We’re celebrating the release of THE REAL by Kate Stewart!
A standalone contemporary romance
Amazon | Paperback
Blurb
They say it happens when you least expect it.
It did for me.
It started the moment I saw the simple message pop up on my computer screen:
Cameron’s Mac: Hi.
And when I met the eyes of the gorgeous man messaging me from across the coffee shop, I never thought my reply would lead to the most intense, sexual,
and passionate relationship of my life.
We both agreed to check our bags at the door and put our future hopes and aspirations on the table.
It worked.
I fell in love with his no holds barred attitude, sexy smirk, and undeniably good heart . . . and for a while we forgot about our baggage. We happily tripped over
it to get to the other, neither of us willing to show the contents of our pasts in the off chance it could ruin us.
We built our love on a foundation of gray.
It was life in black and white that threatened to tear us apart.
Review
4.5 stars!
I loved this book! A smart, fun and sexy read with a wonderful set-up, sensational chemistry and banter, and a love story that is passionate, intense and emotional. This beautifully written book took me on a journey full of feels with some surprising ups and downs, and I was hooked through every captivating moment of it.
Abbie and Cameron meet in a coffee shop. It’s not your usual first meeting, but from the moment Cameron sits himself down near Abbie, props up his laptop and starts messaging her on hers, I could not get enough.
With one quick message, a whole lot of intense stares and Cameron’s delicious smirk, a flirtation begins which very quickly becomes so much more. Abbie is right on board with him, her only rule being that they leave their baggage in the past and live in the present, and that’s exactly what they do as they flirt and banter their way into something that consumes the both of them.
“Why me?”
“Why not you? I’m not interested in anyfuckingthing else. Nothing. But. You. This, you and me, is all I look forward to. And it already feels better than all the woos before you.”
The chemistry is fantastic, and the built-up is sensational! Each of their encounters had me on the edge of my seat as their witty back-and-forth escalates into an intense longing, and a deep and profound love, and I absolutely loved watching it happen.
And when it all comes together for them… dayum! The romance is emotional and passionate, with both of them openly following their hearts and just letting it happen, and I LOVE that!
“I just wasn’t sure where I wanted to call home.”
“And now?”
One side of his mouth lifted. “Now, I’ve got an incentive to stick around.”
“You flatter me.”
“You fucking floor me.”
I could feel everything that they felt for each other, and I loved that we get to see so much of their time together, so many of those special moments, and as they fell hard and fast for each other, I fell right along with them.
“I need this. I needed this so much,” he declared before he shut his eyes tight. When they opened, they were full of emotion. “Tell me I can have this, tell me I can be this happy. Tell me I can have you.”
I love these characters. Abbie has had a bit of a rough time, but she is strong and matter-of-fact about her past, and she deals with it the best way she can. Her best friend, Bree, is an absolute scene-stealer, and the two of them together are a riot! And Cameron…. *swoooooon*. He blew me away with his epic wooing, and as a romantic hero he is an absolute dream. Together, these two are just magic.
“I’m dangerously in love with you, so much so that I’m going to lose my fucking mind if you don’t tell me again that you feel the same.”
It’s the kind of romance that everybody wants, and it had me in a world of swoon!
But, of course, that love is put to the test. And without revealing any spoilers, it’s an emotional and harrowing ride for Cameron and Abbie. But it’s beautifully written, and I loved the dramatic twists and turns, which once again had me hooked as I watched it all play out for them.
Kate Stewart has done a great job with this book. It’s a modern romance that fits beautifully into the sometimes-impersonal world that we live in, and dealing with very real issues, giving the story a great contemporary feel. There is sweetness, fun, drama, heartache, and a whole lot of feels, but bottom line, this is a stunningly romantic love story, and I loved it.
“Just so you know, you and me, we are absolute.”
Beautiful. 4.5 stars.
Excerpt
Cameron’s Mac: Hi.
I looked above my laptop and took a deep breath before I accepted his invitation.
Abbie’s Mac: Hi.
Abbie, he’s going to wear your skin! I tried to ignore my inner voice.
Cameron’s Mac: I saw you with the homeless guy.
Abbie’s Mac: Ok?
He took a sip out of his Real Men Love Pomeranians mug and shrugged before he typed.
