The Dating Disaster (Franklin U Book 2) by Saxon James: RB, Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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Thousands of students on this campus, and I keep being set up with the roommate I can’t stand.

Felix

One date.

That’s how long it takes for Marshall Harrows to end up on my bad side.

Luckily I have no plans to see the giant teddy bear again. Except when he shows up as my new roommate, I can’t escape him, and he’s just as irritating as I thought he’d be.

He leaves cupboards ajar and puts empty milk cartons back in the fridge. His bedroom door is always open, I find his underwear on the laundry floor, and he has this whole bashful sweetheart thing going on that I just … can’t … stand.

But the most completely, horribly irritating thing about him is that he’s totally my type.

And my friends won’t stop setting us up on blind dates.

Marshall

One date.

That’s how long it took for Felix Andrews to steal my heart.

The sparky little spitfire is everything I’m not. Confident, adorable, and completely outspoken.

He also wants nothing to do with me. Which is a real problem when I want to give him everything. Including my virginity.

But the more I try to gain his attention, the more I see the real him. The one who doesn’t feel worthy of being treated like anything other than a one-night stand. So I decide to take matters into my own hands.

A total do-over. One night. One date. Where hopefully I can steal his heart too.

Title: The Dating Disaster
Authors: Saxon James
Series: Franklin U Series, Book 2
Genre: Contemporary.
Tropes: Roommates to Lovers, Opposites Attract, Size Difference, Player / Virgin.
Release Date: September 1st

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“Okay, then what about this”—I wave a hand over myself—“would you change to not be disappointing?”

“We are so not playing that game.”

“Why? You’ve never been worried about offending me before.”

He cocks his head in surprise, and then, as though making a split-second decision, he turns his chair to face me too. Our knees have an inch of space between them, and for some reason, I’m overly aware of the distance. “Fine. You shouldn’t have worn black because you’re basically screaming that you either want to cover sweat patches or are anxious about your body.”

He’s right about the sweat patches but not the rest. I might not be some jacked gym bro, but I’m happy with who I am. “Gotta keep them guessing about that six-pack,” I say dryly, patting my soft stomach.

Felix snorts. “Six-packs are overrated.”

“You have one,” I point out. He’s not overly muscled, more thin and lean than anything, but I definitely noticed his abs when he was wearing that crop top last weekend.

“Barely, and only because it’s everyone else’s type, but it’s not mine.”

“You like big guys, right? You don’t want them ripped?” The guy he was with last weekend looked muscly.

“No.”

“Then you prefer …”

His eyes drop, slowly running over me, before he jerks them away. Interesting. If I didn’t know better, I’d think maybe I’m exactly Felix’s type. The way he kissed me supports that theory.

Before he can get up and leave—or go back to ignoring me—I ask, “So what color should I have worn, then?”

“Royal blue.” There’s no hesitation in his answer.

“I don’t think I own anything that color.”

“Yes, you do. That button-up with the subtle pineapple pri—” He cuts off, and I lift my eyebrows. That got specific.

“Pineapple shirt for my next date. Got it.”

He reluctantly meets my eyes.

“Anything else?” I ask. “To make sure my date shows up.”

“Yes, don’t slick your hair back like that. You remind me of my dad.”

I bark a loud laugh that sounds closer to my brother’s usual laugh than mine. “I look like a dad, got it.”

“And …”

“Yeah?” Might as well get it all out there.

“Well … maybe don’t shave. Possibly. Just my opinion.”

I reach up and run my hand over my smooth jaw. It’s not something I normally do, but it grows fast and looked too long for meeting someone for the first time. “I didn’t want to look like a mountain man.”

His exhale is short and shaky. “Some of us like mountain men.”

I know we are only in book 2, but I am loving the representation of different types of students. Too often there is the jock and the brain and little in between. Book 1 was a jock, who didn’t act like the stereotypical jock, and the bad boy. This one gives us the twink flirt who is very sex positive and the quiet big guy who wants to find his person.

Opposites on the outside, but perfect for each other. After several missteps. Comical missteps from our point of view. But Felix was hurt by it and Marshall didn’t know why. No one knew why because Felix didn’t tell anyone that he actually wanted to find a boyfriend. So everyone was still acting like he was still the hook up king.

Marshall is just a teddy bear. He’s big, a bit soft around the middle but strong, quiet and wants a partner. But in college, no one seems to want that. Add in that he is a virgin AND demisexual and things get complicated.

And if Marshall is a teddy bear, Felix is a koala bear. He loves to touch and cuddle and be held and carried. He loves it, Marshall loves it, but they each made assumptions that is keeping them from being boyfriends. Silly boys.

There are several meddling friends, characters we met in book 1 (love that), a stray cat named Buttons and a plant called Cactus Everdeen.

This was a super sweet story with characters you can’t help but love. You are cheering them on from the beginning until they get their happily ever after. And there is a super satisfying epilogue as well.

4 pieces of eye candy