Booked All Night: Sweet Fate by Laurelin Paige-Blog Tour

Blurb:

Dylan Locke knows that pining over the young ingenue Audrey Lind is pointless. He can’t offer her what she wants. He definitely can’t give her what she needs. Thank goodness she’s half a world away, and he doesn’t have to deal with his attraction head on.

But fate has other plans for him, and when Audrey once again lands in his path, it’s only too easy to fall back into their easy rhythm. And then their easy banter. And of course, each other’s arms.

He tells himself nothing has changed. She still wants forever, and he still thinks tomorrow is long enough. But watching her search isn’t as easy as he thought it would be, and now Dylan must figure out if he’s really the love Scrooge he professes to be or if he’s been Fate’s willing victim all along.

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How do you review perfection? What the heck do you say about a book that was just absolutely perfect? Do you talk about the characters and how much you liked them? Do you say you couldn't put it down? Do you say that books like this are the reason the author is one of your favorites?

I guess you start with that, by saying it was exactly what you wanted it to be...for all of those reasons.

There were no parts of this I would change, there was nothing that seemed out of place or out of character. It flowed, I didn't want to put it down. I was up way too late reading, and finishing this book was the first thing I thought of when I woke up this morning.

Dylan. I felt for him so completely. With his struggle, with the reasons for it, and with how heartfelt it was. A lot of times heroes in books have things that are keeping them from the relationship that is right in front of them, and often you find yourself annoyed that they are missing what is right in front of them. But Dylan and his story is different...you don't get annoyed, your heart breaks for him because he believes what he is saying, he believes that what he is doing is right, he believes that love isn't in the cards for him, that it won't work, and that Audrey is better off with someone else.

Imagine his surprise, and his angst (which the reader shares) when he realizes what we already know...that he is in love with Audrey. And, that he can't be with her because of those fears. he tries to ignore it, and then realizes that he really can't.

By that time, Audrey (and everyone else in his life, albeit in different ways) are calling him out on it, telling him that his fears are holding him back. But, and I won't spoil the "who" of it, he finally hears it from the person who actually gets through to him. And, isn't that just the way life works? You can be told the same thing 937 times, but there is always the one time, the one person, the one way of telling you, that you finally hear it. This scene is perfection...it's beautiful for it's raw emotional honestly and for how healing it is in a number of ways. This has to happen for them to get the HEA that we know is coming, but as is true about romance, since we know where it is going, it's all about the story and character development and the path the characters take to get to the HEA.

This book is told through Dylan's POV, and I think it is stronger for it. Audrey is fine with the age gap, with who Dylan is, with what he wants out of life, and the things he says he doesn't want in his future are things she is ok with compromising on (except loving him) so...the problem is Dylan, and it's really his book.

For someone who says she has a cold, back heart, Laurelin Paige sure knows how to write a compelling, angsty, beautiful romance...kind of makes me suspect she is secretly loving, kind, and a romantic. (Don't tell her I said that.)

I loved and recommend this book.

This book...was so immensely satisfying. From the moment I finished Sweet Liar I wanted this book-and I wanted this book exactly as it is written. This book ended exactly how I wanted the Duet to end.

This is a book about more than just love-it's about a man forgiving himself and opening himself up to opportunities he doesn't think he's worthy of. But, oh, Dylan is so worthy. I loved seeing his perspective on things. There were times I wanted to hug him, times I wanted to nudge him and say wake up-you're missing a great opportunity. That being said? I got it. I got where he was coming from. I was his biggest champion as he finally figured out what he wanted.

I loved Audrey-and I loved her in Sweet Liar. She's just a character I really thought was a breath of fresh air. She's young, yes, but she's smart and kind and gives as good as she gets.

I truly enjoyed watching the way these two came together in this book. Their sexy times (once we got them, no complaints there either!) were insanely hot, but the way they behaved and figured each other out outside of the bedroom just really worked. I seriously championed so hard for them.

There's a really important scene that still sticks with me between two characters. You'll know it when you read it. It's just so special. Dylan finally hears something that people have been saying-but what's more is that he finally begins to believe it. That moment of clarity for him made me teary eyed.

The writing here is amazing as always. I always admire the way this Author transports me along with her characters to wherever they are. I was utterly consumed by this story-and getting brief mentions of characters from other books I love (I'm looking at you, Donovan).

This book was amazing. If you haven't read Sweet Liar (what are you waiting for?!) check it out then dive in. The journey will be oh so worth it. I loved this book and absolutely recommend it.

It was a completely different experience kissing Audrey, after I’d accepted the gravity of the feelings I had for her.

I knew the kiss meant nothing, that it would lead nowhere, but it felt like being bathed in radiant light.

Like I was an imprisoned man in a dark prison cell who, for one brief moment, was allowed to step outside into the sunlight. I was completely present for it. Each brush of her lips, each touch of her tongue—I memorized it all, imprinted every second into my brain so that I’d have it forever. I might still have worn shackles with no hope of freedom, but this moment mattered. It was real and divine, and I would cherish every last second of the stolen sunshine until my dying day.

I would’ve been content with only kissing, with just the shallow lifts and falls of her chest and frantic hands trying to caress and cling.

But Audrey had other ideas in mind, demonstrated by the quick work of her hands at my waist, unbuckling my belt, undoing my trousers, the slip of her hand inside the opening to stroke the outline of my very prominent erection.

“This,” she said between kisses. She pulled at the elastic waistband of my boxers and dipped her hand in to touch me directly.

I hissed at the feel of her soft hand against my hot skin.

“I want this,” she begged. “Can I have this?”

About the Author:

With over 2.4 million books sold worldwide, Laurelin Paige is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author. Her international success started with her very first series, the Fixed Trilogy, which, alone, has sold over 1 million copies, and earned her the coveted #1 spot on Amazon’s bestseller list in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, simultaneously. This title also was named in People magazine as one of the top 10 most downloaded books of 2014. She’s also been #1 over all books at the Apple Book Store with more than one title in more than one country. She’s published both independently and with MacMillan’s St. Martin’s Press and Griffin imprints as well as many other publishers around the world including Harper Collins in Germany and Hachette/Little Brown in the U.K. With her edgy, trope-flipped stories of smart women and strong men, she’s managed to secure herself among today’s romance royalty. Paige has a Bachelor’s degree in Musical Theater and a Masters of Business Administration with a Marketing emphasis, and she credits her writing success to what she learned from both programs, though she’s also an avid learner, constantly trying to challenge her mind with new and exciting ideas and concepts. While she loves psychological thrillers and witty philosophical books and entertainment, she is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She's also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn't do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio. She is represented by Rebecca Friedman.