Cameron’s Mac: So, that was nice of you. Most people in the city just walk on by.
Abbie’s Mac: Oh. Most people do walk past Bennie. But he’s different and I’m not most people.
He lifted a brow and bit his lip.
Cameron’s Mac: I see that.
Cameron’s Mac: Want to have your next cup with me?
Say yes, say yes! It’s only coffee!
Abbie’s Mac: No, thank you.
You idiot.
His brows drew tight with his frown.
Cameron’s Mac: Sure? How about some breakfast?
My pulse raced with the memory of my last reaction to that type of attention and the consequences, and I answered without another thought.
Abbie’s Mac: No, thanks.
His chuckle was deep and covered me, even across the space between us. He bit his full bottom lip as he typed, his smirk still intact.
Fuck. Me. Damn it, Abbie!
Cameron’s Mac: Well, I guess today is not my day.
Abbie’s Mac: That’s all you’ve got?
I had no clue why I sent that message . . . why I was bothered that he didn’t try harder. Just that fucking smirk. It was sexy as hell.
He read my message and shrugged as he typed.
Cameron’s Mac: You seem to enjoy coffee. I don’t have an agenda. You’re beautiful, I noticed. I wanted to drink coffee with you. You said no. I’m going to scrape up the rest of my pride now and head out.
He closed his laptop and stood while I deflated. Damn it. He was being nice. Since when are guys just . . . nice?
Am I a man hater? Have I become that woman?
I spoke up as he slipped his computer into a worn leather bag.
“I’m sorry,” I offered in quick apology. “I was expecting some horrible line or screwed up proposition. The web, messaging, anything that has to do with technology has been hazardous for me. I’ve seen enough unsolicited dick pics for a lifetime. I was just being cautious.” And that was the truth. But I’d said it aloud in verbal vomit. Did I really say “dick pics” out loud?
He chuckled again as he looked down at me from where he stood, then grinned.
“Today isn’t the right day.” The husky baritone of his voice matched the silky hue of his eyes, which seemed to darken as he looked me over.
“No?” I asked in a whisper as I sized up his six-foot- plus frame and imagined the possibilities.
“No,” he said. “Maybe we can not have coffee again sometime?”
He’d tapped out with a simple ‘no’ from me. He couldn’t have been that interested in the first place.
I couldn’t deny the disappointment welling up in my ovaries.
“Okay.” I lifted the last syllable when he didn’t press further.
Cameron pulled out his wallet and set some money on his table then walked over to mine and did the same.
“At least let me buy your next cup.”
After setting the bills down, he stood over me briefly and I caught his scent—purely masculine. I inhaled as much as I could without being obvious. He didn’t smell like a psycho.
Cameron picked up his man–bag while I pictured running my fingers through his messy, inches thick, dark-brown hair.
Don’t let him leave. Tell him you aren’t that big of a bitch. But that would seem desperate. You aren’t desperate. But you are horny. Omg, are you horny??
As if reading my thoughts, I caught another flash of his teeth and had to bite my cheek to keep my reaction in check.
“I’ll see you.”
“Yeah, see you. And thanks,” I said to his retreating back, an octave louder than necessary. “For the coffee,” I added. Outside the window, Cameron bent and exchanged words with Bennie before sticking some cash in his hand.
Well, Abbie. Guess you’ll just have to wait until the next time you roll out of bed and a beautiful man hits on you. Should happen again, you IDIOT!
Once again, my hesitance had cost me. And I couldn’t help but feel like this time it cost me big.
Sagging into my seat, I continued to stare in his direction, watching those broad shoulders walk out of my life.
About the Author
Kate Stewart lives in Charleston, S.C. with her husband, Nick, and her naughty beagle, Sadie. A native of Dallas, Kate moved to Charleston three weeks after her first visit, dropping her career of 8 years, and declaring it her creative muse. Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense because it’s what she loves as a reader. A lover of
all things ’80s and ’90s, especially John Hughes films and rap, she dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for necessity only and does a horrible job of playing the ukulele. Aside from running a mile without collapsing, traveling is the only other must on her bucket list. On occasion, she does very well at vodka.
Contact Kate- Email-authorkatestewart@gmail.com
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