Blurb
A sexy new standalone from USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen.
You’d think a billion dollars, a professional hockey team and a six-bedroom mansion on the Promenade would satisfy a guy. You’d be wrong.
For seven years Rebecca has brightened my office with her wit and her smile. She manages both my hockey team and my sanity. I don’t know when I started waking in the night, craving her. All I know is that one whiff of her perfume ruins my concentration. And her laugh makes me hard.
When Rebecca gets hurt, I step in to help. It’s what friends do. But what friends don’t do is rip off each others’ clothes for a single, wild night together.
Now she’s avoiding me. She says we’re too different, and it can never happen again. So why can’t we keep our hands off each other?
Excerpt
I grab a towel off a waiting stack of
them and toss it onto the edge. “You can sit and put your feet in.”
She’s wearing a short little knit
dress that’s been making me crazy all evening, so it would be easy enough for
her to strip off those stockings, sit on the towel, and drop both feet in.
And that’s what she does. She eases
one stocking down over a smooth knee and tugs it off.
I don’t want to stand there staring
like a middle-school boy. Okay, I do want to. But I don’t want to make her
uncomfortable. So I go over to the sound system instead, and I set my phone on
the speaker and cue up a really old playlist. One she’ll recognize.
When I turn around again, she’s seated
on the towel, both legs hanging down into the churning water. “Ah. Wow.” She
looks up at me, her eyes sparkling. “Nice place you got here.”
“Isn’t it?” I toe off my shoes and kick
them to the side.
The first song comes on, and it’s a
Macklemore tune that we used to play far too often in our first office. Rebecca
laughs immediately. “You didn’t! I haven’t heard this playlist in forever. But
I’ll bet I still know every transition. Lady Gaga is next.”
“She sure is.”
Rebecca kicks her feet, making a
splash. “I have a little confession to make.”
“What’s that?” I loosen my tie and
slide the knot out.
“Well…” She grins up at me. “I used to
have a crush on you. Back in the early days.”
My hands freeze on the tie silk. “Get
out of town. You did not.”
“No, I really did.” Her cheeks are
pink. “That first year especially. But you were taken, and you were my boss.
Those two things made it pretty easy to tamp down, when you’re a practical girl
like me.”
I walk over and drop down beside her,
my back to the water, though, because I’m still wearing trousers and socks. “So
how does that work, exactly?”
“What?” She gives me a sidelong
glance, but then looks away again and won’t meet my eyes.
“How do you stop wanting someone? I’m
a practical person, but I don’t see how that makes it any easier. Nothing seems
to mute the raging attraction I have for you.”
Her chin turns quickly toward me, and
I seize the opportunity to kiss her. And it only takes one kiss—one slide of my
lips over hers, and I’m on fire again.
We’re facing opposite directions, so
it’s awkward as hell. But I don’t even care. I take greedy sip after greedy sip
of her mouth, until she pulls back to stare at me. Her color is high and her
eyes are bright and happy. “This is like Twister.”
“It’s better,” I correct. Lady Gaga
comes on, just as Becca said she would. “Are we getting into this pool or
what?”
Becca kicks a foot in the water. “I’m
tempted. But I don’t have a bathing suit.”
“Oh, snap.”
She smiles and shakes her head. “Are
you really getting in?”
“We don’t have to.” I’m never going to
pressure her.
Her fingers trail across the surface
of the bubbling water. “But this is an adventure, right?”
“Right.” I stand up and remove my
socks. She’s watching me. And I can’t read her expression. “What?”
“Just wondering what else you’re going
to take off.” She smiles.
“Come here.” The order rolls off my
tongue.
But Rebecca doesn’t blink. She gets up
and turns toward me, curiosity in her eyes.
“You tell me. What am I taking off?”
She puts two hands tentatively on my
chest, and I make myself be patient. Everything I ever wanted is on the other
side of this moment. I just need us to break through this awkwardness—the “will
we or won’t we” tension.
Her fingers find the top button of my
shirt. “I’m not getting in the water unless you are.”
That’s a compromise I can live with. I
find my lower shirt buttons and work upwards, until we meet in the middle. She
pushes the two halves of my shirt apart and runs a hand down my bare chest.
My inner caveman
stands up and cheers.
My Review
It feels like I have been waiting forever to read Nate & Rebecca's story, well at least since the very first Brooklyn Bruisers novel I picked up. I have to admit I thought I knew their story, I thought it was going to be somewhat predictable, I thought I would love it. And then I started reading and I didn't know their story, it wasn't even slightly predictable but of course I loved it.
Rebecca has been such a larger than life character in all of the Brooklyn Bruisers books she felt like a work friend I have known forever but was only just learning about her private life outside of the office. She was her usual quirky, caring self but she also had so much depth that hadn't been tapped until it was all about her.
