Excerpt Reveal: I've Got a Crush on You (Darling Springs #2) by Lauren Blakely

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes the second standalone small town rom com in her bestselling Darling Springs series, I’VE GOT A CRUSH ON YOU! This spicy, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, workplace, forbidden small town romantic comedy releases July 28th in all formats, including the deluxe edition paperback featuring stunning salmon-colored sprayed edges, and will be free to read in Kindle Unlimited! Check out this Mr. Darcy moment in the excerpt below and pre-order your copy today!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/IGACOYAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/IGACOYAudible
✦ Other Retailers ➜ https://www.sourcebooks.com/9781464228841-ive-got-a-crush-on-you-deluxe-edition-tp.html
✦ Pre-Order Campaigns with Goodies ➜ https://www.sourcebooks.com/9781464228841-ive-got-a-crush-on-you-deluxe-edition-tp.html

Who thought it was a good idea to make lakes so cold? Or so wet? Or so slimy?

I right myself under the water, treading even though it’s not too deep. But this is no easy feat with sneakers on. But I manage, then pop my head above the surface, batting at the hair sticking to my face as I blink lake water out of my eyes.

When two strong arms wrap around my waist.

Is that…?

I look up. Sawyer’s kneeling on the dock, arms stretched into the water—and he’s lifting me out of it.

He’s hauling me up like I weigh nothing, tugging me back onto the wood slats. My soaked body smacks into his…very firm chest. Yep. I was right about the arms. Right about the chest. He’s all kinds of strong.

“I’ve got you,” he says, steady and calm, pulling me the rest of the way…right into his lap.

I’m still a little dazed—getting tackled by a rowdy partier will do that to you. But still, I manage to say, “I’m surprised you didn’t jump in after me.”

“You don’t strike me as the kind of woman who wants a man making himself the center of attention.”

Damn. He’s right. “It would have been ridiculous too, right?”

He arches a brow in a way that says he’ll go toe-to-toe with me. “Want a do-over and I’ll jump in this time?”

“Maybe I do,” I tease.

“Also, the water’s maybe three feet deep,” he says and, okay, he has a point. “Didn’t seem like you needed rescuing.”

“Spoken like a man who’s never watched Mr. Darcy emerge from the lake in Pride and Prejudice.”

His smile quirks, sexy and wry. “My white shirt is wet,” he says, plucking at the fabric. “But if you want the full Darcy moment, say the word.”

I’m more interested in his shirt now though. I glance down, and hello, six-pack. “Yes, it is.”

Then I glance at myself.

Oh. Oh no.

My white dress is soaked. And officially see-through. Of course this has happened tonight. Of course it has happened to me.

Evidently, the universe won’t let me have nice things.

About I’VE GOT A CRUSH ON YOU (Coming 7/28/2026):

My secret workplace romance starts innocently enough at a birthday party.

But when a rowdy partier knocks me into a lake and a sexy stranger comes to my rescue – my night becomes one to remember.

A night so steamy I almost forget why I’ve sworn off men after a failed workplace romance.

Trouble is, the brand new doggy daycare in Darling Springs that I’ve contracted with is owned by none other than my sexy stranger. Thanks, fate.

Sawyer turns out to be a total grump in a tailored suit, no matter how sunshine-y I am. Even when he squeezes that hard body past me as I bring donuts to work. Or when he pretends he’s not roaming his dark eyes over me as I teach Fido to sit, stay and come.

But I’m focusing on my shiny new future—my dog-training business is suddenly the hottest thing in town, thanks to a new actress client. And when I’m roped into a charity dance number, I smell an opportunity, especially when I learn my hot landlord has an alter ego and a fandom.

Turns out Mr. Serious Boss is up for dance lessons.

Then the entire Dirty Dancing experience.

Giving into our chemistry once won’t hurt. Two might be pushing it. By the seventh, it’s undeniable–I’ve got a crush on him too.

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/IGACOYAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/IGACOYAudible
✦ Other Retailers ➜ https://www.sourcebooks.com/9781464228841-ive-got-a-crush-on-you-deluxe-edition-tp.html 

ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party. 

