Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Blog Tour: Neighbor Dearest by Penelope Ward




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Blurb
A STANDALONE NOVEL that does NOT need to be read in conjunction with any other book.


From New York Times bestselling author, Penelope Ward, comes a friends-to-lovers story with sexy new characters.


After getting dumped, the last thing I needed was to move next door to someone who reminded me of my ex-boyfriend, Elec.


Damien was a hotter version of my ex.


The neighbor I’d dubbed “Angry Artist” also had two massive dogs that kept me up with their barking.


He wanted nothing to do with me. Or so I thought until one night I heard laughter coming through an apparent hole in my bedroom wall.


Damien had been listening to all of my phone sessions with my therapist.


The sexy artist next door now knew all of my deepest secrets and insecurities.


We got to talking.


He set me straight with tips to get over my breakup.


He became a good friend, but Damien made it clear that he couldn’t be anything more.


Problem was, I was falling hard for him anyway. And as much as he pushed me away, I knew he felt the same…because his heartbeat didn’t lie.


I thought my heart had been broken by Elec, but it was alive and beating harder than ever for Damien.


I just hoped he wouldn’t shatter it for good.


Author's note – Neighbor Dearest is a full-length standalone novel. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.


4.5 stars
Review by Lisa Kane

neighbor Dearest.jpgChelsea Jameson was the girl Elec O'Rourke broke up with when he reconnected with Gerta in Dearest Stepbrother. I liked her in that book. (of course I didn't want her with Elec, and when she talked about his voracious sexual appetite I wanted to vomit) I liked her, just not with Elec. It's been a little while since Chelsea was dumped and she's just moved into a new apartment. I wish I could say her heart's moved on since Elec, but it really hasn't. Her sister Jade is an actress who lives in New York and has tried to make Chelsea see that her life is open to new opportunities and new men. This break up really did a number on her. Because it happened so quickly and without any real warning she is still reeling from the pain. Let's face it, if you read Dearest Stepbrother, Elec admitted he was just about to propose to Chelsea when Greta came back in his life. Chelsea found the ring so she knew his proposal was coming. So I can understand how hard this is to get over. 

There's a guy in Chelsea's apartment who is less than friendly and paints murals on the side of the apartment complex. She can't figure out how he is allowed to do this. Besides which, he has two beasts for pets and they bark all morning long. So yeah, he's good looking but he's not very friendly and she's not a fan. 

"Or maybe he's a genius but with limited social skills. What do they call that-Asberger's?"
"No. He communicates just fine. I've seen him yelling at a few people. I'm pretty sure he doesn't have that. This guy is just not friendly. He doesn't have Asberger's. He's just an ass."

Unfortunately, this guy overhears her convo with her sister. 

"And I'm not anti-social or a savant. I'm just a good old-fashioned prick-with supersonic hearing." 

Turns out the beanie wearing artist is D.H. Hennessey and he owns the complex. How does she find this out? After a confrontation between the two of them over his dogs, she took his suggestion and went to talk to the complex manager about them. Jokes on her I guess. But slowly Damien (yes just like the character in the Omen) and Chelsea get to know each other and some of their history. Both have had recent break ups, although Damien is the one who ended things with Janna, the girl he shares custody of Dudley and Drewfus. She calls them the Double D's. Damien doesn't like to share too many details about his life, but Chelsea is a bulldog when she wants to know something. By accident, he knows all about her history with Elec so turnabout is fair play. 

"What happened?"
"What do you think happened? We broke up."
"I know that. But I mean why didn't it work out?"
"There's not always a clear answer to that question. It's not always as simple as.. He hesitated. "Someone fucking their stepsister."
 
Oh. My. God. 

He's such an asshole. 


There's lots of memorable moments in this book-Chelsea almost burning down the complex, Damien discovering her love for dirty romances, Chelsea seeing Damien with other women, (ouch those moments hurt my heart!) Damien at his most vulnerable. 

