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BLOG TOUR ~ The Best Friend Bargain by Robin Bielman
The Best Friend Bargain
Kisses in the Sand #2
by Robin Bielman
Publication Date: August 8, 2016
Genres: Adult, Entangled Lovestruck, Contemporary Romance
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Synopsis:
Olivia Lincoln has a plan guaranteed to get her life back on track. A plan that involves her best friend, Danny. And he’s on board, too…until she blurts out that they’re engaged and expecting a baby, and the news spreads like wildfire.
The problem? Danny doesn’t do marriage. Or family. And everyone knows it, including Olivia.
As irritated as he might be, protecting Olivia is what Danny does. But put best friends under one roof, add house rules begging to be broken, accidental nakedness, and pancakes in bed, and what started as a marriage between friends threatens to turn into the real deal…which would ruin everything.
Excerpt:
She pressed her lips together and tried really hard not to laugh, but it didn’t work and she burst into a fit of uncontrollable giggles. Not entirely because he was funny, but because his teasing question heightened her awareness of him. Made her nervous.
And horny. So, so horny.
“God, I love your laugh,” he said quietly, his gaze drifting over her chin, her lips, her cheeks, her eyes.
Liv stopped. Giggling. Moving. Breathing. And thinking that they could go back to the way things were before they’d kissed on the beach and her world had turned on its axis.
She loved laughing with Danny. He’d always had a direct link to her funny bone. Her mind searched for the times Will had made her laugh. Once, maybe twice? In six months. How had she not realized that until now?
“Danny,” she said, whisper soft.
“I’m not telling you anything I haven’t told you before.”
True. He didn’t keep his compliments to himself, especially when her loud, high-pitched guffaw swayed others to laugh along with her. But the gleam in his eyes said he wanted to back up his statement with another kiss, and that had never happened before.
Time to stop looking at those twin pools of honey and reading things she wasn’t quite ready to tackle.
“Don’t read anything into it,” he added, like he had secret passage inside her head. “I’m just a guy telling his best friend she’s fun to be around.”
Seriously? He had to throw out movie star lines like that? Could he say the wrong thing just once so he pissed her off? Whenever he talked she forgot about keeping him in the friend zone. The only zone she wanted him in was the touchdown one. Doing a dirty dance with their hot, sweaty naked bodies entwined.
She leaned closer to him. “Then stop looking at me like that.”
The Best Friend Bargain Playlist:
Hey everyone! Happy summer!
I don’t listen to music while I’m writing. I’m one of those writers that like to have it quiet when I sit at my laptop to work. But music is a big part of my pre-writing ritual. I’ll listen to music to help get my head in my story (very often while I’m also running on the treadmill) and then I’ll sit down and hopefully the words flow. So, here’s the playlist for the songs I listened to over and over again while I was writing Danny and Olivia’s story, The Best Friend Bargain.
“Hold Me Up” by Conrad Sewell
“Levels” by Nick Jonas
“Sleeping With A Friend” by Neon Trees
“The Other Side” by Jason Derulo
“Ready For Your Love” by Gorgon City
“Take Me” by Rufus
“Simply Being Loved” by BT
“To The Skies” by Kaskade
Happy reading and music listening!
~ Robin
BLP REVIEW ~ Tracy
The Best Friend Bargain was a good read. The third book in the Kisses in the Sand series – a series I hadn’t read anything else of – but one that I’m gonna go check out soon. I didn’t feel not having read the other books took anything away from my understanding of the story or the relationships between the characters.
Liv and Danny were good together. Best friends for over 15 years, they’d been there for all the ups and downs and would do anything for each other…. This is where one of my ‘hmmms’ came in. IF they were such good friends, why did Olivia need to run away to the UK and not contact him for most of the time she was gone; to then turn up our of the blue and expect him to happily follow her request to be her fiancé and the baby daddy? Yep, I get he’d do just about anything for her and I think that’s what friendship is about, but hell, to not speak up and voice his concerns and just go along with things, that didn’t feel completely right – especially given that Liv has always known that his health issues had already stopped him from committing to anyone relationship wise.
The main characters were likeable – though I could have smacked Liv once or twice for her actions – they had great banter, did have a connection (one that certain grew as the book went on) and they could read each other really well. The ‘friends to lovers’ trope is usually a firm favourite of mine and while The Best Friend Bargain was a good read, it didn’t knock my socks off. For me, the time lapses in the story were a bit odd, I felt a few things were skipped or skimmed over just a little too quickly, and although sweet at the end, it did feel a little too predictable a points.
As I said at the start, this was overall a good read and I will go back and read the rest of the series from Robin Bielman. My rating for TBFB is 3.75*
~ T xx
DON’T MISS THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE KISSES IN THE SAND SERIES!
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Synopsis:
A temporary agreement neither could keep…
Brainy, organized Sophie Birch is no beach bunny. In fact, she’s totally out of her element among the sun-bronzed crowd at a film festival in beautiful White Strand Cove. When a surf lesson introduces her to Zane Hollander, suddenly she’s up close and personal with the world’s sexiest surf star. But what can a great-looking, experienced athlete possibly see in a klutzy out-of-towner who’s never set foot in the ocean?
Zane Hollander’s playboy reputation has never been a problem…until recently. Now his management team wants him on his best behavior to entice a meaningful new sponsor. Sophie Birch is the perfect girl to help reform his image. She’s genuine and respected—and their relationship is purely fictional. But the more Sophie blooms under the beachy sun, the more Zane knows he’ll just break her heart. Because nothing’s more important to Zane than following the tide.
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The one guy she shouldn’t want…
Honor Mitchell has lived with guilt and regret for a long time, so when she promises to do the things on her dying best friend’s wish list, she’s determined to follow through and do something right for a change. But when she’s thrown together for wedding duties with the one man who complicates her vow–just by looking at him–she has to put her faith in Bryce Bishop’s pledge to help her, no strings attached.
Bryce’s near one-night stand with his ex-girlfriend’s best friend a few months ago might have been a mistake, but helping the beautiful, free-spirited Honor with her promise isn’t. His trust in women is shot, but he can’t help but play his best man card to his advantage and help Honor tick off the items on his ex’s list, even if it puts him in a no-win situation. Because his assistance might get Honor what she wants, but suddenly being the do-good guy puts his plans–and heart–in serious jeopardy.
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NEW RELEASE SPOTLIGHT & REVIEW ~ Totally, Sweetly Irrevocably Sweet (Love #2) by Kira Archer
Totally, Sweetly Irrevocably
Sweet Love #2
Kira Archer
Publication Date: July 18, 2016
Genres: Adult, Entangled Lovestruck, Contemporary Romance
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Synopsis:
When Officer Rick Boyd answers a call about a peeping Tom, he doesn’t expect to find a gorgeous woman holding the binoculars. But Gina Silvano’s no peeping Tom, and she can catch her cupcake truck’s kinky vandals herself, thank you very much. No sexy cops required.
No matter how hot their stakeouts, by-the-book Officer Boyd can’t see a future with a dangerous, rule-breaking wild-child who despises the law. He’s never felt more alive, though, and expunging her from his heart might be impossible.
But loving each other might cost them more than they are able to give.
DON’T MISS THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SWEET LOVE SERIES…
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Synopsis:
An inherited parking spot. That’s all it took to make Natalie Moran’s food truck dreams come true. But her dream space is attached to a bakery inherited by someone else—drop dead gorgeous Eric Schneider, a financial consultant who wouldn’t know a cupcake from a cannoli. And he wants to buy Nat out, no matter what she has to say about it.
Eric’s determined to build his own business, but he needs the super cute klutz with the cupcake truck to help. If Nat will teach him the basics of running a bakery, he’ll give her free kitchen time. Except…neither expects the heat burning between them or the possibility that their arrangement might become permanent.
When it all blows up, Nat is convinced his actions mean betrayal. It’s up to Eric to regain her trust and show her he’s a man who is truly, madly in love with her, before she disappears from his life forever.
Excerpt:
Rick moved closer to the rustling bag while Gina stood stock-still, her eyes wide and anxious.
“What is it?” she whispered.
“I think a mouse has decided to help himself to the rest of our cupcakes.”
“What?” she shrieked.
Before he could say another word, she’d jumped up on her chair. Not designed for trampoline practice, the thin plastic promptly shredded. Rick reached out to catch her as one leg went through the plastic and the rest of her went sideways. He caught her before she hit the ground. But apparently their movements landed them a little too close to the occupied bag for her comfort because she took one look down, gasped, and climbed him like a tree.
“What are you doing?” he asked, both laughing and grunting as she twisted around him.
“Get rid of it!”
“What, the bag?” He grabbed her around the waist to keep her from falling ass-first onto the hard roof.
“No! The damn mouse, or rat, or whatever the hell it is!”
The bag rustled again, and she squeezed her legs around his waist and gripped his neck so tight she was dangerously close to strangling him.
“I can’t do anything if you don’t loosen your grip.”