Connect w/ Lauren:

Website: laurenblakely.com 

NL Signup: http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenblakelybooks 

 

Excerpt Reveal: I've Got a Crush on You (Darling Springs #2) by Lauren Blakely

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes the second standalone small town rom com in her bestselling Darling Springs series, I’VE GOT A CRUSH ON YOU! This spicy, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, workplace, forbidden small town romantic comedy releases July 28th in all formats, including the deluxe edition paperback featuring stunning salmon-colored sprayed edges, and will be free to read in Kindle Unlimited! Check out the sneak peek and pre-order your copy today!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/IGACOYAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/IGACOYAudible
✦ Other Retailers ➜ https://www.sourcebooks.com/9781464228841-ive-got-a-crush-on-you-deluxe-edition-tp.html
✦ Pre-Order Campaigns with Goodies ➜ https://www.sourcebooks.com/9781464228841-ive-got-a-crush-on-you-deluxe-edition-tp.html

In the New Jersey or Atlanta areas? Grab a ticket and join Lauren Blakely on tour! Get all the information here! 

https://laurenblakely.com/events/ 

Ready for whatever the night brings, I cross the lobby and turn the corner into the bar. My heart stupidly skips a beat when I find Sawyer exactly where he promised he’d be. At the end of the bar, with a glass of iced tea in front of him. Music plays overhead. Sounds like Journey. Maybe “Don’t Stop Believin’”?

And is Sawyer…singing along to it?

Well, air singing, since he’s sort of mouthing the words, drumming out a beat on the counter with his hands.

I smother a smile so I don’t look too giddy when I walk his way. But really, this is a great sign. Would a beheader sing along to Journey? I don’t think so. I march over, eye the stool next to him, and say, “Is this seat taken?”

Sawyer rises, a knowing look in his eyes as he sweeps them up and down me in a shameless tour of my body. But he doesn’t answer my question with words. He answers with actions when he cups my cheek, strokes his thumb down my jawline, then comes in close, dipping his face toward mine. Giving me time to say no.

I don’t. I lift my chin in invitation.

He drops his mouth to mine, and for a few dizzying seconds, the kiss is as slow and sweet as a summer afternoon. It’s hazy and warm as he brushes his lips across mine in a teasing whisper of a kiss.

It’s deliciously unexpected. I’m not used to men knowing their mind, making a plan, and sticking to it. But I think I could get used to it in the kissing department, since this kiss goes straight to my head. And, well, my bikini. I’m aching between my thighs already. I grab the collar of his shirt, twisting my fingers around the material so I can hold on tight.

He kisses me for a few more delirious seconds, that trim beard whisking across my face in a light scratch. When he breaks the kiss, I figure that’s when we’ll sit down, but there’s no reprieve. After his mouth quirks up in a too pleased grin, he rasps out, “Come here, Chloe.”

“I’m here,” I whisper.

“Closer,” he says, hauling me against him before he takes another kiss. This one knocks the breath right out of me. It’s hard, demanding, full of teeth and tongue and desire. He kisses me like he wants to f*&k me. His tongue explores my mouth. One hand grips my face. The other ropes around my waist.

There’s no hesitation from him.

No games.

No dicking around.

I have a feeling that Sawyer is unapologetic. A man who wants what he wants and tonight that’s…me.

About I’VE GOT A CRUSH ON YOU (Coming 7/28/2026):

My secret workplace romance starts innocently enough at a birthday party.

But when a rowdy partier knocks me into a lake and a sexy stranger comes to my rescue – my night becomes one to remember.

A night so steamy I almost forget why I’ve sworn off men after a failed workplace romance.

Trouble is, the brand new doggy daycare in Darling Springs that I’ve contracted with is owned by none other than my sexy stranger. Thanks, fate.

Sawyer turns out to be a total grump in a tailored suit, no matter how sunshine-y I am. Even when he squeezes that hard body past me as I bring donuts to work. Or when he pretends he’s not roaming his dark eyes over me as I teach Fido to sit, stay and come.

But I’m focusing on my shiny new future—my dog-training business is suddenly the hottest thing in town, thanks to a new actress client. And when I’m roped into a charity dance number, I smell an opportunity, especially when I learn my hot landlord has an alter ego and a fandom.

