ARC Review: Falling For Mr. Wright by Robyn Neeley

Title: Falling For Mr. Wright

Author: Robyn Neeley

Release Date: December 4, 2017 (ARC)

Publisher: Entangled ~ LoveStruck

Category: Contemporary Romance

Type: Digital/Paperback

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Robyn Neeley Website

Blurb:

After being dumped two weeks before his wedding, civil engineer Ryan Wright’s not interested in love. Been there, done that, had the wedding deposits to prove it. Still, he can’t help lusting after the fiery redheaded executive assistant who’s stirring up feelings that aren’t exactly appropriate for the office.

Sarah Leonard is determined to make the CEO fall in love with her. To execute her plan, she’s going to need a little help in the form of her lunch buddy, the 6’2” office hottie who just so happens to be their boss’s best friend. Who better to tell Sarah everything she needs to know to win the other man’s heart?

Ryan agrees to help Sarah put her plan in motion, but he has no intention of helping her win anything. In fact, it’s time to show his office crush that he’s the guy she should be falling for...

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Excerpt:

“She has no idea that you like her, does she?”

Ryan focused on the carton of rice. He’d kept whatever he was feeling for Sarah to himself, but what would be the harm in confirming what Bridget already suspected? It wasn’t like anything was going to happen between him and Sarah—not now. “She has no clue.”

“So, obviously you said you’d help her, right?”

Did his sister not hear what he’d just admitted? “Why would I do that?”

“Because if you don’t, she’s going to try anyway, and what if she succeeds? Then you really won’t have any chance of getting her. This way…”She slapped his knee when he rolled his eyes. “…this way, you control the message.”

He chuckled. “Spoken like a communications pro.”

“Think about it,” she pressed. “Maybe you’re not out of the race. Tell her about Logan, sure, but take this opportunity to let her really get to know you. Let her discover the things you both have in common. Then she’ll have more than enough information to make an informed choice.” She popped one of the crab puffs into her mouth and winked. “My money’s still on Logan.”

“Thanks,” he said sarcastically, knowing she was only teasing him. “I don’t know if I want to be in the race. I’m more of a lone wolf kind of guy.”

“It’s because you’re comfortable. And maybe a little afraid of giving your heart away and getting it broken again.”

Not going there. “Maybe I just like being single.” He picked up one of Bridget’s socks that she’d left on the floor and flung it at her. “Besides, where would your sorry butt go if I got into a relationship?”

“I’m a big girl. I’d figure something out.” She threw her arms around him and gave him a big squeeze. “Promise you’ll put your horse in the ring.”

“Hat in the ring,” he corrected.

“Horse, wolf, hat…whatever. Just do it.” Her phone buzzed, and she snatched it up off the coffee table. “Speaking of hot men, that’s my teacher,” she said, grinning a little too big for Ryan’s liking.

“Tell him that for your next assignment I suggest you dress in a nun habit carrying a Bible.”

She spun around in her high boots. “I’ll be sure to do that. Don’t forget to take Sarah the cupcakes. She’ll be moaning your name in no time.”

Ryan rolled his eyes. “I will kick that man’s ass if he hurts you.”

“And that’s why I love you,” she called, dashing off to her bedroom.

He settled into the sofa, his gaze coming to rest on the red envelope he’d left on the coffee table since he’d received it last month—the one bearing his ex’s return address.

Inside it was the winter gala invitation.

He picked up the envelope and stared at Melanie’s married name on the card. She’d always said he was the right man for her, even lobbied senior year for him to be voted Mr. Right. He’d been completely blindsided when two weeks before the wedding she’d called at two a.m., saying that she’d done a lot of thinking and she wasn’t ready to get married.

Ryan grabbed his drink and downed it. A lot of thinking, my ass.

That night, he’d hopped into his Nissan and driven straight to Westbrook because, as far as he was concerned, their conversation was not over. When he’d turned for Melanie’s parents’ place, he’d passed by Jeff’s one-story ranch house and immediately hit the brakes.

He must have stared out his windshield at Melanie’s white convertible parked in Jeff’s driveway until the sun came up. Having the real answer to why she’d called off the wedding, he’d turned his car around and driven his broken heart back to New York City.

It took some time, but the pain had eventually subsided. He’d made no effort to contact Melanie. He’d simply moved on.

He set the card down on the coffee table. Ten years ago, he’d thought he’d be well into their marriage with kids and a dog. Now, she was just a stranger.

