[Book Review] Conning for Keeps

Conning for Keeps
by Seleste DeLaney

Contemporary Fiction, Romance,
Novella

Links:

Goodreads / Amazon

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of the story is pretty simple. Marissa, our dynamite-damsel heroine, is an undercover agent with questionable morals, who was forced to do an assignment with Trevor, our serious and stoic love interest. They have to pretend as an engaged couple in a mission involving a mafia don and a notorious painting. The hi-jinks in the story happen during their mission as they are caught at a crossroads between their personal and professional interests.

[Book Review] Promdi Heart (Hometown Love Stories)

Promdi Heart 

(Hometown Love Stories)

Georgette S. Gonzales

Agay Llanera

Chris Mariano

C.P. Santi

Jay E. Tria

Ines Baustia-Yao

Contemporary Romance, Filipino Authors, #RomanceClass

Reviewing releases from #RomanceClass is always a welcomed break from the monotony of my daily grind as a cog in a corporate machine. And this short story anthology containing six different stories set in different provinces in the Philippines was definitely a pleasant surprise in lots of different ways. 

Since #romanceclass was having the #RCReadathon2020, an online event where one #romanceclass book is featured for a week, I decided to give it a go. I got my copy off of Amazon and posted my live-reactions on Twitter through a thread. Still though, I think this book is a gem and needs a proper book review, thus here we are.

[Book Review] Unexpectedly Hers

Unexpectedly Hers

Jamie Beck

Contemporary Romance

Rating:

★★★★★

Where do I even begin? Hmmm... I've never read any of Jamie Beck's previous works, so I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Anyways, what really convinced me to pick this book to review was the heroine.

Emma is such a walking contradiction. She's prim, proper, dependable, and practically the proverbial 'good girl', but hot damn, she's also an erotica writer. haha!

The beginning of the story was slow, but I liked the pace because it provided a realistic romance build-up between Emma and Wyatt. Though of course, I was dying of waiting by the time they actually got into each other's pants. Still, the waiting was worth it. 

[Book Review] Crushingly Close

Crushingly Close
Stella Torres
July 19, 2016
Contemporary Romance, Chick-Lit

What's a woman to do when she's fiercely independent, and love comes knocking without warning? I think this pretty much sums up our main character, Agnes Escueta's, predicament in this brand new offering from Filipino #romanceclass author Stella Torres.

I think every woman goes through that moment where she has to choose between her hard-won independence, and the stirrings of her heart, thinking that choosing one is equal to losing the other.

What I like about this story is that it is character-driven. There are no super villains plotting the demise of our main character. There are no uber rich, snotty and all-powerful antagonists, who can ruin someone's life by waving their money and influence. I think this is where the the beauty of this story lies. It is relateable, and it is a slice of life. It can be anyone's story.

Agnes, the protagonist, is smart, successful and driven. She's also hard-working and family-oriented, and most of the time, logic dictates her actions rather than her heart. I love that Agnes has her priorities straight. Filipino family values were clearly showcased in the story through Agnes' constant worry for her sick father. I also love her voice, because she sounds stable and thoughtful. She sounds like someone who has had her character tested, but still remains standing.

As for the love interest, I was picturing Atom Araullo as Daniel Ferrer the whole time I was reading the story. He was my LI peg right from the very start. (hihi) I think it really takes some serious balls to go after the affections of a fiercely independent woman. Major thumbs up for Daniel for stepping up!

The way Daniel sees through Agnes' walls, and the way Agnes calls out Daniel's BS speaks volumes about how they see each other. I loved the gradual development of their connection to each other. It was like a push-and-pull between two people who are clearly into each other, but things kept getting in the way, and priorities had to be sorted. It would have been easier to let things die down, but I really liked that they made things work.

All in all, I really enjoyed this story. It has no grand and unrealistic gestures, but its beauty lies in its simplicity. And hey, giving in to the stirrings of your heart does not necessarily mean relinquishing independence. The two are not mutually exclusive, and author Stella Torres shows just that in this story. 

