Yours All Along (A Loving on the Edge novella #7.5) by Roni Loren with excerpt, review and giveaway #win @RoniLoren @AuthorsPal
Yours All Along (A Loving on the Edge novella #7.5)
by Roni Loren
Contemporary erotic romance
eBook, 135 pages
Publisher: InterMix (June 16, 2015)
The new
Loving on the Edge romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Nothing Between Us turns on the heat between
two men who wonder how much they’re willing to risk in the name of love.
Four years
after an accident tore their friendship apart, Hunter and Devon are living
separate lives. Hunter is now the all-America hero—a congressman’s son and a
pro pitcher in Houston preparing to marry his beauty-queen girlfriend. Devon is
in Dallas running a new restaurant.
But when
Hunter unexpectedly shows up in Devon’s bar, Devon can’t turn him away. Damn it
if the man isn’t still gorgeous. But engaged? Hell no. All he’s doing for Devon
is bringing back memories of their college-roommate days, and the night their
relationship went too far. Turns out Hunter has never forgotten it either.
Now Devon
can’t help but be drawn in all over again by the only guy who’s ever gotten
close enough to break his heart. Maybe one more night together would be enough
for both of them to finally move on. Or maybe one night will change everything…
Purchase
links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Google Play | Kobo
Excerpt
This was so not his scene. Hunter tried to move to the beat of the pop song as the crowd pulsed around him near the front of the stage, but this music was not his thing and the high school chick in front of him kept casually grinding herself back against him, making everything awkward. He wasn’t drunk enough for this shit. Grinding girl sent him a look over her shoulder that obviously was some sort of invitation, but he couldn’t be less interested. She had on a pound of makeup and reeked of some kind of sweet perfume and alcohol. No thanks.
Dev was having no trouble keeping up with the beat, though, and seemed to be having a way better time. The shots he’d taken before they came in had probably helped. The kid had been in a weird mood the whole ride here. But now he was bouncing next to Hunter, face lit up with pride, as he watched his baby sister perform on stage. Hunter took a long sip off his cup to finish his beer, entertained more by the view of his tipsy, dancing friend than what was on stage or the girl in front of him.
“Isn’t she amazing?” Devon yelled.
Hunter smiled and tossed his empty cup to the ground, Dev’s exuberance contagious. “Yep. She’s totally hot.”
Devon shoved him in the shoulder. “Watch it, big man. That’s my baby sister. I’ll kick your ass.”
Hunter caught Devon’s wrist before he moved away, the heat of Dev’s skin against his palm sending a jolt through him, and without thinking, he pulled him closer. “I’d like to see you try, Easton.”
Devon’s gaze flicked to Hunter’s grip on his wrist then to the scant space between them, confusion flaring there. “What are you doing?”
Hunter knew he should let go, but somehow he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Holding on to Dev in the mass of chaos felt like finding safe harbor in the eye of a storm. He put his mouth close to Devon’s ear. “I’m using you as a shield. I need you to protect my virtue from the jailbait over there. Maybe she’ll think we’re together.”
Devon glanced over at the girl, who peered back again, focus zeroing in on Hunter. Dev gave him a wicked look, his smirk loose from his buzz. “We’ve got this. Just follow my lead.” Devon hooked his finger in Hunter’s belt loop and dragged him over to the spot he’d been dancing in. The music pumped through the arena, and the colored lights sparked over Devon in a haphazard, colorful pattern, revealing only pieces, snapshots. Hunter couldn’t look away. Dev rocked to the beat. “Come on, big man. Dance. Let’s shatter her little schoolgirl fantasy about landing a college guy for the night. Let her think I’m taking you home.”
Hunter laughed, nervous all of a sudden. “I suck at dancing.”
“Nobody sucks at dancing at a concert. Just close your eyes and move.”
Hunter wasn’t sure that was the truth, but he did have a little buzz going, and Dev’s grip on his waist was keeping him in time with the music. He closed his eyes and hooked an arm around Devon’s neck, focusing on letting go and moving with the beat.
“There you go,” Dev declared. “Just move.”
Hunter rarely danced and definitely had never tried with a guy, but before long, he could feel himself getting swept up in it—the beer, the music, the skill of his dance partner. All if it was pulsing through him with an electric edge, waking up everything and dragging him into the oblivion. He opened his eyes, finding Dev with flushed cheeks and laughing eyes. Devon spun around and then grabbed Hunter again without missing a beat. God, the kid was something. Devon was in his element tonight. Not that he ever held back. He was open about who he was, but seeing him in this environment proved that Devon still held some things in check around the frat house. Here Devon was free . . . and fucking magnetic.
The draw was something Hunter was learning to get used to. From the beginning, Devon had had this undeniable pull on him, but it’d been purely a friendship vibe. They connected and just got each other’s humor. Their differences had been a nonissue.
But after the night they’d shared his bed, the pull had gotten decidedly less clear cut. Hunter hadn’t lied when Devon had asked if he looked at guys in a sexual way. He didn’t. He was just starting to look at Devon that way. And it was completely fucking with his head.
Devon turned and put his back to Hunter, keeping close but moving with the music and leaving enough space between them that it didn’t cross into bump-and-grind territory. That’s when stalker girl decided she had an opening. She shimmied over and tried to work her way in between him and Devon. Her body brushed against Hunter’s arm in seductive invitation. But before she could slide into Devon’s spot, Hunter took a wide step, grabbed Devon’s hand, and pulled Dev against him hard. Their chests collided, and Devon’s eyes widened.
Rating: 4 of 5
Cover comment: Kind of lackluster, but okay. Hunter looks like this in the story.
Book source: Netgalley
Roni does erotic romance just right. Every book I've read by her has just the right amount of romance, character development, plot, chemistry, the dialogue sounds real, the story line convincing, so Yours All Along, the latest in the Loving on the Edge series, continues this author's trademark of 'doing it just right' including the smoldering emotions and feels for this reader.
Read in one sitting, Yours All Along is a LGBT novella, but it reads like a novel. This m/m story packs a powerful tale about two guys who become roommates in college. Hunter comes from an affluent family, his father is a politician and accustomed to getting things his way, and Devon comes from a different background. He's freer, has a purple stripe in his hair, and is easy going. He's also gay but has learned when to keep quiet and when to put his fists into action. I totally understood Hunter's need to do everything opposite what his upbringing had taught him. He's stifled and has so many questions, he also wants to think for himself and not according to his dad. Devon sees the man inside the boy's body and he likes how Hunter is the only one to say he'll room with him when the other guys in their house learn of his sexual preference. Their chemistry practically comes off the page and I couldn't help rooting for them.
Both of these guys are so likable. Told from both perspectives in third person while taking place in the present, readers learn about their past in a bunch of chapters. Hunter realizes his feelings for his roommate begin to change the longer they spend time together. After an incident, he flees and has an accident. Devon runs to be by his side, only to come face-to-face with Hunter's father later on in the day. That doesn't turn out well. Years later, Hunter is a successful major league baseball player and totally miserable. Devon is a powerful businessman. Will Hunter find what his life is lacking by stopping by Devon's restaurant? Read their sexy and touching story. I think the author hit a home run with this one. Yours All Along touches all the right buttons, I had the feels with Hunter and Devon, and can't help admiring this talented writer. This is how contemporary erotic romance is done. I'm excited to read about Devon's sister's story in the next book in this series.
About the author
If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that's it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.
Places to find Roni Loren: Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Giveaway
$25 Gift Card (Amazon or Barnes & Noble)
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