Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Man of My Dreams Blog Tour.
My stop includes a review and the tour giveaway. The tour is being hosted by Love Between the Sheets.
Genre: Contemporary RomancePublisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 9/13
Format: eARC
Source: Received from tour host for review
Rating: 4 stars
Mia Murphy may be married to the man of her dreams. But the man in her dreams is the one that got away—her high school crush.
Mia’s stuck in a rut, just like every other stay-at-home mom, and the only thing saving her from her monotonous routine is her perfect husband, Declan. He’s gorgeous, he adores her, and the man stole her heart with his sexy singing voice. Mia feels like the luckiest girl in the world, until she discovers that Mr. Perfect is not Mr. Faithful. Mia is devastated. Everything she once believed about Declan and their marriage is now covered in a big cloud of doubt and regret. On impulse, she kicks the cheating bastard out, pushing them into a separation that could mean the end of the picture-perfect couple.
But when Mia receives an invitation to her high school reunion, she finds herself abandoning the present for the oh-so alluring pull of the past. Although her heart still belongs to her husband, inescapable thoughts of her crush, Noah, resurface. And ten years later, Noah isn’t afraid to make his move. When the build-up of fantasies and ‘what ifs' comes to a head, sparks fly and it’s Mia’s turn to question if her marriage is everything she wants out of life. Searching for answers, Mia dives head first into dating Noah, falling further away from her husband and closer to her old flame.
But Declan’s not giving up so easily. Mia is his one and only and he’s not about to let another man win her heart.
Man of My Dreams poses a few interesting "What Ifs?" : what if you can't forget the guys who got away? What if life leads you back to him? What if you have to choose between the man of your dreams and reality?
This is a story many women, or men, can relate to. Life, in all its unexpected glory, can catch you by surprise and take you in directions you didn't anticipate. Marriage is work. Marriage with kids is WORK. It's easy to lose focus and stop seeing your partner in the journey. Bonds become weak or broken. Temptation is ripe. This is the journey Man of My Dreams took me on. It is a story that hits on many difficult truths, for better or worse. It's an honest portrayal of a marriage. And I appreciated that.
I really enjoyed the format in which Man of My Dreams unfolds. The author moved back and forth, distinctly, between the past and the present. Through this, we slowly learn the history of Mia: her teenage crush on Noah; meeting Declan and the early days of their relationship; falling in love, a young marriage; life and kids causing stress on the two and how their relationship slowly began to come apart. You get a clear picture of all the angles and it helps to create a bond with Mia and Declan.
I know many who might shy away from Man of My Dreams because they may think it's a cheating story or a love triangle. It's not really either of those things, to me. One, because Declan's indiscretion isn't so clear cut. Plus, he's a really good guy who actually does love his wife and family. Second, yes there are two men in the story, but for me the choice always seemed obvious and this is more about Mia's journey towards fnding what she really wants and needs in her life. Whether she can forgive. Which man is the true "man of her dreams".
I found Man of My Dreams to be a consuming story. I ripped through the pages in a matter of hours, crazy anxious to see Mia's choice. At the end, I was left absolutely content, and happy I read it.
Favorite Quote:
I want to move in and take matters into my own hands, but I also want Declan to possess control of our first kiss. I don't think I'll ever get enough of the way it feels to watch a guy lean in and tilt his head, the anticipation of his lips melding to mine for the very first time. The thought of watching Declan do this sends thrilling tingles fluttering through my stomach. ~eARC, 8%
Excerpt
My face
is pressed up against a pillow, strands of long golden hair splayed out across
the smooth, silken sheets. His hands reach underneath me to grope my breasts,
his fingers bringing my nipples to beaded peaks.
“Please, baby. I can’t wait any longer,” I
beg.
His tight erection skims the cheeks of my ass
and then, with one quick tilt on my behalf, the long hardness nestles between
my silky moist folds. My body instinctively opens for him, allowing his
entrance and I moan with gratitude as he guides his way inside.
I clutch fistfuls of sateen sheets, stifling
moans with the pillow. I know I need to be quiet, so I whisper his name.
“Noah…it’s so good, baby.”
Unexpectedly, the sensation is gone and I
lift my head to look over my shoulder, bewildered, before I let out a
satisfying gasp. His mouth has taken over and the wetness of his tongue on my
equally wet flesh is pure ecstasy. His slick movements are erratic, alternating
between sweet, gentle suction and rampant, greedy licking. His expert-like
ministrations cause an earth-shattering ripple to shudder throughout my
body. I revert back to grabbing the
sheets as the intense tremors build even more, coiling deep within.
His tongue teases and then stiffens,
breaching into me, unraveling the last of me. I pant into the pillow, replete,
satisfied, on cloud nine and then I hear the laughter.
“Good morning, babe.”
It takes a second to register that the voice
coming from between my legs isn’t Noah’s, but my husband’s. Oh my God, not again. Thank God, I never
screamed out his name.
Or did
I?
“Declan, what the hell are you doing?” I spin
around, landing on my back and pull the covers over me.
“Giving you the wake-up call you deserve,” he
replies, licking his lips.
“Are you nuts? What time is it? The girls
could have….”
“Don’t worry about the girls. They’re both
still sound asleep. Me on the other hand, I’m wide awake.” He wiggles his
eyebrows up and down and points to the massive erection that’s created a tent
in his flannel pajama bottoms.
