Tangled, an all-new brother’s best friend standalone romance from Laura Pavlov, is available now!!

 

Amazon  |  Amazon Worldwide

 

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Blurb

I’ve known Gray Baldwin my entire life.

He’s an arrogant frat boy with a red Solo cup permanently attached to his hand.

And he’s my brother’s best friend.

He’s made it his personal mission to annoy me and when he sets his mind to something, he rarely fails.

But when Gray and I end up at the same college, we can’t seem to stay away from one another.

I’m supposed to hate him, but when I’m alone with Gray, everything changes.

It turns out there is more to this boy than I ever knew.

Our attraction is something that can’t be extinguished.

But Gray is determined to push me away.

And I’m determined to stay.

 

Add to Goodreads

 

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Review

4.5 stars!

I love this book! A funny yet emotional new adult/coming of age brother’s best friend romance that is sweet, sexy, and full of feels.

This is the second book in the Willow Springs series, but can easily be read as a standalone. Gigi is one of five best friends who make up the core of this series, and she and Gray appeared in the last book, and despite their animosity towards each other, it was clear that there was more going on. Their story was everything I was hoping for.

Gigi grew up with Gray as a part of her life. He is the best friend of her older brother, Cade, and due to his own rocky home life, he spent the majority of his time at her home as a part of the family. For years they have fought and bickered, and now Gigi is all grown up and off to the same college as Gray, and when overprotective Cade asks Gray to look out for his little sister, he throws himself into the role of fierce protector… a little too overzealously perhaps.

“Trust me when I tell you that you don’t want to mess with that dude. I won’t allow it,” he said,
leaning closer so his breath tickled my cheeks.
Is he for real?
I gasped in dramatic fashion. Coco would be proud. “You won’t allow it? You did not just say that.” The nerve. “Are you serious?”
“Dead fucking serious, G.” He stormed across the room as I followed him with my eyes. He talked to a guy in the band, and the music stopped.
What the hell was he doing?
“Listen up. You see this girl here?” he shouted, and everyone turned as he made his way over to me and palmed the top of my head like a freaking lunatic. “If you so much as hit on this girl, I’ll punch you in the fucking face. Are we clear?”

LMAO!

But there is more to Gray’s protectiveness than just doing a favour for his best friend. He has feelings for Gigi – big ones. He’s just never acted on them. Not only because Cade would lose his mind, but because Gray has a well-deserved reputation as a player, he’s never had a relationship, and he knows that Gigi deserves better.

I’d always had to remind myself that she was off-limits, but lately, I was feeling things I knew I shouldn’t. And bickering with Gigi Jacobs had become better than sex with anyone else.
How messed up was that?

Gigi’s never had a relationship either and is keen to explore all that college and its social opportunities have to offer. Sure, she’d love to explore all of that with Gray, but she knows he would never go there with her. But being so close to each other creates the perfect opportunity for all of their feelings to intensity, and we get this delicious situation where they both want each other, they admit it to each other, but they can’t (won’t) be together. It brings the emotion, and creates a wonderful sense of anticipation as they dance around each other, Gray makes a claim without making a claim, they tease and banter, and there are steamy moments when it all becomes too much, but they still keep their distance. And the reader is there madly flipping pages just waiting for it all to implode.

“I’m not a one-night hook-up.”
His hand cradled my cheek and his thumb stroked me there. “I’m very aware of who you are, G.”

I love these characters. Gray has had a bit of a wild life, but he’s straightening out and really finding himself. He’s got a huge heart, and he cares deeply for the people in his life, and his journey throughout this book is beautifully written. I felt so much for him, and I adored his story. And Gigi is a fantastically strong heroine. She’s funny and feisty, she knows what she wants, and she goes for it, and I so admire her. She’s perfect for Gray – standing up for herself and not allowing him to walk all over her, pushing him out of his comfort zone when he needs it, and fully supporting and encouraging him. They match perfectly, and watching them come together is so gorgeous.

“I’m in a whole lot of trouble with you and I don’t know what to do about it. It scares the shit out of me.”
“What kind of trouble?” Her lips grazed mine as she spoke, and her fingers were tangled in my hair.
When did that happen?
“I’m in fucking love with my best friend’s little sister, and she’s too good for me.”

