Have you read my second novel Only When It’s Love? Here’s what it’s about:
Alex’s love life is a disaster. Will accepting a crazy seven-step dating challenge lead to more heartbreak or help her find Mr Right?
Alex is tired of getting ghosted. After years of disastrous hook-ups and relationships that lead to the bedroom but nowhere else, Alex is convinced she’s destined to be eternally single. Then her newly married friend Stacey recommends what worked for her: a self-help book that guarantees Alex will find true love in just seven steps. Sounds simple, right?
Except Alex soon discovers that each step is more difficult than the last, and one of the rules involves dating, but not sleeping with a guy for six months. Absolutely no intimate contact whatsoever. Zero. Nada. Rien. A big challenge for Alex, who has never been one to hold back from jumping straight into the sack, hoping it will help a man fall for her.
Will any guys be willing to wait? Will Alex find her Mr Right? And if she does, will she be strong enough to resist temptation and hold out for true love?
Join Alex on her roller coaster romantic journey as she tries to cope with the emotional and physical ups and downs of dating whilst following a lengthy list of rigid rules.
Only When It’s Love is a standalone, fun, feel-good, romantic comedy about self-acceptance, determination, love and the challenge of finding the one.
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Praise For Only When It's Love
‘Totally unique and wonderful. Olivia’s book has a brilliant message about self-worth and brings to life an important modern take on the rom-com. Most definitely a five-star read.’ - Love Books Group
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‘I guarantee you will HOOT with laughter at Alex's escapades whilst fully cheering her on. If you like romance, humour and a generally fun-filled read then look no further than this gorgeous, well-written dating adventure. Five stars.’ - Bookaholic Confessions
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‘Such a uniquely told, laugh-out-loud, dirty and flirty, addictive novel.’ - The Writing Garnet
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‘An exciting insight into relationships in the 21st century.’ - Amazon reader
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‘With the right mix of romance and comedy, this is the perfect read. Five stars.’ - Love Books Actually
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‘I’ve never read a story so quickly to find out who she would choose and if Mr Right would be the one! Five stars.’ - Books Between Friends
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‘Funny, entertaining and clever. Olivia is an incredibly talented writer, and definitely one to watch. I cannot wait to see what she does next! Five stars.’ - BookMadJo
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‘Cool, contemporary, but still wildly romantic! Yet another smasher from Olivia Spring! There’s something about the way she writes that really endeared me to the heroine of this story.’ - Amazon reader
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‘WOW WOW WOW!!!! Only When it's Love is a dynamite love fest. I read the entire story with the biggest smile on my face. In case you might have missed the million hints I've dropped, download the book today and jump straight in.’ Stacy is Reading
Buy Only When It’s Love here:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
An extract from Only When It’s Love
Chapter One
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Never again.
Why, why, why did I keep on doing this?
I felt great for a few minutes, or if I was lucky, hours, but then, when it was all over, I ended up feeling like shit for days. Sometimes weeks.
I must stop torturing myself.
Repeat after me:
I, Alexandra Adams, will not answer Connor Matthew’s WhatsApp messages, texts or phone calls for the rest of my life.
I firmly declare that even if Connor says his whole world is falling apart, that he’s sorry, he’s realised I’m the one and he’s changed, I will positively, absolutely, unequivocally not reply.
Nor will I end up going to his flat because I caved in after he sent me five million messages saying he misses me and inviting me round just ‘to talk’.
And I definitely do solemnly swear that I will not end up on my back with my legs wrapped around his neck within minutes of arriving, because I took one look at his body and couldn’t resist.
No.
That’s it.
No more.
I will be strong. I will be like iron. Titanium. Steel. All three welded into one.
I will block Connor once and for all and I will move on with my life.
Yes!
I exhaled.
Finally I’d found my inner strength.
This was the start of a new life for me. A new beginning. Where I wouldn’t get screwed over by yet another fuckboy. Where I wouldn’t get ghosted or dumped. Where I took control of my life and stuck my middle finger up at the men who treated me like shit. Here’s to the new me.
My phone chimed.
It was Connor.
I bolted upright in bed and clicked on his message.
He couldn’t stop thinking about me. He wanted to see me again.
Tonight.
To talk. About our future.
Together.
This could be it!
Things had felt kind of different last time. Like there was a deeper connection.
