Hooker (L.A. Liaisons Book 2) by Brooke Blaine Series: L.A. Liaisons #2
Published by Self-Published on March 9th 2016
Pages: 320
Amazon
Whoever said singles were missing out by not finding true love and getting married before the age of thirty had never experienced the sheer pleasure of nightly romantic comedy viewings in their underwear while eating one of Licked’s famous Crazy Cat Lady sundaes. Because life just doesn’t get better than that.
At least, it doesn’t for Shayne Callahan. It didn’t take more than a handful of broken hearts after college to solidify that she was better at pairing up those around her than herself. As a matchmaker at the elite HLS—Hook, Line, & Sinker Matchmaking Company—in the City of Angels, she has a knack for finding the other halves of even the most eccentric clients:
Sugar daddy with a foot fetish? Gross, but no problem.A severe case of nudophobia? Match made before lunch.
But even the most happily independent of women can find their best-laid plans screeching to a halt when they meet that guy. For Shayne, that guy comes in the form of boyishly handsome, suspender-lovin’, dimple-poppin’ Nate Ryan on a pantsless (we’ll get to that later) Metro ride.
Of course, relationships can never be easy. Before the destined lovers can ride off into the sunset, they must overcome a power-hungry and sexual-punning boss, a celebrity scandal and cover-up, and let’s not forget Shayne’s dreadful foot-in-mouth disease—with which there can never be a happily ever after.
Will fate throw Shayne a freakin’ bone? Or will she be destined to live out her life as sexy(ish), single(ish), and L.A.’s finest Hooker (upper)?
Hooker is Book Two in the L.A. Liaisons series, but each book can be read as a standalone novel.
Brooke Blaine’s L.A. Liaison series is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I didn’t love this book quite as much as I enjoyed Licked, but it’s still a huge win. In Hooker, Ryleigh, Shayne, Quinn, and Paige are back and sassier than ever! This time around, it’s Shayne’s turn to find love.
Shayne is perhaps the most restrained girl in the group with a slight inferiority complex. She’s a professional matchmaker, and she’s great at her job. Ironically, she doesn’t have much success with her own love life if her weekly trips to Target’s Meals for One aisle are any indication. She’s barely making ends meet, she lives with two air-headed roommates, and she’s at her bitchy, insane boss’s beck and call. However, there’s hope. If Shayne can find a match for Hollywood’s biggest action star, she’ll get the big promotion she’s been waiting for. Things are looking up in her dating life as well.
Nate is a dimpled, suspender-loving grad student who meets Shayne in a very unconventional way. Despite her attraction, she’s reluctant to get involved, but Nate is determined to wear down Shayne’s defenses. Just as the matchmaker seems to find her match, her work life interferes in a huge way.
I adored the first third and the last third of the book. It’s sweet and absolutely hilarious. It’s the middle section that I had issues with. Shayne’s involvement in the scandal cover-up reflects her kind heart. However, it had me shaking my head because she’s a smart lady who should have been able to manage the crisis without putting her relationship at risk. Every couple needs a conflict to make the story more interesting. I just wish this one hadn’t felt so forced.
Brooke Blaine’s storytelling is addictive and unquestionably amusing. The group of friends and their boozing, schmoozing, and plotting will make you wish they were your friends in real life. This funny and charming book is a great addition to an entertaining series. Quinn’s story is up next so let the anxious waiting for P.I.T.A. to begin.
** ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. **
Recommended for fans of:
Romantic Comedy
Selfless heroines
Star Wars
Target
Trailer
You don’t want to miss this super cute trailer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMZJ0YCzo94
Excerpt
“Hi,” I managed to say.
Nate nodded toward my legs. “Your pants are making me hungry.”
Aaaand that was the point where I stopped breathing. Except to say, “What?”
His eyes trailed down my body and rested on my thighs. Self-conscious, I looked down, almost sighing with relief when I realized my lower half was indeed covered this time, but that feeling went away pretty fucking fast when I saw the ice cream cones on my pajama pants practically flinging themselves at him.
Yes, I’d gone out in public in pajamas, so sue me. I hadn’t counted on running into…well, anybody.
“Oh. Oh yeah, um…I like ice cream,” I mumbled. “Especially from Licked, my friend Ryleigh’s store, although I have to say, her boozy shakes are unreal, especially the Make Me Quake Shake, which has these amazing pieces of those Ferrero Rocher balls in them, and they just give it the perfect amount of crunch so that you—” I stopped and took a breath when I noticed his grin getting wider. I swallowed and then said, “Not that I go there all the time or anything. Because I don’t. I mean, I’ve only been once or twice. You know…to taste test. Actually, I never eat sweets.”
He laughed then, and those penetrating eyes, tinged with more green than brown today, made their way up my body once more, pausing with what looked like amusement at my full hands. Then his gaze was on me and those dimples were out in full force.
“That’s too bad,” he said. “I’ve got a helluva sweet tooth.”
Wait…was he flirting with me? Was that a come-on? Or just stating a fact?
“Yeah, well, in that case your dentist probably hates you,” I said, readjusting the cold-ass meals in my arms. I’d be damned if I let those suckers go now. I’d tied my jacket around my waist, and my thin tank top would reveal a tit-bit more than I needed him to see.
He chuckled at that. Hmm. He had a nice chuckle. And a husky laugh. Both of which made my eyes zoom in on his throat. I wondered if it was as warm as it looked. He must’ve caught me staring, because he coughed, bringing my attention back to his face. His eyes were twinkling something wicked.
“You might be right about that,” he said. “Maybe I don’t like people telling me what to do. Or dictating what I can and can’t put in my mouth.”
My mouth dropped open, but I quickly snapped it shut. This guy was obviously a charmer, and after dealing with guys like him all day, the last thing I would do was fall prey to another arrogant playboy. Nope. Not me. Not gonna happen.
Giveaway
About Brooke Blaine
You could say Brooke Blaine was a book-a-holic from the time she knew how to read; she used to tell her mother that curling up with one at 4 a.m. before elementary school was her ‘quiet time.’ Not much has changed except for the espresso I.V. pump she now carries around and the size of her onesie pajamas.
Brooke enjoys writing sassy contemporary romance, whether in the form of comedy, suspense, or erotica. The latter has scarred her conservative Southern family for life, bless their hearts.
If you’d like to get in touch with her, she’s easy to find – just keep an ear out for the Rick Astley ringtone that’s dominated her cell phone for ten years.
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