Blog Tour Review: The Book Boyfriend (Meet Cute Book Club #8) by Kate Stacy

In THE BOOK BOYFRIEND by Kate Stacy, Mila Cross never expected to find love, but when bad boy Crossland Parker comes into her life and sweeps her off her feet, suddenly she’s falling hard for the man from the wrong side of the tracks. But when a secret from his past is exposed, will its revelation destroy everything? Fans of small-town, opposites attract romances will enjoy this must-read wrong-side-of-the-tracks romance from the Meet Cute Book Club Series.

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I received this book for free from Indie Pen PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Book Boyfriend by Kate Stacy
Series: Meet Cute Book Club #8
on September 22, 2022
Genres: Adult Contemporary Romance
Pages: 196
Source: Indie Pen PR
Format: E-galley
My Rating:
Goodreads

Blurb:

Escape with the Meet Cute Book Club, where meet cutes don’t happen only between the pages of romance novels, and one by one, all the members find their own happily ever afters.

Mila
I never thought I’d have a real-life meet cute, but the minute Crossland Parker walks into my life, it starts feeling like I’m living in the pages of a romance novel.

He sweeps me off my feet, and I find myself falling fast and hard for the rough around the edges mechanic. He’s a troubled bad boy with a heart of gold.

Cross fits into my life effortlessly, even sharing my love of books. He’s everything I didn’t know I wanted in a man. Attentive, sweet, a little bit possessive. He’s also my biggest source of support when I decide I want to buy the building next door so I can expand my business. So what if he has a criminal record? No one is perfect.

Unless you ask my stepfather. He expects nothing less than perfection, but not even I could ever come close.

Cross

After spending too many years wandering when I was released from prison, I came back to Abbott Ridge to start over.

I wasn’t expecting Mila Santos to fall into my arms, but I’m irrevocably drawn to the curvy little beauty who owns the bookstore. She’s a good girl, too good for a guy like me.

Our relationship develops faster than most, but I spent too many years of my life locked up. Now that I’m out, I refuse to waste a single second. I’m still not sure I deserve someone as sweet as Mila, but if she accepts me and all my faults, there’s no way I’m letting her go. Only a fucking fool would do that.

My past is no secret, and I knew the day would come when someone would try to use it against me. I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon.

Is happily ever after possible when a good girl falls for the guy from the wrong side of the tracks?

The Book Boyfriend is a standalone, wrong side of the tracks romance that is part of the Meet Cute Book Club multi-author series.

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Excerpt

Copyright 2022 @ Kate Stacy

She’s fucking adorable.

Mila is still standing in the spot where I left her when I pass by the bookstore’s front window.

Grinning, I toss her a wink and keep walking, picturing the beautiful blush that stains her skin when she’s flustered.

I love how affected she is by me.

I knew Mila was gorgeous when I saw her from across the street yesterday, but up close… damn.

She’s a stunner.

Easily the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

And I get to see her again on Friday.

I came to the bookstore today hoping to see her even though I knew there was a good chance that she wasn’t available, but I had to shoot my shot. I’m fucking relieved she isn’t with somebody. It would have sucked if I put myself out there only to find out I didn’t stand a chance. I’ll admit, part of me can’t believe she agreed to go out with me, but I’m happy she did.

Halfway back to the garage, reality sets in.

What was I even thinking going in there?

Mila is sweet as hell, far too good for a roughneck like me.

I’m a felon for fuck’s sake.

No. Fuck that.

My criminal record doesn’t define me.

I have to stop letting my past rule my life. I’m more than some guy who got locked up for trying to defend someone who didn’t deserve it. I paid the price for my mistakes. I did my time and now I need to move on.

I deserve happiness as much as anyone else.

As long as I’m honest and don’t try to hide it, Mila doesn’t seem like the type that would hold my past against me. I’ll be up front with her about it and let the chips fall where they may.

I’ve got a good feeling about her.

“Who’s the girl?” Bishop asks as I walk into the garage.

My brows dip low in confusion and I look around the bay, not seeing anyone. “What girl?”

“The girl that put that goofy ass smile on your face,” he says with a knowing look. “Only a woman can make a man smile like that.”

I hadn’t realized I was smiling when I came in, but I feel one stretch across my face now.

“Her name is Mila.”

“From the bookstore?”

“You know her?” I ask, closing the distance between us.

“I know of her.”

