I know what you’re thinking. No one has a perfect life. But let’s check the evidence. Head of a billion dollar fashion brand. Reigning King of Instagram. My life is a steady stream of… whatever the hell I want, actually. Trips around the world, priceless jewels, fast cars, and even faster women.
And none of it seems to matter.
Then I meet someone who doesn’t care about the cars, the fame and the money. She doesn’t know me as anything other than a guy in a bar. She just wants to have a good time. Something I’m more than happy to provide.
Until she ditches me after the hottest night of my life. And suddenly I know what my life has been missing.
M. Malone is a NYT and USA TODAY bestselling author, a RITA® Award winner, and a member of RWA's Hall of Fame.
She lives with her husband and their two sons in the picturesque mountains of Northern Virginia even though she is afraid of insects, birds, butterflies and other humans.
Since starting her indie publishing journey she has sold over a million books and her titles have hit the NYT and USA Today bestseller lists more than a dozen times. She also holds a Master’s degree in Business from a prestigious college that would no doubt be scandalized at how she’s using her expensive education.
3.5 Set Me Up Stars * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free-It's Free!!! M. Malone has done what many authors are doing now, creating a quickie start to whet the appetite and pull us into a story about two main characters which will be continued in another book. This could be considered a type of prequel or the POV of the male's character. Either way, it works to cause the reader to click- click the upcoming book.
Mainly we have the insight to Andre, a man who should feel like he has everything. He is an award-winning designer, has any woman if he wants and unlimited wealth he earned. He is Italian, incredibly handsome, and feels like he is missing something. During a conversation with his like-minded brother, he is taunted that he would never be able to function as a "regular" guy. Andre bristles at this and decides to try to see if it is true.
Casey is hoping to have a chance of getting ahead of the curve. She has worked hard taking care of her family and now she may have the one opportunity at a life-changing position. She is getting coffee before her interview and a man bumps into her spilling her coffee all over him. She is sorry. lets him know and their eyes lock as she apologizes. A little bit of conversation happens; she called him her lucky charm. They separate and the day continues.
Andre liked what he experienced and decides to go out that night to a "real person's bar" instead of the usual place he goes. Dressed in nondesigner jeans and not a 1000 thread count t-shirt, he ends up at the same bar as Casey. They see each other and she tells him he was her lucky charm as she got the all-important job. They share a beer and then Casey lets Andre know she was open to one last night of fun, only hook up... they both understand life is focused on their work and no relationships are the goal.
Well, let's just say both, Andre and Casey, see Stars, Galaxies, and Ecstasy...Much more than a hook-up for them. So when Andre wakes and has decided he wants to shockingly pursue something with Casey... her disappearing act rubs him the wrong way.
This is a fun way to set up the next book, Ask Me, all from Casey's POV. There is much to anticipate. This Freebie is a solid tease.
Update: I just finished the next book Ask Me, and discovered this prequel is nothing but excerpts from that book. So I was a little frustrated when I started Ask Me and realized that content from that book was copied to the prequel Word for Word and I was reading some of the same scenes again. From about 60% forward Ask Me was entirely new content. So my advice, seeing as this prequel doesn't add anything to the next story just skip this one.
3.5⭐️ This is a really quick novella that establishes how Andre and Casey meet. It’s intended to hook the reader into buying the actual full length book so you can read about their HEA. If that tactic annoys you-stay away
Told completely from Andre’s POV.
Characters: - Andre (age:28, mega famous fashion designer): -Andre is not your typical guy because it seems like he’s ready to settle down and have a family. His successful company takes a lot out of him and he’s tired and lonely and he wants to share his life with someone.
”I’ve done so much but at the end of the day I’m still alone with no one to share it with. The people I spend the most time with are on my payroll. Every smile, every conversation, is part of their workday. All I ever wanted was success but now that it’s here, it brings its own problems.”
- Casey (aka Clumsy Girl) (receptionist at marketing firm ): - I don’t know anything about Casey besides the fact that she really needs this job.
The story: - Andre and Casey literally bump into one another and then later on run into each other at a bar. One thing leads to another and they have a one night stand. They have heat and chemistry and definitely enjoy their time between the sheets.
As I mentioned, this is a short story, so don’t expect a great amount of depth. And because this is only from Andre’s POV, nothing much is known about Casey.
I did like Andre and would like to see him get his HEA. The story flips between the US and Italy, so I like the setting too. The story is a bit choppy, but it was still enjoyable.
It’s not often you find the guy that is ready to settle down, so I think I’m intrigued enough to continue with the next book.
Quotes “I feel like a piece of fabric that has been stretched until it’s frayed and thin. And I’m starting to not even recognize myself.”
“Since I learned to sew as a young boy under the direction of my nanny I’ve been in love with the idea of creating the clothes people live their lives in.”
“Andre Lavin is more than just who I am, it’s my company, my legacy and I know how incredibly lucky I am to do what I love each day.”
“That murderous expression on her innocent face is adorable. Like one of those tiny kittens that’s convinced it’s actually a fierce lion.”
“I want to do something completely different. I love what I do now but I also want to work on helping the less fortunate. Maybe a non-profit program to help them get warm clothes in the winter. Something like that.”
I know what you’re thinking. No one has a perfect life. But let’s check the evidence. Head of a billion dollar fashion brand. Reigning King of Instagram. My life is a steady stream of… whatever the hell I want, actually. Trips around the world, priceless jewels, fast cars, and even faster women.
And none of it seems to matter.
Then I meet someone who doesn’t care about the cars, the fame and the money. She doesn’t know me as anything other than a guy in a bar. She just wants to have a good time. Something I’m more than happy to provide.
Until she ditches me after the hottest night of my life. And suddenly I know what my life has been missing.
Andre is a very successful guy who feels empty inside. One time, his brother dared him to pretend to be an average guy and just have fun. Taking on the dare, that's when he met Casey. A clumsy American girl. They had the best night ever (according to Andre) but then the morning after, she just left.
I did not feel connected to the story. We only have Andre's pov here because turns out, this is just the first part of the story. You will need to read the second part to know what happens to this couple.
It was short. We don't really know Andre and Casey yet because nothing substantial happened on this book.
The main prequel is a unique, original idea - hot alpha male billionaire meets hard working, beautiful girl and sparks fly. Wait, are you saying that's been done before? Shocking, I tell you, simply shocking.
This version has some differences that I appreciate for adding depth to the characters. She's sassy and independent, not afraid to speak her mind. He's been hurt before, and vulnerable for it now. It's a good pairing that made me want to keep reading, and the excerpt from another book in the series makes me want to read that one as well.
Well written, cleanly edited. An example below:
Casey follows closely, leaning into my side. “With my new job, I’m going to be really busy after this. I’m not looking for anything serious. But I’m really attracted to you. I’ve never felt like this with a guy before. So I guess what I’m saying is, I’d love to go look for a restaurant but I’d really rather go find a bed.”
Andre Levin at 28 he's got it all, a thriving business, fans across the globe, a jet setting lifestyle... or so it would seem. While on business in the States he ditches his usual style and hangs out at a local bar where he meets his "clumsy girl" aka Casey. One night... one night of unbridled passion, where it's just the two of them, no outside world, no second names nothing. The next morning she's gone, and Andre realises what he wants it's what has been missing from his life: Casey.
But with no contact details not even a last name, how will he find her again? Maybe it was just meant to be one night.
This was a short read, I'd have liked to say it was a decent short read, but it was lacking for me. Written in Andre's perspective it's almost forced, we jump from a red carpet event to launching a new line with the storyline chopping and changing, I get that it's a short story but the parts were disconnected and crudely joined to resemble a story.
This was a very quick read and left me wanting more. We meet Andre, a rich and famous fashion designer who has a mother who likes to meddle in his personal life. When fame and women who just want him for the money he can spend on them becomes too much Andre decides to dress like a regular guy and see what happens. Andre runs into a beautiful woman not once but twice. And she is looking to celebrate a new job with a little one night stand. Every guys dream right? Wrong! Andre becomes adamant he is going to find her and even hires a private investigator. We see in this book that there is no lengths that Andre will not go to to get what he wants. Because it was a very short read, only ten chapters, it really made me feel as though it was lacking just a little something. To get any answers as to what ends up happening I must go and read the next book and hope that it is a little bit longer than this one. Overall it was an okay read.
4/5 stars, ONLY because the next book is amazing and a longer version of this one!
Skip this and go to the next! “Ask Me”
This book is a short novella, it should NOT be classified as #1 in a series. It should not be saying read this before you read the next book “Ask Me”. This, basically is all repeated in the next book with the addition of Casey’s POV.
IF YOU DID READ THIS, then you must read the next, to find out what Andre does with the panties 😂😂😂
Andre is a bit much, but in an adorable way. Casey is in need a break when complicated steps into her life. Neither knows quite what their getting into until emotions start to get In the way. Will their fledgling romance survive the secrets intent on bumbling to the surface. Ask Him is a charming introduction to a tempting rollercoaster ride.
I have read M. books before ...but Ask Him (Ask Me) are so similarly named I got a bit confused, almost reviewed the wrong book ...giggles. got the right one now. great read and will read more from M. ( ;
This was such a refreshing story to read filled with humorous situations. On some occasions, I had to stop laughing long enough so I could compose myself so I could continue reading. The main characters, rich and famous designer, Andre Lavin and ordinary working girl, Cassandra (Casey) Michaels, were complete opposites of each other. With his grace and sophistication, he was the perfect compliment to Casey's down home goodness laced with a heavy helping of awkward klutziness. Their interactions were hysterical and I couldn't wait to learn how their story ended. I will be reading the next book. Reading this story was such a pleasure and I am so happy that I didn't miss meeting Andre and Casey. Thanks for such a wonderful read!!!!!
