Readers will be charmed by this friends-to-lovers romance set amidst the holidays that will ultimately put a smile on your face as two friends work their way towards HEA. Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of The Bed Mate by Kendall Ryan, along with my impressions of this novella, then add this third installment in the Roommates series to your bookshelf!
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kendall Ryan comes a new story in her Room Mate series...
I might be a typical guy, but these last few years, my love life’s been anything but. From crazy ex-girlfriends to one night stands who are stage-five clingers, my relationships go bad faster than the milk in your fridge. The only constant has been my best friend Maggie.
Fresh off a bad breakup of her own, I invite Maggie to my guy’s skiing weekend knowing she needs an escape from reality. But then something funny starts to happen. I start noticing things about her that I never noticed before.
She’s beautiful and doesn’t know it, she’s funny without even trying, and now she’s suddenly single for the first time in forever.
Sharing a hotel room with her proves to be the tipping point in our very platonic friendship. Suddenly I want to put my hands, my mouth, and my ... other parts ... all over her gorgeous body. I want to claim her, make sure no man touches her ever again. But then her groveling ex shows up, and Maggie’s torn.
Am I ready to screw up the best relationship I’ve ever had for a shot at something more?
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
I might be a typical guy, but these last few years, my love life’s been anything but. From crazy ex-girlfriends to one night stands who are stage-five clingers, my relationships go bad faster than the milk in your fridge. The only constant has been my best friend Maggie.
Fresh off a bad breakup of her own, I invite Maggie to my guy’s skiing weekend knowing she needs an escape from reality. But then something funny starts to happen. I start noticing things about her that I never noticed before.
She’s beautiful and doesn’t know it, she’s funny without even trying, and now she’s suddenly single for the first time in forever.
Sharing a hotel room with her proves to be the tipping point in our very platonic friendship. Suddenly I want to put my hands, my mouth, and my ... other parts ... all over her gorgeous body. I want to claim her, make sure no man touches her ever again. But then her groveling ex shows up, and Maggie’s torn.
Am I ready to screw up the best relationship I’ve ever had for a shot at something more?
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
EXCERPT:
Every now and then, Sam would shoot me a sympathetic look, knowing that I had no idea what they were talking about, but in truth, their company was a welcome break. Between what the woman in the shop had said and the lady on the plane’s insinuation, my mind was going a mile a minute and I was beginning to look at Sam in a way I definitely shouldn’t be.
Okay, so, yeah, he was sexy. That was a no-brainer.
I shot him a furtive glance, taking in the corded muscles of his forearms and the lock of dark hair that constantly flopped onto his forehead. And sure, he was sweet and attentive. He looked after me and made sure I always had a fresh drink and that I wasn’t cold or hot. He held the door for me and pulled out my chair when we went to restaurants. Hell, he’d been looking forward to this trip for months and he’d sacrificed an entire day just to make sure I got here safe and didn’t spend my time sulking.
Still, that didn’t mean he had feelings for me. He hadn’t argued when I’d mentioned us being like brother and sister or anything.
No, this whole line of thinking was ludicrous. Sam was a good friend. That was all…wasn’t it?
After all, Trevor had loved me once and he never did any of that.
Admittedly, that wasn’t the best example, but it proved my point all the same. In Sam’s shoes, Trevor never would have missed the chance to hit the slopes with his friends. He hadn’t even skipped the business trip that fell on my twenty-fifth birthday years back.
Okay, so, yeah, he was sexy. That was a no-brainer.
I shot him a furtive glance, taking in the corded muscles of his forearms and the lock of dark hair that constantly flopped onto his forehead. And sure, he was sweet and attentive. He looked after me and made sure I always had a fresh drink and that I wasn’t cold or hot. He held the door for me and pulled out my chair when we went to restaurants. Hell, he’d been looking forward to this trip for months and he’d sacrificed an entire day just to make sure I got here safe and didn’t spend my time sulking.
Still, that didn’t mean he had feelings for me. He hadn’t argued when I’d mentioned us being like brother and sister or anything.
No, this whole line of thinking was ludicrous. Sam was a good friend. That was all…wasn’t it?
After all, Trevor had loved me once and he never did any of that.
Admittedly, that wasn’t the best example, but it proved my point all the same. In Sam’s shoes, Trevor never would have missed the chance to hit the slopes with his friends. He hadn’t even skipped the business trip that fell on my twenty-fifth birthday years back.
But Sam was there, my brain supplied helpfully.
Again, not an indication that he had feelings for me. People were just different. Sam was one of the good ones. And if he liked me surely I’d have known by now. He’d have told me or…something.
“Is that your phone?” Sam turned to me and I blinked, only realizing that I’d been so encompassed in my own thoughts that I’d totally zoned out.
“What?” I asked, confused.
“Don’t you hear that vibrating noise? I think it’s your phone.”
I listened hard and then heard the low, gentle hum he was talking about.
“Yep, probably you-know-who again.” I sighed, but fished the phone from my tiny handbag all the same on the off chance it was a family member with an emergency.
It wasn’t Trevor, though. He had called—I had seven new missed messages from him since I’d left for the airport, but I also had three missed calls from my friend Deanna. I hadn’t spoken to her in more than two weeks because she’d been away on a long-awaited safari, but now more than ever I really needed to hear her voice.
Again, not an indication that he had feelings for me. People were just different. Sam was one of the good ones. And if he liked me surely I’d have known by now. He’d have told me or…something.
“Is that your phone?” Sam turned to me and I blinked, only realizing that I’d been so encompassed in my own thoughts that I’d totally zoned out.
“What?” I asked, confused.
“Don’t you hear that vibrating noise? I think it’s your phone.”
I listened hard and then heard the low, gentle hum he was talking about.
“Yep, probably you-know-who again.” I sighed, but fished the phone from my tiny handbag all the same on the off chance it was a family member with an emergency.
It wasn’t Trevor, though. He had called—I had seven new missed messages from him since I’d left for the airport, but I also had three missed calls from my friend Deanna. I hadn’t spoken to her in more than two weeks because she’d been away on a long-awaited safari, but now more than ever I really needed to hear her voice.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Readers looking for a little afternoon delight will get just that with this charming friends-to-lovers romance. Set amidst the holiday season makes this an even more romantic read full of heartwarming interactions and an immensely satisfying HEA.
Sam and Maggie have been friends for years, supporting each other through every up and down. They know what makes each other tick and would never do anything to harm their friendship. They’ve had romantic relationships with others over the years but it’s their friendship that’s endured. Lately though their feelings have turned more romantic and the attraction that once was a passing thought is now an incessant longing. With both of them experiencing recent break-ups though they now have the chance to act on all those longings in this sensual and satisfying novella. While the storyline is familiar it’s the characters that made it shine. Sam and Maggie are cute together, sharing thoughts with a mere glance, and enjoying simple nights in front of the tv. They comfort each other when in need, never leaving the other wallowing in pain alone, in sweet scenes where their longing was palpable. While there’s a bit of angst surrounding their romance it’s thankfully dealt with quickly to get readers to HEA even faster. Surrounding this likable main couple were a group of friends who were equally likable and who I could see myself hanging out with. They were a good support to Sam and Maggie and played their roles as matchmaker beautifully when sharing their years of observations and words of wisdom.
On a whole this was a quick and delightful read that wrapped me in a warm hug as I watched two friends become oh so much more. With truly likable characters, a main couple who have a crackling connection, and a scorching kiss that I waited for with bated breath this went from a little appetizer to a scrumptious buffet that I heartily recommend!
Sam and Maggie have been friends for years, supporting each other through every up and down. They know what makes each other tick and would never do anything to harm their friendship. They’ve had romantic relationships with others over the years but it’s their friendship that’s endured. Lately though their feelings have turned more romantic and the attraction that once was a passing thought is now an incessant longing. With both of them experiencing recent break-ups though they now have the chance to act on all those longings in this sensual and satisfying novella. While the storyline is familiar it’s the characters that made it shine. Sam and Maggie are cute together, sharing thoughts with a mere glance, and enjoying simple nights in front of the tv. They comfort each other when in need, never leaving the other wallowing in pain alone, in sweet scenes where their longing was palpable. While there’s a bit of angst surrounding their romance it’s thankfully dealt with quickly to get readers to HEA even faster. Surrounding this likable main couple were a group of friends who were equally likable and who I could see myself hanging out with. They were a good support to Sam and Maggie and played their roles as matchmaker beautifully when sharing their years of observations and words of wisdom.
On a whole this was a quick and delightful read that wrapped me in a warm hug as I watched two friends become oh so much more. With truly likable characters, a main couple who have a crackling connection, and a scorching kiss that I waited for with bated breath this went from a little appetizer to a scrumptious buffet that I heartily recommend!
My rating for this is an B+.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She's a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she's appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.
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