REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: THE MAGNATE'S MARRIAGE MERGER by JOANNE ROCK

Enter to Win Prize #1:

a Lily Pulitzer weekly calendar, makeup bag, scented soap, nail polish set

and romance by Maisey Yates and Joanne Rock (1 winner - US only)

or Prize #2:

$10 Amazon GC and digital download of

The Magnate's Mail-Order Bride by Joanne Rock (1 winner - International).

 

The Magnate's Marriage Merger
The McNeill Magnates #2

By: Joanne Rock

Releasing May 9, 2017
Harlequin Desire

+ Add to Goodreads

 

In The Magnate's Marriage Merger (The McNeill Magnates #2) by Joanne Rock, when Ian McNeill learns that his ex Lydia Whitney is the mysterious matchmaker known as Mallory West; a woman that caused problems for his family, he's determined to confront her to discover why she did what she did. However, seeing her again brings old feelings to the surface, and there's no way he's going to let her get away a second time. Blackmailing her seems wrong, but if it gets them what they both want, why shouldn't they get married, even if the arrangement is only temporary? But the more time they spend together, Lydia finds herself falling in love with Ian all over again. Can he convince her they deserve a second shot at happy ever after, or will a simple misunderstanding tear them apart?

In this second book of Ms. Rock's wonderful McNeill Magnates series, Ms. Rock combines the marriage of convenience and second chance romance tropes perfectly, creating a story that illustrated how right Ian and Lydia are for each other and that they're a couple meant to be, no matter what obstacles they have to face. Such as Lydia being able to trust that Ian won't reveal her match-making identity to anyone who wants to ruin her for the drama she caused for Ian's brother and the woman he set her up with; whether both the hero and heroine can get over what caused their separation in the past; the surprise someone of Ian's family reveals that shocks the brothers; and what causes Lydia to believe Ian has betrayed her again.

Lydia is a wonderful heroine and I felt sorry for her with what she reveals to the hero about what happened to her after their separation. It was a time when she needed Ian, and yet, after how they left things between them in the past, there was no way she could turn to him. However, she overcame her grief with the help of a wonderful cause that she would do anything to give back to, which is proven by her having two careers and what she does with her second income. Seriously, she's the most selfless person, which is surprising with an attention-seeking mother like hers.

While Ian, he and his brothers are fantastic heroes and I loved the tight bond they have. They go through a lot with first the way they hear the news about Ian's marriage and then the surprise someone of their family reveals. However, Ian also has his own obstacles to overcome such as having to win back Lydia's trust; and him having to try his hardest not to seduce the heroine, as she wants to keep their relationship strictly platonic. Can he show Lydia that his feelings for her haven't diminished? Will he win her over by proving he can keep their relationship how she wants it until she's ready?

Overall, Ms. Rock has penned a really good read in this book where there's plenty of chemistry between the main characters that show these two still love each other, despite the misunderstanding that caused Lydia to leave Ian in the past. The way this story ended was heartwarming, as Ian isn't about to let Lydia get away a second time, no matter how upset she is with him. But what I liked most about the ending is that Ian isn't afraid to show Lydia how much he loves her by making a public declaration. I would recommend The Magnate's Marriage Merger by Joanne Rock, if you enjoy the marriage of convenience trope, the second chance romance trope or books by authors Cat Schield, Katherine Garbera or Kat Cantrell.

 

 

BLURB
The matchmaker meets her match…in one very persistent tycoon!

Secretive matchmaker to the rich and famous, Lydia Whitney prefers to stay behind the scenes. But after one mistake, rich resort developer Ian McNeill is hot on her trail, and he’s more attractive—and persistent—than ever before.

 

Ian can’t believe it when he figures out who’s messing with his family: a woman who has deceived—and seduced—him before. What’s her agenda? And why can’t he resist her? He’ll get the answers to all his questions, if Lydia agrees to his convenient marriage proposal. But once she’s in his arms again, will he let her go?

Buy Links:      AMAZON | B & N | GOOGLE | ITUNES | KOBO

 

She was a woman of habit and that would serve him well now. He hoped. He remembered how much she had enjoyed swimming first thing in the morning when they were working together in the islands of Tahiti. He’d accused her of being a mermaid with her daily need to return to the sea, but even when he’d been bleary-eyed from working late the night before, he never missed a chance to swim with her. For safety purposes, he’d told her, and not just because he enjoyed the occasional chance to slide a hand beneath her bikini top or wind the wet rope of her hair around his hand and angle her sea-salty lips for his kiss.