"What if I promise not to bring anyone home?"
"That's unrealistic, and you shouldn't have to do that to protect my feelings."
 
There's so much to this story. Two people, both trying to move on from hurt and things they can't change. But Damien is not looking for commitment, and Chelsea is fresh from a break up. She can't give her heart away and have it shattered once again. There are secrets and angst and so much drama. But I have to say, Damien is a hell of a sweet guy. He's funny and smart and never loses sight of Chelsea and her feelings. I adored him. 

Of course, like every Penelope Ward book, I devoured Dearest Neighbor. She always has those stomach plummeting moments that I dread and yet find so necessary in her stories. This one has them in spades. 

I guess you could say I was throwing in the towel. But in a sense, it felt more like I was giving it to him, hoping he'd hand it back someday. 

Get ready to have your heart broken and mended and then have it swell so big with happiness that you could give the Grinch a run for his money! Now if only we can get Penelope to write Tyler and Jade's story! 


"This heart beating for me, these tears-they tell me more than any amount of words ever could. I never thought I'd be fortunate enough in my lifetime to have someone love me enough that it would bring them to tears. "




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Excerpt
Copyright © 2016 by
Penelope Ward
Looking tense, he placed his hands slowly into his pockets as he looked at me. “What exactly happened last night?”
“What are you talking about?”
Nice try dodging the question.
He moved in closer to me. “What am I talking about? You leaving me with a giant fucking basket of muffins and running off before I could even say anything? Ring a bell?”
“I thought you’d be alone. It caught me off guard.”
His eyes softened. “You were upset…”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“You’re a terrible liar, Chelsea. Fucking horrible at it. You don’t hide your feelings very well.”
“You think you know just about everything there is to know about me, don’t you?”
“Not everything. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to read you. It’s one of the things I like about you, though. You’re one of the least fake people I’ve ever met.”
“Then, tell me. Why do you think I was upset?”
“Honestly? I think you’re confused about me.”
“Confused…”
“Yes. I think you’re wondering why I opted not to have dinner with you and instead ended up with a woman I’d literally just met, someone who isn’t as sweet as you and sure as fuck isn’t as pretty as you. So, you’re wondering what the hell I was thinking. Am I right?”
That’s exactly what I was thinking.
He continued, “I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but I do feel a connection with you, okay? If you’ve sensed something, you’re not imagining it.”
“Well, if I wasn’t confused before…now I definitely am.”
“I feel like I need to say this now, because I can’t stand the thought of you thinking that I somehow find you undesirable when it’s exactly the opposite.”
I crossed my arms. “Again. Not following you.”
He closed his eyes as if to try to find the right words. “It’s just that I know for sure that I can’t ever be what someone like you needs in a boyfriend, in a partner. It’s not that we wouldn’t have fun or be great together at first. I’m just not good for you in the long-term—not marriage material. And the reasons are too complex to get into, except to say that it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me. I can’t, in good conscience, start something with a girl like you.”
“A girl like me…”
“Yes. You’re not the kind of girl a guy takes home for a quick fuck. You’re the girl he keeps.”
Right. Just like Elec did.


AVAILABLE ON ALL RETAILERS:
About the Author:
Penelope Ward
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Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 11-year-old girl with autism and a 9-year-old boy. Penelope and her family reside in Rhode Island.


Connect with Penelope Ward:


       Stalk Her: Facebook | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Private Group


Additional Books by Penelope Ward


RoomHate:


Stuck-Up Suit: (co-written with Vi Keeland)

Cocky Bastard: (co-written with Vi Keeland)


Sins of Sevin:

Stepbrother Dearest:


Jake Undone (Jake #1):

My Skylar


Jake Understood (Jake #2):


Gemini:

GIVEAWAY

$50 Amazon Gift Card

1 comment:

  1. Enjoyed the review and will be adding to my TBR. Thanks for the chance.

    ReplyDelete

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