Renovated (+ Giveaway)

 

Renovated: A Workplace Romance
By Nikki Kiley
Publication date: August 5th, 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

They’ve been hired to remodel a mansion. Will they end up getting a room?

Marisa Sanchez has grand designs for her future. After taking over her grandfather’s construction firm, the successful vlogger and civil engineer is about to take the next step with a new show on the Home Design Network. But she’s not pleased to find out she can only have the lucrative gig if she agrees to work with a handsome rival.

Levi Chance takes the responsibility of providing for his brothers seriously. So when his biggest client asks him to come into the spotlight to co-host a new program, he reluctantly accepts. But he fears the pretty, camera-loving partner he’s been assigned might bring his top-notch reputation tumbling down if she can’t deliver the goods.

Discovering her teammate is quite capable, Marisa battles her attraction to him as she ambitiously turns the project upside down. And the more Levi works with the smart Latina, the more he worries he’s about to push the “no sex” morality clause in their contract into forbidden territory.

Will Marisa and Levi’s fixer-upper turn into a happily together forever?

Renovated is the charming first book in the moving Chance Brothers contemporary romance series. If you like sparkling attractions, comedic moments, and steamy action, then you’ll love Nikki Kiley’s well-built romp.

Goodreads / Amazon

Now here's an excerpt for your reading pleasure.

I first noticed him sitting in the truck when I looked out the kitchen window. Why the network wanted me to partner up with him was clear. He had that swagger down pat, and the testosterone oozed off him. He probably did great on camera.

Was I going to buy into this? It was the patriarchy hitting me in the proverbial balls again. If I wanted the project to go forward, I needed to partner with this man. But he was already questioning my work experience. What if we couldn’t get along and it was a shit show?

I needed control over my situation, and I had none. I didn’t want a partner. There was a tightness in my chest and unease in the pit of my stomach. “Rebecca, this isn’t what I signed up for.” I pointed to Levi and his blue eyes narrowed on me. “The premise was me being the lead, working with a client, presenting the finished product. I understood I was going to work with a crew to get the jobs done, but we never spoke about a partner. What is the new sales pitch for this program? Are we changing the target audience?”

Rebecca opened the binder and pointed to the document in front of her.

“Sorry, Marisa, what we proposed didn’t fly. We had a study done, and the results were quite clear, Gen-Z’ers might like posts and follow them, but those aren’t Home Network consumers. It’s just not our target audience.”

“Well then, why do you need her on the job as host?” Levi said.

“Did you just say that?” What an asshole. I had no desire to work with him either, if he dared to question why they were even considering me for the show.

Rebecca raised her hands, palms out. “Please stop before you both say something you’re going to regret. I’m here in person to tell you this and ask that you both consider this option of partnering. We have worked on previous home remodeling shows with Chance Construction. The camera loves him, his crew has experience working on projects for the network, and therefore, there’s no learning curve.” She turned in her seat, directing her words to him. “I know you work on the periphery of scenes and show up to tape when there are decisions to make with the clients on the show. Still, our female audience is crazy about you. Our numbers for those episodes when you appear go through the roof.”

To me, it was more than obvious why they wanted him. He seemed insulted and objectified but he didn’t say a word. I bit my lip and held in a laugh. Though I’d been furious at the curve ball Rebecca was throwing my way, listening to her explanation and observing his discomfort was comical. He obviously didn’t think this was as hilarious as I did.

His eyebrows furrowed. The lines around Levi’s eyes ran deep from having worked in the sun. His hands raked through his hair as he formulated an answer. “I need to think about this. I understand the opportunity you’re offering me. We always appreciate the work that the network throws our way. You pay well and on time, but this is a very different role from what I’ve done before.”

Rebecca’s back straightened, as she apparently had not expected this response from us.

Did she think I would do cartwheels over this proposal? It had been my opportunity to grow on a different platform, plus the money would help me buy Nana’s building from its current owner. I needed this deal. The gentrification happening in Little Havana was causing a lot of the small businesses to close shop. I didn’t want to see my grandmother’s heartbreak if she was forced to close after all these years.

I replied to Rebecca, but I fixed my eyes on Levi. “I’m not playing a couple on this show. I’m not an actor. We are professionals in our respective areas. I will not be part of a reality TV drama show. That’s not where I want my career to grow or my brand to be.”

Levi stood up and walked towards where I was seated. I sat back in my chair to look up at him, not comfortable that he was in my space. “This job is as important to me as it is to you. This is our bread and butter. My crew has the experience you lack working on a set, with the time constraints and strict timelines that television would require to get the jobs done.”

His lips twitched in a smirk. “You do not have to worry about there being drama or being unprofessional. The last thing I’m looking for is to hook up with my co-worker. This is a job like any other, and I don’t shit where I eat.”

Wow, crude.

“Plus, Marisa—if you don’t mind me calling you by your first name—I am not insulted by your questioning my skills as a general contractor. I have proven myself to the network and my clients for years. But how do I know you are not just a pretty face that knows how to market yourself? No insult intended.”

Who the hell did this guy think he was? “I was the one Rebecca approached from the very beginning. She brought it to my attention, and we have been in negotiations for months, so don’t discount me so fast.”

“That’s true. I saw an audience we could target and approached Marisa. Unfortunately, the head honchos have other ideas,” Rebecca said.

She stood up, placing her files in her tote, a signal that this meeting was over. “Anyway, I’ll have contracts sent to you both, with numbers, budgets, and the time frame we have to work within. For us, this is a ticking clock. Time is not our friend if we want the show to make the fall lineup. I plan to be hands on in production. It’s my baby as well.”

Wait, did I miss where we both agreed to take part in this?

Meet the Author: Nikki Kiley

Nikki Kiley is an aspiring author of Contemporary Romance. Since she was a young girl, she dreamt of writing stories that would entertain and move her readers, like she was and still is, by talented authors.

When not working the day job running a medical office, she spends hours crafting and writing stories about heroes and heroines earning their chance at love. She makes her home in Puerto Rico with her husband, two young adult children, and a gentle giant, the bull mastiff, Kira.

She loves the beach, her Nespresso maker, and cupcakes (S’more in particular).

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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