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Meadowview Heat #4

Tempting the One

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Country-girl Chessie Gibson’s always been a giver. Billionaire Theo Courant’s always been a player. Since childhood, the two have irritated the heck out of each other. Only when Theo breaks both wrists and ankles in a snowboarding accident, Chessie’s asked to care for her family friend. But being stuck with egotistical Theo in her Meadowview farmhouse is most definitely not her idea of fun.

Theo sees Chessie as part pin-up girl, part hippie-chick—nothing like the models and social climbers he’s used to dating. She’s gorgeous and luscious, but he’s never made a move on his best friend’s younger sister. The two of them are opposite in almost every way imaginable. But wow—is she ever hot!

But when Theo and Chessie end up stuck together for weeks, they come to know each other in ways neither thought possible. Seeing a different side of Theo—he’s not exactly the frivolous playboy he seems—Chessie finds herself unable to resist the temptation to try a “friends with benefits” situation. But their differences continue to come between them…and if Theo doesn’t learn love is something that cannot be bought, the chance of a lifetime could pass them both by.

204 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2014

37 people are currently reading
136 people want to read

About the author

Rochelle French

26 books47 followers
Rochelle French is a bestselling romance novelist and the author of the Meadowview series and the Vineyard Springs series. Her books feature contemporary characters falling in love in small town settings. She currently lives in Northern California in the same small town where she grew up, where she spends her days writing, hiking in the woods, or swimming in the river. She loves to hear from readers and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Three Chicks.
2,637 reviews417 followers
April 16, 2015
Review by Trinette Dungee

Chessie Gibson is a country girl and proud of it. She spent her time in the city while attending college and learned her heart would always be in her hometown of Meadowview. The only thing she finds appealing about the city is handsome Theo Courant. But to Theo she knows she will always be the little sister of his best friend and the pesky best friend of his little sister.

Theo Courant is a billionaire playboy, or so everyone thinks. He no longer resides in his hometown or Meadowview, he likes the hustle and bustle of the city life the only thing he likes about the country is curvaceous Chessie. But, Chessie’s is his little sister’s best friend and the little sister of his best friend and off limits.

Theo and Chessie have known each other most of their lives and they’ve always managed to drive each other crazy. Each is extremely attracted to the other but they’ve never divulged their feelings to anyone least of all each other. That is until Theo is involved in a skiing accident. With two broken wrist, a broken leg, and a sprained ankle he’s and in need of constant care for six-weeks. With his parents vacationing and his sister, Sadie, stuck on the other side of the country pregnant and on bed-rest; Theo has no one to turn to until his sister steps in and arranges for Chessie to take care of Theo in her farmhouse. Chessie’s not thrilled about the arrangement but she can’t say no to Sadie. While she’s extremely physically attracted to Theo she also things he’s way too shallow. The two of them are as opposite as opposite can be and this arrangement can only be a recipe for disaster.

The more time they spend together the harder it becomes to fight their physical attraction to each other. Theo has a recurring problem of constant erections around Chessie and with two broken wrist there’s no way for him to fix his “situation” and Chessie just happens to have a very “healthy” sexual appetite so the two decide to embark on a strictly physical relationship. For the six weeks it takes Theo to heal, the two will satisfy each other sexually, no commitments, no strings and oh…absolutely no kissing (Chessie’s rule, not Theo’s).

When I first started this book it wasn’t really holding my attention. I had a hard time connecting with Chessie. She’s basically a “mother-earth-all-natural-hippie” type of girl. Like, she doesn’t wear a bra (I couldn’t quite get if this was all the time or once in awhile) anyway, her “love-will-conquer-all” attitude and seeing the positive in every situation was a little annoying. Especially when she has issues with her teenage neighbor who basically vandalizes her property repeatedly and all she wants to do is get through to her by baking pies, giving her flowers and talking to her….UGH!

The other problem I had with the book was, I kept feeling like the backdrop should have been in another country. Even though it took place in California, I kept feeling like they weren’t in the U.S., it was just really weird. There was also something about the way Chessie spoke; her dialect didn’t come across American. I don’t know why but it bugged me and made it really hard for me to concentrate at times. My first thought was this was probably a European author writing a story about Americans so me being me, I had to Google the author and nope…she’s from right here in the good ole U.S. of A (North Carolina to be exact). But you know what? Darned if I didn’t like this book. One of the things that really did it for me was the no kissing rule. These two had quite a bit of sex and Chessie was adamant about no kissing; not that Theo didn’t try but to Chessie it was too intimate. It was almost annoying but when they did finally kiss…HOLY HELL! Based on the issues I was having with this book, I was damned impressed at the impact that kiss had! I just did not see that coming. I mean I saw the kiss coming and I knew it was going to be a turning point, I just didn’t expect it to be so intense.

