Sunday Spotlight is a feature we began in 2016. This year we’re spotlighting our favorite books, old and new. We’ll be raving about the books we love and being total fangirls. You’ve been warned. 🙂
Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! We hope that you’re all settled in for a day of relaxing, spending time with loved ones and remembering what this season is really all about.
For today’s Sunday Spotlight, I wanted to feature a Christmas romance because it’s the time of the year where all I want to read are comfort reads and all I want to watch are Hallmark movies. Well, this book is the most perfect of Christmas reads because it’s a best friends to lovers trope and it has the feel of a Hallmark movie to set you right up for a great holiday read. You can read my review of this book here.
An Ex for Christmas by Lauren Layne
Series: Love Unexpectedly #5
Also in this Series: Blurred Lines, Good Girl, Walk of Shame
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: November 7th, 2017
Publisher: Random House, Loveswept
She’s making a list—and checking it twice. But is there a nice guy among all her naughty exes? The New York Times bestselling author of Blurred Lines returns with a charming friends-to-lovers rom-com.
When a psychic tells spunky, superstitious Kelly Byrne that she’s already met her true love, she becomes obsessed with the idea of tracking him down before Christmas. Kelly immediately writes up an “Ex List” and starts contacting old boyfriends to figure out which one is the one. When her college sweetheart rolls into town, Kelly convinces herself that they’re meant to be. The trouble is, sparks are flying with someone she’s never given a chance: her best friend, Mark.
Mark Blakely has watched the guys on Kelly’s list break her heart, and he’s not looking forward to watching them do it all over again. Mark’s always been there for her, but the timing’s never worked out for their relationship to be something more. Now, just as Mark is ready to move on, the sexual tension between them is suddenly off the charts. With Christmas morning around the corner, he just hopes Kelly will wake up and realize that everything she wants has been right in front of her all along.
There really isn’t much more that you’ll need from a holiday romance because I’m pretty confident that this book will hit all of your love buttons (haha, that didn’t sound the way it did in my head but I’m leaving it). Mark and Kelly are best friends and Mark has been carrying a torch for Kelly for years and Kelly is completely oblivious. You guys, read this book!
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Memorable Quotes
Did I mention that this is a best friends to lovers romance? I have every faith that you’ll love seeing Mark and Kelly go from here…
“How do trees have character?
“You know, quirks. Flaws. Bald spots. I never trust anyone that’s too perfect.
“I’m perfect.”
I smile at his matter-of-fact tone. “Yes, honey. Maybe that’s why we’ve never dated, you see?
You’re too smart, too good-looking, too confident.”He narrows his eyes, as though trying to gauge my level of sarcasm, and the thing is…it’s sort of true.
To here….
“There”, he murmurs, his voice just a tiny bit raspy. “It’s not quite as thick higher up in the trunk.”
Annnnnnnnnd now we’re talking about thickness. And trunks.
My mouth is entirely dry, and my body…not so cold.
Get it together, Byrne.
I shift slightly under the guise of getting a better angle at the tree trunk, and not because I’m aching to arch backward toward his trunk.
No. No. No no no no, you did not just have that thought.
Then here…
Kissing him feels both wonderfully new and fresh, and yet comfortable and timeless, as though we’ve been doing this – or were meant to have been doing this – forever.”
And finally, here…
His hands cup my face, thumbs forcing my chin up so I have to meet his eyes.
“You know me, Kelly. Better than anyone.”
His thumbs brush against my cheeks tenderly, at odds with the fierce look on his face. “You know me, so you know I don’t like to share.”
“I know,” I whisper.
“What’s it going to be, Kelly? he says, his lips drifting softly over my cheek. “Do we see where this thing with us goes? Or are you holding out for your Christmas miracle?”
Talk about swoon This book delivers all of the swoons!
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It delivers a grumpily sexy hero and a quirky heroine who is such a delight with a Christmas background so if you want, enter our giveaway below for a chance to win your own copy of this delightful book.
Love Unexpectedly Series
Giveaway Alert
We’re giving one lucky winner their choice of one of our Sunday Spotlight books. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter for one of this month’s features.
Do you love Lauren Layne as much as I do? How about Christmas romances? Look no further because today’s spotlight is where it’s at.
About the Author
Lauren Layne
Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen romantic comedies.
A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career.
She lives in midtown Manhattan with her high-school sweetheart, where she writes smart romantic comedies with just enough sexy-times to make your mother blush. In LL’s ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books.
I really do like this author quite a bit and need to read her more than I do!!!
And merry Christmas eve to you, too!
I’m currently reading an old Mary Balogh holiday romance, Christmas Belle.
Love Lauren Layne and I love Christmas romances
Thanks for the giveaway.