NEW RELEASE & REVIEW - The Design (A Heart novel) by R.S. Grey

Title: The Design
Author: R.S. Grey
Release Date: March 1, 2015
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Five minutes until the interview begins.
Fresh on the heels of her college graduation, Cameron Heart has landed an interview at a prestigious architecture firm.
Four minutes until the interview. 
She knows she’s only there because the owner, Grayson Cole, is her older sister’s friend.
Three minutes. 
For the last seven years, Grayson has been the most intimidating man Cammie has ever had the pleasure, or displeasure, of being around.
Two Minutes. 
But the job opportunity is too good to pass up. So, Cammie will have to ignore the fact that Grayson is handsome enough to have his own national holiday. 
One. 
After all, she shouldn’t feel that way about her new boss. And, he will be her new boss.
…
“I’m not scared of you,” I said with a confident smile.
“Perhaps we should fix that, Ms. Heart. Close the door.”

Amazon

I paused just outside of the front doors and took a deep breath, trying to get my bearings. I was twenty minutes early for my interview. My outfit was still wrinkle-free. My pad-folio was filled with extra copies of my resume and reference letters, and I’d rehearsed every possible question that Grayson Cole would ask:
Greatest weakness? My inability to settle for anything less than what I deserve. I’m stubborn and persistent.
The honest answer? My inability to overcome my schoolgirl crush on you even though you’re a self-righteous ass.
I would NOT be giving him the honest answer.

 **Note: Although this book is part of a series, it can definitely read as a standalone. But, why wouldn’t you want to see how Cammie’s sister, Brooklyn, ended up with Jason?**

The Design was just as cute of a read as its predecessor, The Duet. I’ve come to expect nothing else from R.S. Grey after reading all of her books (minus one). A fun romance of an intern-boss relationship that’s actually so much more than it seems, The Design was just the kind of book you would want to read to take your mind off the stresses of life.

“You’re talented and driven. The only reason I wouldn’t give you the position is because it would be a conflict of interest.”

“A conflict of interest?”

“Despite my best efforts to rid myself of it, I’ve always felt an attraction to you, Cameron…”

Cammie is one of the most relatable heroines I’ve read in a while. Although she is a few years older than me, she could be my best friend. Her way of thinking and her entertaining inner monologue kept me flipping through the pages long after my bedtime. I found her stubbornness and feistiness endlessly amusing. Especially with how she always tried to elicit emotions from Grayson. Cammie is brilliant, gorgeous, driven, funny, and confident and everything a good book heroine should be these days. I loved her relationship with her sister, as it reminds me of my close relationships with my brothers. I also loved how Cammie wasn’t perfect and she knew it. She was lost and trying to find herself, and it really makes sense why this book is told solely from her POV. This is her journey. This is her story of her finding her way through life and discovering who she is/who she wants to be. She just managed to find love along the way. And she’s insanely lucky to have people who love her by her side.

“Maybe that’s why I wanted Grayson. He was perfect, he had his life together, he was driven and committed—and I was none of those things. At any given moment, I had the desire to fly, to skip out on th rst of dinner and roam the city alone for the remainder of the night.”

Through Cammie’s eyes, Grayson is basically the perfect guy—hot body, successful, mysterious, and unattainable. The whole boss/intern taboo was awesome. Usually, I think those kinds of plotlines are overrated, but in this case, it felt fresh and enjoyable. Grayson has been friends with Cammie’s older sister, Brooklyn, for a long time. Cammie has always had a crush on him, and she never thought his feelings were the same. Until she starts working at his company. Then, she learns he’s always been there for her *swoon* I think my only complaint about this book is that by the end, I still felt like we barely knew Grayson. Yes, I did come to like him, but I didn’t fall head over heels in love with him. Yes, we get to know certain things about him, but by the end of the book I feel like he still has that dark, brooding, and mysterious air about him. I mean, no complaints here. He still was an amazing person and the perfect fit for Cammie.

“Oh god, that kiss was a terrible, terrible idea.”

“I like playing with fire. And I don’t have any intention of stopping.”

All in all, this was another charming winner from R.S. Grey. I’m sad that there won’t be any more books set in the world of the Heart sisters. However, the ending of this book?! Fantastic. She should give other authors tips on how to write endings. It answered all my questions and then some. It made my heart full with the cuteness and swooniness of the ending. I adored it. I can’t wait to see what R.S. Grey’s next project is.

“How long have you wanted this?”

When I answered, my eyes were closed and my heart was trying desperately to stay whole, in one piece and out of Grayson’s grasp. “Always.”

I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way, I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things... everyday.
I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors include Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I'm a comedy geek and love all things "funny". Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.

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