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Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Birthday Suit by Lauren Blakely



A Review by Wendy
 5 The Timing Needs to be Right Stars
* * * * *  
Spoiler Free
 
Timing is Everything...We can think something is just right; we then can have it ripped away from our grasp and feel devastated. It could be a pursuit of career advancement or a personal relationship. It doesn't matter...if you thought it was The Real Deal...it can hurt.
Yet, as painful or frustrating the situation may be...life has a way of making us push forward and learn our life lessons. These life lessons make us who we are and who we become...and so if we are presented with another opportunity which could involve that promotion or lost love...Timing Could Mean Everything.

Because of timing, those life lessons... they have helped you be the person you are now, not who you were...and maybe now you are just the person who needs to be standing before that lost love.

This is the premise of Birthday Suit by Lauren Blakely. Ms. Blakely writes all sorts of romances and each of them brings a swoon factor coupled with real-life situations.
She takes three friends who had been close as close can be...and have one of the men hiding his love for the woman. He missed his very small window of opportunity to show his interest in her. His best friend showed up and before you could say Hey, I am interested in her...The sparks between the friend and the gal were happening. He never threw his hat in the ring, never tried to be an option for her interest...

Instead... He stayed the Best Friend of both of them for a decade. It was painful but also wonderful because he still was in this woman's orbit. He loved both of them and was always there for both. He was there for the marriage as the best man, he was there for the opening of their restaurant and supported all the good times.

But he was also there for the difficult times...for the friend who married the gal had issues. He couldn't handle the social pressures of being a chef with a successful restaurant. The booze became the "other woman" and finally after many asks and then rehab attempts, our gal finally needed to step away and end the marriage. Our chef has a tragic end leaving both friends, Leo and Lulu, with memories and emotional hurdles to handle.

Now life throws these two back together after a couple of years separation. Lulu had left NYC for California to heal herself and finally grow her own career. She was a chocolatier and was able to take her talents and finally open her own boutique shop. She has the perfect business partner and now has two locations, Miami and now the city. Her life has been devoted to making herself strong and her business known. Her talent is so solid, people have been discovering her goodies.

Leo's love of chocolate has guided his career. He had the taste buds but also had the business smarts too. He followed his dreams and goals and now works with a chocolate company he loves. He is back in NYC after traveling the world sourcing great chocolate. These two meet at a chocolate convention and although both have "moved on in life", the friendship is still there.

What is a shock for Lulu is the new eyes she sees Leo with...When did Leo develop those hard muscles...What is that sexy scent he has...and why am I looking and that rock hard ass...Leo is taken with Lulu yet, continues to play things close to the vest...He doesn't want to lose her friendship.... yet the feelings he thought he had buried...are starting to creep back up.

What is the game changer is Lulu... and when she decides to take a risk...for Leo, all bets are off.

This story is so loving... it had me so many times. It touches on so many real feelings a person can have. I also loved the development of these characters. Each was fleshed out and you could understand them from the start. What was telling was their growth... their need to understand who they were now and how that impacted everything. There were other secondary characters who made their presence know. Lulu's mom was amazing. Her wisdom was the best. Lulu's business partner also was given some reading time giving us a tease about a possible future storyline.

Lauren Blakely gives swoon-worthy men all of the time...Leo is a very special one. Lulu was a perfect fit for him and when you finish this book, your heart will be full and have a true understanding of how Timing Really Can Be Everything.

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



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 100 times, and she’s sold more than 2.5 million books. In December she’ll release UNZIPPED, a hilarious romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter

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