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IN A HOLIDAZE by CHRISTINA LAUREN

December 19, 2020

 

About the Book:

 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.

 

My Review:

(Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced copy via NetGalley in return for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.)

Combine holiday goodness with family shenanigans and Groundhog Day, and you have the sexy and adorable ‘In a Holidaze’. This book is perfect reading for this time of year, and also perfect if you need a guaranteed happy ending with a fairly low-angst story.

Mae has moved in with her mother, she is unhappy with her job and worst of all, a cherished family tradition is ending. The Park City house where several families spend the holidays together is being sold. Mae is devastated. On top of all that, she has had a lifelong crush on Andrew, who seems completely and totally unaware of her romantic interest in him.

What will make Mae happy? The story then repeats Mae’s week, until she finally can get things right. While not exactly a time travel novel, this part does require a little suspension of disbelief on the reader’s part, which is just fine with me! It is the holidays after all, and nothing thrills me like a bit of a time warp story.

This book is a wonderful escape from reality for a few hours. The writing is solid and the characters all warm, realistic and adult. Christina Lauren has a very smart and witty writing style, which made for a lovely holiday read. The ending is so sweet that I can absolutely recommend this for all fans of holiday romance.

Categories : 4 Stars, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Reviews Tagged : Christina Lauren, In a Holidaze

THE HONEY-DON’T LIST by CHRISTINA LAUREN

March 27, 2020

THE HONEY-DON’T LIST

by Christina Lauren

 

About the Book:

Carey Douglas has worked for home remodeling and design gurus, Melissa and Rusty Tripp, for nearly a decade, helping them build an empire. James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was hired as a structural engineer for the Tripps, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. THE HONEY-DON’T LIST by Christina Lauren (Gallery Books; on sale March 24th, 2020; paperback, $16) tells a love story about what happens when two assistants tasked with keeping a rocky relationship from explosion start to feel sparks of their own.

With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. There’s only one problem: America’s favorite couple can’t stand each other. Both James and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus.

Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripps up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses’ secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together.

A romantic comedy that proves if love is broke, you might as well fix it.

 

My Review:

 

So adorable and modern and sweet and witty!

If you are looking for a light read, with contemporary characters and a perfectly happy ending, then you will love ‘The Honey-Don’t List.’ I am a long-time fan of the writing duo known as Christina Lauren and just knew that this book would be the perfect antidote for our current and very stressful new reality.

The format of the book is very intriguing – it begins with interviews of the assistants to a well-known celebrity husband and wife. Clearly something scandalous has occurred and I raced through the book to find out what happened.

Melly and Rusty Tripp famous for their home remodeling, and have been married for many years. They even wrote a best-selling book and have a new television series coming up. But there are cracks in their carefully crafted public facade. Their problems become magnified when they go on tour together to promote their book. Their assistants Carey and James must ensure that Melly and Tripp actually get through their book tour without killing each other!

The dual points of view worked perfectly and I can always count on Christina Lauren to write a believable male point of view. Carey is quirky and imperfect and adorable and James is completely relatable as well. I love a good celebrity story and this clever book hit all the right notes. The dialogue was smart and witty and the romance was sweet and sexy and written perfectly.

As expected, the book tour is a disaster but the deepening relationship between James and Carey was both fun and heartwarming. This is a perfect escapist romance, with plenty of light moments and a clever format that will capture your attention for a few hours. I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Honey-Don’t List’ and hope that Christina Lauren keeps on writing these sweet and sexy romantic comedies that they do so well!

(ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalleyinexchange for an honest review.)

Categories : 4 Stars, Reviews, Romance, Romantic Comedy Tagged : Christina Lauren, The Honey-Don't List

JOSH + HAZEL’S GUIDE TO NOT DATING by CHRISTINA LAUREN

September 2, 2018

JOSH + HAZEL’S GUIDE TO NOT DATING
by Christina Lauren
Gallery Books | Paperback | On-sale September 4, 2018 | 320 pages | ISBN: 9781501165856, $16.00
eBook: 9781501165863, $8.99

About the Book:

From New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren comes a new romantic comedy about two friends who
are definitely, for sure, in no way dating…maybe

Most men can’t handle Hazel. With the energy of a toddler and the mouth of a sailor, they’re often too timid to recognize her heart of gold. JOSH AND HAZEL’S GUIDE TO NOT DATING tells the story of two people who are definitely not dating, no matter how often they end up in bed together.

Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take—and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun.

Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met—when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes—to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air.

Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them…right?

My first thoughts: fun, sexy and warm! I have always been a huge Christina Lauren fan and this adorable and funny story is another winner.

Hazel is quirky and just a fun heroine. She was never embarrassed by her personality and has the perfect job: an elementary school teacher. Josh and Hazel have known each other since college but become best friends when Hazel finds out that Josh’s sister is actually her friend Emily!

In summary, I am superb at making an ass out of myself. At the outset, this should explain how I have successfully never dated Josh Im: I have made myself entirely undatable in his presence.

Josh and Hazel, being the best friends that they are, set each other up on terrible blind dates that of course go hilariously wrong. Can’t these two see they are perfect for each other?!

“You like animals, huh?”
“I like babying things. I swear I want, like, seventeen kids.”
I freeze, unsure whether she’s being serious. Her mouth curves up in a thrilled arc.
“See?” Her index finger aims at her chest. “Undatable. I like to drop that one on the first date. Not that this is a date. I don’t really want seventeen kids. Maybe three. If I can support them.”

I loved that Josh is Korean American and the authors don’t simply drop that in as a plot device. His traditions are woven into the plot seamlessly. This is a character-driven novel, and there are not a ton a burning hot scenes but the chemistry that Josh and Hazel have is quite electric. Josh is smart, sexy and caring, and slowly comes around to the fact that he actually is very attracted to his best friend Hazel.

My head is a mess. I slide my phone onto my nightstand and collapse back on the bed. Hazel sounds fine today. Which is good. I should be glad that she’s the same Hazel she was when she woke up yesterday. But I’m not the same Josh.

This author duo are a powerhouse and they are excellent writers. So there are no plot cliches here, just some very smart characters and a wonderful romantic comedy that is a fun, quick and very satisfying read. I love a good Epilogue and this one was amazing! If you love an “opposites attract” romance, then you will fall in love with Josh and Hazel.

(With thank to the publisher for a review copy.)

About the Authors:

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of longtime writing partners Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. They are New York Times, USA Today, and #1 international bestselling authors of the Beautiful and Wild Seasons series, Sublime, The House, Dating You/Hating You and the critically acclaimed Autoboyography. Roomies (released December 2017), has been optioned for film by Jenna Dewan’s company Everheart Productions, with Christina and Lauren set to write the screenplay.

Find Them Online:

Website: www.christinalaurenbooks.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ChristinaLaurenBooks
Twitter: @ChristinaLauren
Instagram: @ChristinaLauren

Categories : 4 Stars, Blog Tour, Reviews, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Women's Fiction Tagged : Christina Lauren, Josh + Hazel's Guide to Not Dating

LOVE AND OTHER WORDS by CHRISTINA LAUREN

April 10, 2018

 

Synopsis:

 

Love, loss, friendship, and the betrayals of the past all collide in this first women’s fiction novel from New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Autoboyography, Dating You / Hating You).

The story of the heart can never be unwritten.

Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away.

But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly bookish friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother…only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her.

Told in alternating timelines between Then and Now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much more—spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco devouring books, sharing favorite words, and talking through their growing pains and triumphs. As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by the agony of what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.

 

My Review:

 

“I never got to fall out of love. I just had to move on.”

Not to worry over the category of ‘Women’s Fiction’ – this book was surprisingly romantic and steamy! This story was also one of my all-time favorite Christina Lauren books. It captures the longing and insecurity of young love as well as the heartbreak and emotion of a great romance novel. ‘Love and Other Words’ checked all the boxes for me as a reader!

