Brainy, organized Sophie Birch is no beach bunny. In fact, she’s totally out of her element among the sun-bronzed crowd at a film festival in beautiful White Strand Cove. When a surf lesson introduces her to Zane Hollander, suddenly she's up close and personal with the world's sexiest surf star. But what can a great-looking, experienced athlete possibly see in a klutzy out-of-towner who’s never set foot in the ocean?
Zane Hollander's playboy reputation has never been a problem…until recently. Now his management team wants him on his best behavior to entice a meaningful new sponsor. Sophie Birch is the perfect girl to help reform his image. She's genuine and respected—and their relationship is purely fictional. But the more Sophie blooms under the beachy sun, the more Zane knows he'll just break her heart. Because nothing's more important to Zane than following the tide.
USA Today bestselling author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her awesome family and her very cute dog, Harry. She writes fun, flirty romantic fiction with one goal in mind: to leave you with a smile on your face. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, and frequent coffee shops with friends. She also dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. Keep in touch on social! xoxo
Definition. Mr. Right Now. a man described as the ideal romantic partner but who isn't seeking commitment.
Aka Zane Hollander.
Keeping Mr. Right Now is a perfect addition to the Lovestruck imprint. Sweet meets sexy and I can officially say I've been Zaned.
Our sexy rider of the waves has the opportunity of everything he's worked for coming to fruition, but he needs to reign in his playboy ways. The local film festival is the ideal opportunity and plants him in the path of event organiser Sophie Birch, quite possibly the sweetest natured heroine I've ever come across. Clumsy, gentile and compassionate, she has never even seen the ocean and it's her total innocence to his world that simply mesmerises Zane; she sees beyond his pro-surfer status and sees him for the thoughtful, insightful, caring man he is. Convinced she's out of his league, he knows he can never be her Mr. Right forever, but for now is a different matter.
“I should have told you the minute I saw you that you look beautiful. I do love the way you look tonight.”
With a wonderful chemistry that blossomed as they became closer, Sophie and Zane's journey was natural and brought fun, feeling and moments that made my heart flutter and ache. The build-up Robin Bielman created for this couple was simply captivating; they may not have actually kissed until just past the halfway mark, but the story was strong enough to carry us to this point without it losing any momentum.
“You’re an angel to my devil and I should stay away from you, but I can’t.”
If you love a contemporary romance that has emotion and intimacy, a home-town feel and detail being given to developing feelings and discovery, then this is a novel I recommend. And with fabulous secondary characters I can't wait to see what lies in store for future couples.
Copy generously provided by the author for an honest & unbiased opinion
The first book in the Kisses in the Sand series offers up a perfect balance of romance between a couple that on the surface couldn’t be more different.
I loved introverted Sophie and extrovert Zane, together they seemed to push the other to move from their comfort zones to push their boundaries in an effort to experience and be more. Zane has deeply ingrained issues with self-esteem, and because of that believes he is unworthy of having someone as smart and knowledgeable as Sophie in his life as a long term thing.
"I’m starting to think I can’t keep anything from you…"
But although Sophie has educative smarts, she’s a little less experienced in the ways of boys and girls, and just in cutting back and letting loose in general, and Zane shows her there is so much more to life than the black and navy shades she’s been living in.
There was nothing harmless about Zane Hollander. He oozed heartbreaker.
The romance takes a while to kick off, while the relationship between the pair organically develops, and I liked that the author gave this couple time to build towards the bedroom, it gave it more gravitas when it did happen, and also a lot more emotion when everything fell apart for them.
She’d made him better this week, made him see things with new, fresh eyes.
Loved it, this series has pulled me in hook, line and surf-board.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
I loved everything about this story. The heroine, Sophie, is smart, slightly awkward, and, like a lot of women, doesn’t see anything extraordinary when she looks in the mirror. UN-like a lot of “ugly duckling” stories, she’s not maddeningly self-critical—she’s just always considered her brains to be her primary asset.