She tore her gaze from the bag o’ death at their feet and looked at him. “Oh. Sorry,” she said, letting up a little.
He took a nice deep breath. “Thank you.”
His eyes met hers, and she seemed to realize the position she’d gotten them into. Her legs and arms wrapped about him. His hands beneath her butt and thighs, holding her up. Their faces only inches apart. All their delicate bits pressed as close as they could get with their clothing still on.
Her cheeks flashed fifty shades of red in the faint light coming from the streetlight below.
“Sorry,” she murmured again. “You, um, can put me down now.”
He tightened his hold on her. “You sure?” he asked, not wanting to let her go. He liked the way she felt molded to his body. The vanilla scent of her hung in the air between them, whetting his appetite for something a little sweeter than the cupcakes in the rat bag. All he had to do was close the distance between them…
Her breathing sped up, her lips parting with a little sigh. Her gaze zeroed in on his lips and there was no hiding from her how he felt about her wrapped around him. For a split second, her legs tightened their hold on his waist, pressing even closer. Her eyes fluttered closed. But then she shook her head and loosened her grip.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” she said, pushing away from him. “But…put me on the chair until you get rid of that thing.”
He chuckled and reluctantly deposited her on top of the chair he’d been sitting in. Then he bent and swiftly scooped up the bag, rolling the top down so whatever was inside couldn’t get out.
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
I really enjoyed Totally Sweetly, Irrevocably. Well written with a leading couple who by all accounts didn’t think they could or would work together but totally did!!
Gina was crazy.. The girl just seemed to lurk from one drama to another. The latest issue she has is someone trashing her cupcake truck – and she’s got a fairly good idea who’s doing it. While on her personal truck stakeout, she is nabbed by the police. Officer Boyd, one of the policemen who turns up to the neighbours peeping tom call is hot and even though she doesn’t like the law (with, in her mind, good reason), there’s an instant attraction between him and Gina
Rick is a no-nonsense kinda guy. He’s dedicated to his job and follows procedure all the time – until he meets Gina… She knocks him for six and all the things he thought he wanted in his life – the wife, 2.5 kids, the picket fence – are suddenly under question. He knows they have a connection but given how different they are he’s not sure they could ever be a couple.
They pair start off by staking out the cupcake van together – pretty much to make sure Gina doesn’t get into any more trouble from Rick’s POV. Through their nights together they get to know each other better and the attraction between them heats up, but still neither is sure this is a relationship that could work.
The issues they had were understandable even though I felt that both of them needed to bend just a little and not be so rigid in their views of what they needed. When this pair got together they were smokin’ hot and, in and out of bed, they gelled really well. The banter, humour, general craziness that Gina managed to get herself into, the inclusion of family and friends and the heat between R & G all added up to give us a really good read. Fun, sweet, laugh out loud funny, hot & sexy.
I’m giving Totally, Sweetly, Irrevocably 4* and I’m definitely gonna be checking out the first book in the series as well as more of Kira Archer’s books!!
Playlist:
Music is a very strong inspiration for me. It isn’t necessary for my writing process, but it can really help set the mood or get a scene in my head if I need a little help. And as it is summer and my kids are home all day, it’s also great for drowning out the background noise 😉 I tend to listen to instrumental music when writing as lyrics can be a bit difficult to tune out sometimes. My go-to faves depend on the mood I’m going for. For more angsty/sad/tense scenes I gravitate toward The Piano Guys, Evanescence, Apocalyptica, E.S. Posthumus, and Rob Dougan.
My current release, Totally, Sweetly, Irrevocably, is a funny book with characters who enjoy pushing each other’s buttons. So I kept the music light and upbeat. My playlist mostly consisted of Lindsey Stirling and Parov Stelar on Pandora. A few of my favorite songs of theirs:
Lindsey Stirling: Master of Tides, Roundtable Rival, and The Arena
Parov Stelar: Booty Swing, Catgroove, and All Night
I also listened to my Old School playlist quite a bit – gotta love that 90’s music 😉 Some faves from that list are:
Shoop – Salt N Pepa
Poison – Poison
Steal My Sunshine – LEN
Da Dip – Freak Nasty
Opposites Attract – Paula Abdul
Mainly anything that made me want to dance or put a smile on my face was good for this book!
About the Author
Kira Archer resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kiddos, and far too many animals in the house.
She tends to laugh at inappropriate moments, break all the rules she gives her kids (but only when they aren’t looking), and would rather be reading a book than doing almost anything else.
She has odd, eclectic tastes in just about everything and often lets her imagination run away with her. She loves her romances a little playful, a lot sexy, and always with a happily ever after.
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