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Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Review by Wendy ♥ Wanderlust by Lauren Blakely

 A Review by Wendy

5 "We should enjoy every day, and eat it like a fruit.” Stars
* * * * *
Spoiler Free
I have to start this review with a nod to Kelly Clarkson... Yes, she has been with me for years but recently this little ditty has been playing in my head over and over... and never more so with this book.. because as sharp and smart it is...it is cushioned and wrapped in a sweet, soft feel so welcoming... you never want to leave it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcL1t...

Sometimes I need to unwind
Sometimes I need some down time

Sometimes I need a minute just for me
I need a minute just to be
I need a minute just to breathe

Sometimes I need a minute that's my own
I need a minute in my zone
Where I can say just what I want
I need a minute


Ok, now that I have gotten that off my chest, Wanderlust is such a special Blakely book, I felt this book was personal to her..this wasn't cut from the same cloth as her most recent books. This story had a number of elements when added together made the experience for me very different from the start.

Each of these people were on a personal quest...


Joy had come to Paris to finally assert herself and follow her dream of reaching her goals in the fragrance industry. She was an accomplished chemist specializing in creating new scents. Her last relationship turned into something where she lost herself to the point where every day was tarnished by the emotions of her ex. She finally broke free allowing her to grab with both hands the opportunity to work with a company in Paris.

She had studied French but would need to have a translator due to the complexity of communicating with the other chemists. It wasn't like you could sort of point and say oui, that's it. One wrong word or inflection when combining chemicals with something that was supposed to be a beautiful scent could end up smelling of Dog Do or worse, combusting...

As Joy is roaming the city and finds a bakery, she is trying to speak only french. When she incorrectly orders a chocolate croissant, a stunning British accented man leans in and corrects her order...Now Joy has already prepared herself to Not get involved in any way with a man while here in Paris.. She has no time for that and since the only accent that rocks her to her knees is British, she felt she would be free and clear from any temptations in Paris as the French accent didn't factor...

British Accent, however, was her Kryptonite...

Griffin just couldn't resist helping this beautiful American woman with her order. There was just something about these Americans... so free and straightforward in the way the communicate...and this woman...she was a vision. Auburn hair cascading down to her shoulders and held back with a red bandana... expressive face owning her excitement.

And then like in the movies, these two start up easy banter outside the bakery...both falling into a teasing exchange about the beauty of the croissant and then trying to guess each others names...The moment is broken by Joy's phone and they both move on...

Griffin thinks about the American he met and ponders if he should have gotten her number...but then focuses on what he has been dealing with... He is in between assignments and short on funds he thought he was receiving from his last one. Griffin was counting on the promised bonus to complete his financial needs for his trip to Thailand. He had a marathon to train for and run.

Griffin had a number of things he needed to complete... a special list which was his holy grail...and nothing, not even a beautiful American was going to deter him... a promise made... is a promise which must be kept...

Griffin receives a call from his boss informing him of a new assignment, one which will be the answer to his prayers. It even compensates him at a higher rate and for a longer period. He will be able to train in Paris for the marathon and then arrive in Thailand ready to go.

Griffin goes to the location to meet his new client and as he waits at a little establishment with his coffee, he thinks about the confident American he had met...how he let an opportunity slip and vowed to not let that happen again...

Joy is excited...but that has been her feeling since knowing she was embarking on this adventure. She even was told on the flight over by a lovely seat partner that Paris was the perfect place to reinvent herself. Here she can be who she is... not have to hide her love of scent. She can spritz to her hearts content any of the special scents she has acquired. Her ex would always complain any little spray caused him headaches...which was like cutting off Joy's life's blood since that was her profession and passion.

Joy walks to where she is meeting her translator and then hears that sexy British voice calling out to her. There he is...the man she had been wishing she had taken his number. He offers her coffee and she takes the moment as she will not let a lost opportunity pass again...

But all changes again when she receives a call...
They will be off limits to each other....

Oh, this tale...It has everything a romance reader could want... and delivers to a level only few authors are capable of doing. From the very first page, there is an energy which captures the reader...the sense of life's possibilities...of how there are things out there to experience if we let ourselves. How everyday it is up to us, no one else... and how if we just get out of our own way...We too, could have this sense of possibilities.

We get flirt to the Millionth Level...we get desire and appreciation of the opposite sex in a sweet, sexy way...and then there is this Slow Burn... which ramps up the need and desire....

Did I say NEED AND DESIRE....well, when Joy and Griffin cannot hold back anymore...What did they do???? They KISS...and when Griffin tells Joy where he wants to kiss her...in doorways, under bridges, at famous Parisian locations and dark bars...And How he wants to KISS her.... slow, fast, hard and then where...

Breathing for me was a bit difficult for a moment....and for them....because they were fighting elements each brought from their past...

This book is a roadmap to for those who need to look at their lives...What is holding you back from reaching your dreams...Look carefully inward... are You your own worst enemy... Most of us are. We tell ourselves so many lies... that we don't deserve the love we want or the career we wish to achieve. There are enough real obstacles in life to overcome...we do not need to be the biggest one...

There is something else about this book which is so important... It opens all of your sense to what is available to us everyday... There are the scents of life to enjoy...the fresh cut lawn to experience or a rainy day where you sat under an awning talking to a friend while you waited it out. There are moments in our lives we wish to savior and hold onto... scent/taste does that for us. We experience life with our senses and we need to use all of them. They all tie into our hearts and mind allowing us to reminisce about all the good we have experienced.

As I read this book, I reach out to Ms. Blakely to let her know from my first moment of reading, I felt it was more personal then her other books. To quote Ms. Blakely:


"If it feels personal it's probably more due to my love of the city and my belief in pursuing dreams and embracing life to the fullest."


Couldn't say it better myself....


 A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.


6860216 A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that's hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 90 times, and she’s sold more than 2.5 million books. In March she’ll release WANDERLUST, a sexy standalone romance.

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