So while I didn’t love this book, I did like it. It was a quick, easy read. I did get the feeling, based on the mention of other characters, and it is…its book four in Meadowview Heat Series. I think it’s worth checking out the previous books in the series. If your looking for a nice quick read with an enjoyable ending, this book should satisfy you.
Profile Image for Stephenee.
1,930 reviews50 followers
November 25, 2015
* I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review. *

This is book 4 in the Meadowview Heat Series and while you could read this book as a stand alone, the previous books contain the same characters and they are all equally amazing, so why not start at book 1?!? If you do happen to start here though, you will not be disappointed, these are two very important characters that the reader can't help but love.

Chessie and Theo are as opposite as any two people can be, yet when fate forces them together they find out that opposites really do attract. I loved the dynamics between the characters in this story. Chessie is so down to earth and real and Theo is so spoiled and fake that it just doesn't seem like they will survive the time together, let alone fall in love! The book had it's predictable parts but it also had those laugh out loud, I can't believe the author went there parts and that is what keeps the reader guessing. The author doesn't give the reader a chance to catch their breath before she throws something else at them.

The characters are instantly relatable and are fun for the reader. The reader becomes immersed in their world and doesn't want to ever leave. I love how the characters are all inter-connected and the friendship and love between them comes through in each sentence that you read. The author does an amazing job making the book fresh and different than the usual romance and the author takes the time to fill in some of the backstory so that the reader can read this as a standalone if they wanted.

The plot is quick moving and it is one that the reader just doesn't want to end. The chapters go by quickly and before the reader knows it hours have passed and they still don't want to stop. This is one of those books that you need to read when you have plenty of time to get through it so that you don't have to take a break (because you won't want to). Add this one and the previous books to your TBR list and be prepared to embark on a Meadowview marathon because once you start there is no stopping! Enjoy, this series is amazing and is a must read for any and all that enjoy romance, a bit of mystery and plenty of love, friendship and caring.

***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng ***
Profile Image for Char (1RadReader59).
3,348 reviews19 followers
May 2, 2015
What a really delightful story to read. You all know what a sucker I am for small town family sagas. Well, this falls right in with a lot of fun moments, tense, sexy, and sad moments in the life of a couple connected through family and friends.
This story revolves around Theo Courant the “Oh Too Wealthy” best friend to Chessie Gibson’s brother, Jack. Being that their parents were best friends and the guys are four years older than she is, she has known Theo all her life. As kids normally do the three would bicker and tease one another. As Theo did with his sister, Sadie, his friend Ethan’s sister Lia.
But as Chessie got older and started to develop Theo really poured on the teasing. The reason being he felt an attraction and all three guys had “The Bro Code” in effect. This kept him aware of that fact and kept him away from her. Then it just became a fine art of making her crazy just to see what she would do. Chessie was really easy to get riled up. So, it became second nature to do so.
Now all these years later he has been injured in a skiing accident and his sister Sadie calls Chessie in a panic asking Chessie to go check in and be with him at the hospital. She is not a happy camper. One, it is snowing. Two, she has been working her tail off and it’s her first night off in weeks. Three, she just can’t stand Theo! Yes, he is sexy as all hell, he’s rich and he has a killer smile but the minute he opens his mouth she just wants to choke him. Then, in the next he can say something funny and make you laugh, pissing her off.
When she finally gets to him he is just obnoxious. But it could be when she got there she looked like a drowned rat and the grocery bag she was using as a purse broke and one thing that fell out amongst many was a strip of condoms. Asking if she wanted to put them to use wasn’t too far off the mark.
Their bantering is a lot of fun it gives a lot of insight into who they are a people and what they each want. How little they truly knew about each other. And what they can still learn of their heart and of each other’s heart. You will totally enjoy this book. Short and sweet. I give this: 5 stars.
Provided by Net Galley.
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Profile Image for Book Gannet.
1,572 reviews18 followers
May 5, 2015
3.5 stars. This is another quick, enjoyable romance from the Meadowview Heat series. This time it’s playboy Theo and no-nonsense Chessie colliding with interesting effects. I love a good tale of opposites attract, but that’s not quite what I got here. Chessie is a bit of a contradiction, because no matter how positive she is in life and how she tries to see the good in people who don’t deserve it (her teenage neighbour in particular), she also has a massive grudge against rich people. True, Theo is spoilt, he does have an ego and tries to solve too many issues with money, but there is so much more to him and as someone who’s known him for so long, Chessie should know that. Instead she takes him at face value and thinks even worse of him from there.

