Even The Score
4.5
27
5
1
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781943336791 |
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| Publisher: | Entangled Publishing, LLC |
| Publication date: | 07/20/2015 |
| Pages: | 248 |
| Sales rank: | 1,182,341 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.56(d) |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Even The Score (Entangled Brazen)
4.5 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
27 reviews.
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Upon finishing, my initial reaction:
I think I could spend the rest of my days reading fake engagement/fake relationship stories and never get sick of it. Ever. And that includes this adorably sexy read.
My Thoughts (full review):
This book features two tropes I adore: the fake relationship/engagement AND enemies to lovers. Since I hadn't read the synopsis until right before I started, I was pleasantly surprised and excited times infinity to get started. The book drew me in immediately and I was consumed by Tess and Hunter's story.
Tess and Hunter have a past--one that involves Tess convincing his fiancee and her best friend to not marry him. When they run into each other again for the first time since that unfortunate wedding day that didn't happen, the tension is still there. But a new tension develops that neither expect that includes an unexpected desire between them. Hunter proposes the idea of her pretending to be engaged to him so he can gain a property he really wants and she accepts. They try their best to only "act" like they're involved around the people they need to, but it becomes impossible to resist when they're alone. But is it all an act, or is it for real?
Even the Score was romance perfection in a book. I loved the sexual tension, the desire, the lust, the romance, everything. It had the right blend of banter and sexy. I couldn't get enough of Hunter and Tess. I thoroughly enjoyed how the story progressed and how the truth behind Tess ruining his wedding day came to light. I cannot wait to read more by Kate Meader!
My Rating: Exceptional
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Even the Score is a book about a strong opinionated woman who is a bit down on her luck and an alpha male business man looking to exact some revenge. Tess is a struggling stage actress looking to start her own theatre company. Hunter is a big business man who needs a woman to pose as his fake fiancée to seal a big business deal. When Hunter unexpectedly crosses paths with Tess at a dinner theater he decides that fate is working in his favor and decides to hire Tess to play his fake fiancée and exact a little revenge on Tess for ruining his wedding. Two birds with one stone, or at least that is the plan. What neither Tess or Hunter count on is that for all their arguing they actually have a lot in common and even more surprising they have a sexual chemistry that is of the charts.
This was a great book to read; fun, funny, real and sexy. I think this is the perfect summer read. It will hook you from the first page and will keep you hooked through the last. The bonus of this book for me was the supporting characters who will make you laugh out loud. I cannot wait to see what Ms. Meader does with the rest of the books in this series but I know one thing for sure they will all be fantastic.
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Tess and Hunter first met when he was about to marry her best friend. Calling off the wedding, Tess was blamed since someone had to tell Hunter the bride left. Now, when they see one another again there is more than surprise in store.
Hunter had no idea the woman he grabbed before she could fall was responsible for his years of misery. He only knew she felt like she belonged there in his arms. Since she is an actress, she is the perfect one to ask to be his fake fiance.
This is a great start to a very sexy series. The banter is really good. The pace of the story moves along nice and steady. The sexy times are just burning the sheets hot. This is a great read.
***This copy was given by Netgalley and its publishers, for an honest review only.
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ARC kindly provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Review
'Even the Score' was just fantastic! I am completely and absolutely in love with this short read! It's not a full length novel (more of a novella, really, at 200 pages) but sure gets your blood rushing, heart pumping and emotions spiriting out of control! For those in search of a short, emotion-filled, sexy read, I couldn't recommend this any higher!
I am seriously, down-to-earth and on-cloud-nine in love with the romance reads published by Entangled Publishing! They publish such sweet and romantic or hot and sexy reads that I could abso-FREAKING-loutely NOT give each novel I've read so far a FIVE star! There is something wonderfully enchanting about their publications that I cannot resist!
This novel was spectacularly written! Such great story-telling and elegantly simple language that I cannot describe how much I loved this read! The Kate Meader has captured my heart, soul and mind with her touching and heartfelt first novella in the 'Tall, Dark and Texan' series! Each word was full of emotion and meaning. Reading this novella was like diving head first into the sizzling romance between Hunter and Tess!
