Million Dollar Marriage by Katy Evans-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

Million Dollar Marriage by Katy Evans-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

MILLION DOLLAR MARRIAGE
Million Dollar #2
by Katy Evans
Release Date: July 23, 2019
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release July 23, 2019

If someone had bet Nell a million dollars that she would be saying “I do” to a complete stranger on national television, she’d have called them crazy, but with her crushing student loan payments sending her deep into the red, she’s out of options. This should be nothing more than a business transaction—until she sets eyes on her groom, and everything changes.

The game is on the instant Luke spots Penelope “Nell” Carpenter. He’s out for the money, yes, but getting a little dirty with Nell doesn’t sound too bad either. Everyone knows he’s not the marrying kind, so it’s a good thing it’s just for show. God knows he’s the worst guy his pretty wife should pick for real.

They have nothing in common, but if they want the grand prize, they’ll have to beat out eight other couples. Proving that total opposites attract should be easy enough…as long as they don’t fall in love in the process.

••••••••••••

REVIEW:MILLION DOLLAR MARRIAGE is the second instalment in Katy Evans’ contemporary, adult MILLION DOLLAR erotic, romance series. This is twenty-five year old, Dr. Penelope ‘Nell’ Carpenter PhD, and twenty-eight year old, bar owner Luke Cross’ story line. MILLION DOLLAR MARRIAGE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary. Luke was first introduced in book one Million Dollar Devil.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Nell and Luke) MILLION DOLLAR MARRIAGE follows the reality TV show Million Dollar Marriage where qualifying contestants find themselves married to a complete stranger on day one. Enter twenty-five year old, Dr. Penelope ‘Nell’ Carpenter PhD, and twenty-eight year old, bar owner Luke Cross, who are paired together for their antagonising personalities, contrary discipline, and opposite physical appearances. Nell owes a half-million dollars in student loans, and Luke’s bar is mortgaged for the same amount. Winning the Million Dollar Marriage game would benefit both but falling in love was never on the agenda. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Nell and Luke, and the potential fall-out as perceived betrayal threatens to pull them apart.

MILLION DOLLAR MARRIAGE is a story of opposites attract where a game show similar to ‘Married at First Sight’™ combined with ‘The Amazing Race’™ finds the contestants battling for a one-million dollar prize package. Our heroine, Dr. Penelope Carpenter struggles with her attraction to a man who is her complete opposite, while Luke Cross quickly becomes enamored of our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to YouTube sensation James Rowan (Million Dollar Devil); Luke’s grandmother, as well as a large number of contestants and officials with the reality game show.

MILLION DOLLAR MARRIAGE is a story of ‘battle of wills’, opposites attract, and physical endurance as our couple muse endure a series of obstacles before crossing the finish line. As the contestants slowly succumb to a losing battle, Nell and Luke’s time together forges a stronger bond, leading them towards a happily ever after. The premise is entertaining; the romance is seductive; the characters are colorful and charismatic but it took me awhile to warm up to our story line heroine who struggled to accept Luke as her game show partner.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one MILLION DOLLAR DEVIL

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Million Dollar Romances with Katy Evans

Meet the Million Dollar series books. Books that are all about passion, romance, and all about what people will do for money—actually, a LOT of money. In book one, Million Dollar Devil, we have a sexy, raw, bad-mannered daredevil willing to pose as a sophisticated rich guy – while skillfully seducing the heroine in the process.

In book two, Million Dollar Marriage, Nell and Luke both agree to become contestants in a reality show that requires—gasp, marriage. Marriage to a complete stranger, which is appalling. But, it’s a fake marriage, right? It doesn’t matter that they are complete opposites. Nell will be the brains, and Luke will be the brawn. For a moment there, they both think they’ve got it covered. But the challenges end up being far more than they anticipated, especially the unexpected challenge of resisting falling in love with each other.

