Man Candy by Melanie Harlow
Release Date: June 20, 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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Blurb
He’s back.
Not just back in town, but living in the flat right beneath mine. And he looks good enough to eat, which is just one more reason to stay away from him.
But I can’t resist.
The sex is incredible (pretty sure we’ve shaken the house right off its foundation), but he can’t fool me—not this time. A degree in marketing and five years in advertising have taught me that “true love” is a fairy tale used to sell lipstick, diamonds, and perfume. It doesn’t exist.
He thinks I’m wrong, and he wants to prove it.
I think he’s crazy, so I dare him to try.
It might be the biggest mistake of my life.
Review
4.5 “You know I will” stars!!
“Quinn Rusek was one fine piece of man candy, and I had a sweet tooth for him that wouldn’t quit.”
Man Candy, written by Melanie Harlow, is a fun, flirty, sexy friends-to-lovers story that will make you laugh-out-loud, swoon, and fall in love! Melanie Harlow has combined amazing characters, enjoyable plotlines, epic banter, a little bit of angst, and a sweet love story to create a fantastic romantic comedy. Enjoyable from the first line to the last, Man Candy was an instant hit for me!
Meet Jaime. She is stuck in her childhood crush’s closet with no way out and he is about to get naked. Commence awkward, hilarious situation!
Ten years earlier, Jaime threw herself at Quinn, her brother’s best friend, and it did not turn out the way she planned. Hurt and embarrassed, she avoided Quinn until he left for college. The heartache from the rejection made her jaded and now she doesn’t believe in true love. Happy with one-night stands or short-lived relationships, she is not looking for anything serious.
Jaime doesn’t see Quinn until years later when her brother, Alex, agrees to rent the first floor of the house Jaime lives in to Quinn. Jaime is completely rattled by their interactions the moment Quinn moves in. Little does she know Quinn harbored similar feelings but couldn’t act on them at the time. That’s not the case anymore and he is determined make Jaime his. Quinn goes all in but Jaime refuses to give him her heart.
With the two of them stuck living a floor apart, the buildup of sexual tension is fantastic. When the two finally give in, the sexy time is hot and frequent. Fighting her feelings yet loving what they have, Jaime needs to decide whether or not love is a risk she is willing to take. Will Quinn and Jaime find their HEA? Or is Jaime destined to lose the one man she may actually love?
From the very first chapter I was sucked into Man Candy and could not put it down. I absolutely loved Jaime and Quinn together. The were likable, relatable characters and together they were realistic. I loved that this story was written a bit differently and it was the man who believed in love and the woman who was afraid of it. The banter between them is epic and the way Quinn can rile Jaime up is hilarious.
“I’m supposed to meet my friends for dinner. It’s Claire’s birthday.”
“What do you know, I happen to be free for dinner tonight,” he said delightedly.
“Really. How fortuitous.”
“I agree, and I will gladly accept your invitation to join you.”
I cocked my head. “I’m not sure I offered one.”
“Well, it’s fucking ten below out here, Jaime. I can’t stand around waiting for you to be polite. I’ll die of hypothermia.”
I enjoyed watching them get to know each other again and sharing their dreams. Quinn and Jaime understand each other and I loved how Quinn didn’t push her. He was so patient with her and knows what she needs. Jaime and Quinn challenged each other and I loved that they played games and sometimes took things a little too far.
The door opened wide and Quinn appeared, holding his hands over his crotch like a fucking fig leaf.
I gasped.
“So,” he said, those blue eyes dancing. “Now what?”
Oh my fucking god.
The game of chicken…suddenly involved a cock.
Quinn is a fantastic hero, totally swoon-worthy, charming, gorgeous, funny, and kind, and I loved him from the minute I met him. He believed in love and was willing to fight for Jaime. I loved his determination to be with her and thought his patience was honorable. I loved that he was totally committed to her and was willing to give her time to figure out if she could believe in love. He was honest with her and knew what he wanted.
“You’re right about serious relationships not being all hearts and flowers and orgasms, Jaime. That’s falling in love. Over time, it’s not that anymore. It takes work. It takes trust and sacrifice and faith in something you can’t see…It’s understanding that you’re part of something bigger than yourself, and fighting for it. I know it’s rare…But that’s what I’m looking for. And life is short.”
