Jennifer
Gracen is back with a brand new contemporary romance! In BETWEEN YOU AND ME, a
woman and her friend make an arrangement: he'll be her sperm donor, if she
pretends to be his girlfriend. But maybe they're not just pretending...
Between You and Me
The Harrisons #4
By Jennifer Gracen
Releasing November 28th, 2017
Kensington Publishing / Penguin Random House
In Between You and Me (The Harrisons #4) by Jennifer Gracen, Tess Harrison needs time away and heading to the family retreat in Aspen is perfect, especially when it will get her closer to her goal of having a family. However, Tess never imagined she'd fall in love with the man she asks to be the father of her baby. Will Tess be able to convince Logan to take a chance, so they can achieve their happy ever after; or will Logan's past keep him from ever taking another chance on love, family and happiness?
The previous books of this series are absolutely fantastic, and this story is no different. Really, Ms. Gracen proves again that she has such amazing talent when it comes to writing contemporary romance with characters that are captivating due to their back stories and all they go through on their journey to happy ever after. The way this story started had me hooked, as Tess is close with her family and she totally takes them by surprise with her plan to take time out from her busy life. She's so secretive and I could understand why she wasn't ready to tell her brothers why she needs time away. Will she eventually open up to her siblings? However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine met that was extremely intriguing, as they're complete opposites in every way.
As for the dialogue, it was well-written, completely enthralling and I loved everything this couple go through on their journey to happy ever after. However, in saying that, it took me a while to warm up to the heroine, as what she asks of Logan is a tad selfish, knowing how he feels about kids and relationships. What did she expect when she takes him by surprise with her request? That he was just going to say yes and everything would be bright and rosy. Really, his reaction was perfectly understandable and I liked the decision he did make in the end, as Tess has become important to him and he wants her to have the one thing she wants most.
Both the main characters make this story a highly entertaining read with their incredible chemistry and growing relationship, but it was Logan that made this story extra special for me. Really, I couldn't get enough of him. He's had a tough past in losing everything that was important to him, but he finally got his life back on the right track. Then there's what he goes through in this story with his mom being sick, which wasn't easy for him to deal with and I couldn't help but empathize with him, especially when it comes to the decision his mom makes. Will his mom be all right? Will Logan listen to his mom and take a chance on love, family and happiness?
While Tess, she may be an heiress and never had to worry about money, but her life hasn't been easy. Her father is overbearing and has made some terrible decisions when it comes to Tess's life, but it's palpable the man loves his daughter. Furthermore, Tess is smart; hard-working with all she's done for the family charity foundation; and I liked how determined she was to have a family, even if it means possibly losing the man she's falling in love with. I also liked the obstacles these two face on their journey to happy ever after such as a jealous woman reminding them how different they are and interfering brothers that are determined to do the same. Yet, what I liked most of all about Tess is that she finally showed her brothers that she knows how to make a scene when it comes to them being judgmental jerks that have no right to do what they do at a crucial moment in this book.
Overall, Ms. Gracen has delivered another incredible read for this series where the chemistry between this couple was off-the-charts and instantaneous from the moment they came face-to-face; the sizzling romance heats up the pages and shows how amazingly opposites attract; and the ending had me empathizing with what the hero is going through and I liked that Tess was there for him and that they finally got everything out in the open when it came to their feelings. No way could they walk away from something so right. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up perfectly, because of Logan's love for Tess and their child as well the surprise the heroine has for the hero. I would recommend Between You and Me by Jennifer Gracen, if you enjoy the opposites attract trope, the friends to lovers trope, or books by authors Samantha Chase, Melody Grace, Bella Andre and Barbara Freethy.
As the only daughter of the wealthy Harrison clan, Tess Harrison has everything—except the baby she longs for. With no husband in sight, she escapes to her family’s retreat in Aspen, Colorado, visions of sperm donors dancing in her head. Instead, she finds Logan Carter. When the ruggedly handsome manager of the Harrison ski house offers to be her baby daddy in exchange for her playing his girlfriend, Tess is breathless to begin the charade. After all, the brokenhearted heiress knows better than to fall in love . . .
She would be Logan’s dream girl, if his dark past had left him with any dreams. Now the brooding bachelor’s only hope is to satisfy his mother’s dying wish to see him happily paired off—and give lovely Tess the baby she longs for. But when he and Tess opt to make a baby the old-fashioned way, he’s fighting hard against the longing to hold on to the elusive Harrison beauty forever . . .
She would be Logan’s dream girl, if his dark past had left him with any dreams. Now the brooding bachelor’s only hope is to satisfy his mother’s dying wish to see him happily paired off—and give lovely Tess the baby she longs for. But when he and Tess opt to make a baby the old-fashioned way, he’s fighting hard against the longing to hold on to the elusive Harrison beauty forever . . .
By the time Logan pulled up in front of Tess’s house, she was
warm, full, tired, and happy. “I had a great time today.”
“I did too,” he said with a smile. “Thanks again for inviting
me.”
“Any chance you’d like to do it again sometime soon?”she
asked. “You’re a worthy ski partner, and I had fun with you.”
“Yeah, I’d like that,” he said. “But next time, I pay for my
lift ticket.”
“Deal. Sometime next week?”
“Sure. Give me a call, we’ll work out a time.”
“Well, you have a job with
a real schedule. Right now, I don’t. I’m free as a bird. So you give me a
call.”
His eyes held hers as he said, “Okay. I’ll do that. You’re on.
