Release Blitz: Plays Well With Others: Lauren Blakely
Lauren Blakely
Add to Goodreads
Amazon and KU |
(Narrated by Erin Mallon & Teddy Hamilton)
Release Date July 12, 2023
Am I fake dating my best friend? Hear me out...
So I'm throwing myself a breakup party, a glittery fete where I envision I'll lift a glass and celebrate being free and single again.
What I actually do: Drink too much champagne and blurt out to my best guy friend that I'd really like to get back on the horse.
But what I truly don't expect is Carter's answer - he volunteers as tribute.
With his sinful brown eyes and too-good-to-be-true body it'd be no hardship for me to say yes, though I certainly don't want him to feel obligated to, um, service me, just because my failed, loveless marriage was a s-e-x desert.
But since the charming and confident pro football star owes five public dates to his dating app sponsor, we make a deal to help each other out.
Pretty soon, our public how to date lessons turn into, ahem, very private ones. And I'm a star student, graduating quickly from flirty banter and lingering looks to toe-curling, sheet-grabbing, mind-blowing hours of physical education.
The problem? Turns out learning to date again feels a lot like the real thing. Can our friendship withstand all these late-night bedroom sessions?
Especially since I'm suddenly longing for my best friend and there's nothing fake about my feelings…
So I'm throwing myself a breakup party, a glittery fete where I envision I'll lift a glass and celebrate being free and single again.
What I actually do: Drink too much champagne and blurt out to my best guy friend that I'd really like to get back on the horse.
But what I truly don't expect is Carter's answer - he volunteers as tribute.
With his sinful brown eyes and too-good-to-be-true body it'd be no hardship for me to say yes, though I certainly don't want him to feel obligated to, um, service me, just because my failed, loveless marriage was a s-e-x desert.
But since the charming and confident pro football star owes five public dates to his dating app sponsor, we make a deal to help each other out.
Pretty soon, our public how to date lessons turn into, ahem, very private ones. And I'm a star student, graduating quickly from flirty banter and lingering looks to toe-curling, sheet-grabbing, mind-blowing hours of physical education.
The problem? Turns out learning to date again feels a lot like the real thing. Can our friendship withstand all these late-night bedroom sessions?
Especially since I'm suddenly longing for my best friend and there's nothing fake about my feelings…
Rachel has relocated to San Francisco to branch out and build her business, leave her ex fully behind, and spend more time with her long-time best friend and sister.
Carter is a pro wide receiver and is fun, outgoing, charming, loyal, and hot. He has also been unlucky in love. He has always considered Rachel one of his best friends. But an "incident" has him seeing her in a new light, like a really attractive woman. He is such a good guy he tries valiantly to hide his dirty thoughts and dirty dreams from her.
Rachel is also starting to have some unexpected thoughts about her friend as well. She is trying to keep them contained as best she can. But ab sightings and other sexy views are hard to look away from. And she is also trying to enlist the power of positive thinking and improve her outlook.
When Carter needs a bit of help as sort of a fake date for a social media obligation, things get even blurrier. And the more time they spend together on these How To Date videos, the more they realize that they are kind of good at this dating thing. And they have some unexpected hot chemistry.
I liked that they had such a foundation formed in friendship and were used to communicating. Granted for a while they are not sure what the other is really thinking and keep their thoughts to themselves, but they begin to open up more and more during the process. They already had such fun banter, but it gets flirtier and dirtier. But they both have also been hurt and still have issues that make them think that they are not ready to be in a real relationship at this time. So they think their un-dating plan while enjoying some sexy times is a brilliant plan.
But can they find a way to explore these new naughty ideas and not damage their friendship?
Feelings can be confusing. Rules are kind of meant to be bent or broken. But when things get a bit blurrier it is harder to share some of the deeper things because they could have repercussions or someone could get hurt. Oh, the angst as these two explore new sexy adventures and start feeling all the things but are not sure how the other is really feeling. My poor heart!
Rachel is also starting to have some unexpected thoughts about her friend as well. She is trying to keep them contained as best she can. But ab sightings and other sexy views are hard to look away from. And she is also trying to enlist the power of positive thinking and improve her outlook.
