Spunky artist manager, Jessica Stanton, isn’t looking for love. She’s looking for a savior. When a business rival steals yet another of her rising stars, she’s in danger of losing everything she’s worked so hard for…and the only person who can save her fledgling business is the one man she shouldn’t want.
Art authenticator, Eli Marks, doesn’t have time for love. He’s too busy saving his brother from the demons of his drug addicted past. For the past ten years he’s cultivated a façade to keep his distance from everyone else. But when a string of high-profile art forgeries threatens the security of the only family he has left, he must turn for help to a woman who breaks through his carefully constructed façade every time she’s near.
Will Jessica and Eli save each other? Or will secrets and lies stop them from finding true love?
Librarian's note: An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author, Nana Malone writes Sexy Feel-Good Romance and loves of all things romance and adventure.
That love started with a tattered romantic suspense she "borrowed" from her cousin. It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen. She's been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.
What a wonderful author! She is a genius with the written word and this book is no different. Our heroine is trying to keep her business afloat but a rival keeps stealing her artist. What she needs is a hero. Our hero is trying to keep his head above water. His brother is overcoming a serious drug addiction. Can he help her and save himself at the same time?
I listened to this on audio. It was a solid listen, however, Eli frustrated me. You could see the train wreck coming but were helpless to help him avoid it. This distracted me and took away from the story a bit much. I did, however, enjoy the mystery element to the book which was well crafted. The banter between Eli and Jess was hot.
This was a great sequel to "Game, Set, Match!!! I hope you plan to continue with the series because I can't get enough of this little tight knit family. Thanks for incorporating Izzy, Jason, and the kids into Mismatch. This was a great read!!! I Absolutely loved Jessica and Eli's story. After reading Izzy and Jason's story I felt that Jessica deserved to find someone to love her unconditional as well. Nana has a unique writing style that I love. I have read other books written by her and "Mismatch" is one of my favorites! The characters' chemistry Oozes from the pages forcing you to fall in love with them. This is a must love for anyone that loves to read about True Love.
This was one of my “ooh” moments when I requested the book from NetGalley – and I am thrilled that I was approved. Exactly what the doctor ordered, a clever, well-written contemporary romance that combined artists and international intrigue with a female lead with a thing for bad boys.
Jessica is from an art-supporting dynasty: struggling to find premiere artists to keep her fledgling gallery and representation agency afloat. When a hot tip on a new controversial artist leads her to the most erotic performance art she had ever seen, she meets the man that will turn her inside out.
Introduction of Jessica and Eli, and later the interactions with Simon was an interesting twist on the ‘switching twins’ story, and the true intentions were more honest than most experiences people have with that sort of story-line. Emotionally, both Eli and Jessica have a ton of growing up to do, but their strong voice shared through their point of view provides several easy reasons to empathize with them: yet another reason to like the story.
Nana Malone has a knack for seeing and sharing the humor in situations, and there were some pretty ridiculous situations, she also managed to add some important points about artistic technique and forgery that should have everyone looking deeper at the painting on the wall. This was a read that kept the fun and light tone of a mind-candy must read summer book while providing characters that grow before your eyes, separately and together. I can’t wait to read the first in the series (just got it) and I will be looking for Simon’s story soon.
I received an eBook from NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
How to do the review without spoilers because some of the characters are not mentioned by name in the blurb?
I loved Mismatch. It is another one I would put on my list of books to take to the beach with me for an afternoon of reading while getting a tan, if it wasn’t raining constantly in Iowa right now. That list is going to be renamed to my list of books TBR while staring out at the rain pouring down AGAIN. While it is light reading, there is still a little mystery (there has to be, Eli is an art authenticator who consults for the FBI), a smidge of deception (technically the whole romance is built on deception from the beginning), a couple of really steamy scenes (that I wouldn’t let my teenager read ), and a HEA to wrap it all up.
More or less, I would say this is one of those perfect romance books where the hero is hot and a little mysterious, the woman is beautiful and is being deceived, and the romance all comes together the way it should.
Nana Malone, I can’t wait to read Game, Set Match and then see what comes next for you!
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me MisMatch(A Humorous Contemporary Romance)(Love Match) to read. I enjoyed it.
ARC given by of CrushStar Multimedia LLC via NetGalley
I found Mismatch a cute surprise. It is very much a light and fluffy read. Prefect for what I call waiting room reads. No real brain work involved just mind candy.
