The Beauty of Us (Fusion #4)

New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby delivers another sizzling novel in her delectable and sexy Fusion series.

Riley Gibson is over the moon at the prospect of having her restaurant, Seduction, on the Best Bites TV network. This could be the big break she’s been waiting for. But the idea of having an in-house show on a regular basis is a whole other matter. Their lives would be turned upside down, and convincing Mia, her best friend and head chef of Seduction, that having cameras in her kitchen every day is a good idea is daunting. Still, Riley knows it’s an opportunity she can’t afford to pass on. And when she meets Trevor Cooper, the show’s executive producer, she’s stunned by their intense chemistry.

Trevor’s sole intention is to persuade Riley to allow Best Bites TV to do a show on her restaurant. But when he walks into Riley’s office, he stops dead in his tracks. The professional, aloof woman on the phone is incredibly beautiful and funny. But can he convince her that he’s interested in Riley for himself? Or is he using the undeniable pull between them to persuade her to agree to his offer?

Riley Gibson has decided to give up on men after a series of dates with undesirables. She is beautiful, funny, smart, and has a good career as marketing and publicity for their restaurant Seduction. She has seen several of her friends find "the one" and she is not really interested in one-night-stands or flings. But it does not seem like her Mr. Right is going to be found online.

Trevor Cooper can't help but laugh at Riley as he overhears her talking about her bad dates. He is a producer for Best Bites TV and he will be working at the restaurant on a show featuring Riley and her friends. He is charming, cute, intelligent, and a kind of a hot geek with his sexy glasses and love of video games. He can be bossy, but is also patient, attentive, and caring. And he thinks someone should show Riley how a man should treat a woman on a date.

But their easygoing rapport takes a turn towards more flirty, definite like, simmering lust, and an attachment they did not see coming. But they are currently working together, and he lives in California while she is in Oregon. So these two find themselves wanting something real, but with built in barriers and a time limit. And then there are some other external issues causing drama and concern. Some of the drama seemed a little over the top to me and I questioned a couple plot points. But it was still a fun, sweet,  romantic story of finding love when you least expect it.

I really liked Trevor. He was a good guy who was swoonworthy and a bit nerdy at the same time. And Riley was sharp and sassy. They were really adorable together, but they were both over-thinkers and stubborn. They had reasons to question trust and some communication issues. But trust, attention, and real love would be needed for them to be able to survive the distance and issues. 

This brings back the girls of Seduction and their mates. I like getting more with this dynamic group and they add more humor and depth. It was told in dual points of view and I loved getting to see how they were really feeling. We got more of a tease for Mia's story and I have been looking forward to her book since the beginning of this series. 

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Riley Gibson has worked her tail off to market the restaurant she founded with her best friends. Now that she has landed a spot on a major TV show for the restaurant, they are getting the attention she has worked so hard to build. She doesn’t expect to have sparks fly with the show’s producer, Trevor Cooper, but that’s exactly what happens as they work closely together.

Their first meeting had me grinning from ear to ear with glee, and that grin continued as we learn more about Trevor and his own quirks. While he and Riley don’t share a lot of their favorite pastimes, they are both confident enough to share and hope the other accepts what they find.

These two have an immediate chemistry, despite Riley’s miserable recent attempts at dating, and Trevor’s determination to show her what a good date should feel like made me fall in love with him even faster than I would have. He kept my adoration as he worked to showcase Seduction as the classy establishment the women had envisioned and continued to work for it’s success.

The Fusion series always has me feeling like I’m hanging out right along side this tight knit group of women. It is always fun to return to their world, get a quick update on each woman’s life and focus on what’s new at Seduction. As more me join their ranks the antics between the women only ramp up as they know their men are watching and enjoying the show.

This book was a fun, light addition to the Fusion series. It has everything I have come to expect in a Kristen Proby tale: a flirty, feisty heroine, a determined, protective hero, strong friendships, fun twists, and enough drama to keep things moving without being over the top.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.