He’s the main reason that Ashton and Jax finally give into their attraction, so he’s integral to their new relationship and he’s such a pain in the ass for a number of reasons that he adds even more laughs to this romantic comedy.
The title itself also works well for Ashton and Jax’s story; it’s an interesting play-on-words that alludes to Jax’s secondary career as well as how his viewers and probably the entire female population, including Ashton, perceive him as ‘studly,’ ‘Mr. Stud,’ etc. Just ask Mrs. C. and Ashton’s best friend, Lulu; they’ll both tell readers how attractive and fit Jax is!
I had the privilege of BETA reading The Right Stud, and I can’t tell you how many times I laughed out loud due to the antics of some of the most kickass secondary characters of the people and animal variety. Ilsa Madden-Mills and Tia Louise are quite the dynamic writing duo, and I can’t wait to read more from this creative and entertaining pair.
4 Poison Apples
I love romance books and I love HGTV. This book combined the two perfectly and I couldn’t be happier with it! With a sexy couple, a crazy old lady and mischievous goat I was smiling from beginning to end.
This book was just about as Perfect a Rom Com and you will get.
Starting off with a Hot Sexy Steamy first kiss that would make you toes curl. But damn it all if he didn’t then just disappear !!! Men and Life Sucks for Ashton!!! First catching her fiance cheating, losing her grandmother and fighting desperately to save her childhood home, now she can’t even hold onto a man for one night !!!!!
That’s about all i’m going to tell you because it really needs to be read blind. But be prepared for inappropriate old ladies, ninja goats, crazy friends, mishaps, laughs, hot steamy sweetness and characters that just leave you in a smiley puddle !! I can honestly say i devoured this book, through laughs, giggles and sitting on the edge of my seat waiting on the next outburst of expletives!! oh what fun it was to see this couple navigate their emotions and fall in love among the chaos!! Jax just about made my day, for a man who doesn’t do relationships, he sure does one perfectly !! I loved how each came to terms with their pasts and moved forward. It really was all about the LOVE !!! I just didn’t want it to end.