Monday, August 19, 2013

Blog Tour: Crashing The Congressman's Wedding by Elley Arden {Review}

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: July 15th 2013
Series: Harmony Falls
Format: PDF
Source: Provided by author for tour


Alice Cramer is tired of being pitied for her family’s transgressions, so she resolves to break out of the gutter and into the spotlight. As long as her local congressman can forget about their checkered past and help her secure a federal grant to open Harmony Falls Little Theatre, she’ll be the brightest star in town. But when Alice stands up in church and stops the congressman’s wedding, she dives headfirst into fresh scandal. Why is Harmony Fall’s golden boy, Justin Mitchell, speeding down the interstate sans a new wife but with the local drama queen he’s been trying his whole life to avoid? Alice Cramer may have saved him the hassle of an arranged marriage to a woman he didn’t love, but she’s also put a business transaction big enough to save an entire town in jeopardy—not to mention his reputation. Soon Alice and Justin are dredging up and indulging in an attraction that threatens all their dreams and aspirations. But what if life together is the dream that matters most?


My Take:
Crashing The Congressman's Wedding was romantic and fun with a little drama and some sexy moments that was exactly what I needed.

I love stories like this. Where two people from different sides of life come together and found love. Alice has known Justin most of her life being her brother Charlie's good friend. When the story opens Alice is sitting in a church getting ready to watch Justin marry a woman he doesn't love and that hurts her on a level she doesn't understand. She's always had a crush on him but with her troubled family's reputation around town she doesn't think she's right for Justin who is a wealthy politician in town. When she discovers a secret right before the wedding about the bride to be she puts a stop to it immediately and inadvertently places a bulls eye on her back. 

Alice was fantastic. All she wanted out of life was to get her theatre open and live her dream and possibly have Justin by her side. She was spunky and Vivacious and a huge fun flirt. Even though she stopped the wedding of the century and drew the ire of the most influential people in town she didn't cower and hide. She stood her ground and didn't let them run over her. I always root for the underdog and Alice's character drew me in right away being from the opposite side of the tracks from Justin. She had a rough life growing up with her dad being abusive and her mother staying in that environment. I hated that because of that and every one's opinion about her family she felt less than worthy of Justin. I loved watching these two together, especially when he dragged her away to his honeymoon until he could come up with a plan to fix the mess they left behind after the wedding. 

Despite the fact that Justin was a rising political figure he still had that Down home, good ole' boy aspect about him. He could go from polished and dressy to faded jeans and a ball cap with ease and I loved that easy way about him. Through his perspective you can tell he has always carried a flame for Alice and has desperately longed for her but has let his father's wishes for him and his own dreams of making the town better, stop him from seeking more with her. I loved watching his control slip while he was away at his beach home/honeymoon spot. These two get close several times and the chemistry builds with every missed encounter. I loved that even though he was extremely attracted to Alice and wanted her badly he stopped and took time to think about what being with him would do to HER. Would her reputation be ruined? Would people vilify her for breaking up his marriage? He really took her feelings into account but almost let it stop him from pursuing her. After doing his best to stay away he got to a point where he no longer cared what anyone thought and went after the woman he's always wanted. I loved seeing him loosen up once he got out of his own head. Justin was a really great guy and pretty sexy for a stuffy politician.

The push and pull tease between Alice and Justin led to some nice steamy romantic scenes between them. It wasn't extremely hot but having watched them fight their attraction not just through the book but learning about it over the years really added to the anticipation. These two characters worked so well together and balanced each other out and not just in the bedroom. Justin had a tendency to be bossy and Alice was a stubborn and willful woman who knew how to put him in his place at the right time. I enjoyed watching them build a relationship even with all the problems they still faced. Between Justin giving up his run for the white house and one of the towns most wealthy men trying to scare Alice off there is no lack of drama thrown into the mix. Justin really made me happy when he stepped up for Alice and helped make her dream come true. 

I really enjoyed this book and with the secondary story in the background involving Alice's brother Charlie and Justin's jilted bride Morgan I really hope Arden writes another book about them because their story intrigued me very much! Overall Crashing was a win for me with it's endearing characters, sweet & steamy romance and opposites attract story you can't go wrong. If you are looking for a quick, fun and romantic story with a sweet, happy ending I recommend this one.


Quotes:

A long time ago, I would’ve snuck into that shower with you.” She sighed and gave her head an admonishing shake. “It’s a good thing I don’t like you anymore.” With that, she took off running ahead of him, her feet kicking up sand, the towel slipping below the band of her black bra. Damn it if he didn’t wish he could turn back time. PDF Page 27


He parted her lips with his tongue and heated when she softened, her little hums and moans lulling the worry from his mind. Like the purest drug, the high came swift and hard, leaving no room for regrets. Alice made him forget. His hands roved the soft skin on her back while her hands grasped his biceps. “No regrets,” he whispered against her lips. PDF Page 53


About The Author:
Elley Arden is a born and bred Pennsylvanian who has lived as far west as Utah and as far north as Wisconsin. She drinks wine like it’s water (a slight exaggeration), prefers a night at the ballpark to a night on the town, and believes almond English toffee is the key to happiness. Elley has been reading romance novels since she was a sixteen-year-old babysitter, sneaking Judith McNaught and Danielle Steele novels off the bookshelves of the women who employed her. She started her first manuscript when she was twenty-five, writing during babies’ naps. A total of three children and ten years later, the manuscript was complete. Little did she know, her journey to publication was only beginning…Elley’s first novel, a contemporary romance titled Save My Soul: The Kemmons Brothers Baseball Series (Book One), will be published by Crimson Romance March 25, 2013.

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4 comments:

  1. This looks good. I like a good opposites attract story, too. Great quotes you've included!
    Nice review, babe!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh I don't know this one! Love it when a book just comes at the right time.

    Valerie
    StuckInBooks.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I wonder if this happens in real life. Politics are so contrived even who they decide to marry is a calculated process.

    This sounds cute though, it would make for a great romcom movie.

    Braine

    ReplyDelete

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