Seeing Melanie and Jeff together wouldn’t be a big deal. He’d say a few polite words to Melanie and Jeff, then move on. His former classmates were another matter. Growing up the way he did, he’d had to work harder than anyone to earn their respect. And then Melanie had dumped him. The Westbrook gossip mill was probably still on fire.

He grabbed a crab rangoon and pulled it apart. His life had turned out pretty fucking fantastic, despite all of that. He should throw on one of his Armani suits, drive up to Westbrook in his BMW, and prove it.

Except, he wasn’t sure his life was fantastic. Sure, he had a great job and a successful career, but at thirty-two, he was living in a cramped, high-priced apartment with his sister, and his BMW had been bought used with high mileage. He wasn’t even dating anyone.

Sarah immediately popped into his head. What he wouldn’t give to take her. Someone he could honestly introduce as his friend, and let the small town gossip ignite.

She did say she’d be willing to do anything he asked…

A humorless laugh left his lips. Sarah would probably agree to it knowing Logan would be at the gala, which would ultimately defeat the purpose of her getting to know Ryan better. Or would it? Driving two hours each way together might be enough time to prove they had more in common than she did with Logan.

He tossed the invitation on the table and watched it slide across the dark wood. This was quite possibly the worst plan in the history of plans. There was almost zero chance of success.

But when had he let a little adversity get in his way? He grabbed a notepad and pen out of his briefcase. Thinking back to their conversation in his office, he jotted down all the answers he could think of, chuckling at his responses to the final two. When he was satisfied, he set the notepad on his lap.

Tomorrow, Ryan would convince Sarah to go along with the unconventional game plan to win over Logan, and just maybe, show her that it wasn’t the CEO she wanted, but him.

Dialogue Highlight:

“Mornin.’” Ryan met Sarah behind his car and popped the trunk, taking her suitcase. The damn thing weighed a ton. “Did you pack your entire closet?”

She laughed. “Mainly heels and, okay, maybe half of my closet. I couldn’t decide what to wear tonight, so I packed a few options. I’ve never been to a gala.”

He set the suitcase next to his, pausing long enough to enjoy the sight of their things side by side, then gave himself a mental swat. The only reason Sarah had agreed to the trip was to learn more about Logan—information she planned to use to her advantage. Not only was she eager to learn more about their boss, she was probably doing cartwheels inside at the thought of going to Logan’s hometown.

Did she realize it was Ryan’s, too?

He took a deep breath before sliding back into the car.

Maybe inviting her to the gala hadn’t been a good idea. What if Logan showed interest in her? His boss was just as much a red-blooded American male as the next guy. Logan could potentially see his assistant in a totally different light outside the office wearing a hot dress and laughing at all his corny jokes.

“Is that for me?” Sarah pointed to the iced mocha in the console next to the black coffee he’d gotten for himself.

“Yep. I picked up your usual.”

She picked up the coffee and took a sip. “Delicious. Thanks.”

He reached behind his seat, grabbing the plastic grocery bag he’d set on the floor. “And these are for you, too.” His sister had made some cinnamon rolls for the trip, serving him up a wicked smirk this morning when she’d handed him the container. “Bridget made them just for you,” he said, leaving out the part where his sister had all but guaranteed Sarah would want to jump him after one bite. She’d been wrong every other time, so he hadn’t gotten his hopes up.

Ryan pulled out onto the street, but Sarah seemed oblivious to anything but the cinnamon roll in her hands. Her first bite was accompanied by a moan that nearly had him driving off the road. “Oh my God, these are amazing. If your sister was a six-foot-one man, I’d marry her.”

One point to the Wright family. Too bad it went to the wrong sibling.

“Here, have one.” She grabbed another roll, placed it on a napkin, and handed it to him.

“Thank you.” He could easily imagine them spending their weekends like this, maybe taking off on a getaway up the coast, enjoying coffee and whatever pastries he could con Bridget into baking. The idea felt a little too close to a relationship, though, so he shook off the thought. “Thanks again for coming with me.”

“My pleasure. Thank you for giving me something to do this weekend. You’ve rescued me from another Saturday night of organizing all of my heels by color and then height.” She laughed. “Although, I did enjoy doing it last weekend. It saves me time when I’m getting ready in the morning if I don’t have to search for the shoes I want to wear.”

“Efficient. I like it.” He’d also like to witness her slipping into a skirt and sliding on her black stilettos as she dressed for work, but he’d keep that fantasy to himself. “Can I hire you to organize my closet?”

