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Charmed Little Lie
Charmed in Texas #1
Charmed in Texas #1
By: Sharla Lovelace
Releasing
April 18, 2017
Lyrical Shine
Lyrical Shine
In A Charmed Little Lie (Charmed in Texas #1) by Sharla Lovelace, Lanie Barrett never meant to lie to her aunt just in order to make the woman happy while she was dying. But now with the reading of her aunt's will, she finds herself in a bind because the lie could lose her everything. Then again, perhaps not, when she meets Nick McKane; a gorgeous man who seems too good to be true by suggesting they get married. Will their marriage of convenience lead to true love, or will their relationship fears lose them the best thing that's happen to them?
Having only recently discovered Ms. Lovelace's books, I was really looking forward to this new series by her, and I've got to say that this first story of her Charmed in Texas series does not disappoint. Not only because this story contains the marriage of convenience trope, but because it has well-written dialogue that was amusing at times, especially the moments where Lanie causes quite a buzz amongst the townspeople with her wardrobe malfunction and her possessiveness of Nick. It also has a wonderful array of characters that I loved in the hero and heroine as well the secondary characters of Carmen and Allie and characters that I loved to hate in Nick's ex, members of Lanie's family and others that have their own agenda in trying to get Lanie to give up everything she'll inherit.
The dialogue and main characters were compelling, as Nick and Lanie have many decisions to make. Since the reading of the will and all it entails isn't easy for Lanie to accept, because she's forced to spend three months in the small town of Charmed where it seems almost everyone wants what has been promised to her if she fulfills the terms of the will. Can she and Nick convince everyone that they're in love and their marriage isn't a sham? Will Lanie realize she's not her mother before it's too late and she ends up losing her chance at happy ever after with Nick? Will Lanie accept her shot at her dream job?
Furthermore, I liked how Lanie kept surprising me. She's strong and brave by what she does when she first meets the hero, then by getting married to Nick and trying to fulfill the terms of the will, considering she never imagined herself being back in Charmed for an extended period of time. I also liked how feisty she is towards people that tick her off, especially several secondary characters that don't know when to quit. That don't understand that neither she or Nick are interested in their pathetic games to prove that the couple's marriage is a sham.
While Nick, he charmed me from start to finish with his willingness to help Lanie and how protective he becomes of her when dealing with the secondary characters that don't want her to receive everything she'll get in the will. Moreover, his back story is an interesting one, as his ex seemed like a typical rich girl growing up; always expecting to get her own way. Will Nick realize that Lanie is the right woman for him before it's too late, or will his ex worm her way back into his life? They do share a daughter together, so he'll never be completely free of her.
Overall, Ms. Lovelace has delivered an incredible read in this book where the chemistry between Nick and Lanie is intense, had me hooked while keeping me wondering if their relationship would ever go from platonic to physical. The way this story ended took me by surprise, because of how things turn out for Lanie when it comes to the will and how things sour between Nick and Lanie. However, I really enjoyed how they worked things out. Nick isn't about to let fear hold either of them back from achieving their happy ever after and I loved how he proved it with his words and his actions. I would recommend A Charmed Little Lie by Sharla Lovelace, if you enjoy the marriage of convenience trope, the fake relationship trope, small town romances, or books by authors Kimberly Kincaid, Tracy Brogan, Jamie Beck or Catherine Bybee.
BLURB:
Lanie Barrett didn’t mean to lie. Spinning a story of a joyous marriage to make a dying woman happy is forgivable, isn’t it? Lanie thinks so, especially since her beloved Aunt Ruby would have been heartbroken to know the truth of her niece’s sadly loveless, short-of-sparkling existence. Trouble is, according to the will, Ruby didn’t quite buy Lanie’s tale. And to inherit the only house Lanie ever really considered a home, she’ll have to bring her “husband” back to Charmed, Texas for three whole months—or watch Aunt Ruby’s cozy nest go to her weasel cousin, who will sell it to a condo developer.
Nick McKane
is out of work, out of luck, and the spitting image of the man Lanie described.
He needs money for his daughter’s art school tuition, and Lanie needs a
convenient spouse. It’s a match made . . . well, not quite in heaven, but for a
temporary arrangement, it couldn’t be better. Except the longer Lanie and Nick
spend as husband and wife, the more the connection between them begins to seem
real. Maybe this modern fairy tale really could come true . . .
I didn’t look back, and I didn’t care. Nick’s
hand was warm in mine, and when we reached the dance floor they’d cleared a
space for, he tugged back gently to make me turn around. The look in those dark
eyes nearly took out my knees. He pulled me into his arms, leaving no room for
imagination, and I let my hands slide up his chest to his neck, and around back
as his eyelids grew heavy.
Roberta Flack crooned softly,
“Nice save.”
“I tried.”
“How was the punch?” he asked.
I wound my fingers into his hair and pulled his
head down.
“See for yourself,” I said, the last word
finished against his lips.
Sparks ignited throughout my body as our lips
met. Soft. Slow. Wet. Needing. Our bodies moved as one with the music, so
close, so tightly pressed together I could feel his heart beating. My hands
traveled slowly back down his chest and around his middle as his came up into
my hair. When his tongue ran over my top lip, I knew he could feel my gasp. And
when I pulled him in deeper to taste him, I felt the low growl in his chest
rumbling against mine.
