Blog Tour: Accidentally In Love by Laura Drewry (Promo, Excerpt, Review,Series Spotlight)
Accidentally In Love
Laura Drewry
Book Three
298 pages
Released: 6/16/2015
Fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery will love Laura Drewry’s warm and humorous new Friends First romance, a sexy romp about a good cop and a bad girl playing hard to get.
Ellie Palmer and cops don’t mix, and getting pulled over by Officer Brett Hale—again—doesn’t help. Neither does being forced to take a safe-driving course with him. Brett’s by-the-book attitude leaves Ellie ice-cold, and his rock-hard body won’t change that. Still, the more time she spends with the guy, the more she finds herself warming up to his unexpected charms.
Even though Brett comes off like a boy scout, Ellie has sparked something he wants badly enough to get him to rethink his past mistakes. But when her ex shows up, Brett makes it his mission to keep Ellie safe in the here and now. His gut tells him the guy’s trouble, and Ellie must agree, because she doesn’t complain when Brett pulls her close. To keep her safe, though, he’ll have to choose between breaking her heart . . . and breaking the rules.
Keep on reading for an excerpt from Accidentally In Love, my thoughts and rating of the book, details on where to buy the book, how to enter a great tour-wide giveaway, how to connect with the author online, and more about the other books in the Friends First series.
From Accidentally In Love by Laura Drewry:
Carter took the mound and tossed a slow looping pitch a good six inches outside.
“What’s the problem, Sparky?” Regan taunted. “Did I wear you out back there behind the dugout?”
Catcalls followed from both the field and the rest of the players waiting to bat until Carter laughed and tossed another pitch, this one a perfect shot over the top corner of the plate. Stepping into it, Regan cracked a hard fast grounder between Brett and second base. Diving left, and with more luck than he cared to admit, he managed to get his glove on it, but had to spin before he could fire it to first.
His throw was off, too low and too short, yet somehow, Ellie managed to stretch impossibly far and snapped it up just before Regan’s foot hit the base.
While the rest of the team cheered, Brett waited for Ellie to look at him so he could give her a nod of both appreciation and apology, only she never even glanced his way. In fact, she didn’t acknowledge any of the cheering, just laughed at whatever Regan said on her way back to the dugout.
They rotated positions until everyone got time at the plate and as Nick cranked a liner to left field, the rain finally started and sent everyone running for the dugout. Everyone except Brett and Ellie, who remained at their positions watching the rest of the team take cover.
“Oh, come on,” Ellie cried from out in right field. “It’s just a little rain!”
With a sigh Brett could hear across the diamond, she shook her head and started off the field, heading straight past where he stood near the on-deck circle.
“Ellie?”
She took another couple of steps before stopping and turning to face him.
A thick smudge of dirt ran from the side of her nose down her cheek, and it only got worse when she scraped her forearm across her mouth. Brett punched his free hand in the pocket of his glove and cleared his throat.
“Since we’re going to be playing together, I hope we can keep what happened today off the field so it doesn’t make things difficult for the rest of the team.”
“What happened . . .” A moment’s confusion made her frown before she released some kind of guttural sound that was part choke, part chuckle. “Right. That. Least of my problems right now.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing, forget it.” She started to turn away, until Brett spoke again.
“That was a hell of a catch you made earlier,” he said. “Too bad the dumbass playing short didn’t have his shit together.”
Ugh—he’d meant it as a joke, but as usual, he probably sounded clipped or cranky. He started to say as much until Ellie spoke over him.
“Whoa,” she mocked, her left eyebrow lifted in surprise. “I’d heard rumors that the cop had a sense of humor, but who knew it was true?”
Her response caught him so off guard he didn’t know how to respond and thankfully, he didn’t have to because she kept talking.
“Look, Ponch, to hear Jayne talk, you’re like the Derek Jeter of slo-pitch, so hopefully you’ll understand this. Beer league or not, when I play, I play to win, because I don’t know how to play any other way. I also believe in the idea that we win as a team and we lose as a team, so no matter what happens off the field . . .”
