I never thought my first kiss would be on my wedding day.But here I stand, clutching a bouquet of pale pink roses behind the doors of a Las Vegas chapel, and at the end of the aisle is the absolute last man I imagined would be waiting for me.Thomas Bane.Bestselling author. Notorious bad boy. Savagely handsome, dark as sin, chiseled as stone. And somehow, my soon-to-be husband.Marry him, and I’ll … husband.
Marry him, and I’ll land my dream job. Save him, and I’ll walk away with everything I’ve ever wanted. All I have to do is remember it’s all for show. None of it is real, no matter how real it feels.
But first, I have to survive the kiss.
And with lips like his, I don’t stand a chance.
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Shel: Let me tell you why I’ve been loving the girls in the RLC (Red Lipstick Coalition) and their stories. It’s been well established that I love a super strong female protagonist—and these women definitely have their strengths—but I also enjoy reading female protagonists who are relatable and every single one of these women, so far, have a struggle that is all too real for many of us. Whether it is an issue with confidence, shyness, or social anxiety—or a little of all of these—these characters show us that with a solid support network and a nudge or a shove out of our comfort zone that failures and mistakes are most certainly options but it’s what we learn and gain from those failures that is what helps us grow. Court: Staci does have a ridiculous ability to be able to give us strong characters yet also real and vulnerable ones as well. I love these characters because it is nice to see yourself in a book and when they’re going through the same work, relationship and life issues as you…well…you enjoy a beautifully written story and maybe feel a little more whole in the process!
Shel: Amelia has also been a quiet character in the earlier books in this series, from my memory, and it’s in Work In Progress that we learn why. Her shyness and anxiety is both understandable and infuriating because it seems so preventable but it’s also the thing that many people will relate to. At the beginning of the novel, it’s only when she’s behind the safety of her blog and her books that she feels the most secure and where her opinions are boldly stated—so bold that they catch the attention of one Mr. Thomas Bane—a hot heated rogue whom we learn has a tender heart, a sexy smirk, a protective nature, and a sense of righteousness that tends to always get him in trouble—not a good luck for his publicist or the publisher of his novels. Pairing these two was genius, in my opinion, and I loved the accurate portrayal of life as a blogger and what feels like an accurate portrayal of the pressures of being a full time novelist. Court: It is brilliant. They do say, write what you know, and all that. Blending the ins and outs in the book world is a great way to suck us in (because, y’all…we know it is hard!) but also giving a fun story with love and heart and an emotional punch is never a bad thing either. And going back to a character who has some serious emotional stuff going on, it is beautiful to see some emotional growth as well.
Shel: A plan to work together soon becomes more and lemme tell you it’s been a while since I’ve had the simultaneous desire to have the tension break RIGHT NOW and for it to take its time. Gahhh. Amelia kept holding back and I was dying and loving it. And Teddy’s protective nature, her growing confidence, and their make out sessions?!?!?! OMG. Those make out sessions…*fans self* These two were giving some real #couplegoals vibes. And the true sign that I adored these two? All was going so well that I did not want the bad stuff to happen–I was prepared to be okay with a minor petty conflict so that they could have their HEA. But nooooo. Staci Hart wasn’t having that. Hearts had to be badly broken. Grrrr. All worth it though because it all ends up happy and good and then the end until…welllll, read the sneak peek and diiiiieeeee of wanting April to come! Court: Couldn’t have said it better! Slow burn is good. But…expecting Staci to go easy on the heart…probably not going to happen! Honest, we don’t want it too, but we feel a little bit like we’re going to have a coronary in the process!!!
Amelia Hall has always been painfully shy and introverted. But as a book blogger, her online voice really comes to life with honesty and opinions. She attends a book signing by renowned author Thomas Bane and their interaction is nothing short of amusing because Amelia has reviewed his books before so he knows exactly who she is. And from there, the sparks begin to develop, leading to Thomas, or Tommy, making Amelia an offer to help him with his next book.
Tommy has been in the spotlight for a while, and not always in a positive manner. He’s under pressure to produce a worthy manuscript while dodging investigative reporters who want to pry into his private life. He’s got a big heart when it comes to the people he cares about and a sense of justice where he cannot let wrongdoing go unpunished. This lands him into hot water where his only chance of salvation is through Amelia via marriage.