My only negative was that I have many laugh out loud moments while reading Mismatch that I don’t think were intentional. Pardon me while my juvenile giggles return…..
,i>“Her release slammed through her quickly with the force to make her limp.” For whatever reason all I could think was “is she walking somewhere?”
“—he had himself sheathed in seconds.
The animal was out and free—“
Okay… (wipes tears) “the animal was out and free?
And my absolute favorite the made me laugh out loud…. “She was blonde. She’d lost the wig in the hair tugging.”
Okay…. I guessed I missed the part beforehand that said she was wearing a wig?
Don’t get me wrong I am just having a little fun. For whatever reason these quotes just triggered my inner juvenile and I just couldn’t help myself. Light easy fluffy reading.
This is general escapism reading. It's quick, it's light, and it's well written. The cover is fun too.
This book belongs in your summer beach tot. Bonus, if you're single, a beautiful woman laughing is always sure to get a guys attention.
There's the expected silly lines that borderline on peer fluff, but there's a good dose of intentional humor.
The most important thing is that Nana Malone is a talented writer that allows you settle into the escapism without being drawn out by a lot of cliches.
Don't expect a lot of analyzing with this one, just some good ol' fashioned, leave the planet behind, join some one elses reality, fun.
Note: I received a copy of this novel in exchange for a review. Opinions and words are my own.
Jessica Stanton, an artist manager with a flare all her own, meets Eli (who she thinks is Samson, his twin) and goes on a whirlwind sequence of events. There are a few plot twists that you couldn't see coming and can't help but to keep turning the page while trying to solve the case that Eli is working on. Though Eli isn't Jessica's "type", she can't deny the attraction and magnetism between them and takes a chance on the artist. The ending had me questioning if I had any detective skills at all, because I couldn't have guessed what happened. I can't wait to read the next book.
Twins usually stop playing such ridiculous games way before they get to the age of Sam and Eli. Kind of a ridiculous premise. Not sure which brother is worse. And Jessica. She needed to run. Run fast and run far. Truly not a likable person amongst them all so hard to connect I any positive way with the story. The rest just a big mess of nonsense.
Mismatch is a sassy romantic comedy that has plenty of humor and steamy romance that will keep the reader thoroughly entertained.
Mismatch is the second book in the Love Match series that picks up where Game, Set, Match (book 1) left off, but this book focuses on Jessica Stanton. Set in trendy LA and written in the third person narrative, author Nana Malone weaves an engaging tale that follows the introduction and relationship development of two very different people: Jessica Stanton and Eli Marks.
Jessica Stanton is an artist / entertainment manager who is trying to build up her struggling art gallery and artist management company. She's too focused on her businesses to go looking for love.
Eli Marks is an expert art authenticator who consults for the FBI on art forgery cases. Between his work and keeping Samson, his twin artist brother in recovery and walking the straight path, he doesn't have time for love.
When Jessica goes to a nightclub to check out Samson's show and recruit him for her artist management company, she meets Eli, who is not her usual type of guy: he is too conservative, she likes bad boys with tats and piercings. Instant mutual attraction leads to an intended one night stand that becomes anything but that, turning this mismatched couple's world upside down with a chance of finding true love!
This was such a fun story to read! Author Nana Malone weaves a story that has sassy humor, mystery and hot sex and passionate romance scenes interwoven into one heck of an entertaining read. Jessica and Eli are very different people, a mismatch that find themselves undeniably attracted to each other. Jessica is a reformed misfit whose love of tats, piercings and colored wigs had her marching to her own beat. Eli is a conservative and serious type of guy that has always been his twin brother's protector. Both have secrets and walls that they've never let anyone breakdown, that is until they meet each other. With a high profile case of art forgeries and deception comes threats ... can Eli protect his brother and still find true love with Jessica?
I loved both Jessica and Eli, their chemistry was palpable and their humorous dialogue and sensual interactions kept me engaged and wanting more! Jessica is a saucy, in-your-face, tell-it-like-it-is woman, I found myself immediately liking her. As for Eli, he's simply yummy .... hot, hot, hot! I loved the development of their relationship, and I really enjoyed how the storyline alternated between their perspectives. It is so easy to get caught up in their story and the art forgery case, that before you know it the story ends leaving you wanting more!
With a quirky realistic cast of characters who will keep you in stitches with their dialogue and interactions; a richly detailed setting and description of the art industry; and an engaging storyline that mixes romance and mystery; Mismatch is an enjoyable contemporary romantic comedy that will put a smile on your face.
