{"id":7947,"date":"2016-06-27T08:05:36","date_gmt":"2016-06-27T12:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=7947"},"modified":"2016-06-26T22:10:39","modified_gmt":"2016-06-27T02:10:39","slug":"blog-tour-arc-review-giveaway-man-candy-by-melanie-harlow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=7947","title":{"rendered":"Blog Tour & ARC Review & Giveaway: Man Candy by Melanie Harlow"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MAN<\/h4>\n

Man Candy by Melanie Harlow
\nRelease Date: June 20, 2016
\nGenre: Contemporary Romance<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Amazon US<\/a>\u00a0| Amazon UK<\/a> |\u00a0Paperback<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0iBooks<\/a><\/h4>\n

Now FREE on Kindle Unlimited<\/span><\/h4>\n

Find\u00a0Man Candy\u00a0<\/em>on Goodreads<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\r\n <\/div><\/div>\n
\n

Blurb<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

He\u2019s back.<\/span><\/p>\n

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. <\/span><\/p>\n

But I can\u2019t resist.<\/span><\/p>\n

The sex is incredible (pretty sure we\u2019ve shaken the house right off its foundation), but he can\u2019t fool me\u2014not this time. A degree in marketing and five years in advertising have taught me that \u201ctrue love\u201d is a fairy tale used to sell lipstick, diamonds, and perfume. It doesn\u2019t exist.<\/span><\/p>\n

He thinks I\u2019m wrong, and he wants to prove it.<\/span><\/p>\n

I think he\u2019s crazy, so I dare him to try.<\/span><\/p>\n

It might be the biggest mistake of my life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Review<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

4.5 \u201cYou know I will\u201d stars!!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cQuinn Rusek was one fine piece of man candy, and I had a sweet tooth for him that wouldn\u2019t quit.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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!<\/p>\n

Meet Jaime. \u00a0She is stuck in her childhood crush\u2019s closet with\u00a0no\u00a0way out and he is about to get naked. Commence awkward, hilarious situation!<\/p>\n

Ten years earlier, Jaime threw herself at Quinn, her brother\u2019s best friend, and it did\u00a0not\u00a0turn 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\u2019t believe in true love. Happy with one-night stands or short-lived relationships, she is not looking for anything serious.<\/p>\n

Jaime doesn\u2019t 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\u00a0she know Quinn harbored similar feelings but couldn\u2019t act on them at the time. That\u2019s not the case anymore and he is determined make Jaime his. Quinn\u00a0goes all in but Jaime refuses to\u00a0give him her heart.<\/p>\n

\"Man-Candy-Fill\"<\/p>\n

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\u00a0take. Will Quinn and Jaime find their HEA? Or is Jaime destined to lose the one man she may actually love?<\/p>\n

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. \u00a0I loved that this story was written a bit differently and\u00a0it was the man who believed in love and the woman who was afraid of it. \u00a0The banter between them is epic and the way Quinn can rile Jaime up is hilarious.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m supposed to meet my friends for dinner. It\u2019s Claire\u2019s birthday.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat do you know, I happen to be free for dinner tonight,\u201d he said delightedly.
\n\u201cReally. How fortuitous.\u201d
\n\u201cI agree, and I will gladly accept your invitation to join you.\u201d
\nI cocked my head. \u201cI\u2019m not sure I offered one.\u201d
\n\u201cWell, it\u2019s fucking ten below out here, Jaime. I can\u2019t stand around waiting for you to be polite. I\u2019ll die of hypothermia.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I enjoyed watching them get to know each other again\u00a0and\u00a0sharing their dreams. Quinn and Jaime understand each other and I loved how Quinn didn\u2019t push her. He was\u00a0so patient with her and knows what she needs. \u00a0Jaime and Quinn challenged each other and\u00a0I loved that they played games and sometimes took things a little too far.<\/p>\n

The door opened wide and Quinn appeared, holding his hands over his crotch like a fucking fig leaf.
\nI gasped.
\n\u201cSo,\u201d he said, those blue eyes dancing. \u201cNow what?\u201d<\/i>
\nOh my fucking god.
\nThe game of chicken\u2026suddenly involved a cock.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Man-Candy-DARE\"<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right about serious relationships not being all hearts and flowers and orgasms, Jaime. That\u2019s <\/i>falling in love. Over time, it\u2019s not that anymore. It takes <\/i>work. It takes trust and sacrifice and faith in something you can\u2019t see\u2026It\u2019s understanding that you\u2019re part of something bigger than yourself, and fighting for it. I know it\u2019s rare\u2026But that\u2019s what I\u2019m looking for. And life is short.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jaime is hilarious\u00a0and\u00a0I loved every amusing thing that flew through her mind.<\/p>\n

