From New York Times Bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes THE ONLY ONE, a sexy new standalone novella in her One Love Series, brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights! Be sure you grab your copy and heat up your holiday!
EXCERPT:
The clock mocks me.
As the minute hand ticks closer to eight in the evening, I wrack my brain to figure out if I got the time wrong. Maybe we picked two. Maybe he said ten. Maybe we’re meeting tomorrow.
My chest twists with a desperate anxiety as I toy with the band on my watch.
But as the fountains of Lincoln Center dance higher under the waning light, I’m sadly certain there was no error in communication.
The only error was one of judgment.
Mine.
Thinking he’d show.
Drawing a deep, frustrated breath, I peer at my watch once more, then raise my face, searching the crowds that wander past the circular aquatic display at Manhattan’s epicenter for the performing arts. This fountain is so romantic; that’s why we chose it as the place to meet again.
One week later.
Foolishly I hunt for the amber eyes and dark wavy hair, for the lean, tall frame, for that mischievous grin that melts me every time.
I listen for the sound of him amidst the melody of voices, wishing to hear his rise above the others, calling my name, apologizing in that sexy accent of his for being late.
My God, Gabriel’s accent was a recipe for making a young woman weak in the knees. That was what he had done to me. The man melted me when I first met him last month in Barcelona at the tail end of my summer of travels across Europe.
When I close my eyes and float back in time, I hear that delicious voice, just a hint of gravel in his tone, and a whole fleet of butterflies chase each other in my belly at the resurgence of that faraway romantic dream.
I open my eyes, trying to blink away the inconvenient intrusion of memory. I should go. It’s clear he’s not coming tonight.
But, just in case I mixed up the times, maybe I’ll give him one more minute. One more look.
One more scan of the crowd.
I let the clock tick past eight.
I still don’t see him.
I’ve been here for more than two hours sitting on the black marble edge of the fountain. Scouring the corners of Lincoln Center. Peering left, then right down Columbus. Circling, like an animal at a zoo—pathetic modern-day female waiting for male to stay true to his word.
About THE ONLY ONE:
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE SEXY ONE comes a romance about fate and second chances.
Let’s say there was this guy. And he gave you the most mind-blowing night of sex in your life. And you never saw him again.
Until ten years later.
Now, it turns out he’s the ONLY ONE in all of Manhattan whose restaurant is available for my charity’s event.
The trouble is, he doesn’t recognize me.
***
This woman I’m working with is so damn alluring. The first time I set eyes on her, I’m captivated and I can’t get her out of my mind. Even if it’s risky to tango with someone I’m working with, she’s a risk I’m willing to take.
The trouble is, she won’t give me the time of day.
But I’m determined to change that.
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Praise for Lauren Blakely and THE ONLY ONE:
"An extraordinarily dreamy love story that will melt your heart!"
~Beneath The Covers Book Blog
"This is an epic second chance romance that filled my heart with love, hope and longing."
~5-Stars! Two Book Pushers
"Lauren has knocked this one out of the park and down the street into the kitchen of Rocco DiSpirito. This book is smart, sexy, and full of surprises with characters you can't help but fall in love with. I want to find my very own Gabriel now. A sexy man with an accent who can cook for me. Who could ask for anything more?"
~Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews
"Insanely romantic and so genuinely charming..."
~Fresh Fiction Reviewer
About Lauren Blakely:
Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US over three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1.5 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that's full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With thirteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than seventy times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire as well as standalone hit romances like BIG ROCK, MISTER O, WELL HUNG, and THE SEXY ONE which were all instant New York Times Bestsellers. In January she'll release FULL PACKAGE, a standalone romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter.
Review:
Rating: ⋆⋆⋆⋆
Date published: December 6, 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance
I've been looking forward to reading The Only One since it was first announced, and I was not disappointed! The Only One is just a novella, rather than a full length book, but it still packs a punch in its pages. It follows Gabriel and Penny, who had a red hot romance ten years prior. Penny needs a chef to cater a picnic on short notice and Gabriel's name is one of the ones on her list.
I loved being in Penny's head. Her feelings for Gabriel felt very real. I loved the little things like her being nervous about seeing him for the first time in ten years. The romance was very well-written. Gabriel and Penny have chemistry that just leaps off the page. Despite the amount of time that's passed, they seem to fall back together rather easily. There's a brief hump where Gabriel doesn't immediately recognize Penny and Penny stops him from doing so with a fake name, but once the truth gets uncovered, Gabriel and Penny go right back to red hot romance like all that time apart meant nothing.
The Only One was a very enjoyable read. It's short, sexy, romantic, and humorous. Blakely's writing is easy to relate to and easy to follow. I'm certain it's impossible for her to write a bad book. She has such a way with words, and it shows every time. I loved The Only One. Go buy it.
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