“It was bigger than we needed, with more land than we could possibly maintain, and neither Dad nor I would realize at the time that the most important room in the house would be the library he would make for me inside my expansive closet. Nor could Dad have known that my whole world would end up next door, held in the palm of a skinny nerd named Elliot Lewis Petropoulos.”

I have lots to say about this book but it is hard for me to convey the emotion that it inspired. Suffice it to say once I started this story, I could not put it down. Macy and Elliot’s story is gorgeous and tender and sexy and tragic.

This story is completely addicting. I was dying to know how Macy and Elliot’s past and future would play out. Would they end up together after many years apart? They fell so deeply in love as teenagers but would that kind of all-encompassing love last all these years later?

“Have mercy. The only thought I have—bewildering and breathless—is that Elliot has become a man who knows how to use his body. I didn’t notice it yesterday, couldn’t have.”

I must feel a connection between the main protagonists for me to feel invested in a book and Christina Lauren hooked me in right from the start with Macy an Elliot. I am trying to keep this review spoiler-free so I will just say that the alternating timeline works perfectly here. I related to the characters and the gorgeous ending was worth EVERYTHING. The authors managed to write a sexy and sweet romance without being overly sentimental. If you are looking for wonderfully-written, modern romance, this is the book for you. And honestly, I would LOVE a entire book written from Elliot’s point of view!

“Favorite word?” he whispers.

I don’t even hesitate: “You.”

Categories : 4 Stars, Reviews, Romance, Second Chance, Women's Fiction Tagged : Christina Lauren, Love and Other Words

Review + Giveaway: ROOMIES by CHRISTINA LAUREN

December 4, 2017

SYNOPSIS:

Green Card meets Once in ROOMIES by New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Gallery Books; on sale December 5th); a tale of marriage convenience that is just so…inconvenient.

Rescued by Calvin McLoughlin from a would-be subway attacker, Holland Bakker pays the brilliant subway musician back by pulling some of her errand-girl strings and getting him an audition with a bigtime musical director.

When the tryout goes better than even Holland could have imagined, Calvin is set for a great entry into Broadway—until he admits his student visa has expired and he’s in the country illegally.

Holland impulsively offers to wed the Irishman to keep him in New York, her growing infatuation a secret only to him. As their relationship evolves from awkward roommates to besotted lovers, Calvin becomes the darling of Broadway. In the middle of the theatrics and the acting-not-acting, what will it take for Holland and Calvin to realize that they both stopped pretending a long time ago?

From subway to Broadway to happily ever after, modern love in all its thrill, hilarity, and uncertainty has never been so compulsively readable.

MY REVIEW:

4 – 4.5 Stars!!

Such a sweet, romantic and funny story! Sure to please all fans of the dynamic writing duo of Christina Lauren. In my opinion, ‘Roomies’ is definitely one of their best books to date.

I am usually not a huge fan of the fake marriage trope. But I was totally swept up into this heartwarming and humorous story. A hot Irish musician and the New York City setting? I’m all in!

Holland Bakker is a classic underachiever, a smart and very funny young woman with a writing degree basically working as a glorified assistant. But she is living her dream of living in the Big Apple and working in the theatre business. She is completely mesmerized by the street musician or busker who plays the guitar in the subway. He is brilliant!

I’ve never seen someone’s fingers move like that, as if he doesn’t even have to think about it. In some ways, it seems like he gives the guitar an actual human voice. He looks up as I drop a bill into his case, squinting at me, and gives me a quiet “Thanks very much.”

Holland has a huge crush on the sexy stranger who turns out to be a Juillard-trained musician from Ireland. She finally works up the courage one night to speak to the man whose she’s been thinking about for months.

Ugh. Crushes are the worst, but in hindsight a crush from afar seems so much easier than this. I should stick to making up stories in my head and watching from a distance like a reasonable creeper. Now I’ve broken the fourth wall and if he’s as friendly as his eyes tell me he is, he may notice me when I drop money in his case the next time, and I will be forced to interact smoothly or run the opposite direction.

Holland learns that Calvin also plays in a band, and has been living in New York on an expired student visa. Make that a VERY expired student visa. So when Calvin has a chance to star in a Broadway show, Holland comes to the rescue and offers to marry him in order to allow him to obtain a visa. Holland’s uncle is the producer of the show and because Holland has a unique ear for music, she just knows that Calvin will be absolutely perfect for the show.