I liked the chemistry between them. They had already formed a solid working relationship built on trust and then friendship came easily. So a progression to a married couple for the cameras wasn’t too much of a stretch. Amelia tried to maintain distance to discern fact from fiction since she’s already inexperienced with romantic relationships, but Tommy has infinite patience and wants to woo his wife. It’s rather sweet and swoony the way they take care of each other. Tommy is very transparent from the beginning and I wouldn’t have minded a bit more mystery about him. Amelia really blossoms from the girl who can barely speak in public to someone who must deal with incessant media attention and curiosity and I loved watching her transform and acquire more self confidence. I liked this one more than the previous two stories and look forward to reading Katherine’s book in the future.
I think this might be my favorite book in this series!
Of the four roommates, Amelia was the one I would have expected to come last because of her extreme shyness.
The meet cute between Amelia and Tommy was fun and I loved the glimpse of her coming out of her shell. The situation that brought them into close proximity and allowed their relationship to grow was unexpected. It was a trope that I’ve seen before, but Ms Hart’s take on it felt fresh.
I loved these two together and the slow burn between them. Both characters were much more complex than they appeared at first glance and it was a pleasure to get to know them.
The girls played a smaller part of the secondary cast than we’ve seen before, but we did get to see them and their significant others when it counted.
Each of the stories in this series and heartwarming and sweet, with a good dose of spice. I can’t wait to see what is in store for Katherine and her mystery man.
I love RomComs but it’s a tricky genre, given that comedy is subjective and so many things can go wrong, it can become humorless in a heartbeat. Some authors try too hard and it shows but luckily for us Staci Hart excels at it. I loved this wonderful story, Work In Progress, a standalone that features a famous author going through a crisis of some sort and a painfully shy book blogger. I adored both main characters, each had agonizing secrets/traumas they wanted desperately to keep hidden, only confiding to a select few. The writing is phenomenal and I was hooked from the first pages and sadly it seemed I finished it in a blink of an eye. This one is worth pulling an all-nighter; you won’t want to do something as mundane as sleeping before reaching the very beautiful and HEA!
Those of us that have read some of the previous books know this story is part of the Red Lipstick Coalition, standalones that feature a group of girlfriends who support each other unconditionally and fearlessly. There certainly is strength in numbers! There’s still one story to be told and I look forward to it.
“Because Tommy is homemade dynamite—unstable, lethal, and with unknown potency. He’d blow me to smithereens.”
Amelia Hall has always been painfully aware of her fear of speaking to strangers, it stemmed from a childhood speech impediment that took years of therapy to overcome. She was bullied in school and had become a sort of nervous mute; her therapist insisted she needed exposure therapy to overcome her fears.
The successful book blogger, of Halls of Books, had recently been hired at USA Times’ book division. This was a step in achieving her dream of one day becoming an editor at a publishing house. When Amelia’s sent to a book signing, as her first assignment, she comes face to face with an author whose work she’s very familiar with. Amelia’s blog had gone viral thanks to one of her three star reviews of his books.
“You took the time to put together thoughtful feedback that was absolutely true. To be honest, those reviews sometimes hurt worse.
Because they press our soft spots, the bruises we have, the blind spots in our process.”
Thomas “Tommy” Bane became an overnight success at twenty-four and now, six years later, he’s better known as the infamous bad-boy author; for his affairs with supermodels, scandals, and public-drunken fist fights. The public only knows the façade he portrays; his private, personal life has been locked up tightly. He’s been warned by his publisher one more scandal and he’s going to be dropped, putting an end to his career. When he meets Amelia, the blogger he swears hates his work, he immediately makes her an offer that she can’t refuse.
“She’s the last person I would have chosen for you, but she’s the closest thing to perfect that I’ve ever seen.”
This unlikely duo is thrown together unexpectedly, under the pretense to rescue Tommy’s career, and even he can’t believe they work so well together. Or like each other so much. Tommy can’t believe someone like Amelia exists; she’s so innocent, pure, and kindhearted and he begins to think he’s found someone he can trust, something he’s never been able to do before.
