Between Us (Sex on the Beach) By Jen McLaughlin

A Review By Wendy

3.5 Country Star, Spring Break, Wish Fulfillment Stars

*** 1/2

Between Us by Jen McLaughlin is part of the Sex on the Beach group of quick novels which all reference each other. They follow 3 best friends; women who are in college, all searching to have some fun during Spring Break in Key West. Each of these novells can be read alone, in different order or in the order with this being the first.

In this novella, we have a couple of situations to address. The first being a massive country star who started young; she was in the spotlight while growing up. She never had a chance to learn or experience anything without the eyes of the world watching her. Her parents divorced... it was ugly... she has secrets to hide from it... and she is hounded constantly. 

In today's world... it isn't just gossip columns or some flash photographer getting a shot of you.... no now it is everywhere if you make an error in judgement... its everywhere ...Facebook, Websites, 250 TV channels... it goes on... and everyone has an agenda... cel phones are the tool of choice and no one but those who you met and vetted years ago can be trusted.

Mackenzie Forbes wants to have a moment... she has had it with being judged for things she hasn't done... she wants to experience the freedom of being just a college kid on Spring Break and she thinks she is going to do with her besties. They are in Key West with all the other thousands of kids... she has dyed her hair brown from her natural and famous blond; she is wear a huge hat which shields her face (she thinks) so perfect cover... right, hide in plain sight... well not maybe...

These gals are at the bar checking out all of the guys and they all have one main goal... they all want to hook up, have fantastic sex with a terrifically smokin' guy and then go home to Chicago and back to school. Shouldn't be difficult....

Mackenzie is checking out the scene, spots the a tattooed bad boy at the bar, decided he is the one and goes in for the kill. She has had a few too many drinks named Sex on the Beach... so all of her inhibitions are not reigned in... no, she is ready to go.... and flirts shamelessly with Austin Murphy. She practically throws herself at him because she is determined to get rid of that pesky VCard... and since he has not figured out who she is....ding ding ding... it is a go in her book...

Or has he...

Austin Murphy is hot.. he is the type you would go for... and he has deep dark secrets galore.... but he also seems to have a heart. Although he knows who little Mackenzie is... knows she would be a huge payday for him...and boy he could use it... he decides to take her back to the hotel and not cash in her card while she is drunk. He leaves her at the hotel; safe and sound with the option of tomorrow being their play time...

All the novella cover the ways things can get crazy when you do not communicate with those you want to know. It also shows how hard it is to trust others today and not feel betrayed. This couple had complications which most never will... they were exaggerated because of her fame. Through this week,we went through all of the stages of their romance. 

I know Spring Breaks happen all of the country and kids are out there spreading their wings. My wish for all of them is to please be careful... not just with their hearts but with their persons. These books do address this issue to a degree, and I think it is commendable.

The three books were very enjoyable... and Jen McLaughlin started this series on just the right note. She gave us characters which were appropriate for their ages... lifestyles and circumstances wrapped in the beauty of Key West and frenzy of Spring Break.... all with the refreshing zing of the famous drinks, Sex on the Beach.... I think I will have to try one. 

We  received this Arc in exchange for an honest review

About Jen McLaughlin

Jen McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She writes steamy New Adult books for the young and young at heart. Her first release, Out of Line, came out September 2013. She also writes bestselling Contemporary Romance under the pen name Diane Alberts.Since receiving her first contract offer under the pen name Diane Alberts, she has yet to stop writing. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.