“I was dying to play with it. Lick it like a Popsicle. Suck it like a peppermint. Ride it like a pony.”<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The awkward situations had me laughing-out-loud and I loved that she didn\u2019t 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuinn, don\u2019t.\u201d
\nI froze. \u201cDon\u2019t?\u201d
\nHer arms tightened around my waist. \u201cDon\u2019t let me go.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Man Candy is a must read for anyone looking for a sweet, sexy, funny friends-to-lover\u2019s story.<\/p>\n

4.5 stars \u2013 I loved it!<\/p>\n

\n

Excerpt<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so good to see you, Jaime,\u201d he said. \u201cYou look great.\u201d
\n<\/span>\u201cYou too,\u201d I said before I could stop myself. I didn\u2019t want him to think I still cared\u2014in fact, I wanted him to know I wasn\u2019t fooled by his charm. I wasn\u2019t that silly little girl anymore, the one who\u2019d 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.
\n<\/span>But why did he have to be so hot?
\n<\/span>OK, pull yourself together. No drooling.
\n<\/span><\/i>\u201cI\u2019m so glad this worked out.\u201d 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\u2019d seen him in person. His full lower lip made me want to bite it. Maybe even draw blood.
\n<\/span>\u201cSorry, I just got out of the shower,\u201d he said sheepishly, ruffling his hair. \u201cWant to come in and catch up? Or maybe go out for a drink? I just need to throw some shoes on.\u201d
\n<\/span>\u201cNo.\u201d 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.
\n<\/span>\u201cCome on, it\u2019s Friday!\u201d
\n<\/span>\u201cI have work to do.\u201d <\/span>He was naked a few minutes ago. And wet.
\n<\/span><\/i>\u201cDid you have a bad day?\u201d
\n<\/span>\u201cNo.\u201d <\/span>Rivulets of water streaming over those muscles.
\n<\/span><\/i>\u201cYou already have plans tonight?\u201d
\n<\/span>\u201cNo.\u201d <\/span>Steam rising as he stroked himself beneath the spray.
\n<\/span><\/i>\u201cYou don\u2019t love me anymore?\u201d
\n<\/span>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.
\n<\/span>Now the grin cocked up on one side. \u201cBecause you used to, you know. You told me.\u201d
\n<\/span>\u201cYou need to forget about that.\u201d
\n<\/span>\u201cHave you?\u201d
\n<\/span>\u201cYes,\u201d I snapped. \u201cThat was a long time ago. Back when I was young and impressionable and believed in love.\u201d
\n<\/span>His brows went up. \u201cYou don\u2019t believe in love anymore?\u201d
\n<\/span>\u201cNot the romantic kind. That\u2019s a fantasy used to sell things like lipstick and roses and diamonds.\u201d
\n<\/span>\u201cPretty jaded for twenty-seven, aren\u2019t you?\u201d
\n<\/span>I resumed heading up the stairs. \u201cI\u2019m not jaded, Quinn. I\u2019m just a realist.\u201d <\/span>And I\u2019ve been burned before, trusting guys way less attractive than you.
\n<\/span><\/i>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.
\n<\/span>He still got to me. That was <\/span>so aggravating<\/span><\/i>.
\n<\/span>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\u2019t quit.
\n<\/span>But he\u2019d made fun of me! Again! A nice guy would have at least pretended not to remember what I\u2019d said. Or maybe apologized for humiliating me. Or not have brought it up at all!
\n<\/span>What an asshole.
\n<\/span>A hot asshole\u2014the worst kind.
\n<\/span>Curse you, Alex, and your generous heart.
\n<\/span><\/i>And curse you, Quinn, for getting under my skin again. You stay away from me.
\n<\/span><\/i>But a traitorous little part of me hoped he wouldn\u2019t.
\n<\/span>(Bet you can guess which part.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Giveaway<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

\"MAN<\/h3>\n

Win a Paperback and bookmark signed by Melanie Harlow and Dima!<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

ENTER GIVEAWAY<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

The Escapist Book Blog is not responsible for this giveaway<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

About the Author<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"melanie<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

AMAZON<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0GOODREADS<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0TWITTER<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

WEBSITE<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Man Candy by Melanie Harlow Release Date: June 20, 2016 Genre: Contemporary Romance Amazon US\u00a0| Amazon UK |\u00a0Paperback\u00a0|\u00a0iBooks Now FREE on Kindle Unlimited Find\u00a0Man Candy\u00a0on Goodreads! Blurb He\u2019s back. Not just back in town, but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7948,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":4.5,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"Product","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,65,9,29],"tags":[59,343,308,48],"class_list":["post-7947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-friends-to-lovers","category-lol-funny","category-romance","category-steamy","tag-arc","tag-blog-tour","tag-melanie-harlow","tag-review"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Man-Candy.jpg?fit=145%2C234&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-24b","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7947"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7947\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}