World champion surf-god, Zane, a/k/a “Mr. Right Now,” is everything Sophie’s not—outgoing, athletic…comfortable wearing a swimsuit in public. However, he’s not as carefree as he appears. He has his own confidence issues, thanks to growing up with a father who drummed one relentless message into his head: Surfing is his talent, and the only thing about him people will respect.
These characters are polar opposites in so many ways, and, as opposites often do, they attract each other like crazy. But they’re also in transition, and neither is looking for a relationship at this point in their lives. Fate, of course, has other plans. Circumstances throw them together, and, before long, they’re working past their preconceived notions of each other—and themselves. Their journey is laugh-out-loud funny at times, heart-wrenchingly emotional, and fan-your-cheeks physical, (buckle up, dear reader, this is NOT your grandma’s Bliss!), yet, in the end, incredibly honest and sweet.
I hope Robin Bielman writes fast, because sparks were flying between a couple of her secondary characters, and after devouring Zane and Sophie’s story, I can’t wait for more!
Oh how I LOVED this book! Such incredible characters and a story that moves along at a great pace! Zane is outgoing and charismatic but slightly broken, Sophie is shy and reserved but trying desperately to put herself out there. Together they are magic! Plan your day to read this book because once you start you won't want to put it down. I HIGHLY recommend this one.
Zane Hollander is a world-famous surfer with a bad boy reputation. Sophie Birch is a brainy and organized young woman who comes to White Strand to further her new career as an event organizer.
Zane is pursuing a spokesperson gig but before he can even begin to entertain the idea, he must clean up his bad boy image. Enter Sophie. She wasn't the type of girl he hangs out with but she's respected and safe. Just the kind of girl that could convince the non-profit organization Zane is courting about his reformed lifestyle.
I have to say I really enjoyed this one. Sophie and Zane looked so different in terms of their lifestyle but when you look closer, they actually have a lot more in common. Zane, despite his good looks has some insecurities about his 'smarts' due to his father's constant verbal abuse. He doesn't really see himself as the kind of man that a smart woman like Sophie would love.Sophie is insecure about her looks especially when she compares herself to the more glamorous beach bunnies that seems to be Zane's type.
They had to work out their underlying issues throughout the book. It's fun for me as a reader because I see Sophie trying to fight off her obvious attraction while thinking that the Zane couldn't be really interested in her and vice-versa.
I also liked the fact that Zane and Sophie took their time to get to know each other. The sexual tension was definitely on point as was the banter among the two MCs. I especially enjoyed the hint of what's coming for Bryce and Honor.
My only peeve was that there were times where it just gotten too slow for me. I'm all for slow building but there were times when I was tempted to transport myself in those pages and give these two a nudge--or maybe a push to get things going. And when they finally got it on, it was derailed by a major conflict, which is a plot point I can't divulge because it would be a spoiler. But I wish we would have gotten more Zane and Sophie as a "couple" doing couple-y things before shit hits the fan, so to speak.
But other than that, this was a fun and enjoyable read. Definitely another winner from Ms. Bielman. :)
This sweet and sexy story is a wonderful addition to the Entangled Bliss Red Hot line and features the romance between Sophie and Zane. Sophie is an event organizer who has come to White Strand Cove to help with a local film festival. There she meets Zane, surf-god extraordinaire who is out to improve his image in order to have his philanthropic desires taken seriously. Having Sophie as his date will make him look serious about his plans, but neither counts on their mutual attraction to each other. Can a summertime romance become a real and lasting relationship?
