Publisher: Self
Date of publication: November 11, 2015
As
the owner of Licked, an eclectic ice creamery and bar, Ryleigh Phillips doesn't
have time for that love stuff. Serving up Nibble My Nuts sundaes and Drunken
Sailor boozy shakes are as close to an orgasmic affair as she's had in months
thanks to her expanding empire—until the night of her ten-year high school
reunion.
When
Ryleigh's crush, gorgeous ex-football god Cameron Mathis, comes streaking into
her life (literally—streaking), she begins to wonder if she really can have it
all.
Wouldn't
it just figure that the moment you think life is perfect is when it falls
spectacularly apart?
Enter
Hunter Morgan, the contractor in charge of Licked's renovations. Devastatingly
handsome, and a smartass to boot, he's got his eyes on Ryleigh from the moment
he finds her passed out on his couch (yeah, that's a long story). There's just
one tiny complication—he happens to be Cameron's best friend.
When
the lines between relationships and friendships blur, and it's impossible to
choose between two delicious flavors, what's a girl to do? Taste a sample
of each? Or go out and get LICKED?
My thoughts:
Being a fan of ice cream, how could I not want to give Licked a try? The book involves Ryleigh who owns a unique ice cream shop. It caters to the adult crowd, offering ice cream and liquor concoctions with sassy and naughty names. She goes to her high school reunion to make her secret crush see how much she has changed. Hoping for a hook up, she ends up at his apartment where she meets his equally hot roommate and complete opposite, Hunter.
I ended up liking Licked a lot more than I was expecting to like it. I was thinking that there would be a love triangle, but there really wasn't one. I liked how the author handled to whole situation. The story is funny, awkward, steamy and gut wrenching all at the same time. Ryleigh was a fun character who realizes that sometimes what you think you have always wanted isn't what will make you happy in the end. Hunter was a great match for her. Although, he could often make me want to slap him for being so closed off at times. I was rooting for them the entire book.
The story also involves Ryleigh's best friends. They gave the story a lot of color and "flavor". I hope they are featured in future books. Because, while I liked them, I would love a little more background on them. There were a few times that I felt the author assumed I knew things about her friends. In those instances, it was like I missed earlier background that I couldn't find.
I do recommend this book. I hope there will be more books involving this gang in the future. I hope Cameron finds that special someone soon!
The story also involves Ryleigh's best friends. They gave the story a lot of color and "flavor". I hope they are featured in future books. Because, while I liked them, I would love a little more background on them. There were a few times that I felt the author assumed I knew things about her friends. In those instances, it was like I missed earlier background that I couldn't find.
I do recommend this book. I hope there will be more books involving this gang in the future. I hope Cameron finds that special someone soon!
Excerpt
“And then?”
I tugged at the edge of my apron in an attempt to avoid the
three pairs of eyes staring bug-eyed at me. “And then he walked me to my car.”
“And then you…?” Shayne asked.
“Went home,” I said.
“Wait a minute, can we talk about the fact that he made you
sleep on his couch?” Paige’s eyebrows were raised up to practically her
hairline. “I’m sorry, but in what fucking universe is that acceptable? Why
didn’t you call Quinn to pick you up?”
“He didn’t make me, geez. He passed out and it was late, and
I thought maybe…you know. Morning sex.”
Shayne cocked an eyebrow. “And did that happen?”
“Well, no. Hunter made me coffee, and then Cameron woke up
and…that’s it.”
“Wait,” Quinn interrupted. “You slept in an apartment with
two guys and both of them had you sleeping on the couch?
Jesus, Ryleigh, it’s against man-code for that to happen. Did you wear a
chastity belt last night or something?”
I groaned, my head falling into my hands. Of course the
girls would give me a hard time. I’d been talking up tackling Cameron at the
reunion for weeks, so my body wasn’t the only one feeling let down.
Still, I was seriously regretting inviting them over for a
powwow at my shop during our off hours.
“I think I need another shot of vodka in my Feisty Ho-bag
now.” Paige pushed her glass stemware toward me, and I grabbed a liquor bottle
from behind the bar and tipped some into her glass.
Boozy shakes. They were the bread and butter of Licked
during the brunch and evening hours, and the main reason for the expansion next
door. I glanced at the black tarp hanging over the doorway that led to the
space I’d bought a few months ago and sighed. Construction was running behind,
and it was too late to hire another company if I wanted to keep the launch date
set.
And I had to keep the date set.
“So are you seeing him again?” Shayne asked, dunking her
cherry through the layers of baklava bits and whipped cream on top of her
Nibble My Nuts shake. “I will totally get involved if I need to.”
No doubt she’d be successful. She basically ran one of the
top matchmaking companies in the city, not that you’d know it from her
degrading pay scale. Her boss was a fucking nightmare, but Shayne was convinced
she had to pay her dues.
“I don’t need your expert skills this time, but thank you.
He’s got my number, so…we’ll see.”
“You can’t just wait around for a guy to call,” she said.
“I’m not waiting. I’ve got all that”—I gestured to the ugly
tarp that hid the mess behind it—“to deal with, so I’m actually quite busy at
the moment.”
The three of them gave each other “the look.” You know, the
one that said, We’ve got to help our poor little friend get laid so she
doesn’t end up gorging on the ice cream and boozy shakes she makes and be
relegated to spinsterhood.
“Guys,” I said, placing my hands on the counter
as I stood in front of them. “I’m not on my way to spinsterhood. I just have
priorities.”
“I’m sure you could squeeze Cameron Mathis in,” Quinn said
with a wink. “Get it? Squeeze him in…”
“More like blow off the dust, grab a key, unlock that shit,
and pray there are no bats,” Paige agreed.
Oh for fuck’s sake. “All right, no more booze
for either of you.”
Brooke's Spotify list:
About the Author
You could say Brooke Blaine was a
book-a-holic from the time she knew how to read; she used to tell her mother
that curling up with one at 4 a.m. before elementary school was her "quiet
time. Not much has changed except for the espresso I.V. pump she now carries
around and the size of her onesie pajamas. Flash Point is Brooke's debut solo
novel, and she is the co-author of the erotic serial, A Desperate Man, with
Ella Frank. The latter has scarred her conservative southern family for life,
bless their hearts. Licked, a romantic comedy, will be released on November
11th, 2015. If you'd like to get in touch with her, she's easy to find -
just keep an ear out for the Rick Astley ringtone that's dominated her cell
phone for ten years.
No comments:
Post a Comment