Even The Score

EVEN THE SCORE has some of the most spectacular writing around! Bella Sera Playhouse is not where Tess McKenzie dreamed of showing off her acting skills, but it pays the bills. Neither did the university graduate thought she would have to wait tables before a performance, but it’s what must be done until she can fulfill her dream of having her own theatre company. While serving tables, she loses her footing and lands straight in the arms of the last man she wanted to see: Hunter Dade, the sexy Texan who still blames her for ruining his wedding as well as huge business deal. Then after an unsettling encounter with her boss at the theatre, Tess is fired. Hunter needs a suitable fiancée to secure a deal, and he figures an actress could be the best option. Tess is an actress, so why not her? He offers her a great deal of money, which would be more than enough to open her theatre company, and she accepts. In spite of everything, they are attracted to each other; spending a 3-day weekend together proves to be much more difficult than they ever anticipated. I absolutely love Kate Meader’s writing style, and again she more than rises to the occasion! Ms. Meader’s prose is snappy, seamless and very witty. Her descriptions are colourful, and her demented sense of humour makes EVEN THE SCORE a joy to read. Tess and Hunter are engaging characters, their banter is fun and playful, and they share an undeniable chemistry. The tone of the book is sensual, light-hearted, and subtly erotic. There are also some clever plot twists that make it a very easy and quick read. EVEN THE SCORE is a sexy, unpretentious book with truly superlative writing! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Reviewed for Read Your Writes Book Reviews by Kim Confession time...I’ve known Even the Score was coming out for awhile now. Being a fan of Kate Meader, I couldn’t wait. I’ve heard bits and pieces about the story. From those bits and pieces, I was concerned I wasn’t going to like the heroine, Tess McKenzie. I mean come on, the woman convinced her friend to not marry the hero, Hunter Dade on their wedding day. The man was actually left at the altar in front of hundreds of people. That’s a little hard to get over. Kate Meader brings her classic humor which I love her for to Even the Score. She also brings the heat which I think is more than she usually writes. I went into reading this story with a preconceived idea of what the characters were like. I was totally wrong and I’m so happy for that. Tess McKenzie is an underpaid stage actress (read broke), chasing her dream of opening her own theater company. She refuses to take the easy way out and ask her mega-star mother to help her. She’s brass, sassy, and has her own dirty mouth. I totally love her! But for her, she’s been playing a part her whole life and she isn’t too sure who she really is. Hunter Dade is an alpha through and through. He’s a sweet and dirty talker with a protective streak that’s a mile long. For all the good in him, Hunter is running from his past and has regret eating him up. I can't remember the last time a character had my heart breaking for them. Hunter needs to purchase a piece of property in Texas, but in order to do so, he has to show he’s in a committed relationship. At the offhanded suggestion by one of his business partners, Hunter offers Tess the money she needs for her company if she plays the part of his fiancee for a weekend. With explosive tension and serious chemistry between them, these two are like longhorns circling each other and preparing for battle. Hunter has a violent and tragic past which rules his life. Tess’ past isn’t all smiley faces and hearts like people think. Together they bring out the best in each other, resulting in fake feelings becoming a little too real. Tess and Hunter show that when you set out for payback and to even the score, you get more than you bargained for. *The book contains violent flashbacks.* **Received a copy from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest unbiased opinion. I also personally purchased the book.**

Funny, sexy, and completely entertaining! Tess McKenzie and Hunter Dade know each other. At least they think they do. She did, after all, ruin his wedding! When they meet up a year later in a dinner theater of all places, Hunter can't believe his bad luck. Or maybe, if she agrees to his deal, his good luck! It seems they both need something. He needs a fake fiancee, and she needs money to get her own theater up and running. After spending a little time together, they are both coming to realize that maybe they don't know each other at all. I thought this one was great! Loved the writing, story, and pace of the book. The chemistry between Tess and Hunter was off the charts and it came through the pages. This is one I definitely recommend.