And BOY was there romance passionate and intense! Whew! I loved, loved, loved their chemistry together! It was beyond explosive as made for quite the steamy read!
But what made it best was the authentic problems that the characters had to encounter and prove victorious over. Their romance was unbelievably challenging but made the whole reading experience so much the better because it brought around this whole BUCKETLOAD of deep emotions that basically permeated the entire novella.
I cannot recommend this novella enough and must commend the author on her spectacular first volume in the new series!
Congratulations to Kate Meader on publishing a sexy, romantic and completely authentic read! I can't wait for book two!
Rating Plan
1 star : Strongly did not like the book, writing and plot was bad. Idea of the book was against my liking.
2 star : Didn't like it, didn't find it interesting or gripping. Seemed to drag on to me.
3 star : An average book. Wasn't bad or good. Everything else was well done. Original idea.
4 star : Like a 3 star but has potential to it as a series or the book grew on me as it progressed and certain scenes captured me. I Enjoyed it and read it in one sitting.
5 star : I LOVED IT! I stayed up late until 3 am. Author is a genius, characters, plot, idea, development, EVERYTHING was EXCELLENT. Nothing else can possibly be said except that its 5 STAR!
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Cute, fun, outragiously steamy, enemies to lovers trope.
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I loved Kate Meader's Hot and Bother series. Could not get enough, but with Even the Score, she had me hot, bothered and begging for more.
Tess McKenzie is an actress, the daughter of a famous actress mother who she has had very little to do with because of the way that her mother treated her after her step father made a pass for her. On her own, refusing to take her mothers money, Tess works in a small dinner theater until she can scrap up enough money to open her own theater with her friends and work on the project that they love. What she never counted on was walking into the man whos wedding she ruined 5 years ago, Hunter Dade, or the burning desire that she still feels for him with just one look.
Hunter Dade never expected to see Tess McKenzie again. After convincing his bride to be to head for the hills, the last thing he wants is the reminder that the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, the boy that grew up in a trailer park with an alcoholic mother is not enough for someone like Tess. But he cannot deny the chemistry that burns for her even now after 5 years.
Needing a fake fiance for a weekend in order to close a big land deal, Hunter hires Tess for the job, but what starts out as pretend starts to feel oh so real before the weekend is over. Secrets about the past and misunderstandings could throw this couple off course before they reach their HEA.
What I loved about Tess and Hunter is that they both stand up for what they believe in. Hunter is very protective of Tess, even after he screws up, he cannot help by what to make sure that she is safe, taken care of, even if it is from a distance. Tess shows true love and protectiveness for Hunter. Even after learning about his past, about his mom and sister, she still stands by him, wanting to love, protect and share the burden if he will only let her.
I fell in love with these characters and look forward to more in this series. I give Even the Score 5 sexy stars.
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Pretending stories are one of my very favorite tropes, so when I saw this one I had to read it. It wasn't as good as I'd hoped.
For me, a pretending story is good when the couple are forced to act like they love each other and discover there's some serious heat when they tough. The trying to resist each other is part of the fun. This one didn't feel that way to me. They gave in early and then tried to back track. It just wasn't right to me.
I did love these characters. Hunter is a self-made man. Growing up in a trailer park with an alcoholic mother, no know father and a sister that...well you'll need to read it for that part. But he chose to work hard and get out of that life. And he has the protective streak as wide as Texas. He knows Tess as the best friend to his bride in the wedding that didn't happen. Yeah, Tess may have talked the bride out of marrying Hunter at the last minute. So no love lost here, right. Really, though, it was kinda a marriage of connivance and Hunter was more upset about the business deal that went wrong with it. I really couldn't reconcile him wanting to marry Jenna that way and who I learned him to be. But I did love him.
Tess doesn't really get her side of that wedding story out until the end. I kinda didn't like her until I knew the why of it. But she's a strong women who has this inner sexpot. She's down for this acting job playing Hunter fiance but she wants some action too. Once she quit hating on Hunter and started trying to protect him as much as he protected her, I finally liked her.
