Release Blitz + Review: "Homecoming King" by Penny Reid

I'm delighted to participate in the release blitz celebrating "Homecoming King" by Penny Reid, book #1 of the Three Kings series. 

Bartender Abby McNerny hadn't seen her high school crush, professional football player Rex McMurtry, since graduation, so she's shocked when he walks into the bar where she works one night and orders a beer. Distracted by memories of high school and her friend Kaylee pushing her to flirt with Rex, Abby doesn't notice that he's already drunk, so she serves him. When the bar closes and it's apparent that he can't drive, Abby winds up taking him home to her apartment and caring for him after he gets sick all over her car. The next day, Rex shows up at the bar again, this time to thank Abby and ask her for a favor: he's looking for a fake wife to attend several upcoming weddings and charity events with him, and he wants to hire her to do the job. 

 

After a disastrous marriage when she was only 18, Abby swore off relationships, but she couldn't help wanting to help Rex, who had earned a reputation for being the guy women dated immediately before they met their future husband. For a lot of reasons, he wanted to break that cycle, and after Abby took such good care of him without asking for anything in return, he believed that he could trust her to help him with his plan. Their teasing and flirty banter was so cute, especially through texts and over the phone. I also loved the slow burn as their relationship developed; even though it took quite some time for them to act on their chemistry, it was quite steamy when they did so and totally worth the wait.

 

Overall, "Homecoming King" was an incredibly funny, sweet, and heartwarming story that I highly recommend for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I can't believe we have to wait an entire year for the next book in the series!

 

*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Give Me Books Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

About "Homecoming King"

Rex “TW” McMurtry’s perpetual single-hood wouldn’t bother him so much if all his ex-girlfriends didn’t keep marrying the very next person they dated, especially when so many of those grooms are his closest friends. He may be a pro-football defensive end for the Chicago Squalls, but the press only wants to talk about how he’s always a groomsman and never a groom. Rex is sick of being the guy before the husband, and he’s most definitely sick of being the best man at all their weddings.

Bartender Abigail McNerny is the gal-pal, the wing-woman, the she-BFF. She’s dated. Once. And once was more than enough. Privy to all the sad stories of her customers, ‘contentment over commitment’ is her motto, and Abby is convinced no one on earth could ever entice her into a romantic relationship . . . except that one guy she’s loved since preschool.

The guy who just walked into her bar.

The guy who doesn’t recognize her.

The guy who is drunk and needs a ride home.

The guy who has a proposition she should definitely refuse.