Review: The Valentine's Arrangement

The Valentine's Arrangement (Hard Feelings - Book 1) by Kelsie Leverich

Publication Date: 12/31/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 272
ISBN-10: 0451466659
ISBN-13: 978-0451466655

(Received for an honest review from Signet Eclipse)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

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WARNING: The content of the this book and excerpt may not be appropriate for readers under the age of 18.

Excerpt from, The Valentine's Arrangement, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

The “emotional, spicy-hot story” (Belle's Book Bag) that propelled Kelsie Leverich to the New York Times bestseller list!

Tattoo artist Ronnie Clark is counting the days until Valentine’s Day is over. Ronnie doesn’t do romance. She doesn’t do flowers or dates, and she sure as hell doesn’t do love—not anymore.  Love leads to heartbreak, and she’s vowed never to let herself get hurt again.

Sergeant First Class Kale Emerson is home on his midtour leave from Iraq, but he only has one thing on his mind—returning to his soldiers to finish leading their mission. He’s dedicated to his men and to his country, and he’s not interested in getting wrapped up in a distracting relationship…but casual sex, that’s a different story. From the moment he sees Ronnie, he wants her. And he agrees to her terms: no romance, no fluff—just passion.

But as their sexual chemistry ignites, the lines of their arrangement get blurry, and Ronnie starts to push Kale away. And when Kale realizes he’s found his match in this gorgeous razor-tongued woman who is hell-bent against love, winning her heart could be the toughest battle he has ever fought.

Thoughts:

The Valentine's Arrangement is the latest book from author Kelsie Leverich. With a hard-nosed heroine, who happens to be a tattoo artist and a soldier on leave from Iraq, there isn't too many ways this story could go wrong. Leverich uses strong dialogue and great characterizations to get the readers attention and holds it with the a spicy love story. Readers will fall in love with the military hero and his sassy lover!

What I liked:

I am always a fan of strong female characters and Ronnie was certainly no push over. She grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and the lessons she learned still carry over into her adult life and career. After turning away from art school for her high school sweetheart, Ronnie later becomes a tattoo artist with an attitude. She is abrasive and has a pretty nasty mouth on her, yet she shows some vulnerable moments and the idea of opposites attracting really works here. Kale is definitely the antithesis of Ronnie. So different from each other.

Kale is the typical military type hero. He is an all around good guy, mannerly, courteous and aptly nicknamed Captain America when Ronnie first meets him. But he has had his issues with women in his own life and a no strings attached affair sounds like just the thing to help him relax before he returns to Iraq. When the sex turns hot and spicy, just like Ronnie, things start to get a little out of hand. Ronnie is a real handful for Kale, but he sees something in her that others don't... a tortured soul. I liked the fact that he was able to see good in her where others didn't.

The sex scenes are hot in this one for sure. I think having Kale be in the military with one of those strong well defined bodies might have had something to do with it. I think Leverich does a good job with this aspect of the story. She doesn't go too far, but certainly keeps the fire burning with these two characters. 

What I didn't like:

First let me say, I did like Ronnie, she was a good hard nosed character that was no nonsense and spunky. But I didn't like her mouth. She had a real potty mouth and I think that is so unattractive for a woman, no matter what her background is. I understand a word or two here and there when you're mad or something unexpected happens, but this was waaay too much for my tastes. She may not have been a lady, but she wasn't a sailor either.

The Valentine's Arrangement is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5. This one almost got a 3 but Kale was such a good character, I had to give an extra point for him alone.

About the Author:

Kelsie Leverich lives in Indiana with her husband and two adorable knuckleheads that are better known as her kids. Her life revolves around her family (to include two dogs and a cat) and most of the time, actually all of the time, it's a crazy mess--but that's the way she loves it! When Kelsie's not writing, you can usually find her snuggling on the couch with her kids and a good book or out on the lake with friends and family. Kelsie is not a morning person, has a soft spot for animals, loves musicals, hates seafood, and thinks laundry is the source of all evil.

Kelsie loves stories that can make you fall in love, break your heart, and heal your soul.