Jaime is hilarious and I loved every amusing thing that flew through her mind.
“I was dying to play with it. Lick it like a Popsicle. Suck it like a peppermint. Ride it like a pony.”
The awkward situations had me laughing-out-loud and I loved that she didn’t really realize she was falling in love. Making excuses and believing her own lies made her actions comical. I do think she pushed Quinn away too many times but for some reason it didn’t bother me as much as it usually does. I understood where Jaime was coming from and her reluctance to fall in love. I loved that she finally accepted love even if it took her a little longer to come to terms with what she truly wanted.
“Quinn, don’t.”
I froze. “Don’t?”
Her arms tightened around my waist. “Don’t let me go.”
Man Candy is a must read for anyone looking for a sweet, sexy, funny friends-to-lover’s story.
4.5 stars – I loved it!
Excerpt
“It’s so good to see you, Jaime,” he said. “You look great.”
“You too,” I said before I could stop myself. I didn’t want him to think I still cared—in fact, I wanted him to know I wasn’t fooled by his charm. I wasn’t that silly little girl anymore, the one who’d doodled his name in her notebooks and blushed when he said hi at school and cried herself to sleep when he asked another girl to his prom. That silly little girl was gone, and in her place was a confident, smart, professional woman who knew her worth and, even better, the truth about love. No more stars in her eyes.
But why did he have to be so hot?
OK, pull yourself together. No drooling.
“I’m so glad this worked out.” Quinn let me go but stood too close, his feet planted wide and his arms crossed over his chest. He wore jeans, a gray knit pullover that hugged his muscular chest and arms, and his feet were bare. His hair was damp and messy on top, just like it had been the last time I’d seen him in person. His full lower lip made me want to bite it. Maybe even draw blood.
“Sorry, I just got out of the shower,” he said sheepishly, ruffling his hair. “Want to come in and catch up? Or maybe go out for a drink? I just need to throw some shoes on.”
“No.” Trying desperately to shove the image of him in the shower from my mind, I elbowed past him and trudged up the stairs. My cheeks were hot, which meant they were probably turning scarlet. They ruined my poker face every time.
“Come on, it’s Friday!”
“I have work to do.” He was naked a few minutes ago. And wet.
“Did you have a bad day?”
“No.” Rivulets of water streaming over those muscles.
“You already have plans tonight?”
“No.” Steam rising as he stroked himself beneath the spray.
“You don’t love me anymore?”
I froze as the shower fantasy exploded into bits, replaced by a humiliation that paralyzed me, one foot on the top step, one hand on the banister. Slowly, I turned my head and glared at him over one shoulder.
Now the grin cocked up on one side. “Because you used to, you know. You told me.”
“You need to forget about that.”
“Have you?”
“Yes,” I snapped. “That was a long time ago. Back when I was young and impressionable and believed in love.”
His brows went up. “You don’t believe in love anymore?”
“Not the romantic kind. That’s a fantasy used to sell things like lipstick and roses and diamonds.”
“Pretty jaded for twenty-seven, aren’t you?”
I resumed heading up the stairs. “I’m not jaded, Quinn. I’m just a realist.” And I’ve been burned before, trusting guys way less attractive than you.
He said nothing more, and I let myself into my flat. As soon as the door was shut behind me, I leaned back against it, exhaling and fanning my face.
He still got to me. That was so aggravating.
I mean, how was I supposed to sleep at night? Quinn Rusek was one fine piece of man candy, and I had a sweet tooth for him that wouldn’t quit.
But he’d made fun of me! Again! A nice guy would have at least pretended not to remember what I’d said. Or maybe apologized for humiliating me. Or not have brought it up at all!
What an asshole.
A hot asshole—the worst kind.
Curse you, Alex, and your generous heart.
And curse you, Quinn, for getting under my skin again. You stay away from me.
But a traitorous little part of me hoped he wouldn’t.
(Bet you can guess which part.)
Giveaway
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About the Author
Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like VEEP, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, and Homeland. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.
Melanie is the author of the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
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