Even though I did not read the first book in the series, I feel that Mismatch can be a stand alone read, but to do it justice read the books in order. I definitely will go back and read the first book, and I look forward to reading more books from this author. If you want a fast paced, fun, sassy, humorous and sexy story, then Mismatch is a must read, you won't be disappointed.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author via Reading Addiction Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Jessica raised in a family famous to become involved in the art world, but she wants to make a name for herself. She invests all she has, and more with the help of her friend Izzy and her husband, Jason, and open as partner an art gallery. But she needs an artist to make her grand opening, and it happens that the third time an entrepreneur art competitor "stole" her client.
Far from being lost to the crying, she goes after a new and talented client. Samson Marks is brilliant with his painting, and his stage performance attracts crowds. But on the same night that she will know her potential new client, Jessica comes across a man who takes the shaft ... and they end up in bed.
Eli was not looking for a woman. He was too busy in recent years helping his brother to restore his artistic career and stay out of trouble and drugs. One night of his brother performance, Eli meets a woman who snatches away, with her pink dress and her piercings. They end up in bed.
What Jessica did not know was that Eli and Samson were brothers .... twins, and she ends up thinking that the two are the same person, which hurt her professional decorum. She could not work with a client she had f*** ... But Samson, who passed for Eli, who passed for Samson (confusing, no?) manages to convince her to continue representing him.
At the bottom Jessica knew there was something wrong about "Samson" ... The eyes maybe? But the pretense is maintained for some time. Meanwhile she finds herself involved in a case of forgery of a work of art and her mother midlife crisis.
The book has an interesting catch. The beginning draws attention and the first time she and Eli fuck ... Wow! It's there hot! But as the story went on, my interest was waning. And I was wondering why ...
I loved the cover (quite in the style of Sarah Mason's books, which I love), the synopsis caught my attention, the characters are strong; Eli is one of oh-my-god male character. Maybe it was a bit by dialogues, perhaps because I think the main couple was so "mismatched" (maybe that's the reason for the book name), the type unlikely to be together in real life, I did not feel connected to them.
But I admit that the story has some funny parts and the author writes well. Probably I will read some of her other work to try to stop the bad impression. What I felt this book was the same way I do when not even a good cast can save a bad movie..
Co z tego, że oboje zdają sobie sprawę, że uprawianie seksu z klientem to fatalny pomysł, skoro od pierwszego spotkania zadziałała chemia, jakiej nie potrafią się oprzeć.
Ona jest menadżerem sztuki i w swojej galerii przygotowuje mu promocyjną wystawę. Jest debiutantką na trudnym kalifornijskim rynku, gdzie pozyskanie na wyłączność znaczącego artysty jako klienta nie jest łatwe. Tymczasem do Los Angeles dociera plaga fałszerstw i kradzieży obrazów oraz innych dzieł sztuki. Na dodatek ona nie zdaje sobie sprawy, ze największe zagrożenie dla jej zawodowej kariery i przede wszystkim dla przyszłości jej miłosnej przygody wynika z faktu, że ich jest dwóch, identycznych bliźniaków.
Mocno pokomplikowane okoliczności drugiej odsłony Miłosnego meczu (Love Match) zostały zręcznie przez autorkę wprowadzone i w niezłym stylu wplecione w rodzinne, zawodowe i towarzyskie uwarunkowania wpływające na losy bohaterów oraz, zgodnie z przewidywaniami, uzupełnione potężną dawką erotyki. Obraz środowiska artystycznego, choć daleki od kompletności i kulturowego pogłębienia, w ciekawy sposób pokazuje, jak współczesna sztuka funkcjonuje i jest promowana. Trochę szkoda, ze w rozplątaniu intryg, szczególnie wątku kryminalnego, poszła Nana Malone na skróty, nie wyjaśniając kulis i szczegółów działania gangu fałszerzy. Ale tak to jest w erotycznych romansach, których najważniejszym przesłaniem jest zawsze osiągnięcie spełnienia w życiu osobistym bohaterów. Motywy sensacyjno-kryminalne mają jedynie nieco urozmaicić akcję.
I got a kick out of this story. Jessica and Eli have nothing in common, other than a searing attraction for each other. And unfortunately, their relationship is built on a bunch of lies. The only truth is their feelings for each other. Somehow, though, those feelings are based on enough truth that they should be able to overcome the lies. And really, some of those lies are for the greater good! But to give that part away is to give away spoilers...
