Blog Tour: The Best Man by Ana Blaze

Today I am part of the Blog Tour for The Best Man. First I have my review to share with you, then an excerpt of the book and an interview with the author Ana Blaze. And there is a tour wide giveaway 🙂

The Best Man
by Ana Blaze

I got a copy for review

Blurb:
Beth Chase is too busy planning perfect weddings to worry about the lack of action in her own love life. But if she was looking for a man, she wouldn’t be looking at Colin Pratt. Her boss swears that Best Man Colin is a quiet scholar and science fiction writer who couldn’t possibly cause a fuss at his own brother’s wedding. He’s clearly never met the man in question. Snarky, sexy and more than a little inebriated, Colin is the final obstacle between Beth and the last perfect wedding she needs to make partner. Of course, when she helps him into a taxi at the end of the night she has no idea that he’s only just begun to poke holes in her professional exterior. Colin might have the skills to seduce a romance professional, but can he convince her that he’s the best man to share her happy ever after?

My Review:
I finished this book mostly in one sitting. I read the first few chapters and then when I picked it up later I read the rest in one sitting. The Best Man is a cute story about a wedding planner who falls in love with a best man. It’s really enjoyable, although I did have a few issues with it. Also the story is pretty short, so some things feel a bit rushed.

The story starts off when main character Beth meets Colin, the best man, for the first time. I didn’t expect them to meet so early in the story, but I did like this. I think they fell in love a bit too fast (even Beth thought so). I am not a fan of insta love and even though it was obvious there was something between these two, I think it still would’ve been better if they had taken the time to get each other better.

Beth and Colin are two great characters, even though the story is pretty short I did get a good idea of who they are. I also loved their banter, really I think their banter scenes are my favourite scenes of the book. Those scenes are really done great and it was mostly in those scenes that I could see that they would be good for each other. Colin is a very persistant man and I liked he didn’t take no for an answer. He knew he wanted Beth and he was determined to make sure he got her. Beth is also a great character and I liked her professionalism and how committed she was to her job, while also being a fun person when not working. She has a great sense of humor.

Due to the short lenght of this book I felt like the story lacked some depth sometimes and the side characters don’t get enough attention. There are some great side characters we get to know in this book, but there just was a little too less attention for them and I would’ve liked learning more about them.

To conclude: The Best Man is a cute and quick read. I think the couple fell in love a bit too fast, but I loved their banter and I think they were good for each other. Some parts of the story feel a bit rushed and I would’ve liked to learn more about the side characters. Definitely worth the read if you’re looking for a nice romance story.

You can add The Best Man to your to-read list on Goodreads

You can buy The Best Man here:
– Amazon
– B&N
– Kobo
– Smashwords

The prequel Mr Right is free for download on Smashwords

Excerpt:
Colin followed her, snatched her hand and spun her around so her back was pressed against the wall near her bedroom door. He kissed her again, one of his magic kisses that left her weak in the knees and nearly distracted from the matter at hand.

 “You can’t just get all sexy every time I disagree with you.”

His teeth teased her earlobe. “Quite right,” he murmured.

 “I’m trying to have a serious conversation here.”

“We’re amazing together. Tell me you don’t feel it too?”

“Of course I feel something, but it can’t be love.”

“Why not?”

“It takes more than a couple days to know if you’re compatible enough to share your life with someone.”

Colin touched her temple. “You’re talking about something that comes from here instead of the thing that comes from here.” He placed his hand over her heart. 

“Yeah, well I’m pretty sure the body part you’re thinking with is a bit lower.”

Shaking his head, he pulled her hand up and placed it on his chest. “You’re under my skin, Beth. There isn’t a part of me that doesn’t want you.” He brushed her hair off her forehead.

“You took a pretty hard hit to the head the other day.”

“It started before that. You floored me the moment we met.”

“You’re claiming love at first sight?”