Turns out Mr. Serious Boss is up for dance lessons.

Then the entire Dirty Dancing experience.

Giving into our chemistry once won’t hurt. Two might be pushing it. By the seventh, it’s undeniable–I’ve got a crush on him too.

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/IGACOYAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/IGACOYAudible
✦ Other Retailers ➜ https://www.sourcebooks.com/9781464228841-ive-got-a-crush-on-you-deluxe-edition-tp.html 

ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party. 

Connect w/ Lauren:

Website: laurenblakely.com 

NL Signup: http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenblakelybooks

 

Excerpt Reveal: Rumor Has It (The Last Best Placed for Love #6) by Giulia Lagomarsino

We are celebrating the 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗽𝘁 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 today for 𝗥𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗜𝘁 (𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 #𝟲) 𝗯𝘆 @crazybookladylover set to release in 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞

➜ https://mybook.to/RumorHasIt

“Cassidy, does he tie her to the bed in this one and whip her, or is that in another book?”

I stood too suddenly, caught off guard by the question, and my feet tangled in the lights. My balance quickly went by the wayside until I was hobbling and grasping at air for purchase.

I held the string of lights as if they would save me as I teetered over. And as a scream rippled up my throat, I knew Santa wasn’t going to make it through this experience.

I tumbled back, my feet flying out from under me. Landing on my back, I started tumbling down the roof until I was airborne with only the string of lights to grip onto.

Squeezing my eyes closed, I prayed for a quick death as my entire life flashed before my eyes, but I came to a sudden jerk and all the blood rushed to my head as I dangled upside down.

And just inches from my face were the most startling blue eyes I’d ever seen.

Slowly, he cocked his head to the side, examining my rosy cheeks before settling on my eyes.

“I meant to do that.”

𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 ➜ https://bit.ly/4voXKF5
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗯𝘂𝗯 ➜ https://bit.ly/44oLtV8

#RumorHasItExcerptBlast #RumorHasItGiuliaLagomarsino #ExcerptBlast #GiuliaLagomarsinoExcerptBlast #TheLastBestPlaceForLove

Hosted by Enticing Journey Book Promotions

 

Excerpt Tour: Moccasin Trace by Hawk MacKinney with an exclusive excerpt and a giveaway

MOCCASIN TRACE

by Hawk MacKinney

GENRE: Historical Fiction

BLURB:

…it was about the land.

It is July of 1859, a month of sweltering dog days and feverish emotional bombast. Life is good for widower Rundell Ingram and his hazel-eyed, roan-haired son, Hamilton. Between the two of them, they take care of Moccasin Hollow, their sprawling ancestral plantation home in the rolling farming country outside Queensborough Towne in east Georgia. Adjoining Ingram lands is Wisteria Bend, the vast slave-holding plantation of Andrew and Corinthia Greer, their daughter Sarah, and son Benjamin. Both families share generations of long-accepted traditions, and childhood playmates are no longer children. The rangy, even-tempered Norman-Scottish young Hamilton is smitten with Sarah, who has become an enticing capricious beauty—the young lovers more in love with each passing day, and only pleasant times ahead of them.

…but a blood tide of war is sweeping across the South, a tide that will forever change everyone and everything.

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

A wail of death also swept the parish.  Burton McClendon's only son, nineteen-year-old Hezikiah McClendon, became one of a rising number of the dead.  His was one of the few bodies identified; others disappeared into mass graves or were left to rot in scorched thickets and cratered fields.  Rundell's wariness becoming prophetic—upheaval was tottering the old into a breach become unbridgeable.  Woeful faces around the parish were hearing a different call, one for unlimited victory instead of long-gone weekend cheers of a scuffle over-by-Christmas.  What few had foresaw, even fewer knew what to do about it.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

With postgraduate degrees and faculty positions in several medical universities, Hawk MacKinney has taught graduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem. His professional writing includes articles on chordate neuroembryology, and aerospace research on muscle metabolic behavior in multi-orbital environments.

In addition, Hawk has authored several works of fiction including a historical romance Moccasin Trace which was nominated for both the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award. His Cairns of Sainctuarie Science Fiction Series and his Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series have received national and international attention. He is currently working on a series of horror/suspense novels.