“There are two things in this world I can’t abide: liars and people who believe the lies.”
When things come to a screeching crash, it’s not clear if anyone will survive the wreckage, due to the damage left in its wake. And just when the getting is good!
“She hadn’t even asked me for the truth. And above all, that was the sin I found I couldn’t forgive.”
Work in Progress by author Staci Hart is the sizzling, intense, passionate, emotional rollercoaster story of Thomas Bane and Amelia Hall. Work in Progress brings fans of Staci Hart back the Red Lipstick Coalition and is Amelia’s beautiful story. Amelia’s is the shy one of the group and she hid / blended into the background more often than many saw her pop out. But since this is her story, we get to see her come out of her shell and show everyone just how sweet, kind, nice and caring she was. I just loved that about her. Amelia is the real deal…then there is Thomas! Thomas Bane.
Bestselling author. Notorious bad boy. But behind the public image beats the heart of a good man and he will do anything to protect those he loves. He and Amelia has instant chemistry. It was amazing to read!! Without giving too much away, LOVE marriage of convenience — Thomas and Amelia’s especially!!! Theirs was epic. He needs a marriage of convenience and she gets a dream job. Will this work out for them? Will they let Cupid’s arrow go to work and let love in? Work in Progress was beautiful and intense, passionate and romantic. Staci Hart hit the love spot with Work in Progress.
My Rating: 4.5 stars *****
Damn, Staci Hart’s Red Lipstick Coalition series just keeps getting better and better! Work in Progress definitely made me fall further and deeper in love with this unique band of friends and their slowly (but surely) rising level of strength and bravery, but it also drove me ridiculously wild over Tommy and Melia. I couldn’t get enough. I wanted to devour and take everything in all at once, but their riveting story is one that needed to be relished. One that made you want to slow down, take your time, and have every moment sink into your soul. I just never wanted it to end.
“He was my own personal magic feather, and I held on with all the faith and hope that I could fly if I believed hard enough.”
Thomas Bane is an irresistibly charming, soul-searing, panty-melting, built-like-a-Greek-god bestselling author after every book lover’s heart. He might’ve had a bad boy, troublemaker reputation with the media and everyone else, but behind that carefully curated facade was truly a man with a tenderness and devotion unlike any other. The way he loved and protected those who matter the most to him brought me to my knees and knocked me on my ass. Tommy was just so breathtakingly dreamy and swoony that he slayed me more and more with every page I turned. And honestly, it truly felt like a privilege to get to know him and break down those walls.
“The treasure of her body, the gift of her self, was one that I would forever hold sacred.”
Amelia Hall is an extremely shy and modest book blogger who’d rather hole up in her room, buried in stacks upon stacks of books than to brave the world outside. I loved how delicate and timid she was. How her innocence made her so pure and sweet. How she was just the perfect softness to Tommy’s every rough edge, and balanced him out in every way possible. She might even look small and fragile, but Amelia’s love and compassion were as immense as they were mighty. She’s absolutely awe-inspiring through and through, and she makes me want to strive to have a heart of gold just like hers.
“How in the world did you choose me, Tommy?”
“There was no choice to be made. I knew the second the universe put you in my path that you would change everything, and you have. Ignoring that gift would have been a grave mistake, one I don’t think I could have made if I’d tried.”
Their marriage might’ve been abrupt and planned, created as a front to help save and clean up Tommy’s image and boost Amelia’s career, but with the kind of chemistry they had that sizzled and bloomed instantaneously, falling in love was just inevitable. With the depth and level of understanding that developed between them, no matter how different they were from the other, it really was only a matter of time before feelings got involved. And when you witness the kind of fireworks these two have when they’re together, swooning and fluttering feels deep in your gut are a hundred percent guaranteed.
“I will rewrite the stars. I will shake the heavens and mark them with your name. Because without you, I am lost.”
An utterly striking, funny yet heart-melting and vastly relatable tale of loyalty and trust, forgiveness and hope, friendship and family, and passion and love, Work in Progress will undoubtedly leave you floating through cloud nine, engulfed with all the feels and sporting a wide, goofy grin on your face.