There were so many enjoyable aspects to this story! The setting of a California coastal town, with its tourists, sun, sand and surf is the perfect holiday location and already gives the reader the impression of warmth and relaxation. Sophie is delightful as a shy, pretty young woman, travelling for the first time away from her home in Montana to this fantasy location. She's used to being behind the scenes and not garnering attention so when Zane fixes his sexy eyes on her, she can't quite believe he would really be interested in what she has to offer. Zane is equally engaging as an affable, handsome, talented man, an expert surfer and also experienced in handling his fame and popularity. He likes what he sees in Sophie, and even more than that, he likes that she sees beyond his public persona and seems genuinely interested in him as a person. Being around Sophie makes him feel smart and special and it's a feeling that scares him a little when he thinks of her discovering that he isn't really those things at all. Yet he can't help but be drawn in by her quiet charm and soon finds himself sharing the intimate details of his life with her, a move that draws them together emotionally as well as physically. The sexual tension is evident from their very first meeting and the slow buildup of their romance is deliciously written. The culmination of their kisses is an open door bedroom scene (hence the red hot Bliss label) that is steamy and heartwarming. Having the book alternate points of view between Zane and Sophie also heightens the tension between them and gives insight into the emotions each are experiencing as the story plays out.
Secondary characters add a wonderful dynamic to the story, with humor, witty dialogue, and camaraderie between friends entertaining the reader and equally as important as the romance. The overall tone of the story is lighthearted and fun with some emotional tension in the mix, a well written and engaging story from beginning to end. 5 sweet sexy and tender stars!
Zane is a superstar in the surfing world, hot and popular. When he gets to be an ambassador to the largest non profit organization, he needs immediately to change his bad boy image. So what a better idea to have the perfect shy girl at his side? When Zane meets Sophie, he sees a woman the opposite of him, from a totally different world. Sophie is called by everyone a homebody, a brainiac, a plain girl. Soon though he discovers that she is more than that. She is a woman sweet, genuine, compassionate. She is nothing like anyone he'd met before. When Sophie sees Zane, she sees a man sexy, a playboy. When she gets to know him though, she finds a man funny, kind, caring. Zane and Sophie really click and complete each other. Sophie makes Zane overcome his insecurities and doubts about himself and she makes him want to be good at something besides riding waves. Zane on the other hand makes Sophie throw her sensibilities into complete disorder and he makes her feel more comfortable about herself. Their relationship is amazing and what I loved is that we get to see its stages, from friendship to love.I adored that Sophie makes Zane feel worthy and she likes not only the outside but the inside and Zane makes Sophie to blossom and open up. This book is a perfect start to this new series and cannot wait to read more about the secondary characters. Robin once again wrote a story romantic, cute, funny and sexy and I loved it!
Another delightful read from this talented author! I love how she develops her characters, making them feel like someone you know well and can relate to. In this case the heroine is Sophie Birch who has left her studies into how the brain works to become an event organiser. She wasn’t supposed to be in charge of this event but her boss is unable to do it because of injury so now is her chance to show just what she is capable of. The only problem is that, although an extremely bright young lady, Sophie is somewhat introverted, has never been to the ocean before and is now in charge of the prestigious film festival in White Strand Cove. Not only that but she’s been tasked with fulfilling all the arrangements made for her boss - including a surf lesson with the hot, sexy and famous surfer, Zane Hollander - and she’s never been in the sea before!
Zane is an extrovert, attractive and a brilliant surfer, winning competitions and a highly popular and accessible star. He’s also wanting a new role, one that he cares passionately about, but to do that he also needs to change some aspects of his image, especially those aspects regarding his relationships with women. Sophie is the perfect person to help with this! As the klutzy brainiac and the sexy surfer get to know each other, they help each other - she becomes more outgoing and confident in her looks and personality whilst he becomes more willing to talk about his past and the impact it has on him now, opening up to her and she helps him go for his new goals. There has to be something go wrong with all this, of course, but you’ll have to read it yourself to find out what - and how things are resolved in the end!
