Hi all! Today I’m part of a blog tour for Ann Aguirre’s newly released novel I WANT IT THAT WAY. This atypical New Adult Romance is a slow burn with a simmering love story.
About the Book:
Nadia Conrad has big dreams, and she’s determined to make them come true. But between maintaining her college scholarship and working at the local day care to support herself, dating’s the last thing on her mind. Then she moves into a new apartment and meets the taciturn yet irresistible guy in 1B….
Daniel Tyler has grown up too fast. Becoming a single dad at twenty turned his life upside down—and brought him heartache he can’t risk again. Now, as he raises his four-year-old son while balancing a full-time construction management job and night classes, the last thing he wants is noisy students living in the apartment upstairs. But one night, Nadia’s and Ty’s paths cross, and soon they can’t stay away from each other.
The timing is all wrong—but love happens when it happens. And you can’t know what you truly need until you stand to lose it.
“A tender, sweet, and sexy story about how life—and falling in love—can never be planned.”
—Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wait for You
My Review:
Nadia is a straight-laced college junior at Mt. Albion College in Michigan, far from her small Nebraska hometown. Her dream is becoming a special education teacher. She keeps her grades up, striving always to do well enough to keep her scholarship and make her hardworking parents proud. The day she (and three roomies) move into their apartment, Nadia meets the man she secretly calls Hot Ginger.
Ty, as he is REALLY called, is a little older, twenty-four, and very much the professional man. Yes, suits and ties seems to turn Nadia on. A lot. But, Ty has something serious going on in his life–he’s a single parent to his four year old son, Sam–and he’s unwilling to bend his life plans, completing his college degree in architecture and being an amazing father, for anyone. Certainly not Nadia.
Well, at first, anyhow.
Thing about plans? They are made to changed. I think that’s the take home message of this book: that it’s okay to take risks and alter plans when life puts the right people in your life.
Nadia works part-time for a daycare center. When Ty needs help looking after Sam, she recommends it. Then she gets shifted into Sam’s class. The two bond. And on the side, Nadia and Ty bond, too. But Ty insists on keeping his budding relationship with Nadia completely separate from Sam. They indulge in some sexy nights when Sam stays with Ty’s parents, but the “friends with benefits” scenario isn’t enough for either if them…
There is a breakup. There is a makeup. There are concerned parents, and drunk roomies, and faltering friendships. Secondary characters are interesting and well-written. Nadia tells this story, and she tells it well. She is direct, and fun. I loved how matter-of-fact she was about everything, and how she allowed herself to wonder if she was making the right choices with her life, without sounding whiny.
Her first meeting with Ty is inauspicious, at best. While trying to move her sofa upstairs, aided by Lauren, one of her three roomies, Nadia tumbles down the stairs. Ty arrives and, begrudgingly, assists the two gals.
“I’m Nadia,” I said.
At first he didn’t say anything so she tried, “That makes me Lauren.”
“Ty,” he said finally, like this basic introduction was akin to signing a long-term cell contract.
Lauren started, “The guys will be back with drinks in a bit, off you want—”
“No, it’s okay. I need to get home.” If curt was a hat, he would be wearing it with jaunty disregard for our feelings.”
Not a great start for these two, for sure, but the middle is very good. De-lish smexytimes for Nadia and her Hot Ginger, Ty. The separation is believable, anguish and tears, but not a sobfest. No, Nadia copes well. She’s stalwart and steady, which makes her Ty’s perfect match. Good thing he figures that out in the end. I very much enjoyed. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced review copy.
Interested? You can find I WANT IT THAT WAY on Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, BAM, Indiebound, Vroman’s, Book Depository , Powell’s, and iTunes
And, it you’re not convinced this is a good one, you can read the first chapter HERE!
Plus, I WANT IT THAT WAY is part of planned New Adult series! The next two books will be out in the coming months.
As Long As You Love Me (9/30/14)
The Shape Of My Heart (11/25/14)
About Ann Aguirre:
Ann Aguirre is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author and RITA winner with a degree in English Literature; before she began writing full time, she was a clown, a clerk, a voice actress, and a savior of stray kittens, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in sunny Mexico with her husband, children, and various pets. Ann likes books, emo music, action movies, and she writes all kinds of genre fiction for adults and teens, published with Harlequin, Macmillan, and Penguin, among others.
You can find Ann online on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads, or you can sign up for her newsletter.
***GIVEAWAY***
Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
one of three signed copies of I WANT IT THAT WAY.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!
V's Reads... 
The middle is often the hardest part of a book to write, so that’s an accomplishment in itself! Sounds like a great book.
I did like it. It’s a bit different for New Adult, but I appreciated the originality.
Thanks for commenting! 🙂