Series: Caught Up In Love

Audiobook Review: Trophy Husband by Lauren Blakely

Posted October 22, 2018 by Holly in Reviews | 4 Comments

Audiobook Review: Trophy Husband by Lauren BlakelyReviewer: Holly
Trophy Husband (Caught Up in Love, #3) by Lauren Blakely
Narrator: Samara Naeymi
Series: Caught Up in Love #3
Also in this series: Caught Up in Us
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: May 30, 2013
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Point-of-View: First
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 232
Length: 5 hours and 58 minutes
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
three-half-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Previous edition for this ASIN found here

Sometimes you can't help falling in love, even when you try to do the opposite...Successful fashion blogger McKenna Bell has spent far too long protecting herself after the way her ex-fiancé left her at the altar for a college chick he met the night of his bachelor party. Loving again, trusting again, well, that's just not in the cards. Especially now that her ex is back in town with his new woman, demanding custody of McKenna's favorite creature in the whole world--her dog. No effing way. McKenna's had enough of him, and she decides to even the score by finding her own hot young thing -- a Trophy Husband. Sure, she's only twenty-seven, but doesn't that make it even more fun -- and infuriating to her ex -- to pursue a younger man? When she declares her intentions on her daily blog, her quest quickly skyrockets in popularity, and that's when Chris enters the picture, and he's got all the assets. He's handsome, successful, and turns her inside out with a kiss to end all kisses, the kind that makes you feel like a shooting star. But loving again could mean losing again, and it's so much easier to focus on getting even, isn't it? Unless, you just can't help falling in love. Which means McKenna will have to come face to face with what she really wants in life -- protecting her heart from hurt, or letting go of her fears of a new beginning. (love story, contemporary romance, alpha heroes, beach reads, sexy romance, falling in love)

**TROPHY HUSBAND is the third book in the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling CAUGHT UP IN LOVE series. Each book can be read as a standalone, though you will likely enjoy the other books in the series.**

THE CAUGHT UP IN LOVE SERIES:

BOOK 1: CAUGHT UP IN US (Bryan & Kat's story) BOOK 2: PRETENDING HE'S MINE (Reeve & Sutton's story) BOOK 3: TROPHY HUSBAND (Chris & McKenna's story) BOOK 4: STARS IN THEIR EYES (William & Jess' story)

When McKenna Bell’s fiance leaves her a voicemail the night before their wedding telling her he married someone he just met in Vegas during his bachelor party because he can’t imagine having kids with her, she’s devastated. She still hasn’t fully recovered a year later when she runs into him and his new wife. Now he’s claiming her favorite restaurant as his own, naming his brand-new kid the name she picked out and, even worse, demanding joint custody of her dog. Fed up with feeling like her life isn’t her own, McKenna decides to take back control by searching for her own Trophy Husband. Why can’t women act like men do, and choose a spouse just because he’s young, fit and looking for someone to support him? The answer is they can, and she’s going to.

When she makes an announcement on her daily blog, the search for a Trophy Husband turns into a full-on sweepstakes. That should be great, since that’s what she said she wanted. The problem? She’s met someone…. Someone who completely lights her up in all the right ways, and who seems to want her just as much. Unfortunately, that someone doesn’t qualify as a Trophy Husband. What’s a girl to do when she’s made a promise to herself and her friends that she’ll see this thing through, but her heart is no longer in it?

This was a fun read. Nothing super heavy or dark, just a light contemporary romance. I really like the underlying theme of women empowerment and how well women were portrayed overall. Even the dreaded ex’s new wife was unexpectedly lovely. I laughed out loud several times while reading. I also really liked the way the romance developed. McKenna and Chris had great chemistry. I loved watching them get to know one another, and skirt around her search for a trophy husband.

Another solid story from Blakely.

4 out of 5

Caught Up in Love

three-half-stars

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Review: Caught Up in Us by Lauren Blakely

Posted April 15, 2014 by Holly in Reviews | 0 Comments

Review: Caught Up in Us by Lauren BlakelyReviewer: Holly
Caught Up in Us by Lauren Blakely
Series: Caught Up In Love #1
Also in this series: Trophy Husband (Caught Up in Love, #3)
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 2014
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 107
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
three-half-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Five years ago, Kat Harper fell into a dizzying summer romance with her brother's best friend, Bryan. It was a mad, crazy love full of kisses all through the night, but he broke her heart and she had to move on.

Five years later, Kat is finishing her graduate degree and building her business as a jewelry designer, when Bryan, head of his own successful company, walks back into her life. Bryan has been assigned to Kat as her new business mentor and the rules are clear. No hanky-panky permitted. Kat can handle that because she's totally over him . . . right?

Except, he still makes her laugh, and he remembers all the things she likes. Not to mention that he's even more handsome now than he was then. Then there's the spark between them-the simply undeniable chemistry and the tender ways he shows he still cares for her. Can they resist each other the second time around or will first love trump all?

This was a free download (still available at Amazon).

I’m fairly certain I read at least part of this book before. It may have been one I started during the worst of my reading dry-spell then set aside.

Kat was introduced to her brother’s best friend and instantly fell in love with him. As they spent the summer together she thought the feeling was mutual, until the day he broke her heart. Five years later she’s set to finish her MBA. All she needs is to pass her practical with the help of a business mentor. When she sees that Bryan is one of the possibles, she isn’t too worried. Until she realizes that’s exactly who her professor is going to assign to her.  But that’s okay. She’ll be fine. She’s completely over him. Right?

Except not really. There’s a spark between them that’s hard to deny. They share the same taste in music, the same drive to succeed and a whole host of history she doesn’t want to explore. Which is good, since Bryan’s company is going through a scandal and he can’t afford another. Not to mention the no hanky-panky rule her professor has…

Kat was a bit too insecure for my liking. I would have preferred if she were stronger and more independent. For someone who created jewelry and ran a successful business, had already finished college and spent a year overseas on her own, she was very unsure of herself. It isn’t that I disliked her, but I wanted to see her with more backbone.

Bryan was easier to understand and relate to, though I didn’t agree with all the choices he made. He was remorseful over their breakup, and straightforward in his feelings. He certainly acted more mature.

When Kat wasn’t obsessing over Bryan’s feelings for her, I really enjoyed their relationship. It was obvious they shared many of the same interests. They bonded over movies, politics and business strategies. Their friendship came across very well. It wasn’t hard to understand why they were so in love five years before.  I also liked how open they were with each other sexually. It’s nice to read a book where the couple isn’t afraid or ashamed of their chemistry. They talked dirty to each other and were very open about that aspect of themselves. It was very refreshing.

There were some problematic areas for me, but overall this was a quick, light read.

3.75 out of 5

This book is self-published. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

three-half-stars

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