LINKS : Amazon // Goodreads

At twenty-four years old, Agnes Escueta has risen from the ranks to become a producer for Sports Tonight. No one can touch her, it seems—not even crush-worthy anchorman Daniel Ferrer, who she gets to work with every single day. When a road trip to Indonesia throws Agnes and Daniel together, they find themselves working in close quarters. It doesn’t take long before Agnes finds herself being charmed by Daniel, and her defenses start to melt with his touch. With deadlines looming and a big game coming, Agnes must figure out how to let Daniel into her life without risking her professional reputation—and without breaking her own heart.

Stella Torres is the author of Save the Cake and the short story “Be Creative” from Kids These Days: Stories from Luna East Arts Academy (Vol. 1)). She has a bachelor’s degree in English literature and worked briefly in public relations, but has chosen to pursue her post-graduate studies in the field of education. She loves dark chocolate, hates flyaways, and is constantly in search of comfortable shoes.

Connect with the author:

Blog: http://thegreatbigjump.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/StellaTorresAuthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheStellaTorres

Instagram: http://instagram.com/stella_meimei

[Blog Tour] Excerpt Reveal - Crushingly Close

Crushingly Close

By Stella Torres

July 19, 2016

“Well.” Daniel looked both ways before he spoke. “You wanted to talk.”

“Yes.” I jammed my hands into my pockets. “I just wanted to know—“ 

He grabbed my face and kissed me. Hard. 

With a kiss like that, it was hard to maintain my balance. I took my hands out of my pockets and wrapped my arms around his neck so I could kiss him back, but it still took a lot of effort to keep me standing.

The two of us came up for air, our breaths warm against our mouths.

“Nine minutes,” he said. “We’ve lost one.”

“What? Oh.” I didn’t have to check my watch. Mang Buboy was due to come back from his smoke break soon.

“Did you want to know where we stand?”

“That, yeah.” My knees strained from standing on tip-toes for far too long. “I’m—I—last night—“
“I want to be the one holding you.” He ran his hands through my hair. “I want to touch you in more ways than one. Would you let me be that for you?”

No words came out of my mouth when I tried to speak. All attempts at coherent thought went out of the window.

“Would you let me touch you?” he said. “Would you let me get close to you?”

I blinked. “I—I want you. I want everything.”

“Then let it go.” He dropped a kiss on my mouth. “Let it all go.”

The ping of the elevator interrupted my thoughts. I let go of him and sank back on my heels. “We should go back.”
“Good idea.” He held up his hand. “Room key?”

My hands went inside my pockets. No key card to be found. “I’ll knock.”

“Let me.” He rapped his knuckles against the door. “Kelvin, we know you’re in there.”

The door opened a few seconds later. “That was quick,” Kelvin said. “What did you talk about?”

Daniel and I exchanged knowing looks with each other. We had forgotten about the peep hole through the door.

“Nothing,” I said. “Hey, where are we on the FTP? Mang Buboy should be back soon…”

At twenty-four years old, Agnes Escueta has risen from the ranks to become a producer for Sports Tonight. No one can touch her, it seems—not even crush-worthy anchorman Daniel Ferrer, who she gets to work with every single day. When a road trip to Indonesia throws Agnes and Daniel together, they find themselves working in close quarters. It doesn’t take long before Agnes finds herself being charmed by Daniel, and her defenses start to melt with his touch. With deadlines looming and a big game coming, Agnes must figure out how to let Daniel into her life without risking her professional reputation—and without breaking her own heart.

LINKS : Amazon // Goodreads

Stella Torres is the author of Save the Cake and the short story “Be Creative” from Kids These Days: Stories from Luna East Arts Academy (Vol. 1)). She has a bachelor’s degree in English literature and worked briefly in public relations, but has chosen to pursue her post-graduate studies in the field of education. She loves dark chocolate, hates flyaways, and is constantly in search of comfortable shoes.

Connect with the author:

Blog: http://thegreatbigjump.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/StellaTorresAuthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheStellaTorres

Instagram: http://instagram.com/stella_meimei

[Feature Filipino] Book Review: One Night At The Palace Hotel

One Night At The Palace Hotel

by Bianca Mori

February 14, 2014

New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Short Story

I was given a copy of the story for free in exchange for a review. It's a short story, and a quick read, so I said yes.

To be honest, I was a bit put off by the beginning of the story. Everything sounded so... superficial. I honestly don't know if there are any others who felt the same, but I'm pretty sure I was really put off. Nonetheless, I continued reading, because even if the background of the main character was off-putting, it was still interesting enough.

A family desperately clinging on to a family name, and a legacy that has long been rendered obsolete was pathetic, but the good thing was that the heroine recognized the futility of her family's actions. I was surprised at how much Consuelo was willing to bend over for what her family wanted. I had to resist the urge to bang my head in frustration several times over the course of reading this story. It wasn't funny how I wanted to shake Consuelo up to straighten her head. Then again, while she may be pliant and obedient at the beginning of the story, there was definitely growth in the latter part.

All in all, this story is solid despite its length. It'll be frustrating, and maddening at times, but it's a good read!

Note: The schedule for this blog post was supposed to be on or before January 31, 2016. In all complete honesty, the deadline flew out of my head. I didn't realize I missed it until I checked my email for posting details again. I apologize for my blunder.  

[Book Review] Mafia Girl

Mafia Girl

By Deborah Blumenthal

March 1, 2014

Young Adult, Contemporary Romance

I very rarely rate books with 1 star, because I understand the amount of effort and patience put into writing and producing a book. Let me just be honest and say that I didn't like this book at all. I didn't like the heroine. I struggled in finishing this book because I was hoping it was going to turn around from the downhill slope it was rushing into.

Plot-wise, I have no idea what this book was trying to do or what message was it trying to convey. The gist of it all is that Gia, the mafia don's daughter is different from her family in that she's going to be someone outstanding. She'd be different in the sense that her life has a different direction from the crime family that she has. This is a struggle because she's used to being the mafia don's daughter and has a reckless nature to boot. It's a search for her own identity outside of her crime family background. Basically, she's a brat with a good head on her shoulders, or so she thinks.

In my opinion, she's a boy-hungry brat who gets by with her father's connections, and actually enjoys a life of crime and recklessness. I mean, come on, if you had a good head on your shoulders, and you truly want to be different from your family, you'd think twice about stealing a vehicle and going past a speed limit while you're a minor. Hello, that's common sense. But you don't. And what's worse? She even hits on the police officer who arrests her. I wanted to bang my head on the wall while reading this part, and the subsequent parts thereafter involving Gia and Officer Hottie. There is a limit as to how many times you leave your actions to the dictates of your hormones. Also, Gia, how can you say you're in love with Michael when you call your best friend's older brother (whom you occasionally make out with) just to see his reaction about the dress you're wearing? And don't even get me started on your best friend/cuddle buddy who is not gay.

In conclusion, I did not like this book at all.

[Book Review] Guilty Pleasures

Guilty Pleasures

By Manuela Cardiga

December 5, 2013

Contemporary Romance, Erotica 

This book is wonderfully exquisite, both in the romance aspect and in the mouth-watering dishes featured within its delightful pages. It was not a very good idea to read this book from midnight until the wee hours of dawn because it made me crave for dishes I haven't even tasted but sounded soooo good based on the descriptions in the book alone. Yes, I might sound crazy, but trust me, if you read this book, you will experience such a thing, too.

Plot-wise, it is somewhat like a paid-gigolo trope, but better. I'd have to say that while Lance Packhard and Christian Grey had similarities in background and in how they became the person that they are, how their stories turned out and even their personalities are vastly different. I also love that the way Lance worked to gain Millie's affection, which is not a typical courtship. I really thought it was creative how Lance went on to such great lengths just to be close to Millie. The how-to entries in the book he was working on were really witty, too!

The characters are also unique and I would say very much developed and complex. You could not help but feel for the characters and think of them as real people. Lance is your typical handsome-and-he-knows-it, arrogant ladies' man. The twist is that he puts so much effort to maintain such persona, which is a huge relief for me, because I believe that an attractive man has to have some sort of regimen to maintain his physique and looks. Think models. (Newsflash: It is not easy to look model-gorgeous.) This puts a bit of realism to Lance as a character, which is something I really appreciate. As for Millie, I love how she's her own person. She's an unconventional female lead and pursues her passions rather than be boy crazy. She's really shy and oblivious to other people, but when she's in her element, she shines so brightly.