There are multiple threads running through this with some difficult issues, too, including child abuse, being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, the need for women’s refuges and so much more. It is emotively written, making it easy to relate to the well portrayed characters and I thoroughly enjoyed escaping to the beach in this heartwarming read.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I just had the pleasure of following along as something magical happened in the small beach community of White Strand Cove. The Strand is one of those places that makes you feel at home. It's my perfect image of a small beachfront community. A place where the community doesn't just look out for one another. They look out for everyone! The secondary characters had the same lasting impression on me as Sophie and Zane. Honor, Bryce, Danny, and the rest of the Strand's community are fabulous complements to the story. I loved reading along as the Surf Fanatic Film Festival took place. Robin Bielman's descriptions of the sights and sounds from the event created the perfect picture in my mind. I was fascinated by Sophie, the brainiac, and Zane, the local surf god. On the surface, it seemed as though they could not be more different. What I happily discovered was that these two people were both looking to make their way in the world. Years of being told who or what they could/should be has left them both with doubts. It was such fun watching them encourage each other to reach for their dreams. As is typical of Robin's work, Sophie and Zane developed a genuine camaraderie. Yes, there were plenty of sparks for this couple! What impressed me more was how much they enjoyed just spending quiet times together. I loved their quiet walks and time spent on the beach. This book is EVERYTHING a summer romance should be! Even better is the realization that their summer romance is a romance for all seasons! I loved everything about this book and can't wait for the next book in the series!
Favorite lines: "Butterflies in her head. Flutters in her stomach. Tingles in her toes. His soft voice didn't leave any part of her untouched."
"Sophie Birch proved to be a direct link to his funny bone. Brains, beauty, sense of humor-she intrigued every part of him."
"He'd wished for endless summers his whole life. What he wished for now was endless Sophie."
Another great read by Robin Bielman, Keeping Mr Right Now was a very entertaining and fun read.
I truly enjoyed reading Zane and Sophie's love story. Loved both Zane and Sophie, I found myself connecting with them both especially Sophie and her insecurities.
Loved how these two people started off as total opposites, one full of confidence yet hiding the mental scares left by his fathers words, the other having no confidence and a very low opinion of herself because of her upbringing and the high expectations placed upon her because of her IQ.
Together they find inner peace, love and happiness. So much love for Sophie and Zane and for Robin Bielman for writing this heartfelt story.
This book is a perfect start to this new series and cannot wait to read more about the secondary characters. I highly recommend it!
Thank you Netgalley and to Entangled Bliss for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
What a beautifully sweet story! Sophie and Zane (whose name I love) were such a refreshing couple. I loved the bond they built and getting to know each other. There were some cute little parts that had me smiling. There were funny phrases where you could see Sophie saying/thinking things, like really, "really" for added emphasis or like I use in normal conversation. Haven't really read that in a book before, very cute. Sophie to me is so relatable. I felt like the nerdy uncool wallflower in school and had self issues. Not that I am a beauty queen now, but definitely more self confident. It was fun to see Sophie transform into a butterfly coming out of her cocoon. But that one part, the angsty part, got me. Right in the heart. So shocking and so hurtful. Made me gulp and teary eyed. I loved this story. I hope Robin will right for some of the secondary characters in this story because Honor, Bryce and Danny are hilarious and need their own stories. Cannot wait!
Well that just warmed my heart and made me feel all kinds of good inside. Talk about opposites attract! SO the writing was really well done. I read the book in just one afternoon. That should tell you something. As characters in a book go, I think both Zane & Sophie were people you can relate to. ANd that says a lot about Robin Bielman's style and character development. The story could have gone to the 'cheesy' side very easily, but it didn't. It was very fun loving and nice to read. My only hope is some of the secondary characters that brought humor and life to this book, get a chance at their own story ,,, hint hint LOL I highly recommend this book for and easy breezy afternoon read! Thank you NetGalley & Entangled Publishing, LLC for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review! :)
The words I would use to describe this book was fun, sweet, sexy and romantic. I loved really loved this book. I loved the characters. I loved getting to see Sophie develop as a character learning to be a little more confident and to speak out. I loved that there was a dual POV for both Zane and Sophie. One thing I would really like to see is Honors side and seeing whats her story. Overall this book was very well written with never any dull moments. Its a great summer book so you lovely readers should put this book on your tbr list and get to it before the summer is over. 4.5 of 5 stars!