I’d always wanted to write a reality show book. I mean, reality shows are so addictive to watch, but though I’ve loved indulging in binge-watching Survivor or The Amazing Race, I’ve always wanted a little more romance to go with all that adrenaline and excitement. What happens when you’re put under all that pressure, and aside from that, have just met a person who gives your heart wings? Let’s face it. Falling in love is a little scary when you do it privately, so how does the public nature of a relationship hinder or help the romance between two strangers?

Well, in Nell and Luke’s case, being exposed to the cameras all day, every day, was more of a hindrance. And yet without those cameras, would they have given each other the time of day to begin with? 🙂

I would totally write another reality TV show romance. It’s been one of the funnest, most uniques writes I’ve ever written to date.

Katy Evans
New York Times Bestselling author

Will Wang says, “Teams, you have the choice to participate in the next challenge. If you decide to, you’ll receive a minimum of seventy thousand dollars! All you have to do is say YES!”I shrug and call out, “YES!”

Will laughs. “Hold on, buckaroo. There’s a catch you might want to know about. And that brings us to the main premise of the show. John Phillips, are you out there? Please, join me on the podium.”

A man in a suit stands up, and the crowd parts to let him through. He jogs up to the podium, shakes Will’s hand, and stands beside him.

“John is here for a very special reason. A very special ceremony, if you will.”

The cameras are focused on our faces, and I know something is up.

“Yes, in fact, John happens to be a justice of the peace.”

The crowd gasps. Next to me, Penny’s body stiffens.

“Yes. In order to participate in the next challenge and any challenges going forward, you and your partner must be man and wife!”

Louder gasp. The screens overhead focus in on the shock of the contestants. Penny’s trembling. Ivy looks pissed. Ace is hurling out f-bombs into the air. The Indian girl has sunk to the ground and is covering her face in her palms. It’s chaos.

Me? I’m calm as can be.

It’s called Million Dollar Marriage. Did they think marriage wouldn’t factor in?

I’m in.

“You will need to spend the rest of the time living with your partner as a unit. You’ll do everything together for the duration of the contest. There will be challenges that test your endurance, your strength, and your ability to work together as a couple. If you win, you’ll each get two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and the opportunity to have the marriage annulled, should you choose. BUT, if you decide to stay together as lawfully married, you’ll together receive the grand prize of ONE MILLION DOLLARS and an all-expenses-paid honeymoon package!”

I look around. All the couples are yin and yang. It’s like they ran our personality tests through a machine and picked out the person we’d be least compatible with.

“Now, we understand this is a big commitment on your part, so we’ll give you and your partner five minutes to talk things out and decide what you’d like to do. Please note that once your decision is made, it is final, and you will be married here, on the spot, before you board a flight to where the real competition will begin.” He winks at the losers’ wall. “If you drop out now, you’ll go home with fifty thousand dollars, but if you decide to continue on, you’ll earn seventy thousand and the chance to compete for even more! Time starts . . . now!”

I turn to Penny. She’s hugging herself and won’t look at me. “Hey. I’m in.”

She doesn’t say anything.

I wave a hand in front of her face.

“Are you crazy?” she finally says, staring at me. “I’d never marry you.”

 


 

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Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!

 

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact Montlake Romance.

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MILLION DOLLAR DEVIL by Katy Evans-Review & Excerpt Tour

MILLION DOLLAR DEVIL (Million Dollar #1) by Katy Evans-Review & Excerpt Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 28, 2019

Heir apparent to her father’s company, Lizzy Banks needs a man. The perfect man. But when the rich “fundbabies” she usually rubs shoulders with prove impossible to hire, she takes a chance on a raw beast of a man salvaged from the wreckage of a bar brawl.

James Rowan earns a modest income as a YouTube daredevil, but he can’t refuse Lizzy’s million dollar deal. As she polishes his rough edges, creating a sophisticated gentleman fit for the highest circles of society, not only does she bring out the perfect man—it’s like she’s making the man of her dreams. How can she resist?