She clapped her hands. “Oh, please, let me. I would have so much fun organizing all your bright polos.”

“Hey,” he laughed. “I don’t have that many.”

“You have one in every color imaginable. The bright turquoise polo you sported at last summer’s company picnic was a stunner.”

“My sister bought it for me,” he protested. “I love that shirt.”

“I’m not saying it doesn’t look good. It shows off your blue eyes.” She grinned. “All the girls in the office commented when I brought it up.”

He liked the thought of her talking about him. “Who did you talk about me to?”

“Oh, you know…Nancy and Hillary.”

“Did anyone under fifty notice?”

She laughed. “I did.”

“Mmm. I’ll be sure to keep that shirt then.”

Her cheeks went pink and she looked away. Interesting…

She finished her cinnamon roll and reached for her coffee. “Anyway, are you ready to see your ex?”

Way to redirect the conversation. He shrugged. “Does anyone ever want to see an ex?”

“Probably not. How long has it been?”

“I haven’t seen or spoken to her since we broke up.”

“You never tried once to get in touch?”

“Nope.”

She gave him a dubious look.

“No. Seriously. That ship sailed a long time ago. Although, I admit it—it’ll be fun to have you on my arm and let the gossip spin. The people in Westbrook love to talk.”

“Oh, right. The mysterious redhead.” She pursed her lips and tossed her long hair. “I promise to be the perfect ‘are they or aren’t they’ foil.”

He laughed. “You packed a slinky black dress along with those heels, right?”

She nodded. “Yes. In fact, I’ve got two. Maybe you should choose which one I wear to be your hot friend from the office?”

The thought of her spinning around in front of him in a sexy black dress sent a signal to his lower region. That, and the image of peeling said dress off of her while running his mouth down neck. What he wouldn't give to get that chance.

Review:

Ryan Wright isn’t relationship kind of guy, but he can be a supportive best friend. That’s the role he stuck himself in and he’s going to stay I with Sarah despite his raging attraction. Relationships were messy anyway and he had no wish to relive the hell he had already gone through in the last one. But the more time he spends with Sarah, the more he fantasizes and the more he starts to think about “what if”. Now she wants to enlist him to help her win the company CEO, and his other best friend. He wants no part of it, but his sister talks him into it and before too long he hatches a plan to make Sarah see him as the right guy instead of Logan.

Sarah Leonard already does see Ryan in the way he wants, but she’s carefully filed those troublesome feelings into the back of her mind because she knows Ryan is in no way wanting a relationship. She’s made herself content with being friends, but she doesn’t want to be alone forever and it’s time to find someone, so Logan it is. Oddly though, her quest to snare Logan brings her even closer to Ryan and before too long the two are crossing lines they never dared approach before. Ironically Ryan Wright just might be Mr. Right … if they can both get beyond their own relationship insecurities before they lose out on the possibility of love together … because Logan is slowly moving in.

This book was a pretty cute read. I wasn’t completely enthralled, but the story had a bit of charm to it, with some super steamy scenes added. For a while I thought Ryan would remain trapped within his own fears, but he gets a bit of a nudge and has to decide what it is he actually wants and who that will be with. Ryan was a little slow to make a move, so that was frustrating, but Sarah was similar. She was so focused on the fact that Ryan didn’t want a relationship that she made assumptions, and neither would confront their true feelings. I guess the fear of damaging their friendship was greater than the chance at a relationship. Had they quit the “let’s keep it casual no strings”, they could have cut the crap and found happiness much sooner. But you need an epiphany so that is what we had to wait for. If not for the hemming and hawing, I would have rated it 4 wings.

That said, I still found the book enjoyable and liked Sarah and Ryan well enough. I am not sure if this is part of, or will be part of, a series. However, Logan could easily have his own story. But the story I’d really like to sink my teeth in to is Ryan’s sister, Bridget. She’s saucy, perfectly honest, and a brilliant baker with a rather colorful back story. I’m hoping at the very least, she gets her own book. At the final portion of the book, it didn’t play out exactly as I had envisioned, but was still a cute gesture in the theme of the holiday season. While I’m not sure it was as grand as it was set up to be, it was sweet. I don’t think it necessarily has to be read around the holidays, but that is a portion of the plot-theme, so if that bugs you, then add this to your “holiday read” pile. As a first read with Ms. Neeley, the story was satisfying, so I would likely read her books again. I just wish I had connected with the characters a bit more than I was able to. For those who enjoy a decent HEA, you will be pleased with this book.

Kindle version provided by Entangled/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.