Some people don’t like surprises, but when it comes in the form of a sexy Spanish chef and a charming dog lover, that’s a dessert with a different topping.

I always look forward to a Lauren Blakely story. I love the quick wit and sexy playfulness that readers have come to expect from her characters. But The Only One was a surprise. A welcome surprise! The love and loss, disappointment and heartbreak between the main characters, Penelope (Penny) and Gabriel, is something readers haven’t seen in one of Lauren’s stories for a while, and for me, the surprise was absolutely delicious.

Penelope and Gabriel have met before… ten years before. Their plan to meet again in New York was reminiscent of An Affair to Remember, but with the roles reversed. Penny shows up at the appointed place and time, but Gabriel never does, and ten years pass before fate steps in and puts them in one other’s path again. This time, Penny’s instinct is to protect the heart Gabriel broke a decade before, but sometimes feelings are undeniable and simply cannot be ignored.

The Only One was a wonderful second-chance romance. I liked that the characters were honest and believable. I found it refreshing that even when the “green monster” threatened to rear its ugly head, the maturity of the characters managed to shine through, and potential misunderstandings were quickly and rationally resolved. It made me want to cheer for a reunion even more.

Without question, The Only One is Lauren Blakely’s next bestseller.

Five stars!

Romantic couple touching and kissing each other

Excerpt

I lean closer to the table, soften my voice. “Forgive me, but you look so familiar…”
Her eyes widen, and something vulnerable seems to flash in them. She brings a hand to her hair. “I do?”
I nod vigorously. “Yes. So much. It’s eerie.”
She swallows. “We all remind each other of others, don’t we?”
“Perhaps we do,” I say. I’m not sure what to make of her answer so I return to the matter at hand, telling her more of what I would make for her charity fundraiser. My business manager, Eduardo, alerted me to this opportunity the other day when it landed on his desk. With my new restaurant opening a few months ago, I’ve been looking to make a splash in Manhattan. Reviews have been amazing and business has been robust, but I know that fortunes can turn on a dime. Hell, do I ever f*cking know that. “And I would make the most fantastic desserts for you, too,” I say with a wink, because that reminds me of the afternoon I met the girl in Barcelona—we’d both been eating dessert at a street-side café, where we’d started flirting.
“Desserts are my specialty.”
“What would you make?” she asks, then she murmurs oh God when I tell her what I’d create for the sweetest course. The soft sound she makes stirs something in my chest, then sends a rush of heat below the belt. That sense of déjà vu sharpens, and a reel of images snaps before my eyes, like puzzle pieces fighting to connect.
I scrub a hand over my jaw, arching an eyebrow. It’s driving me crazy. “Are you sure we’ve never met?”

Direct Link:https://video214.com/play/itFttmgwXE26fxl5YdB7XA/s/dark

About THE ONLY ONE:

From the New York Times bestselling author of THE SEXY ONE comes a romance about fate and second chances.

Let’s say there was this guy. And he gave you the most mind-blowing night of sex in your life. And you never saw him again.

Until ten years later.

Now, it turns out he’s the ONLY ONE in all of Manhattan whose restaurant is available for my charity’s event.

The trouble is, he doesn’t recognize me.

***

This woman I’m working with is so damn alluring. The first time I set eyes on her, I’m captivated and I can’t get her out of my mind. Even if it’s risky to tango with someone I’m working with, she’s a risk I’m willing to take.

The trouble is, she won’t give me the time of day.

But I’m determined to change that.

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Praise for Lauren Blakely and THE ONLY ONE:

"An extraordinarily dreamy love story that will melt your heart!"

~Beneath The Covers Book Blog

"This is an epic second chance romance that filled my heart with love, hope and longing."

~5-Stars! Two Book Pushers

"Lauren has knocked this one out of the park and down the street into the kitchen of Rocco DiSpirito. This book is smart, sexy, and full of surprises with characters you can't help but fall in love with. I want to find my very own Gabriel now. A sexy man with an accent who can cook for me. Who could ask for anything more?"

~Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews

"Insanely romantic and so genuinely charming..."

~Fresh Fiction Reviewer

About Lauren Blakely: Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US over three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1.5 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that’s full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With thirteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than seventy times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire as well as standalone hit romances like BIG ROCK, MISTER O, WELL HUNG, and THE SEXY ONE which were all instant New York Times Bestsellers. In January she’ll release FULL PACKAGE, a standalone romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter.

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Wednesday, December 14, 2016

The Only One by Lauren Blakely - Review and Excerpt