Friends become lovers in this sweet and sensual read that has a lifetime hanging in the balance with one unexpected kiss. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Friend Zone by Nicole Blanchard, along with my impressions of it, then learn even more by visiting the other sites hosting this tour. In honor of this first installment in the Friend Zone series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $20 Amazon GC too!
Liam Walsh is just a roommate.
Maybe if Charlie St. James repeats it enough, she’ll stop lusting after him. Not that it matters how she feels anyway, because Liam will always see her as one of the boys. Hell, he’s the one who gave her the nickname Charlie as a joke.
Well, the joke’s on her.
Now that she is confined to less than 1,000 square feet with him, she can’t stop thinking about how it would feel to get just a little bit closer.
Charlie St. James is off limits.
She’s been Liam Walsh’s best friend since grade school. He thought it wouldn’t be a big deal to let her crash with him when she needed a place to stay, but he was dead wrong. Knowing only a thin wall separates them when they sleep, that she’s naked in the shower while he lays in bed fantasizing about her, is unbearable.
When their cozy two bedroom goes from friend zone to war zone, they’ll either burn up the sheets or go down in flames.
EXCERPT:
Liam was kissing me.
Liam. My best friend.
What the fuck?
“What the fuck?” Andrew echoed.
I pushed Liam away after a long moment and turned my head, unable to process what had happened. His harsh breathing sounded like he’d run a marathon, whereas I seemed to forget how to breathe altogether. The alcohol made my head spin and the repeated sound of Andrew shouting was giving me a headache.
“Can you not?” Liam said. His body vibrated against mine. I chanced a look and would have pulled back if it weren’t for the hand he had pressed against my back. I’d never seen him so furious.
As my body relaxed, he pulled me even closer. He was protecting me, like he had since the day my mother abandoned me with my dying father. My assumption was confirmed when he let go of me to push me behind his back. From the view over his shoulder, I could see Andrew fuming, his face red and his hands fisted at his side.
“Screw you.” Andrew’s voice shook and a vein pulsed at his temple.
“Just go, man,” Liam snapped. “We’re done here.”
Andrew’s eyes turned cold, determined. “Not even close.”
Liam kept me tucked behind him until Andrew pushed his way through the crowd, then he turned and cupped my face with both hands. “God, I’m sorry. You okay?”
“Well, I guess you were right,” I mumbled.
His thumbs traced my cheeks in one last lingering touch and then he pulled me away from the curious crowd to a pair of empty bar stools. He tugged me onto one and braced an arm on the bar. We were sitting so close I could hear him above the music and shouted conversations. It reminded me of how it felt when his body was pressed against mine and I shivered.
“About what?” he asked. His lips glistened in the glow of strobe lights. I’d never paid attention to them before, but now I knew what they felt like. I couldn’t help but wonder, despite everything, what it’d be like to feel them on mine again.
I shook my head at the memory of his heat wrapped around me. The kiss was a way to get Andrew to back off. That’s all. “That I break their hearts. I never would have done this here if I’d known he would cause such a scene.”
He scowled. “Don’t apologize for that dipshit. He’s only upset because he knows what he’s missing.”
I sniffled and wiped at my eyes. I was not going to cry. “He wasn’t going to propose. Didn’t you hear? I’m not good enough for his perfect family. I don’t know why I keep dating. It’s a good thing I’m leaving after this semester.”
Liam straightened. “You’re what?”
All I wanted was to go home—not the little apartment I rented near school—but home, where Liam and I grew up. It’s funny, my mom had run out on us when dad got sick when I was thirteen and I’d always promised myself I’d never turn out like her. I guess some things run in the family.
“I was going to tell you later, but I got offered an opportunity to volunteer overseas. They need nurses to give vaccines, run free clinics. That sort of thing.”
He rocked back on his stool and rubbed a hand over his face. “Wow, Charlie, that’s great.”
“Thanks. I’m sorry I dragged you into all this. Next time, I’ll make sure to find another place to break up.”
His gaze met mine. “Next time?” Was it a trick of the dim lighting or was he upset?
The heat in his eyes prompted the memory of the kiss. I had to knock it out of my brain before all I could do when I was around him was think about kissing him. “Well, probably not since there’s no point in dating if I’m leaving soon anyway.” At his silence, I kept babbling. “Anyway, thank you for jumping in. Kissing me was probably a better choice than punching him and getting fired. He was so sure you and I had something going behind his back, so it must have pissed him off something bad. Joke’s on him though, right?” I attempted a smile, but I could only muster up a grimace. This was why friends never kissed. It made everything awkward as hell. I could only hope our friendship would survive it.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Charlie and Liam have been best friends for over a decade, supporting each other and being there whenever life gets too tough. A single kiss changes everything though and brings forth feelings they’ve long ignored in a sweet and sexy romance of friends becoming oh so much more. With each turn of the page I became more and more charmed and became even more invested in their HEA as they’re an immensely likable couple who deserve every happiness.