P.S. Thomas Bane’s fine ass (and erotic elbow) is MINE. I’m calling dibs. Kthxbye.
just when I thought this series couldn’t get better, along comes Thomas Bane!
watch out Court, watch out Sam.
Anyone who loves romance, enjoys a laugh, and has a tissue box ready should read this book.
Mrs Staci Hart had me laughing and falling for these characters so hard and as a reader i could almost relate to this shy blogger who despite her own fears she stood by her opinion of anothers hard work. I would definitely recomend this book but i will say i did cry, as personally i found myself so lost in their story when conflict arose there where no sides to be taken just hope they would come back to be for a HEA. (Fyi Yes there is a HEA & a preview of the next installment of the RLC)
5 “Can I have you?” stars!
The Red Lipstick Coalition is one of my favorite series and I am so happy to finally have Amelia’s story! She’s a never been kissed book blogger who falls for the bad boy author in this sweet, butterfly-inducing marriage of convenience romance. I love fake relationships in books and Work in Progress has everything I could have wanted from this trope. It’ll make you laugh and swoon, and fill your heart with warmth making it impossible not to fall for Amelia and Tommy.
Amelia is a delight!! Behind the screen she is vibrant and outgoing but in public she is shy, awkward, and has difficulty speaking. She doesn’t let many people in and is rarely comfortable talking to people who aren’t in her close knit group of friends. She knows she has to work on coming out of her shell if she wants her dreams of editing for a publisher to be a reality but sometimes things seem just out of reach.
Thomas Bane is a sexy author who keeps his personal life personal. He only lets the world see what he wants them to see, and unfortunately, the world doesn’t always see things the way he wants it to. When he gets into some trouble at a publisher event his already damaged image is tarnished further. Now he has four weeks to write a book and fix him image or he is out of a job.
Amelia and Thomas meet at a book signing event and there is something about Amelia and her reviews, particularly the negative reviews of his own books, that intrigues him. He has been battling writers block with no success and after meeting Amelia, he thinks she can help. After an outrageous proposal, it looks like a marriage of convenience may be the answer to both their problems. What follows is a captivating, entertaining, and heartwarming love story between two wonderful people who could not be more different or more perfect for each other. I loved it!!
Amelia is so sweet and good-natured. She is a wonderful friend who wouldn’t hurt anyone intentionally. She works hard and doesn’t back down even when she is challenged. She will never hurt anyone even if it will put her closer to her dreams and she was an endearing and admirable character. Tommy is a “bad boy” who is so much more than what the media thinks of him. He has a good heart and tries his best to take care of the people he loves. He gives all of himself without hesitation and he is this amazing man once he opens up.
Together, Amelia and Tommy are fantastic. Their connection and chemistry are realistic, and the relationship is natural, unforced, and functional. I love that they have a perfect mix of heat, humor, and heart. They are patient and gentle, they are passionate and intense. They are love and they have found a special place in my heart.
OMG, I have to mention the ending! I want Katherine’s book now! I am so excited to see how her story unfolds in Well Suited. April can’t come soon enough!
She’s been a ghost of a girl for so long. Silence hugs her in public. Her voice belongs to her family and friends.
Today is the first day of her new life. She doesn’t know it, but it is.
Acknowledge, Breathe, Connect. Her mantra for the morning she met him.
The blogger who couldn’t or wouldnt love his words is stood before him.
Her help might save him. Will she be the one to turn the tide? or will she get swept out to sea.
A wish, a daydream a desire they share. Can it really be true?
Amelia so pure and innocent, yet brave and resilient. An angel.
Tommy the original bad boy with a rap sheet as long as your arm, but with a heart of gold hidden from those unworthy.
Oh wowsers!! what a read!
Amelia stole my heart, Thomas stole my heart hell even the over zealous wild Gus had me feeling all warm and gooey with a sentimental smile plastered upon my face.
From the moment they met I knew I was going to love this and I did! Trust your instincts and that I did!
As crazy as Tommys proposition was, it worked, and the story developed into the kind of book that you just can’t bear to put down. Not even for a second.
I wanted, needed and was desperate to know if things would change, what the future held and if they would end up at each other’s throats over his script…
I found so much beauty in this story from the actions of the characters. Their protectiveness and fierce loyalty to their personalities.