I actually quite liked this until advertising for the next book in the series appeared in the middle of this book. Totally threw me but I persevered and the book got back on track or so I thought. A chapter on and it suddenly ended (the book I thought I had purchased) but not before more advertising for the next book took its place. Not sure whether this is a formatting problem or deliberate but it stopped my interest straight away. Hope it gets sorted because I actually did like the story but I expected the novel I downloaded and not bits and pieces of other novels throughout the one I am reading. They spoil the reading experience but in saying that there was a certain style and humour I might have liked if I had been given the opportunity.
A great introduction to this series. Andre levin is a fashion designer with his own company. Missing something from his life he follows his brothers advice to act like a normal guy. Dressed in clothes that cost less than one of his belts he doesn’t care when coffee is spilt on him by a petite curvy girl. Another night at a bar he sees her again and they end up spending one night together but she disappears before he can discover her last name. 2 months later he finds her working as a receptionist at the marketing firm he’s working with but she wants to pretend nothing happened as she can’t afford to lose her job. Andre has other ideas though.
Andre is a high end fashion designer whose brother dares him to go out and have some fun. So he does. He meets a woman named Casey and she's out celebrating landing a new job. She propositions him for a one night stand and he agrees. Unfortunately, she gets under his skin and when she leaves, he tries to find her. He doesn't and it makes him extremely grumpy. He finds her by accident and she begs him not to say anything so he doesn't and that's the way it ends.
Unlike many readers I have no problem with serials as long as it clearly says so in blurbs. This was an excellent short intro to series. I am intrigued and definitely want to know more about characters. As well as the disturbed women in story. Though I disagree with the males being such a “image” conscious concerned owner of co. There are many wacky and unusual modern fashion designers. Not all are like Klein. Or other males designers of old. Most are not in front center except during fashion show season
It was mediocre. I did not connect to spend $3.99 on the next book. One night stand story. The hero only knew the heroine as Cassie. He did not know her last name or anything else about her when he went looking for her after their "amazing" one night stand.
She ended up being a receptionist at his company or a client's company and that is how he found her. I skimmed through parts of it at that point.
Cute tale of a guy wanting to be an average guy in an local bar and falls in love with a girl he spent one night with. This leads to the next book in the series. I wish it had a bit more character to get my teeth into. A one night stand is not a stand alone book. There was no actual character development. Yes I like romance and sex but there should be more to it then this. Otherwise it was okay.
Well, this was a short read. I wish I could say this was a good short read, but it wasn't. Apparently, it is just a teaser for a full-length story, which I was unaware of.
I guess that could explain why it was so choppy and disjointed. I finished reading it, and wasn't even sure what I'd just read since it barely even seemed like a story at all. Just a bunch of random scenarios patched together that didn't seem to even make a coherent plot.
Love how casey want out for what she want for a one night stand. Never thought you would meet again and pop up. Just think how she feeling. Have the and a mistake or good thing or a bad things. Can not wait to read the other part how casey and her billions it toy get all of ynist
Didn't realize when I got this that it wasn't the whole story. Even at that the story was one sided, and not worth buying the second installment to finish what happens. It seemed like it was a good storyline from the blurb. So the premise is there, but the delivery is the problem. I gave 2 stars because it had promise.
This story ends on a cliffhanger... be prepared and warned... what starts out as a one night stand begins a massive obsession for Andre to find his mystery girl Casey. It without a last name he is just out of luck, until a chance meeting finds him again looking into her brown eyes.
I was under the impression that this was a free book. Instead it is a sample that tells half the story . I would have skipped it if the ad wasn't so misleading. If you advertise free...make sure it's a whole book or be honest and say it's just a sample.
Firstly, it is important to put your name on your book — so that goodreads won’t have the main character as the author. I gather the author is M Malone, judging by the name on the next part of the story. Secondly, unless your novel is so good that a reader cannot put the book down, do not bother splitting it up and try to sell it off in instalments. You will lose your reader.
I loved hearing about their one night from Andre’s point of view. I can’t wait to get the rest of their story from Casey’s point of view. This is going to be a great ride with lots of fun!
Only 3* as the novel which I though I was getting turned out to be a sample... with only 10 chapters. I got cut off just as the story got going. Not sure whether I will buy the full novel though.
This was a nice introduction to the characters to a full length novel told entirely from the guy's point of view. It was a good fast read that probably could have just been part of the full novel.
Not a fan of these his version book and then into her version of their story in another book. Deleted after reading g a couple of chapters then uploaded to finish. Still didn’t hook me but was just okay.
In my opinion this is just a set up for the book Ask Me. Since I have started Ask Me, I don't think it is necessary to read. Ask Him is scattered in the first few chapters of Ask Me. This was very frustrating for me. In my opinion it was a waste of time.