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Review and Excerpt Tour: Asking For A Friend: Lauren Blakely

by - Monday, December 16, 2019

Asking for A Friend
Lauren Blakely
Release Date December 16, 2019

I was only trying to help a friend. I swear. I was legit asking for a friend who was finally ready to date again.

I knew what she wanted in a man -- smart, funny, ambitious, well-read (no, the sports section doesn't count), and plays a wicked game of badminton.

So I did what any good friend would do. Posted it for her. It seemed like a good idea at the time — I’d weed through the candidates, and bring her my top picks.

But then he responded. 

Is it wrong to date the guy I screened for my bestie? Not asking for a friend.


 
This is online dating with a twist...or maybe a couple of twists.

Amy Summers is a book nerd who loves words and takes her job as a Junior Editor seriously. She is working towards a promotion at work and trying to be more confident and sell herself. She is sassy, verbally expressive, sweet, and smart.

Linc Silvers comes strolling in as the new Senior Editor and new office hottie. He is also fun, eloquent, intelligent, and easy to get along with. So easy that they develop fun banter and repartee. And both are kind of crushing but avoiding because they have their own reasons for no workplace romances.

Amy decides to help her friend, Peyton find a new man with a local online dating profile. The awesome profile she wrote receives a lot of attention, but one stands out. And messaging with him becomes quite an interesting and exciting distraction...almost as much fun as office shenanigans with Linc. But she is supposed to be shopping for her friend and not thinking of sampling the goods. And Linc is also using his own method of trying to distract himself from the allure of office Amy. But neither can stop thinking about the other.

So it is a bit of a mess with online anonymity, office rules, personal resolutions, and lots of fast-flying messages. I really adored these two. Their banter and chemistry are fantastic. They bring the flirt and fun...spark and sizzle...and wit and words. They have reasons not to get involved, but also so many things they have in common. But Linc...oh my...he is everything. He is the hot nerd with wonderful words...charming and chatty...sexy and sweet. And Amy is so funny, quick-witted, and entertaining. They just light up the pages. But they are also mature and actually communicate, which is refreshing.

This is a rom-com full of heart, soul, smiles, and swoon. I enjoyed the dual points of view. I really liked her friend, Peyton too and hope we see more of her. I also really appreciated his new buddy, Baldwin. Both of their siblings and friend groups added more layers and laughs. And it is always fun to see some cameos and little connections from the Lauren Blakely world. 
Amy Summers’ day job as a junior editor is everything she could hope for but she’s also hoping to be promoted to editor now that there is finally an opening. Her challenge is learning to sell herself. She decides to practice her pitching skills while also helping her best friend get back into the dating world. She’ll set up a dating profile for her friend and screen all the potential dates, so Piper only meets the cream of the crop and wouldn’t you know her very first response seems to be exactly what she was looking for. But as the online flirting continues, she starts to wonder if he might just be perfect for her.

Linc Silvers is new to NYC, having just moved cross country to start over after a disastrous work/relationship situation. Though he is determined to avoid workplace entanglements again, he is immediately intrigued by one of his coworkers. Trying to keep his mind of the distraction, he sets up a dating profile online and begins talking to a woman who seems to be a perfect match.

Both in the office and online, these two have matching quick wits, nerdy natures, and a fast friendship. From their first meeting, these two have chemistry that they do their best to ignore. They know the company fraternization policy and between that and their own reasons for avoiding relationships, neither is looking for something new, but sometimes there is just too much serendipity in a situation to ignore.

This is a fun twist on office and online relationships, twisting the two tropes together in a way that is perfectly delightful. The side characters are a wonderful blend of familiar and new, with a new set introduced just for this series. I’m looking forward to Peyton and Tristan’s story as the interest hinted at in a few scenes is teasing!
“No. I was just getting the lowdown on office allergies.” He moves closer, leaning against the bar, looking like a tall drink of man. I break out my mental yardstick. Yup, I’m betting he’s over six feet. I’m going with six foot one. Which might even push him to a fifteen on the goes-to-ten babe-o-meter.

“So you’re on drinks detail,” I say, trying to sound all cool and casual, like I’m not busy sizing him up.

Not consumed with checking out his arms.
Not occupied admiring his blue eyes.
Not tied up enjoying his smile.

He points his thumb at his sternum. “New guy. That means I fetch all the drinks and buy them too. And you? What put you on errand duty?”

“I made my friend snort her drink out her nose.”

He looks impressed. “You officially have the best reason for being on drink detail.”

I preen, enjoying his praise. “Why, thank you. I was hoping to win that contest.”

“What was the snort-inducing remark, may I ask?”

Flashing back, I recall the culprit—my “you need V-time” comment to Peyton—but that’s too personal to share. I give him another one. “I referred to her ex-fiancé by his proper name.”

Clark Kent gives me a curious look. “Is his proper name amusing?”

“Of course. It’s Richard Cranium,” I say, and I wait. Will he pass the test?

 
Lauren Blakely
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A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that's sweet, sexy and witty. She also writes red-hot love stories for her Lauren Blakely After Dark line.
She'd love to give you a free book today! Check out her web site to grab your free read here.









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