I also really like the parallelism of Millie and Lance's expression of passion. While Lance thinks of passion as sex and love-making, Millie pours hers into her business and cooking -- this is something that I've always believed. Different people have different passions, and it would not be wise to judge one based on another. It was very interesting to witness Lance slowly understand Millie's motivations, and despite of it all, falls for her harder.

Oh, and I love Serge so much! He's gay, he's black, and if that isn't enough, he's a dwarf. He also has a pretty foul mouth and unpredictable temperament. Above all of these, he's very witty. He's a colorfully complex character and I love how entertaining his quips are. I wouldn't have enjoyed this book so much if it weren't for him.

All in all, this book is a solid read. While it has a few common romance elements, it is highly entertaining (and mouth-watering) and can stand on its own.

[Book Review] When In Rome

When In Rome

By Amabile Giusti

Translated by Sarah Christine Varney

January 26, 2016

Chick-Lit, Contemporary Romance

I had no idea I would like this story very much! The only thing in the description that really had me sold was Luca, who is actually a writer. It's always a delight for me to read about characters who are writers and/or librarians in books, but this one was more than that. This book is like an extremely delicious banana split sundae in very generous servings after weeks of drought and starvation! It's been weeks since I've read something that thoroughly entertained me, so this book was heaven-sent. What's even more to love is that the humor included within the pages actually make sense, and there are actually lines in the story which I thought was very well-thought of.

I also really appreciate it that the plot kept me on my toes. Most of the time, I couldn't guess what was going to happen next, or what ridiculous situation Carlotta was going to be involved in. This is a rare feat considering I read almost everyday and could say for certain that I have read my fair share of predictable books and stories. Kudos to the author for this!

The heroine -- Carlotta, I think it's safe to say that she's unconventional and interesting. In a family where there is already a predetermined standard (set by her mother) in order to be treated as someone precious, it was a huge act of courage to stay being who she is. I love that she's unapologetic for her being her own person, and that she pursued her passions despite how difficult it is to do so.

The minor characters and side-stories were very interesting, too! I love that Carlotta found a group of people who are just as weird and neurotic as she was. They played a huge hand in making the story very interesting.

Now, on to Luca -- to be honest, I wasn't really sold. I enjoyed Carlotta as a character more than I enjoyed Luca. He was initially the reason why I was drawn to this book in the first place, but it was Carlotta who captured my heart. I guess Luca just didn't really measure up for me. While their romance was believable and had a stable pacing from the beginning, I would have appreciated it more if Luca did more groveling on Carlotta's feet. I think he needs to work a little harder for the girl. I mean, come on! Carlotta deserves to be treated like a goddess more than anything, you lucky piece of bagpipes! Hohum.

Also, how cool is it that the author is Greek, the book was translated into English by an American, and, read and reviewed by a Filipino? When I thought of Amazon Crossing this way, it blew my mind. This only goes to show that enjoying a story or a book is universal! Someone from the Philippines can thoroughly enjoy something that was written and set in Greece.

I would've written a 5-star rating for this book had Luca measured up, but all in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns in this unexpected delight of a book. I definitely recommend it!

Also, this quote from the book was really neat:

[Book Review] Zipless

Zipless

By Diane Dooley

June 16, 2014

Romance, Short Story, Novella, Contemporary

This was a  good story, not the best I've read but certainly good for some light reading. It was entertaining and plenty helpful in killing some time. I wish it would've been longer though. I think that the story would have been more effective if everything was allowed to take root first before moving to the next level. Since this story was short, everything felt rushed to me, even the romance aspect. Sure, the lust and sexual tension was there, but I hoped that they had more time to develop feelings for each other. The obvious chemistry and creative compatibility that they had was understandable, I wouldn't argue with that. However, I don't think one can call it love so soon after meeting each other. I wouldn't call it Insta-Love between the two of them, because I think there was definitely something that might have been better if it was given more time to grow. That's the only solid issue for me -- the pacing of the romance.