When Carter needs a bit of help as sort of a fake date for a social media obligation, things get even blurrier. And the more time they spend together on these How To Date videos, the more they realize that they are kind of good at this dating thing. And they have some unexpected hot chemistry.
I liked that they had such a foundation formed in friendship and were used to communicating. Granted for a while they are not sure what the other is really thinking and keep their thoughts to themselves, but they begin to open up more and more during the process. They already had such fun banter, but it gets flirtier and dirtier. But they both have also been hurt and still have issues that make them think that they are not ready to be in a real relationship at this time. So they think their un-dating plan while enjoying some sexy times is a brilliant plan.
But can they find a way to explore these new naughty ideas and not damage their friendship?
Feelings can be confusing. Rules are kind of meant to be bent or broken. But when things get a bit blurrier it is harder to share some of the deeper things because they could have repercussions or someone could get hurt. Oh, the angst as these two explore new sexy adventures and start feeling all the things but are not sure how the other is really feeling. My poor heart!
This is a funny, sweet, swoony, spicy, kind-of-fake-dating, best-friends-to-lovers that is a little bit naughty and nice. I have liked Carter as a side character in other books, but he is the most adorable, charming, lovable, dirty-talking hero. He is such a good guy with a great sense of humor but also has dirty thoughts. He has some challenges but works hard to overcome them. And Rachel is that sweet girl but likes a bit of spice too. Her heart is bruised, but she is working on self-love and empowerment too. They are fire and fun! They are just so perfect together and had me smiling so big! All the feels and swoon!
There are some fun cameos from the LB world and some wonderful new side characters too. I really need more with Monroe and also Wilder. And Fable and Juliet are such fun girls too.
There are some fun cameos from the LB world and some wonderful new side characters too. I really need more with Monroe and also Wilder. And Fable and Juliet are such fun girls too.
Rachel is back in San Francisco putting her life back together after her marriage ended in betrayal. She doesn’t trust and is hesitant to start dating again.
Carter missed his chance with Rachel when they were in college. He hasn’t had much luck in his own dating life, and finds himself in a contract to film dates without a girlfriend to take on those dates.
What started as a way for Rachel to get used to dating again and Carter to fulfill his contract turned into real feelings that both tried to hide. The dates were clever, creative, and complemented both Carter and Rachel’s interests. There was plenty of humor and hilarious situations that the characters find themselves in.
These two had a great base friendship that made for fun reading. At the base of each date and interaction was their solid friendship, which also made them each question the depth of their feelings quickly.
This was a fun, sweet, sexy read. I loved the last quarter or so of this story especially. I loved the ways they worked through the challenges they were facing as well as their relationship challenges.
My So-Called Sex Life
(How to Date #1)
Add to Goodreads
Buy Here
(How to Date #1)
Add to Goodreads
Buy Here
(Audible Narrated by Vanessa Edwin & Sebastian York)
I’ve got a list of people I absolutely don’t ever want to be stuck with on a boat, or a plane, or a train, and it starts and ends with the broody, grumpy, too-sexy-for-my-own good Axel Huxley.
Also known as this romance novelist’s number one nemesis.
The man is legendary for his mighty pen and his even mightier scowl. I tried to work together with the cocky thriller writer once upon a time, but the two of us are like vodka and good decisions. We don’t play well together.
Only now, our publishers are sending us on a joint trip across Europe to mingle with our most devoted readers on an old-fashioned luxury train. And thanks to a booking snafu, we have to share a sleeper car.
You guessed it--there's only one bed.
I'm not sure I can survive the next seven days and nights with my dangerously sexy enemy and all our fiery tension.
Which explodes one night in a desperately needed hate bang.
But the bigger plot twist is this – the more time we spend together, visiting the most romantic cities in Europe by day and discovering each other at night, the more I’m forced to face our past.
To let go of the hurt.
To see the man he’s become.
And when I do, I wonder if it’s too late to write a new happy ending for us?
Lauren Blakely
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Bookbub | Amazon | Newsletter | TikTok
You can find Lauren on TikTok at @laurenblakelybooks! 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 sexy, feel-good, and witty. Lauren likes dogs, cake, and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party.
0 comments