Is he going to find this not just bizarre but outright immoral? He puts down his fork.
“Aye, why not. It’s only Holy Matrimony.” He tilts his head back and laughs delightedly.
“Surely you’re only joking?”
Oh God. Someone flush me out of this room right now. “No, actually.”
“You,” he says quietly, “want to marry me? For this?”

I have been a fan of Christina Lauren since ‘Beautiful Bastard’ was fan fiction. I am happy to say that this book really showcases their unique writing talents. ‘Roomies’ perfectly captures the slow-burn chemistry of the main characters with heart, wit and a little sexiness. Calvin treats Holland with respect and this book never felt rushed or forced. And I loved how New York City was perfect backdrop for their developing romance. I loved the whole marriage-of-convenience theme and Calvin and Holland’s sweetly sexy love story. Christina Lauren added just the right touch of humor to make this story actually believable!

“You all right?” he asks. Startling at the sound of his voice, I shift my attention to his face. His nose is pink, and adorable. Ugh. I’ve married him, and he has no idea I’ve been writing Holland/Hot Busker fic in my head for months. How is this a good idea?

Calvin and Holland were absolutely adorable together. Calvin was brilliant but also pushed Holland to fulfill her dreams, too. Holland always put everyone first and learns to make herself the star of her own story. These two started off as married and then fell in love! The whole fake-marriage theme just worked here. If you are looking for a sweet, sexy, fast-paced romance, you will love ‘Roomies.’ It is definitely one of my favorite Christina Lauren books.

“I think you might be the best girl there ever was.”

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Categories : 4.5 Stars, Contemporary Romance, Giveaway, New Adult, Romantic Comedy Tagged : Christina Lauren, Roomies

Release Day Review: AUTOBOYOGRAPHY by CHRISTINA LAUREN

September 12, 2017

 

Synopsis:

 

Fangirl meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this funny and poignant coming-of-age novel from New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren about two boys who fall in love in a writing class—one from a progressive family and the other from a conservative religious community.

Three years ago, Tanner Scott’s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet. Now, with one semester of high school to go, and no obstacles between him and out-of-state college freedom, Tanner plans to coast through his remaining classes and clear out of Utah.

But when his best friend Autumn dares him to take Provo High’s prestigious Seminar—where honor roll students diligently toil to draft a book in a semester—Tanner can’t resist going against his better judgment and having a go, if only to prove to Autumn how silly the whole thing is. Writing a book in four months sounds simple. Four months is an eternity.

It turns out, Tanner is only partly right: four months is a long time. After all, it takes only one second for him to notice Sebastian Brother, the Mormon prodigy who sold his own Seminar novel the year before and who now mentors the class. And it takes less than a month for Tanner to fall completely in love with him.

 

My Review:

 

“I’m curious whether you could ever like me, whether someone like you could be friends with someone like me.”

Sweet and lovely and important and fresh. Love the message of this book!

Autoboyography is a beautifully written and very poignant M/M story with a MESSAGE. On the one hand is Tanner, a bisexual teen whose family accepts him and loves him for who he is, On the other hand is Sebastian, a devoted member of the Church of LDS whose rigid and intensely religious family strictly follows the doctrines of the church. Where homosexuality is forbidden.

Tanner moved from California to Provo, Utah with his family when his mother accepted a wonderful job there. Although “out” to his family, he cannot be openly bisexual due to the overwhelmingly Mormon majority of his classmates, friends and the town. He falls hard for Sebastian, when he meets Seb in a writing class. Sebastian is about to have his first book published and is something of a celebrity around school and in town. He is also the teaching assistant for the writing class. The goal of the class is to write a book by the end of the course.

“Come on. I moved here when I was fifteen—which I think we can agree is the worst time to move from Palo Alto, California, to Provo, Utah—with a mouth full of metal and no friends. I have stories.” Not to mention I’m a half-Jewish queer kid in a straight and Mormon town.”

