REVIEW: Work In Progress by Staci Hart

OUR REVIEW:

Shel: Let me tell you why I’ve been loving the girls in the RLC (Red Lipstick Coalition) and their stories. It’s been well established that I love a super strong female protagonist—and these women definitely have their strengths—but I also enjoy reading female protagonists who are relatable and every single one of these women, so far, have a struggle that is all too real for many of us. Whether it is an issue with confidence, shyness, or social anxiety—or a little of all of these—these characters show us that with a solid support network and a nudge or a shove out of our comfort zone that failures and mistakes are most certainly options but it’s what we learn and gain from those failures that is what helps us grow. Court: Staci does have a ridiculous ability to be able to give us strong characters yet also real and vulnerable ones as well. I love these characters because it is nice to see yourself in a book and when they're going through the same work, relationship and life issues as you...well...you enjoy a beautifully written story and maybe feel a little more whole in the process! 

Shel: Amelia has also been a quiet character in the earlier books in this series, from my memory, and it’s in Work In Progress  that we learn why. Her shyness and anxiety is both understandable and infuriating because it seems so preventable but it’s also the thing that many people will relate to. At the beginning of the novel, it’s only when she’s behind the safety of her blog and her books that she feels the most secure and where her opinions are boldly stated—so bold that they catch the attention of one Mr. Thomas Bane—a hot heated rogue whom we learn has a tender heart, a sexy smirk, a protective nature, and a sense of righteousness that tends to always get him in trouble—not a good luck for his publicist or the publisher of his novels. Pairing these two was genius, in my opinion, and I loved the accurate portrayal of life as a blogger and what feels like an accurate portrayal of the pressures of being a full time novelist. Court: It is brilliant. They do say, write what you know, and all that. Blending the ins and outs in the book world is a great way to suck us in (because, y'all...we know it is hard!) but also giving a fun story with love and heart and an emotional punch is never a bad thing either. And going back to a character who has some serious emotional stuff going on, it is beautiful to see some emotional growth as well. 

Shel: A plan to work together soon becomes more and lemme tell you it’s been a while since I’ve had the simultaneous desire to have the tension break RIGHT NOW and for it to take its time. Gahhh. Amelia kept holding back and I was dying and loving it. And Teddy's protective nature, her growing confidence, and their make out sessions?!?!?! OMG. Those make out sessions...*fans self* These two were giving some real #couplegoals vibes. And the true sign that I adored these two? All was going so well that I did not want the bad stuff to happen--I was prepared to be okay with a minor petty conflict so that they could have their HEA. But nooooo. Staci Hart wasn’t having that. Hearts had to be badly broken. Grrrr. All worth it though because it all ends up happy and good and then the end until...welllll, read the sneak peek and diiiiieeeee of wanting April to come! Court: Couldn't have said it better! Slow burn is good. But...expecting Staci to go easy on the heart...probably not going to happen! Honest, we don't want it too, but we feel a little bit like we're going to have a coronary in the process!!! 

Amazon… https://amzn.to/2R7kqWo

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2FdLml5

SYNOPSIS:

I never thought my first kiss would be on my wedding day.

But here I stand, clutching a bouquet of pale pink roses behind the doors of a Las Vegas chapel, and at the end of the aisle is the absolute last man I imagined would be waiting for me.

Thomas Bane.

Bestselling author. Notorious bad boy. Savagely handsome, dark as sin, chiseled as stone. And somehow, my soon-to-be husband.

Marry him, and I’ll land my dream job. Save him, and I’ll walk away with everything I’ve ever wanted. All I have to do is remember it’s all for show. None of it is real, no matter how real it feels.

But first, I have to survive the kiss.

And with lips like his, I don’t stand a chance.