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Book Review
The Meatball Mistress by Tiffany N. York
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Publication Date: March 24, 2014
Format: eBook - 228 pages
Kindle - 706 KB
Nook - 625 KB
ISBN: 1440580898
ASIN: B00IV4HBPO
Genre: Contemporary Romance
BUY THE BOOK: The Meatball Mistress
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions.
Book Description:
Ryan Garridy is a diehard commitment-phobe, struggling to keep his Italian restaurant afloat. The last thing he wants is a high-maintenance woman in his life. So when Cara runs out on her check and then faints at his feet the next day, he knows she’s trouble with a capital T. It still doesn’t stop him from offering her a job and a place to stay. There’s something feisty and compelling about this woman, and no matter how hard he tries, he just can’t seem to say no to her. Or her Sicilian meatballs.
Since Cara has sworn off men, it’s no big deal that Ryan is sexy and charming—until she decides the only way to stop obsessing over her ex is to obsess over someone new. Ryan makes her forget about her ex a little too well, but falling for him could set her up for a whole new world of hurt.
One man, one woman, both wounded by love. Will they be able to overcome their demons and learn to trust again? If the undeniable passion between these two doesn’t keep them together, the mouth-watering food will.
Book Excerpt:
“Did you just call me … ” Her eyes became dark angry slits as her pulse raced. “A hooker?”
“Aren’t you?”
She had to bite her fist to keep from clocking him one. Jesus, her car was called the Pimpmobile for a reason, but not for that one.
“First of all, I am not a hooker, despite my appearance. And this happens to be my dead grandfather’s car. Second, I have never done any drugs in my life, so I am not a drug addict.
“Okay,” Ryan said warily.
Cara went to her trunk and unlocked it. “I happened to have run into some bad luck, is all.”
Ryan glanced inside her trunk. “This is not the trunk of a woman on vacation.”
She grabbed what few clothes and toiletries she had and shoved them inside her purse. “I’m not on vacation,” she said, slamming down the trunk.
They headed back to the restaurant. “Are you on the run?”
Cara stopped in her tracks. “Let’s see, you think I am a hooker, a drug addict, and now, a fugitive,” she said, ticking them off her fingers. “What about puppy torturer and child-slave broker?”
Ryan cracked a smile. “I was getting to those.” He placed his hand on her back, urging her to start walking again.
“If you think I’m such a horrible person, why didn’t you turn me in when you had the chance?”
“I still might, unless you have a really good story for why you stiffed me.”
“Aren’t you?”
She had to bite her fist to keep from clocking him one. Jesus, her car was called the Pimpmobile for a reason, but not for that one.
“First of all, I am not a hooker, despite my appearance. And this happens to be my dead grandfather’s car. Second, I have never done any drugs in my life, so I am not a drug addict.
“Okay,” Ryan said warily.
Cara went to her trunk and unlocked it. “I happened to have run into some bad luck, is all.”
Ryan glanced inside her trunk. “This is not the trunk of a woman on vacation.”
She grabbed what few clothes and toiletries she had and shoved them inside her purse. “I’m not on vacation,” she said, slamming down the trunk.
They headed back to the restaurant. “Are you on the run?”
Cara stopped in her tracks. “Let’s see, you think I am a hooker, a drug addict, and now, a fugitive,” she said, ticking them off her fingers. “What about puppy torturer and child-slave broker?”
Ryan cracked a smile. “I was getting to those.” He placed his hand on her back, urging her to start walking again.
“If you think I’m such a horrible person, why didn’t you turn me in when you had the chance?”
“I still might, unless you have a really good story for why you stiffed me.”
My Book Review:
With a title like The Meatball Mistress, the reader can't help but enjoy this entertaining contemporary romance about two people wounded by past love gone wrong, who meet at the Jersey shore and find unexpected romance.
Author Tiffany N. York weaves a fun romantic tale that follows Cara Manzoni and Ryan Garridy's unexpected journey towards love.
Cara is a thirty year old cocktail waitress from the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. Cara is two months away from her wedding to live-in fiance Robbie, but her world is turned upside down when she comes home to find Robbie cheating with her hairdresser of twelve years, Annemarie. Upset and brokenhearted, Cara leaves the apartment and drives to Crabclaw Island on the Jersey shore, where she recalls fond memories of past family summer vacations. With only the clothes on her back, no place to stay, and eighty-seven dollars to her name, Cara isn't about to turn tail and head back to Robbie. Hungry and with no money, Cara is drawn to Bella Vita Italian restaurant, where she meets owner Ryan Garridy. After enjoying each other's company, Cara skips out on paying for the meal, leaving Ryan upset ... but he later meets up with her on the street and she looks sick ... being the nice guy that he is (ahem .... a ladies man who loves em and leaves em ... oh did I mention he's a commitment phobe), Ryan lets Cara stay at his condo and gives her a job at his restaurant. Sparks fly and attraction grows with sassy barbs traded back and forth mixed in with a comforting dose of mouthwatering aroma of good old Italian cooking. Can two wounded people put their past hurt behind them, learn to trust, and open themselves to a second chance at love?
The Meatball Mistress is a fast-paced and entertaining tale that has a great mixture of romance, and humor, seasoned with a sprinkling of to-die-for intoxicating Italian food. The reader is easily drawn into Cara and Ryan's story, you can't help but embrace these two wounded souls, from their unexpected meeting to the development of their relationship, they will keep in you in stitches with their sassy barbs and kitchen drama, while their undeniable passion will have you cheering them on and hoping that they will find each other. Add in a beach setting that is near and dear to my heart, being a born and bred Jersey girl, and a quirky cast of supporting characters who are just as entertaining with their own humorous dilemmas, and you have one heck of a fun summer read!
RATING: 4 STARS
About The Author
AUTHOR WEBSITE
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Contest Giveaway
Win A $25 Starbucks Gift Card
Author Tiffany N. York will be awarding a $25 Starbucks GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.
The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/02/virtual-nbtm-review-tour-meatball.html
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the opportunity to host the virtual book tour event.
DeleteOmg loved excerpt!
ReplyDeleteIf you liked the excerpt, you'll love this fun romantic story! :)
DeleteThanks so much for taking the time to read and review The Meatball Mistress! Love that you're a Jersey girl. I'm a Brooklyn girl.
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffany! I really enjoyed reading The Meatball Mistress, it was such a fun read. Thank you for the opportunity to host your virtual book tour event. :)
DeleteThanks for the spotlight on this book and for the review - it does sound like a fun, light hearted book to read.
ReplyDeletejunegirl63 at gmail dot com
Hi Maria! Thank you for stopping by! This is an entertaining book full of romance and humor. :)
ReplyDelete