Tanner becomes infatuated with Sebastian, but has no clue if his feelings are reciprocated. He is unsure if he is reading the signals wrong, or if Sebastian is just deeply closeted. Sebastian helps Tanner with his book. Could it be even remotely possible that Sebastian is gay?

“But how can I send my heart to him when he’s just said, in no uncertain terms, that he doesn’t speak its language?”

My heart ached for Sebastian and Tanner. Yes they did fall in love. And Sebastian’s religion made him feel worthless and unloved by God and rejected by his family. He struggled with his feelings but knew that his family would never, ever accept his sexual orientation. So perfect from the outside, his family was actually intensely judgmental.

I adored Tanner and the sweet romance that developed between these two. This is not a steamy romance at all but it was very passionate and sweet and believable and REAL. While the beliefs of the Mormon church sometimes felt like they were being recited from a textbook, I understood how Sebastian could be so torn between his service to the Church, and his desire to live an authentic life. How beautiful it was that he finally found someone to love.

There are no evil characters here. Sebastian’s parents simply see no other path for their son other than his upcoming missionary work for three years. That is what they did, and that is what is expected of Sebastian. This book is about having the courage to stand up for your principles and for who you are. When Sebastian finally realizes that, he has already broken Tanner’s heart. This book is a journey that asks some tough and heartbreaking questions along the way.

Seb and Tanner were hot for each other. It was a healthy exploration of their sexuality, but Seb’s parents got to him and influenced him break up with Tanner.

These are two sweet, loyal, kind and funny boys. They deserve happiness! I think it is hard for most people to accept a church that basically cuts parents off from their own children based on who they love.

Overall I enjoyed the book because Tanner and Seb were so endearing and brave. I felt that the constant reminder that Tanner was a “half-Jew in a Mormon town” was overused, I got it the first 3 times it was mentioned . (Also not a fan of the new trend of placing a Nordstrom in virtually town in books. That takes me out of the book. If that part is fictional, what else about the LDS is made up? That’s my dilemma.)

Hopefully the LDS Church will have a “revelation” soon about coming out as gay or bi so that all of the wonderful young people can lead a full life with the love and acceptance of their families, friends and church.

“To think that God loves the trees, but condemns that blossoming thing they do in the spring.”

(ARC provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.)

Categories : 4 Stars, M/m, Reviews, Young Adult Contemporary Romance Tagged : Autoboyography, Christina Lauren

Beautiful by Christina Lauren Review + Giveaway

October 7, 2016

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Synopsis:

From New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren comes the final installment in the Beautiful Bastard series, BEAUTIFUL (Gallery Books; On-sale: October 4, 2016). This 10th and final title in the series serves as the perfect send off to the group of friends readers have come to love.

After walking in on her boyfriend shagging another girl in their place, Pippa Bay Cox ditches London for the States to go on a drunken road trip with Ruby Miller and some of her Beautiful friends.

Scaling the career ladder is the default way to deal with heartbreak—and to just deal—for Jensen Bergstrom. Absolutely buried by his drive and workload, he rarely takes time for himself. But when his sister Hanna convinces him to join the gang on a two-week wine tour, he has a rare moment of cutting loose. Of course, it’s only once he’s committed that he realizes the strange girl he met briefly on the plane is coming along, too. She might be too much for him . . . or he might realize his life has become too small and needs her to make it bigger, crazier.

With this circle of friends, there’s always something going on: from Chloe and Sara’s unexpected personality swaps to Will’s new domestic side to Bennett’s text message barrage and George’s own happily-ever-after. In short, their adventures in love, friendship, and hilarity are simply Beautiful.

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Review:

What a perfect ending to a fantastic series! ‘Beautiful’ is a delicious, dizzying, sexy, funny and poignant story. ‘Beautiful Bastard’ was one of my earliest fanfic favorites and while I am sad that this series is ending, I thoroughly enjoyed this yummy story.

This is a light-hearted, upbeat and sexy book that delivers on all fronts. As with the earlier books, all of the characters are inter-connected. Jensen is Hanna’s bother and Pippa is Ruby’s friend. They meet in the most adorable way on an international flight but of course neither one knows the who the other is. They meet up again and of course, sparks fly. These two could not be more opposite: Pippa is breaking free from her old life and is living “in the moment” for the first time in her life, and Jensen is a complete workaholic. But opposites attract, right? So while on a road trip, Pippa and Jensen start a wild fling.

“Your hair like this makes your eyes bluer,” he continued, and my mind hit the brakes. “Makes your lips pinker. Makes you look too perfect to be real.”

This is a fast-paced and endearing romantic comedy with an absolutely perfect Epilogue. I loved seeing the whole gang reunited again and enjoyed every minute of this book. Jensen and Pippa were fabulous together and the ending was exactly what I hoped for!

‘It’s too bad I’m too eccentric for you. It’s too bad you’re too busy for me. It’s too bad I’m only learning my heart and you have yours rolled in bubble wrap.’

(ARC provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.)

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Categories : 4 Stars, Contemporary Romance, Giveaway, New Adult Contemporary, Reviews, Romantic Comedy Tagged : Beautiful, Christina Lauren

Review + Excerpt: DARK WILD NIGHT (WILD SEASONS #3) by CHRISTINA LAUREN

September 16, 2015

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What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
But what didn’t happen in Vegas seems to follow them everywhere.

Lola and Oliver like to congratulate themselves on having the good sense to not consummate their drunken Las Vegas wedding. If they’d doubled-down on that mistake, their Just Friends situation might not be half as great as it is now.

. . . Or so goes the official line.

In reality, Lola’s wanted Oliver since day one–and over time has only fallen harder for his sexy Aussie accent and easygoing ability to take her as she comes. More at home in her studio than in baring herself to people, Lola’s instinctive comfort around Oliver nearly seems too good to be true. So why ruin a good thing?

Even as geek girls fawn over him, Oliver can’t get his mind off what he didn’t do with Lola when he had the chance. He knows what he wants with her now . . . and it’s far outside the friend zone. When Lola’s graphic novel starts getting national acclaim–and is then fast-tracked for a major motion picture–Oliver steps up to be there for her whenever she needs him. After all, she’s not the kind of girl who likes all that attention, but maybe she’s the kind who’ll eventually like him.

Sometimes seeing what’s right in front of us takes a great leap of faith. And sometimes a dark wild night in Vegas isn’t just the end of a day, but the beginning of a bright new life . . .

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Delicious!!! DARK WILD NIGHT is a very sexy, very readable, fast-paced story about two friends who want to move out of the dreaded friend zone. I had forgotten how incredibly HOT and sexy Christina Lauren’s stories can be!! OLIVER!!

Christina Lauren’s stories are a book-crack addiction that I don’t intend to give up! I didn’t think I could love a couple any more than the other couples in this series but I was wrong. Oliver is sexy, sweet, romantic, and totally sensual and loving on top of it all!! No asshole-y-ness here, just a sexy-sweet, feel-good romance.

I absolutely fell in love with Lola, she’s a total geek and totally adorable. These two are the only ones of their group of friends who didn’t stay married after the shenanigans in Las Vegas. But they are close friends who don’t want to ruin a good thing by becoming involved romantically. Even though I knew what was ultimately in store for these two, it still didn’t put a damper on my enjoyment of this lushly-written yet totally modern story.

Oliver and Lola are two of the most “real” characters to date in this series. Lola is consumed with her work and Oliver backs off when she needs space. There is no unnecessary drama here, just two people who care deeply for each other, have smoking-hot chemistry but who have insecurities just like the rest of us.

“I don’t think I’ve ever loved anyone quite like this. In this sort of giddy, obliterating game-changing way. Where I can see myself with her for the rest of my life…”

I feel in love with Oliver and can’t wait for more yumminess from this awesome writing duo.

(ARC provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.)

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He watches me in a way that feels like he’s seeing more than my face looking up at his or my breasts shifting with his movements. He’s seeing me. The heat of it makes me wild, like skin singed, blood simmering.

