Title: The Anti-Boyfriend
Author: Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 31, 2020
Blurb
From New York Times bestselling author
Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel.
Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel.
At first,
my neighbor Deacon frustrated me.
my neighbor Deacon frustrated me.
Sure, he
was great-looking and friendly.
was great-looking and friendly.
But our
walls were thin, and on occasion, he’d bring women to his place and keep me
awake while he “entertained” them.
walls were thin, and on occasion, he’d bring women to his place and keep me
awake while he “entertained” them.
As a single
mother to an infant, I didn’t appreciate it.
mother to an infant, I didn’t appreciate it.
So, finally
it was my turn.
it was my turn.
When my
daughter wouldn’t stop wailing one night, Mr. Manwhore came knocking on my
door.
daughter wouldn’t stop wailing one night, Mr. Manwhore came knocking on my
door.
Miraculously,
at the sound of his voice, Sunny stopped crying. And when he held her…she
eventually fell asleep in his arms.
at the sound of his voice, Sunny stopped crying. And when he held her…she
eventually fell asleep in his arms.
Deacon was
rough on the exterior, but apparently on the inside? Mr.
Single-and-Ready-to-Mingle was a baby whisperer.
rough on the exterior, but apparently on the inside? Mr.
Single-and-Ready-to-Mingle was a baby whisperer.
After that
night, we became friends.
night, we became friends.
He’d go for
coffee runs. Come over to chat. Normal friend stuff.
coffee runs. Come over to chat. Normal friend stuff.
But over
time, our conversations ran deeper. We got closer.
time, our conversations ran deeper. We got closer.
Until one
night we crossed the line.
night we crossed the line.
Our
friendship turned into a complicated mess.
friendship turned into a complicated mess.
I’d gone
and fallen for a guy who’d sworn off commitment and kids.
and fallen for a guy who’d sworn off commitment and kids.
I knew
Deacon was starting to care for me too, even though Sunny and I didn’t fit into
any plan he’d ever imagined for himself.
Deacon was starting to care for me too, even though Sunny and I didn’t fit into
any plan he’d ever imagined for himself.
He was
wrong for me—so wrong that I’d dubbed him the “anti-boyfriend.”
wrong for me—so wrong that I’d dubbed him the “anti-boyfriend.”
Then why
did I wish more than anything that I could be the one woman to change him?
did I wish more than anything that I could be the one woman to change him?
ADD TO GOODREADS
4 stars
4 stars
Review by Lisa Kane
Carys Kincaid is tired. Being a single mom to an infant will do that to you, but lack of sleep due to the antics of the guy living in the apartment next door doesn't help. Apparently, her bed is against the same wall as his and she has an up close and personal porn movie every time he has an overnight guest. Deacon Mathers seems nice enough, he's certainly easy on the eyes, but Carys can't take his Olympic worthy sex marathons anymore.
The opportunity to tell Deacon she can hear everything and I mean everything that he does with his guests comes and Carys lets him know that she'd appreciate it if he would please keep the noise on his side of the wall. He's embarrassed, but he takes it with some light hearted humor. He offers her a Starbucks latte as an apology. Who can resist a delicious cup of goodness? This is the start of a cute friendship.
"Well, that was rude of me. I should've invited you to join."
What? It felt like all the blood rushed to my head.
He held out his palms. "I'm kidding. Bad sense of humor comes out when I feel awkward, I guess."
Carys' life is tough, her daughter Sunny is the most precious gift in her life, but it's challenging. The father's not in the picture and finances are stretched. Deacon is a beacon of light and he has a very calming affect on Sunny. He saves the day more than once.
Carys and Deacon are both attractive, young and single. Neither wants to cross that friend zone. They fill a void in each other's lives and living right next door complicates things. But the chemistry between them isn't going to go away and it's just a matter of time before Carys is the one making noises on Deacon's side of the wall.
The muscles between my legs giving new meaning to the term eager beaver.
There's some mild angst and a few twists thrown in to spice things up. I kept reading reader's horror that Carys is going to have to hear Deacon getting it on and how this storyline has been done too many times. But it honestly isn't an issue once Carys lets Deacon know she can hear his bed gymnastics. They didn't have any type of relationship prior to that conversation, only briefly passing one another in the hallway. This might be a spoil, but if it dissuades some readers by passing on this story because they don't want to read about the hero getting it on with another character-let me put that fear to bed (pun intended!)
You know, before we got together, I used to refer to you as the "Anti-Boyfriend."
Oh really? Well, the "Anti-Boyfriend" found the one.
Purchase Links
Penelope
Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling
author of contemporary romance.
Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling
author of contemporary romance.
She grew up
in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a
television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son,
and beautiful daughter with autism.
in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a
television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son,
and beautiful daughter with autism.
With over two
million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author
of over twenty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen
languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.
million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author
of over twenty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen
languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.
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