Here's my real issue with this book. There are all these pretty private conversations that happen in front of groups of people between Hunter and Tess. They're either talking in each others ear or whispering low. I just found it so odd. How many people have LONG whispered conversations about things they don't want others to hear IN FRONT of those people. It wasn't a phrase or a word, no it was a conversation. It just kept happening too. People. Go in another room or wait till later. You do not do this. AND it's more likely that someone will hear you but they didn't. Strange.
Anyway, if the pretending issue I had isn't a problem for you and you can set aside that little whisper conversation issue, then you probably like this one. It's sexy hot and has a lot of story. It just wasn't quite as good as I was thinking it would be.
- See more at: http://www.stuckinbooks.com/2015/07/even-score-by-kate-meader-review.html#sthash.HKgLmRXw.dpuf
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I quite like Kate Meader's books and her style of writing, especially when I am in the mood for a relaxing and romantic read with a pinch of humor, heartbreak and hotness. And this new story definitely didn't disappoint. The writing s very good and intriguing and the story and characters in themselves are quite entertaining :) Especially considering the tall, dark Texan and his smoldering looks :)
Hunter is definitely a hottie you have to meet :) He is pantie melting hot and with his southern looks, stubbornness and somewhat dirty mouth, this alpha is definitely smokin' :D. And somehow he fits perfectly with Tess. They are just like made for each other, even if their favorite past time is to fight with each other and test who is going to break first :D As a result you get some quite funny and other quite hot scenes :D
Even though the story line is one, I've encountered before, I still found the book quite entertaining and interesting. It was simply fun to read and sometimes we all know we need that in our lives ;) And let's be honest, the smoking HOT Texan is reason enough on his own ;)
So, in a few words, this is a great summer read. Perfect to relax with during your holiday or a hot summer night at home when you need to escape from your everyday life with an entertaining read :) So if you are looking for some humor and fun combined with a sweet romantic story, this is the perfect read for you :) You only have to #oneclick it :)
This review was originally posted at Living In Our Own Story Book Blog. I received an ARC of the book in exchange of an honest review.
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What would you do if you found yourself in a position of power and influence over someone who once ruined your life?
Probably exactly what Hunter Dade would do: take advantage of the situation and try to get some of his own back. The property tycoon from Texas wants to get his hands on a piece of land that has personal significance for him. Problem is, the man who owns it is traditional to the core and will expect Hunter to be in a committed relationship, which he isn't.
Yet.
Tess McKenzie is wasting her acting talents in a two-bit dinner theater, biding her time until she can open her own some day. When Hunter Dade reappears in her life a year after she broke up his wedding and encouraged his bride-to-be to ditch him at the altar, Tess wants nothing to do with him. Until she hears his offer: pretend to be his significant other for a long weekend, and in exchange, have the funding she'll need for her new theater.
One caveat: No sex. Hunter isn't the commitment type. Telling herself that's fine will only work for so long.
Entangled Publishing's Brazen imprint presents the sexy contemporary erotic romance novel EVEN THE SCORE by Kate Meader.
Readers will appreciate Tess as a representation of everyone who's ever had to fight his or her way to the top. Her fierce determination and independent streak juxtaposed against a mostly internal snarky attitude make her extremely likable, worth rooting for. It's always easiest to cheer for those who are sacrificing everything to pursue their dreams.
Hunter seems the more tortured of the two, but perhaps that has to do with the grudge he holds against Tess for destroying what would have been a socially advantageous marriage for him. His pride and ego, more than anything, were the victims of her interference, and he isn't going to be the one to let her live that down if he can help it.
And then the attraction between them, banked for a while, flares and sizzles back to life with their close proximity. And what is it, really, about setting "no touching" limits that makes staying out of bed absolutely impossible?
Scintillating, funny, poignant, this novel strikes all the right notes.
