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Book Blurb
Can the man of Lauren’s dreams save her from the man in her
nightmares?
Wes Dunlop was a hot commodity in high school and
the ruin of good reputations, so it was easy to criticize the guy when his
sister did it too. Then Lauren McKay actually met her best friend’s brother,
and she was intrigued. When he came to her rescue, she was doomed. Afraid to
admit her change of heart, Lauren hid her secret from both of them.
Fifteen years later Wes is back. Now a dedicated
cop, he’s determined to win Lauren—the girl he can’t forget and the only one
his sister demanded he leave alone. But he finds that Lauren’s life is a lot
more complicated than he imagined.
Personal
tragedy made Lauren a fierce defender of battered women. However, when a
dangerous gunman tracks his wife to Lauren’s shelter, the protector becomes the
target. Her life suddenly in the balance, nothing will stop Wes from doing
everything in his power to rescue her.
Book Excerpt
Lauren shook her head and went searching in her handbag for a tissue. Blotting her eyes and wiping her nose, she finally sobbed, “I feel like I don’t even know Sherry anymore.”
Wes gripped the back of her headrest, wishing he could stroke her hair instead. “Sure you do.”
“I didn’t know any of her friends. I’ve been replaced. It’s like we’re strangers. I’ve missed so much.”
Now he understood. “Do you care about Sherry?”
“Yes,” said Lauren without hesitation.
“Then you have to make the effort to repair the friendship. Just because Sherry has new friends doesn’t mean she doesn’t want you in her life too. You have to reestablish your connection, that’s all. It isn’t going to happen overnight or even in two short hours. What did you expect?”
She threw up her hands. “I don’t know.”
He’d never seen a more forlorn expression in his life. The tears clinging to Lauren’s lashes were too much for him. Expelling a deep sigh, Wes cupped the back of her neck and pulled her in. His kiss was soft, compassionate, and infinitely tender. The wet tissue in Lauren’s hand flattened out against his shirt and he felt the moisture leech through the light cotton, dampening his skin underneath. He didn’t give a damn.
The timing was wrong, all wrong, and yet he couldn’t help himself. The need to be close to her, comfort and caress her was almost unbearable. In his mind he’d held back long enough. Now it was up to her. If Lauren pulled away or asked him to stop he would.
She clutched his shirt instead.
Wes gripped the back of her headrest, wishing he could stroke her hair instead. “Sure you do.”
“I didn’t know any of her friends. I’ve been replaced. It’s like we’re strangers. I’ve missed so much.”
Now he understood. “Do you care about Sherry?”
“Yes,” said Lauren without hesitation.
“Then you have to make the effort to repair the friendship. Just because Sherry has new friends doesn’t mean she doesn’t want you in her life too. You have to reestablish your connection, that’s all. It isn’t going to happen overnight or even in two short hours. What did you expect?”
She threw up her hands. “I don’t know.”
He’d never seen a more forlorn expression in his life. The tears clinging to Lauren’s lashes were too much for him. Expelling a deep sigh, Wes cupped the back of her neck and pulled her in. His kiss was soft, compassionate, and infinitely tender. The wet tissue in Lauren’s hand flattened out against his shirt and he felt the moisture leech through the light cotton, dampening his skin underneath. He didn’t give a damn.
The timing was wrong, all wrong, and yet he couldn’t help himself. The need to be close to her, comfort and caress her was almost unbearable. In his mind he’d held back long enough. Now it was up to her. If Lauren pulled away or asked him to stop he would.
She clutched his shirt instead.
*The first
chapter can be read under the Friends and Lovers title page on Tara’s website.
Toot's Review by Stacy Sabala
Lauren had the biggest crush on Wes, even though he went
after anything in a skirt and her best friend was his little sister,
Sherry. She knew about every girl he
dated which was more than she liked but she loved him just the same. No one knew how she felt. She kept her feelings to herself, not even
telling Sherry. Wes left for college and
moved on, but Lauren still pined for him and knew she loved him. Then her older sister was murdered and Lauren
withdrew from her friend. She distanced
herself from everything and started her crusade of saving as many battered
women as she could with the shelter she ran.
Then one day when welcoming a new woman and her children
into her shelter, she comes face to face with Wes. Her shock is clear and throws her life into a
crazy spin. She still loves him even
years later. Wes is now a cop and is
just as shocked to see Lauren. Unknown
to anyone, he has also harbored feelings and fantasies of his own. He helps her reconnect to Sherry then rescues her when their worlds collide in a scary way.
This CR was a great read.
The characters were well written and came across as real people as you
watched the story unfold. They struggled
with their feelings and Lauren’s insecurities were tough to overcome. The love scenes were written to entice but
left enough to the reader’s imagination.
This was an excellent story with just enough action and reality to keep
the reader avidly reading. I couldn't put it down. I give it 4 out of 5 books.
Author Info
I write stories I like to read -- contemporary romances with
identifiable characters and themes. Life is hard, love makes it bearable. If
you like stories with heart, heat, and humor, I have a title for you.
In the real world I'm a pampered wife,
lucky mom to three amazing sons and one wonderful daughter-in-law, and I just
became a very young grandma. I should probably underline the word very.
Oh heck, why not the word young too? Nah, you get the point. I'm also
the daily monitor of one naughty dog with an attitude.
Author Links
Visit Tara Mills Romance or find me on Facebook
~*Giveaway*~
Tara is hosting a TOUR WIDE giveaway for
TWO DIGITAL COPIES of FRIENDS AND LOVERS to Two Randomly Drawn Commenters
Please leave a VALID EMAIL ADDRESS with your comment on this post
~*Giveaway*~
Tara is hosting a TOUR WIDE giveaway for
TWO DIGITAL COPIES of FRIENDS AND LOVERS to Two Randomly Drawn Commenters
Please leave a VALID EMAIL ADDRESS with your comment on this post
Tour Info
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Thank you for having me over today, and for your wonderful review. I'm so glad you enjoyed, Friends and Lovers.
ReplyDeleteLove to win this. Thanks for telling me about it!
ReplyDeleteHi Tara great to have Authors come and visit and talk about there books. Also love to know about the Authors that's the best part. Would love to win this and read it on my Kindle Fire. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteIt's always nice to hear about new Authors and their books. Thanks for taking the time to introduce me to some fantastic Authors...
ReplyDeleteThis sounds great! Putting it on my list of things to read.
ReplyDeletewould love to read this..thanks for the giveaway. christina_gobin@yahoo.com
ReplyDelete