*ARC recieved by netgalley and the publisher in exhcange for an honest reivew*
This is 212 pages
Take off your dress. Leave the pumps on. Lie down with your hands above your head, dont move..... oh sweet sugar snaps!
Im a vanilla guy nuh-uh there is nothing ordinary about you... oops you meant the shake You let me know when you are ready to discover my other flavors and ill deliver
This is a story about Sophie whos socially awkward/shy because she believes she is because people say she is
This is also about Zane Hollander who is a pro surfer but thinks hes stupid because people say he is.
And this is also a story about how the two of them discovered eachother and themselves by allowing love of friendship and eachother into their lives.
And lastly this is a story about breakups and heartbreak
Little miss Sophie has a dirty mind and I love it! tell me you ache to have me inside you and I will Holy hot tamales the words that are thought and said are deliciously sexy I only get one first kiss with you ---Oh zane you steal my heart
I love the under characters Bryce and Honor.. that would make an interesting story
Holy Hot Sauce this was an amazing little story... perfect summer read!=]
and then he kissed her, with his heart, his soul his everything
I’ve been Zaned and you will too by the end of this book. This is yet another book by this author that I loved and another book boyfriend to add to my crush list. Zane is totally chocka and swoon worthy.
This book was so much fun to read. It grabbed me from the first page and left me with a big fat smile on my face and a happy sigh with the ending.
Zane, Zane, Zane. International pro-surfer, playboy, all round good guy and total hunk. One who is in desperate need of an image makeover to impress a potential sponsor, one who means a lot to Zane.
Sophie, klutz, scary smart, event planner and has never been in the surf before. But she is also trying to find her feet after change in careers.
When a surfing lesson with Zane goes wrong, Sophie becomes the perfect person to help Zane change his public image. She’s stable, not a beach bunny and can help to “reform” Zane’s bad image. It’s all pretend and no one will be hurt. Right??
It was so much fun to see these two go from strangers to friends then lovers and more. Sophie definitely bought out a different side to Zane and he to her. I loved watching them dance around each other, their feelings and even their friends and family. It was a highlight to me that they didn’t instantly fall for each other or into bed together. I liked that the build-up was slow, it made it feel more organic and real.
“No, I’m kissing you because you’re something else, Sophie Birch, and every moment with you is perfect”
There were moments when I wanted to hug both the characters, okay and maybe a side character too and a scene when all I wanted to do was smack Zane up-side his head. How dare he hurt Sophie! But what Zane does to win Sophie back is worth the pain. The scene with her parents, the surf board and what he does with it had me chuckling.
Throw in some fantastic secondary characters in Zane’s friends Bryce and Danny and also Sophie’s friend Honor who I suspect has an interesting backstory with Bryce, a gorgeous back beach backdrop and a chance to highlight domestic abuse in a real way, that shows the effect words can have and you get a book that will draw you in till the last page.
Whether you are new to this author and to this I say what took you so long? Or if you are already a fan, you will agree with me that this is a perfect addition to the Bliss line.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.
What do you consider your greatest asset? Sophie believes it is her brains, because she is not a beach bunny, not a snow bunny, not the girl that guys fall all over. Taking a job to prove her worth as an event coordinator, becomes more than a mental test for Sophie as she meets the hot and handsome, bad boy surfing machine that is Zane. What could these two possibly have in common? Turns out they both have insecurities and pasts that have left their mark, but neither seems to wallow in their own pain, but work hard to overcome their “issues.” Both see themselves as not “good” enough for the other, but the attraction is undeniable, because the heart always knows better, right? Can Sophie learn to listen to her heart or will she run from the best thing that has ever happened to her? If she runs, will Zane follow?
Keeping Mr. Right Now by the talented Robin Bielman is completely charming and captivating as a light, wonderful romantic read. The tension and banter between Sophie and Zane is perfect as they dance around their attraction in a sun and surf setting that feels warm and breezy. The inner battles they fight felt real, with all of the sparks that new relationships have and all the denials of how deep the feelings are growing. Ms. Bielman built a world that sparkles and populated it with completely likeable characters that can be humorous one moment and completely endearing the next. She writes with a pace that never rushes, but blooms and grows with each scene, and taking her time to get to the sizzle was perfect. All around, a wonderful read from a talented author.