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Author: Kate Meader
Title: EVEN THE SCORE
Publisher: Entangled Publishing (Brazen)
ISBN: 978-1-63375-333-4
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this work from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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4.5 stars
Even The Score was such a good read!
This book ticked all the boxes for me, I couldn't put it down.
It was fast-paced, fun, sweet, romantic and sexy.
Loved both Tess and Hunter, they had amazing chemistry, great banter and some serious swoon worthy moments.
I highly recommend this book, can't wait for the next installment in the Tall, Dark, and Texan series by this very talented author Kate Meader.
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"Holy Channy Taytay...the man put the awe in awesome."
I was so excited to see that Kate Meader had a new series--Tall, Dark, and Texan--and even more excited to get a chance to read it :)
Ms. Meader starts this series off with a bang--Tess and Hunter's story has both a fake engagement and an enemies-to-lovers vibe...bonus! The two can't exactly claim a meet-cute (though they make a few fake ones up as part of their cover), since shortly after meeting him for the first time Tess plays an instrumental role in stopping Hunter's wedding to her best friend Jenna.
Understandably, Hunter was a bit miffed about it.
Jump into the future, and their paths cross again--this time Hunter gets the bright idea that he will Even the Score (see what we did there?) by hiring the "Hollywood Princess" to play his fiancee for a weekend to help him close an important business deal. Tess, feeling not a little guilty over her role in ending his marriage before it began and desperate for cash, agrees.
Aaaand...you know where this is going to go, right? ;)
Fortunately, the journey there is a whole lot of steamy, sexy fun. Hunter and Tess have undeniable chemistry, and Ms. Meader's trademark banter is here in spades. The sex scenes might make you feel the need to turn up the A/C, and the hero might have you contemplating a geographic move to see if you can find your own tall, dark Texan.
Overall, it's a great series start.
It does have a bit of an angstier feel than the other books I've read by Ms. Meader, since both Tess and Hunter are operating under some pretty heavy-duty sources of internal conflict. More than once I wished for the ability to sit down with one or both of them and explain just how wrong their perceptions of the situation were.
That, or smack them upside the head until they got those ridiculous notions out of their heads. One or the other.
After a heart-wrenching fake/real breakup, their reconciliation was pretty quick and mostly painless--but also adorable and heavy on the happy feels, leaving me more than content with how their story played out.
Not to mention anxious for more from this series! Hunter does have two hunky and single business partners, after all...
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
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This was a laugh out loud romcom. I love when the story not only has angst and love, but throw in a large dose of humor and you get amazing results. This was an amazing story and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
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Kate brings humor and HEAT to Even the Score.
Reviewed for Read Your Writes Book Reviews
by Kim
Confession time...I’ve known Even the Score was coming out for awhile now. Being a fan of Kate Meader, I couldn’t wait. I’ve heard bits and pieces about the story. From those bits and pieces, I was concerned I wasn’t going to like the heroine, Tess McKenzie. I mean come on, the woman convinced her friend to not marry the hero, Hunter Dade on their wedding day. The man was actually left at the altar in front of hundreds of people. That’s a little hard to get over.
Kate Meader brings her classic humor which I love her for to Even the Score. She also brings the heat which I think is more than she usually writes. I went into reading this story with a preconceived idea of what the characters were like. I was totally wrong and I’m so happy for that.
Tess McKenzie is an underpaid stage actress (read broke), chasing her dream of opening her own theater company. She refuses to take the easy way out and ask her mega-star mother to help her. She’s brass, sassy, and has her own dirty mouth. I totally love her! But for her, she’s been playing a part her whole life and she isn’t too sure who she really is.
Hunter Dade is an alpha through and through. He’s a sweet and dirty talker with a protective streak that’s a mile long. For all the good in him, Hunter is running from his past and has regret eating him up. I can't remember the last time a character had my heart breaking for them.
Hunter needs to purchase a piece of property in Texas, but in order to do so, he has to show he’s in a committed relationship. At the offhanded suggestion by one of his business partners, Hunter offers Tess the money she needs for her company if she plays the part of his fiancee for a weekend. With explosive tension and serious chemistry between them, these two are like longhorns circling each other and preparing for battle.
