“It lasts forever, for always, because of the love they have and the way they love. And how they learned to love together. Fierce and true.”
“And I’ll tell her that’s how I feel for her dad.”
“And I’ll tell her that’s how I feel for her mom.”
“And that’s how we feel for her.”
As the water lapped the shore, then rolled back out to sea, we were finally where we wanted to be: with family, by the ocean, under the sun, on our terms, loving fierce and true.
THE END…
Check out my other contemporary romance novels!
Caught Up In Us, a New York Times and
USA Today Bestseller! (Kat and Bryan’s romance!)
Pretending He’s Mine, a Barnes & Noble and
iBooks Bestseller! (Reeve & Sutton’s romance)
Trophy Husband, a New York Times and
USA Today Bestseller! (Chris & McKenna’s romance)
Playing With Her Heart, a
USA Today Bestseller! (Davis and Jill’s romance)
Far Too Tempting, an Amazon romance
bestseller! (Matthew and Jane’s romance)
And my new adult romance!
The Thrill of It, a Barnes & Noble and
iBooks Bestseller! (Meet Harley and Trey, though
you probably already have if you’re reading this!)
And Coming in May is NIGHT AFTER NIGHT,
the sizzling hot and sexy story of Julia and Clay
from FIRST NIGHT. Add it to Goodreads here.
After one hot night together in a bar, Clay Nichols can't get Julia Bell out of his mind. Sure, she lives on the other side of the country, but that's nothing a few frequent flyer miles can't cure. When she travels to see him in New York the chemistry is off-the-charts again and so is their connection. If only she hadn't taken off the next morning without saying goodbye...
She has no choice, though. Julia has ZERO room in her life for this kind of commitment, not while she has grade-A, serious trouble at home breathing down her neck. And she doesn't want to involve anyone she cares about in the kind of danger that's chasing her.
But fate has other plans for these red-hot lovers....and they find themselves together again at her sister's wedding, then at his best friend's wedding, and they can't resist each other. All the while, trouble keeps nipping at her heels, and she'll have to decide whether to let the past ruin her present, and her future with the man who's everything she never knew she needed and now desperately wants. Too bad she's testing his patience with all her running.
In this modern love story, Julia and Clay will discover whether there's more to what they share than sexy text messages, naughty emails, and an intense connection. Can they put their hearts on the line?
If you enjoyed Every Second With You please consider leaving a review on one of the book-buying sites. Customer reviews help other readers discover books they may fall in love with too!
Acknowledgments
I am grateful to so many people. First and foremost, thank you to to my amazing readers. I adore every single one of you, and I am sending you virtual kisses, hugs and chocolate for your support. I love your enthusiasm, your notes, emails, tweets, posts, reviews and sweet comments. I write for you. You are all my reasons.
Next is my family. My husband and my children are the loves of my life, and I thank them for understanding my intense attachment to fictional characters. My dogs deserve more biscuits, bones and tennis balls – they are with me for nearly every word I write.
My beta readers are rock stars. Zoe always gives keen, insightful feedback; Kelly read as I wrote, suggesting tweaks and cheering me on; Crystal lent her sharp eye to a near-find draft, Monica helped refine the ending, and Kim, as always, had my back. THANK YOU. My editor Lauren McKellar helped with a final polish of the words.
Big thanks to my writer friends. Monica Murphy encouraged me to write Harley and Trey’s story in the first place, and I am so glad she did. I’m lucky too for the daily friendship, laughter and support of my girls Sawyer Bennett, Melody Grace, Violet Duke, Lexi Ryan, and Kendall Ryan. Big thanks to Kristen Proby, Pepper Winters, Jessie Evans and Katy Evans. Love ya, girls! Then there’s Tara Simone – my best friend in the world!
My publicist and friend Kelly at Inkslinger PR is my rock. I can’t imagine navigating this world without her by my side. My cover designer Sarah Hansen is a wizard. Credit for the beautiful cover photo goes to Anthony Langlois at Glimpse Photography. His work is amazing.
I am grateful to Jen McCoy who ably helped me choose an Arcade Fire wedding song. I owe a huge thank you to the amazingly talented Georgia Cates, who was generous with her time and knowledge of medicine and labor and delivery. Any mistakes in the hospital sequences are my own. Hetty, as always, was there for me – whether to read, to make a gorgeous picture, and most of all just to be a friend.
Hetty is also a part of my core group of gals – Hetty, Kim, Cara and Kristy - you are fabulous readers and wonderful women. Kim is by my side with her daily enthusiasm. Kelley is an amazing resource. Helen at All Booked Out continues to deliver stunning graphics, as do Tori at Give Me Books and Heather at Real Housewives of Romance.
