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Your Blue-Collar Romance #1
Take Your Shot
BENJI
They say opposites attract, like hot and cold, or in my case... clean and dirty.
With my plumbing ticket and heading closer to the big three-oh, I thought I came to grips with being single. That is, until I met the gorgeous, pale, icy blonde nurse who threw a wrench in my plans. Her name is Hannah, an angel to everyone except me.
Don’t hit on the nurse, she’s nothing but trouble.
Especially when your Indian mother has arranged other plans. Oh, I’m in sh*t—both literally and figuratively, only this time I have to figure out how to make my situation less messy.
HANNAH
There’s always that one patient that gets under your skin... His name is Benji and he’s a disease. It’s like he has nothing better to do in this Canadian town than poke fun at me. Hey, I’m not the fool who ended up in the ER twice on the same day.
I have this detailed checklist for attractive qualities in a gentleman, but now that I’ve met this unbearably handsome (emphasis on the unbearable) tradesman, I need to steer clear of that foul-mouthed plumber if I want to settle for Mr. Perfect.
They say opposites attract, like hot and cold, or in my case... clean and dirty.
With my plumbing ticket and heading closer to the big three-oh, I thought I came to grips with being single. That is, until I met the gorgeous, pale, icy blonde nurse who threw a wrench in my plans. Her name is Hannah, an angel to everyone except me.
Don’t hit on the nurse, she’s nothing but trouble.
Especially when your Indian mother has arranged other plans. Oh, I’m in sh*t—both literally and figuratively, only this time I have to figure out how to make my situation less messy.
HANNAH
There’s always that one patient that gets under your skin... His name is Benji and he’s a disease. It’s like he has nothing better to do in this Canadian town than poke fun at me. Hey, I’m not the fool who ended up in the ER twice on the same day.
I have this detailed checklist for attractive qualities in a gentleman, but now that I’ve met this unbearably handsome (emphasis on the unbearable) tradesman, I need to steer clear of that foul-mouthed plumber if I want to settle for Mr. Perfect.
- GenresContemporary
210 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2021
63 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Ria Zen
12 books15 followersCanadian author
Species: Human
Super Abilities: Motherhood
Special Skills: Sewing and fangirling over fictional characters.
Special Achievements: Marriage (Lv. 8), Childbearing (Lv. 3), Home Owner (Lv.2), "I Survived Canadian Winter" achievement, "Islander" achievement, "I voted" achievement.
Weakness: Korean Dramas and chocolate
Species: Human
Super Abilities: Motherhood
Special Skills: Sewing and fangirling over fictional characters.
Special Achievements: Marriage (Lv. 8), Childbearing (Lv. 3), Home Owner (Lv.2), "I Survived Canadian Winter" achievement, "Islander" achievement, "I voted" achievement.
Weakness: Korean Dramas and chocolate
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 10, 2020
Billionaire romances are huge and I understand the Fantasy BUT what about us who fell in love with the average boy next door? Benji earns a good living, works hard as a plumber, an honorable profession but not glamourous. He is looking for the right woman amidst his mother constantly asking when he will find said dream girl and settle down, if not found soon a prearranged back up bride, per tradition, is his future . Benji also views himself as quite the comedian on top of being a good catch. One day his job lands him in the ER where he meets a nurse, Hannah, who does not find him charming let alone funny. But she has the kind of dumb luck, on a daily basis, car troubles, needs a plumber, and the like that has her crossing paths with Benji more often than she would like. It really bothers Benji that he hates seeing Hannah on the arm of another safe, comfortable, match. A nurse and plumber aren't waht fairly tales are made of yet we all know THAT couple, or we are THAT couple, and that is wonderful. This clean, sweet, romance with a little dose of humor is a great bedtime read. This is the start of a great series that will be great for fans of romance writers such as Debbie Macomber, Jenny Hale, and Kari Shuey.
February 21, 2020
This was my first read from this author. I picked up this book because I have a thing for plumbers and this book did not disappoint. Plus, I loved the fact, that the guy was pure next door type and not some millionaire, which has become a common trait recently. This was a quick read about Benji and Hannah. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 12, 2021
This is just too cute!