Nate was everything I expected him to be he was so cute in his own little adorkable ways and knowing how hard he has crushed on Rebecca from afar just made him even more lovable. He was always so sweet but in his own little bubble so until this book I really didn't know what to make of him. And learning so much about his history along with his history with Rebecca was awesome.
I have loved every single book of this series and this one was no different. There was the same amazing characters I already know and love, and a few more new ones, the same great writing with some perfect twists and turns to keep me madly flipping pages at 1am. And now I am off to catch up on some much needed nap time before I stalk Sarina for what she is releasing next.
THERE ARE NO DOUCHEBAGS IN THIS STORY.
Well, there are, but they’re not who this story is about.
This story is about me—the coach’s daughter.
When I moved to Iowa to live with my dad, the university's take-no-prisoners wrestling coach, I thought transferring would be easy as pie—living with my father would be temporary, and he'd make sure his douchebag wrestlers left me alone.
Wrong on both counts.
ASSHOLES ALWAYS COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK WHEN THE STAKES ARE HIGH.
A bet is placed, and I'm on the table. After one humiliating night and too much alcohol, I find the last nice guy on campus. And when he offers to rent me his spare bedroom, I go all in. It’s time for the nice guy to finish first.
Midnight chats and spilling my problems turn to lingering touches. Lingering touches turn to more.
And the ultimate good guy has the potential do more damage than any douchebags ever could.
Well, there are, but they’re not who this story is about.
This story is about me—the coach’s daughter.
When I moved to Iowa to live with my dad, the university's take-no-prisoners wrestling coach, I thought transferring would be easy as pie—living with my father would be temporary, and he'd make sure his douchebag wrestlers left me alone.
Wrong on both counts.
ASSHOLES ALWAYS COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK WHEN THE STAKES ARE HIGH.
A bet is placed, and I'm on the table. After one humiliating night and too much alcohol, I find the last nice guy on campus. And when he offers to rent me his spare bedroom, I go all in. It’s time for the nice guy to finish first.
Midnight chats and spilling my problems turn to lingering touches. Lingering touches turn to more.
And the ultimate good guy has the potential do more damage than any douchebags ever could.
AMAZON | AMAZON UK | AMAZON AU
My Review
Excerpt
She perks up. “Wait, you’ve never had a back massage?”
“No?”
“Ever?”
“Nope.”
“Well, what the hell? How can I, in good conscience, lie here letting you rub my back when you’ve never had anyone rub yours?” She scoots over, pointing to the mattress. “Lie on your stomach, I’ll do you first.”
I wave my hands in front of me in protest. The last thing I need is her warm hands roaming my body. “No, no, you don’t have to. It’s not a big deal.”
“Are you crazy? Back massages are the best—like, better than an orgasm. You’re first, so lie down.”
“And you call me the bossy one?”
“Quit stalling and get on the bed.”
Obediently, I climb to the middle of my bed in nothing but a pair of gym shorts, legs hanging off the side. Next to me, the mattress dips, Anabelle on her knees, approaching my side.
A finger glides down my spine. “It will be easier for me to do this if I’m sitting on you. Hope that’s okay.”
“Is that the approved method?”
“No, but my arms will get tired if I have to lean over you the whole time.”
“Do whatever then, I don’t care.”
I stiffen when Anabelle swings one leg over my body, straddling my ass. Warm palms at my lower back.
“You’re so tense. Try to relax,” she coos, making it worse. “Tilt your head to the side, that’s it.”
I hear the lotion bottle snap open. Click closed. My roommate’s palms rubbing together, warming it up. “Sorry, I don’t have any actual massage oil. This will have to do.”
When her hands make contact with my back, I almost groan it feels so fucking good. Warm. Smooth. Pressure in all the right places, pushing gently into my muscles.
Slowly.
Slower still, caressing along my shoulders, thumbs and fingers working together to soothe the burning on my right side.
“Doesn’t this feel great?” Her soft voice cuts into the silence. “You’re loosening up. That’s good.”
I feel her leaning as her hands move up and down my spine until they stop, hovering at the base of my neck. Thumbs stroking the skin below my hairline, back and forth.
Kneading.
Her torso dips, hands maneuvering my arms, placing them at my sides. Palms slide up and down my biceps.
For several minutes, she rubs my arms and shoulders. Then she skims down my ribcage unhurriedly, in no rush, making little humming sounds inside her throat.
I know I’m not imagining the feather-light way her hands drift down my spine. I remain still, letting her touch me, basking in it.
Remain still when her lips kiss the tender spot of my shoulder where it meets my neck, nose nuzzling behind my ear, her breasts rubbing against my back and what the fuck was that all about? What does she think she’s doing, trying to drive me insane?
About the Author
Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte's, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.
She lives with her husband, children, and her ridiculously large dog.