Liam Walsh grew up on a farm where hard work and loyalty was ingrained in him and it’s still a part of him today. From the moment he met neighbor girl Charlie she became just one of the guys, the kid who became an honorary member of his family, and she’s still a vital part of his life. When it looks like Charlie’s going to receive a marriage proposal though, Liam gets a glimpse of life without her and makes an unexpected decision that will change everything between them. When a single kiss awakens his long-ignored feelings it sets them on a rollercoaster ride of emotions that has them deciding “will they or won’t they” as they engage in a sensual tug of war that felt more like foreplay. With each turn of the page not only does Liam have to admit to his burgeoning feelings for Charlie but there’s also his grandmother’s illness and father’s disappointments to deal with in a narrative that rings true and pulls at the heartstrings. Through it all Liam remained a drool-worthy hero with a heart of gold. He’s a good guy, a good son, who tries to do right even though he might not always say the right thing. Despite the ups and downs of his relationship with Charlie, he’s always there when she needs him most in a romance that had me cheering.
Charlie St. James has been unlucky when it comes to matters of the heart. From a young age she was taught that love is fleeting after the death of her father and her mother walking out never to return. The only solid and true thing in her life is Liam and his family. She’s a part of his family and their struggles are hers which has her leery of becoming something more than a friend to Liam. She doesn’t want to lose his unconditional love and support but she can’t forget his kiss and being roommates makes the temptations he offers even harder to ignore. Just as their romance heats up though Charlie will have many more issues she’ll have to deal with that made my heart ache. Alongside her and Liam’s sensual tug of war comes heavy life issues that had her needing Liam more than ever as they both moved on to the next phase in their lives. Charlie’s a likable heroine who doesn’t put much faith in love, assumes the end before it’s just begun, but still puts herself out there. She’s got a big heart as seen in her interactions with friends and with her elderly patients, with each interaction bringing a smile to my face. Throughout this story Charlie also had a lot of emotional baggage to deal with, baggage having to do with her past which comes knocking to affect her future. Luckily these tearful moments were nicely balanced with sensual interludes with Liam which gave her a respite from having to deal with such serious issues in a romance both heartfelt and sensual.
From the first page to the last this friends to lovers tale kept me thoroughly entertained. It gave me moments of charm and joy along with moments of tears that put me through the wringer alongside its strong-willed heroine and loyal and supportive hero. Told in alternating POVs I felt a kinship to this dynamic duo that had me rooting for them every step of the way as they balanced being friends and lovers. Though the ending felt a bit rushed this was still an engaging story that kept me glued to the page courtesy of its appealing main couple and compelling cast of secondary characters that have me counting down the days until the next installment in this series!
Liam Walsh grew up on a farm where hard work and loyalty was ingrained in him and it’s still a part of him today. From the moment he met neighbor girl Charlie she became just one of the guys, the kid who became an honorary member of his family, and she’s still a vital part of his life. When it looks like Charlie’s going to receive a marriage proposal though, Liam gets a glimpse of life without her and makes an unexpected decision that will change everything between them. When a single kiss awakens his long-ignored feelings it sets them on a rollercoaster ride of emotions that has them deciding “will they or won’t they” as they engage in a sensual tug of war that felt more like foreplay. With each turn of the page not only does Liam have to admit to his burgeoning feelings for Charlie but there’s also his grandmother’s illness and father’s disappointments to deal with in a narrative that rings true and pulls at the heartstrings. Through it all Liam remained a drool-worthy hero with a heart of gold. He’s a good guy, a good son, who tries to do right even though he might not always say the right thing. Despite the ups and downs of his relationship with Charlie, he’s always there when she needs him most in a romance that had me cheering.
Charlie St. James has been unlucky when it comes to matters of the heart. From a young age she was taught that love is fleeting after the death of her father and her mother walking out never to return. The only solid and true thing in her life is Liam and his family. She’s a part of his family and their struggles are hers which has her leery of becoming something more than a friend to Liam. She doesn’t want to lose his unconditional love and support but she can’t forget his kiss and being roommates makes the temptations he offers even harder to ignore. Just as their romance heats up though Charlie will have many more issues she’ll have to deal with that made my heart ache. Alongside her and Liam’s sensual tug of war comes heavy life issues that had her needing Liam more than ever as they both moved on to the next phase in their lives. Charlie’s a likable heroine who doesn’t put much faith in love, assumes the end before it’s just begun, but still puts herself out there. She’s got a big heart as seen in her interactions with friends and with her elderly patients, with each interaction bringing a smile to my face. Throughout this story Charlie also had a lot of emotional baggage to deal with, baggage having to do with her past which comes knocking to affect her future. Luckily these tearful moments were nicely balanced with sensual interludes with Liam which gave her a respite from having to deal with such serious issues in a romance both heartfelt and sensual.
From the first page to the last this friends to lovers tale kept me thoroughly entertained. It gave me moments of charm and joy along with moments of tears that put me through the wringer alongside its strong-willed heroine and loyal and supportive hero. Told in alternating POVs I felt a kinship to this dynamic duo that had me rooting for them every step of the way as they balanced being friends and lovers. Though the ending felt a bit rushed this was still an engaging story that kept me glued to the page courtesy of its appealing main couple and compelling cast of secondary characters that have me counting down the days until the next installment in this series!
My rating for this is a B+/A-
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Nicole Blanchard is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of gritty romantic suspense and heartwarming new adult romance. She and her family reside in the south along with their two spunky Boston Terriers and one chatty cat.
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