Ash
I still don't know how it happened. One minute I was arguing with my arrogant competitor--our usual trash-talk over who deserves the larger commission. But somehow I went from throwing down to kneeling down...
It can never happen again. I don't even like Braht. He's too slick. He's a manipulating mansplaining party boy in preppy clothes.
So why can't I get him out of my head?
Braht
There are two things I know without question. One: Ash and I are destined for each other. Two: never trust a man with a unibrow.
Ash is my missing my piece. She's the sweet cream to my gourmet espresso. And nothing gets me going faster than her contempt for me. They don't call her the Ashkicker for nothing.
Eventually I'll win her over...if my past doesn't ruin everything first.
Exclusive Excerpt
“Name your other favorite movies,” I
challenge Braht.
“All of them?” He chugs his margarita.
“Hmm. Top ten? Top five?”
“That’s totally easy,” he says. Somehow
I’ve gotten closer to him on the floor. When he sits back, I actually snuggle
in beside him. He’s wearing a ridiculously soft shirt that feels good against
my skin. And I watch with fascination as he ticks off the names of films on his
fingers. “When
Harry Met Sally. The Devil Wears Prada. Roman Holiday. Clueless. And Working Girl.”
I burst out laughing. I can’t help it.
“Those are all chick flicks. You
should just hand over your man card right now.”
“Not a chance.” Braht’s expression
grows intense. “In
the first place, I gave you a very thorough demonstration of my man card last
week. I don’t remember hearing any complaints.”
I swallow hard, because this is
certainly true.
“And secondly, you’re looking at this
all backward.”
“I…am?” And why can’t I look away? He has
the most beautiful, intelligent eyes.
“Yeah, you are,” he whispers. “It’s the guy who has a firm grip on
his man card that can hold your purse. He’s not afraid to be seen with that
Tory Burch you like to carry—nice color, by the way. He’ll free up your hands
because he likes your hands, and he remembers all the terrific things
you can use them for.”
“Oh,” I say slowly. Now my fingers itch
to reach out for him. I have to make fists with both hands so I won’t do it.
“Furthermore, he’s not afraid to quote Working
Girl. Because Joan Cusack is a genius. And who wouldn’t want to say Melanie
Griffith’s best line out loud?”
I can’t help saying it with him, and
together we sound like the world’s horniest Greek chorus: “I have a head for business and a body
for sin.”
Sin sounds pretty good right now,
actually. But Braht’s not done with his speech. “Any man who tells you that chick
flicks are for pussies can’t be any good in bed. Because that man does not
speak the language of women. He doesn’t know that a little luxury can erase a
shitty day of worrying about your ex…”
Braht takes my hand in his and begins
to massage it. He has a great technique, applying gentle pressure between each
joint. I relax just a little bit more against him.
“…That man doesn’t speak the language
because he’s afraid of sounding like a girl. But fuck that noise, honey bear.
If a man doesn’t have the vocabulary to describe a satin teddy with peekaboo
lace and mother-of-pearl snaps at the crotch, he can’t buy it for you and then
strategically ask you to wear it. He can’t plan ahead to blow your mind
sometime by lifting your skirt somewhere semi-public and dangerous. And he
can’t get down on his knees and kiss that lace and then pop open those snaps
while you bite your own hand to keep from screaming when you climax.” Braht
takes a deep breath and lets it out in one hot gust. “Fuck. What was the point of this
speech?”
“Um…” My voice is hoarse, and my face is
suddenly very hot. Let’s not even mention my nipples. “Man cards, I think.” But I’m not sure,
because everything tingles.
“Right,” he says with a sigh. “Still got mine. Shall we watch Working
Girl next?”
“Okay,” I breathe, sinking a little
further into his comforting embrace.
What I thought about Man Card
Man Card is the second novel from Sarina Bowen and Tanya Eby. Like Man Hands, Man Card is a flirty, humorous story with a nice level of drama.
Braht and Ash are in a sales competition at their real estate firm and love to rib each other, that is until they find out the depth of their sexual attraction. It's off the charts!
Their relationship builds a bit more slowly than their physical connection. Secrets get revealed, and Braht shows the depth of his love for Ash. It's really quite sweet and has a "Gift of the Magi" sort of twist at the end that's just adorable. I loved these two together -- it's a fabulous love story.
I did find it a little tough to get into, the opening scene just didn't get me hooked to reading the book. Writing humor is not an easy task, and sometimes Ash's internal thoughts didn't hit my funny bone quite right. The more dramatic ending more than made up for it though.
Man Card left me smiling. It's a terrific contemporary love story.
An ARC was provided for review.
About Sarina
About Tanya
Tanya is a member of SAG/AFTRA. She is a narrator and has over 500 titles to her credit. She also narrates under the name of Tatiana Sokolov
for books that are particularly saucy (AKA erotica books). When not
narrating, she’s working on her own writing. Check out her books: Easy
Does It, Blunder Woman, Pepper Wellington and the Case of the Missing
Sausage, Foodies Rush In, Tunnel Vision, and Synchronicity. She also
has a food blog at dips.tanyaeby.com.
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