I pull him up to me and he collapses on his
pillow, next to mine. “I can’t believe you did that while I was still sleeping.
What the hell gave you that –wait, have you been snooping through my romance
novels again?”
Declan can’t contain his laughter. I slap a
hand across his mouth, shushing him. “Shh! Let them sleep.” I nibble his ear,
inching my hand into his PJs. “You started it, now let me finish it.”
Purchase Man of My Dreams
Giveaway
5 eBooks, 1 Signed Paperback
About the author
Faith Andrews lives in New York where she is happily married to her high school sweetheart. They have two beautiful daughters and a furry Yorkie son, Rocco. If she isn’t listening to Mumford and Sons or busy being a Dance Mom, her nose is in a book or her laptop. She’s a sucker for a happily ever after and believes her characters are out there living one somewhere ...
BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE
OCTOBER 8 – 17
October 8
Falling In Fall - Review, Excerpt,
Character Casting
Obsession Is A Book - Review, Excerpt
Raw Books - Review, Excerpt
Morning After a Good Book - Review,
Author Interview
October 9
Just Me and My Love for Books - Review, Excerpt
Crystal's Many Reviews - Review,
Excerpt
bookyramblings - Excerpt, Author
Interview
October 10
For the Love of Books by Jaime - Review, Excerpt
Sugar and Spice Book Reviews - Review, Excerpt
Life with Lesley - Review, Excerpt
October 11
Chris Book Blog Emporium - Review,
Excerpt
The Little Black Book Blog - Review,
Excerpt,
Sex and the Books - Review, Excerpt
October12
Kiss And Tell Reviews - Review, Excerpt
Reading Bliss - Excerpt, Promo Post
Beauty Brains and Books - Review,
Author Interview
October 13
Book Fanatic - Review
mustreadbooksordie - Excerpt
Book Reviews by Lexi - Review, Excerpt
October 14
October 15
Mean Girls Luv Books - Review
The Phantom Paragrapher - Review
October 16
The book obsessed momma - Review,
Excerpt
Stories and Swag - Promo Post
Schmexy Girl Book Blog - Review,
Author Interview, Character Casting
Just One More Romance - Review,
Excerpt
Toot's Book Reviews - Excerpt, Promo Post
My Secret Romance - Review, Excerpt
October 17
True Story Book Blog - Review, Excerpt, Author
Interview
Alphas Authors & Books Oh My - Review, Character Casting
A Dirty Book Affair - Review
The Bookish Babe - Review, Excerpt
Swoon Worthy Books - Review, Excerpt
Liezel's Book Blog - Review, Excerpt,
Just Booked - Review, Character
Casting
Based on what you wrote in your review, I have a feeling that this book has something like Megan Hart's kind of story. I love when authors try to capture "real life" in their books-
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Andrea.
Glass @ Way Too Hot Books
Faith Sullivan is yet another author I have heard great things about but still haven't read any of her books. Only the thing is I don't think I'm ready to read it just yet. Marriage and kids seem so far away to me and I'm not sure I'd relate to this story. Great review :)
ReplyDeleteI always love books that show the work in a relationship and how things dont always go according to plan. This sounds like a good read. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really powerful book about finding one self. I'm not married but I can imagine that marriage is work.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked this, Andrea.
You're right. I was shying away from this one. Don't like cheating but I wasn't clear on whether she cheats or just thinks about it. Maybe I'll give it a try since you liked it so much.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a consuming story that looks at that gray area
ReplyDeleteDoesn't sound like something I can handle but your review is awesome!
ReplyDeleteOkay, I gotta admit that I HATE stories about cheating, yet I'm fascinated at the same time. The "not clear cut" thing makes me curious, too--and man, that excerpt! Talk about getting our attention, hah.
ReplyDeleteWendy @ The Midnight Garden
This story sounds really interesting. I like how it's realistic, and I would like to check it out, especially after reading your review on it. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLindy@ A Bookish Escape
This sounds very real. Maybe not always easy to read about but a good story never the less.
ReplyDeleteHuh. This sounds super complicated and I definitely shy away from cheating stories but Covet did it very well so maybe this one does too. Marriage ain't easy so maybe we need more stories like this that really explore the topic in a realistic way.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, and I might be wrong, but this reminds me so much of that Nicholas Cage/Tea Leoni movie. Was it Family Man? I don't remember. But I do love WHAT-IF novels, gets me thinking although i must say I cringe on some of the possibilities.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, this is something that I'd enjoy reading. It sounds light but smart enough to get me engaged throughout.
I love books that hold you captive, and while cheating makes me shy away, you do have me curious. Sorry I haven't been commenting lately between Bump in the Night and a dreadful illness it is all I can do to comment back .Hopefully I will be back on my feet soon. I miss checking out your daily posts.
ReplyDeleteI love that you said marriage and especially marriage with kids is work, Andrea. So true. I also like your description of the book being Mia's journey towards finding what she wants and needs. I really like the sound of this one. Thanks for an amazing review!
ReplyDeleteWoah what an excerpt! I can see why you were able to devour this book in a few hours, I would definitely want answers from this book asap too. I normally don't like cheating books either, but I would be interested in finding out the decisions these characters decided to make! Wonderful review Andrea! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like one I might like. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat review and excerpt. This sounds like the kind of book I would enjoy.
ReplyDelete