“I feel like we have forever to ‘savor,’ ” I whine quietly. “I don’t—”

He reaches for the condom, putting it in my palm and kneeling between my legs. “I know.”

I tear it open, feeling it briefly to orient myself. I’m suddenly nervous and know my hands are a little fumbly, my fingers unpracticed at this. “It’s been a while since I did this.”

He smiles but says nothing, holding his breath as he watches me cover the head, anchor the condom with one hand, and roll it all the way down with the other. There’s a good couple of inches of him left uncovered and I feel the skin there, marveling until he leans forward, hands planted beside my head.

I can tell he wants to say something, but I also get the sense that it’s nearly too much to articulate without sounding trite or overly sentimental. It’s probably why I’m not saying much, either.

When he leans in, kissing me softly, he asks, “You want me like this?”

I assume he means on top of me again. “Yeah.”

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Categories : 4.5 Stars, Contemporary Romance, Reviews Tagged : Christina Lauren, Dark Wild Night, Excerpt, Smoking Hot, Wild Seasons Series

EXCERPT: BEAUTIFUL SECRET (BEAUTIFUL BASTARD #4) by CHRISTINA LAUREN

April 4, 2015

Beautiful-Secret

We’re thrilled to bring you an excerpt from Christina Lauren’s upcoming Beautiful Secret, releasing on April 14th!! This is Niall and Ruby’s book and it is fabulous!!

Synopsis:

AN UPTIGHT BRITISH EXECUTIVE. AN ADVENTUROUS AMERICAN NEWBIE. A SEXY INTERNATIONAL SCANDAL IN THE MAKING.

New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author Christina Lauren’s Beautiful and Wild Seasons series hook up in Beautiful Secret for an erotic intercontinental romp that celebrates the best of both worlds!

When Ruby Miller’s boss announces he’s sending her on an extended business trip to New York City, she’s shocked. As one of the best and brightest young engineers in London, she knows she’s professionally up to the task. The part that’s throwing her is where she’ll be spending a month up close and personal working alongside—and staying in a hotel with—Niall Stella, her firm’s top urban planning executive and The Hottest Man Alive. Despite her ongoing crush, Ruby is certain Niall barely knows she’s alive…until their flirty overnight flight makes him sit up and take notice.

Not one for letting loose and breaking rules, recently divorced Niall would describe himself as hopeless when it comes to women. But even he knows outgoing California-girl Ruby is a breath of fresh air. Once she makes it her mission to help the sexy Brit loosen his tie, there’s no turning back. Thousands of miles from London, it’s easy for the lovers to play pretend. But when the trip is over, will the relationship they’ve built up fall down?

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Purchase the Book:

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Excerpt:

A silence fell over the table as everyone turned to watch Ruby leave the bar and head upstairs to bed. She had been utterly charming throughout dinner, and the group had groaned in unison when she’d excused herself because of our early morning. I, too, had been quite sad to see her go.
“Well, well.”

I looked up to see my brother’s smug expression.

“Now that we’re alone,” Will began, “I think we can all agree to drop any pretense that we’re not ruined for civilized conversation, yes?” Each of them nodded in agreement and beside me, his glass now refilled, Will raised his tumbler to take a small swallow of scotch. “I also think we can all agree Bennett will be an important consultant on this case.”

Max snickered.

“The conference?” I asked, confused.

“It’s an all-too-common predicament,” Bennett added dryly. “Knockout intern. Boss in denial. I’ll draft up a step-by-step plan of containment.”
I blinked, swallowing thickly as I realized what they meant. “She’s not my intern. I have absolutely no say in her career.” I shook my head, frustrated because it was exactly the wrong thing to say. “I’m not . . . that is to say, she’s not interested. Nor I.”

All four men laughed.

“Niall,” Will said, leaning his elbows on his knees. “She nearly dropped her drink in your lap when George asked if she was interested in anyone.”
“Was going to say the same thing,” Bennett said.

“And something tells me she’d be first to volunteer to clean it up,” Will added.

“Well, maybe that’s because she’s interested in someone who works with us at R-C.”

“Yeah. You.” Max lifted his glass and finished the last of the amber liquid.

“Sincerely,” I said, fighting a smile. “She’s a fantastic girl, but she’s certainly not a romantic option for me.”

Tilting his head, Bennett asked, “What color are her eyes?”

Green, I didn’t say. I shook my head as if I didn’t know.

“What was she wearing?” Will asked.

A blue dress that hit just above her knee, I didn’t say. A delicate gold chain around her neck and a ring on her right ring finger that I had to resist asking her about until George bulldozed in and asked about a boyfriend.

I rolled my eyes, and my brother laughed again, this time pointing his drink at me. “Blokes don’t notice these things unless they’re interested.”

“Or George,” Will added, and George reached over to grab the back of his neck and try to pull him in for a kiss.

“Well, it’s apparent I needn’t think on this any further,” I said. “You’ve all decided for me.”

“It’s what we do,” Will said, adjusting the skewed collar of his shirt as he settled back into his chair. “It’s a sickness, we know.”

“I thought we’d lost that muscle, honestly,” George said.

“It’s a relief to know we still have it in us. The ladies will be so proud.” Max rapped his knuckles on the table as he made to stand. “Alas, I’d best be off. New routine: Sara gets the baby to sleep; I do the midnight bottle feeding.”

“Finally taking a bottle from you then? Guess you smell like a woman, too,” I said to Max, reminding him of the little dig he’d thrown my way on my last visit.

Max laughed and patted me on the back, and we all stood, a silent agreement in place that we were ready to call it a night. I watched my brother gather his things and say his goodbyes, feeling the same mix of pride and longing for what he was headed home to: a wife, a daughter. A proper home.

“Kiss the girls for me,” I requested as he made his way out of the bar. He waved a hand, retreating, and then disappeared from view.

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Author Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaLaurenBooks
Website: http://christinalaurenbooks.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/christinalauren
@christinalauren
@seecwrite
@lolashoes

Categories : Contemporary Romance Tagged : Beautiful Secret, Christina Lauren, Excerpt

REVIEW and GIVEAWAY: DIRTY ROWDY THING (WILD SEASONS #2) by CHRISTINA LAUREN

November 15, 2014

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Dirty Rowdy Thing by Christina Lauren
Series: Wild Seasons #2
Published by: Gallery Books
Published on November 4, 2014

About the Book:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Bastard, Beautiful Stranger, and Beautiful Player, Book Two of the brand-new Wild Seasons series that started with Sweet Filthy Boy—a story of friends, love, and lust.

Despite their rowdy hookups, Harlow and Finn don’t even like each other…which would explain why their marriage lasted only twelve hours. He needs to be in charge and takes whatever he wants. She lives by the Want-something-done? Do-it-yourself mantra. Maybe she’s too similar to the rugged fisherman—or just what he needs.

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Review:

“Come in. Sit anywhere but on the bed. Don’t look cute, don’t get undressed, and don’t touch my underwear.”

I really loved the latest book in the Wild Seasons series! It is very, very funny, had really hot scenes and a wonderful storyline. Harlow is a funny, smart-ass, modern and smart heroine. Finn is another nuanced, sexy and loving leading man created by this fabulous writing duo. This is not a cliched contemporary romance story but instead has some very serious themes woven into the story.

Harlow and Finn have lots of miscommunications throughout the story but their scenes together are fantastic and their chemistry feels real and genuine and never forced. I truly thought that the authors could not top the first book in this series but Harlow and Finn are every bit as addictive as the characters from Sweet Filthy Boy.

These two are at opposite ends of the spectrum personality-wise but their banter and sexy times are hilarious and very, very hot. Don’t miss this book. It is a wonderful, passionate and very funny read with lots and lots of heart. Can’t wait for the next book in this series, Dark Wild Night, which will give us Lola and Oliver’s story and is scheduled for release in 2015!

(Thanks to the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.)

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Categories : 4.5 Stars, Contemporary Romance, Giveaway, New Adult, Reviews Tagged : Christina Lauren, Dirty Rowdy Thing, Giveaway, Review

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