Title: The Design
Author: R.S. Grey
Release Date: March 1, 2015
Find on Goodreads
Synopsis:
Five minutes until the interview begins.
Fresh on the heels of her college graduation, Cameron Heart has landed an interview at a prestigious architecture firm.
Four minutes until the interview.
She knows she’s only there because the owner, Grayson Cole, is her older sister’s friend.
Three minutes.
For the last seven years, Grayson has been the most intimidating man Cammie has ever had the pleasure, or displeasure, of being around.
Two Minutes.
But the job opportunity is too good to pass up. So, Cammie will have to ignore the fact that Grayson is handsome enough to have his own national holiday.
One.
After all, she shouldn’t feel that way about her new boss. And, he will be her new boss.
…
“I’m not scared of you,” I said with a confident smile.
“Perhaps we should fix that, Ms. Heart. Close the door.”
Buy Links:
Excerpt:
I paused just outside of the front doors and took a deep breath, trying to get my bearings. I was twenty minutes early for my interview. My outfit was still wrinkle-free. My pad-folio was filled with extra copies of my resume and reference letters, and I’d rehearsed every possible question that Grayson Cole would ask:
Greatest weakness? My inability to settle for anything less than what I deserve. I’m stubborn and persistent.
The honest answer? My inability to overcome my schoolgirl crush on you even though you’re a self-righteous ass.
I would NOT be giving him the honest answer.
Author Info:
I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way, I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things... everyday.
I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors include Mindy Kaling & Jonathan SafranFoer. I'm a comedy geek and love all things "funny". Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.
Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2015.
RS Grey is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors, her ability to easily move between teenage romance and new adult, her characters quickly drawing me in, making me yearn for more about them, where I'm often left thirsting for more from these people, The Design is the answer to my prayers. In The Duet I fell in love with Brooklyn Heart and Jason Monroe, the perfect mix of city and country had me swooning, but the characters that had me intrigued were Cameron and Greyson, the fierce loyalty and deep friendship Greyson had with Brooklyn captivated me, but it was the fiery Cameron, with her snappy one liners and constant comedic relief that made me sure she was so much more than just a secondary character.
Seeing Cammie truly step into her own, to be the kind of heroine that makes it impossible not to root for her, one where you love her flaws and celebrate her wins, a heroine so fleshed out, so fully realised that she leapt right off the page. There's a tendency for authors to write the stereotype, the rich successful hero vs. the naive, young heroine. Grey however writes the story of a smart successful enigmatic business man and a young woman fresh out of university, her youth is where the similarities to the stereotype end, while Cammie may be young, she's world weary in a way that only someone who was forced to grow up quickly after the death of her parents can be.
Cammie knows what it means to feel lost, alone, to feel displaced, trapped by grief, it was during one of these moments that Cammie found her career focus, she found a purpose, it was the moment that she was able to see through her pain and grief and find an outlet for her restless energy.
Where Cammie is feisty and determined, Greyson is generally the epitome of calm, cool and collected, he is almost impossible to ruffle, the few moments that it seems like Cammie has broken through his tough veneer, he recovers almost as quickly. Until he can't anymore, until fighting something that's as clear as day between them.
There's something so real between these two, a tangible connection, a raw chemistry, but there's so much more than just a raunchy sex fest here, there's a story about a girl trying to find her way, and a man who's watched her from afar for years. A man who thinks he's got it all figured out, he's isolated, an island who depends on no one, and a girl who thinks she needs space and distance to be strong. The funny thing is, what they need might just be the one thing they never even considered.
There's a beauty in two strong characters, characters who are only vulnerable to one another when they open themselves up to a chance together. But most of all what I loved about this story, was the question Grey poses, what if the thing you've always dreamt of isn't the right path for you, what happens when your dreams don't live up to your reality and you're left wondering if you can swallow your pride and alter your dreams. It was so easy to immerse myself in this story, in these characters, no sooner had I turned the last page, that I was itching to start it again, always a testament to the skill of the writer. Kudos to you RS Grey.
Book 1: The Duet by R.S. Grey