Their relationship is sweet, passionate, and deeply emotional. Their feelings for each other are so strong and when they finally find their way to each other, it’s a beautiful romance. They are all-in, and they hold nothing back from each other, and I loved seeing them together.

“I’ve been fighting this—because I don’t want to fuck it up. And there’s a very good chance that I will. But I’m willing to try.”

But they still have challenges to face, and the feels are intense in the later part of the book when drama unfolds. It’s handled well though, with no angst, and it shows the strength of Gray and Gigi as a couple, which I really appreciated

I loved this book. It made me laugh and made me feel, and I fell in love with these characters and their story. The set-ups continue for the remaining three of the girls to have their stories told, and I’m excited for Maura’s up next.

Such a great read, I’m loving this series!

4.5 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

Willow Springs

 

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Excerpt

“You don’t get to decide where I poke my nose,” I said, and my tongue dipped out because I couldn’t push away the thought of poking my nose between her legs—but I wouldn’t tell her that.

She pushed to her feet and started loading the packages into the bags I’d brought them in, irritation seeping from her.

“You know, Gray. You’re a lot of things, but I’d have never guessed you a coward.”

Now I was standing and yanking the bag away from her. “You’re correct. I am a lot of things—but a coward is not one of them.”

“The definition of a coward is one who shows disgraceful fear or timidity.” A fake oversized smile grew across her pretty face.

“Why the fuck do you know the definition of coward?”

“I took my SATs not too long ago, thank you very much. I assumed you’d know the definition since you wear it so well.” She moved to the door and yanked it open.

“How exactly am I a coward?”

“Because you’re a scared little boy who’s afraid of my brother and afraid of his own feelings.” She stood there all cocky and sure of herself. Hell, insulting me was her favorite pastime.

“I’m not afraid of anything, G. You’re wrong about that.” I moved through the open doorway, refusing to let her get to me.

“I think you’re afraid of kissing me because you know it would be good and that scares the crap out of you.”

I whipped around to see her smiling like she was proud that she was getting under my skin. But she wasn’t. I wasn’t afraid of Cade or Gigi or any of that bullshit.

I was afraid of hurting her.

But if she needed proof, I was all too happy to give it to her.

I moved into her space, dropping the bags at my feet.

Her breathing stalled and she backed up against her dresser, and the door slammed shut behind me.

“You think I’m afraid to kiss you?” I asked, my voice gruff and raw as I moved into her space. Wanting to steal the air from her lungs.

“I think you are,” she whispered.

One hand hooked around the back of her neck, and the other squeezed her ass as I yanked her close. My dick was so hard I thought it might tear through the denim holding him captive. My mouth crashed into hers, and there was nothing gentle about it.

My tongue slipped inside her sweet mouth as her lips parted, all but inviting me in. I groaned against her soft lips as our tongues did a wild dance charged with need and desire.

She pressed closer, and I lifted her off the ground and her legs wrapped around my waist. I rocked her slowly, moving her up and down, so she could grind up against my cock. Her breathing was erratic, and her hands tangled in my hair. She moved faster, and I knew she was close. Hell, I’d never made a chick come just from kissing her, but everything about Gigi was different.

In the best fucking way.

She cried out my name as her hips moved in frantic rhythm as she rode out every last wave of pleasure. I set her on her feet and took in her wild eyes. Her lips were swollen, and she pushed her hair away from her face. She appeared to be a bit stunned by the whole encounter.

“Not afraid of kissing you, G. Just afraid we’ll both want more. And that can’t happen.” I kissed the top of her head before reaching for the two bags at my feet and walking right out the door.

I’d need to stop home for a quick shower so I could rub it out to my latest fantasy of Gigi Jacobs coming apart in my arms from just having my mouth on hers.

This would definitely be a new favorite.

 

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About Laura

Laura Pavlov writes sweet and sexy contemporary romance that will make you both laugh and cry. She is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome almost grown kids, and dog-whisperer to a couple of crazy Yorkies. Laura resides in Las Vegas where she is living her own happily ever after.

 

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