Which is a shame, because once you get past the surface glitter Theo’s a good guy and he’s quite good fun. Although his propositions were a bit too blatant at times – and I was surprised at how quickly Chessie took him up on his offer. As great as it is to have a woman unabashedly in touch with her sexuality, the way they both go into their friends-with-benefits deal without much forethought was both a little foolish and obviously going to end badly. Like one or two other situations that crop up throughout the book. The only surprise was just when those decisions were going to come back to haunt them.

On the whole, though, this is a fun read with less heat than I expected considering the deal, but then it does jump around in time a fair bit and sometimes unexpectedly. It was nice to actually see the two characters getting to know each other better and somehow building a relationship out of the situation they find themselves in. Theo remains a demanding fool for far too long, while Chessie clings to her unfair judgements to avoid getting hurt, yet somehow something sweet comes out of it all. It’s an easy, undemanding read and left me with a smile on my face – what more could I ask for?

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Profile Image for Jessica.
345 reviews12 followers
July 6, 2015
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

I really liked this book! I think Chessie & Theo's love/hate relationship is what makes the book! I love the banter between them. Theo got on my nerves a few times but overall I loved the book!

Blurb
Country-girl Chessie Gibson’s always been a giver. Billionaire Theo Courant’s always been a player. Since childhood, the two have irritated the heck out of each other. Only when Theo breaks both wrists and ankles in a snowboarding accident, Chessie’s asked to care for her family friend. But being stuck with egotistical Theo in her Meadowview farmhouse is most definitely not her idea of fun.
Theo sees Chessie as part pin-up girl, part hippie-chick—nothing like the models and social climbers he’s used to dating. She’s gorgeous and luscious, but he’s never made a move on his best friend’s younger sister. The two of them are opposite in almost every way imaginable. But wow—is she ever hot!

But when Theo and Chessie end up stuck together for weeks, they come to know each other in ways neither thought possible. Seeing a different side of Theo—he’s not exactly the frivolous playboy he seems—Chessie finds herself unable to resist the temptation to try a “friends with benefits” situation. But their differences continue to come between them…and if Theo doesn’t learn love is something that cannot be bought, the chance of a lifetime could pass them both by.


Theo & Chessie are polar opposites but they come together nicely! Theo seems a little shallow to me but I quickly forget it. I felt so bad for Chessie when she's dealing with her neighbor girl.

I love that Theo goes out of his way to make Chessie happy. I loved it!
Profile Image for Romantic Reads and Such.
1,197 reviews18 followers
June 2, 2015
Chessie is one of those hippie-dippie Earth-lovin’ girls – she’s got her own, very unique, style and is big on being green. Usually I find that authors try a little too hard to get these free spirits on the page and they end up not appealing to me at all, but French does a fantastic job and I absolutely adored Chessie. She’s got a wonderfully positive attitude and a big heart … and a love-hate relationship with Theo.

To her, he is just too shallow, too rich, too good-looking … just too too. But when they are forced to live together for a few weeks while Theo recovers from his accident, Chessie starts to see the good guy underneath. She finds that his heart is just as big as hers and he works very hard to help those who need it … he just hides it behind that pretty boy façade. Which makes him very hard to resist.

Buuuut, Chessie has some baggage when it comes to rich men and it makes it very hard to trust Theo. Plus, even though he has a big heart, he does have a different attitude toward money than she does, which adds to their conflict. I totally understand where both of them are coming from (well done Rochelle French) and I was right there with them as they struggled to find a way to make things work.

