Title: Easy For Keeps Author: Kristen Proby
Series: Boudreaux #4.5
Release date: May 24, 2016
(Sub)genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 100
Buy: Amazon US ~ Amazon UK
Rating:
Adam Turner loves women. All women. Every shape and size, regardless of hair or eye color, religion or race, he simply enjoys them all. Meeting more than his fair share as the manager and head bartender of The Odyssey, a hot spot in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, Adam’s comfortable with his lifestyle, and sees no reason to change it. A wife and kids, plus the white picket fence are not in the cards for this confirmed bachelor. Until a beautiful woman, and her sweet princess, literally knock him on his ass.
Sarah Cox has just moved to New Orleans, having accepted a position as a social worker specializing in at-risk women and children. It’s a demanding, sometimes dangerous job, but Sarah is no shy wallflower. She can handle just about anything that comes at her, even the attentions of one sexy Adam Turner. Just because he’s charmed her daughter, making her think of magical kingdoms with happily ever after, doesn’t mean that Sarah believes in fairy tales. But the more time she spends with the enchanting man, the more he begins to sway her into believing in forever.
Even so, when Sarah’s job becomes more dangerous than any of them bargained for, will she be ripped from Adam’s life forever?
“Sarah?” “Yes?” I say, coming out of my own stupor, mortified that he has this effect on me. “What can I do for you?” “That’s a loaded question,”
Sarah is living the life of a single mother. After losing her husband all she does is working and taking care of her daughter Hailey, dating isn’t anywhere her top priorities. When she meets Adam as a result of one of Hailey’s disappearing acts, the attractive man awakens feelings she has buried deep inside after the death of her husband. Adam is a workaholic and doesn’t do commitment, he makes sure the women he spends time with know this. Meeting Sarah opens his eyes, makes him think of more, not just one night.
“I should go home,” she murmurs against my chest and plants a kiss there. “Can you stay?” I ask, surprising the hell out of myself. I always avoid sleeping over, at all costs. It just muddies things up. But I don’t want her to go.”
From the moment Adam meets Sarah he knows she’s different, he can’t treat her like his normal choice of women. And to his surprise, he doesn’t even mind, he wants to get to know Sarah – and her daughter Hailey – better. Sarah tries to keep things between her and Adam casual, even feels a bit guilty towards her husband for moving on. But she can’t deny the attraction between Adam and herself, and gives into her feelings. Together Adam and Sarah are hot and sexy, put Hailey in the mix and they’re a sweet family who enjoy spending time together.
Like other books in ‘the Boudreaux series’, Easy For Keeps is a sweet and enjoyable read without angst-y situations and over-the-top drama. Yes, since this is a novella all happens at warp-speed, but the realistic thoughts and actions of the characters make the story more believable. I just wish this was a longer book, Adam and Sarah are a great couple, I would love to read more about them in future Boudreaux books.
“I swallow and look at her perfect lips, then into her amazing eyes. Why have I been such a stubborn ass? Why couldn’t I admit before how much I love her? God, I almost lost her. “I love you, Sarah.”
I’ve enjoyed reading Easy For Keeps, I give this novella 4 stars.
~~ Easy For Keeps was provided in exchange for an honest review ~~
Excerpt
“Having trouble?” I ask and grin when she looks up at me in surprise. Hailey is buckled into the back seat now and waves at me with a big smile, and I wave back.
“It was running fine when I left the apartment and came here.” She sighs and lays her forehead against the steering wheel. She’s a pretty woman. She has curves in all the right places, but doesn’t wear clothes that hug them. Her hair is long and just begging for fingers to thread through it.
And her lips are plump and damn kissable. Especially when she bites them the way she’s doing right now as she lifts her head and looks up at me.
“Sounds like your battery is dead.”
“Great,” she replies and blows out a breath.
“Do you have someone you can call?”
She hesitates and then shakes her head no. She’s not quick to trust, that’s for sure, and for some reason, that makes me want to try to help all the more.
It’s been a while since a woman was a challenge.
“We just moved here,” Hailey informs me.
“Hailey—”
“It’s okay,” I reply. “I can call you a tow truck. I know a guy.”
She nods.
“But I have to tell him your name.”
“Sarah,” she replies. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude.”
“Hey, stranger danger. I get it.” I nod and text my friend, then stare at the two girls for a moment. I can’t just leave them here.
“I can take you wherever you needed to get to.”
“No,” Sarah replies immediately.
“Look, let’s start again. My name’s Adam. I’ve never been arrested for anything, and I’ve received two speeding tickets in my life. I co-own a bar in the Quarter, and that’s why I haven’t been to bed yet today. I can give you references to call if you really want them.”
Her lips twitch into a slight smile and her eyes calm. They’re not just brown. They’re rich, dark chocolate.
And she has a kid. Just be a Good Samaritan and go home to bed.
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