Hunter has a violent and tragic past which rules his life. Tess’ past isn’t all smiley faces and hearts like people think. Together they bring out the best in each other, resulting in fake feelings becoming a little too real. Tess and Hunter show that when you set out for payback and to even the score, you get more than you bargained for.
*The book contains violent flashbacks.*
**Received a copy from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest unbiased opinion. I also personally purchased the book.**
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4.5 Stars!
I absolutely adore Kate Meader's writing, so much that I have to read anything she writes! Sometimes snarky, always witty, always humorous and always sexy, she writes smart aleck-y and bold characters who hide their dreams, insecurities and fears under tons of attitude and EVEN THE SCORE is no different.
Actress Tess McKenzie comes from theater royalty, with an award-winning actress mother and she aspires to start her own theater. With no well-paying jobs on the horizon, Tess has taken to performing in dinner theater to save money towards her dream. Dinner theater is the lowest of low in the world of acting, but the pay is good and Tess is determined to hang in there rather than accept financial help from her mother, until she gets an irresistible offer from Hunter Dade.
Hunter is a successful property tycoon (why are rich Texans always called tycoons and all others moguls or millionaires? Random, I know) on the verge of clinching a big business deal and he needs a fiancee for the for the weekend. Tess fits the bill, so they strike up a bargain. For a hefty contribution to her dream fund, she gets to play fiancee and help him land the deal he's angling for. Contract terms include ice cream and foot rubs and no sex. Never mind that they can't get within a few feet of each other without steaming up the air between them. The success of the plan is doubtful because not too long ago Tess's best friend left Hunter standing the altar on his wedding day, a decision that Tess may have had a hand in and Hunter hasn't forgotten about her role in the drama.
Hunter and Tess have always been attracted to each other for a while and in such close quarters, they go from fighting hard to loving hard and there is nothing polite about it. But when they realize that the attraction between them is real, what happens?
EVEN THE SCORE is a lot more than a sexy and steamy romance. In spite of the combative nature of their relationship, Hunter and Tess are very alike and struggle with their feelings of inadequacy, a need for validation and overcoming the misconceptions they have of each other. With a past filled with poverty, abuse and loss, Hunter clawed his way up and into success, but on the inside he's still the boy from the wrong side of town, on a quest for acceptance. Like Hunter, Tess unsuccessfully sought her mother's approval and is her own person these days. And she's just the person to teach Hunter that he deserves happiness and that his mile-wide protective streak can be put to good use - giving her foot rubs.
This was so much fun to read and has me chuckling, gasping and fanning myself in turns and I definitely recommend it.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Talk about a fine line between love and hate! And a side dish of intense sexual foreplay! The chemistry between Tess and Tex, I mean Hunter, was combustible. Grab a fire extinguisher! I loved the nickname she gave him, very snarky but fierce. They both gave as good as they got. This was a great storyline that I enjoyed from the beginning to the end. There was never a dull moment. Hunter had such a way with words and Tess had a way with her actions. Their scenes were smoking hot and full of grit. The book was very fun to read and I looked forward to what they would do to each other next. It was great seeing them explore the bottom layers of each other and feel protective of one another. And I loved the healing power they provided together.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.
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EVEN THE SCORE is the first installment in Kate Meader’s contemporary, adult, Tall Dark and Texan erotic romance series. This is high powered, Texas businessman Hunter Dade, and stage actress Tess McKenzie’s storyline.
Told from dual third person perspectives EVEN THE SCORE is a fake fiancée storyline wherein Hunter needs a fiancé as he attempts to make a business deal with a man who is more concerned that his much younger trophy wife attracts too much male attention. When Hunter runs into Tess at a local dinner theatre presentation, Hunter sees more than red but an opportunity to ‘even the score’. One year earlier, Tess was the maid of honor at Hunter’s now infamous almost-wedding wherein Tess was the bearer of bad news telling Hunter that he was all wrong for the woman he was about to marry. Fast forward one year and Hunter makes Tess an offer she can’t refuse but in doing so sets up a game where Hunter hopes to destroy Tess in the end.