Though Lizzy loves seeing James in his clothes—and out of them—he isn’t the kind of man you bring home to Daddy. Her father’s disapproval and the pressure of the campaign have her eyeing the straight and narrow, but Lizzy’s finding it awfully hard to resist the devil on her shoulder…

•••••••••••

REVIEW: MILLION DOLLAR DEVIL is the first instalment in Katy Evans’ contemporary, adult MILLION DOLLAR erotic, romance series. This is YouTube daredevil James Rowan, and fashion heiress Elizabeth ‘Lizzy’ Banks’ story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Lizzy and James) MILLION DOLLAR DEVIL follows Lizzy Banks as she is entrusted by her father to hire the new face of Banks LTD men’s clothing line. When all of her options refuse the one million dollar offer, Lizzy goes off-script and hires a man who is famous for his daredevil stunts. Enter James Rowan, and the man with whom Lizzy will fall in love. What ensues are Lizzie’s attempts to ‘clean up’ and build James into the ‘perfect man’ and the fall-out as their relationship becomes fodder for the competition.

James ‘Jimmy’ Rowan works hard to provide for his younger brother since the death of their parents years before. The offer of a million dollars to be the new face of Banks LTD men’s fashion line will set James and his brother Charlie up for a very long time but threats from more than one insider source pull James out of Lizzy’s life leaving a heart broken young woman in its’ wake.

The relationship between Lizzy and James begins as a business arrangement wherein Lizzy has three months to change James from daredevil to the perfect man. We are up close and personal as Lizzy ‘teaches’ James the dos and don’ts of the face of Banks LTD; and James teaches Lizzy how a real man treats the woman he loves. The palpable sexual attraction is steamy and hot. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to James’ brother Charlie; his friend and bartender Luke; Lizzy’s best friend and attorney Jeanine; her father Harold Banks, and Harold’s assistant LB. The requisite evil has many faces.

MILLION DOLLAR DEVIL is a story of opposites attract; a sexy, spicy and flirty romance. The premise is spirited; the characters are energetic; the romance is captivating and sensual.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

 

There’s a long, almost-empty bar and a couple of customers having nachos and chips and salsa at the tables.But as I walk across the tilting cement floor, every single one of those eyes is on me.

What am I doing here, again?

Oh, right. Probably trying to get myself mugged.

Summoning my courage, I take a middle stool at the bar and tell the bartender, who’s busy watching something on his phone, “Tequila, the finest you have—straight up,” in a gruff voice that I hope makes me sound like I can hold my own, in case someone is eyeing up my purse.

He doesn’t look up, merely smiles down at whatever he’s watching as he pours me something from a bottle called Montezuma and serves with his free hand. What the hell is Montezuma?

Great service. “Um. I said the best you have.”

He looks up at me, finally seeing me for the first time. A frown of annoyance on his lips. “This is the best, princess. Also the only.”

I probably don’t want to upset him, seeing how he has arms the size of tree trunks, covered in tattoos.

I take my shot and guzzle it down. It’s awful, like paint thinner, squeezing tears from my eyes. Whatever. I tap the bar for another. When my curiosity gets the best of me, I ask, “What are you watching?”

“Jimmy.”

“Jimmy what?”

“Jimmy Rowan. The stunt guy on YouTube? He’s going to get killed one day.”

“Hopefully not today.” I frown and peer at the screen as he shows me. “What kind of stunts does he do anyway? That’s so dangerous.”

He tilts his phone in my direction. A guy in a helmet and nylon jumpsuit is throwing himself off an airplane. He’s speaking into the camera saying, “So I was dared to pull the strings fifteen seconds after any sane, normal human being would. So, let’s count down from right about … now.”

My eyes widen, and my insides clutch in concern for the idiot behind the camera.

Fourteen…

The static from the wind makes his voice sound shattered, strained.

“Thirteen.” The bartender is counting.

I watch the idiot continue his free fall as land grows closer beneath him.

“What an idiot,” I mumble, but I’m still unable to take my eyes off the video.

“Five!” the bartender says. I look away.

“Just tell me he lived.”