Website: http://www.hawkmackinneyauthor.com 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Moccasin-Trace-Hawk-Mackinney/dp/1595071482

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY 

 Hawk MacKinney will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

https://kingsumo.com/g/1knep41/moccasin-trace

Excerpt Reveal: Undercover Lover by Jacqueline Francis

Check out the 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐭 below for the upcoming release for 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬 set to release 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡
https://mybook.to/UndercoverLover_JF

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐎
She’s not 𝘶𝘯attractive.
That’s the first thing I think as I take her in…because I’m a man. And that’s what we do. She’s got a decent rack on her, I’ll give her that much, but she’s definitely not…my type. I usually go for tall, leggy models with soft curves and even softer voices. The woman standing in front of me, however, is none of those things. Short, a little stocky, and built like she could probably bench-press me if she tried. Her dark hair is pulled back in a tight ponytail, like a drill sergeant who’s ready to run an obstacle course or…wrestle someone to the ground.
I’m willing to bet she’d prefer the latter.
Nothing about her is delicate or feminine. Maybe her eyes. She’s got really pretty eyes, but those caramel-colored spheres are currently burning a hole straight through me, so they’re no less hostile than the rest of her.
I clear my throat to ease the awkward tension. “What are the chances that your boss is gonna come back here and tell us he’s changed his mind because he’s realized this is the dumbest idea he’s ever come up with?”
“I’d say…roughly zero.”
That doesn’t sound promising, but I persist because I need to find a way out of this. “But you don’t want to put your future career on the line working with someone like me. It’s too risky. I’m not trained for something like this. I’m just going to end up being a liability.”
“Trust me, I already knew you’d be deadweight on this case before we even drove over here, but Detective Collins calls the shots, so…here we are.”
I’ll admit, that stings a little, but the egomaniac in me refuses to accept that I could possibly be bad at anything. So, I’m just going to take that snarky little remark as a challenge. She thinks I can’t do this job, so now I have to prove to her (and anyone else who doubts me) that I can. With my mind made up, I throw myself headfirst into this assignment.
Assignment? See? I’m starting to think like a cop already.
I lean back against the couch, casually stretching my arms over the backrest. “So, do you have a name, or should I just call you Officer Stiff?”
“Lopez.”
“That’s your last name. What’s your first?”
She hesitates, then irritably mutters, “Valeria.”
I let the name roll around in my head for a second. “Valeria,” I repeat, testing it out. “That’s a hard R. Valeria. I dig it. Valerrrrrrria.”
Her eyes shoot another dagger into me. She’s mentally stabbed me about six times already. From this brief interaction, I gather that she’s not much of a talker. Curt and to the point seem to be more her style. But if we’re going to do this, I need her to say more than three words to me.
“Fancy. Sounds like you should be ruling a kingdom, not glaring at me like you’re wishing I’d spontaneously combust and disintegrate into ashes.”
She crosses her arms. “Not glaring. Just waiting for you to start acting like a grown-up so we can get this over with.”
I grin. “Oh, sweetheart, if you’re waiting for that, we’re gonna be here a long time.”
She exhales sharply through her nose. “Don’t call me sweetheart.”
Yeah, she hates me. Which is fine. I can work with that. At least she’s…talking.
“Okay…Valerrrrria,” I say, stretching her name out again just to annoy her, “since we’re supposed to be madly in love, maybe you should tell me a little about yourself. You know, give me some intel.”
“Uh…I’m a cop,” she says as if I didn’t know that already.
“Wow. Riveting. Got any hobbies? Favorite color? Do you eat food, or do you just survive on pure determination and the smell of fear?”
She levels me with a look. “I don’t have time for hobbies. I work.”
Jesus. I’m supposed to fake date a woman who has the personality of a brick wall.
“Well, you sound like a fun time,” I say. “Look, no offense, but if we’re going to convince people we’re a couple, we should at least try to act like we don’t despise each other.”
“Who says I despise you?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s the open hostility you keep flinging in my direction and the look of absolute disdain on your face.”
“You’re mistaken.” She fakes a smile. “That’s just my face.”