Both Tess and Hunter’s personal histories and backstories are filled will heartbreak, regret, abuse and neglect. For two people whose pasts are both damaged and dark, Tess and Hunter will find peace in one another’s arms, as long as the damage that was previously done doesn’t lead to open wounds or further scars. Alcohol and abuse play a major role in both of their earlier lives.
The relationship between Tess and Hunter is one of immediate attraction. There is no denying the sexual chemistry; the palpable energy between our leading couple but Hunter’s anger towards Tess adds fuel to an already raging fire. Hunter is a man determined to bring Tess to her knees for the betrayal he believes cost him his almost-wife, but in doing so, will lose his heart to a woman whose past is almost as destructive as the life from which he came. The $ex scenes are erotic, intimate and seductive; some of Hunter’s actions are fueled by anger and thoughts of betrayal and revenge.
The secondary and supporting characters include Tess’s fellow actors at the local dinner theatre company, as well as Tess’s mother who makes an appearance albeit one that is not necessarily on Tess’s top ten list of wants and needs. We are also introduced to a couple of Hunter’s business partners whose stories have yet to be told. Hunter’s mother and sister are motivating factors behind his latest business venture, and in this, the heartbreak will come full circle.
EVEN THE SCORE is a well written, engaging story about chances-so to speak- for Hunter and Tess. Hunter’s chance at happiness and self-forgiveness, and Tess’s chance to make amends to the man with whom she is falling in love. The premise is familiar; the characters animated and intense; the romance is a rocky road to love and a happily ever after. Kate Meader is a wonderful story teller.
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ARC requested through NetGalley and kindly provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for a honest review.
This was my first time experiencing the literary works of Ms. Meader, and I am totally kicking myself for not making time to read one of her books until now! The story line captivated my attention right from the start, and I was quite pleased with how easy it was for me to fall right into the story, for which, I attribute to her flawless writing style.. For me, the best written stories are the ones that tap into your emotions and truly make you feel the words on the pages, and this one DEFINITELY does that, and then some!
Tess McKenzie is a struggling actress who is down on her luck and waiting for her big break to come along, when her sexy sworn enemy, Hunter Dade waltzes into her life and offers her the acting gig of a lifetime. All she has to do is pretend to be his fiance for the weekend and in return he'll pay her for her time, along with some other added benefits. Thinking she can play the part without complications, she takes him up on his offer not realizing she is in for A LOT more than she bargained for ...
The chemistry between these two is undeniable from the start, and their feisty and playful banter helped initiate some very hot and spicy encounters that left me blushing quite a few times. They also unexpectedly connected on a emotional level, and discovered they had more in common than they originally thought, which formed an unwritten bond between them. Both characters were very well developed and the authors descriptions of each of them not only gave me a good mental picture of them, but also made them seem very realistic and relatable.
I always enjoy reading a good enemies to lovers story and this one DEFINITELY hit the mark! Highly recommend this book, it will satisfy all of your reading needs...and then some!
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Funny, sexy, and completely entertaining! Tess McKenzie and Hunter Dade know each other. At least they think they do. She did, after all, ruin his wedding! When they meet up a year later in a dinner theater of all places, Hunter can't believe his bad luck. Or maybe, if she agrees to his deal, his good luck! It seems they both need something. He needs a fake fiancee, and she needs money to get her own theater up and running. After spending a little time together, they are both coming to realize that maybe they don't know each other at all.
I thought this one was great! Loved the writing, story, and pace of the book. The chemistry between Tess and Hunter was off the charts and it came through the pages. This is one I definitely recommend.
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Even the Score by Kate Meader
Book One of the Tall, Dark, and Texan series
Publisher: Brazen
Publication Date: July 21, 2015
Rating: 5 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
He'll make her an offer she can't refuse...