I think this was why the romance aspect wasn't as effective for me. I thought that the lyrics which Lou and Crash were beginning to write in their heads were really creative. Lou's background was solid as was Crash's. This is the first book from Diane Dooley that I've read and I wouldn't hesitate to read one of hers again, provided it be longer next time.

[Book Review] Wallflower

Wallflower

(Rear Entrance Video 02)

By Heidi Belleau

October 21, 2013

MM Romance, LGBT, Contemporary Romance

This story was refreshing and I really enjoyed it. Common MM romance stories always feature white, dominant, strong and hunky protagonists. This one is an exception. Not only is Rob a geek, he's a beta-male, an introvert and he's Asian. To be honest, I went in and delved into this story without much expectation or pre-conceived notions. It was the description that got me to read the story, and I'm glad I did. 

Plot-wise, I love how the story delved into Rob's identity crisis. I think this is a common occurrence among the trans community. I have nothing but love and respect for transgenders because it's a huge act of bravery to step forward and be yourself despite societal pressures and blatant discrimination. It also tackled the issue of gender and sexuality (which most people still don't quite understand) without being like an awkward sex ed class.

I love how this romance story tackled the serious issues of identity crisis, gender and sexuality while keeping true to its form as a romance story. There were several light elements that kept everything from being too serious. Kudos to the author for being able to balance everything. 

Character-wise, I love Rob. Although one could say that he's a stereotypical Asian nerd guy, I have a soft spot for geeky protagonists. While he's bordering on stereotypical as an Asian nerd guy, there are enough elements to his character to make him unique. He's relatable in the sense that he's only looking for his own place in the world, much like everyone else.

I personally think Rob and I should be friends. I play MMORPG games, too, so we could bond over that. And if he feels like busting out Bobby, we could always bond over make-up.

As for Dylan, I love the contrast that he presents in comparison to Rob. He's self-aware and knows what he wants, which I think is something that Rob aspires to also become.

All in all, this is pretty thought-provoking for a romance story, and I loved it!

[Author Interview] Getting the 411 on Blossom Among Flowers from Jay E. Tria

I have been on a hiatus for several months already, and this week, I decided I needed a break from my off-line life. Luckily, I've come across author Jay E. Tria!

One could say that it was fate which led me to virtually meet author Jay E. Tria on Twitter through fellow author Anne Plaza's fan-girly tweets. Or you know, I was being nosy and she was nice enough to talk to me about our shared love for words, Japanese visual novels and JDoramas (Japanese Dramas). Either way, I scored an Author Interview out of it!

Writing a novel that's also like a manga is a novelty. 

What made you decide to write this kind of story?

It started with the frustration that Hanazawa Rui did not end up with Makino Tsukushi in Hana Yori Dango. So I guess this is a fanfic of sorts, fueled by a lot of pent up feelings and my enduring love for Rui. I was writing it with no outline, as if I was writing dorama episodes or manga volumes, guided only by a very clear image of Takeshi and Hikaru in my head. To be honest, I didn’t know how to finish it. It kind of got out of hand; I spewed out 165k words for the first draft. And at first I was writing it only for my fellow HYD fangirl. She lovingly read it and we giggled over it for days. Every so often I would come back to the manuscript, read it again and feel something again, and I would edit it, write some more. This year, about five years since the first draft, I realized I still love the story very much, so I decided to put in some real work and get it out there.

(Aaaahhhhh, I remember being a Hana Yori Dango fangirl... Still am. haha! Thank God for Hana Yori Dango, and the phenomenon that was the F4!)

[Book Review] Blossom Among Flowers

Blossom Among Flowers

By: Jay E. Tria

July 15, 2015

New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Links:

Goodreads // Amazon

Being invisible can't be that hard, can it?

Unlike most people, 17-year old Hikaru Saito likes being invisible. Perfectly happy with her nose buried deep in her growing manga collection, she hardly notices how her "harmless hobby" is taking control of her life. But when she fails an important exam, Hikaru is forced to spend more time with her studies and her new tutor, fellow student, campus genius, and golden boy Takeshi Hinata.

