Virtual Tour ~ Clickbait by E.J. Russell ~ (Review + Giveaway)

Virtual Tour ~ Clickbait by E.J. Russell ~ (Giveaway)

Hi everyone, this is E.J. Russell! Thank you so much for joining me as I celebrate the release of Clickbait, my first contemporary novel with Riptide Publishing! 

About Clickbait

After the disastrous ending of his first serious relationship, Gideon Wallace cultivated a protective—but fabulously shiny—outer shell to shield himself from Heartbreak 2.0. Besides, romance is so not a priority for him right now. All his web design prospects have inexplicably evaporated, and to save his fledgling business, he’s been compelled to take a hands-on hardware project—as in, his hands on screwdrivers, soldering irons, and needle-nosed pliers. God. Failure could actually be an option.

Journeyman electrician Alex Henning is ready to leave Gideon twisting in the wind after their run-ins both on and off the construction site. Except, like a fool, he takes pity on the guy and offers to help. Never mind that between coping with his dad’s dementia and clocking all the overtime he can finagle, he has zero room in his life for more complications.

Apparently, an office build-out can lay the foundation for a new relationship. Who knew? But before Alex can trust Gideon with the truth about his fragile family, he has to believe that Gideon’s capable of caring about more than appearances. And Gideon must learn that when it comes to the heart, it’s content—not presentation—that matters.

Riptide ~ Amazon ~ GoodReads

4 Stars!!! 

LOLS all the way with this one, but also interspersed with a bit of all too sad reality. Well-written and a keeper.

This is only my second tale by this author, the other being her paranormal Stumptown series book 2. It's equally well-written, but a very different, clever, quirky, snarky contemp tale that had me sniggering throughout.

The leads on the face of it have nothing in common - one, Gideon, has had a uni education, has his own ('struggling') business and the other, Alex, is a building site worker/contractor, yet both happen to be working the same problematic job, with Alex actually being a landlord of sorts to Gideon.

They pretty much clash at the start and each harbours misunderstandings about the other, with one not knowing the other's into him, and the other's attempts at flirting are misinterpreted. But, the guys are both decent, and though Alex is keeping his unwell father a secret, and has guilt over an event in the past that he really isn't guilty of, they become friends.

It is a slow-burn romance, but it's so much more than that, with a lot of sad real-life issues seamlessly woven into the tale, and which made me think and feel. Of course, secrets come out in the end, and there's a surprising explosion of sorts, before the leads find their way back to each other. It's a funny, yet sad and thoughtful tale, that ends in the leads about to start their HEA, with compromise and love on both their parts, and everyone in their lives in a better place. There's a lot of love in this tale - parents/kids, lovers, siblings, friends - it's a damned good read.

ARC courtesy of Riptide Publishing for my reading pleasure.

About E.J. Russell

E.J. Russell holds a BA and an MFA in theater, so naturally she’s spent the last three decades as a financial manager, database designer, and business-intelligence consultant. After her twin sons left for college and she no longer spent half her waking hours ferrying them to dance class, she returned to her childhood love of writing fiction. Now she wonders why she ever thought an empty nest meant leisure.

E.J. lives in rural Oregon with her curmudgeonly husband, the only man on the planet who cares less about sports than she does. She enjoys visits from her wonderful adult children, and indulges in good books, red wine, and the occasional hyperbole.

Connect with E.J.:

Website: ejrussell.com
Blog: ejrussell.com/bloggery/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/E.J.Russell.author
Twitter: twitter.com/ej_russell
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ejrussell/

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Clickbait, one lucky winner will receive $25 in Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on December 10, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!