Reading to Unwind: {Blog Tour} It's Been You - Rina Gray (Review & Giveaway)

Rina Gray returns with IT'S BEEN YOU, an all new Crush on You novel from Crimson Publishing. When the opportunity to land a lucrative deal and promotion results in a friendly competition that then erupts into an all-out battle of desire, Tiana Holliday and Nathaniel Lawson will straddle the line between love and war in this steamy must read Fall title releasing November 7, 2016!

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About It’s Been You:

Title: It’s Been You
Author: Rina Gray
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Release Date: November 7, 2016
Series: Crush On You
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9781507202180

Marketing manager Tiana Holliday just landed her dream job at an award-winning agency in New York City. There’s just one problem: cocky playboy Nathaniel Lawson, her old grad school nemesis, is her new officemate.

As the firm’s rising star, Nathan never had to compete for prime clients until all-work and no-play Tiana strutted into his workspace. When an opportunity arises to manage a lucrative sports car account and nab a big promotion, he challenges her to a wager: Loser does the winner’s bidding for one month. But their friendly little competition suddenly threatens to erupt into an all-out battle of desire.

As they straddle the line between love and war, they just might discover that challenging each other outside the boardroom is even more satisfying than advertised.

Add to your TBR list: Goodreads

Available: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Review:

This book follows Tiana as she is trying to start a new life by moving to New York after losing her fiance. The big issue in the book arises once she starts working with her nemesis from grad school Nathaniel and they share an office. Tiana and Nathaniel also work on the same account and are competing against each other once again.

The book is told from the point of view of both Nathaniel and Tiana in alternating chapters. I enjoyed how the author was able to use the two point of views. They both has differentiating opinions of each other that we got to see change throughout the book. Nathaniel was upset with Tiana over something that happened in grad school and Tiana was more hurt from her old fiance since she trusted him. During the book the author did a great job showing growth within the two characters.

I also enjoyed that the author really showed all aspects of the characters from work ethic to family values. They both had very different upbringings, but faced different issues that were unresolved. I felt like the author did a great job expanding upon their issues and showing the challenges of a new relationship. We got to see all sides of a relationship and it really made the characters feel real.

I also enjoyed the issues that the author picked for the characters. She did a great job showing how things from earlier years affected both of them. We get to see how strong Tiana is of a character and how her goals in life are just to be better in life. Tiana is not what she seems when we first meet her, but as the story continues we get to see how strong and loyal that she is.

My one issue with the book is towards the end of the book the action really picks up and it seems to come all at once. I feel like the action could have been spread out a little more in the book and then we could have gotten more details on a major event towards the end. I felt like we had a large buildup and then everything happened.

I would suggest this as a nighttime read. It was an easy book to pick up and put down and very easy to follow along.

I received a copy of this book from Barclay Publicity for the purpose of providing an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book.

My Rating: 4/5

Excerpt:

The crowd screamed and clapped. A few rows behind Tiana, someone started a chant for the Beast. Clapping, she chanted with the crowd. The announcer waved a hand in the air and gripped the mic with his other one. “Unanimously voted to win all four rounds and still undefeated, I give you,” he walked to the corner and raised Nathan’s arm in the air, “the Beaaaaaassst!”

Tiana jumped and clapped as he stepped away and waved his arms in victory to the crowd. This isn’t so bad.

“Tiana wants to have a dozen babies with you, Beast!” Mel screamed at the top of her lungs.

Before Tiana could renounce her Martin Luther King philosophy of nonviolence and sock her former friend in her arm, Nathan turned to face them.

A flicker of heat, and a big dose of danger burned in his gaze. A jolt of energy zapped and electrified her. Every particle and cell in her body awakened, liquefied, and then sizzled. His lips tipped at the corners into a lazy smile.

“I’ll have your babies, too!” someone yelled from the crowd. His gaze stayed fixed on her face. His dark eyes broadcasted, “I’ve seen you naked and I like it,” to anyone who cared to see. Clenching her legs together, she quivered. Nathan gave her a cocky-ass smile as if he knew he was the cause of the mini-explosions firing within her.

A ring girl stepped into the octagon, sashayed up to Nathan, and leaned in for a kiss. Tiana jerked away from their intimate moment and held her breath for a second before looking back. Much like his fight, he ducked the woman’s advances, hopped on the stool in his boxing corner, and jumped over the ropes surrounding the ring. Landing with the ease of a panther, he stalked toward Tiana.

Mel nudged her and whispered, “Brace yourself.” Taking her friend’s wise advice, she breathed deep. Her eyes filled with him. A tall, dark, sexy, and sweaty vision. This man—this sexy beast—wanted her. Only her.

“Peaches,” he growled as he snatched off his gloves and tossed them carelessly on the floor. Closing the distance between them, he wrapped one hand around her waist and cupped her face with the other. His hard, unrelenting eyes continued to broadcast a message. No going back. His tongue swiped her mouth, as if testing the waters, followed by firm, warm lips. He commanded surrender, obedience, and absolutely no negotiations. She clung to him knowing his kiss had changed everything.

Her heart slammed and knocked against her chest, and her knees buckled. She was … Damn it, am I swooning? Like a well-practiced, swashbuckling pirate, his arms snaked around her waist as he drew her body into his. Wetness pooled and flooded her lacy Vicky Secrets. Nathan had just KO’ed her va-jay-jay.

About Rina Gray:

Rina Gray is one of the newest African American romance writers on the rise. She is also a digital marketing professional who discovered her love of writing in 2012. Writing has always been Rina’s passion, though initially, she tried to deny it. In college she served as the copy editor for the entertainment magazine and newspaper. During her tenure, she had the opportunity to interview various talented entertainers including Chris Rock and the cast from Reno-911.

Rina has always been an avid reader, sneaking to read her mother’s books she had no business reading i.e. Stephen King’s The Stand, It, and Anne Rice’s various vampire series. As a pre-teen, she received a load of romance novels from a family friend and from that point on, she devoured any book related to romance or horror. When she’s not writing, she can be found with her head stuck in a book, kickboxing, or dominating game night with friends and family. Rina resides in Atlanta with her husband.

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