Can this bad boy keep to the terms of their fake engagement? Find out in this Men of Maddox Hill novel from New York Times bestselling author Shannon McKenna!When it comes to bad boys, the rules of engagement are made to be broken… While not all of starchitect Drew Maddox’s playboy reputation is deserved, a recent scandal means he has one last shot to stay CEO of his family’s company. He has to settle down. Bright, beautiful and squeaky-clean Jenna Somers will make the perfect fake fiancée. Drew promises Jenna whatever she desires…but what she desires is him!From Harlequin A luxurious world of bold encounters and sizzling chemistry.Men of Maddox HillBook 1: His Perfect Fake EngagementBook 2: Corner Office SecretsBook 3: Tall, Dark and Off Limits
Also wrote five category romances under the penname Shannon Anderson
::From The Author's Website::
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
I started writing my first romance novel in secret. I was working a temp job in an insurance office in Manhattan at the time, and the office manager had made it clear that even if there was nothing to do, I still had to look busy-- never one of my big talents. I felt bad about the wasted time, though, and I needed something to round out my other chosen career, which was singing. Yeah, that's right. Most artists choose a more practical Plan B to back up their improbable Plan A. Me? No way. "Long Shot" is my middle name.
So I sneakily set up a Document 1 and a Document 2 with a spreadsheet on it. If my Boss du Jour walked by I could quick-like-a-bunny switch screens, and whenever the coast was clear, I went back to my story. Not that I was slacking, mind you. If there was work to be done, I did it. The sneakiness felt familiar, though, because I've been teased about reading romances since I was a kid. I think the day I finally grew up was the day I stopped trying to cover up what I was reading on the bus, train or subway. Let people think whatever they like.
It wasn't until I moved to Italy (details of that Long Shot provided later on) that I got serious about writing, though. I found myself with many long, quiet days alone with nothing to do, so I slogged my way bravely to the end of the manuscript and sent it out. Everybody rejected it-except for Kensington. I wrote for them for a few years, and then made a bid for an erotic novella for the new Brava imprint, and oh joy, they accepted it. Then I wrote BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. And so on, and so forth.
That's how I started. I can't think of anything I'd rather do. I never knew it would be so scary, and so hard . . . all that solitude and silence, a blank computer screen, and no one to blame. But still. It's worth it. It's great.
Playboy, Drew is the CFO of his family’s architect company. When a scandal erupts with pictures of Drew and several women, his Uncle blows a fuse. Ava, Drew’s sister, has the perfect plan, get her best friend to act as Drew’s fiancée. Jenna is a biomechanical engineer, and she started her own bionics company, Arms Reach. She designs prosthetic mechanical limbs. This plan would be beneficial to her too because it will get more her company more attention. Jenna was engaged but her fiancé left her for his intern. So in order to get through this, she must wall off her heart. But someone is doing everything in their power to bring Drew down. Can Drew save his job and reputation and keep the woman he has fallen for?
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a fan of any of these characters except for Drew. Jenna thinks that because of who Drew dated before, he couldn’t possibly be attracted to her. But she did stick by him. Ava, I thought was bossy and mean. Drew would takes cues from Jenna and when she pulled away, he backed off. There are some surprises and sex. Even though I didn’t care for most of these people, I still enjoyed the book.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for the author *
This was OK - but it mostly failed the put-down / pick-up test. There were moments I liked, but there's a lot left on the table here that isn't fully explored (Drew's drugging at the party is a HUGE missed opportunity that I think we can probably blame on the short word count of the Desire line). There's a lot of Not Like Other Girls nonsense I could have done without, but I did like that both characters thought they weren't "good enough" for entirely different reasons. Also, please God let Ava get her own book and please let her not be neutered to turn her into "acceptable" romance heroine material. OK, but not great. Also, for McKenna fans, while Drew is All Alpha he's definitely more housebroken than some of her other heroes.
This was really missing the spark that make Shannon McKenna my favorite author. The story was ok but didn't read like what I have come to expect from her.
Drew Maddox is in a bit of a mess and no one seems to believe in him anymore, not even himself. His sister, Ava, has decided how to fix this problem and ropes her best friend, Jenna, in on it.
This is a sweet story of a man fighting for his honor back and a woman who not only helps him find that but so much more.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't expecting to like this as its a tired trope, but it totally slapped.
Architect billionaire playboy gets setup in the tabloids (in an over the top way that only Shannon McKenna can do) which threatens to destroy his career. His sister's brainy bff from college, who's always been a little bit in love with said playboy, becomes the fix with a fake engagement.
See? We've been here before.
The thing is- this is good. And though the " job description" of the hero makes him out to be an alpha male he actually is quite tender and smart and non toxic. In fact, what was done TO HIM was quite toxic. I actually believe the author could have explored more the trauma he actually experienced, and no it wasnt his military background, which he also had. (yeesh we get it. Alpha.) (But really not).
I dont want to spoil anything but the setup part-or the fallout from it anyway- ended up being quite timely and original, I just wish it had been explored more.
My biggest bug was that everyone in the MCs sphere were so accomplished that it felt too unreal. I mean every. single. character...except the two baddies, of course. However, I just went with it.
