Title: The Beauty of Us Author: Kristen Proby
Series: Fusion #4
Release date: August 22, 2017
(Sub)genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 307
Buy: Amazon US ~ Amazon UK
Rating:
I received this book from Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Riley Gibson is over the moon at the prospect of having her restaurant, Seduction, on the Best Bites TV network. This could be the big break she’s been waiting for. But the idea of having an in-house show on a regular basis is a whole other matter. Their lives would be turned upside down, and convincing Mia, her best friend and head chef of Seduction, that having cameras in her kitchen every day is a good idea is daunting. Still, Riley knows it’s an opportunity she can’t afford to pass on. And when she meets Trevor Cooper, the show’s executive producer, she’s stunned by their intense chemistry.
Trevor’s sole intention is to persuade Riley to allow Best Bites TV to do a show on her restaurant. But when he walks into Riley’s office, he stops dead in his tracks. The professional, aloof woman on the phone is incredibly beautiful and funny. But can he convince her that he’s interested in Riley for himself? Or is he using the undeniable pull between them to persuade her to agree to his offer?
The Beauty of Us is the fourth book in the ‘Fusion Series’ and takes the reader back to restaurant Seduction and it’s five co-owners. The Beauty of Us tells the story of Riley – the restaurant’s PR and marketing lady – and Trevor, a tv producer. Like other books by Kristen Proby, this is a sweet read, I’ve enjoyed it.
“I’ve never seen him in a suit before,” I mutter. “It’s hot, right?” “Hot,” Addie confirms. “And his glasses?” “Don’t get me started.”
Riley and Trevor are both passionate about their work – Seduction and producing tv shows – and don’t have much time for anything else. Both are burned by love in the past, but they still believe in The One. Meeting each other in Seduction, where Trevor will be working on a tv series about the restaurant, sets off an intense chemistry between the couple. They want to be together, but as grownups with full lives they can’t just act on their impulses, they must work for it.
“She makes me laugh. She’s dry and witty, and I never know what’s going to come out of her mouth. Spending time with her, away from work and on an actual date, is going to be fun.”
The Beauty of Us tells a typical Kristen Proby story, with a lovely heroine and a friendly hero. Written in a dual point of view it tells the story of two good people falling for each other. There are some bumps in their road to a happily ever after, but the end result is a given fact.
After reading very emotional or disturbing stories, I need some sweet to calm me down. And that’s what this book did to me. I love Riley, her thoughts and her interactions with her friends and co-owners. Trevor is a great guy who knows what he wants, he just needs to improve his communication skills… I love them as a couple. The ‘villain’ of the story wasn’t working for me, I expected much more from this person, sadly it was solved within a few lines. I’m still curious about Mia’s story, I hope we’ll get it soon.
“Love is a choice. Every day, even when you’re pissed at each other. It’s a decision, that even though I may be disappointed or frustrated, or you may be ready to smack me on the back of the head, we will continue to choose love.”
I’ve enjoyed reading The Beauty of Us, I give it 4 stars.
Excerpt
~Trevor~
“You don’t need me,” I reply, and smile. “But I’ll be around for a while, just in case.”
“Just in case I slip and fall back into the online dating?”
“That, or if you just want to have dinner, or chat. And I think we should watch a marathon of Star Wars. Your lack of knowledge is cause for concern.”
“It’s kind of a guy thing,” she says.
“I know many women who like Star Wars.”
“Well, I would watch one or two.”
“You need to see them all to understand what’s happening.”
“That’s a lot of hours of my life that I’ll never get back,” she says with a frown. “Aren’t there CliffsNotes somewhere? A speedy way to get caught up?”
“No,” I reply, and fist my hands in my lap so I don’t reach out and tuck her hair behind her ear.
Or yank her against me so I can kiss the fuck out of her.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
“Are you always this observant?”
“I’m an overthinker,” she says. “So yeah, I’m an observer.”
“I’ve been labeled an overthinker too,” I say with a grin.
“Would you say it’s an accurate assessment?”
“Oh yeah,” I say with a nod, and stand to clear our plates away. She stands to help. “I’ve got this.”
“No way, you cooked, so I’ll help clean.”
She walks ahead of me, her empty glass in one hand and her plate in the other. “Do you use the dishwasher, or do you wash by hand?”
“There are people who still wash by hand?”
“I’ve heard of them, but I’ve never seen them in the wild,” she says, and smiles up at me when I join her. “So I guess that means we use the dishwasher?”
“Yes.” She rinses and I load, and a few short minutes later, we’re done.
“Well, I suppose I should go,” she says, and checks the time on her phone. “Oh, Cami texted. I guess I should reply so she doesn’t think you killed me after the entrée.”
She smirks and types on her phone, then turns it off and looks up at me.
“Thanks for dinner.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
Unfortunately, it won’t be in my bed.
“You will.”
“Okay.” She gathers her back, notepad and pen, and walks to the door. “Sleep well tonight.”
I grin and congratulate myself for not dragging my fingertips down her cheek.
“You sleep well tonight, Riley.”
“Okay. Bye.”
She leaves and I close the door, letting out a slow breath. Jesus, she’s sexy and funny and smart as fuck.
And I’m not going to touch her while I’m here.
How the fuck am I going to do that?
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