She hesitated long enough to give him a pointed look, then continued: “When we’re here, we need to work together, not against each other. We’re all going to make mistakes, but dogging each other isn’t going to do anyone any good. Now, if that’s going to be some kind of problem for you—”
“What? No!” A problem? Was she crazy? She’d just voiced his exact philosophy, and if it had been any other woman standing there, looking that good and saying those things to him, he might have fallen a little bit in love right there in the on-deck circle. Shaking the crazy thought from his mind, Brett forced a swallow. “Not a problem. That’s, uh . . . good. Yeah.”
“Okay. Next time, though, get your arm behind the throw; I can’t save your ass on every play.” She started for the dugout again, then glanced back over her shoulder and smiled.
At him.
If the rest of the team weren’t already in the dugout, he’d have looked behind himself to see who the smile was really aimed at; since he was the only idiot left out there in the rain, it must have been for him.
Ellie smiled at him.
Not a smirk, sneer, or jeer—a real honest-to-God smile. Warm, easy and natural, like a small burst of sunlight through the raindrops, like the spark of a lit match in a dark cave, like a flash of . . .
Holy shit, man, get a grip. Brett stayed right where he was, watching her weave her way through the crowded dugout and out the other side to her bike. It wasn’t until Nick gave him a soft shove that he actually blinked, and by that time she was already riding away.
“What’s the matter with you?”
“What?” Even looking straight back at Nick, it took a second for Brett to see him.
“Nothing. I’m, um, I’m good.”
“Then don’t just stand there—help me grab the bases.”
Another blink, this one a little longer, then Brett blew out a breath, shook his head, and hustled over to grab third which he tossed into the back of Nick’s truck with the rest of the equipment.
“Thought you said most of the team had never played before.”
“No,” Nick laughed. “I said most hadn’t played together before. Everyone’s played some kind of ball before. Hell, Ellie played . . .”
He paused, then called over to Jayne. “Babe—what level ball did you tell me Ellie played?”
Before answering, Jayne reached inside the front seat of the truck and came back with a covered dish, which she held out to Brett. Then she tucked herself up next to Nick, who opened the side of his jacket and wrapped it around her.
“She was on the women’s national team for a couple years.”
Wow. Well, that explained not only her ability but her attitude toward the team.
“What?” Nick closed the glass door of the truck cap and grinned at Brett. “D’you really think I’d be stupid enough to ask you to play on a team that had no chance at winning?”
Honestly, Brett hadn’t thought about it at all. Nick was his friend, he’d told Brett he needed him on the team, so he’d agreed. Simple as that. Not including the other cops at the detachment, Nick was the first person Brett had met when he’d moved here, and he liked to think he’d helped get Nick and Jayne together. Okay, “help” might be a bit of a stretch, since his actions almost blew their relationship apart, but to look at them now you’d never know it.
Had Brett ever been that happy? He thought he’d been happy with Kerri, but that happy? No. And ever since she’d left, it was like he’d been walking around on automatic pilot.
Until today. Until that exact moment when Ellie looked back and smiled at him.
Ellie smiled at him.
*ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review *
First Impression: Great writing, with two lead characters who intrigue you the second they appear on the page.
Accidentally in Love is the first book by Laura Drewry that I’ve read, and the third book in her Friends First series. Despite not having read the first two books in this series, I really enjoyed reading this one. I liked both Ellie and Brett. They were fun to read together. Their interactions were funny and held the perfect pull of tension between them. I loved Ellie’s smartass, snarky remarks, and Brett’s dry sense of humor that kept catching her off guard. I really loved how they pushed each other’s buttons, and how despite Ellie’s ill treatment of him–and her distaste for cops–Brett still went out of his way to help her out when she needed it.
This book had a surprising amount of humor sprinkled throughout its pages, which I loved a lot. There were quite a few things said and done that made me grin because I know people with similar character traits as Ellie and Brett and so their actions and reactions were a familiar comfort I enjoyed while reading. That was what made them real to me, and I liked that. At first, I wasn’t too crazy about Ellie’s dislike of cops, but upon reading further into the story, I understood why she might feel mistrustful of the police. I could also understand why those same experiences she loathed made Brett sympathetic to her problems in this book. He felt for her, and that forged a connection between them they neither realized nor wanted. Until they did, that is.