Black and white entwined with morality pulls at your heartstrings like you wouldn’t believe, and an innocent lamb makes your heart melt especially when her comfort zone dissolves but still she flourishes.
An amazing read that leaves you needing more of the lipstick series!!
LOVE IS MAGIC!!
The RLC is back and with two characters that I didn’t know I needed, but totally did.
“She’s…She’s a wish I didn’t know I had. I didn’t know what I’d been missing.”
Meet the players:
Amelia Hall, the never-been-kissed, quiet book blogger that doesn’t do crowds or public speaking. Thomas Bane, bad boy author with quite a reputation in the presses. These two are complete opposites. So, what happens when a marriage of convenience is proposed for these two?? It can only end in disaster, right?
Staci Hart has done it again. From the table of contents chapter headings to the epilogue, I was laughing, swooning and feeling with these characters. The roommates involved in the #RedLipstickCoalition are everything. We’ve met two of the characters (along with their counterparts) in their own books before Amelia’s, and honestly, you don’t have to read their stories to love and understand Amelia and Tommy’s story. All these women are successful in their own rights. They just need a little confidence and lipstick to back up their success. And with friendships such as theirs and the men that pull out all the stops, these women are all a force to be reckoned with….eventually.
Amelia takes on Tommy as his “no” and then becomes his “yes”, for all intents and purposes. She is learning real quick that the person the public knows as “Thomas Bane” is very different than “Tommy from the Bronx”.
“You’re like douchebag catnip. It’s like they seek you out.”
But their chemistry is undeniable and so very slow to burn. It simmers and slowly builds up until neither one of them can deny what is right in front of their faces. It’s been there all along with the trust that each of them put in one another.
“I’ve never witnessed anything like it, Tommy. The two of you float a little higher than the rest of us mortals.”
I fell in love with the RLC, but Tommy may have become my new favorite book boyfriend. He’s the epitome of the misunderstood bad boy. Honestly, all of the characters in this book made me fall (or wanna slap them). Staci has a way of making you laugh and swoon all at the same time. Her writing is superb and her character development seemed to flow with the plot. While some of the story seemed to drag on a tad, it fit the characters that were being built. It was who they were and wouldn’t be right otherwise.
I’m not going to give you a rundown of the blurb or the plot or all the characters involved. What would be the point? I WILL tell you that this story is fun, sweet, entertaining and left me with feels. Staci Hart can weave a tale within a tale and have you feeling things for fictional characters. You are pulling for these people that you’ve gotten to know for a few hours and you will still think of them and what’s to come after (especially after that sneak peak….OMG!!). These characters feel like friends and people I want to know. So jump in and see why Thomas “Made in the Bronx” Bane is topping my BBF list for the year so far.
Work In Progress by Staci Hart
Oh my… WOWZA! This book blew me away! Absolutely fell in love with this story! Captivated my interest throughout as I wanted more and more! I didn’t want it to end! Can not wait for the next book!!
“Because love isn’t perfect, but forgiveness is absolute. I will always forgive you if you’ll promise to do the same.”
“Love, I’d decided, was magic.”
“Love was as real to me as Bigfoot or Santa or Hogwarts.”
The sneak peak for the next book at the end of this story is a total bonus!!
Very highly recommend! Please one-click today! You won’t regret it!!
The hot sexy bad boy with the inexperience girl! Can’t get enough of this one! Ashley @ Carolina Chic’s Read
Staci does it again with the third book in her Red Lipstick Coalition series!
Thomas aka Tommy the bad boy author who has broken all the rules and finds him in a situation that he cannot get out of without the help of changing his image. Amelia the innocent book blogger who has social issues and her therapist has told her to get out there and make it happen. These two are total opposites and when they meet there is something. What will that something be? Can Amelia help Tommy change his ways? Can Tommy bring Amelia out of her shell? You need to read this book to see it all unfold! This book is just awesome had me smiling and laughing from page one to the end!