At my look of surprise, Bishop rolls his eyes. “You said it yourself yesterday, Cross. Abbott Ridge is a small town.” He turns his attention back to the engine he’s working on. “Pass me that wrench.”

Knowing which one he wants without asking, I grab it and hand it over.

“The real question is…” He pauses to look at me. “How do you know her?”

Reaching behind me, I pull the book out of my back pocket.

Chuckling, Bishop shakes his head. “Should have known. Can’t believe you read that girly shit.”

“Don’t hate,” I tell him. “This girly shit just got me a date with perfection on Friday night.”

He eyes the book. “Well, hell. Maybe I need to pick up a new hobby. Mila’s a pretty girl.”

“Find your own pretty girl, Bish,” I say, popping him on the back of the head with the book. “Mila is mine.”

Fucker laughs. “It’s like that?”

“Damn right it’s like that.” I drop the book on top of the tool cabinet and grab a beer from the fridge. “I saw her yesterday when I was leaving the tattoo shop.”

“No doubt a gorgeous girl like that grabbed your attention.”

“Hell yeah. Would have talked to her yesterday, but she was on her way out. Almost got discouraged when I watched her drop into the passenger seat of a sweet ass ride, but decided to take a chance anyway.”

“Black Chevelle?” he asks, glancing up.

“Yeah.”

He nods. “Her younger brother, Mateo.”

“Damn, Bish,” I say, dropping my ass onto a stool. “You really do know everyone in this town. Bet you got all the good gossip.”

Bishop snorts. “I ain’t got shit. Mateo spent a lot of time here. Rented one of the bays so he could restore that beauty of his. He had the know-how, but needed somewhere to do the work.”

“I’d love to get my hands on that car.”

“Good luck with that. He won’t let anyone else work on it. Not even me.”

That makes me chuckle. “I respect that. Nothing more important to a man than his car.”

“And his girl,” he says, no so subtly turning the conversation back to Mila. “Where are you taking her?”

My Review

I wasn’t sure if I’d have time to read this one, but boy am I glad I did! I read another book by this author in another series and really enjoyed it, so I had a feeling this one, besides the title and synopsis, would be a win as well. Mila’s bookstore, well, she kind of is living my current dream. To run a bookstore and stock a lot of indie authors, that’s what I want to do. And then to have a perfect meet cute and find a perfect book boyfriend? Wow, this book was exactly what I wish for.

Cross was a sweet, sexy guy, tattooed, dark background, but because he’d been betrayed. He worked hard, and knew what he want, and was honest about his past. I loved the honesty these two characters had with each other. It made the part where I was worried we were going to get some drama for drama’s sake play out so realistically. When she knew Cross, knew what he would or would not do, but let him know that he needed to not hide things from her, and the way she let him know was realistic and not crazy at all.

All of the book club members we’ve met were there at the virtual book clubs, and it was fun hearing them as they talked about their relationships and the books as well. Oh, yeah, Cross read romance too! I mean, swoon! I loved also Mila’s family. They were all exactly how I feel a family should be. None were going after the others, only supporting what seemed to make their mom happy. And when the you know what hit the fan, I love that her family was able to see the truth and move on. In fact, maybe Cross’s uncle and Mila’s mom? There was nothing about that, but I was kinda hoping for it with the way the things ended.

The only thing that I had trouble with in the book was when Cross called his uncle Bishop “Bish”. In my head I just heard the b-word. So, probably just me, but yeah. Loved this story. It’s the second I’ve read by this author and I hope to read more in the future!

About the Author

Author of emotionally-gripping, contemporary romance, Kate Stacy’s novels feature sassy heroines, swoony heroes, life, love, friendship, and all the angst. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family and friends in small-town North Carolina, Kate can most likely be found nose deep in her Kindle. She stays up too late, swears too much, and loves too hard.

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About The Meet Cute Book Club Series

Escape with the Meet Cute Book Club where meet-cutes don’t only happen between the pages of romance novels and members find their own happily ever afters.

Eight single women bound by their love of books take a monthly break from real life to lose themselves in the chapters of romantic fiction. From friends to lovers to fake relationships and more, each story features a brand new couple and their journey to find love from an amazing lineup of authors including Louise Lennox, Tracy Broemmer, A.M. Williams, Mel Walker, RJ Gray, Rebecca Wilder, Julie Archer, and Kate Stacy.

These eight standalone romances are packed with meet-cutes, heat, and of course a happily ever after!

This promotional event is brought to you by The Indie Pen PR