The heroine was so wonderful- wow. You can tell McKenna put her research in.
4.5 Intoxicating & Sizzling Stars! I really enjoyed this intoxicating and sizzling fake fiance romance. Drew Maddox is embroiled in another public embarrassment, only this time he thinks he was set up. Drew has a repuation of a handsome, bad boy player, and the architect of the rich and famous. But his only passion is creating eco-friendly architecture and becoming CEO of his family's business. But this latest scandal puts his position in the company at risk. His sister devises a scheme that pairs him with her best friend, Jenna Somers. She is a brilliant and beautiful philanthropic engineer who designs cutting edge prosthetics. Her company is winning awards but funding is desperately needed. Drew can help her with rich connectons and Jenna, with her squeaky-clean image, can help clean up his reputation. Neither like lying, but desperate times... Jenna has always had a crush on Drew, but he never noticed her, until now. She is easy to talk to, intriguing, and makes him want to be a better man. Their connection is instant and their fiery attraction makes their chemistry explosive. But convincing his uncle that he is the best man to take over the company, may be the least of their problems, when someone is determined to destroy any credibility that Drew worked so hard for. Drew and Jenna are so perfect for each other. They both work hard to make the world a better place, they have fun together, challenge each other, and their chemistry was off the charts. Drew was so swoony as he respected Jenna's boundary's, and she was a bada55 nerd you definitely didn't want to mess with! This story was a roller coaster ride with witty banter, push/pull emotions, a bit of suspense, and hot steamy passion, which is everything I crave to read. What a great start to the Men of Maddox Hill series!
His Perfect Fake Engagement is the opening act of Shannon McKenna’s new Men of Maddox Hill series. I absolutely love Shannon’s writing so I had absolutely no hesitance when picking up His Perfect Fake Engagement. I was prepared for that it would be far different from what I am used to when it comes to Shannon’s book but I was open to experiencing her writing in another genre. It is a typical Harlequin plot so if you have read Harlequin stories before, then you know what to expect though be prepared, she does add her own twist to it! In its essence it is a simple story – a hero (Drew) that is in a publicity nightmare, of not his doing (of course) and the simplest (or so they for some reason always think) is to fake an engagement with someone (Jenna) who has never been involved in any scandal … I liked that Shannon veered a bit off the usual shrinking violet and playboy storyline and gave Jenna some backbone, she is a powerhouse … and Drew is a hard working young man that generally is a pleasure to be around of … I also liked that Shannon managed to bring in the ‘evil under the surface/in the shadows’ moment though it was not as prominent as in her other books. If this is your first time tipping the toe into Shannon McKenna’s universe, I dare you to venture out the Harlequin world and dig into her McClouds & Friends series, you will never leave!
I was over the moon to see that a new Shannon McKenna book had hit the selves. I have been reading her books for years and this contemporary romance hit the mark for me. Drew Maddox and Jenna Somers are pushed together by Drew's sister Ava who tries to repair his image by creating a fake engagement for this bad boy architect. Jenna is a brilliant engineer and is trying to grow her company and bring advanced prosthetics to many in need. Ava feels that a fake engagement will boost Jenna's company's visibility and give her brother a semblance of stability. Jenna and Drew may appear as opposites to the outside world but when they get to really know each other they find that they really have much in common. I really enjoyed their story. It is told from dual POV and is smart, funny, spicy and I look forward to reading more in this series. This truly was a perfect fake engagement and I am so glad that I read it!
I never thought I would be reading Harlequin novels, but when one of your favourite authors asks for your opinion, you tend to say yes. Drew is a hard working, hard playing, big shot with an international architecture firm, who's been caught up in a scandal not of his making. He's about to be forced out and he needs help to sort this situation out. Enter Jenna, a sweet, smart-as-hell biotech who agrees to play along, whilst they try to figure out who wants to get rid of Drew.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this. The story is interesting, and makes for good escapism, the characters are fun, and the book is a good introduction for this new series. If you enjoy Shannon McKenna's characters then give this a go. It's not as gritty as her usual stories, and the bad guy isn't nearly as sadistic and sociopathic, but otherwise, it's a lot of fun. A great read for a Lazy Sunday
I can’t believe I had the chance to get an ARC of this book! This is like seeing my favorite author under a different light. To be honest, this book is different. Actually, it’s the typical Harlequin plot but with a Shannon McKenna twist. Although it was a bit hard for me to accept that this book is written by the one and only Mckenna, the ending completely compensated for it. It’s there that we find the evil turn, even if in a lesser dose (than what we are usually used to in other books). All in all, I liked the story. It’s nice and enjoyable. The plot is a bit simple, but I was glad to see that both protagonists have character, are smart, and have good interesting careers.
P.S. It's not a secret that I prefer the author's other books, and if you're reading my review and have never heard of Shannon McKenna before, you'd be wrong not to give her a try!
I was given a chance to read this book in advance in exchange for my honest opinion.
Shannon McKenna is introducing a new series. The Men of Maddox Hill is very different than what Shannon McKenna writes but it still holds the reader’s attention. Meet Drew Maddox, who is labeled as a playboy, but that isn’t who he is. Pictures of Drew in a compromising position surface, his sister Ava thinking that on order to help Drew keep his job, he should have a fake fiancé . Ava talked her friend Jenna Somers into pretending to be Drew’s fiancée.
Oh my gosh, again Shannon did it. I love Drew and Jenna's story. As always Shannon's characters are so likable. I love the way Shannon's characters meet fall in love and even with struggles they remain together and tackle them together and their love survives. True love stories and I'm sure this series will be no different. Can't wait to read more of the Maddox Hill series.
Given that this novel was a Harlequin, I was a little concerned that it would be missing the depth, fire, and flair that are the author’s signature in her other, more robust stories. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was just as passionate and emotionally charged as her other stories. I continue to be a stalwart fan of all things Shannon McKenna.
This one took me for surprise. I was envisioning the standard Harlequin sequence where after the two leads finally find love they have a massive argument and there happy ending is threatened. What I received was a shero!! Ready to defend her love, willing to ignore the naysayers regardless of closeness to her, and a equally solid male lead whom wasn't unwilling to be the best man he could be!!
Call the fire department! So much smolder and sizzle between Drew and Jenna! Sure hope we get more of their story! Definitely grabs you right on. More please! Great job on another page turner to Shannon McKenna!
Addicting read! Drew, an eco-conscious architect, has found himself in a publicity nightmare. Though the mess is not of his own making, his career is on the line if he can’t fix his image. His sister, a PR whiz, suggests a fake engagement with someone unblemished by the media. Her choice is her best friend, Jenna—a philanthropic engineer who designs cutting edge prosthetic arms. Jenna’s company could use more attention to get more funding, so the arrangement seems win-win: Jenna poses as Drew’s fiancé to clean up his image and her cause gets the spotlight. What makes this read impossible to put down is Shannon McKenna’s trademark dynamic characters and how they hook you in immediately. Drew isn’t the typical playboy one would expect—he works hard, designs sustainable housing and is wildly attracted to Jenna’s intelligence, altruism and accomplishments. And Jenna is powerhouse— no shrinking violet. She knows what she wants and makes it happen. Compelling read!
When scandalous pictures of Drew Maddox come out, his family decides that he needs someone to help his image. Enter tech genius Jenna Somers. She is to pose as his fiancée and in return he will introduce her to some very influential people. Neither expected the instant attraction that sizzles between them. I really loved these characters and the story and background suspense plot was outstanding. Love everything that Shannon McKenna writes!
This is a story about misunderstandings, family, friends and love. Drew is making headlines and for all the wrong reasons and needs help, Jenna, his sisters friend, accepts to help him by posing as his fiancée in order to clean up his reputation.. Not a full proof plan but it makes for an interesting story.
Reseña: Muy en el fondo no era lo que yo esperaba, la historia estuvo entretenida, pero hasta hay, es para ser una lectura que sirva para pasar el rato, como en todas a las historias de Harlequin, pero le falto, y mucho, aquí vemos a nuestra protagonista que es una brillante científica, pero por cosas de la vida necesita algo de dinero para poder darle luz verde a sus proyectos, acepta fingir ser novia del hermano de su mejor amiga, un playboy que necesita una imagen más pura debido a que sus escándalos lo tiene en el ojo del huracán de su familia, y pues como lo sospechan nuestra protagonista entra en la vida de Drew para tratar de hacerlo ver con una imagen más normal, más pura y más angelical, o sea, hasta aquí, todo bien, y es que la trama es buena, es solo que, simplemente me pareció algo plana, algo aburridor, no me emociono, no la sentí como algo que me hace palpitar, no fue de mi estilo, Sorry.
Voy a destacar que la escritura estuvo buena, la manera de dar detalles, y hacer que el lector entienda cada aspecto de la vida de todos los personajes del libro, pero sobre todo el trabajo de nuestros protagonistas, detallar con términos entendibles que hacen y porque son buenos en sus profesiones, fue una parte de que me gusto.
Pues con esta lectura normal, sencillamente no sé si recomendarlo, pero si le quieren dar una oportunidad a este tipo de historias, espero que la disfruten. No olviden que a la hora de leer, preparemos un delicioso té o un café, algunos bocadillos y sentémonos en buen espacio a leerlo con calma, paz y mucho amor.
Frase:
–Déjalo ya –dijo bruscamente.
–¿Que deje el qué? –preguntó sorprendido.
–Ese comportamiento de seductor que hace que las mujeres se derritan –respondió apartándose de él–. No quiero formar parte del club de fans de Drew Maddox.
A pesar de que no cambió de expresión, Jenna vio dolor en sus ojos.
–Perdóname. He malinterpretado tus señales. Ahora mismo me iré.
The characters are classic, watching them fall for each other is so fun. The banter and chemistry between Drew and Jenna is great. Shannon McKenna is known for her full-length books, so glad to see her writing category romances and how great it has turned out!
This is another great read by Shannon McKenna...if you haven't read her books yet; please do....she always delivers a great story and this starter for the series was no exception...alpha male AND alpha female...can't go wrong!