I received an ARC edition from Entangled Publishing/Bliss in exchange for my honest review.
Five Stars to Robin Bielman for her great summer read Keeping Mr. Right Now. It's a perfect read to lounge by the pool or beach and take your mind off of whatever is bothering you as it is the carefree writing and theme of the novel will whisk you away to a whole other world.
After Sophie literally falls at the feet of the Surfing's world version of "David Beckham", she is thrown into the world of Zane Hollander. After the quick connection and instant chemistry and some encouragement from others, the two strike an arrangement that is suited to benefit them both.
However, as we all know, life is never that simple, and although Sophie is trying to "live a little" and take chances with her life and find that "Mr Right Now", both her and Zane never thought that they would develop feelings for one another. What was supposed to be a week fling is slowly turning into something more.
Bielman made you feel like you were in the midst of the Californian surf with her descriptive words and powerful writing technique. You begin to fall in love with the characters and they almost feel as if they are your best friend. Both characters were very likeable and had an appeal about them - Sophie was a strong, independent and courageous women as the book progressed and Zane appeared on the outside as confident, strong, sexy and sauve but on the inside he was anything but.
Robin Bielman uses the banter between the characters to lighten the mood of the book and create a bit of subtle humour. It was great to get a laugh in, while you were California dreaming. Bielman was very talented in using the humour to make the relationship feel real and nothing felt forced in the book.
Keeping Mr Right Now is definitely a book you need to read prior to the end of summer! The strong dialogue between the characters, the great plotline and the steamy in-between the sheets scenes will leave you wanting more.
I loved every chapter, page, and word that this story had to offer. Robin Bielman really blew this one out of the water. See what I did there? There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this story. The characters, the setting, the plot…it was all fantastic! Keeping Mr. Right Now is the perfect romantic beach read, but keep in mind that you’ll need something to cool you down. And I’m not talking about from the suns heat. ;)
By the time you finish reading this Red-Hot Bliss book, you’ll be able to proudly say you’ve been ZANED!
Zane Hollander is a sexy surfer with his eyes set only on the ocean blue. That is, until Sophie Birch steps her Montana toes on the California sand. What was only suppose to be a single date to help people forget about his playboy image, turned into much, much more.
Their chemistry is undeniable. And one thing I loved about this story was that their love wasn’t insta-love. They both had to work up to it and realize it in their own way. Their love story was so natural and fun. The kind of love that gives you goosebumps and butterflies. I am pretty sure I had a goofy grin on my face the entire time I was reading this. I could picture everything so perfectly, there were times I felt as if I were watching it play out on the big screen.
And the steamy scenes? WHOA! You’ll need something cold to drink & a fan running on high to help cool you off after reading the red-hot moments between Zane and Sophie.
If you love contemporary romance and don’t mind an little extra red-hot romance thrown in the mix, then I highly recommend you jump on board and ride the waves with this Red-Hot Bliss novel. Before you know it, you’ll be able to say you’ve been ZANED as well. ;)
Zane Hollander stood in profile a few feet away. Sophie's breath caught. Up close, he looked like he'd been carved from the most glorious, most gorgeous stone on the planet. His blond hair was straight, on the longer side and sticking up in GQ messiness. Square jaw, high cheekbones, perfect nose. Then he turned and pierced her with ice-blue eyes that knocked her off-balance. Literally. She tripped over her own feet and face-planted right into the sand.
KEEPING MR. RIGHT NOW by Robin Bielman is a sweet and sizzling contemporary romance. It was solely responsible for my book hangover the following morning as I stayed up past 3am finishing it; I also wore a silly smile through-out the next day because this book gave me a major case of the warm fuzzies, a known-to-be-common affliction from reading Robin's books. :-) KEEPING MR. RIGHT NOW is the spicy story of opposites Zane Hollander and Sophie Birch. I fell in love with both of them!