Maybe he was right. Maybe he had changed…
I excitedly typed out a reply.
My fingers hovered over the blue button, ready to send.
Hello?
What the hell was I doing?
It was like the entire contents of my pep talk two seconds ago had just evaporated from my brain.
Remember being strong like iron, titanium and steel and resisting the temptations of Connor?
Shit.
This was going to be much harder than I’d thought.
Want to find out what happens next? Buy Only When It’s Love by Olivia Spring here:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Also by Olivia Spring
Losing My Inhibitions
Have you read my third novel Losing My Inhibitions? Here’s what it’s about:
Finally free and ready to have fun...
He’s hot, single and off limits. She’s just got her life together after a messy divorce. Should she risk it all for a forbidden fling?
A year after leaving her controlling ex, Roxy’s divorce is finally official. She’s got her confidence and career back on track and is ready to start enjoying some no-strings-attached fun.
But just when Roxy thinks she has her dating plan all mapped out, a hot younger single man unexpectedly appears. On paper, he sounds like exactly what Roxy’s been looking for, until she’s warned that he’s strictly off limits. Getting involved with him will put her career, home and everything she’s worked for in extreme jeopardy. There’s a million reasons why Roxy shouldn’t give into his charms. The trouble is, he’s just too tempting...
Will Roxy take a chance and risk it all to pursue a forbidden fling? And if she does, can she find a way to let him rock her world, without turning it upside down?
Losing My Inhibitions is a sexy, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy with a modern twist. This story is about self-love, new beginnings, forging your own path in life and being true to yourself. It can be read as a standalone novel or as a prequel to The Middle-Aged Virgin and Only When It’s Love.
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Here's what readers are saying about it:
“All hail the new queen of funny, sexy romantic fiction, Olivia Spring. A brilliant read with cringe worthy moments captured perfectly and genius comedy that had me laughing out loud. I can’t wait to see what Olivia Spring conjures up next but I will snap it up. All we need now is a movie deal for all three books. Five stars.” Love Books Group
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“Oh my word. Ladies if you haven’t already read this, you are missing out. It’s steamy, it’s sexy and it’s very funny. There is a part in it, of which I can’t repeat, that had me doubled
up laughing. Totally loved it. Five stars.” Books Between Friends
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“Losing My Inhibitions is the perfect mix of sexy, romance, drama and comedy which will have you laughing out loud. I would definitely recommend this book! It’s perfect for a summer read, chilled out in the garden with a glass of something lovely. Five stars.” Nicole’s Book Corner
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“Well Olivia Spring, you’ve done it again. This modern girl’s rom-com is about self-love, self-discovery, and to always be true to who you are. I devoured it!” Girl Well Read
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“I really enjoyed reading this - some of the situations Roxy finds herself in had me laughing out loud! There’s also a few steamier moments in there! Five stars.” Home Full Of Books
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“I read it in two evenings and it was brilliant!! I couldn’t put it down, I just had to know what happened next.” Head In A Book 18
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Buy it here: Losing My Inhibitions
An extract from Losing My Inhibitions
Chapter One
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At last.
I thought it was never going to end.
He’d been pounding away for ten minutes, grunting like a pig, and I’d been listening to the radio playing in the background, trying to figure out what advert the song before last was from. Was it the one advertising car insurance or the one for those panty liners that are supposed to keep you cotton fresh all day long? It’ll come to me…
We should have just called it a night when he’d first struggled to get his machinery working. Based on tonight, it seems like what I’d read about some older men finding it difficult to get it up was true.
It was only about half an hour after he’d popped a little blue pill that he’d been able to get his little soldier to stand to attention, if you catch my drift. Which, unfortunately for me, was around the same time I started to sober up and wonder what the hell I was doing.
But by then, he was really excited, and it had been so long since my last time that I’d got myself worked up and was just as keen as him to give it a go. I mean, when I start something, I like to see it through. Yep, I’m dedicated like that.
I’d also read that there are lots of benefits of sleeping with an older guy. Apparently, after years of experience in the sack, they know their way around a woman’s body better than a gynaecologist, so I thought I may as well give it a try. Purely in the name of research, of course.
But now I was really wishing I hadn’t bothered. It was about as exciting as watching a hundred-metre snail race. And this guy wouldn’t know his way around my anatomy if I gave him a map.