So we are back with our girls and this time it is Amelia’s turn to break out of her shell, I hope you read from the beginning because you will need the back story to understand how Amelia is. In the previous books we learn Amelia is really shy and has a love of books and her own blog because Amelia is not really comfortable with people besides her friends. At a book signing she meets Thomas and he was surprised to meet the person that always gave him bad reviews but he respected her for it since she was not a yes person. Thomas reputation needs work, so he asks Amelia who he had asked to work for him if she would pretend to get married to him to help save the reputation, and that is the beginning..We also get cameos from the others..One more left..
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.
Work in Progress is the third book of the Red Lipstick Coalition and this is the story of Amelia our shy book blogger.
Amelia is a booklover who meet the famous author Thomas Bane, and when he meet the only person who can find the missing part in his stories, he ask her for help for his new book and even though Amelia is a really shy person she agrees to help him and oh boy if that whole situation doesnt end in some interesting stuff!
I dont want to write too much about the whole plot because i think is the best if you read it because you will LOVEEEEE it
I just have to say if you love:
*Shy heroine
*Hot sexy hero
*Fake Marriage
*Cute pets
*Romance between a blogger and an author
*So many sexy, sweet, funny and swoon moments
LIKE Seriously i cant even say one bad thing about this story , because is AMAZING!!! When i think i have a Staci’s favorite book she writes another amazing story!!!
So if you know the girl from the Red Lipstick Coalition and you know and love Staci’s style you will LOVE this book so much!!I Highly recommend you to read it as soon as is LIVE!!
Thomas and Amelia one of my favorite couples FOREVER!!!
I keep asking myself – why haven’t I read Staci’s books before this??? What a great fun read! Staci knows how to write a rom-com. This book will have you smiling, swooning and so much more. I love marriages of convenience and this one was a blast to read. Amelia is a shy bookworm/blogger while Thomas is a playboy/writer. He needs someone to help him with his publisher to better his image and who better than the blogger. He then comes up with an arrangement for the sweet Amelia. Can complete opposites find more within this arrangement? I never wanted this book to end!
This was such a good read! The writing flowed well, as it always does with this author, and the characters had great chemistry. Tommy and Amelia were made for each other. I loved that they both changed, and for the better, with the help of the other person. I knew where the drama was headed, and I SO wished that Amelia would have just talked to Tommy. She was in way over her head, and was just too blind to see it. Tommy threw it in her face that she should have believe him over Vivienne, but he did the EXACT same thing. She planted that seed of doubt for Tommy to think Amelia was using him, and he took that over Amelia’s words. Amelia should have talked to Tommy about the other situation, but I understand her thought process. She never thought she was good enough, so it was easy to take the story at face value. I loved that they both take responsibility for their actions, and promise to trust each other. The ending was perfect. What I continue to love about this series, are the friendships the RLC has. They are always there for each other, even when they are all starting to go their separate ways. I CAN NOT WAIT to read Katherine’s story.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
It’s not very often you find an author that every book she writes, you love a little bit more each time. This book though, this book blew the others away. This series has been so amazing this far, when the third came out I was intrigued to see if it was just as good as the first two and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was ever better.
Thomas and Amelia are the epic romances every girl dreams about. From hot and self-confident Thomas Bane and shy and timid Amelia, together they create the best romance of the year.
Cannot wait for Katherine’s book.
Amelia and Tommy’s story completely wrapped it’s arms around me. And gave me the biggest squeeze. I fell in love with everything about these two. I even went so far as to tell Staci Tommy just passed Charlie as my favorite male hero of hers. Do yourself a favor and buy this book. Long Live #RLC
****5 STARS****
****ARC Received for Honest Review****
Staci Hart…..why do you do this to me? I keep thinking your next book will not be my favorite, that one of your characters won’t make fall in love with them. WRONG!!! You did all the things in this book. You had me laughing, loving, tinkly, frustrated and unable to put the book down.
There are just some books and some characters that you can’t get away from and stay with you after the cover is closed. And Work in Progress does all of this. I think I smiled for 3 days straight because I was on such a book high.
I even rubbed it in to the book bestie that I was reading ahead of her, knowing she would be sucked into the Staci Hart vortex as well. There is not anything bad I can say about this book, the writing and the characters. I was so invested in where the story took me. Couldn’t get enough. One click people.-Review by Catherine(Catty)