“Oh, he lives.” He shows me the camera when the guy finally pulls the cord on his chute, and a few seconds later, crashes into the ground. The guy growls, “Ouch,” then starts laughing, a low, rumbly laugh. I can’t help but smile and shake my head.

“And he did this all because…”

“They dared him to. Five hundred bucks.”

“He did all of that? For five hundred bucks?”

“He gets more from the video views. A man’s got to put food on the table.” He eyes me up and down. “Specially when he doesn’t have a trust fund coming to him.”

Shaking my head, I push my empty glass forward. “Bartender. Another drink. Please.”

I’m on my third.

He pours it for me. “Classy guy, that Jimmy.”

“In what dictionary?”

He frowns as he sets his phone back into his pocket and polishes a glass. “Huh?”

“What dictionary would define him as classy?”

His eyes widen as if I’ve just murmured something blasphemous. “Well, maybe not your class. He doesn’t own a Rolls. But around here, he’s royalty. Jimmy hangs out here all the time.” He nods at a dark corner booth situated to the right of the bar. “His office is right over there.”

I see the cluttered tabletop and wonder what kind of man leaves a tripod, camera, and old laptop set up in a bar. He must trust the people who patronize this place. Either that or the patrons fear him.

“Jimmy Rowan will do anything for a dare—he’s a man of honor.”

“If he’d do that for five hundred, what would he do for half a million or more?” I grumble, smiling and shaking my head at the thought. At least I can still smile.

“He’d do anything. What? You offering?” He eyes me with new interest, in kind of a smarmy way, as if he thinks I’m asking to buy his services. Who the heck does he think I am? “Ladies go for him.”

Oh god, he does think that.

“No, thank you very much,” I mutter. “Ladies or women? I don’t think a lot of ladies would go for someone that foolish.”

He raises his gaze past my shoulders. Silence falls over the room, and then the bartender murmurs, “Speak of the devil…”

There’s a loud crash, followed by a ruckus.

“What’s that?” I glance around at the commotion.

The bartender smiles. “Jimmy Rowan.”

I turn my gaze to the door, and my heart skips a beat. The tall, raw-looking sex machine the bartender refers to doesn’t look anything like a Jimmy. The guy is too tall and eye catching and too … well, hot.

 


 

Daredevil Jimmy Rowan Describes His Most Dangerous Stunts

Hey, girl. Jimmy Rowan here. You might know me from my YouTube channel. Yeah, I’m the guy who nearly gets killed on every video. Say what? You want to know how I got started?

Ahh, long story. Maybe for another day. Or a night with some tequila Cuervo handy. The short is, I’m a daredevil. And I’m good at it. So…imagine my shock when prim and proper Miss Elizabeth Banks comes up to me at a bar, a really seedy, not-her-damn-type bar, and offers me a hell of a lot of money to be her ‘perfect’ freaking man.

Kind of wild, right?

All I have to do is wear her suits and act “civil” – whatever that means.

And I’m having a great time just raking her with my eyes.

This woman is all long legs, pouty lips, and looking all business in a business suit that’s just begging to get rumpled.

Definitely what Lizzy wants me to do is a walk in a park compared to some of the stunts I do. I mean. I’ve thrown myself off tall buildings and pulled my chute way, way past the moment when I should’ve.

I’ve crashed motorcycles on top of cars when I tried to leap over them.

I’ve broken a rib or two, and sometimes several at a time, and I’ve got a good number of black eyes, with no help at all from anyone but me.

With Sexy little Lizzy here, there’s no physical risk at all. Not one you could see anyway, except the one that I never really saw coming.

Damn her.

Damn her and her little big million dollar contract.

Damn this sexy, smart, closet-crazy perfectionist just waiting for more than just a sweep off her feet. Oh man, this girl needs a flat out toss to the ground. And I’m the man up for the challenge. What? You’re shocked? Lady, they don’t call me devil for nothing.

Follow: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!

 

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact Montlake Romance.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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