When the elevator sounded its dull chime, he slowly looked up. The doors opened and Lydia strode into view. His gaze fell on her long, shapely legs, the hem of her black mesh tunic revealing a hint of thigh.

“Ian?” Her voice tugged his attention higher, pulling his focus to her green eyes and creamy skin devoid of makeup.

With her hair scraped back into a ponytail, she looked every inch the part of his earthy, warmhearted lover from last summer. He had to remember that she hadn’t been the woman he thought, that he’d been wrong about her, or he might have swept her up into his arms and ridden the elevator back up to her hotel room to remind her how good they were together in at least one respect.

Sex. Raw, sensual, mind-blowing sex.

His pulse ramped up at the steamy memories, so much so that he had to shut down those thoughts and focus on the present or his plan would be doomed before he even started.

“Hope you don’t mind if I join you.” Ian tucked his phone back into the pocket of the cargo shorts he’d slid on over his swim trunks.

She halted in front of him abruptly. Then, eyes sliding to the desk attendant, she stepped closer. Probably she did it to minimize the chance of being overheard.

Ian liked the opportunity to breathe in the scent of her—the lavender fragrance of the detergent she washed her clothes in and a subtle perfume more complex than that.

“What on earth are you doing here?” She glanced over her shoulder. “You realize most of the consultants working on the Foxfire are staying in this hotel? What will they say if someone sees us together at this hour?”

“They’ll think we had a whole lot more fun last night than they did.”

Last night, he’d paced the floor of his penthouse suite for far too long, thinking through every aspect of a contract marriage and what details he should include in the paperwork.

In the end, she would sign. But she wasn’t going to like him forcing her hand, and that bothered him more than it should have.

“And that doesn’t concern you? I happen to enjoy a hard-earned reputation as a professional.” Her clipped words and the high color in her cheeks told him he’d gotten under her skin in record time.

“If you don’t want anyone to see us together, we might as well hit the beach. Take refuge in the water.” His hand itched to touch her. To rest on the small of her back and steer her out the door, across the street and onto the soft sand. But he had to be careful not to push or she could dig her heels in about his suggestion and delay the whole thing.

Now that he’d made up his mind and seen the benefits of a union between the two of them, he couldn’t think of one damn reason why he should delay.

After narrowing her green eyes at him for an instant, she pivoted on her wedge sandals and strode toward the exit.

He caught up to her in two long steps, holding the door wide for her before as they headed out onto Ocean Drive, which was strangely quiet in the predawn dark. There were more joggers on the beach than bathers; a few runners kicked up sand as they pounded past them.

“It’ll be quieter down here.” He pointed out a stretch of the shore where no beach loungers had been set up yet, a spot free from any hotel guests.

In fact, he’d claimed the location for them earlier when he’d ordered a cabana and sunrise breakfast. Lydia apparently didn’t notice his preparations, however, instead appearing too absorbed in her frustrated march toward the water, her feet churning through the sand at breakneck pace.

The horizon was starting to smudge from inky black to purple as she reached the shoreline and kicked off her shoes. Then she yanked the black mesh cover-up off and over her head. Mesmerized by her silhouette as his eyes adjusted to the light, Ian watched as she ran into the surf and made a shallow dive under an oncoming wave… She was a woman of habit and that would serve him well now. He hoped. He remembered how much she had enjoyed swimming first thing in the morning when they were working together in the islands of Tahiti. He’d accused her of being a mermaid with her daily need to return to the sea, but even when he’d been bleary-eyed from working late the night before, he never missed a chance to swim with her. For safety purposes, he’d told her, and not just because he enjoyed the occasional chance to slide a hand beneath her bikini top or wind the wet rope of her hair around his hand and angle her sea-salty lips for his kiss.

 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Four-time RITA nominee Joanne Rock has never met a romance sub-genre she didn't like. The author of over eighty books enjoys writing a wide range of stories, most recently focusing on sexy contemporaries and small town family sagas. An optimist by nature and perpetual seeker of silver linings, Joanne finds romance fits her life outlook perfectly--love is worth fighting for. A frequent speaker at regional and national writing conferences she enjoys giving back to the writing community that nurtured and inspired her early career. She has a Masters degree in Literature from the University of Louisville but credits her fiction writing skills to her intensive study with friend and fellow author Catherine Mann. When she's not writing, Joanne enjoys travel, especially to see her favorite sports teams play with her former sports editor husband and three athletic-minded sons.

Author Links:   WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS