Title: Keeping Tessa

Heat Level: 5/5

Genre/subgenre: Contemporary Romance

Target audience (age group, reader type): Adult

Word count or page count: 38751/149

Release date: Jan-22

Publisher: Sevannah Storm

 

Series info: The Plump Playwright Act IV

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Short blurb:  Dealing with divorce, Tessa travels to London on business, injures herself during a brawl, lands a publisher, seduces a club owner, and loses her heart. 

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One-line hooks or taglines:

One London night. One dangerous kiss. One love she never saw coming.
One sexy club owner. One South African woman scorned. One night that changes everything.
He planned to seduce her. He didn’t plan on loving her.
He’s used to women falling for him. But she’s the one who brings him to his knees.

 

Buy link: https://books2read.com/u/3kYZVn

 

Excerpts:

She watched him as he wrapped the bandage around her thigh.
“What’s the real reason for the dinner invitation?” she asked.
He chose honesty. “I can’t get you out of my mind.”
She sucked in a startled breath and blinked at him, studying his face.
“Like I’m a puzzle you need to unravel?”
“If by unravel, you mean strip every item of clothing off your body, then yes.”

The stranger slipped into a chair behind a desk. Her breath caught, and she looked away, hoping he hadn’t heard her reaction. Wheat-colored hair cascaded over his Adonis features and brushed the collar of his steel-blue suit jacket. Broad shoulders and solid biceps threatened to split the seams. She opted not to catalog his features further. Her old heart wouldn’t survive it.

He brushed his lips across her parted ones, savoring her breath mingling with his. Faced with his craving, he slowed, choosing to extend the moment. He groaned, brushing his lips back and forth before slipping the tip of his tongue into the warm, silken depths of her mouth.

“Thank you for the kiss. I’ll always cherish it.” Her whispered words tore through him, harder than if she'd yelled them. He couldn’t breathe with something squeezing his chest. No one had thanked him for a kiss before. Fvck, the woman had such a hold on him, pitting his heart against his c0ck.

He flipped her onto her back then spread her knees with his hips, raising her bandaged leg to rest against his chest. He glided his hand from her knee, down her thigh to her bare hip, taking the T-shirt with it. “Feel how much I want you."

“Lunch?” She raised startled eyes to his, and a slow smile curled her lips. Her expectations were clear now; she'd thought he would do her and walk away. He might have if she was any other woman. “Oh, so you had no intention of taking me to lunch?” he teased. “Use my body and goodbye?”

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Reader reviews: 

5.0 out of 5 stars

Reviewed in United States on July 28, 2022
Keeping Tessa has to be my favorite in the Plump Playwright series. The book reminds me of TS's London Boy. The last angsty part is something I keep returning to every once in a while (I am certainly not someone who reads a book twice at all, but this one is an exception). If I had to describe this book in one sentence, I would say it is a dish with some action as starters, romance and hotness as the main dish, and some angst/comfort/possessiveness as Dessert. And it is sure to keep your heart filled when you complete it.

 

Discussion or book club questions:

Tessa learns about her husband’s betrayal right before an international business trip. How do you think the timing affected her ability to process the hurt—and her openness to Camden?

Camden is a wealthy club owner with options. Why do you think Tessa, with her quiet strength and vulnerability, stood out to him?

The story quickly moves from lust to something deeper. What moment did you feel the shift from attraction to love—if at all?

Tessa’s accent, innocence, and authenticity captivate Camden. How do cultural differences or unfamiliarity sometimes heighten romantic tension?

Tessa wasn't looking for love, and Camden didn't expect to fall. Do you think either of them was ready for a real relationship?

Camden believes setting her free is the best way to protect her. Do you agree with his decision? Was it noble… or just avoidance?

London becomes more than just a setting—it’s a turning point for both characters. How did the city atmosphere amplify the romance or the stakes?

Infidelity is the spark that ignites Tessa’s journey. How does the story portray healing after betrayal? Did you feel her rebound was realistic, too fast, or just right?

Camden is used to control, charm, and nightlife. What do you think scares him most about real emotional intimacy?

If there were a follow-up novella or epilogue, where would you like to see Tessa and Camden next—back in London, her hometown, or somewhere entirely new?

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Relevant tropes or keywords:

Plump tourist
Arrogant ex-mafia don
Damsel in distress. Not.
He falls first