I am almost at a loss as to what to say here. There's so much I want to
just word vomit all out, but I really think to get the most out of this book
you need to go into it as clueless as the rest of us.
So, I will try explaining my feels without any spoilers. First there's
no reason not to read this book, there's no triggers, cheating, ow/om drama,
nothing.
The writing lived up to the last three books although The Studying Hours
is still my all-time favourite they can all be read as standalones if you
really want to.
I really did enjoy every part of this book and from picking it up I
couldn't put it down. So as completely uninformative as this review is I think I
will leave it there and just say if you love the series this won't disappoint.
If you're after a well written new adult standalone, dive in. Hopefully
we get a lot more of this series to come.
Title: The Baby Maker
Author: Lili Valente
Genre: Sexy Romantic Comedy/Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 5, 2018
Blurb
Some men are troublemakers or dealmakers. The men in my family? We’re baby makers.
For six generations, the women of wine country have had a saying: don’t bang a Hunter man unless you want a bun in your oven.
Yeah, well. I’ve got a saying too: no thanks. The last thing I need is baby makes three. My business is expanding and the only thing I’m interested in getting knocked up is my bottom line.
But then one night Emma Haverford makes me an offer I can’t refuse—she backs away from the land I have my eye on in exchange for a favor…
A big, fat, baby making favor…
******
When I hear women have gotten pregnant shaking hands with Hunter men, I know I need Dylan Hunter’s…ahem, special skills…way more than I need to expand my vineyard.
I’m ready to give my heart to a child and I’m tired of waiting for my late-to-the-party Prince Charming to make my dreams come true. So I promise Dylan—three months of hot, heavy, baby-making s-e-x and then I’m out of his hair forever.
But what if when it comes time to say good-bye, all I want to do is keep bottling up more memories with this big-hearted man?
This sexy Standalone romance will make you laugh, swoon, and blush baby-makin’ red. Heat level: A risk of getting knocked up during download. Paperback and audio versions are especially dangerous. Handle with care…
My Review
Purchase Links
Narrated by Andi Arndt & Sebastian York
Author Bio
Lili Valente has slept under the stars in Greece, eaten dinner at midnight with French men who couldn’t be trusted to keep their mouths on their food, and walked alone through Munich’s red light district after dark and lived to tell the tale.
These days you can find her writing in a tent beside the sea, drinking coconut water and thinking delightfully dirty thoughts.
These days you can find her writing in a tent beside the sea, drinking coconut water and thinking delightfully dirty thoughts.
Author Links
I have to admit I read the blurb and thought this sounded like my cup of tea but then I got to the warning and I was completely sold. Luckily I am already pregnant so I didn't have to worry too much about the warning.
I was semi expecting this to be a lot more smut with a little story thrown in and to be honest that would have still been a win for me. However I was thrilled to get a really sweet romance novel with a story that kept me turning the pages and a lot of really hot sex scenes to appease my pervy little heart.
Dylan was so caring and sweet I absolutely adored him and I loved that he was so open and honest and didn't play games or be anything at all other than exactly who he was without apologies. Not that he had anything at all to apologise for, that man was awesome. And to my absolute delight so was Emma. She knew exactly what she wanted and she went after it in the most straight forward way possible. They were just so damn sweet and sexy together, I loved them.
This is a must read for anyone wanting a sweet and steamy read that will make you feel nothing but happy thoughts for the few hours you wont be able to put it down. And the little tease for The Troublemaker has me off to GoodReads to make sure I have it on my TBR mountain to one click as soon as the pre-order is available.
Well it's no secret I am an idiot. I am such a massive Sarina Bowen fan and I have been absolutely dying to get my hands on Brooklynaire to read Nate and Rebecca's story since the very first Brooklyn Bruisers novel. Then today the ARC arrived on my kindle and I was so excited but then I remembered that I had put off reading the last one because I was sure it was going to make me a blubbering mess and I didn't think my hormones could handle it.
But of course I had to read that one first so I pulled up my big girl panties and started to read it. Umm yeah, I couldn't put it down. And to be honest I did hate Mike for a bit and I had moments of being a blubbering mess but damn did I love that book and now I am even more desperate to get into Brooklynaire.
Ok I guess we should start with Mike. He was an idiot, lets be honest, he did stupid things and made some rash decisions but he did them for the absolute best of reasons so I really couldn't hate him for long. And honestly we all know the male brain really is arse backwards most of the time, so I couldn't hold it against him for too long.
Lauren wasn't who I was expecting. She was such a cold and distant ice queen in the earlier books and I honestly didn't expect to like her. But as soon as I read her story my heart broke for her and it just kept right on breaking as I watched her overcome everything she had been through and get everything she deserved.
This whole series has just gone from strength to strength and I know beyond doubt that Nate and Rebecca are going to make this series even better.
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