Blog Tour: Kismet: Lauren Blakely
Lauren Blakely
Release date April 8, 2022
When a scorching hot one-night stand with a stranger turns into a deliciously forbidden office romance...
My first evening in London feels like kismet when I bump into a charming, book-loving Englishman, and by the end of the night, he’s making me see stars. I’m floating when we make plans to meet again.
Then fate decides to pull a fast one on me.
Turns out my smoldering new lover is my red-hot competition, and we’re vying for the same promotion at the elite auction house I crossed an ocean for.
If that’s not enough, the hottie and I are forced to work together on a brand new collection.
Every. Single. Tempting. Day.
What's an American woman in London to do?
Staying far, far away would be the safe choice, especially when I learn about his past and how it mirrors mine.
But I don’t always play it safe with my heart…
Contents Include: A grumpy/sunshine office romance, secret gardens, knee-weakening kisses by the river and a hero who loves books.
Heath is an old-fashioned guy. He is a British widower who likes real books, taking photos, tradition, and not living life on the internet. He is a loner, grumpy, and pessimistic.
Jo is peppy, optimistic, and was loving her life in New York until her company decided her perfect life was about to change. She is leaving her life and friends behind to return to London which is one of her least favorite places.
A meet-up in a bar leads to one hot night followed by a bit of hope that maybe it could happen again. But sometimes life just keeps throwing curveballs.
Now they are spending time together but not in the way they hoped. Mr. Stormcloud and Miss Sunshine with lightning striking whenever they are close. She loves being social, he does not. But they both love art and their work. But they also both have similar goals.
Lovers, friends, rivals? It is hard to figure out what they can be. They should be off-limits as anything more than coworkers and team members. Their pasts have also left a mark on their view of relationships. But that chemistry, their banter, the common interests, and attraction just keep pulling them close when they should be putting distance. He is determined to show her his London and make her fall in love with the city. But their outings, companionship, and attraction just might make her fall for him too. And she takes his loneliness away and makes him feel more alive.
They just have to figure out what to do about the obstacles in their way.
This brings in plenty of fun side characters both in New York and London...some we know and some new ones. Jo especially thrives with her friend group/found family. I love their devotion to each other.
This is about trust, healing, embracing change and life, growth, and empowerment. They both had past issues that caused pain. But somehow together they managed to fill a void. She brings out his more fun and sexy side, and he anchors her with someone to trust. Heath ended up being such a dynamic hero with many layers. He might be a bit stoic or standoffish around others, but he is also caring, thoughtful, supportive, romantic, and passionate. And Jo is brave, quick-witted, and full of life. They balance each other out well while appreciating their true personalities and being vulnerable. They both want to live a life where they can follow their passions, they just need to find out exactly what that is and what it will look like. It is a beautiful, fun, and heartfelt journey.
Lovers, friends, rivals? It is hard to figure out what they can be. They should be off-limits as anything more than coworkers and team members. Their pasts have also left a mark on their view of relationships. But that chemistry, their banter, the common interests, and attraction just keep pulling them close when they should be putting distance. He is determined to show her his London and make her fall in love with the city. But their outings, companionship, and attraction just might make her fall for him too. And she takes his loneliness away and makes him feel more alive.
They just have to figure out what to do about the obstacles in their way.
This brings in plenty of fun side characters both in New York and London...some we know and some new ones. Jo especially thrives with her friend group/found family. I love their devotion to each other.
This is about trust, healing, embracing change and life, growth, and empowerment. They both had past issues that caused pain. But somehow together they managed to fill a void. She brings out his more fun and sexy side, and he anchors her with someone to trust. Heath ended up being such a dynamic hero with many layers. He might be a bit stoic or standoffish around others, but he is also caring, thoughtful, supportive, romantic, and passionate. And Jo is brave, quick-witted, and full of life. They balance each other out well while appreciating their true personalities and being vulnerable. They both want to live a life where they can follow their passions, they just need to find out exactly what that is and what it will look like. It is a beautiful, fun, and heartfelt journey.