Actress Tess McKenzie is performing in the Tenth Circle of Showbiz Hell-dinner theater. All she really wants is to start a theater of her own. Then Tess receives an offer she can't refuse. She'll get her funding...if she pretends to be the fiancée to her nemesis, Texan property tycoon Hunter Dade. If she's going to pull this off, she'll need all the luck she can get. Break a leg, indeed.
On the verge of a big business deal, Hunter needs to hire a fiancée. He hasn't quite forgiven Tess for ruining his wedding, but when their chemistry goes from combative to straight-up lust, the "no sex" clause in their mutually beneficial arrangement is tested. Which is a serious problem, because if Tess isn't careful, she'll go from breaking a leg to breaking her heart...
What I Liked:
This is definitely one of my favorite Brazen books ever! I don't think I've ever rated a Brazen with five stars, but this one deserves it. It isn't super long - under 300 pages - but it is magnificent. I loved it from start to finish. Certain aspects really jumped out at me, and I urge anyone who enjoys adult contemporary romance and/or Brazen's titles to read this one in two weeks!
Tess is a struggling actress that wants to start her ow theater, on her own terms. When Hunter Dade crashes back into her life with a huge offer, Tess finds it difficult to refuse. Play fiancee for a weekend, and get a one hundred thousand dollar check. But there is history between these two - Tess was Jenna's best friend, Jenna being Hunter's former fiancee and bride-to-be. On Hunter and Jenna's wedding day, Jenna left him at the altar, and Tess was the one that broke it to Hunter. Tess and Hunter don't like each other - but that changes very quickly as things between them unexpectedly heat up...
I had my doubts about this one, initially. The guy is going to fall for his former fiancee's best friend/roommate/maid of honor? That seems odd to me, even if it was a year ago (I think it was a year ago). BUT. Here's what I found out: Hunter is a Texan business, buying properties for a living, and his marriage to Jenna would have been a political-type one. A business arrangement, sort of. Which is why Jenna left him at the altar - she had been cheating on him for a long time. Neither of them loved each other, but Hunter really wanted the marriage, for the connections, as well as to have a socialite wife.
Hunter is a complex guy. He grew up in a trailer park and sometimes still considers himself Texan "white trash", which is why he wanted a socialite wife. But Hunter is know a very rich businessman who buys properties. He's trying to buy a specific property from a man he knows, but he will have to procure a fiancee to convince the man that he is living a stable life (and isn't after the man's wife - which Hunter isn't anyway). I like Hunter a lot - he has a good heart, and he is persistent. Also, he is one sexy guy. Dirty talking, smooth, and super hot. He knows how to turn about the heat! Tall, dark, and Texan, he sure is.
Read the rest of my review on my blog, The Eater of Books! - eaterofbooks DOT blogspot DOT com :)
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3.5 stars
If you are looking for a quick, fun read you need to check out Even the Score.
Tess and Hunter had a rough introduction, she was the maid of honor in a wedding that never was and she was the one to give him the bad news. A year later they cross paths again. She is a struggling actress looking to start a theater company and he is a wealthy land developer who needs someone to act like his fiancée to close a deal.
The instant connection between these two just about jumps off the page and the sexual chemistry sizzles. They also have an emotional connection that adds to the story. Meader does a great job of having both main characters grow emotionally as individuals so that their relationship can move forward.
My only complaint is that due to the length of the book, some of the plot points seem a little rushed and there were a couple of places where I wondered what happened. None of this was enough to detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. Tess and Hunter are definitely a hot couple, it would have been nice to have just a little bit more of them.
*Review Copy provided by Net Galley in exchange for review*
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This fun and sexy romance is the story of Tess and Hunter. When Hunter's wedding to his socialite fiancée ended in disaster, he blamed Tess the maid of honour for scaring off his bride to be. Encountering Tess months later in a dinner theater where she is the only bright light in an actor's hell he offers her something she can't refuse - a surefire way to earn some money she desperately needs by pretending to be his fiancée to secure a business deal, while at the same time atoning for what he sees as her grievous mistake in wrecking his wedding. But the animosity they had for each other back then was just a mask of their true desire for each other, and now that they've got to pretend to be intimate, it's not long before pretense becomes the real thing. When Hunter realizes that his assessment of Tess has been wrong from the start, will he be man enough to admit his mistakes and secure a real future with her?
