Wednesday 6 January 2016

Review - Big Rock by Lauren Blakely


Title: Big Rock
Author: Lauren Blakely
Release Date: January 6, 2016


It's not just the motion of the ocean, ladies. It's definitely the SIZE of the boat too. 

And I've got both firing on all cylinders. In fact, I have ALL the right assets. Looks, brains, my own money, and a big cock.

You might think I'm an asshole. I sound like one, don’t I? I'm hot as sin, rich as heaven, smart as hell and hung like a horse.

Guess what? You haven't heard my story before. Sure, I might be a playboy, like the NY gossip rags call me. But I’m the playboy who’s actually a great guy. Which makes me one of a kind. 

The only trouble is, my dad needs me to cool it for a bit. With conservative investors in town wanting to buy his flagship Fifth Avenue jewelry store, he needs me not only to zip it up, but to look the part of the committed guy. Fine. I can do this for Dad. After all, I’ve got him to thank for the family jewels. So I ask my best friend and business partner to be my fiancée for the next week. Charlotte’s up for it. She has her own reasons for saying yes to wearing this big rock.

And pretty soon all this playing pretend in public leads to no pretending whatsoever in the bedroom, because she just can’t fake the kind of toe-curling, window-shattering orgasmic cries she makes as I take her to new heights between the sheets.

But I can’t seem to fake that I might be feeling something real for her.

What the fuck have I gotten myself into with this…big rock?

BIG ROCK is a standalone, dirty romance novel written from the guy’s POV by NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely…







When Spencer Holiday propositions his best friend, Charlotte to be his fake fiancée for a week in order to help his dad seal a business deal, he thinks the most difficult part is going to be living without sex for the duration. He’s not prepared for the reaction Charlotte has to him, or—in turn—the reaction he has to her unexpected behavior. When Charlotte makes a proposition of her own, everything fake starts feeling a little too real. The line between friends and lovers is sometimes thin, but can these two cross it without losing the best friendship either of them have ever known?

I expected this book to be hot. I mean, it’s Lauren Blakely and we all know that Lauren Blakely excels at scorching hot, panty-destroying, fuck hot sexy. And she nailed all those things (and then some) here. I also expected this book to be lighthearted and funny. And it was, littered with laugh-out-loud moments and an overall feeling of happiness. What I did not expect was for it to be sweet in a way that was not overdone or cheesy but hit me right in my feels, and made my heart go all ooey-gooey. Because sometimes the magic is in the little things. And Spencer and Charlotte do the little things just perfectly right. 

I’m a sucker for these friends-to-lovers romances. I’m also a sucker for these fake relationship romances. So basically, this book was already set up to be a win for me. It had some subtle twists that set it apart from others of its kind. I loved that it was written from Spencer’s point of view—though it was maybe a little distracting how in love he was with his own junk, it was also hilarious and all the sweeter when his feelings began to deepen. I also love that there’s no damaged goods here; Spencer is a player because Spencer loves the game. Charlotte had some unfortunate relationship issues in the past, but she’s not wilting from it. Life goes on. She’s strong and smart and completely likeable. Basically, she’s the best kind of book heroine. 

Everything worked for me in this book. It’s light, and maybe a little fluffy, but I loved that about it. I loved that Spencer was a good guy, and Charlotte wasn’t afraid to call him on his shit when he was being an idiot. They felt like real people to me—the kind of people who love their families, and love to have fun, and occasionally do stupid things but aren’t afraid to roll with it when the game changes on them. It was adorable, and sweet, and crazy sexy, and…fun! It coaxed out my big goobery “I love this book” smile, and left my heart completely happy. And then it left me with a Nick (Spencer’s other best friend) tease that has me basically salivating for more! Well played, Ms. Blakely. Now, more please! 
~ Review by Shelly

Stick a fork in me, I am DONE. I just finished Big Rock and yes, I am grinning from ear to ear. Can you blame me? It was fantastic, fun and fucking hot from start to finish! 

