Author: Lauren Blakely
Publihser: Little DOg Press
Date of publication: May 6, 2019
Watch
out world — I’m ready to date again.
The
seven years I invested in my ex left me with nothing but scorch marks from the
way he peeled out and left me at the altar. I’m not looking to put my heart
into a relationship any time soon. But getting back out there? That sounds like
a helluva good idea to get my groove back.
Then
I bump into Chris….Clever and funny, with a sexy surfer’s bod and a brilliant
nerd brain, he has just the right screwdriver to fix my hard drive. (Yes, the
one for my computer.) I wouldn’t mind dating him. The trouble is he just
proposed to me—to be the new dating guru on his TV show. Now he’s my new
business partner.
What happens when you meet the right person at the wrong time?
What happens when you meet the right person at the wrong time?
My thoughts;
This was one of the cutest romances that I have read so far this year. I read it in one sitting and had a big smile at the end. I loved watching Chris and McKenna fall for each other. They were fun characters and their banter felt really natural. Both of them are struggling with trust issues and don't want to take a chance at love. But of course, love always comes when you least expect it. The author's note in the beginning said this is a rework of a very early story that she wrote featuring Chris and McKenna. I am so glad she decided to rework and reissue it. It's a fun read and one I would highly recommend.
Enjoy this excerpt:
~McKenna~
“What other games do you like?” Hot Guy asks, and something
about the question startles me. Maybe because it’s so normal, and he seems
legitimately curious. Then there’s the simple fact that we’re having a
conversation in the middle of an electronics store.
“Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly,” I say with a
completely straight face.
He picks up the cue easily, raising an eyebrow as he asks,
“Clue?”
“Of course. And it was always Professor Plum in the library
with the candlestick.”
“Interesting. Because Miss Scarlet was pretty wicked with
that rope in the ballroom, if memory serves. What about Chutes and Ladders?”
“Let’s not forget Candy Land either.”
“What was your favorite candy destination in that game?”
“The vintage game, right? Not that new King Candy imitator?”
“As if I’d even be talking about that game,” he says
playfully.
I’m about to answer when he puts his hands together as if
he’s praying and says in a whisper, “Please say Ice Cream Floats. Please say
Ice Cream Floats.”
I laugh with the kind of mirth I haven’t felt in a while,
the kind that radiates through my whole body and turns into a huge grin. “Of
course. I wanted to live in Ice Cream Floats.”
“I was all set to build a chocolate and licorice home in Ice
Cream Floats. And this reminds me that I need to stock up on the classic games
too. But I don’t think they sell them here.”
“I came here because Gadgets, Gizmos, and Geeks is closed,
and that’s the only place nearby that actually fixes hard drives.” I put on my
best sad face. “I was the victim of a cat hard-drive attack.”
He pretends to be taken aback. “I’ve heard of those. How
awful”
“It was terrible. Fur, claws, and metal everywhere.”
“My condolences. Hopefully you at least caught it on camera
so you can post it on YouTube?”
I snap my fingers, aw-shucks-style. “If only.”
“Next time.”
“Or perhaps next time I will do a better job making sure the
hard drive is out of his reach.”
He shrugs confidently, quirks up his lips. “Can I see it?”
“Um, sure.” Does he have a thing for broken hard drives? I
reach into my bag where I have the drive and show him the silver device with
the cracked end.
He surveys the damage. “I can fix it.”
I give him a quizzical look. “Seriously? You can fix a hard
drive? Do you moonlight as a computer-repair guy?”
“Not exactly. I can fix pretty much anything.”
“That’s impressive.”
“Want me to try?”
I study his face, trying to figure him out. “You really want
to?”
“I do. Yeah,” he says, as if he’s digging the prospect of
repairing the damaged device. “I really enjoy that kind of challenge. It’s kind
of like a game to me.”
But I don’t want to hand over a hard drive to a total
stranger. “Actually…”
He smiles, raises a finger. “And I bet you probably don’t
want to give your hard drive to a total stranger.”
I shrug, a little embarrassed. “Sorry. But you can’t be too
careful.”
“I hear you completely. But this is simple. And…” He inches
closer, reaches into the pocket of his jeans, and dangles his keys. Is he going
to take me for a ride? “I have the tools right here.”
I blink, surprised. “What?”
He waggles the keys, and I spy a tiny little tube that looks
like it holds screwdrivers.
“You carry computer-repair tools with you?”
He smiles casually. “You never know when you might need
them. I also carry a Swiss Army knife. I read 101 Things a Navy SEAL Knows.”
He glances out the window of the store at Chestnut Street, teeming with
pedestrians. “And I also know the café next door makes a killer espresso. I’ll
fix it while we get a cup of joe.”
Cup of joe! That’s almost like a date!
I mean, it’s not a date.
Obviously.
But it’s training-wheels time. Talking to this guy as he
fixes my hard drive might help me prep for when I go out with Steven from
Madcap, the Lemonhead Guy, Nathaniel from Julia’s bar, and the other men I hope
will come knocking on my door—not literally—once my dating prowess improves.
“Sure,” I say, with probably way more enthusiasm than the
prospect of a repair job and coffee deserves.
There’s a big bonus to this cuppa. I’ll get to look at his
handsome face while he fixes it. I mean, I’ll look at his hands, because the
sight of a man using a tool is super hot.
“By the way, I’m Chris McCormick.”
“McKenna Bell.”
He extends a hand.
We make contact, and there’s something about the feel of his
strong hand in mine that kind of turns me on. Maybe it’s the firm grip, or the
way his eyes light up as he smiles. I want to tug him closer and plant a hot,
wet kiss on his lips.
Nothing will happen though. He didn’t ask me on a date, and
I didn’t ask him either.
But it can’t hurt that I’m thinking slightly naughty
thoughts. It’s evidence I’m getting my groove back.
Hello, groove. Nice to see you. I’ve missed you bunches.
ORDER YOUR COPIES HERE!
✦ Kindle ➜ https://blkly.pub/DatingKindle (FREE in KU!)
✦ Paperback ➜ https://blkly.pub/DatingPB
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/DatingAudible (Andi Arndt & Sebastian York)
✮✮✮ ANOTHER FABULOUS LAUREN
BLAKELY GIVEAWAY! ✮✮✮
Who doesn’t enjoy a night out! This amazing
giveaway includes a $100 gift card to your favorite restaurant and a $100 gift
card to your favorite clothing retailer to purchase just the right outfit for
the occasion.
About Lauren Blakely:
A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling,
and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary
romance style that's sweet, sexy and witty. Her heroines are strong and smart
and her heroes have hearts of gold and fantastic funny bones. She lives in
California with her family, including her smoking hot and hilarious husband and
her two brilliant and kind children. She has plotted entire novels while
walking her dogs -- she might have four dogs, or maybe five. If she's lucky,
she'll soon have six 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 3 million books.
In May she'll release THE DATING PROPOSAL, in June SATISFACTION GUARANTEED and
in September INSTANT GRATIFICATION. To receive an email when Lauren releases a
new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter
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