I admit that it is hard for me to believe that a girl as young as Jessica can have such a lucrative career, but she is quite determined and works hard for what she has. The mess between Eli and his brother is just crazy, but adds to the intrigue of the tale. That's part of the fun of rom com!
All three of these characters are hot! Can anyone say brotherly love? And now, I am craving art and artists...
This book made for an awesome summer read, with plenty of chuckles and romance. As soon as I was done with it, I downloaded 'Game, Set, Match,' which is the prequel to this story. Each book can be read independently of each other, but I just have to find out more about the other characters!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I received the request to review this book and was definitely intrigued by the synopsis so agreed to read for my honest review. This was a good book, I was just a little surprised about the level of hotness. Wasn’t prepared for that. So if you aren’t okay with a steamy book, this would not be for you.
The whole premise of the book was very intriguing. Twin brothers involved in the art business. One is the others keeper more or less. Their story of growing up also adds to the uniqueness of the story.
Jessica is also a great character. A tough female in managing the art business and she knows how to handle herself. Caught in a whirlwind, she’s not sure how to handle all aspects of the situation. Her mother is also an interesting character and adds to the story as well.
Besides enjoying the story and romance, I also enjoyed the little bit of insight into not only artists themselves, but art authenticators and investigating art forgeries.
This was an enjoyable romance story and definitely had its edge with the characters careers and interests. I would recommend this book to readers of “hot and steamy” romance novels. Quick and enjoyable read.
This book is one of those fun, fluffy adult romance that you can take with you while you lay out by the pool. Lots of hot romance with two very different people and a little bit of mystery make this a short novel you can enjoy reading.
Now there were some lines and some situations that I found to be a bit silly/ridiculous. Then again this isn’t a deep story so I guess that is to be expected. The plot moved along a fairly good pace and the characters were interesting and a bit quirky. This isn’t the kind of book that sticks with you but it does a good job at entertaining you.
Apparently this is the second book in a series. I can honestly say that surprised me because it read perfectly as a standalone. Overall the writing style made this an easy read and one I would recommend if you are looking for a light and kind of short story to read this summer.
Although Mismatch is standalone book, I think it is more enjoyable after reading Game, Set, Match. BUT, if you read this one first, it will make you want to buy Game, Set, Match.
Eli and Samson are artistic twins. Samson is the artiste, and Eli works with the FBI and an insurance company as an authenticator. Jessica is an art dealer who wants to manage Samson's career. Eli ends up stepping in for Samson, and he and Jessica fall in love. Eli is honestly much more than either he or Jessica believe.
Although this is a pretty light hearted read, you get mystery, suspense, some action, romance, heat, and lust, all wrapped up in one pretty sweet book. Eli and Jessica definitely have a spark that turns into a flame! Also, do yourself a favor and pick up Game, Set, Match.
Great Book! This is a great book; this is the second book in the Love Match series by Nana Malone. Jessica Stanton is a spunky artist manager; her business is declining because her business rival is stealing her rising stars. Eli Marks and his twin brother decide to switch places to catch a thief and a string of high profile art forgeries. If you are looking for a great book and has laugh out loud funny moments then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
If you a Nana Malone fan then I think you will enjoy Mismatch. If you read Game, Set, Match and enjoyed it then you will enjoy Mismatch. After a one night stand Jessica figures she won't see the guy again, except he's the artist her mom wants her to check out. Now everything has just become very complicated. Eli has lots of secrets and demons to deal with and now Jessica is under his skin, and he is lying to Jessica. Can these two get past the lies and secrets and move to the future? Nana Malone made me laugh in this book, Jessica's antics are funny. Eli and Jessica's journey is a fun ride and I enjoyed it very much.
I was super excited to read Jessica’s story because she was my favorite character in Game, Set, Match. Her personality definitely made this book entertaining. So did the originality. I liked the art forgery storyline and the fact that Eli was a twin. Even though I knew how things were going to go, it was still worth it to see how it all played out. It did seem like everything was resolved pretty quickly though.
Really cute and enjoyable read. Loved Jessica and "The Carbon Copy Twins" Eli and Samson. Jessica brought out the animal in Eli they couldn't keep their hands off each other and Samson the artist whose shows put you in the mood I wanted to see the show. Fun read with a little mystery.