Here All Along
Kelly Brothers #7
Kelly Brothers #7
By: Crista McHugh
Releasing August 26, 2015
Self-Published
Can best friends become lovers while the cameras
are rolling?
Movie star Gideon Kelly has always harbored a
secret crush for his long-time friend and assistant, Sarah. One sizzling kiss
is enough to convince him she’s the only woman for him, and he’ll do anything
to prove to her they have all the makings of an epic Hollywood romance.
Sarah Holtz rose to stardom as a child only to
crash and burn in her late teen years. Gideon was there to help put the pieces
of her life back together, and she now relishes her life far away from the
paparazzi flashes. Her need for privacy is the one thing holding her back from
exploring something more with him. When a video of their kiss goes viral, she’s
left wondering if he’s worth the risk of stepping back into the spotlight to
become his leading lady.
Recommended for those who enjoy:
· Friends to lovers stories
· Hollywood romances
· Las Vegas weddings
· Waking up married stories
· Stories of second chances
· Sidekicks who love a good practical joke
Sarah
pressed her hand to her chest, but it did little to calm the frantic beat of
her heart. No good ever came from eavesdropping, and now she knew why. She was
just waiting for Gideon to repeat his drunken confession from Halloween. But by
some blessed twist of fate, he was smart enough to end the conversation there,
despite the reporter’s pleas for a name.
She’d
walked away from Sage Holtz and all the baggage that came with that name years
ago. The father who’d been arrested in the company of an underage prostitute.
The drunk mother who was on her sixth husband and who’d had so much plastic
surgery, she could blink her belly button. The downward spiral of drugs and
alcohol that had destroyed her career. As far as she was concerned, that person
died the night she’d gotten hit by a car outside a club over three years ago.
In
her place stood a person she liked. Sarah Holtz may not have been a glamorous
movie star, but she had accepted herself for who she was and finally felt
comfortable in her skin. She hid from the spotlight and the flash of the
camera, but she was still entwined with the industry she’d once sacrificed
everything for. She’d found her balance.
Which
was why entering into a romantic relationship with Gideon was not an option.
And
if he let her name slip to that reporter, she feared the balance she’d spent
the last three years trying to achieve would come crashing down around her.
Her
breath hitched when the reporter mentioned wedding bells. Please, anything but
that. It didn’t help that all of Gideon’s brothers were either married,
engaged, or in a long-term relationship. The settling-down bug had hit the
Kelly boys, much to their mother’s delight, and Gideon wasn’t immune to it.
Especially after that Halloween party.
“A
man can only hope,” he’d replied.
The
five words hit her like a punch in the gut. She’d expected him to move on once
she explained why being more than friends was out of the question, but his
response to the reporter told her he hadn’t let go of the idea. Not yet. And
she wasn’t sure if she should be flattered or upset.
Perhaps
she should’ve turned in her notice on Halloween.
But
somewhere in the center of her chest, she knew why she hadn’t. Gideon was
right. She did care about him. Far more than she should. Which was why
Operation Independence needed to be a success. She needed to prove to herself
that her feelings for him weren’t tied to the fact he’d taken her in and helped
her get back on her feet. She needed to know that she was capable of taking
care of herself first. And then, if her insides still turned to mush when he
wrapped his arms around her and whispered sentimental nonsense, maybe she’d
find the courage to see where things went.
She
managed to pull herself together just as Gideon emerged from the room. “I
thought I saw you waiting for me.”
“Like
I have anything better to do. Besides, I just asked the valet to bring my car
around.”
He
paused and seemed to search her face for any sign that she’d overheard him, but
her years on camera had taught her how to turn her face into an emotionless
mask. She was the queen of resting bitch face.
After
a moment, he gave up and leaned in to whisper, “Get me out of here before she
propositions me again.”
“I
don’t know. Getting laid might do you some good,” she teased.
Unfortunately,
it backfired. Desire flared in his dark blue eyes, but they were focused on
her.
Her
body rebelled against her with a quiver of anticipation that rolled through her
veins and settled in the deepest pit of her stomach. Her breath quickened as
she imagined what it would feel like to have his lips on her neck, her
collarbone, her breasts. A flush stole over her skin from the thought, and she
licked her lips. Would it be worth all the chaos just to spend one night in his
bed?
He
responded with a slow, easy grin that let her know he’d witnessed her moment of
weakness. “You said it, not me.”
I've only read book six of the the series, so I can't really compare it to most of the series. I liked Gideon and Sarah's relationship, both as best friends and eventually as lovers. Gideon is a really sweet guy and I loved that he did not give up on Sarah. Gabe played a big part in their story and I hope we get to see a HEA for him. I'm deducting points only because the ending seemed rushed to me. Overall a really good story that can be read in a few hours.
I received an ARC for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own.
Crista McHugh, New York Times
and USA Today Bestselling author of
fantasy and romance who writes heroines who are smart, sexy and anything but
ordinary. She currently lives in the Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle with her
husband and two children, maintaining her alter ego of mild-mannered physician
by day while she continues to pursue writing on nights and weekends.
She is an active member of the Romance Writers of America
(including the Greater Seattle Chapter and the Seattle Eastside Chapters), and
Romance Divas.
Just for laughs, here are some of the jobs she’s had in the
past to pay the bills: barista, bartender, sommelier, stagehand, actress,
morgue attendant, and autopsy assistant.
And she’s also a recovering LARPer. (She blames it on her
crazy college days)
Thank you for hosting HERE ALL ALONG!
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