Still, at least it was over now. I was back in the saddle. First time since I’d left my ex-husband. Frankly, I hoped it got better from here. Please tell me it does?
I opened my eyes slowly and glanced up at his crepey skin and flaky bald head, which had tufts of grey at the side. His droopy man boobs hung above my chest, whilst the weight of his large pot belly pressed down on my stomach.
Dear God.
I must have had a lot more to drink than I’d realised.
Don’t get me wrong. If I was looking for a relationship and this was a man I’d fallen madly in love with, then I wouldn’t be so shallow. It was just that right now, I was looking for fun. To make up for the years I’d wasted with my ex. When I was dreaming of the day that I’d be free from Steve and with another man, this wasn’t exactly what I’d had in mind.
I’d pictured a young, hot, sexy guy with abs that would give a Calvin Klein model a run for his money, with a full head of dark hair I could run my fingers through. A stud who would have me screaming for more, rather than wondering when it would all be over.
It was Colette, my boss, slash landlady, slash housemate, slash friend, who’d set me up with him at my divorce party earlier this evening. Now that I was officially free, Colette said some male company might be good for me, so she’d invited Donald, her loaded sixty-two-year-old boyfriend, and he’d brought his fifty-five-year-old mate Terrence along.
I knew that I was ready to get back on the horse, and it was already under control. My cousin Alex had been helping me. She’d given me a crash course in online dating two weeks ago, and I wanted to set up my profile ASAP so I could get going on the whole swiping thing, but this big work exhibition kept getting in the way. I’d been burning the midnight oil every night and often over the weekends too, trying to get everything prepared, which didn’t leave me with any time for extracurricular activities. And after another long, tiring and stressful day, a hook-up was the last thing I was thinking about. But I guess the booze I’d been drinking all night had made me relax a little too much, so when Terrence had started flirting, my libido had woken up, curiosity had got the better of me, and I’d hastily thought, Why not just get it out the way now?
Big Mistake.
Oh well. You live and you learn. We all do things in the heat of the moment that we regret. As long as I didn’t do it again, then it was fine. Which meant I better start thinking about how I was going to get this big sweaty oaf of a man off me. Now. I’d heard the effects of those pills can last for hours, and I definitely couldn’t endure another round.
No way.
Remind me never to drink alcohol again.
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Want to find out what happens next? Buy Losing My Inhibitions by Olivia Spring here:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Acknowledgements
Soooo many wonderful people I’d like to thank for helping to bring this book to life.
Firstly, my amazing mum. Thanks as always for reading through numerous drafts and giving honest feedback. You're so supportive and kind. You really are the best!
Thanks to all of my ‘career consultants’ who gave their time so generously: Irwin for your insight into the music business, Sarah of Charlotte Designs for giving me a glimpse into the world of being a mural artist (your job sounds really cool!) and Pete for filling me in on life as an illustrator. Thankfully the projects you work on are more glam than Emily's were! Big thanks also to Sofar Sounds for the info and show invites. Such a brilliant concept.
HUGE thanks to my editor, Eliza, and my proofreader, Lily, for helping me to create the best version of this novel. Big hugs to my cover designer, Rachel, and website designer, Dawn, for making my book and marketing look lovely.
Gracias to my darling PD for your love, constant encouragement and your calming pep talks. You always know what to say to make me feel better!
To my amazing advance readers Brad, Jo and Loz. Thanks for taking the time to read through the book and give such useful comments.
Merci beaucoup Dad, siblings, Cams, Jas and Nene for your continued support.
Cheers to Mike, Kay and my fellow authors for your advice and wisdom.
Big thanks to each and every one of the wonderful bloggers who take the time to read and review my books. You rock.
And the biggest of thank-yous goes to you, dear reader. I appreciate you SO very much. I’m incredibly grateful that you continue to buy, read and review my books. It genuinely makes my day when you send messages saying how much you enjoyed reading them. You’re even better than cake (and you know how much I love cake!). Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Until the next acknowledgements page...
About the Author
Olivia Spring lives in London, England. When she’s not making regular trips to Italy to indulge in pasta, pizza and gelato, she can be found at her desk, writing new sexy chick-lit novels, whilst consuming large bowls of her mum’s delicious apple crumble and custard.
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If you’d like to say hi, email [email protected] or connect on social media.
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