Accidentally in Love was a great read by a talented, new to me author. If you’re looking for a romance filled with a little angst, some great humor, a good deal of suspense, and a great romantic relationship buildup, then this is a terrific book to check out. I really enjoyed it, and am looking forward to catching up with the series by reading the two previous books.
Publisher: Random House Loveswept | Series: Friends First
Genre: Contemporary Romance | Romantic Suspense | Heat Level: Mildly Hot
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You can find more books in the Friends First series at Goodreads here
Tour-Wide Giveaway
Flirt and Loveswept mugs + eBook copies of: ROCK IT by Jennifer Chance, AFTER MIDNIGHT by Kathy Clark, ALEX by Sawyer Bennett, WILD ON YOU by Tina Wainscott, PLAIN JAYNE by Laura Drewry, and ACCIDENTAL COWGIRL by Maggie McGinnis
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Friends First Series
Book One
Plain Jayne
336 pages
Released: 4/8/2014
In Laura Drewry’s funny, heartwarming Loveswept debut, a man and a woman learn the hard way that a little bit of love makes staying friends a whole lot harder.
Worn out from the long drive back home, Jayne Morgan can only smirk at the irony: Of course the first person she sees from her old life is Nick Scott. Once best friends, they lost touch when Jayne left town at eighteen, but nothing could keep them apart forever. Jayne has returned to take over her grandmother’s bookstore, determined to put all her bittersweet memories and secret disappointments strictly in the past—until, that is, Nick insists she bunk at his place.
Nick never did care what people thought about having a girl for a best friend—or the “scandal” she caused by showing up to his wife’s funeral four years earlier—so he’s got no problem with the gossips now. Jayne was always the one person he could count on in his life. Now Nick is starting to realize that he never wants her to leave again . . . and that being “just friends” isn’t going to be enough anymore.
Amazon | B & N | Goodreads
Friends First Series
Book Two
Prima Donna
316 pages
Released: 9/23/2014
In a witty, sizzling, and tender romance for readers of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery, a woman who can’t slow down discovers that the perfect guy is in hot pursuit.
Even when her hair salon goes under and she’s on the brink of breaking, Regan Burke keeps her “I’m just fine” attitude. She’s had a tough life, coping with a difficult family and keeping her act together . . . barely. Right now, she just needs a job, any job, so she can pay her mother’s medical bills. It’s the exact wrong time for Carter Scott to come into her life—and to be so damn sexy, so distracting, and so determined to get close.
Carter isn’t looking for anything serious—his heart belongs to the kids who depend on his pediatric practice—but something about Regan makes him reconsider. Maybe it’s the scars she hides so well, the secrets she can’t share. Carter knows all about that kind of pain, and he wants to help. But offering Regan a job in his office only makes things worse, even if their chemistry is off the charts. Lucky for them both, Carter isn’t about to let go of love without a fight.
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And Coming Soon…
Friends First Series
Book Four
How Forever Feels
Release Date: 10/13/2015
From USA Today bestselling author Laura Drewry comes a warm and witty new Friends First novel—perfect for readers of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery. How Forever Feels is a sweet tale about the one that got away . . . and the one that came back.
Maya McKay’s heart is as big as Jack Rhodes’s shoulders are broad. Their chemistry is out of control, but it could never work between them because Jack is more than just best friends with her cheating ex-husband—they’re like brothers. Maya, the sensitive, practical florist, has given up on love and is ready to settle for like. But now that Jack’s around again, he’s stirring up old feelings—and turning Maya’s fantasies into irresistible reality.
Jack blew his chance with Maya years ago when he stepped aside for his best friend, Will, and he’s still kicking himself about it. Maya was promised forever once before, and she got burned. But when Jack realizes that second chances aren’t going to fall out of the sky, he seizes the moment—and the woman he’s always loved—to show her how forever truly feels.
