BFF Book Blog - Page 69 of 100 - BFF's reading and recommending great books!

Review – Smart Girl by Rachel Hollis

Brilliant designer Miko Jin is a hopeless romantic. She’s spent most of her life falling in love over and over again…with the men she finds in the pages of her favorite novels.

When Miko meets Liam Ashton, it’s love at first sight. At least, for her. Sure, the two of them are polar opposites, and yes, he seems to be dating someone new each week. But Miko knows what true love is and that you can’t rush it—after all, what she lacks in real-world experience, she makes up for in book smarts. With novels as her guide, and her best friends by her side, she knows she can get Liam to love her back. But just like any good romance novel, fate has a few plot twists in store. Will Miko get her own happy ending? Will she find the strength to stand up for what she deserves even if it means breaking her own heart?

BFF K’s Review

I should start off with the following declaration: I think that Rachel Hollis is amazing! She’s smart, funny, sweet, genuine and wickedly talented. And, the characters in her books embody all of those qualities too.

Miko has shot toward the top of my Best Book Heroine’s list. Miko is bright and talented, self-confident and quirky. She loves clothes, romance novels, costumes, her career, her friends, her family, and Liam Ashton. Miko just has to convince Liam that relationships aren’t a death sentence, and that he loves her too! She digs deep into her favorite books to glean inspiration and make this happen.

I’m not going to give away what transpires because the alterations that Miko experiences are some of my favorite parts of the book. There is truly a journey of self-realization that comes from some tough knocks and hard truths. Flipping the pages as this unfolds is really fulfilling for the reader too.

I am totally in love with this book. It was perfect; sweet, funny, unexpected and super romantic! The rabid-reader references to popular literary series, characters and themes are so well done and so much fun to read. This is the perfect conclusion to The Girl’s Series. (Now I can’t wait for the audio of the series, coming soon!) If you want wonderful, heart-felt stories about a group of women who love fiercely, you must read this series. The loves in this series are profound – family love, friend love, romantic love and most importantly, self-love. You’ll fall in love with “The Girls” too!

An advance copy of this book was received through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase The Girls Series on Amazon

Smart Girl

Sweet Girl

Party Girl

Party Girl’s First Date

Check out our Instagram where we celebrate some new BFF Book Blog Swag and Smart Girl! <3

Rachel has had a BIG week!

Check out the news about her new cookbook Upscale Downhome, coming in October!

Connect with Rachel

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About the Author

I am Rachel Hollis. A wife, a mother, a Southern Girl, an LA Woman, and for all intents and purposes Party Planner Extraordinaire! I LOVE parties… I love everything about them. I love the food, the wine, having friends and family and people from all walks of life together in one well-decorated space! I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like a good party… and if there are people out there who don’t, maybe that’s just because you haven’t been to one of mine!

I grew up in a big loud Okie family. Daddy was a Pentecostal minister and Mama was the church pianist… and PS, I know the words to all the old-timey hymns in case you want to break into three-part harmony later. I moved to Los Angeles to go to college and promptly met a boy named David who was as handsome as he was funny. First I made that boy my best friend, and then I made him my husband. 10 years later we have three equally handsome/hilarious little boys named Jackson, Sawyer, and Ford. We live in LA where we spend our time doing super cool/sexy things like going to soccer practice and hitting up any restaurant where kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée.

Other fancy info about Rachel…
Rachel Hollis is the founder of Los Angeles-based event planning firm, Chic Events. In 2009, she was named by Inc. Magazine as one of the “Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30.” She has designed and produced fabulous parties for many of Hollywood’s elite, including Bradley Cooper, Al Gore, Rashida Jones, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ivanka Trump, Jaime King, and Cuba Gooding Jr. (just to name a few). Most recently, she planned the nuptials of actress Sara Rue’s wedding, which garnered national coverage in magazines such as People and US Weekly.