Spencer Holiday has it all—looks, money, charisma and *ahem* the goods between his legs. And he knows how to use it all to his advantage, too. 

Which is why it's a little unfortunate that instead of doing just that, he's pretending to be engaged to his very hot best friend and business partner, Charlotte. They both have their reasons for the charade, and they both know the score...

Don't fall in love. 

Except, somewhere along the way, things on that front get a little dicey for Spencer. And while it might have started as a fake relationship, it may not end that way... 

So good. Seriously, so, so good. This was Lauren Blakely at her slay-me finest—a book so full of humor and banter and swoon that putting it down was a task I was unable to accomplish. Read in cover-to-cover in one sitting? Oh, yes, I certainly did.

Spencer is definitely going to win hearts in this male-only POV standalone. He did mine. Because, whoa, he's the perfect blend of hubris and humility. Sex and sweetness. Lust and love. He was self-aware enough of his attributes (and his rightful arrogance in them) to be the best kind of alpha-hole—able to back up his words with his actions, both in bed and out. 

Oftentimes, when reading single POV books, I feel a little robbed of the other perspective, but not so here. While I adored Charlotte, I quite loved seeing this tale unfold solely through the eyes of Spencer—and trying to decipher what was happening between our hero and his best friend right alongside him. Just as I loved seeing him interact with the people around him; quirky and lovable family members, not-so-loveable schmucks, and lickable…err, I mean, likeable friends (Mister Orgasm, where do I sign up for that?!) 

It’s not typical for me to sit at my laptop smiling as I write a review, but in this case, I just can’t help myself. Every time I think of something else I liked, loved, melted over in Big Rock, my face cracks and I remember exactly why Ms. Blakely remains one of my favorite, go-to authors—she can give me fantastic, fun and fucking hot. Oh, yeah, I’m definitely done. 
~ Review by Beth

OMG – I can’t stop laughing!

From the opening sentence this book found my funny bone and kept on kicking it! I’ve read a lot (maybe everything?) by this author and know any story will be well-written, super sexy and offer something fresh and new. This one though, this one hit it out of the book stacks for me. It was big in so many ways. 

It was hilarious, with the dialogue and Spencer’s inner monologue just inviting me in to share the joke and laugh along with them. And someone was truly inspired by his twig (*snicker*). And I really thought rock was a euphemism for something else… I know, I know – but I couldn’t help it!

“My d*ck is f***ing awesome. But don’t just take my word it.”

The sex… OMG, the hot, toe-curling sex! The story was told entirely from Spencer’s point of view and he wasn’t shy about sharing his thoughts on how to treat a lady. When he said “back-arching, toe-curling” – he was not kidding! Watching his casual, though oddly respectful, approach to the opposite sex get turned on its ear was simply a treat.

And at the heart of it this story was all about love. Somewhere in the midst of the lies, the truth came out. I wanted, needed, to believe that their romance was simply waiting for the right time to come out. The tickles tell all!

Both Spencer and Charlotte were so good together and being surrounded by supportive, equally engaging family and friends (that I need to hear more from) was icing on the cake.

A deception that turned into so much more, this is a friends-to-lovers romance that just made me sigh over and over in contentment. This world needs more Lauren Blakely. 
~ Review by Diane




Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and she has had eight books on the New York Times Bestseller list and fifteen on the USA Today Bestseller list. Like the heroine in her novel, FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. 

Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She loves hearing from readers! Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire. She recently released SWEET SINFUL NIGHTS, the first novel in her new sexy romance series Sinful Nights that became an instant New York Times Bestseller. Her new adult forbidden romance, 21 Stolen Kisses, hit e-readers in May and landed on the USA Today Bestseller list. In January, she'll release BIG ROCK, a standalone contemporary romance sure to make you swoon. 

She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, text BLAKELY + your email address to 678-249-3375 (please use the actual + sign).



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