[Blog Tour] Book Spotlight & Review & Giveaway: What If It's Love? (Bistro La Boheme #1) by Alix Nichols ~ Musings In Fiction Alley

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What If It's Love? by Alix Nichols

Series: Bistro La Boheme

Publication Date: June 2014

No. of Pages: 244 Pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult

~Synopsis~

Can a Paris bistro heal a broken heart?

Charm, wit and poignancy abound in this gripping contemporary romance.

Introverted heiress Lena moves to Paris to nurse old wounds reopened by her neglectful boyfriend. Enter Rob, a charismatic and handsome Frenchman who waits tables at La Bohème -- a café on Lena’s street -- and has big dreams.

He makes her laugh and forget her insecurities. She stirs something infinitely tender in his soul. Before they know it, they’ve fallen for each other, even though both had good reasons to fight the budding love.

But their passionate romance is cut short when she discovers his dirty secret...

~Watch the Trailer~

~Excerpt~

"Can we be friends again?" he asked.

"So you think we were friends?"

He nodded.

She arched her brows. "And you think you can be friends with me and Amanda at the same time?"

"Why not?"

"Can be a health hazard, what with all the sparks that fly."

He grinned. "Never mind Amanda's taunts. She's like that with everyone."

"Nefarious?"

"Spiky. But she's a sweetheart, once you've grown on her."

"I wonder how I could ever accomplish that." Lena smiled, a speck of sadness still lingering in her eyes.

He stared, mesmerized. He could never get enough of that smile.

A cloud hiding the moon must have shifted, because suddenly silver light poured over the terrace turning it into an enchanted place.

Lena gasped. "What happened to your hand?"

He followed her gaze and saw that the knuckles of his right hand were smeared with blood. Shit. He could bet there'd been none after he punched the wall.

He covered the abrasions with his other hand. "It's nothing."

She grabbed his wrist and yanked his hand closer to her face. "Have you disinfected them?"

Rob didn't register her question. He looked at her delicate fingers holding up his hand. Then at her face. She was squinting at his hand, trying to assess the seriousness of his cuts. Her gesture was devoid of any erotic subtext. And yet the contact of her skin scorched him, just like when he held her hand at L'Espace. It stirred an impulse inside him that was both feverishly raw and infinitely gentle. It made his heart bump against his ribcage as if demanding to get out.

He gazed at her hands holding his. The urge to run his fingertips over her skin, from her nails down to her wrist and then inside her palm was too overwhelming to resist. . .

"So have you?" she asked.

Rob blinked and looked up. "Have I what?"

"Disinfected."

"It's just a graze."

"I have a disinfectant in my suitcase," she said. "I can fetch it--"

And release my hand? "Stay," he blurted out. Shit. "I mean, I also brought some, so you don't need to bother. I'll disinfect as soon as I get back to my room. I promise."

"OK," she said softly and let go of him.

~Buying Links~

Amazon.com: Paperback | Kindle Ebook

Amazon.in: Kindle Ebook

REVIEW
5 STARS

What If It's Love is just my cup of tea. I find it a very emotional read and it also taught as a lesson about love and regrets.

Lena is the daughter of Anton Malakov, who is a rich Russian oligarch. Even living the high life, she doesn't act like it. A chance to get away from her father's lifestyle and be independent, she opted to finish her thesis in Paris. Rob, a Frenchman who works at cafe and understands Russian needed money in order to pay his tuition fee and a chance was given to him in order to pay his bills but the cost is that he must spy on Lena's conversation with her father since the guy who hired him is a business rival of Anton. From there, the story unfolds between Lena and Rob. And once Rob's secret is out what would happen between his and Lena's relationship?

I enjoys Alix Nichols writing style and since it's written in a third pov, it's nice to understand what both characters are feeling. The development of the relationship between Lena and Rob wasn't slow but the attraction is immediately present. In this story, both characters made the wrong choices wherein it cost them their years to be together but at the same time they both realized that they still are in love with each other and better late than never right? I admit that I felt sad when both characters were a bit stubborn especially Lena. Although it was Rob's fault first (although he was forgiven for it) but the second time he screwed up I wanted to knock some sense into him. Because of that he forced Lena away and she ended up being with another guy. Space is good between couples who are in quarrel but too long may just be the reason why they ended up apart. In this instance, they are a good example. Then, when Lena finally realized what she truly felt about Rob so she wouldn't regret her decision regarding with the other guy, Rob was already with another person and she ended making a decision that eventually she regretted as well. So many dramas but it really fits the story. And all I was thinking about please have their HEA. Luckily, this has an HEA despite having a sequel. So anyway, it reinforced myself not to make decisions like that which I would end up regretting later. What's nice about this is that they finally got together.

Speaking of sequel, I so can't wait for that. The second characters were very likeable except a certain woman. If it wasn't for her, well let's just that Rob and Lena would have gotten together sooner but I should say the same for the guy Lena's been with.

~Meet the Author: Alix Nichols~