Sometimes the best love stories come in two parts.
When Felix met handsome journalist Max Travers, it was lust at first sight. It was just his luck that he then had to develop a terrible case of feelings and got his heart broken. However, two and a half years later, he’s over all of that. His job is going well, he has good friends, and he doesn’t lack for male company. Which, of course, is when Max has to come bursting back into his life.
Felix Jackson will always be the one who got away to Max. He’s spent their time apart regretting his actions and hoping for a second chance. When an accident lands him in Felix’s less than tender care, Max is determined to grab this opportunity. The only problem is that Felix is equally determined that he doesn’t.
From bestselling author, Lily Morton comes a story of missed opportunities, second chances, and two very stubborn men.
This is the third book in the Close Proximity series, but it can be read as a standalone.
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So, you’re buying Charlie that book? Ooh, if it’s got pictures, take some photos of them for me.”
“I’m not taking photos of pictures in a boring old book so you can wank over them without having to pay the recommended retail price.”
A woman giggles, and I grimace apologetically at her. “He won’t,” I assure her. “He prefers his porn to be actually moving. This isn’t the dark ages.” She laughs and walks away.
“Are you going to have to do your usual thing with Charlie?” he says sympathetically.
I sigh. “Yep. I’ll have to read it too, so we can discuss it. Fucking hell, it’s huge. It’s going to take weeks of my life that I’ll never get back. I’m far too young for the wrinkles that reading this shit will give me.” I seize a copy. “Wow, it’s so fucking heavy too. Still, if Charlie doesn’t read it, he can always use it as a doorstop.”
A loud laugh comes from behind me, and when I spin around, I find a man leaning against the entrance to the travel section. He’s staring at me. He’s obviously the source of the laughter because it’s still flirting with the edges of his wide mouth and dancing in his dark eyes. He’s tall and broad-shouldered with thick black hair that falls in shaggy waves and frames a high-cheek-boned face.
I blink and consider rubbing my eyes because I have never in my life seen anyone this gorgeous in Waterstones before. I hope it’s a sign that my luck has changed. As I smile at him, I make a mental note to buy a scratch card on the way home.
“Can I help you?” I ask.
He straightens from his leaning position. I let my eyes roll down his body, and it’s well worth a slow pace. His ancient jeans cling to the long lines of his legs and catch on the edges of a pair of battered motorcycle boots. A white T-shirt and a leather motorcycle jacket with stripes down the arms complete the outfit.
“Just listening to your little book club,” he says casually, folding his arms over his chest. “It sounded lively.”
“Oh, really? Did you want to join? I have to tell you that there’s an admission price and you’ll have to learn the password and the group theme song.”
“What’s the theme song?”
“Pink Floyd’s ‘We Don’t Need No Education’,” I say.
He laughs.
“Oh my God,” Tim hisses in my ear. “That’s your sexy, snarky voice, Felix. You’re flirting with someone, you dirty bitch.”
“Bye, Tim,” I say, clicking End on the sound of his laughter.
Wow. Felix definitely wins the snarkiest of snarky awards. Lily Morton always has sharp witted dialogue, dripping sarcasm and usually a lot of laughs. But Felix might have been a bit TOO snarky. Especially in part 2.
Anyway…this is book 3 of a series but can easily be read as a stand alone. We met Felix in book 1 as the personal assistant of Zeb. He easily stole scenes he was in and I was looking forward to his story and happily every after.
Felix is the classic one off, no strings, no relationships guy. Until his sarcastic comments get noticed by a guy in a book store. Their “one off” turns into a mutually beneficial friends with benefits (but no strings!) deal.
Felix and Max definitely play off of each other. Max zings Felix right back and they can’t keep their hands off of each other. After a few months Max ends up bringing Felix to the wedding of his former work partner, best friend and sex buddy. Fans of Lily Morton will recognize a lot of characters. But that ends up being a BIG mistake. I was MAD at Max. MAD. He was a jerk. There was no innocent miscommunication here. Felix was justified in his hurt and anger.
Max realizes the error of his ways. TOO LATE BUDDY! (I told you I was mad right?) Everyone moves on. But Felix and Max keep running into each other. Of course it is by design of someone they are both connected to. Ultimately, months later (maybe a year? I’m a little fuzzy) Max and Felix are thrown together again and Felix is guilted into helping Max with his book tour. Cute, right?
And I get it, Felix was still hurt, but still cared for Max. But really, he was a jerk. And Max laughed him off. It’s in his nature to do that and the whole defense mechanism thing but ugh. I wanted to slap him.
Ignoring Felix’s beastly behavior, Max works on winning him over again. And it was swoony. He definitely redeemed himself. And in the process showed Felix that it is ok to love and be loved.
I really enjoyed how the book was split in 2. Felix and Max as friends with benefits, big break up. Then Felix and Max as tentative friends, big wooing romance.
4 Pieces of Eye Candy
Lily writes contemporary romance novels, and specialises in hot love stories with a good dose of humour.
Lily lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven’t had a proper conversation with her since she bought her first Kindle.
She has spent her life with her head full of daydreams and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing, because how else could she get to spend her time with hot, funny men!
She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – chocolate Baileys! Her lifetime’s ambition is to have a bath in peace without being shouted by one of her family.
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