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Laura Drewry had been scribbling things for years before she decided to seriously sit down and write. After spending eight years in the Canadian north, Laura now lives back home in southwestern British Columbia with her husband, three sons, a turtle named Sheldon, and an extremely energetic German shepherd. She loves old tattered books, good movies, country music, and the New York Yankees.
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This blog tour was put together by the fabulous:
Tour Schedule
June 8th– Mignon Mykel Reviews- Rev/Exc
(Stop 2) Home.Love.Books– Rev/P
June 9th– Written Love Reviews– Rev/P
(Stop 2) Twin Spin – Rev/P
(Stop 3) Kitty’s Book Spot– Int/P
June 10th– Romancing the Readers- GP
(Stop 2) Another Indie Book Promoter– Rev/P
(Stop 3) Nose in a Book Reviews – Promo
June 11th– Manga Maniac Cafe– P/Exc
(Stop 2) Obsessive Book Nerd- Rev/P
June 12th– Lush Book Reviews– P/Exc
(Stop 2) Book Jems – Rev/P
(Stop 3) Paola’s Bookshelf- P/Exc
June 13th – Crazy Antics Reviews – Rev/P
June 14th– Erotic Romance News– P/Exc
June 15th– Roberta’s Dreamworld – Rev/Exc
(Stop 2) BJ’s Reviews– Int/Exc
(Stop 3) T&L Book Reviews- Rev/P
June 16th– The Sassy Bookster- Rev/P
(Stop 2) Ellesea Loves Reading P/Exc
(Stop 3) Born to Read Books– Promo
(Stop 4) Wicked Reads- Rev/Exc
June 17th– The Lusty Literate– P/Exc
(Stop 2) Okie Dreams Book Reviews– Rev/P/Exc
(Stop 3) First Page to the Last Book Reviews – Rev/P
June 18th– Girl Meets Books– P/Exc
(Stop 2) TjLovesToRead – Rev/Exc
June 19th– Fic Central– Rev/P
(Stop 2) Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – Rev/Exc
June 20th – Margie’s Must Reads – Rev/Exc
June 21st– Escape Into a Book– Rev/P
June 22nd– Those Crazy Book Chicks- Rev/P/Exc
(Stop 2) Quirky Debutantes Bookshelf-
June 23rd– Crystal Blogs Books- Rev/P
(Stop 2) Cover to Cover Book Blog– Rev/P
June 24th– Romancing the Book– Int/Rev
(Stop 2) Christine’s Words-GP/P
(Stop 3) Books & Spoons Blog– Rev/P
(Stop 4) Jen’s ReadingObsession– Rev/Exc
June 25th– I am, Indeed– Rev/Exc
June 26th– Between the Lines- Rev/P
(Stop 2) Readers that Love Books – Rev/P
June 29th– Art, Books & Coffee– Rev/Exc
(Stop 2) Sassy Moms Say Read Romance– Rev/Exc
(Stop 3) Tina, The Bookworm – Rev/Exc
(Stop 4) Bookish Things & More – Rev/Exc
(Stop 5) The Book Quarry- Rev/P
June 30th– Marebare’s Book Shelf– Rev/P/Exc
(Stop 2) Underneath the Covers– Rev/P/Exc
July 1st– The Book Enthusiast– Rev/P
(Stop 2) Southern Yankee Book Reviews- Rev/P/Exc
(Stop 3) Sundays in Bed with Books – Rev/Exc
(Stop 4) Wendy Miller – Rev/Exc
July 2nd– The Accidental Reader– GP/P/Exc
(Stop 2) LeAnn’s Book Reviews – Rev/Exc
July 3rd– Ramblings from this Chick– GP/P/Exc
(Stop 2) Renee Entress’s Blog– Rev/Exc
(Stop 3) My Book Addiction and More- Promo
Good morning – thank you so much for hosting us today on the virtual tour! And thank you for not only the great review (yay!) but for including the first two books in your post. 🙂 Thanks again!
Cheers
Laura
Thank you for the great book to read!
Thank you for hosting today!! Great review!