Got yourself a ski buddy.”
God, she wanted to kiss him. Sitting so close in the warmth of
his truck, he smelled good and his eyes were intense and his mouth was inviting
and she wanted to kiss him so bad. But this new friendship—all the things
they’d revealed to each other that day—she didn’t want to cross any lines or
mess it up. For now, she’d hold back.
But still couldn’t resist flirting a little bit. “So,” she
said boldly. “Are you coming in to soak in my tub or what? The offer stands.”
His gaze turned hot, a full-out smolder that made her belly do
a wobbly flip. “The offer is more tempting than you know.” His voice had
dropped low and dead sexy, making her shiver. “But I think I’d better head home
for tonight.”
They stared at each other for a moment, pure electricity
crackling between them. She could feel her blood in her veins, racing now, hot
and needing, as his eyes lowered to her mouth for a few seconds before lifting
to meet her gaze again. “You sure?” she asked. Her heart thumped in heavy
beats.
“Only so much temptation a man can take,” he murmured. “And
you’re testing my limits as it is, Tess. You have to know that.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Well . . .”
She leaned in, her face so close to his that she could feel
his hot breath feather against her lips.
“Tess.” He whispered it as a protest, but his eyes gave him
away. He wanted her too, she could see it all over his face.
She closed the distance between them, pressing her mouth to
his. It was a brush of her lips against his, just the slightest touch. But his
hand lifted to cup the back of her neck and hold her there. He took control of
the kiss, gently but surely, slanting his mouth over hers to take more of what
he wanted. Her mouth opened with a little sigh as their tongues met and swirled
slowly. As they leaned into each other, his fingers threaded through her hair
and his other hand came up, cradling her head in his hands as his mouth
consumed hers.
Her senses reeled. His full beard tickled her face,
surprisingly soft against her skin. The feel of his mouth on hers, his hands in
her hair, his big, warm body so close . . .her head swam with it all. He
deepened the kiss and groaned softly into her mouth, and she was lost. She
surrendered willingly, kissing him back with the same slow, sensual pace he’d set,
her fingers clutched in his ski jacket. She could have kissed him for days.
He broke away slowly, leaning his forehead against hers, eyes
still closed. “Jesus,” he whispered. When his eyes opened to focus on her, they
were heavy lidded with lust. “You . . . you better go inside now.”
Still catching her breath, she touched his cheek. “You sure
you don’t want to come in?”
“I do want to,” he said, his voice thick. “Too much. So I’m
not going to.”
She pulled back, trying to hide her disappointment. “Okay.”
“Tess . . .” He stared at her, his mouth opening and closing
as he fought with what he wanted to say. “You’re an amazing woman. I like that
we’re . . . kind of friends now. Let’s try to stick with that for now, okay?”
The disappointment sharpened in her gut, but she pasted on a
smile. “Fine.”
“Ah crap. No, no, don’t say fine,” Logan
demanded gently. “When a woman says fine, it’s never
fine. Even a loner lumberjack like me knows that.”
She couldn’t help but giggle.
“Tess, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he
said earnestly. “Don’t think for a second that I wouldn’t love to go inside
with you right now, because I would. But you have an agenda, you’re gearing up
to go through some medical . . . stuff . . . and I don’t want to get in the way
of that.”
She gaped at him in shock. “I . . . I don’t know what one
thing has to do with the other.”
“You have big plans,” he murmured, trailing the backs of his
fingers along her cheek, eyes locked with hers. “I’d be a distraction. You said
it yourself, you don’t want any distractions right now.” His gaze turned wicked
and hot as he added, “I promise you, it’d be a fantastic distraction. A sexy,
fun, passionate distraction . . . but this friendship we’ve started? Means
more.”
“We’re attracted to each other,” she said flatly.
“Can’t deny that.” He touched his mouth to hers again, a light
brush of his lips, and her whole body shuddered. “But I shouldn’t go inside
with you. Not tonight.”
Her nerves jangled, every nerve ending alight and aware of
him. Her heart beat hard and fast as she nuzzled into his palm, stared right
into his eyes, and whispered, “If you insist.”
“I do,” he said, not breaking their gaze. “C’mon, you know I’m
right. Last thing you need right now is us starting something up like this.
Didn’t you tell me your first doctor
appointment is tomorrow?”
She didn’t like it, and wasn’t sure she fully agreed with it,
but had to admit she’d thought along those lines herself before his kisses had
turned her brain to mush and her insides to jelly. With a heavy sigh, she
nodded and pulled back from him. “Pretty early, in fact. I should go inside and
get into bed.”
Logan growled, his head falling back against the leather seat.
“Had to put an image like that in my head right before you leave. You, climbing
into bed . . . not nice, Tess. Not nice.”
She laughed lightly, and he grinned back at her. Their eyes
held for a long beat and she took a slow, deep breath, exhaling it before she
said, “Good night, Logan. Thanks again for a great day.”
“Back at you,” he said. “Good night, Tess. Sleep well. Good
luck tomorrow.”
With a sweet smile, she climbed out of his truck and into the
cold night.
Jennifer Gracen hails from Long Island, New
York, where she lives with her two sons. After spending her youth writing in
private and singing in public, she now only sings in her car and is immersed in
her passion for writing. She loves to write contemporary romance for readers
who look for authentic characters and satisfying endings. When she isn’t with
her kids, doing freelance proofreading, or chatting on Twitter and Facebook,
Jennifer writes. She’s already hard at work on her next book.
No comments:
Post a Comment