Release Blitz/Review Tour: The Invitation: Vi Keeland

by Kimbytx - Monday, January 18, 2021

The Invitation

Vi Keeland

Release Date: January 18, 2021

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The first time I met Hudson Rothschild was at a wedding. I’d received an unexpected invitation to one of the swankiest venues in the city.

Hudson was a groomsman and quite possibly the most gorgeous man I’d ever laid eyes on. He asked me to dance, and our chemistry was off the charts.

I knew it wasn’t a good idea to get involved with him, considering the wedding I was at. But our connection was intense, and I was having a great time.

Though the fun came to a screeching halt when Hudson figured out I wasn’t who I’d said I was. You see, that unexpected invitation I received? Well, it hadn’t actually been addressed to me—it was sent to my ex-roommate who’d bounced a check for two months’ rent and moved out in the middle of the night. I figured she owed me an expensive night out, but I guess, technically, I was crashing the wedding.

Once caught, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. As I bolted for the door, I might’ve plucked a few bottles of expensive champagne off the tables I passed, all while the gorgeous, angry groomsman was hot on my tail.

Outside, I jumped into a taxi. My heart ricocheted against my ribs as we drove down the block—but at least I’d escaped unscathed.

Or so I thought.

Until I realized I’d left my cell phone behind at the table.

Take one guess who found it?

This is the crazy story of how Hudson Rothschild and I met. But trust me, it’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Stella Bardot does not really see the harm in crashing a wedding at her favorite library with her best friend. Well, that is until she gets more attention than expected and outed by the bride's handsome brother. And then has to go groveling to him to get her lost cell phone back. But despite the big mess she made, there is a silver lining for her and the signature perfume company she wants to start.

Hudson Rothschild is a broody, successful, divorce', and single dad. And for some reason, he cannot get the pretty party crasher out of his head. But a series of bad impressions, blow-offs, perceived slights, and possible business deals complicate matters further. His sister knows how to get what she wants from Hudson and is not above pushing him to get her way.

They now have to deal with each other on a daily basis. They both have trust issues. It seems like they are taking turns offering or refusing invitations. The chemistry is strong. The business relationship has lots of potential.

Are they or aren't they? They want to, but shouldn't. He is ready to proceed, but is just waiting for her to give him the final invite to progress things further. But Stella has become used to having things fall apart when she least expects it.

This is a funny, sweet, sexy story about being in the right place for the wrong reasons at the right time and how it can change everything. It has a thread of fate, coincidences, and soulmates woven through.

I loved plucky and sunshiny Stella from the beginning. Even when things were bad for her, she kept her optimism and wanted to share it with others. Hudson was a bit grumpy at first, but it did not take long for me to see his better qualities and totally fall for him. He could be so sweet, protective, and thoughtful. And he even had a bit of a goofy side. They just balanced each other out so well. I loved her bestie, Fisher, and his sister, Olivia. They were the perfect sidekicks. And his daughter, Charlie was so adorable. I will admit I figured out the twist pretty early, but it was still an enjoyable and engaging read. And the epilogue was just perfection.

Stella needed a pick me up and a way to stick it to her former roommate, so crashing a wedding she wasn’t invited to seemed like a little harmless fun. When she catches the eye of one of the groomsmen, she wonders if it’s gone too far, and when he figures out she isn’t who she says she is, she has to flee quickly, leaving her cell phone behind. Wouldn’t you know, that handsome groomsman, who also happens to be the brother of the bride, is the one who picks up her phone and she will have to face the music to get it back.

Hudson Rothschild is serious and focused on business. Throwing his sister her dream wedding, he never imagined the woman he found himself enchanted with would be deceiving him - but as soon as she shares her name he knows she is lying. He may not be able to forget about her, but he isn’t so trustful now that he knows she is willing to lie. But he wants to keep his sister happy, so through a series of events, finds himself working with Stella on her company launch, forcing him to acknowledge and spend time with Stella, getting to know her further and twisting his mind up even further.

Stella was just such a fun character. Her outlook is optimistic and she is willing to go to great lengths to see her dreams become reality, or at least exhaust every avenue possible before finding a new path. Hudson was a little more prickly, but his soft side is evident as soon as we see him with his daughter. I loved these two together as they navigated their off the charts chemistry, working together, and sorting through the baggage they are each carrying.

Parts of the book were a little predictable, but the entire plot was wrapped up with so much fun that it never bothered me that I had guessed the twist. The side characters added a great deal of entertainment to the story - Stella’s neighbor/best friend, Hudson’s sister, and his daughter - all played important and memorable parts in this story. From front to back, this book had me plugged in and cheering for Stella and Hudson to make the business work and to find their way through the tangles to a happily ever after together.

Vi Keeland

Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over a hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in twenty-five languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.

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