I could not put this book down, I was Zaned. Loved the chemistry between these two. Zane, surfer dude who felt like he could never please his family and Sophie, brainiac who was not very outgoing. Two opposites, that find them selves together to help Zane move forward in his career. A fake relationship that moves forward to a fling and more. One of my favorite quotes, "She connectedd with Zane in ways that went beyond the need to touch each other". The next time I play "Go Fish" I might have a smile on my face. This was a fun book, that will be read again and again. Robin Bielman once again tells a wonderful story of falling in love.
I have totally been Zaned! And I bet you will be too! Keeping Mr. Right Now by Robin Bielman was beyond adorable and I totally loved it!
Zane and Sophie rock, as do all the secondary characters! They all made this story. I fell for the characters right away, and was sad to see the book end.
Basically, I was pretty much obsessed with this one from the moment I started. It is the cutest romance and both Sophie and Zane are so quirky.
Since this is a series, I am so hoping that Honnor and Bryce are next. And that we get more Sophie and Zane snippets with it. In typically Robin Bielman fashion, I absolutely adored Keeping Mr Right Now (per usual). Now I cannot wait for her next release!
Super-sexy surfer hero? Check. Adorable heroine? Check. Chemistry, dreamy setting, happy ending? Check, check, check. I am a big fan of Robin Bielman and this book is my favorite of hers so far. A little sexy, a lot sweet, I enjoyed turning the pages and falling in love right alongside Zane and Sophie, two externally different people with commonalities tucked away inside their hearts. Great romantic read!
Professional surfer Zane Hollander is happy with his life, but he needs some image rehab if he's going to get the job as the spokesman for a prestigious environmental charity. Enter Sophie Birch. The genius event planner gave up her career in academia to pursue her dream of fundraising for charity, and planning events for Zane's team at the film festival could prove to her bosses that she's ready for more responsibility.
While author Bielman gives her characters common insecurities, the fact that they're the exact opposite of each other adds a twist to the story. Smart, nerdy Sophie is insecure about her looks, while handsome jock Zane worries that he's not smart enough for the charity. The book follows a lot of the standard romance novel tropes, but the unique characters and snappy writing make this book worth a read despite that.
Oh my god. I really love this series and Robin Bielman. A long, long time ago, I read the Best Friend Bargain and I absolutely loved it. I've reread that book so many times, but I've never read the other books in the series. I was feeling adventurous today and decided to just go for it, and oh wow, it was so adorable. I love everything about White Strand Cove. They're so, so cute!!
I really loved this book. It was a nice weekend romantic read and kept me interested the entire time, you just can't help but fall in love with the characters. Zane is one of those guys that women dream about. Even though he's a professional surfer, he's never forgotten where he comes from and he never forgets his fans; especially the children. Every time a child came up to him my heart melted. He's just (for the most part) and all around good guy that any girl would love to bring home to her parents.
Okay so the story starts out with Sophie who is on a business trip/personal life changing trip. She is determined to start living her life and doing things for her and on that list is surfing. Zane is an amazing professional surfer who needs to help improve his playboy imagine and focus on getting a position with the company S.H.E. And while on vacation these two are the perfect match to help one another.
However, what these two don't expect to happen is develop feelings for one another. Especially, not only do they live completely different lifestyles, but also live thousands of miles away from each other. But that doesn't stop feelings from arising and watching the way these two progress through the book is very entertaining. Sophie begins to show a side of her that she has always wanted and loves the new her and Sophie is bringing out a side in Zane that he was missing.
I loved every moment of this book. Especially the ending. I had way to many awww moments and again Zane just made my heart melt. I would highly recommend this book as a nice quick weekend read to just having something sweet and romantic as well as watching characters find their ways in life and watching them grow.
I loved this story!! I went into this book knowing anything about the author or her books. And I fell in love. Sometimes you need a good romance to make your day better.