The indie world is built on the passion of many amazing bloggers. Thank you to all the amazing bloggers who share their love of books every day. The list includes: Eye Candy Bookstore, Totally Booked, Rock Stars of Romance, Vilma at Vilma’s Book Blog, Jen at Sub Club, Book Whores Obsession, Reviews by Tammy and Kim, Book Addict Mumma, Two Crazy Girls with a Passion for Books, Shh…Mom’s Reading, Romance Addict, Little Black Book Blog, Flirty and Dirty Book Blog, HEA Shelf Blogger, Angie’s Dreamy Reads, Becky at Reality Bites! Let’s Get Lost, Kelly at KellyVision, True Story Book Blog, LoveNBooks, Just Booked and many more. Special shout-outs to my girls Kara Hildebrand and Sandra Shipman (love leaning on the two of you rock star readers! Can’t wait for dinner in Vegas!), Lexi at Book Reviews by Lexi, Retta Rusaw and Lisa Kreinheder at Because I Said So Book Blog, Shamika at Sticky Reads, Jaime Collins at For the Love of Books by Jaime, Cindy at the Book Enthusiast, Alissa Riker at Author Stalkers, Stacey at Reading Rainblog, Cindy Gibson, Vanessa Foxford, Yvette at Nose Stuck in a Book, Tracey K., Kelley from Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews, Patricia from A Literary Perusal, Betsy from Book Drunk Blog, that awesome chick Kenna Nauenburg, Jennifer Santoro from The Readiacs, Jennifer Reyes from Jen's Book Reviews, Jessica and Lyndsay from Little Black Book Blog, Jennifer from Jennifers Taking A Break, Wendy Racine, Carolyn Isherwood, Tami Schafer, MJ Fryer, Stacy Hahn, Sara Howe, Brenda Howe, Karen - The Danish Bookaholic, Kassie’s Book Thoughts, Tanya from After the Final Chapters, Diane from Naughty Book Eden, Jackie Uzzell, Mariana Lee, Louisse Ang from The Soul Sisters, Gretchen from About That Story, Lyndsey Aaron from The Eyeliner Manifesto, Theresa Potter, Laura at Bookish Treasures, Shey Houston at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews, Tanya The Book Obsessed Momma, Wendy at The Geekery Book Review, Kat, Ava, Bianca and Brittany from Bibio Belles Book Blog, Julie Solorio with Love Between the Sheets, the fabulous Bette Hansen, Kim Brown at Chapter Break, Jassie, the amazing Dianne of Oops I Read A Book Again, Chelsea at Starbucks & Books Obsession, Teresa Gomez from Sinful Reviews, Jessica at Lovin’ Los Libros, Tabatha at Insightful Minds Reviews, Amy at Schmexy Girl Book Blog and so very many more.
Last, but not least, thank you to Harley and Trey. I have loved every second with the two of you and I will miss you both immensely.
Dear Readers: I am thrilled to share a brief excerpt from Very Bad Things by bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills! Available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks! This is a fantastic new adult novel!
Xoxo
Lauren
EXCERPT:
I tried to picture it in my mind. Me, the spoiled rich girl. Being part of a rock band and helping someone who wasn’t part of my social circle, and then toss in spending time with this hot guy I wanted, but who didn’t want me. Not much fun.
“I’m in.”
“Good,” Leo s
aid, rubbing the back of his neck, like he didn’t know what to say next. Then, as if he’d made a decision, he pulled me out into the quiet hallway. Once we were alone, “Now, about last night—” he stopped, appearing stuck on what to say.
“Yeah?”
He took two steps away from me and sighed heavily, like he needed some space between us, like what he was going to say was difficult. He ran his hand through his hair furiously, pulling on the ends a little. “Nora, look, I think you’re a pretty girl, but there won’t be anything between us.”
My face flushed because I had acted inappropriately last night. Like a slut, really. Yet I didn’t regret it. And then there was the whole bad list.
I wanted him for my meaningless sex. Still.
“Because you think I’m too young.”
“Yes, dammit,” he said gruffly. “I don’t have time for any adolescent girl crushes.” He blew out a breath. “I’m sorry if I come across as a prick, but I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me. I don’t do serious relationships ever, and you deserve something good, not just a quick fuck.”
I stared at his full lips, not holding back. “I like it when you say ‘fuck.’”
"Very Bad Things is maddening, passionate, heart-breaking, all-encompassing, and about a million other adjectives." Books to Breathe
Born into a life of privilege and secrets, Nora Blakely has everything any nineteen-year-old girl could desire. She's an accomplished pianist, a Texas beauty queen, and on her way to Princeton after high school. She's perfect. Or is she? Leaving behind her million-dollar mansion and Jimmy Choos, she changes the course of her life, becoming a girl hell-bent on pushing the limits with alcohol, drugs, and meaningless sex. Then through a chance encounter, she meets her soulmate. But he doesn't want her.
When it comes to girls, twenty-five-year-old Leo Tate has one rule: never fall in love. His gym and his brother are all he cares about...until he meets Nora. He resists the pull of their attraction, hung up on their six year age difference. As they struggle to stay away from each other, secrets will be revealed, tempers will flare, and hearts will be broken. Welcome to Briarcrest Academy...where sometimes, the best things in life are Very Bad Things.
Very Bad Things is a complete standalone novel without a cliffhanger.
Amazon
Contact
I love hearing from readers! You can find me on Twitter at LaurenBlakely3, or Facebook at LaurenBlakelyBooks, or online at LaurenBlakely.com. You can also email me at [email protected].
Table of Contents
Copyright
About
Dedication
Also by Lauren Blakely
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Acknowledgments
Excerpt from Very Bad Things by Ilsa Madden Mills
Contact
Every Second With You Page 22