“Charming.”
She exhales as if I’m testing her last shred of patience. “As long as we don’t have to hold hands or kiss or—God forbid—be affectionate, I think we’ll be fine.”
I press my hand to my chest, mock-wounded. “That hurts, Val. And here I thought I was irresistible.”
“Yeah, well, I have quite a high resistance to bullshit.”
I laugh, because okay, that was a good one. “Fair enough. How about we start small and work our way up? First, you need to stop looking at me like I ran over your childhood dog?”
“Fine.” She lets out an aggravated breath and tries her best to adjust the scowl on her face. “There you go. What’s next?”
“I’m gonna put that down as a work in progress because…your face hasn’t changed at all, but we can work on that in conjunction with point two.”
“Which is?”
“Which is…you sorta, kinda need to pretend that you don’t find me…repulsive.”
“I’ve never been good at lying.” She fakes another smile. “But if you put on a shirt, I’ll give it a shot.”
“Deal.”
I head upstairs to my bedroom, shaking my head as I pull a T-shirt from my dresser. She’s got an attitude; I’ll give her that. I tug the shirt over my head, then grab another one before heading back down.
When I reach the living room, she’s still standing there with her arms crossed, scanning the room like she’s looking for threats. It’s like she never takes a second to relax. Without a word, I toss the extra T-shirt at her.
She catches it on reflex, a frown wrinkling her forehead. “What’s this for?”
I drop onto the couch, stretching my legs out. “Maybe if you dress normal, it’ll be easier to slip into character.”
Her frown deepens. “I am dressed normal. This is my uniform.”
“Exactly.” I gesture vaguely at her. “You’re supposed to be my girlfriend, not my personal SWAT team. The gun isn’t an accessory my other girlfriends have.”
She groans but pulls the T-shirt on over her uniform, yanking it down to cover her gun.
I watch her for a second, tilting my head. It’s weird, but— “Huh.”
She shoots me a wary glance. “What?”
I shrug. “Wasn’t expecting it, but you look…kinda cute in that.”
She groans again and flops onto the couch, as far from me as possible. “Can we focus?”
I wipe the wide grin off my face and draw my eyebrows together to feign seriousness. “Yes, of course. Mild distraction. I’m razor-focused now.”
She ignores me. “Collins says we need a solid backstory, something believable.”
“Okay, I’m listening.”
She leans forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees. “So, I don’t know what my undercover name is yet, so let’s call me X for now. We—”
“Wow. X? How imaginative. You thought of that on your own?”
I get visually stabbed for the seventh time before she lets out an irritable breath and continues. “We met at a…diner. They’re probably going to make me a waitress…or a bartender, so—”
“What in the Cinderella bullshit love story are you trying to spin here? It’s unbelievable straight out the gate. It’ll make more sense if you were a talent agent or an exec—”
She swiftly cuts me off. “It’s not about the job. It’s about how easy it is to disprove. You fake an executive role, someone makes one call and I’m exposed. You fake a service job, and no one can pin anything down. A waitress makes sense. High turnover, inconsistent schedules. Restaurants open and close all the time, and there’s no public paper trail. If someone digs, there’s nothing solid to contradict our story.”
I guess that makes sense. “Okay, so you’re waitressing at this diner and I, what? Came in and swept you off your feet with my wit and charm? I have that effect on women, you know?”
She tries her best to suppress a gag. “No. You started a conversation. I wasn’t interested.”
“Mm. See, now that’s where your story loses credibility.” I lean in a little. “A hot movie star walks into your diner, flirts with you, and you…say no? No one’s gonna buy that. Wouldn’t it be more believable if you were fangirling? That’s usually the response I get.”
“Maybe that’s what intrigued you about me,” she says, as if her explanation is more plausible. It isn’t, but I’m trying to humor her. “I didn’t care about your stardom, but you were persistent. You asked me out for coffee. I said no. You asked again.”
I smirk. “Again?”
“Yes.”
“I would never ask again. I have what some would call…self-respect.”
“Well…” She stumbles for a second but quickly recovers. “You made an exception for me. You found my cold, borderline hostile rejection oddly… magnetic.”
I squint at her, trying to make sense of her distorted relationship with reality. “So, let me get this straight. You think I, a man who has women practically climbing over each other to breathe the same air as me, chased you because you were mean to me?”
“Exactly.”
“Sounds like I need therapy.”
“You probably do.”

𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 ~ 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ~ 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆
https://forms.gle/dYqXszjwtSaAcFrQA

#UndercoverLoverExcerptBlast #UndercoverLoverJacquelineFrancis #ExcerptBlast #JacquelineFrancisExcerptBlast #EnticingJourney

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Excerpt Reveal: Just Playing for Keeps (Hockey Ever After #2) by Lauren Blakely, narrators Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke

When she’s fake dating the hockey star, but he was never faking it…

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes the next standalone hockey rom com in her brand new Hockey Ever After series, JUST PLAYING FOR KEEPS! This spicy, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, only one bed in a room, opposites attract hockey romance releases in one week on June 3rd in all formats, and will be free to read in Kindle Unlimited. Check out the excerpt below, and one-click your copy today!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/JustPlayingAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ Erin Mallon & Jason Clarke narrate in duet with a full cast!
http://blkly.pub/JPFKAudible

Read the Excerpt: 

Lake looms in my doorway, filling the space ominously. The afternoon sun halos his face, highlighting his strong jaw, lined with a beard that looks trimmer than usual. It’s operating at scruff-level now, and that’s unfairly hot. I try not to stare, but my mind’s going haywire, and my gaze bounces all over him. He’s wearing jeans that hug his thighs, a maroon Henley that shows off the shape of his big biceps and the outline of his strong pecs, and a glimmer in his blue eyes. He’s the portrait of the athlete post-workout, his hair slicked back, and wet. 

   “I just took a shower after practice. It dried a little,” he says casually, running a big hand through his wet hair, almost, almost, in slow motion. “But you can just get it a little more wet, right?”

I blink, trying to process his words. But it’s hard with the way he looks right now, all muscular and clean, and the way he sounds, too, all gravelly and flirty.

“Yes, it’s wet,” I say slowly, like I’m mesmerized. Because I am.

His lips quirk up in the hint of a grin. “It is? Wet?”

“I mean, I’m wet,” I correct, then panic shoots through me at my faux pas. “I mean, you’re wet. Your hair is wet. Your hair is plenty wet. For a haircut that is. Wet enough for a haircut.”

That grin grows wider. He cocks his head. “So everything’s wet, Remy? That’s what I’m hearing?”

I clench my thighs, even though they ache. “Yep.”

I turn around so he can’t see the heat spreading across my cheeks. Not that it matters. Pretty sure he knows it’s there, and he’s the one responsible for it.

“Come inside,” I say, but then my mind replays my words. Come inside?

I need to get it together.

“Oh I definitely will.”

About JUST PLAYING FOR KEEPS (Coming 6/3/2026):

Ever hear the story about the dating coach who got dumped on the hockey arena’s jumbotron?

Everyone did. But I lived it. Including the moment when the team’s broody, tattooed star Lake Axelrod swooped in on skates to rescue me from public humiliation.

Even more surprising? When the famously grumpy (and ridiculously sexy) hockey player insists on being my fake boyfriend for my sister’s high-profile wedding. It’s the perfect sweet revenge plan since my ex is the best man. Bonus – I might even salvage my professional reputation.

We need rules though.

1. To pull this off, everyone from his teammates to my boss has to believe we’re a real couple.

2. That means swoony touches and knee-weakening kisses are required.

3. When it ends, we walk away.

But the intensity in Lake’s eyes after every post-game kiss makes me wonder if he’s pretending. With each whispered secret, the line between fake and real bends. Until it shatters one night in a hotel room.

Soon, he isn’t just playing the protective boyfriend—he’s the only one who truly sees me.

If I’m not careful, I’m going to break the most important rule of all: don’t fall for your fake date.

This is Lake and Remy's romance. Tropes include: grumpy/sunshine hockey romance, fake dating, workplace romance, best friend's brother, obsessed hero

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/JustPlayingAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ Erin Mallon & Jason Clarke narrate in duet with a full cast!
http://blkly.pub/JPFKAudible

ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party. 

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