I really enjoyed this story! Both of these characters were really likeable right from the start. Tess is a warm, friendly, spirited woman. She's not afraid to speak her mind and tell it like it is, though hurting Hunter had never been something she'd ever planned to do. She'd rather he never know the truth about the woman he planned to marry, even if it means he thinks the worst of her. She never thought she'd be in Hunter's vicinity again, but his deal is too good to pass up. Hunter is equally engaging as this strong, confidant, man's man. Their chemistry sparks from the get-go and before long they are giving in to temptation.
They share several steamy scenes together ( and whew, this author can write those well!) but at the same time, they start to open up with each other too, sharing deep intimate secrets that lead them both to realize that things between them won't be so easy to quit when their agreement is over.
Both of these characters have some serious baggage from their pasts to overcome if they want to be successful as a couple now. Hunter's relationship with his alcoholic mother shows a vulnerable and caring side of him that Tess finds very compelling. He's a protector through and through and when Hunter realizes that Tess's shows of bravado covers a more vulnerable façade, he is quick to take over this role for her too. I loved how the story played out, how sweet Hunter really is, and how when he realized he was in the wrong, he did what he needed to do to make things right again. It was a really lovely, funny and sexy story and a great introduction for this author into the Brazen world. 5 stars.
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This was so great! Everything I love in a story was in this plus the edition of a super sexy cowboy. Awesome read!
I loved both Tess and Hunter and the friction between the two. Characters that bicker and have great animosity are a personal favorite of mine. It created amazing chemistry between them and a lot of heat. I loved their growing connection and the development of them coming together.
I thought there was an excellent pace and it was well developed. It was entertaining with funny parts and sweet, sexy parts plus a bit of drama and emotion. It was just a fantastic and fun read. Let's not forget it was super hot! It was sensual, passionate, and steamy! Sexy cowboy is an understatement and I loved his dirty talking mouth.
Even the Score is just one of those books that's totally enjoyable. The right blend of everything to keep you interested and on your toes. Solid read from start to finish with great characters. Light, sexy, fun, and hot! Loved it!
Complimentary copy received for honest review.
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Even the Score is a sexy read that is immensely entertaining. My favorite parts of the story are the tug of war between these two characters. Each has a strong personality and have to prove that they have the upper hand. Although they drive each other crazy, there is a strong pull of attraction. Will Hunter and Tess prove to be each other's saving grace or their own worst enemy? I received an ARC of Kate Meader's Even the Score in exchange for an honest review. Refreshing, funny and worthwhile.
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5 - Perfection times heaven. Stars!
Sometimes you pick up a book with no expectations and no real idea as to what you are going to get. I hadn’t read anything by Kate Meader prior to Even The Score, and to say it grabbed me from the first page would be an understatement. I am naturally quite a quick reader, but I found myself slowing down with this one, because the writing is just that good, I wanted to make sure that I hadn’t missed anything.
Kate has also managed to mix snark, sarcasm and wit perfectly between Hunter and Tess, that when the emotional aspect of their pasts and their developing relationship comes to the fore of the story it makes it all the more poignant.
He had a lifetime of darkness nipping his heels, and she was the first flush of dawn.
Hunter and Tess, were really, really likeable characters, both strong and pretty confident personalities, who are used to dealing with their own issues and getting on with things the best they can, but they also have massive pre-conceived notions about the other, that as their weekend together as fake lovers progresses, they both start to realize just how wrong about the other they were, and how right they might actually be together.
Being the first book in the Tall, Dark & Texan, Series, I have to say I am pretty effing excited right now, nothing gives me more of a rush than discovering an author that ticks every box I have in relation to my romantic reading requirements, and Kate Meader has certainly done that, and then some, with a little bit more on top for good measure!
”I love your dirty mouth, Hunter Dade, and you can use it on me anytime.”
ARC generously provided by Entangled Publishing, and it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.
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