Zane is a superstar in the surfing world. He is one of the best. Needless to say girls throw themselves at him and he does not turn them down. Not one of them. Zane has a pretty good reputation for being a ladies man and partying all the time . Now a big new sponsor wants him, but are hesitant because of his reputation. Zane knows he needs to turn things around.
Zane is in beautiful White Strand Cove. There is a film vestibule being held that he is attending. Sophie Birch, is in charge of the film festival. She is also the perfect girl to help Zane with his image. Sophie is cute and wholesome, smart and strong. There is a chemistry there, but both seem to not want to acknowledged it.
Sophie doesn't really want anything to do with Zane. She knows all about him and his reputation. Yes, she finds him beyond attractive, but she is smarter than to get involved with him. When her friend convinces her to throw caution to the wind and give him a chance, she considers it. After Zane open up to her about his surfing and family, she starts to warm up to him.
Zane has never felt this way about any women before. He is not used to being open and sharing his feelings. He feels safe with Sophie. He is not sure where this relationship can go. He travels and she lives in the Midwest, where there is no ocean to surf.
There is too much between them to just throw it all away. Can they fight to keep what they have after the film festival is all over?
Loved it! Sophie is sweet and smart but lacking in confidence with the opposite sex. When she is on a working vacation, she meets Zane Hollander, sexy surf star. Zane is the opposite of Sophie, always in the public eye and has a certain reputation with the ladies. Sophie quickly makes friends with Holly, who pushes to break out of her shell, have a good time and enjoy Zane as her "Mr. Right Now" while she's in town. It was nice to see them evolve from friends to lovers slowly.
There is more to Zane than surfing and his bad-boy image. Sophie has a way of bringing the real Zane out and making him feel smart. He shared things with her that only his family or his two best friends Danny and Bryce know about. Zane brings out the more adventurous side of Sophie and helps build her confidence. The more time Sophie and Zane spend together, the more their feelings get involved and the harder it becomes to say goodbye at the end of the film festival. Zane screws up and lets Sophie go by hurting her. Once he get his head on straight, he has to convincer her to give him another chance. The ending is super cute and romantic, but I don't want to spoil it for you, so you will just have to read it!
Great start to the series, can't wait to read about Bryce and Holly, I'm dying to know what happened between and why she was avoiding him. Sweet and romantic, gets a hot towards the end!
eARC received in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour.
Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I really loved Wild About Her Wingman but unfortunately this latest offering from Robin Bielman wasn't for me.
There was zero chemistry between Zane and Sophie and they just didn't work for me as a couple. The connection between them was forced and I honestly didn't see what Zane saw in Sophie and vice versa. Additionally, their hang-ups about their past seem to have been created and thrust on them in an effort to make the characters more interesting: a person with a degree in brain science suddenly deciding they want to go into marketing seems random and unbelievable (or at least needs more justification) and then there was Zane's preoccupation with his lack of education and his father which I just couldn't bring myself to care about.
There was also the inclusion of random characters like Zane's mother and Sophie's mother (who we basically meet through random phone calls) which I feel could have been left out. I don't feel like it was ever sold to me why getting the spokesperson role for SHE was so important to Zane and Sophie's clumsiness was awkward and made me cringe.
Smart yet single Sophie Birch has never even stepped foot in the ocean when she gets the assignment organize a film festival for one of the top surfers in the country: Zane Hollander. Zane's repuation preceeds him as he has long history of seduction of women who've been "Zaned" and his PR team needs him to clean up his act to attract a new sponsor. When Zane meets Sophie he enlists her to help his image and as he spends time with her he realizes what's missing from his life. The beach setting is descriptive and the surfing lingo lesson was quirky and I loved the checkers/go fish games scene. Robin Bielman brings warmth and life to the couple and as they fall in love the reader does too. I received an advanced reading copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
When I saw the name Robin Bielman I knew right off that this was going to be a sweet, funny, romantic read and I was not disappointed. The characters are likeable and I do like it when the Brainy girl gets the jock. Curl up in a comfy spot with a warm drink and escape with Keeping Mr. Right Now A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review