And funny. A plumber with a porry mouth and an uncouth sense of humor, a Punjabi by culture who was born a citizen and knows very little Punjabi. His oarents live close to him, but Punjabi men live with their oarents until they marry and then they still libmve there while the wife is taught hiw the household rins nmby her MIL - which can be very difficult for a biride but is aooarently their norm. But Benji is Canadian, and Canadian men leave their parents amd live on their own, something which h8s dad is constantly telling Beji's mother.
Next - A nurse who hates cussing and is ultra clean. And has lists, from lists for the store to a list of what she wants in a man. She lives far from her family, sharing an apartment. She works long 10 hour shifts that even I, as a retired nurse, couldn't imagine doing when I was young. She makes a mistake on a busy day, thinking je is the herpes patient when it is the next patient over who has the disease. Benji was cutting the wall support for a toilet when someone who wasn't looking where tjey were going - on an active construction site - bumped him and left him with a long cut from a skilsaw, and though he insisted on wash8ngn8t andnaookying crazy glue, his wirkmates took him to the ER. She has fixed up tons if people who thought they were manly tradesmen who were in fact idiots. Later that day, after a mandated visit to his family home, a bee - 2 of them - sting him and he nearly dies from the allergies, and the same nurse is on duty, thinking him an idiot for not tracking bees or wasps in the ares when he is so allergic.
And so begins a weird coutship, interrupted and delayed by a man who starts dating the nurse but seems to have no real attachment to her, and his mother cintracting with a Sikh matchmaking company on his 30th birthday because he hasn't married yet. And the girl they select is the oldest one at 18 because Benji reminds them that marriage at a young age in Canada is illegal and could have him jailed as a pedophile. When she comes, he neets her at the airport and takes her to his parents' place to stay for the week she will be there. He figures out her game...watches her cheat on him...finds out a few things from his sister. Finally, he sees his true love, having not heard from her for ages, there in a lace dress and he introduces her as his girlfriend. The dad is happy- he had a feeling...and made the photographer take photos of the real girlfriend. The one there for a week tries to threaten him that if she's pregnant he will have to marry her and he replies he will demand a paternity test.
The book never says how she gets back home but her plane ticket was round trip. I assume she got a ride from the younger brother.
Anyway, the working out of all this includes a whopping number of sudden twists and turns, but it's a great book.
And funny. A plumber with a porry mouth and an uncouth sense of humor, a Punjabi by culture who was born a citizen and knows very little Punjabi. His oarents live close to him, but Punjabi men live with their oarents until they marry and then they still libmve there while the wife is taught hiw the household rins nmby her MIL - which can be very difficult for a biride but is aooarently their norm. But Benji is Canadian, and Canadian men leave their parents amd live on their own, something which h8s dad is constantly telling Beji's mother.
Next - A nurse who hates cussing and is ultra clean. And has lists, from lists for the store to a list of what she wants in a man. She lives far from her family, sharing an apartment. She works long 10 hour shifts that even I, as a retired nurse, couldn't imagine doing when I was young. She makes a mistake on a busy day, thinking je is the herpes patient when it is the next patient over who has the disease. Benji was cutting the wall support for a toilet when someone who wasn't looking where tjey were going - on an active construction site - bumped him and left him with a long cut from a skilsaw, and though he insisted on wash8ngn8t andnaookying crazy glue, his wirkmates took him to the ER. She has fixed up tons if people who thought they were manly tradesmen who were in fact idiots. Later that day, after a mandated visit to his family home, a bee - 2 of them - sting him and he nearly dies from the allergies, and the same nurse is on duty, thinking him an idiot for not tracking bees or wasps in the ares when he is so allergic.
And so begins a weird coutship, interrupted and delayed by a man who starts dating the nurse but seems to have no real attachment to her, and his mother cintracting with a Sikh matchmaking company on his 30th birthday because he hasn't married yet. And the girl they select is the oldest one at 18 because Benji reminds them that marriage at a young age in Canada is illegal and could have him jailed as a pedophile. When she comes, he neets her at the airport and takes her to his parents' place to stay for the week she will be there. He figures out her game...watches her cheat on him...finds out a few things from his sister. Finally, he sees his true love, having not heard from her for ages, there in a lace dress and he introduces her as his girlfriend. The dad is happy- he had a feeling...and made the photographer take photos of the real girlfriend. The one there for a week tries to threaten him that if she's pregnant he will have to marry her and he replies he will demand a paternity test.