Unfortunately for Hikaru, Takeshi's popularity in school forces the spotlight on her too. His adoring fans don't like seeing how much time they spend together and punish her for it. Luckily, Tetsuya Sakuishi, a new young and beautiful teacher, is always there to save the day for Hikaru. It doesn't help that his smile distracts her, however.

Like her tormentors, Hikaru cannot understand why Takeshi keeps showing up in her life long after the tutoring sessions are over. As if the complications of grueling exams and university applications weren't enough, a haughty socialite mother, an imposing business mogul father, and a princess-in-hiding all come bearing down on Hikaru. Through it all, Takeshi is there, looking at Hikaru like she's not invisible after all. 

[Blog Tour - Book Review & Excerpt] (un)breakable

(un)breakable 

(Gezellig #2)

Author: Kesh Tanglao

Date of Publication: July 16, 2014

Genre: contemporary romance/chick-lit

About the Book:

Lorin Perez’s life is finally back on track after almost losing it six years ago. She knows meeting and dating sizzling hot professional rugby player Spence Clarke is a huge part of her healing process. But with her father starting a new family, she decides to follow her best friend Caitlin to UK–Spence’s home country–and start a new life.

However, moving to UK brings certain complications in the form of Gezellig band member Nigel Whitmore, a.k.a. the one who didn’t follow through three years ago. And even though Lorin is very clear about her no commitment rule, Nigel ignores this and pursues Lorin like never before.

Caught between the man who made her feel safe and the one who makes her feel alive, will she finally be able to set her heart free and make the right choice?

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22694739-un-breakable
Purchase links: Amazon | Smashwords

I had the opportunity to read author Kesh Tanglao's first book in the Gezellig series, and I happened to really appreciate her brand of story-telling, so when I got an email about a blog tour for the second book, I knew I just had to join!

(un)breakable tells the story of Caitlyn's best friend Lorin and her super complicated love life. I think that most readers would agree on just how lucky Lorin is when it comes to the men who come into her life, but personally, I wouldn't want to be stuck in her position. It's too difficult to choose! haha!

Plot-wise, I love how there's a development in Lorin's character from the beginning until the end. And I really like how practical she is when it comes to decisions, even when it comes to her love life. Though sometimes I wished she would've given things a little more thought.

As for the male leads, to be honest, I'm all for #TeamSpence. Not that I have anything against Nigel. It's just that Spence has been there right from the very beginning when Lorin was all broken up and fragile. He helped her heal little by little, granted not whole, but anchored and stable. And they were together for two years - I think that this fact should count for something. 

Truthfully. there was a point in the book where I was literally torn between Nigel and Spence. That was how effective the love triangle was, but in the end, I was rooting for Spence. The guy is seriously sweet and he's not some noble idiot who just gives up the girl without a fight. 

Another thing I really loved about this story is that the songs which the author mentioned for the playlist were some of my favorites! The lyrics were very apt for the scenes and made reading all the more enjoyable.

If you want a taste of (un)breakable, scroll on for an excerpt!

“I know. I’m just feeling a bit of pressure.” I flopped onto my bed and held the phone over my head. “Cait just set such a high standard, you know?”

“Well, she was always a hard worker. Did you just get in?” Spence asked. “I was trying to call earlier, and you weren’t picking up. Or were you on overtime already on your first day?”

Uh-oh. “Yeah, sorry about that,” I said slowly. “I was at dinner with a friend.”

“Ah. Good for you that you made friends already! Who was it?”

I paused, making Spence frown. “Nigel.”

“Ah,” Spence said, as if trying to recall where he heard the name. Then, “Nigel. Like the one from Gezellig?”

“Jesus, what did I do to you? Why do you know the names of the members of Gezellig?” I said, cringing.

Spence ignored my statement and rolled his eyes. “Were you guys with Caitlin and Marcus?”

“Nope. It was just the two of us.”

“Caitlin set you guys up?”

“Um,” I said, turning to my side and propping the phone on my pillow, “that’s a yes and a no.” Spence flashed me a blank look, so I continued, “Yes, because Nigel asked her, and no because Nigel and I met before. We sort of went out three years ago.”