Rachel is the entertainment contributor for Traditional Home Magazine, and a regular contributor to The Huffington Post. In addition, she is a lifestyle expert for The Talk, EXTRA, The Nate Berkus Show, Steve Harvey, Home & Family, KTLA Morning News, Good Day LA, Fox 5, Better TV and a regular contributor on PopSugar TV and Celebrations.com. She has been featured in People, InStyle, OK!, Entertainment Weekly, Entrepreneur, Grace Ormand and the TV shows “Jilted”, “I Do, Over” on We Network, “The Traveler’s Guide to Life” on the Travel Channel and “Self Made.”

Cover Reveal – Set the Pace by Kim Karr

Title: Set the Pace

Series: The Detroit Love Duet #1

Author: Kim Karr

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 21, 2016

Every city needs a hero, but Detroit’s white knight just might be a villain.

A rough childhood branded Jasper Storm trouble. A bad boy. Not worth a damn. His love of cars was the only thing that could battle his delinquency. With the need for speed in his blood, he overcame his wayward ways. Mostly. Now the broken city of Detroit hails him their shining star. And the man behind a new cutting-edge automobile is ready to turn this bankrupt town around.

Charlotte Lane was the tomboy who lived next door. She was his best friend. He was her protector. Then tragedy struck and she disappeared, forever—or so he thought.

Everything Jasper does in life is fast. He talks fast, f*cks fast, and drives fast. But when one reckless turn brings him face-to-face with the childhood he has tried very hard to forget, he finds himself on the edge of wondering if he shouldn’t slow down.

Time hasn’t erased who they are though. Jasper has many reasons to hate Charlotte and keep his distance, which is easier said than done. Soon she’s infiltrating his every thought and he can’t stay away. Back in town with an agenda of her own, she should push him aside. Make him turn around. Walk away herself. Yet she can’t.

With the past lurking between them, they proceed with caution. That is until one sex-filled night leads to murder, and things are forced to change. Now that Detroit’s biggest ally has suddenly become suspect number one, will Charlotte—the girl Jasper once kept safe—be the one to save him?

About the Author

Reader * Writer * Coffeelover * Romantic

Kim Karr is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She is a daydreamer. So much so that if daydreaming could be a hobby it would be her favorite. It’s how her stories are born and how they take root. An imagination that runs wild is something to be thankful for, and she is very thankful. 🙂

She grew up in New York and now lives in Florida with her husband and four kids. She’s always had a love for reading books and writing. Being an English major in college, she wanted to teach at the college level but that was not to be. She went on to receive an MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise her family. Kim currently works part-time with her husband and with the rest of her time embraces one of her biggest passions–writing.

Kim wears a lot of hats! Writer, book-lover, wife, soccer-mom, taxi driver, and the all around go-to person of her family. However, she always finds time to read.

She likes to believe in soulmates, kindred spirits, true friends, and Happily-Ever-Afters. She loves to drink champagne, listen to music, and hopes to always stay young at heart.

Cover Reveal – Bend Me, Break Me by Chelsea M. Cameron

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The BFF’s are revealing the cover for BEND ME, BREAK ME by Chelsea M. Cameron. This book is a New Adult Romantic Suspense title. Release date will be announced soon.

BendMeBreakMe

One girl.

Lonely.

Broken.

Lost.

One boy.

Determined.

Guilty.

Lost.

Two hearts.

One terrible secret.

It will either bring them together or tear them apart.

ADD BEND ME, BREAK ME TO GOODREADS

Excerpt

“I get it,” she said. “I finally get it.” She wouldn’t look up at me, instead concentrating on her hands. There were a few freckles on the backs of them. I wanted to take one of her purple pens and connect them to make constellations on her skin.

“Get what?” I asked. Her eyes came up to my face.

“Why you’re so obsessed with me.” I raised both eyebrows, but inside, I was panicked. What if she figured me out? That would be disastrous. It would be the end.

“And why is that?” I said, trying to be playful.

“I’m mysterious,” she said, she wiggled her fingers in front of my face and the right side of her mouth drew up. Was that a smirk? Did Ingrid just smirk at me?

“Oh, is that what you think it is?” After so many intense moments, this moment of levity was like a cool drink for a parched throat.

“Definitely. What else could it be?” I wasn’t going to answer that.

“You got me,” I said, putting my hands up as if I surrendered. “I’m a sucker for a mystery.”

She nodded and I thought I spotted another smile, but it was gone quickly, stuffed away behind rigid lips.

“Thank you,” she said, so quietly that I almost didn’t catch it.

“You’re very welcome, Ingrid. Anytime.” I got up and brought her some pizza and another glass of water. I had the feeling she hadn’t been eating much recently.

She carefully ate two slices and had two water refills. It made the color in her cheeks come back.

“You must think I’m crazy,” she said.

“No. I don’t think that at all.” I wouldn’t think that about anyone, least of all her.

“Liar.”

“I’m not lying. Look at me.” I would never get used to the way her eyes seared into me.

“I don’t think you’re crazy, Ingrid. Not even a little bit.” Her eyes narrowed and I could tell she was assessing if I was telling the truth or not.

“Okay,” she finally said. “I believe you.”

“Good.”

About the Author:

Chelsea M. Cameron is a New York Times/USA Today Best Selling author from Maine. Lover of things random and ridiculous, Jane Austen/Charlotte and Emily Bronte Fangirl, red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader and world’s worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, singing in the car, tweeting (this one time, she was tweeted by Neil Gaiman) and playing fetch with her cat, Sassenach. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.

AUTHOR LINKS:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

New Release – Happily Ever Ninja by Penny Reid

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Happily Ever Ninja
by Penny Reid
Publication Date:
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Humor

BFF K’s Review is coming VERY soon! I ❤️ this book!

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

From the USA Today Best Selling Author of ‘Truth or Beard’

There are three things you need to know about Fiona Archer… I would tell you what they are, but then I’d have to kill you.

But I can tell you that Fiona’s husband—the always irrepressible and often cantankerous Greg Archer—is desperately in love with his wife. He aches for her when they are apart, and is insatiable when they are together. Yet as the years pass, Greg has begun to suspect that Fiona is a ninja. A ninja mom. A ninja wife. A ninja friend. After fourteen years of marriage, Greg is trying not to panic. Because Fiona’s talent for blending in is starting to resemble fading away.

However, when unexpected events mean Fiona must take center stage to keep her family safe, her response stuns everyone—Greg most of all. It seems like Greg’s wish has come true.

Except… not.

When all is said and done, can Greg handle this new version of his wife? Will his irrepressible cantankerousness push her away? Or can the couple find a way forward without either being forced to step back into the shadows?

This is a full length, 100k word novel, and is the 5th book in the Knitting in the City Series. All books in the series can be read as a standalone except book #1.5

About the Author

SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing).

By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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New Release – Eight Dates with Romance by S.L. Scott

From New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, S. L. Scott, comes a Limited Edition collection of romantic interludes taken from eight of her bestselling novels.

Love Email exchange between The Resistance Characters – Holliday and Dalton.

A Romantic Date with Hazel & Jude from Until I Met You – A California Outtake.

Chapters from:

The Resistance

The Reckoning

From the Inside Out

A Prior Engagement

Naturally, Charlie.

Valentine’s Day Outtakes from:

The Redemption

The Welcome to Paradise Series

Morning Glory

Eight Dates with Romance an S.L. Scott Valentine’s Day Collection is a great introduction to the fun and sexy writing of S.L. Scott. And, if you’ve already read her books, you can revisit some of your favorite characters in this fun compilation.

BFF K’s Reviews of S.L. Scott’s Books

Until I Met You

The Redemption

About the Author

New York Times and USA Bestselling Author, S. L. Scott, was always interested in the arts. She grew up painting, writing poetry and short stories, and wiling her days away lost in a good book and the movies.

With a degree in Journalism, she continued her love of the written word by reading American authors like Salinger and Fitzgerald. She was intrigued by their flawed characters living in picture perfect worlds, but could still debate that the worlds those characters lived in were actually the flawed ones. This dynamic of leaving the reader invested in the words, inspired Scott to start writing with emotion while interjecting an underlying passion into her own stories.

New Release – The Baller by Vi Keeland

The first time I met Brody Easton was in the men’s locker room.

It was my first interview as a professional sportscaster.

The famed quarterback decided to bare all.

And by all, I don’t mean he told me any of his secrets.

No. The arrogant ass decided to drop his towel, just as I asked the first question. On camera.

The Super Bowl MVP quickly adopted a new hobby—screwing with me.

When I pushed back, he shifted from wanting to screw with me, to wanting to screw me.

But I don’t date players.

And it’s not because I’m one of the few women working in the world of professional football.

I’d date an athlete.

It’s the other kind of player I don’t date.

You know the type. Good looking, strong, cocky, always looking to get laid.

Brody Easton was the ultimate player.

Every woman wanted to be the one to change him.

But the truth was, all he needed was a girl worth changing for.

Turned out, I was that girl.

Simple right?

Let’s face it. It never is.

There’s a story between once upon a time and happily ever after…

And this one is ours.

The Baller is available NOW on Amazon, iBooks, B&N and Kobo!

Amazon Amazon UK iBooks B&N Kobo

Add The Baller to your TBR list on Goodreads

About the Author

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn’t change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work. She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting smut author by night!

Additional Books by Vi Keeland

Life on Stage series (2 standalone books)

Beat

Amazon US Amazon UK iBooks Kobo B&N

Throb

Amazon US Amazon UK Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo

MMA Fighter series (3 standalone books)

Worth the Fight (MMA Fighter Series, Book One)

Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Smashwords iBooks

Worth The Chance (MMA Fighter Series, Book Two)

Amazon US B&N iBooks Kobo Smashwords

Worth Forgiving (MMA Fighter Series, Book Three)

Amazon US B & N iBooks Kobo

The Cole Series (2 book serial)

Belong to You (Cole Series, Book One)

Amazon US Amazon UK Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo

Made for You (Cole Series, Book Two)

Amazon US Amazon UK Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo

Standalone novels

Left Behind (A Young Adult Novel)

Amazon US Amazon UK

First Thing I See

Amazon US Amazon UK Barnes & Noble

Cover Reveal – We Were Here by Daisy Prescott

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In the 90s …

texting involved paper and a pen …

… our selfies were Polaroids …

… our favorite music was on mixed tapes.

Sex was dangerous, music was raw, and falling in love felt nostalgic.

We were friends and lovers.

We thought we knew everything.

We knew nothing.

We were here.

Set in the early 1990s, a time before the internet, social media, and smart phones, We Were Here is the prequel to Geoducks Are For Lovers. This book can be read as a standalone.

Releasing February 22, 2016

I am beyond excited about this book! I have mad love for all things Daisy Prescott. The Modern Love Stories Series is at the top of my most recommended reads. Until now, that all started with Geoducks are for Lovers, but now we have the prequel to that wonderful story. I can’t wait to read this book. You definitely have to add it to your TBR! And, this book speaks to the heart of my fond college days. I’ll be counting down the days until it’s released.

Add We Were Here to your Goodreads today: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28426355-we-were-here

We Were Here is available will be available on multiple platforms, but it is currently available for exclusive pre-order on iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/we-were-here/id1074374019…

Links to All Things Daisy

BFF K’s Geoducks are for Lovers Review

BFF K’s is a slacker. Though I’ve read Ready to Fall, I apparently never wrote a review of John’s awesomeness. I will be fixing that ASAP!

BFF K’s Review of Missionary Position

BFF K’s Review of Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat

Purchase this box set of Ready to Fall and Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat. I have this hard copy on my shelf and I LOVE it!

The Following are Short Stories following the Modern Love Stories Series Characters

BFF K’s Review – Read AFTER Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat

BFF K’s FAVORITE of the Short Stories – Read AFTER Geoducks are for Lovers

BFF K’s Review – Read AFTER Ready to Fall

Read AFTER Geoducks are for Lovers

About the Author

Before writing bestselling contemporary adult romances, I dreamed of being an author while doing a lot of other things. Antiques dealer, baker, blue ribbon pie-maker, fangirl, freelance writer, gardener, pet mom and wife are a few of the other titles I’ve acquired over the years.

Born and raised in San Diego, I currently lives in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with my husband, our dog Hubbell, and an imaginary house goat.

Review – Appealed by Emma Chase

The New York Times bestselling author of the Tangled books returns with the third romance in the Legal Briefs series, a collection of sexy novels about first crushes, second chances, and the final verdict of the heart.

When Brent Mason looks at Kennedy Randolph, he doesn’t see the awkward, sweet girl who grew up next door. He sees a self-assured, stunning woman…who wants to crush the most intimate—and prized—parts of his anatomy beneath the heels of her Louboutins.

When Kennedy looks at Brent, all she sees is the selfish, Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue–worthy teenager who humiliated her in high school in order to join the popular crowd. A crowd that made those years a living hell for her.

But she’s not a lovesick social outcast anymore—she’s a Washington, DC, prosecutor with a long winning streak. Brent is the opposing attorney in her next case, and Kennedy thinks it’s time to put him through a little hell of his own.

But things aren’t exactly working out the way she planned. Brent has his sights set on Kennedy, and every fiery exchange only makes him want her more—and makes her wonder if he’s as passionate in the bedroom as he is in the courtroom. In the end, they may just find themselves in love…or in contempt of court.

Amazon Purchase Links

US Amazon Kindle Link for Appealed – Releasing January 19th

US Amazon Kindle Link for Overruled

US Amazon Kindle Link for Sustained

Amazon Kindle Link for the Legal Briefs Series

BFF K’s Review

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Appealed is the 3rd and final book in Emma Chase’s Legal Briefs series and I have to say, I’m sad to see this series come to an end. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Stanton, Sofia, Jake, Chelsea, Brent and Kennedy. The entire Legal Briefs Series is delightful and full of fun and romance. Emma Chase is the master of smart and funny novels from the Male POV!

Brent is hilarious – a comic book and pop culture virtuoso. He’s all alpha; self-assured, confident but well-adjusted thanks to years of therapy. He cares deeply about his friends and family. When Kennedy comes back into his life, he immediately determines that he will never let her slip through his fingers again. He begins to right some of the wrongs from their earlier years. Brent also makes sure that Kennedy knows the torch he carried for her as a teen is burning hotter than ever before. And by hot, I mean STEAMING hot!

Kennedy is no longer the awkward tween, she’s transformed into a talented, lovely, independent woman. She’s prepared to show Brent all that he’s missed. What she isn’t prepared for is his repentance for past mistakes and tenacious efforts to bring them back together; this time for good.

Appealed is a great contemporary romance. It has a terrific plot, phenomenal characters, interesting storylines, fun settings and plenty of butterfly-inducing, steamy romance. I highly recommend this entire series! The Extended Epilogue is the perfect conclusion to these stories. (The Legal Briefs series are standalone novels with interconnected characters. My reviews of Overruled and Sustained will be coming very soon.)

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An Advance Copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

male point of view

About the Author

By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother who resides in a small, rural town in New Jersey. By night she toils away the hours bringing her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.

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Some of Emma’s favorite quotes from Tangled -“You are making me crazy!”
“Crazy like you want to rip my shirt off again?”
“No – crazy like the itch of a yeast infection that won’t go away!””And I will be damned if Kate Brooks is going to walk her ass in here and take that away from me. No matter how fine of an ass it may be.””Words are cheap. Actions win wars. Actions heal wounds.””It makes me want to kiss her and strangle her at the same time. I’ve never been into S&M. But I’m beginning to see its benefits.”

SALE & Excerpt – Irresistibly Yours by Lauren Layne

IRRESISTIBLY YOURS

Oxford #1

Lauren Layne

Released Oct 6th, 2015

Loveswept

Meet the men of Oxford magazine! In the first captivating spin-off of Lauren Layne’s Sex, Love & Stiletto series, a not-so-friendly battle of the sexes turns into a scorching office romance.

Hotshot sports editor Cole Sharpe has been freelancing for Oxford for years, so when he hears about a staff position opening up, he figures he’s got the inside track. Then his boss drops a bombshell: Cole has competition. Female competition, in the form of a fresh-faced tomboy who can hang with the dudes—and write circles around them, too. Cole usually likes his women flirty and curvy, but he takes a special interest in his skinny, sassy rival, if only to keep an eye on her. And soon, he can’t take his eyes off her.

Penelope Pope knows all too well that she comes off as just one of the guys. Since she’s learned that wanting more usually leads to disappointment, Penelope’s resigned to sitting on the sidelines when it comes to love. So why does Cole make her want to get back in the game? The man is as arrogant as he is handsome. He probably sees her as nothing more than a barrier to his dream job. But when an unexpected kiss turns into a night of irresistible passion, Penelope has to figure out whether they’re just fooling around—or starting something real.

Only $0.99 for a Limited Time

Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo | GooglePlay

Excerpt

“First game?” he asked.

Brown eyes flicked to him, barely. “What?”

“First baseball game?”

That got her attention. For the first time, she seemed to really look at him. Her eyes drifted over him slowly, before returning to his, her tone just slightly annoyed. “No. Not my first game.”

“Ah,” he said, already mentally maneuvering into a backpedal. “Bad assumption of me. You were just so into the game . . .”

“So you figured I must be trying to figure out how it all worked?” she asked. “That I must be trying to understand why some of the field is green and some is brown, and whatever could those white squares on the dirt be, and why-oh-why are those men running toward the white squares, but only sometimes . . .”

“All right,” Cole said with a laugh. “I’m an ass. You know baseball.”

Her smile was quick and easy, and he was relieved to see that she wasn’t one of those snippy, hold-it-against-him-forever types. “I know baseball.”

Is that what’s in your notebook? Baseball stuff?

She took a huge bite of her hot dog, completely unabashed at her bulging cheeks, and Cole hid a smile, pretending instead to be fixated on the game.

Hell. When had he ever had to pretend to be fixated on the Yankees?

“You were partially right,” she admitted, after swallowing.

He glanced at her. “Oh yeah?”

She grinned. “This is my first Yankees game.”

“I knew it,” he said, matching her grin full on. “I knew there was something virgin about you. But tell me, how come a baseball fan like you never made it to Yankee Stadium until now?”

“Well . . .” She licked a spot of mustard off her finger, but not in the slow, deliberate way that most women he knew would have done it. “It’s a long way from Chicago . . .”

Cole tore his eyes away from the way her lips closed around her thumb, sucking off that mustard. “You’re from Chicago?”

“From there, yes,” she said. “But let’s just say that as of two weeks ago, I’ll be spending a lot more time here than at Wrigley.”

“Ah. You’re new to New York.”

“Quite.”

“How do you like it?”

She hesitated. “It’s . . . intense.”

“Meaning . . . we New Yorkers are scary as hell?”

She smiled. “Well, it’s not as hostile as I’d been warned, but yeah. We Chicagoans are a bit more openly friendly than you New Yorkers.”

“I’m friendly,” he countered.

Tiny Brunette laughed. “No. You’re just incredibly charming. And a smidgen good-looking.”

He gave her his best bedroom look. “Am I?”

She smiled. “You know you are.”

Their eyes held for a moment, and Cole was startled to realize it was the most relaxed—the most himself—he’d felt around a woman in . . . hell . . . he didn’t know.

Mostly he was used to throwing out a couple of witty lines, a few slow smiles, and watching women counter with moves of their own.

There were no moves with this woman. She merely was.

Cole realized he didn’t even know her name.

“So tell me, as a Chicago baseball fan, are you Team Cubs or Team White Sox, Ms. . . .”

“Pope,” she said. “Penelope Pope. And both.”

Cole’s subconscious acknowledged that Penelope Pope was somehow exactly what this woman’s name should be. Perky and alliterative. His consciousness, however, latched on to another fact. “Both?”

It was not a typical answer. Most people had one baseball team, even if you were from a city with two teams, as Penelope was.

She shrugged. “Baseball’s not about who wins. It’s not even about who’s playing. It’s about the game. The consistent flow of it, the smack of the ball against the glove when you’re lucky enough to be sitting along one of the baselines, instead of stuck up here in this stuffy box—”

He stared at her. The words so closely echoed his own thoughts from just moments before that he wanted to kiss her.

She might just be his dream woman.

“That explains the hot dog,” he said.

“What?”

He nodded his chin at the last bite of hot dog, ignored in her left hand. “The hot dog. You’re in a luxury suite in Yankee Stadium with a whole buffet of gourmet foods, and yet you went and fetched the most basic hot dog you could find.”

She grinned. “Guilty.”

Cole turned his body all the way toward her now. “Tell me, Penelope Pope, what brings a Cubs and White Sox fan all the way to New York where you’ll face a whole new dilemma of choosing between the Yankees and the Mets . . .”

Tiny Brunette never got to answer.

The shadow of someone coming up behind their seats caused them both to turn. It was Alex Cassidy, Oxford’s editor in chief, looking down at them with a half-amused, half-worried expression.

“Cassidy,” Cole said. He lifted an eyebrow and silently added, Nice of you to show up.

“Sorry I’m late,” Cassidy said, not really sounding sorry at all. “I got held up.”

Automatically, Cole’s eyes scanned the luxury suite until he found the pretty woman he knew was likely to be somewhere around here . . .

Yup, there she was.

Emma Sinclair, Cassidy’s long-ago runaway bride, with whom he’d recently reconciled, was surreptitiously wiping smudged lipstick from the corner of her mouth.

His eyes returned to his boss, this time looking closer . . .

“Third button, dude,” Cole said wearily.

The always polished Cassidy glanced down, and without so much as wincing, fixed the misaligned buttons of his shirt.

Cole should have known. A naked Emma Sinclair was the only thing that could throw Alex Cassidy off his rigid timetable.

But Emma and Cassidy’s sex life was where the predictable part of the evening ended, because Cole was absolutely not prepared for Cassidy to reach out a hand to Tiny Brunette, a polite smile on his usually impassive face.

“Alex Cassidy. I’m so sorry I’m late, Ms. Pope.”

Cole glanced between the two of them. They knew each other?

“Not a problem,” she said, turning an easy smile on Cassidy. It was the exact same friendly smile she’d given Cole, and it very much made Cole want to punch his friend in the mouth.

“It’s refreshing to see you two playing so nicely,” Cassidy said with a droll look at Cole.

He narrowed his eyes at his boss, not sure what he was missing, but certain that he was missing something.

Cassidy answered Cole’s silent question with his usual professional businessman smile. “Cole, this is Penelope Pope.”

“We’ve met,” Cole said slowly.

“Excellent. So then you know that Penelope is our late-stage applicant for the sports editor role at Oxford?”

Very slowly, Cole turned toward Tiny Brunette. Took in her friendly smile even as he took in the sorry-not-sorry glint in her eyes.

This was his competition. This was the person standing between Cole and the job he so desperately wanted.

“I suppose I should have been more thorough when I introduced myself,” she said sweetly. “Penelope Pope. Sports editor.”

Plus side? At least now Cole knew what was in her damn notebook.

The downside? Everything else.

About the Author

Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of more than a dozen contemporary romance novels.

Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. A year after moving from Seattle to NYC to pursue a writing career, she had a fabulous agent and multiple New York publishing deals.

Lauren currently lives in Manhattan with her husband and plus-sized Pomeranian. When not writing, you’ll likely find her running (rarely), reading (sometimes), or at happy hour (often).

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Book Two in the Oxford Series

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