The book never says how she gets back home but her plane ticket was round trip. I assume she got a ride from the younger brother.
Anyway, the working out of all this includes a whopping number of sudden twists and turns, but it's a great book.
February 2, 2020
Slowburn romance!!
This slow-burn romance had a quite flare of customs and cultural things going on; even though it was not the centre of the story, but it certainly quite a chunk that factoring the story flow. I guess this what made it seemed a bit lacking in chemistry, especially on the H's side. Hence, it has different elements going on that made an interesting melting-pot-story of romcom.
1. Strong characters;
2. Good flirtatious banter between the MCs (and the brother. I kinda like the brother character, actually. He seemed like a fun guy to be around :) ).
It was actually more like an on-going, almost neverending, flirting from the beginning to the end. But, I don't know. At some point in the story, I was just wishing that the H just get on with it, instead of beating around the bush. Well, I do like my H to know exactly what he wanted and how he wanted it. So, maybe, it just a matter of taste on how you like your H to be served?!
3. It definitely has an interesting flow on the overall story. I didn't expect some twist and turn nearing the story ending actually.
Overall, it was quite a treat for me to read this book, considering this was the first book I read from this author.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review
This slow-burn romance had a quite flare of customs and cultural things going on; even though it was not the centre of the story, but it certainly quite a chunk that factoring the story flow. I guess this what made it seemed a bit lacking in chemistry, especially on the H's side. Hence, it has different elements going on that made an interesting melting-pot-story of romcom.
1. Strong characters;
2. Good flirtatious banter between the MCs (and the brother. I kinda like the brother character, actually. He seemed like a fun guy to be around :) ).
It was actually more like an on-going, almost neverending, flirting from the beginning to the end. But, I don't know. At some point in the story, I was just wishing that the H just get on with it, instead of beating around the bush. Well, I do like my H to know exactly what he wanted and how he wanted it. So, maybe, it just a matter of taste on how you like your H to be served?!
3. It definitely has an interesting flow on the overall story. I didn't expect some twist and turn nearing the story ending actually.
Overall, it was quite a treat for me to read this book, considering this was the first book I read from this author.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review
November 6, 2022
This is a first time read for me by this author and it won't be my last. It's a clean, cute, and quick read that will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling afterwards. Benji is a plumber who just wants a drama free life. He thinks himself to be a funny guy and quite the catch, and also doesn't hold back when it comes to cursing. His parents are anxious for him to get married, and if he doesn't find someone himself, they are more than happy to help him along with an arranged marriage. Benji meets Hannah when his job lands him in the ER. She is not at all impressed with him. She hates cursing and doesn't find him at all charming. She has a list of what she is looking for in her Mr. Perfect, and Benji definitely doesn't tick any boxes for her. But there's something about him and he just gets under her skin. And so begins an unusual courtship between two people who couldn't be more different. But you know what they say, and opposites do definitely attract in this charming and hilarious story.
This was a fun, quick read and I am glad to have had the opportunity to read it.
I received a complimentary copy from StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving my review.
This was a fun, quick read and I am glad to have had the opportunity to read it.
I received a complimentary copy from StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving my review.
June 10, 2020
DNF: 32%. Hannah is an irredeemably snobbish, entitled, elitist, complete bitch. After she repeatedly treats Benji like absolute shit in each of their encounters, and repeatedly dismisses him as unwashed, uncouth, and unintelligent, she calls HIM for help when her car won't start and he comes.
I know he's got the hots for her, but they aren't friends, and only two of their interactions have been outside of their professional roles, which are not car related. It takes some real lady balls for her to even consider asking this guy that she really doesn't know and completely disrespects, for help. And of course he helps. Ugh.
I just can't.
I know he's got the hots for her, but they aren't friends, and only two of their interactions have been outside of their professional roles, which are not car related. It takes some real lady balls for her to even consider asking this guy that she really doesn't know and completely disrespects, for help. And of course he helps. Ugh.
I just can't.
October 27, 2022
Hannah is a nurse(yay!) who has a list of what she considers to be a perfect man. Benji is a plumber who cusses and is nowhere near what Hannah's list requires. Benji's Indian parents are pressuring him into an arranged marriage with a much younger girl due to his age and lack of romantic prospects. Hannah and Benji clash when he gets injured and winds up in the ER. It is a chance meeting between the two that will change both of their lives. This book was a super fun read! Benji and Hannah couldn't be more different yet they compliment each other so well! Will they let traditions and other people's perceptions get in their way? I won't tell!
March 27, 2025
I enjoyed this story with all the characters that were within. The main characters were Hannah and Benji.
Benji works as a plumber. He is called out to fix a person plumbing. When he gets there, he is a gorgeous woman who answers the door. Hannah answers her door, and the plumber is here she shows him what needs to be fixed and stays to watch the job get done. Because she knew him from the time when he came into the ER at the hospital.
This was fun to read. It had action and drama throughout. There were a few giggles within.
I saw this book and decided to try reading it. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
Benji works as a plumber. He is called out to fix a person plumbing. When he gets there, he is a gorgeous woman who answers the door. Hannah answers her door, and the plumber is here she shows him what needs to be fixed and stays to watch the job get done. Because she knew him from the time when he came into the ER at the hospital.
This was fun to read. It had action and drama throughout. There were a few giggles within.
I saw this book and decided to try reading it. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
February 2, 2020
Ria Zen is a new author. Take Your Shot was a cute romcom about blue collar jobs. Benji is a plumber and a hard worker just trying to live his life drama free. I really enjoyed his character with his potty mouth and crass pickup lines. Hannah the hard working nurse, honestly was not a character I could relate too. This book did make good points on judging people and putting labels on them. That was a major factor for me rating this book. This was a fast read, crass pick up lines that will have you laughing, and might learn something in the process.
February 21, 2020
Like watching a movie, that randomly skips parts.
I liked Benji and I liked Hannah. They both had potential to be solid/well developed characters. Secondary characters not so much.
Basically the character interactions and relationship development is what failed hard. The transition to pseudo enemy to friend was non existent, making the "into something more" even more questionable.
A lot of the development/pivotal moments are unwritten. Feels like playing connect the dots. But I mean, you get the picture.
I liked Benji and I liked Hannah. They both had potential to be solid/well developed characters. Secondary characters not so much.
Basically the character interactions and relationship development is what failed hard. The transition to pseudo enemy to friend was non existent, making the "into something more" even more questionable.
A lot of the development/pivotal moments are unwritten. Feels like playing connect the dots. But I mean, you get the picture.
February 5, 2020
I really enjoyed the blue collar aspect of Benin being a plumber, I mean I think he even knew he was an anomaly. Who would expect their plumber to be hot And I felt that though he was arrogant in knowing he was good looking, he did it in a playful way. I feel like Hannah has no idea what was coming for her and that was really fun. Her checklist didn’t stand a chance with Benji and their banter and chemistry, though drug out a bit long I feel, was really fun and flirty.
June 16, 2020
Funny & Cute
This was a very cute and funny book. Definitely a plus that is not your typical story & characters. That's what pulled me in. Some of the writing was a little hard to follow and I had to re-read sentences, but overall a good read!
This was a very cute and funny book. Definitely a plus that is not your typical story & characters. That's what pulled me in. Some of the writing was a little hard to follow and I had to re-read sentences, but overall a good read!
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June 8, 2020Review to come
October 9, 2022
What a fun and witty story. I liked reading Benji and Hannah's story, especially when it is set in my home country. A great romance story with a lot of humor. Loved it.
November 23, 2020
Myeh
Pretty good read. Skips around some and just plait disgusting in others but overall it's ok. Lost the storyline at a couple of points, too.
Pretty good read. Skips around some and just plait disgusting in others but overall it's ok. Lost the storyline at a couple of points, too.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews