Author: Nicole Michaels

Book: Win Me Over (Hearts & Crafts #2)

tl;dr recommendation: Win Me Over had me won from the start. 4.25 stars!

Book Summary:

WINNING ISN’T EVERYTHING

Callie Daniels is a singular sensation. She owns and operates her own bakery, contributes to a popular lifestyle blog, and is the dance team coach at a local high school. She lives by her own design and is much too busy to consider dating. Mr. Right will have to fit into her life when the time is right…

UNLESS YOU’RE PLAYING FOR KEEPS

Football coach Bennett Clark always plays by the rules. He knows that his new colleague Callie is off limits but she’s so beautiful-and irritating!-that Bennett can’t get her off his mind. She wants him to participate in a charity dance contest, and won’t take no for an answer. Soon, what begins as a festive athletic endeavor turns into a heated flirtation on and off the dance floor. Could it be that the free-spirited Callie has finally found a way through Coach Clark’s line of defense?

Longer Review:

This football-and-dance-coach love story is a major win. Adorable flirting leads to serious orgasms and a whole lot of love. Callie, a bake shop owner/blogger extraordinaire/dance coach, is one strong cookie. She’s determined never to depend on a man in her life for her self worth and I couldn’t help but want to hug her to death during these proclamations. Of course, these same thoughts make her hesitant to start anything with Bennett, the sexy former NFL player turned high school football coach.

The basic set up has the makings of a traditional love story. Callie is sort of arm twisted into teaching Bennett how to dance so that they can enter a dance competition. Bennett’s not thrilled about dancing – being as how he can’t dance – but he’s equally as coerced, so they schedule practice…and the seduction begins.

While the heat intensifies with each touch, they each try to fight off their feelings for the other. The internal battles are commendable, but never had a chance. I really loved how funny they were with each other. Even sex became a chance to crack a joke…at least until Bennett’s kisses drowned out all thought from Callie’s brain. *bliss*

I absolutely enjoyed these characters, their commitment to their town, their players, and their growing feelings. Bennett’s a little more complicated than I initially thought – he’s selfless, sweet, and an All American kind of guy on the surface, but he battles some demons that he needs to address. Thankfully, Callie’s a take no shits kind of girl and I loved that she stood up for herself when necessary. GO CALLIE.

As their feelings deepen, both character grow & develop in completely believable ways. Sometimes love has a way of showing you what really matters. Maybe a little corny, but it’s really true. Callie & Bennett are a great couple to snuggle up with and learn from. Win Me Over had me won from the start. 4.25 stars!

[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]

About the Author:

Nicole resides in a small town outside of Kansas City with her husband and three sons. When she isn’t writing, she’s a wedding and portrait photographer, loves to cook, read, and watch historical dramas or documentaries.