Category: Four Loves

Blurb:

Starr Media Second-Assistant Survival Guide

1. Don’t call your hot boss the antichrist to his face.
   2. Don’t stare at hot boss’s, um, package or his full sleeve of tattoos. (No. Really. Stop!)
   3. Don’t get on the malicious first assistant’s bad side.
   4. Don’t forget to memorize the 300-page employee manual.
   5. If you value your cashmere, steer clear of boss’s dog.
   6. Boss’s dimples are lust-inducing. Do. Not. Give. In.
   7. “The elevator ate your clothes” is not a valid excuse for showing up to important meetings half dressed.
   8. Don’t break seven of the rules within the first week of employment if you, ya know, are in dire need of money to support your sick mom.
   9. Whatever you do, don’t fall for the boss. See rule eight about sick mom.
   10. Never forget the rules.

Review:

Are you laughing or at least smiling as you read the 10-rule blurb above? If yes, then you have to read the rest of this book.

I normally shy away from books with the “new adult” tag, but this one doesn’t have all the heavy drama and angst I associate with that genre. It was a light-hearted romantic comedy. Heavy on the comedy! I seriously laughed out loud many, many times. I’m going through all the parts and quotes I highlighted and if I share them all with you this review will be longer than some books.

Lainey Taylor is starting her very first post-college, grown-up job as second assistant to the CEO at Starr Media, Brogan Starr. The hot CEO with tattoos and amazing dimples and oh, somewhere around 750 rules. No, really. The employee manual has about 750 rules that every employee must learn and memorize.

Pretty much, working at Starr Media was the equivalent of being part of Fight Club. Heavy emphasis on the first rule.

But a hot boss makes it hard to follow some of the rules. Or, a lot of them

He cleared his throat.

Warning bells blared between my ears. Abort mission. Move your eyes up before he thinks you’re staring at his package. Which, let’s face it, I totally was.

Dear readers, we haven’t even made it past day one yet! The humor and the chemistry kept me turning pages. This is one of those stories you’ll find hard to put down. You will love the heroine, Lainey. She’s smart and funny and her inner dialog is hilarious and on point. You’ll want to be her best friend.

My only complaint is the closed-door sex scenes. It was a bit of a let down after all the build up between Lainey and Brogan and it made it confusing as to when their actual first time having sex happened. But it’s a minor complaint, the rest of the book is fan-freaking-fantastic. Even the dog with a gas problem!

Four Loves

Excerpt

I sat down at the table and unwrapped the Panini and frowned. Breadsticks would have hit the spot. Although, no amount of breadsticks was worth giving up a steady income, not even Luigi’s. Still, I gave a spiteful glare to my sandwich.

Just in time to take me out of my garlic grieving, someone walked into the break room. The first thing I noticed was his hair. You could tell a lot about someone based off the length and style. And the clean-cut, lightly-styled golden brown hair that the guy in the plain black tee sported spoke volumes. It said “I look like I’m not trying too hard, but I carefully crafted this look of perfection for at least fifteen minutes this morning.”

The second thing I noticed was this guy should be reamed for violating the dress code policy. Not that I was complaining—because, really, those tatted biceps deserved to be on full display at all times.

I mentally catalogued everyone I’d spotted during Jackson’s drive-by office tour. He most definitely wasn’t part of that whirlwind of name-drops, because I’d remember those high cheekbones. And those tattoos. His arms were covered from each wrist with intricate markings, disappearing under the sleeve of his T-shirt. Some were words, some were pictures I couldn’t quite piece together without creepily staring at him. Decidedly, all were hot as hell.

He smiled at me and walked over to the water cooler. He procured a teabag from his pocket, plopped it into his black coffee mug, and filled it with water. The glug glug glug of the cooler cut through the silence, and I quickly swallowed my bite of turkey sandwich, preparing myself for if this guy wanted to talk—unlike the last five people who took one look into the break room, saw evidence of human life, and booked it to the elevator before I could even manage a hello. For people working at a social media agency, they were oddly…antisocial.

“You’re new here.” It was a statement. One that held the suggestion that this happened more often than my purchases from ShoeBinge.com. I’d deleted the app from my phone the minute I learned Mom’s diagnosis a month ago and was still thinking about those rhinestone heels.

“Second day.” I smiled. Finally. Someone to talk to. Besides Jackson and his awesome ability to give the evil eye over his computer screen.

“How are you liking it so far?” The muscles in his bicep bunched together as he took a sip of his tea. Ovaries, meet arm porn, your new best friend.

I folded the wax paper of my sandwich wrapper in half and creased the seam with my thumb. “It’s been nice. I made it through the employee manual…finally.”

“Learn anything good?”

I looked up from the wrapper and eyed him. “You’re breaking the dress code in at least two ways.”

He looked down at his clothes and then back at me, smiling. Two dimples indented his cheeks, and I realized how incredibly unfair it was that someone could be that gorgeous and not airbrushed by professionals in a magazine.

“Guess I am.”

“You’ve met the boss. What’s he like? Uptight like that rule book?”

His lips tipped up in one corner as he regarded me with his piercing brown eyes. “I don’t know if uptight would be my first choice.”

I chuckled. “Really? I hear he’s called the Antichrist.”

His brows rose. “Oh, really. That one’s new to me.”

“Huh.” I fiddled with the wrapper. “Jackson said it was a pretty well-known nickname around the office.” Maybe the guy worked in a different department than everyone else. Heck, he was a lot nicer than all the other employees I’d (not) talked to yesterday and today.

He let out a loud laugh that echoed throughout the break room. “Very interesting. Thanks for the heads up.” He grabbed the string to the tea bag and absentmindedly dunked it in the water. Veins corded deliciously up his arms and my brain went into zombie mode. Except instead of my inner monologue chanting must eat brains, it was must touch veeeeeeeins. “What’s your name?” he asked, bringing me out of my stupor.

I cleared my throat, heat tingeing my cheeks. “Lainey Taylor. Newly appointed second assistant to the Antichrist.”

Mr. Dimples mashed his lips together, and I couldn’t tell if the glint in his eyes was because he was amused or slightly annoyed. Maybe a bit of both. Great, I guess I was back to square one with making friends here. He backed toward the door and leaned against the frame. Really odd. Where I came from, people tended to give their name after someone else introduced themselves. This guy? Nada. I doubted 200 exits up the I-5 corridor were enough to see a shift in social customs.

He bit down on his full bottom lip and looked like he was really enjoying this awkward silence that had me squirming in my seat. I balled up the sandwich wrapper just to give my hands something to do. Really, these people needed to work on their social skills. Where was the welcoming committee? Mental note: start welcome committee if one doesn’t exist.

“It’s really nice meeting you, Lainey,” he said.

He put his hand on the doorframe, and just before he left the room, I called, “Do I get your name?”

“You can call me the Antichrist.” And with that, he breezed out into the hallway and disappeared into his office.

My heart screeched to a halt, and that turkey Panini turned to a solid brick in the bottom of my stomach.

Shit.

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About the author: 

Jennifer Blackwood is an English teacher and contemporary romance author. She lives in Oregon with her husband, son, and poorly behaved black lab puppy. She is the author of The Drexler University series, the Rule Breaker series (May 2016 and Jan 2017) and an upcoming Brazen series (July 2016 and early 2017)

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Dare to Take is out TODAY!

Synopsis:

She was off limits,
But he couldn’t resist.

There are just some guys you don’t touch–even someone as innocent and inexperienced as Ella Shaw knows that. But when her brother’s best friend is up for grabs and willing, she can’t resist. After all, she’s wanted him for years…

On leave from the army, Tyler Dare is just looking for a little fun, but his best friend’s sister is off limits. Yet unable to deny how sexy and alluring she is, he finds it all too easy to succumb to a night of passion and heat that ends the next morning in the worst way possible.

Now, Ella is stranded on a tropical island with a hurricane bearing down, and only Tyler can save her. It’s his chance to make amends for the past and show the woman he’s never forgotten that he’s coming after her . . . in more ways than one.

My Review:

Dare to Take is the sixth installment in author Carly Phillips’ Dare to Love series and I hate to admit it but this is the first book in the series I’ve read *runs and ducks for cover*.  I know, I know, I really need to read the rest of them now because I totally loved this book and am dying to know the entire Dare family.

Tyler and Ella have a bit of a long history, with a few bumps in the road that led them to where they are today.  A drunken night of lost virginity and regrets years earlier has tainted the friendship they once had…but it never tainted the attraction and hidden feelings they both shared for each other.  Fast forward to the present day where time had passed, but those feelings never faded and when Ella needs help, Tyler has to be the one to be her knight in shining armor.  Of course, the forced close proximity wasn’t exactly what they wanted, having successfully avoided each other for quite some time, but oh boy, was it just what the doctor ordered and turned out to be exactly what they needed.  And I loved it!

I seriously love a good friends to lovers to enemies to lovers story and Ms. Phillips knocked it out of the park with Tyler and Ella.  I loved getting to see Tyler’s protective side in the very beginning and then getting to see his sexy sweet side with Ella.  And let me just say, his sexy side is sexy with a capital ‘S’! I loved Ella as well and he reluctance to open up her old wounds but also wanting to give it a chance.  Give Tyler a chance.  They were so great together and the heat burned up the pages.  There was also a bit of mystery in this story and it added an element of danger and suspense that I really enjoyed.  It had Tyler’s alpha side out in full effect and oh my, was that hot to see.

I also loved the interaction between Tyler, his family, and Ella, who had been a close family friend for a good portion of their lives.  It’s a big loving and loyal clan with a lot of characters I really am dying to read more about…rest assured I’ll be heading to scoop up the entire backlist as soon as I finish typing this review!

If you’re looking for a sexy, intense, emotional, and suspenseful romance, this is a book for you.  And seeing as though it’s the first in the series I’ve read, it can totally be read as a standalone (but I’m sure you’ll be like me and dying to read the other Dare’s!).  Thank you, Ms. Phillips, for a fantastic read!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

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About the author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips has written over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels that today’s readers identify with and enjoy. After a successful 15 year career with various New York publishing houses, Carly is making the leap to Indie author, with the goal of giving her readers more books at a faster pace at a better price. Her Serendipity books will still finish up in January/February 2014 via Berkley as planned. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She’s a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she’s a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers. You can find all information about Carly at her website and other social media sites …

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Never Tear Us Apart is out TODAY!

Synopsis:

The second novel in this darkly sexy contemporary series from bestselling author Monica Murphy wraps up an emotionally powerful two-part tale of forbidden love.

The truth hurts, they say—and my pain cuts deep. While I was falling for Ethan, he was deceiving me the entire time. He held a huge secret, protected by his lies. When I discovered what he was hiding, the truth shook my world, threatening to ruin us forever. Ruin me. But I soon realized that what we share can’t be destroyed.

The connection between us is too strong. It always has been. I can’t deny him any longer. And I can’t deny my truth: I’m in love with Ethan.

I don’t want to let him go.

While we’re trying our best to make this relationship work, other forces are fighting against us. My family, who wants to keep me safe. The media obsessed with my tragic past. The public that feeds off of it. Even Ethan’s father—the man who nearly destroyed me all those years ago. He’s doing his best to finish the job.

Despite my love for Ethan, the doubts creep in, clouding my mind. Is he worth the pain? Will our love survive, or will we have no choice but to end it—end us—once and for all?

My Review:

Never Let You Go is the follow-up to author Monica Murphy’s Never Tear Us Apart, which I highly recommend reading first, and is the ending to Ethan (Will) and Katie’s story.  What a wild and emotional ride…it was amazing!

There’s something to be said for relationships forged in trying and hard times, as Katie and Ethan’s was.  It’s what happens in the aftermath and picking up the pieces that matters in making any kind of future…whether together or apart.  As if the trauma Katie and Ethan have already been through isn’t enough, they now have to navigate all sorts of issues.  Family drama, especially for Katie, a reporter hell-bent on getting them to talk, and fumbling through the confusing and intense emotions they feel for one another…it’s enough to make a person crazy.  But they have each other and no matter what, that will win out in the end (and oh my what an amazing ending it was!).

Filled with a ton of raw emotion and showcasing a beautiful and touching love found in darkness, this book was a phenomenal conclusion.

Thank you, Ms. Murphy!

Four Loves

Book links:

Amazon  |  B&N  |  Goodreads

About the author: