Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt from Friend Zoned by Evelyn Sola

 

by Evelyn Sola
 
Fresh off of a messy divorce, Jeannie Dubois isn’t looking for anything more than friendship, and Aiden Walsh is more than happy to fill that role. But when these two friends become lovers, things quickly turn complicated. Can Aiden prove to Jeannie that they’re meant to be more than friends or will she send him back to the friend zone? Readers who enjoy spicy romances will devour Friend Zoned by Evelyn Sola, a steamy friends-to-lovers romance.
 
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They say the best things come when you least expect it.
 
Burned by her ex-husband and a messy divorce, Jeannie Dubois isn’t looking for anything more than a good friend. Besides, she’s still dealing with the ex-husband who can’t seem to let her go.
Insert NBA coach, Aiden Walsh. Sure, he wants so much more than friendship with the beautiful woman he met at a wedding, but he’s sure he can play the part and he’s good at biding his time. So, for now, he’ll fill any role she wants.
 
But when these two friends become lovers, things quickly turn complicated when Jeannie finds out Aiden is so much more than just Manhattan’s favorite coach.
Can Aiden prove to Jeannie that they’re meant to be so much more, or will she send him back to the friend zone?
 
My Thoughts:

Friend Zoned is a slow burn romance about two unlikely strangers who become friends before lovers.  This is Jeannie and Aiden's story.  I really enjoyed this romance.  It was so refreshing to watch them become friends first.  We got to spend a lot of time with them on page just getting to know each other.  It ramped up the anticipation for the inevitable first kiss.  I loved this couple together.  Their families were hilarious.  It's a great way to spend a few hours immersed in a sweet and steamy romance.  I highly recommend it.

 
Excerpt
Copyright 2023 @Evelyn Sola
 
 “Jeannie,” Vickie, the bride, says. She’s so beautiful with the happy newly married glow. “Have you met Colt’s coach, Aiden?”
                Shocked by the question, I look around the room and hope my mother will come save me, but she’s too busy talking and laughing to bother noticing me. I clear my throat and offer him my hand. His large palm practically envelops it. When he lifts my knuckles to his lips and kisses them, I almost combust into flames. It’s been almost two years since I felt a man’s lips on any part of me. That must be why my body is short circuiting right now. But if I have a few more drinks, I’m going to drag him into a dark corner and have my way with him. I clear my throat and yank my hand away.
                “So, you ah, coach football?” I ask, unsure of what else I could possibly ask. I try to think of any information my mother has given me. She says Mr. Colt is a football player. Vickie giggles and Colt groans.
                “Basketball,” Aiden corrects.
                “Are you sure?” I ask. “My mom said you’re a football player,” I say to Colt.
                Vickie tries to hide her laugh but fails.
                “I’m going to have a talk with Myra,” Colt says, but he’s being playful, so I’m not completely mortified by my faux pas.
                “Yeah, and I’m pretty sure I coach basketball, not football,” Aidan says.
                “Oh.” I wave my hand. “I don’t watch either.” I turn back to my chair, certain that they think I’m an idiot and will leave me alone now.
                “More of a reader, I see,” Aiden responds. “What book has you so engrossed?”
                My eyes dart to the table in search of my book. I thank a higher power that it’s safely inside my purse. No need to let these newlyweds and the sexy one know that my life is a train wreck. “Nothing you would find particularly interesting.” I clear my throat, but when I turn to look at Aiden, he’s looking directly at me.
                “Try me,” he says. I take a step toward the table, grab my purse and shove it under my chair. No way in hell he’ll see this book.
 
About Evelyn Sola

A Boston native, wife, mother, and wine enthusiast. If she’s not writing, thinking about writing, you will find Evelyn with a book in her hands. While a new publisher, she’s been writing for years, and she will continue to write for many years to come. 
Evelyn is obsessed with assertive and confident men who will stop at nothing to get their woman. Her stories are filled with love, passion, and humor.
She currently lives in Chicago, IL with her husband and two daughters.
 
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Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt of Make Me by Evelyn Sola

 

Author: Evelyn Sola
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Laci Hogan isn’t looking for love when she moves back to Oak Bend. Coming home is all about Laci gaining her independence she once lost. Besides, getting over a rocky past and losing her husband is more than enough for her to juggle while raising her two-year-old daughter but old acquaintance - Cooper Stevens can be persistent when it comes to getting what he wants.

No stranger to hard work, he’s willing to do all it takes to prove to his new neighbor Laci that she doesn’t have to do life alone and that with the right person, a relationship makes life better - oh so much better.

Will Cooper make her see that this could be all the happiness she never knew she was looking for?

My Thoughts:
 

Make Me is an emotional, slow burn, kind of second chance romance.  Laci has come to live in the town of Oak Bend to manage her aunt's flower shop.  It's a fresh start for her and her 2 year old daughter.  Her neighbor and landlord happens to be her high school cruch, Cooper. 

I thought this was a really sweet romance.  I loved how Cooper worked hard to tear down Laci's walls and help her realize he is her soft place to fall.  They had amazing chemistry.  I also loved how Cooper embrace little Ivy.  He was too cute with her.  I definitely recommend this one.

Excerpt
 
Copyright 2021 Evelyn Sola
 
Just as I approach the corner, I’m hit on the shoulder by another body. I’m pushed to the wall, and the mountain of books in my hands crashes to the floor. The red folder holding my English term paper lands on top of the heap.
“Watch where you’re going!” the person who bumped says.
She doesn’t have the decency to stop, but by the sound of her giggles, I know who it is. And there’s no way the school’s most popular senior would give me the time of day. I sigh and drop to the floor to pick up my things. My heart starts to beat erratically because if there’s one thing I know—wherever Candace is, he’s never too far behind.
I’m proven right. A pair of black boots enters my line of vision. Cooper Stevens. Those are his boots. He was wearing them the very first time I saw him, and I remember wanting to be swallowed up by the ground. The only thing that saved me from total embarrassment was the fact that I know someone like him would never notice someone like me.
I hold my breath while he approaches and quickly turn to my books. Please leave. Please leave. Please leave. I busy myself arranging my books. I won’t stand up until he walks past me. Only he doesn’t. He drops down to my level and grabs my red folder. Instead of handing it to me, he opens it and starts to look through the pages.
I finally find the courage to look at him, and our eyes lock. For the first time ever, I notice the hazel flecks around his brown eyes. I look away and drop my head, and because this is the day from hell, my glasses slide off my face and land on the floor.
We reach for them at the same time, and his large hand ends up covering mine. I let out a small sound, and I say a silent prayer that he didn’t hear it. I note the contrast of our skin tones, his white hand covering my brown one before I pull mine away. He lifts my glasses and brings them to my face. I’m as still as a statue while I look down at the linoleum floor. He moves closer and slides the glasses back onto my face. I take a deep breath and bask in the smell of his leather jacket mixed with his fruity shampoo.
When he gets the glasses on my face, he moves his hands behind my ears to make sure they are secure.
“You okay?” he asks. He lifts my chin and forces me to look at him.
Like a deer in headlights, all I can do is stare.
“Be careful next time, Laces,” he whispers.
I lick my dry lips. “Um, my name is—” The words get locked in my throat. I grab my books and finally stand up. He stands right along with me. When we’re both upright, he takes a step closer.
“Your name is what?” he asks. He hands me my folder, and when I take it from him, his fingers touch mine.
“Um, my name is—” I clear my throat and try again. The entire time he stares at me with an expression I can’t interpret. “My name isn’t, um—” I never get a chance to finish my sentence.
“Cooper!” Candace yells in the hallway. She runs over to us and grabs the sleeve of his leather jacket. “Come on! What are you still doing here with her?” She points at me without bothering to look in my direction. “Let’s go. You did your good deed of the day. Maybe you should tell her to run a flat iron through that hair.” The entire time he was being dragged away, his head was turned in my direction, until they turned the corner and he disappeared.
 
About Evelyn Sola

A Boston native, wife, mother, and wine enthusiast. If she’s not writing, thinking about writing, you will find Evelyn with a book in her hands. While a new publisher, she’s been writing for years, and she will continue to write for many years to come. 
 
Evelyn is obsessed with assertive and confident men who will stop at nothing to get their woman. Her stories are filled with love, passion and humor.
She currently lives in Chicago, IL with her husband and two daughters.
 
Follow: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Reader Group | Goodreads | BookBub | Newsletter | Amazon