Title: THE PAIRING
Author: KATIE ASHLEY
Published: Feb. 18, 2014
Buy links for The Pairing.
Amazon │ Amazon UK │ Amazon CA │ Amazon AU
A Companion Novel to The Proposition and The Proposal
After her former boyfriend left her pregnant and alone, Megan McKenzie swore off men. She spent the last eighteen months focused solely on her son, Mason, along with finishing nursing school at the top of her class. Although she’s not ready to complicate her life with a long-term relationship, a nice no-strings attached hook-up is just what she needs. At her godson, Noah’s, baptism, she finds the perfect candidate in the soft-spoken godfather, Pesh Nadeen. After all, the widower could use a good time too. But after drinking too much, the night doesn’t end the way she thought it would. Forced to leave Pesh’s house through a walk of shame, Megan hopes to never, ever see him again.
For Pesh Nadeen, the very sight of Megan sends him into an emotional tailspin. Since she reminds him too much of what he has lost, he wants to be out of her sight…at first. But the more he gets to know her, there’s something about the diminutive blonde that causes his protective side to go into overdrive, and he finds himself wanting more. When Megan is assigned to work in his ER to complete her nursing clinicals, he sees it as fate, but she’s having no part of it. She only wants a physical relationship while he wants far more.
What happens next is a sexy game of cat and mouse to see who will break first or if both of them will eventually get more than they ever bargained for.
My review of The Pairing.
Katie Ashley is among the first independent authors I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Her books meet all my romance requirements–complex characters, deep back stories, and plenty of humor. I was happy to learn Katie decided to write a spin off novel for Pesh Nadeen, the “McDreamy Bollywood” Indian doctor from The Proposal. Even thought I was Team Aidan, Pesh’s character was so well written. I’m thrilled Katie decided to write his story.
Megan McKenzie, Aidan Fitzgerald feisty niece, is 0 for 2 in the love department. She’s been through a few really bad relationships in her short love life, one which yields her single motherhood status. Megan is also working her way through a nursing program. Basically, she is NOT the market for relationship. Pesh Nadeen is nursing a serious broken heart. After losing his wife a few years ago, he hasn’t dated since the disastrous attempt with Emma Fitzgerald. After meeting Megan during the christening of Emma and Aidan ‘s son, Pesh is intrigued by this beautiful and demonstrative woman.
One of the reasons I love Katie’s books are the feisty characters she creates. Katie creates a very honest dialogue for them, which I really enjoy. Megan is a very strong willed, determined person. She has goals and is unwilling to compromise them again after losing site of them at the beginning of her schooling career. I like that she isn’t a weak, “woe is me” person. She knows what she wants and sets out to get it. Pesh is a true gentleman. He isn’t looking for a meaningless hookup when he approaches Megan for a date. But that is exactly what she wants, no strings attached sex. The ensuing angst and dialogue between the two is great. I love the push and pull of their budding relationship. The gender reversal plot line is a great twist and kept me absorbed in the story. There were a couple of times I wanted to slap Megan upside her stubborn head. She couldn’t see beyond her relationship baggage to give Pesh a chance. I also loved some key scenes between Megan’s son Mason and Pesh. I flat out cried toward the end after one especially sweet and emotional encounter. It’s Katie’s writing as her best.
The sex factor is scorching in this book. Just because Pesh is a gentleman outside of the bedroom, doesn’t mean he doesn’t get his freak on in the bedroom, hospital supply closet, empty patient rooms, random hotels next to the restaurant they’re eating at, and private planes. Basically, both Pesh and Megan are making up for lost time and we reap those hot as hell sexual benefits!
I really loved The Pairing. Katie’s writing reminds me why I dove in headlong into the indie. world of publishing. The story is engaging and sweet. I love that this is a biracial romance. I get to fantasize about Hrithik Rosman as Pesh, a nice departure from my usual book boyfriends. I also really respect writers who incorporate humor in their books. It’s not easy and requires good timing, which Katie has in spades. I give The Pairing by Katie Ashley 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Check out the book trailer made by Cris Soriaga Hardarly of The Book Avenue Review!
Booze, Bookz and Bad Boyz 