“Oh,” Spence said flatly. He leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest.

I rushed to explain. “He just wants to be friends, Spence. That’s all.”

“No sane guy wants to be just friends with you, Lore.”

I scoffed. “You’re exaggerating. Come on.”

“How come I never knew you went out with this Nigel guy?”

“It was a fling, Spence. A week in Sydney. That was it. I never mentioned it because nothing came out of it.”

Spence smirked. “Nothing, huh,” he said, the sarcasm in his voice evident. “I’m kind of sure he wants something to happen now.”

“And if he does, will it be an issue?” I asked, unable to stop the rise in my tone. “I brought this up before I went here, and you said it was okay to have an open relationship. You said non-exclusive, remember?”

“Bloody hell, Lorin. You’ve been there for what, three days?” Spence said in disbelief. “I only said it because it seemed like it was what you wanted. You were the first one who said non-exclusive. You were always the one wanting out of the commitment. I’ve always seen you as my girlfriend.”

“You never said anything!” I said angrily.

Spence shot up off the bed, eyes flaring. “Because I know I’d lose you if I asked you to be my girlfriend, Lore!” he shouted.

I gritted my teeth. I tried to calm myself down, breathing in and out, and waited for my heart to return to its normal pace. I saw Spence shake his head at someone off-screen. Damn it. His roommates must be present, and they were getting a front row seat to our first big fight.

“You wouldn’t lose me,” I said, more calmly now. “I would be scared big time, and then I probably wouldn’t know what to do yet because I’m not ready for that, but you won’t lose me, Spence.”

“Not ready for a relationship?! Jesus, Lore, what do you think we’ve been doing the past two years? Fooling around?”

“No!” I said, panicking. “It’s not. I thought you were okay with whatever we have—”

“A relationship. That’s what we have, Lorin. Say it. Just admit it to yourself.”

I paused, closing my eyes. I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to think of a way out of this. Argh. This wouldn’t be complicated if it wasn’t for Nigel.

I opened my eyes, and gazed at the man I’d been with for the past two years. “Spence, I can’t, I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t do this. You knew that this is what I have to offer. This is all I could offer. And if you can’t take that, then—”

“Right on the heels of saying I won’t lose you, huh,” he cut in, bitterness seeped his tone. “Good job on that one, Lorin.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but the he cut the video call without another word. I buried my head into my pillow, my shout muffled by the cotton as I screamed my frustration.

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About Kesh Tanglao

Kesh Tanglao is a full-time market researcher. When she’s not crunching numbers, she spends most of her free time watching TV shows, listening to music, and reading. Also a self-proclaimed fangirl, she likes cheering for her favorite sports teams and supporting her favorite artists.

Blog: http://sparksfire.wordpress.com/
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[Book Review] What Goes On Tour

What Goes On Tour

By Claire Boston

February 11, 2014

Published Momentum Moonlight

Contemporary Romance, New Adult

Links:

Goodreads // Amazon 

What goes on tour, stays on tour … or does it? 

Few people know that socially awkward Adrian Hart is actually rock god Kent Downer, and that's the way Adrian likes it. His privacy is essential, especially now that he has guardianship of his orphaned, ten-year-old niece, Kate. But when the nanny quits in the middle of his tour Adrian finds himself in a bind.
Until Libby Myles walks into his life. 

Libby has only ever wanted to become a full-time author and prove to her parents that she can make it on her own. On the surface, the temporary job as the nanny for Kent Downer's niece looks perfect—the pay is fabulous, the hours are short and Kate is a big fan—it's the rock star that's the issue. 

Arrogant and way too attractive for anyone's good, Kent Downer has enough swagger to power a small city. But when he's out of costume he's different—shy and uncertain. For Libby it's a far harder combination to resist. She needs to find a balance between work, writing and ignoring her attraction to the rock star, because if she falls for him, it could mean the end of her dream.

But when a horrible scandal is unleashed—putting young Kate in danger—there's more heat between Libby and Adrian than just sexual attraction. Libby must figure out if Adrian ever cared for her, or if it was all just part of the show…