Jo is new to London, with a last minute job change and opportunity for promotion. She is passionate, energetic, and though she doesn’t like London, she is excited for an opportunity that might help her career progress. To ease her nerves about being in London, her friends in New York suggest she find a one-night stand to start off her new adventure. Wouldn’t you know, her one night stand (which was toe curlingly fantastic) turns out to be her new coworker and competition for the promotion she is aiming for.
Heath is a widower, a bit of a loaner, but incredibly into art, books, and photography. He is knowledgeable in his field and though he would rather work by himself, his company is steering him towards working with partners within the company.
I loved the combination of their personalities, both in their working relationship and as a basis for their romantic relationship. The balance they offer was a great compliment to each of their strengths.
While things move quickly between them at first, in light of their one-night stand, they quickly put the brakes on when they realize they have to work together. But despite slowing things down, the connection between them continues to deepen, beyond the physical and into a level beyond friendship.
The plot was focused on the work conflict of competing for the same promotion, but there were also a few other side threads that were more character driven. There are also a lot of cameos by familiar characters, though readers do not need to know their stories to follow the plot of Kismet.
This was a fun, steamy one-night stand turned workplace romance that takes Lauren’s typical New York style and sends it across the pond for a change of scenery. This was a great addition to the Happy Endings series and as always was an entertaining read.
A Wild Card Kiss
(Happy Endings #1)
Add to Goodreads
Buy Here
Our 4.5 to 5 star reviews
A sexy standalone romance between a single dad athlete and the woman who got away!
Things that suck on my wedding day — walking in on my groom kissing another woman twenty minutes before the ceremony.
Things that suck worse? The woman he’s kissing is my mom.
I head straight for the bowling alley bar down the street and ask for a double. And in walks a deliciously charming local football hero — Harlan Taylor.
Yes, I’ll take another drink in the form of a one-night stand with this hunk of a man. In the morning, he asks if I want to get together again. More rebound nookie? Yes please!
But then I learn his football team just hired my yoga studio to teach downward facing dog to their star player, making my O-delivering hottie officially off limits.
Trouble is, the more time I spend working with the sexy single dad who dotes on his daughter, the more I’m feeling all the things far too soon.
There’s no way this can end well, but tell that to my runaway heart…
A Wild Card Kiss is a sexy, flirty sports romance featuring a charming, pie-baking, single dad who’s never forgotten the red-hot kiss he planted on the feisty, sassy blonde one night years ago and a jilted bride heroine determined to move on from heartbreak. This story contains sexy times that can cure getting-left-at-the-altar blues, and heart-tugging swoony romance that’ll melt the most jaded hearts.
Shut Up and Kiss Me
When a scorching one-night stand between best friends absolutely, definitely shouldn’t happen again...
How to resist sleeping with your best friend when you’re stuck in a hotel room in Vegas with the charming, glasses-wearing hottie.
1. Slather your face in a grapefruit mask
2. Wear a big, fluffy robe
3. Make him do the same.
Oops.
Didn’t work. Turns out our libidos had other plans.
But, no biggie. After epic, soul-shattering banging, I’ll just put the genie back in the bottle the next morning. Only, that’s easier said than done. After years of scraping by, Nolan and I just landed the big break of a lifetime for our scrappy online restaurant review show. We’re going to New York for a month.
Just the two of us. TOGETHER ALL THE TIME.
But I’ve already lost my best friend once, so I’ll do whatever it takes to resist thoroughly delicious Nolan again.
Until I learn whatever it takes might cost me everything.
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, sexy romance and USA Today bestselling LGBTQ romance.
With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 100 times, with more than 55 titles on the USA Today Bestsellers list alone. She’s sold more than 4.5 million books. She likes dogs, cake and show tunes, and is the vegetarian at your dinner party.
.
0 comments