His fingers twisted in my hair as he dove deep
and then pulled back, deep again and back, teasing me, pulling back to kiss my
lips one at a time, as I kept clinging tighter. I was drunk on it. Breathing
shallow. My fingers curling into his shirt with the need for more
The first time…ever I kissed…your lips…
It was erotic, the way he kissed me. The way I
kissed him. Slow, matching our movements. Intimate. Electric and emotional at
the same time. And so full of desire and barely restrained need, that my body
was trembling with it when he held my face and leaned his forehead against
mine.
I wanted to keep my eyes closed. Absorb the feel
of him, the song, the words, the taste. Just hold on to it a little longer. But
I felt the heat of his gaze and my eyes fluttered open. And everything inside
me turned to liquid fire. No one—ever—had looked at me like that. Had wanted me like that. The mirror image of what was churning inside me was all over him. In the desire mixed with the trouble haunting his eyes. This wasn’t the game. That thought hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. This was—
His mouth covered mine again, hungrier, hotter, and I melted into it. The burn in my chest at the realization of just how fucking real this was, stole at my breath, and I didn’t care. It was more than we were supposed to be doing but—God, it was so good. It was so good my heart felt like it was swelling to the size of the room. Wrapping around us as his hands cradled my face and he broke from the kiss, moving his lips along my face, my cheeks, back to my lips, both of us breathing fast. It was
When he pulled me to him, I buried my face in his neck and held him as tightly as I could as the words slowed to an end. I didn’t want it to be over. I didn’t want to let go.
When he pulled me to him, I buried my face in his neck and held him as tightly as I could as the words slowed to an end. I didn’t want it to be over. I didn’t want to let go.
I could hear my heart in my ears, pounding with every breath. He smelled like soap and something woodsy and Nick, and I always knew that but being up close enough to lick him made the smell intoxicating.
The music stopped.
The lighting was changing. I had to let go of him, and the second I moved he backed up too. Just a little. Just enough for me to see the mouth I’d just gotten to know intimately. His gaze fell to my lips as well, before dragging up to my eyes. Things had changed. In the course of time it took for that song to make its evolution, our reality had shifted. And the real kicker was that I think we both knew it already had.
Sharla Lovelace is the bestselling, award-winning author of sexy small-town love stories. Being a Texas girl through and through, she’s proud to say she lives in Southeast Texas with her retired husband, a tricked-out golf cart, and two crazy dogs. She is the author of five stand-alone novels including the bestselling Don’t Let Go, the exciting Heart Of The Storm series, and the fun and sexy new Charmed in Texas series.
For more about Sharla's books, visit www.sharlalovelace.com, and keep up with all her new book releases easily by subscribing to her newsletter. She loves keeping up with her readers, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Tasty Q&A with Sharla Lovelace
Describe yourself in five words or less
1. Snarky (Might be kind of scary that this was the first one that came to mind.)
2. Introverted
3. Sneaky
4. People-watcher (notice how I hyphenated to get an extra word? Yeah, see #3)
5. Dog-lover (it worked last time)
Can you tell us a little about your book?
It’s about lying! LOL. Truly, it’s about when all your little white lies catch up to you, and what the hell do you do then? You make up a gargantuan sized one to cover them, and then hope it doesn’t swallow you whole. Unless it’s in the form of a hot sexy get-under-your-skin man….then by all means swallow! (I did not just say that.)
Lanie and Nick’s story was honestly one of my favorite books to write—EVER. It was so much fun, and such a runaway train ride with no hands! I loved literally watching them fall for each other, I loved Lanie’s spunk! I loved every second of it, and it birthed the town of Charmed, so I hope you will love it as much as I do.
If you had a theme song, what would it be?
I Hope You Dance
Name one thing you won’t leave home without.
My phone and a hair tie on my wrist. (That’s 2. Damn I have trouble following rules.)
What types of scenes are your most favorite to write?
I adore writing intense scenes with either sexy-smexy chemistry burning up the page or fast snappy dialogue. Sex scenes before the sex…with the tease and the tension and the snarky back and forth talking…I love that. Also fights are a blast with all that emotion churning around. Dialogue is always the most fun. I groan to write description…
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
Everyone says this, but seriously, never give up. I met Sandra Brown at a writer’s conference, and she was behind a table signing for a line of hundreds, and when I got up there I said “Everyone in this line wants to be you one day.” She looked at me and said, “You’re here. You’re already halfway there. Don’t ever stop learning and don’t ever stop writing. You’ll get here. One day, maybe I’ll be in your line.” I never forgot that. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing by any means, but my first book was published almost exactly 5 years ago, and now A CHARMED LITTLE LIE is my 10th published book, and I’ve just finished writing my 12th. Don’t give up on your dream. Also, remember that you write about life, and to do that you have to live. There are times (deadline evil times) that you have to stay in a cave and pound out words, but outside of that, find a balance and enjoy your life. It will show in your writing when you do…and when you don’t. If you write romance, kiss your husband every day. And if you are writing about hot sex and he is one of your readers, you’d better be prepared to give up the goods. Saying you aren’t in the mood after penning being banged against a wall—doesn’t cut it honey. ;)
Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
I wouldn’t be here without you, and I love and adore you so much for taking the time to buy my books and give my stories a try. And when you email or message me to tell me about it…oh my God you just don’t know the rainbows and unicorns that fill me up. Nothing is more important in this job than readers. When I make you happy…when I make you laugh or cry or feel something that you are moved enough to tell me about…my God, ice cream isn’t even as good as that. It’s close. But not quite. ;)
This sounds really good. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for your review.
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