Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt of Melting Wynter by J. Marie

 Weston Croix

Okay, so I might have a few playboy like tendencies. That tends to happen when you fall in love and don't end up with the happily ever after of your dreams. I built a wall around my heart and decided to have a little fun instead. 

Now, I've found myself falling for the ice queen herself. Did I mention that she's also my editor-in-chief?  She's not interested in me or being an us, but when our best friends start dating, we can no longer escape our insecurities or the fire burning between us.

 I guess I'm just going to have to turn up the heat and melt her heart. 

Wynter Carlisle

I've got the perfect job, an apartment in NYC's elite 425 Madison high rise and life as I know is great.  If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that people are fickle and love isn't always permanent. I'm the only one I can always count on, well except for my best friend Addison. 

I had a plan to protect my heart. That was, until Weston - the cocky columnist who works for me...in more ways than one.  Can we really break down our own barriers or will our destiny go up in flames? We're about to find out.  

After all, 425 Madison is the perfect place to fall in love!

My thoughts:

 Melting Wynter is the 20th book in the 425 Madison Avenue series.  This one is Wes and Wynter's story.  For the most part, I enjoyed their romance.  I thought Wes was a fun character and I loved his love of Disney.  If anyone could melt an ice queen, it would be him.  Wynter took a bit longer for me to warm up to.  I thought she was a bit over the top. The "I love you's" did come a bit quick for me.  Even though they work together, I didn't feel like I got to know them "together" other than angry sex.  Because of that, I wish the story was a little longer.  While not my favorite of the bunch, I still recommend it.

 

Excerpt

Copyright @ J Marie 2020

 

She’s hiding something underneath that facade of stone and I have a plan to figure out exactly what it is. I want to know what makes her tick. What consumes her? What gets under her skin? What’s her flaw? Other than my flirting and charm, that is.

It’s starting to get to her. I can tell by every flinch or slip of her mask and I’m enticed to do it more. I want it to slip. I don’t want to play charades; I want her to show me the real her - The face behind the mask.

Come out and play, Wynter. A grin crosses my lips.

“Croix, my office now.” Her siren voice calls to me like a sailor doomed to meet his fate at the rocky cliffs. Wynter never calls me by my first name, but it’s not unusual. The longer she keeps up this detached front, the less she has to pretend.

My little arctic queen is angry and I wonder what’s put her over the edge this time. A flush covers her cheeks as her eyes find mine. I bet it's the same blush she gets during sex.

Her pen angrily slips between her fingers as she twists it over and over.

“You rang?” I answer with a smirk. She shakes her head, looking down at what I assume is my piece for the magazine. “You really expect me to believe that ‘dating apps are the new rage for fans of hookups’?”

“Hey, don’t knock Match Me until you try it. Maybe it’d loosen you up a little, Ice Queen.” I smile another one of my dazzling, charming smiles and she scoffs pushing away my piece.

“I don’t need a dating app to help me hook up with men, I do just fine on my own.”

I snicker, mumbling under my breath. “You probably wouldn’t know a proper man even if he pleasured you six ways to Sunday.”

“What was that?”

“Oh, nothing. Guess some of us in the dating world just aren’t as lucky as you, your royal highness.” Sarcasm falls from my lips.

“Please stop calling me that, I am your boss.”

I fake salute her; a fat smile still planted across my face. 

Leaning against the wall, I watch her eyes follow my silhouette.  Do I detect a hint of approval? I’m wearing a white button-down, the top popped open exposing a slight peep show of my tattoos. Her eyes trail down my body and she licks her lips before catching herself.  “Anything else you needed or was that all?”

She bites the cap of her pen and a slight crease forms on her forehead, as it often does when she’s lost in concentration or thought - another one of the many things I find intriguing about this woman.

“If this is the best you have, I guess I’ll post it. I am curious though… is this really all you’ve got swimming around in your brain? I find it hard to believe that a Yale graduate has nothing better to write about than hookups. It’d be a shame to find someone better versed in the world for that new senior columnist position opening up soon.”

 About J Marie

J Marie is a hopeless romantic with a serious Chipotle addiction.  When she isn’t searching for her next swoon-worthy book boyfriend, she’s writing him. Although she has West Virginia roots, she currently resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dog, Sir Cooper Ryder.

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