Some might have a little trouble with how they got to the point of being “friends with benefits” but these two definitely had a unique relationship before Theo’s accident so it does work. And while there are a few steamy scenes between them, the majority of the book is about them getting a chance to see beneath the surface of the other, falling in love, and deciding whether they can risk their hearts.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)

**For those that haven't read other stories in this series, this one can stand alone.**
Profile Image for Tabitha Jones.
303 reviews15 followers
April 19, 2015
I was given a copy of this book to read and review via Netgalley

OMG!! I just loved this story. Such a sweet romantic series. This is the first book by Rochelle that I have read and I fell in love with her writing style. The characters really come to life in this small-town of Meadowview and will touch readers' hearts and funny bones. Chessie a vibrant woman full of attitude and spunk she will leave you laughing. Theo a rich, but handsome charmer really gets to you. When Chessie gets a phone call from her friend and asks if she can please take care of her brother Theo who had just been hurt during a ski accident she drops everything to become his nurses aide. At first Theo didn't think this would work out staying at Chessie's house, but when his sexual tension builds up and he can't do anything about because he is covered in casts and can barely comb his hair the fireworks start going off. Can Theo and Chessie get past their friendship? Will Chessie be able to give away her heart again? I can't wait to read more in this series and by this Author, It is amazing.
Profile Image for Coral Mitchell.
3,191 reviews
December 5, 2015
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Chessie believes in the best of all people and gives of herself selflessly. She is on the verge of taking her business of organic, homemade items nationally. Her best friend's brother, Theo, has injured himself and needs assistance because her friend cannot get to the hospital to be with him. Theo is a billionaire playboy that gets what ever and whoever he wants or throws money at the problem until he does. Now Chessie must take care of Theo at her house for the next six weeks and he irritates her to no end. Both Chessie and Theo think they know each other, but come to realize they have not taken the time to really understand one another.

A lovely story to not judge a book by it's cover. Chessie and Theo grew up around one another but never got to know one another. Chessie must learn to not judge and Theo must learn money cannot solve everything and both must be willing to open their hearts and lives to another. A very sweet, hot story.
Profile Image for Heather andrews.
9,520 reviews163 followers
April 9, 2015
Theo has a warped sense of humor, "cool,” came a deep, male voice from the bed. “Usually people bring flowers when they come visit someone in the hospital, not love gloves. But hey, I’m not complaining. Wanna put those to use?" The relationship these two was a strange one:
"What the hell?” Chessie stopped dead in her tracks and stared at Theo’s crotch.
“It’s an erection. I know you’ve seen one before."
Theo isn't afraid to ask for what he wants, "yeah, sure. But I also love middle-of-the-night sex. Sleep in the same bed with me." He gets frustrated when he can't pleasure his woman the way he wants, "God, I want to touch you with my hands.” Theo’s words tugged her lightly toward the earth. “I want to stroke you, to feel you. Damn these effing casts." I loved Theo and I enjoyed reading this book
Profile Image for Mariel Hoss.
689 reviews6 followers
June 15, 2015
***ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

The 4th in the Meadowview series is the 1st one I've read so it functions well as a stand alone. This one deals with Chessie, earth goddess and Theo, seemingly a manwhore.

Antagonists since they were kids...you know what they say about the thin line between love and hate? Well, this romance is built on that. Nothing like being forced to care for an injured gorgeous man to bring out the Florence NIGHTingale in a woman. They decide to scratch the itch while he's recuperating fully expecting that nothing beyond their bodies will be involved...HAH!

A short and fun romp (yep, I went there), cute and satisfying.
Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
9,264 reviews176 followers
April 27, 2015
Tempting the One is a cute opposites attract story. A country girl falls for a city boy. Simple down to earth Chessie has a good heart, knows her own mind and is not afraid to speak how she feels. Theo is a billionaire who is used to getting his own way. Theo came across as a real jerk . Yet Chessie saw something in him and being around her brought out a different side of Theo. I enjoyed the story and would highly recommend it. Received Tempting the One by Rochelle French for an honest review.
Profile Image for Emma bramley.
2,570 reviews26 followers
February 20, 2021
this is a good quick story, the story works well and flows really well. the relationships between the characters blooms throughout the book. even though its a short book there are plenty to the story and will keep you reading it. you see how two people have to learn new feelings and how they deal with them to see if they can have there happy ever after
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4,872 reviews16 followers
January 28, 2016
Chessie and rich boy Theo have known each other since childhood and irritated each other since then. Theo is a player but has an accident and breaks both his wrists and his ankles so Chessie steps into help.
This was very funny at times. I loved the ups and downs Chessie goes through . Good overall story, plot, and characters. I recommend.
**I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Sherry Haynes.
1,230 reviews16 followers
October 13, 2016
Chessie and Theo's story is about seeing something in a different light then we ever saw it before. Tempting The One is fun, sad, hopeful, and includes just enough love and baggage to wonder what will happen next. Plan to read the rest of the series.
159 reviews4 followers
April 12, 2015
Cute story, i started the series with this one so I'll need to read the first 3 now.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews