Part-Time Lover by Lauren Blakely Review
5 SMOOCHES!
SYNOPSIS:
A sexy new standalone romance from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely!
I’ll say this about Christian — he made one hell of a first impression.
When I first saw the strapping man, he was doing handstands naked on a dock along the canal. His crown jewels were far more entertaining than anything else I’d seen on the boat tour, so I did what any curious woman would do — I took his photo. I might have looked at the shot a few dozen times. Little did I know I’d meet him again, a year later, at a secret garden bar in the heart of the city, where I’d learn that his mind and his mouth were even more captivating. But given the way my heart had been trampled, I wanted only a simple deal — No strings. No expectations.
Our arrangement worked well enough until the day I needed a lot more from him…
***
Let me just say, this whole part-time lover thing was her idea. I’d have gone all-in from the start, but hey, when a gorgeous, brilliant woman invites you into her bed, and only her bed…well, I said yes.
But then, one hysterical phone call from my brother later, begging me to find myself a wife so grandfather’s business stays in the family, and I need a promotion with Elise. Turns out a full-time husband suits her needs too, and a temporary marriage of convenience ought to do the trick, until we can simply untie the knot…
As long as no one finds out…
As long as no one gets hurt…
As long as no one falls in love…
But our ending was one I never saw coming.
REVIEW:
For me, reading romance is all about the rush of falling in love and the ensuing journey to happily ever after. A first love, a new love or a love rekindled, it doesn’t matter, I just want to feel it all and fall right along with the couple in the book. A Lauren Blakely novel, however, is the best of that experience. Her worlds, her swoon-worthy heroes and the knee-weakening romance of her love stories are the cheesecakes of my reading diet. Rich, delicious, decadent treats that are meant to be savored, lingered over, looked forward to and remembered fondly.
Having read many of Blakely’s novels, I can honestly say that there is something unique and special about the romances she’s set in Paris. Sweeping, grand and vividly detailed on the page, Blakely has given her readers an exquisite experience in these stories. Readers of Wanderlust will recall meeting charming, sexy Christian and mysterious, sensual Elise in that book. Although it is a complete standalone novel, Part-Time Lover picks up their story there and dashes through the cobble-stone lined streets of Paris with it.
I’m a big fan of tropes. Friends to lovers, big brother’s best friend, second-chance romances? Yes, yes and yes! I can now add marriages of convenience to the list. Blakely blended this trope with a dash of second-chance, heart-tugging emotion—along with a bit of fate—and the result was a wonderfully endearing love story that I simply didn’t want to put down. A hilariously unusual meet-cute and a series of unintentional run-ins put this couple in each other’s orbit on more than one occasion. While they both may have only been looking for a no-strings fling, fate clearly had other ideas. These two people, with their guarded hearts, out merely to right a wrong, wind up agreeing to what should be a neat and tidy, mutually beneficial arrangement. But what they didn’t take into consideration was their explosive chemistry, their made-for-each-other compatibility or the off-the-charts passion between them. I was literally bouncing in my seat with how badly I wanted this couple to give in to each other and to love!
Jam-packed with Blakely’s keen attention to detail, her fabulous sense of humor and a sexy, sweet, consuming romance, Part-Time Lover was a heart-fluttering, full of hope joy to read. I adored this couple, and I was pulling for them every step of the way as I positively devoured this book. Five smooches from me for Part-Time Lover by Lauren Blakely!
~ Danielle Palumbo
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