“Is it so hard to believe?’ Colin skimmed her bottom lip with his thumb. “You have a stack of videos in the other room that tell me you want to believe in happily ever after. Take the chance.”

“Those are fantasies, pretty stories about pretty people. I like them, but I don’t think they’re real.”

His hands kept moving; they slid up her neck, down her arms. They tugged her shirt out of her skirt and caressed the small of her back. “Want to know what I think? I think you liked me from the start. I think you felt this connection too, right away.  You tried to act all proper but you couldn’t wait to get your hands on me.”

She laughed. “I thought you were a pain in the ass.”

“You mean you couldn’t stop looking at my arse, saucy girl.”

About the Author:
Ana lives just outside Washington DC with her very supportive husband and three rather demanding cats. She loves the ocean, Indian food, IKEA, and cooking. Ana admits to watching too much television and she swears that someday she’s going to learn how to play the guitar resting on the bookshelf in her office.

You can find Ana here:
Website
Facebook
Twitter

And I got the chance to interview Ana Blaze! My questions are in italics and my comments on Ana’s answers too.

Hello Ana! Welcome to Lola’s Reviews!
Hi. Thanks so much for having me. I love your adorable pony banner. I had a bunch of My Little Ponies back when they first came out. (Don’t do the math and figure out my age!)

First a few questions about your book, The Best Man
– How did you come up with the inspiration for The Best Man?
I liked the idea of a really organized woman falling for a man who seemed like a mess, at least at first.

– Where does the story take place? In which city?
The Best Man takes place in present day Los Angeles, California.

– From the blurb I gathered that weddings are an important part of The Best Man, what is your opinion about weddings?
I love weddings; they are a celebration of love and family. I don’t think they need to be big and fancy, although that is certainly nice if it is an option, but I think it is a shame not to take a day and acknowledge that creating and combining families is wonderful.

I haven’t been to that many weddings yet, so I don’t really know my opinion about them. I do would love to have a small wedding myself, I hate crowds. I do would love to have an original wedding, I am currently considering wedding in a steam punk outfit or gothic dress.

Now a few questions about writing in general and writing The Best Man
– Why did you decide to write a romance book? What attracts you to this genre?
I love happy endings. And the kissing. All books should have more kissing.

– When did you decide you wanted to become a writer?
The decision to really pursue writing as a career was quite recent. I did give journalism serious consideration back in high school and college. I was an editor on my college paper. But I didn’t try my hand at creative writing until about five years ago and it was very much a hobby at first. Two years ago I became more serious and The Best Man is my debut.

– Which scenes do you enjoy writing the most?
I love writing dialogue, so the scenes with the most banter are my favorite.

I love reading banter scenes!

– Which scenes are the most difficult to write?
I’m going to have to admit that it’s the sexy scenes. It’s such a fine line and I’m still a little shy.

wow I never had expected that answer from a romance author.

And at last a few questions about you
– Which genre books do you prefer to read?
I read a lot of romance: contemporary, paranormal and historical, YA, NA and urban fantasy.

– What is one of the best books you have read?
Wow.  Isn’t that like asking a parent to pick their favorite kid? I love so many books! But right now I cannot say enough about Warm Bodies. It is quirky, charming, truly moving and it has zombies.

I actually hate it when I get asked this question, but I still like to aks it to other people :p. I agree picking your favourite book is impossible.

– What is your favourite food?
saag paneer with warm naan

Saag paneer I have to look that one up. I do love naan!

– What is your favourite drink?
Diet Coke or a mojito-depending on the time and place

– What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to cook, read, watch television and travel.

Thanks Ana for answering my questions!
Thanks again for having me!

And there is a tour wide giveaway for this blog tour. US only unfortunately. One lucky reader will win The Best Man ebook and a goodie pack to share with the best man or woman in their life. The pack contains candles, Godiva chocolate, Tuscan lavender soap, Sensual Massage Oil from The Body Shop and two lip treatments from The Body Shop. It will come packaged in a pretty photo box.

a Rafflecopter giveaway