Tuesday, 15 August 2017

BLOG TOUR - REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: TEN DAYS WITH THE HIGHLANDER by HAYSON MANNING



About the Book:

Go-getter Georgia Paxton has ten days to acquire a quaint hotel in the Scottish Highlands for her travel accommodation company before she’s off on her next grand adventure. Too bad the sexy, broody Scot who owns the place is dead against the idea…and that she’s in very real danger of losing their little bet to see who can convince whom first.

There’s no way Callum MacGregor is going to let the gorgeous American turn his tiny hometown over to bored tourists looking to satisfy their Outlander fantasies. He only has ten days to convince her to slow down and see the magic of the town and its people. If he succeeds, he won’t have to run her out of the county. But if he fails, Georgia might run off with his heart.

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In Ten Days with the Highlander (Love Abroad #1) by Hayson Manning, Georgia Paxton is a woman on a mission and her mission is to convince Callum McGregor to team his quaint hotel with the tour accommodation company she works for. However, she only has ten days to convince him to sign on the dotted line of the contract, but with how stubborn Callum is, it seems she has no chance. Will Callum realize what a good opportunity Georgia is offering him, or will he lose the woman he's falling in love with?

If you've never read a book by Ms. Manning, then this is the perfect book to start with, as it's an incredible read that started off brilliantly with the heroine finding herself in a tricky driving situation she might have trouble getting herself out of without help; and then just kept getting better because it had me laughing all the way throughout due to the playful banter between the main characters. However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine meet that had me completely captivated and made this story a real page turner for me, as I wanted to know more about the hero and heroine. Since Georgia is all about chasing an adventure and not settling down for fear of being hurt while Callum is determined not to be dragged back into the corporate world.

As for the dialogue, it was well-written, spellbinding and I couldn't get enough of the moments the hero and heroine conversed. The heroine is sassy and I liked that she didn't give up on her mission to convince the hero. I also liked her enthusiasm for her job and how much she loves it, which is proven by how well she's done for the company she works for. Yet, what I liked most of all about the heroine is how much she grows throughout this story. Callum is good for her in the way he shows her love and happy ever after are worth fighting for. While the hero, he was a wonderful character and I loved his back story. He's against everything the heroine has worked hard for and I could understand why he wasn't willing to agree to the heroine's business plan. I also liked the close relationship he had with his mother and how protective he was of many of the secondary characters. How could the heroine's plan benefit the town without changing everything that he loves about where he lives?

Overall, Ms. Manning has penned a delightful read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was strong; the romance hot and did justice to this couple's intense chemistry; the journey these two take on their path to happy ever after was fantastic; and the ending left me completely ecstatic due to the decisions both the main characters make, as the heroine realizes she'll never be truly happy unless she gives the hero a chance. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up perfectly, as the hero and heroine are happy and the secondary characters are loving what has happened. Who knew they could come up with such creative email addresses that made me laugh because of the address they've given Callum. I would recommend Ten Days with the Highlander by Hayson Manning, if you enjoy romantic comedies, the opposites attract trope or books by authors Kadie Scott, Sarah Ballance, Robin Bielman and Naima Simone. 

   

Meet the Author:

I love Princess Bride, Young and the Restless, Days of our Lives – the drama is deliciously addictive. Big Bang Theory but will take Wolowitz over Cooper. Star Trek not Star Wars. Undercover Boss, Secret Millionaire – any story that shows the little guy making it. I follow the Buffalo Bills like a religion. I am spellbound by showjumping and equestrian eventing. I love curling up and reading all books – no genre is off-topic. I like ironing, I hate peas, love donkeys, I play a killer game of Scrabble. I will often be heading towards the fridge for another Diet Coke. I eat nothing with legs and believe wine goes with everything, oh and I’m an expert at finding new and inventive ways to avoid exercise. I live in the sparkly beachside suburb of Redondo Beach in California with my infuriating shoe-dropping husband and my two boys who speak in mystifying grunts.

Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads



Top 3 scenes with mini excerpts

Marriage at the Grotto

“In these parts, it’s said that, if you speak each other’s names while drinking the sweet water of the well, under

Scottish folklore, you’re husband and wife.”

“Really?” she nearly squealed. “That’s awesome. Let’s try it.”

Surprise flitted across his face. “I didn’t think you’d believe in old folklores, Corporate.”

She shoulder bumped him. “Of course I don’t, Sofa, but I want a photo…”

He shook his head. “Photo for the brochure that will never happen?”

“That’s the spirit.”
“Are you game?” She dipped the container into the water, pulled her phone from her pocket, and snapped a picture of herself holding the cup. “Because this is as close to any marriage as I’ll get.”      
Callum filled the other silver tankard. His dark eyes held hers. “Georgia Paxton,” he murmured, and took a long gulp of water. Georgia was mesmerized by the thick column of his throat as he swallowed. She cleared her throat. “Callum MacGregor.” She sipped the cool water. “Corporate.” He saluted her with the cup.

“Sofa,” she replied, also raising her cup.


Email between Georgia and her best friend Grace.

To: Grace Forever-the-Romantic Robinson

From: Georgia The-Face-of-Corporate-America Paxton

Subject: Still working on what’s under a Scotsman’s kilt

Bestie,

How are you?

How did your date with Must_Love_Dolphins go?

I’m in Scotland. It rains a lot, and I think I may be the trigger. Every time I walk outside, a weather bomb hits.

The hotel is gorgeous and more than I’d hoped. Turns out that Callum MacGregor isn’t seventy with a pipe, but a very stubborn Scottish Thor who has a goat named Delilah that I adore. You are going to love this. At the pub, the cook has this special sauce, a special Lovesick sauce, that she claims works! I got a jar for you. Will you bail me out when I hit customs when I eventually get back to the U.S.?
I’ll write soon.
Should I be planning a porpoise costume as your bridesmaid? Is it SeaWorld themed?
Love always and forever,

Georgia.

P.S. A sloth is powering the internet, I don’t know when you’ll get this.


Coffee Making Scene

Georgia sniffed the air. “Curiouser and curiouser,” she muttered, straining her neck to get a peek.

“Wait your turn.” He’d purposely asked Ainsley to serve Georgia last, building the anticipation. Frustration was written in a scowl on Georgia’s beautiful face, and she huffed out a big breath.

Finally, Ainsley slipped the dessert plate in front of Georgia.

“My spotted dick, with custard.”

Large green eyes flew to his.

Shite. He caught the innuendo immediately and rubbed his hand across his jaw. “Christ, that sounds like a porno.”

Georgia’s shoulders were shaking. “That line belongs in a public health warning pamphlet.” She picked up her spoon, and tucked into the individual pudding.

She leaned forward so only he could hear. “Your dick is fantastic.” She scooped another mouthful. “Zesty and tangy, with hints of cherry.”

The actual topic of conversation stirred in his jeans. He was glad Leonard hadn’t caught that line. The man would pop a vein.

She chewed slowly, never looking away. Oh, she was good. Excellent even.

The tension between them was sucking the oxygen from his brain and his body.

“Custard’s good, too. Just the way I like it…smooth and creamy,” she murmured.

He lifted his finger, caught a tiny blob of custard on the corner of her mouth, and licked his finger.

He’d swear in a courtroom that her eyes darkened, her pupils widened, and she shifted ever so slightly on her stool.

She ate spoonsful of pudding, taking her time, appearing to savor each mouthful, drawing her teeth and lips across the spoon. Callum was transfixed. Watching her eat turned him inside out. His gut was twisted into a tight knot. Every now and then she’d glance at him and glance away, the tiniest of smiles on her lips.

Christ.

Finally, she finished.

“Best I’ve had.”

I don’t think so.




















































1 comment:

  1. I have just finished reading this. Absolutely loved the dialogue. It was witty and had me wanting more. I hope Ms. Manning makes this the first of a series.

    ReplyDelete