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In the second book in the Love Under the Big Sky series from this New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the With Me in Seattle series, life in Montana gets spicy when a woman and her divorce lawyer sign off the papers—and sign on to love.
Now that his best friend, Josh, has happily settled down with his true love on a Montana ranch, small-town lawyer Ty Sullivan starts thinking that maybe single life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And when Lauren Cunningham’s no-good ex-husband comes after her for an unexpected trust fund, Ty steps in to protect her. But soon he can’t help but think of her as more than a client. Lauren’s in no mood to jump into another relationship, so how can Ty convince her that her mistake wasn’t getting married, but marrying the wrong guy?
Seducing Lauren
CHAPTER
One
LAUREN
“Hey, Lauren.”
“Hi, Jacob, what can I do for you?” I ask with a smile, and open my front door wider for the friendly county sheriff’s deputy.
“Well, I’m serving you.” He offers me an embarrassed smile and hands me a large envelope, then backs away. “Have a good day.”
I move back inside, shut the door, and stare down at the envelope in surprise.
Served?
I rip open the envelope and see bright, flaming inferno red as I read the court document. And read it again.
“The fucker is suing me?” I exclaim to an empty room, and read the letter clutched in my now trembling hands for the third time. “Hell no!”
I grab my handbag and slide my feet into flip-flops, barely managing not to fall down the porch steps as I tear out of my house to my Mercedes and pull out of the circular driveway.
I live at the edge of Cunningham Falls, Montana. The small town was named after my great-grandfather Albert Cunningham. Ours is a tourist town that boasts a five-star ski resort and a plethora of outdoor activities for any season. Thankfully, summer tourist season is over, and ski season is still a few months away, so traffic into town is light.
I zoom past the post office and into the heart of downtown, where my lawyer’s office is. Without paying any attention to the yellow curb, I park quickly and march into the old building.
The receptionist’s head jerks up in surprise as I approach her and slam the letter still clutched in my hand on her desk.
“This,” I say between clenched teeth, “isn’t going to happen.”
“Ms. Cunningham, do you have an appointment?”
“No, I don’t have an appointment, but someone had better have time to see me.” I am seething; my breath is coming in harsh pants.
“Lauren.” My head whips up at the sound of my name and I find Ty Sullivan frowning at me from his office doorway. “I can see you. Come in.”
I turn my narrowed eyes on Ty and follow him into his office, too agitated to sit while I wait for him to shut the door and walk behind his desk.
“What’s going on?”
“I need a new lawyer.”
“What’s going on?” he asks again, and calmly leans against the windowsill behind his desk. He crosses his arms over his chest. The sleeves of his white button-down are rolled, giving me a great view of the colorful tattoo on his right arm.
“This is what’s going on!” I thrust the letter at him. “Jack is trying to sue me for half of a trust fund that he has no right to.”
Ty’s handsome face frowns as he skims the letter. “You came into the trust while you were still married?”
“Yes,” I confirm warily.
“And you didn’t tell him about it?” he asks with raised brows.
“I didn’t even know the damn thing existed until after my parents died, Ty. Until after I kicked Jack out.” I turn and pace away, breathing deeply, trying to calm down. “He doesn’t deserve a dime of my inheritance. This isn’t about money, it’s about principle.”
“I agree.” Ty shrugs. “Have you talked with Cary?”
“I was just served with the letter,” I mumble, and sink into a leather chair in defeat. “Cary’s a nice guy, but I just don’t think he’s the right lawyer for this job.” I glance up at Ty and my heart skips a beat as I take him in now that I’m calming down. He’s tall, much taller than me—which is saying something, given that I stand higher than five foot eight. He has broad shoulders and lean hips, and holy hell, the things this man does to a suit should be illegal in all fifty states.
But more than that, he’s kind and funny and has a bit of a bad-boy side to him too, hence the tattoos.
He’s been front and center in many of my fantasies for most of my life.
I bite my lips and glance down as his eyes narrow on my face.
“Why do you say that?” he asks calmly.
“It took two freaking years for the divorce to be final, Ty. I don’t want Cary to drag this out too.”
“It wasn’t necessarily Cary’s fault that the divorce took so long, Lauren. Jack had a good lawyer and your divorce was a mess.”
That’s the fucking understatement of the year. “Will you take my case?”
“No,” he replies quickly.
“What?” My dazed eyes return to his. “Why?”
He shakes his head and sighs as he takes a seat behind his desk. “I have a full load as it is, Lo.”
“You’re more aggressive than Cary,” I begin, but halt when he scowls.
“I really don’t think I can help you.”
I sit back and stare at him, stunned. “You mean you won’t.” I hate the hurt I hear in my voice, but I can’t hide it. I know Ty and I aren’t superclose, but I’ve considered him a friend. I can’t believe he’s shooting me down.
He folds the letter and hands it back to me, his mouth set in a firm line and blue-gray eyes sober. “No, I won’t. Make an appointment with Cary and talk it over with him.”
My hand automatically reaches out and takes the letter from Ty, and I’m just deeply embarrassed.
“Of course,” I whisper, and rise quickly, ready to escape this office. “I’m sorry for intruding.”
“Lo . . .”
“No, you’re right. It was unprofessional for me to just show up like this. I apologize.” I clear my throat and offer him a bright, fake smile, then beeline it for the door. “Thanks anyway.”
“Did you want to make an appointment, Lauren?” Sylvia, the receptionist, asks as I hurry past her desk.
“No, I’ll call. Thanks.”
I can’t get to my car fast enough. Why did I think Ty would help me? No one will help me.
All the connections I have in this town, all the money I have, and that asshole is still making my life a living hell.
I drive home in a daze, and when I pull up behind a shiny black Jaguar, my heart sinks further.
Today fucking sucks.
I pull my cell phone out of my bag, prepared to call for help if need be, and climb out of my car. I walk briskly past him and up the steps to the front door.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
“I told you not to come here, Jack. I don’t want to see you.” How can he still make me so damn nervous?
“Aww, don’t be like that, baby. You’re making this so much harder than it needs to be.”
I round on him, shocked and pissed all over again. “I’m the one making this hard?” I shake my head and laugh at the lunacy of this situation. “I don’t want you here. The divorce has been final for weeks now, and you have no business being here. And now you’re going to fucking sue me?”
He loses his smug smile and his mouth tightens as his brown eyes narrow. “No, I’ll tell you what will make it easy, Lauren. You paying me what’s rightfully mine is what will make it easy. You hid that money from me, and I’m entitled to half.”
“I’ll never pay you off, you sonofabitch.” I’m panting and glaring, so fucking angry.
“Oh, honey, I think you will.” He moves in close and drags his knuckles down my cheek. I jerk my head away, but he grabs my chin in his hand, squeezing until there’s just a bit of pain. “Or maybe I’ll just come back here and claim what’s mine. You are still mine, you know.”
My stomach rolls as he runs his nose up my neck, sniffing deeply. Every part of me stills. What the fuck is this?
“A man has the right to fuck his wife whenever he pleases.”
“I’m not your wife,” I grind out, glaring at him as he pulls back and stares me in the face.
He flashes an evil grin and presses harder against me. “You’ll always be mine. No piece of paper can change that.”
I don’t answer, but instead just continue to glare at him in hatred.
“Maybe you should just go ahead and write that check.”
He pushes away from me and backs down the stairs toward his flashy car, a car he bought with my parents’ money, and snickers as he looks me up and down. “You’ve kept that hot body of yours in shape, Lo. It’s mighty tempting.”
I swear I’m going to throw up.
I can’t answer him. I can only stand here and glower, shaking in rage and fear, as he winks again and hops in his Jag and drives away.
Jesus Christ, he just threatened to rape me. I might not be able to prove it, but I knew what his words meant.
I let myself into the house and reset the alarm with shaking fingers. I take off in a sprint to the back of the house and heave into the toilet, over and over until there’s nothing left and my body shivers and convulses in revulsion.
How can someone who once claimed to love me be so damn evil?
When the vomiting has passed, I rinse my mouth and head to the indoor pool that my parents had built when I was on the swim team in high school. I strip out of my clothes, but before I pull my swim cap on, I dial a familiar number on my phone and wait for an answer.
“Hull.” Brad is a police detective in town, and someone I trust implicitly.
“It’s Lauren.”
“Hey, sugar, what’s up?”
“Jack just left.”
“What did that son of a bitch want?” Brad’s voice is steel.
“He threatened me.” My voice is shaky and I hate myself for sounding so vulnerable. “I want it documented that he was here.”
“Did you record it, Lo?”
“No. I wasn’t expecting it. He’s been an asshole in the past, but this is the first time he’s come out and threatened me since he . . .” I pace beside the pool, unable to finish the sentence.
“That’s because I put the fear of God and jail time in him.” Brad is quiet for a moment. “Is there anything you need?”
I laugh humorlessly and shake my head. “Yeah, I need my asshole ex to go away. But for now I’ll settle for a swim.”
“Keep your alarm on. Call me if you need me.”
“I will. Thanks, Brad.”
“Anytime, sugar.”
We ring off. I tuck my long, auburn hair into my swim cap and then dive into the Olympic-size lap pool. The warm water glides over my naked skin, and I begin the first of countless laps, back and forth, across the pool. Swimming is one of two things in this world I do well, and it clears my head.
I do some of my best thinking in the pool.
Is all of this worth it? I ask myself. When I married Jack almost five years ago, I was convinced that he was in love with me and that we’d be together forever. He’d been on my swim team in college. He was handsome and charming.
And unbeknownst to me, he’d been after my money all along.
My parents were still alive then, and even they had fallen for his charms. My father had been a brilliant businessman and had done all he could to convince me to have Jack sign a prenuptial agreement so in the event of a divorce, Jack couldn’t stake any claim to my sizable trust fund.
But I stood my ground, blind with love and promises of forever, insistent that a prenup was unnecessary.
My dad would lose his mind if he knew what was happening now. If only I’d listened to him!
I tuck and roll, then push off the wall, turning into a backstroke.
The small amount of money that Jack is trying to lay claim to is nothing compared to the money I have that Jack knows nothing about. Since our legal separation, I’ve become very successful in my career, but I wasn’t lying when I told Ty that it’s not about the money.
This is my heritage. My family worked hard for this land, for the wealth they amassed, and Jack doesn’t deserve another fucking dime of it. That’s why the divorce took so long. I fought him with everything in me to assure that he didn’t get his greedy hands on my family’s money.
In the end he won a sizable settlement that all of the lawyers talked me into.
Jack wasn’t happy. He wanted more.
I push off the edge of the pool and glide underwater until I reach the surface and then move into a front crawl.
After my parents died in a winter car accident just over two years ago, Jack made it clear that he didn’t love me, had been sleeping around since we were dating, but expected me to keep him in his comfortable lifestyle.
When I threw a fit and kicked him out, he slammed me against the wall and landed a punch to my stomach, certain to avoid bruising me, before he left.
Thanks to threats from Brad, and Jack’s knowing how well-known I am in this town, he’s not bothered me since. Until now.
And now he’s threatening me.
It’s not worth it. Living in constant fear of seeing Jack around town, of finding myself in the middle of another humiliating scene. Seeing the pity in the eyes of people I’ve known my whole life.
And now, coming home to an ambush because he’s feeling desperate?
I’m done.
I pull myself out of the water, exhausted and panting, and resigned to see Cary in the morning to agree to a settlement.
It’s time to move on.
*
• *
It’s early when I leave the house and drive to the lawyer’s office. I don’t have an appointment, and I don’t even know for sure if anyone is there yet, but I couldn’t sleep last night. I couldn’t lose myself in work.
I need to get this over with.
When I stride to the front door, I’m surprised to find it unlocked. Sylvia isn’t in yet, but I hear voices back in Cary’s office.
I step through his door like I belong there, and both Cary’s and Ty’s faces register surprise when they see me in the doorway.
“You know, Lo, we have these things called phones, where you call and make what’s called an appointment.” Ty’s gray eyes are narrowed, but his lips are quirked in a smile. He’s in a power suit today, making my mouth immediately water. His shoulders look even broader in the black jacket, and the blue tie makes his eyes shine.
“Ha ha.” I sit heavily in the seat before Cary’s desk. “I’m sick of this shit.”
“Ty told me you came by yesterday.” Cary leans back in his chair.
“I was fucking served papers,” I mutter, and push my hands though my hair. “But I think I want to settle.”
Ty’s eyebrows climb into his hairline. “I’ll leave you two alone.”
“You can stay,” I mutter. “I could use both of your opinions. I’ll pay double for the hour.”
“That’s not necessary.” Ty’s voice is clipped and he frowns as he gazes at me. “Why the change of heart?”
I lean back in the chair and tilt my head back, looking at the tin tiles on the ceiling. “Because Jack’s an asshole. Because now he’s decided to threaten me.” I shake my head and look Cary in the eye. “But no payments. It’s going to be in one lump sum and he needs to sign a contract stating that he’ll never ask for another dime.”
“Wait, back up.” Ty pushes away from the desk and glowers down at me. “What do you mean he threatened you?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Lauren,” Cary interrupts, “it does matter. What the hell happened?”
“When I returned home, Jack was at the house.”
“Does he still have a key?” Ty asks.
“No.” I shake my head adamantly. “I changed all the locks and installed a new alarm system the day he left.”
“So he was waiting outside,” Cary clarifies.
“Yes. I told him to leave, that I didn’t want to see him and he isn’t welcome at the house. He said I was making things harder than they need to be.” I laugh humorlessly as Cary’s eyebrows climb toward his blond hairline. “I reminded him that there’s nothing difficult about this at all. We’re divorced. It’s over, and he can just go away.” I shrug and look away, not wanting to continue.
“What did he threaten you with?” Ty asks softly.
I raise my eyes to his and suddenly my stomach rolls. “I’m going to be sick.”
I bolt from the room and run to the restroom in the hallway, barely making it in time to lose the half gallon of coffee I consumed this morning. When the dry-heaving stops, I rinse my mouth and open the door, finding Ty on the other side.
“Are you okay?” he asks quietly.
I nod, embarrassed.
He reaches up and gently tucks a stray piece of my hair behind my ear. “What did he threaten you with?” He leads me back to Cary’s office.
I swallow and cross my arms over my chest. I don’t want to say it aloud. “He just threatened to be a dick.”
“Bullshit,” Cary responds, leaning forward in his chair. “Lo, the man wasn’t afraid to put his hands on you when you told him to leave—”
“What?” Ty exclaims.
“—so you need to tell me what he threatened to do to you if you don’t give him what he wants.”
I shake my head and close my eyes, remembering the feel of Jack’s nose pressed to my neck and the crazy look in his eyes when he wasn’t getting what he wanted.
“Excuse us for a minute, Cary.” Ty takes my hand in his and leads me toward the door.
“Uh, my client, Ty, remember?”
“We’ll be right back,” Ty assures him, and leads me into his office and shuts the door behind us.
“What did the asshole threaten to do to you, Lauren?”
“You said no yesterday, Ty. This isn’t your case.”
He shrugs, as if what I just said is of no consequence. “Answer me.”
I simply shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. Cary and I will figure it out. You don’t have to stay in there with us.”
I try to walk past him but he catches my hand in his, keeping me in place.
“Lauren . . .”
“Stop, Ty. You don’t want me, I get it.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” His voice is deceptively calm. “Do you know why I turned you down yesterday, Lauren?”
I shake my head, my eyes wide and pinned to his.
“Because it would be a conflict of interest. I can’t be your lawyer because I’m your friend, and I want to be a whole lot more than that.”
If I thought I was stunned before, it’s nothing compared to this. My jaw drops as he closes the gap between us. He doesn’t touch me, but his face is mere inches from mine. His eyes are on my lips as I bite them and watch him, completely thrown by this turn of events.
“You have the most beautiful lips, Lo.”
“What?” I whisper.
He takes a deep breath as he lays his thumb gently on my lower lip and pulls it from my teeth. I can’t tear my gaze away from his mouth and I take a deep breath, inhaling the musky scent of him.
I’ve forgotten Jack and his threats, the lawsuit.
Everything.
Ty clears his throat and backs away, watching me carefully. “Cary will remain your lawyer, but I want to know what the hell is going on, Lo. I can help.”
I blink and continue to stare at him, completely dumbstruck. He wants me?
“And another thing, Lauren. You’re not settling. Fuck Jack and his lawyer.”
MaesieLaBird
Posted Fri Sep 26 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Once again, I was absolutely in love and transfixed by a Kristen Proby book. The girl can write characters that are just too darn easy to fall madly in love with!
This is the second book in the "Love Under the Big Sky" series, and it was HOT HOT HOT.
Can't wait for Zach & Jilly's story!
gromine49
Posted Wed Sep 24 00:00:00 EDT 2014
You don't need to read the first book in the series to thoroughly enjoy this story. It grabs you right from the start and keeps you hanging until the end.
Lauren is trying to get her ex-husband to stay away from her and Ty is a partner in the law firm that Lauren used for her divorce. He is a childhood friend and when she goes to him for help and he refuses, he tells her that it is not because he doesn't want to, it's because he wants to have a different kind of relationship with her.
My favorite quote is when Ty tells his sister Jill, "slow down there, cruise director" when she says she wants to have a girls' night out with her.
It's funny, hot, sexy and best of all, it's a great story to add to your library. Now I have to buy the first story, Loving Cara, and pre-order the next, Falling For Jillian.
Anonymous
Posted Sat Sep 13 00:00:00 EDT 2014
"Loving Cara" was first, followed by Lauren and Ty's story.. Both were excellent reads... Ms Proby finds original story lines and fills them with likable (in most cases) characters that you would like to call friends... In this case there is an ex-husband to be left out of that category LOL... When I stay up late at night to read a book you know it is a good one... Can't wait for "Falling for Jillian" which comes out in February 2015... I have a feeling I may like that one best of all... Highly recommend Ms Proby's writing and the first two books of her new trilogy...
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Posted Fri Sep 12 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Second book in LOVE UNDER THE BIG SKY series by this author, Kristen Proby. Loved it. It is a stand alone story but gives you an update of the characters from book one. this story about Lauren(Lo) and Ty had friendship, connection, sexy undertones, chemistry, and a HEA. There was an underlying plot that disturbed me. The fear factor that a woman must go through to get rid of a no good, cheating, scheming husband. Most story have the man having the money and the woman looking for it. I don't like that either. At some point, if money is the issues then that becomes disturbing to me. I felt that I would have given the money to the man to get rid of him, not Ty the good guy but Jake. But Lo's reasons were valid and she stood her ground. The other subplots also distracted from Lo and Ty's romance. However, there is another book coming about Jillian and Zach. After reading books from this author, I know she will make it another great read. Enjoy.
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Posted Thu Sep 11 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Loved it!! Love Kristen Proby..girl can do no wrong!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Wed Sep 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I love all of Kristen Proby's books. This is definitely no exception! Ty is absolutely hot and I loved the story. It sucked me in and I had to finish it in one sitting.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Sep 05 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I love Kristen Proby! I really enjoyed Loving Cara, and Seducing Lauren was no different. Ty - swoon! Seriously! Hot lawyer who worships the ground of the woman he loves. Lauren proves to be tough and determined. I can't nail down exactly why, but this book was lacking just a very little bit of something for me. It was a tad slow in parts, but nothing that drew you away from the story. It's a definite 4.5 star book! Can't wait for the next one!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Oh, Ms. Proby... Are you sure I can't just stick you in my pocket and read what you write over your shoulder? Everything this lovely author writes is amazing. Seducing Lauren, however, hit it out of the ball park, Emotions hit higher and lower. The subject matter is a bit darker than previous Proby novels I've read, but it's written in a way that makes me connect with the characters on an even deeper level. I was taken to the brink of suspense and darkness only to be jerked back into the warm arms of the love between Ty and Lauren.
Lauren is trying to escape a horrible marriage. With the papers signed she thinks she can finally move on, until her ex comes knocking and tossing around threats verbal and physical. Lauren has no choice but to deal with this in a legal medium. She's hell bent that her ex will not receive a dime or scare her away from her town. Ty the resident lawyer at first pawns Lauren off on his associate. Why? Well conflict of interest of course. It seems our hunky lawyer has been pining after Lauren. But when he realizes the severity of the situation, Ty is stuck to her like glue. Sooner rather than later, Ty and Lauren have found they their mind-blowing chemistry just can't be denied. But being so close, and hanging out all the time leads Lauren to divulge her secret to Ty. A secret that may just cause her ex to come out fists swinging and up the ante. As their relationship becomes more serious, the danger draws closer. Close enough that it may tear Lauren and Ty up for good.
Ty is my kind of hero. He's sweet, dirty-mouthed, sexy and thoughtful. Lauren, well she can hold her own. Yet, while they're both extremely independent they soon come to rely on each other and I loved watching it happen. I got lost in their happiness and adventures. I was so wrapped up in them as a couple that when other recurring aspects popped up again I thought: "Oh yeahhh!". Not saying that the story line was boring, just that Ty and Lauren's love consumed me as a reader to the point where I was only focused on them. In true Proby fashion you can expect so very heated scenes and a book that will enrapture you. This book took my excitement level about this series up to a whole new level. And what am I SO looking forward to? Jillian's story. Can you see me bouncing up and down? Well, I am. I know fireworks are just going to explode in the next installment of this series. So considering me shoving Seducing Lauren onto the top of your TBR list and hop on this steamy, wonderful, amazing train!
Happy Reading!
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Anonymous
Posted Sat Aug 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014
What a great story of friendship, love and a crazy ex. Cant wait for jills story. A must read!
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Posted Thu Aug 28 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Another great addition to the series
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Kimmerk65
Posted Mon Aug 25 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I really loved the chemistry between Ty and Lo. I liked the teasing and witty comments back and forth between the two. I like Kristen Proby. what more can I say?!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Kristen Proby's books are just the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon! You get romance, great characters and a HEA...what more could you want?
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sat Aug 23 00:00:00 EDT 2014
.
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.psee
Posted Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Another series by Proby
This is the second book in the Love Under the Big Sky series. Since I have read every book by Proby in the With Me in Seattle series I do not know how I missed the first book in this series, Loving Cara. With that being said, I really believe this book can be read as a stand alone, though one would likely get more out of the story if you read them in order.
This book is about Lauren Cunningham, fresh off a divorce but still dealing with her nightmare of an ex. Ty Sullivan is one of the lawyers in town and also Lauren's high school crush. Ty refuses to take her case since she already is represented by his partner Cary, and also because he admits he has an interest in Lauren. Knowing the attraction goes both ways allows for this couple to explore a relationship.
The story was initially a little slow for me and I really wasn't feeling the connection between the characters until closer to the end. The climax of the story was riveting and is the reason I went with four rather than three and a half stars. The other characters which round out the story seemed very interesting and I cannot wait to see what happens between Jill and Zach, there has to be more to their story. Overall,I am a fan of Proby's writing and am looking forward to more in this series.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Anonymous
Posted Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Freaking awsome as usual. I absolutely love Kristen Proby. You hit another one out of the ballpark girl. Cannot wait for Jillian's story.
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Posted Wed Aug 20 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Why are all of the terrible women that people hate in books named "Misty"?
Seriously, I have read numerous books with a "Misty" and none of them are nice. Half the time, they are wretched and the author gives them a horrifying death on top of their nasty character.
Did I miss something? If you have the misfortune of getting that name, you are destined to be hated? Just curious...
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Books_She_Reads
Posted Wed Aug 20 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I have now read 1, 2, 3. . . 10 books from Kristen Proby. 10 freaking books from the same author, if that is not a sure sign that Kristen Proby knows exactly what she is doing and that she does it really freaking good every single time then I don't know what is. Proby is one of my most favorite authors, an author that I will drop just about anything and read her books. This is an author that I make time for no matter what, her books are always at the top of my TBR pile and I squee in excitement whenever a new Kristen Proby book makes it's way onto my kindle. There are like 5 authors that are able to do this for me, actually I think it's more like 3, and never have I read 10 books all from the same author and loved every single one of them. Kristen Proby is an author that you will continue to see A LOT of on {Books She Reads} and I am so excited to be able to feature amazing authors like Kristen Proby and tell all who are willing to listen just how much I have an AuthorCrush on her.
Now for Seducing Lauren, this is book #10 that I have read from Kristen and this one is a bit different then all of her other books that I have read. This one is a bit darker, some might even categorize this as a bit of a suspense genre. Lauren is dealing with an ex that just won't quit and keeps pushing the line of danger a bit further every single time he confronts her. Lauren has a fire within her and she will not allow her ex to take away what isn't his but she has no idea just how far he is really willing to go to get her to give him what he wants.
Here's the thing, Lauren is a strong willed independent woman and I love her for that, truthfully I expect nothing less from a Kristen Proby book because all of her woman are strong and independent. I love it. However, there was a large part of me that wanted her to stop being so damn independent and thinking she had to carry these secrets that she had all on her own. I can understand one of them, that one I get and is no threat to her life, or so you think but the other is one that should have been told up front. Period. I wanted to smack her, I found myself shaking my head at her every time the opportunity to say something came up or she would tell a small fib and deflect from the question asked when she should have been answering truthfully.
The situation at the beginning of this book seems like it's going to be a typical greedy ex husband wanting his half of something that really isn't his half, and in a way it is but it's also more then that and a whole heck of a lot more dangerous. There was everything that I have come to love in a Kristen Proby book within the pages of Seducing Lauren. Moments of laughter, happiness, and of course sexual tension and hot steamy release but there was also an added dimension of danger and suspense that was a little bit darker then anything Proby has released in the past. If you like a book with a bit more suspense then this will give you a taste of that, and I think if Kristen Proby ever wanted to go full blown romance suspense she could definitely pull it off, and I would be the first in line to read it.
This is Ty and Lauren’s story and is book two in the Love Under the Big Sky series by Kristen Proby. Characters from the previous book serve as support to the main characters and their lives are integrated into the storyline. The story is about a couple that must overcome the past to find their future. The characters feel alive and give the reader a feeling of kinship like you’re their family or a friend next door.
Life changes for Lauren when she finally kicks her abusive ex out and battles him for a divorce for over two years. In the small community of Cunningham Falls in beautiful Montana Sky country Lauren is finally free from her ex and his threats of violence. Jack still refuses to accept that they are no longer married and that he believes that he is entitled to the inheritance that her family left her. His threats begin to escalate with more violence and demands for money. When he sues Lauren, she turns to her attorney and his partner for help. Lauren has always found Ty attractive, but never really knew the man he really was until the day she stormed into his office and asked for his help.
Ty had known Lauren all their lives; they had been classmates in school, friends as young adults. Now he wants more, so much more from her. When Lauren is finally free from her ex, Ty decides to makes his move, not as a buddy, friend or acquaintance but as the man that will own her heart. Ty knows that Lauren is keeping secrets and that he must earn her trust before he can claim her. Sometimes, however, true evil will not let go without trying to destroy whatever gets in its path. The relationship that is developing between Lauren and Ty will have to face that evil together and defeat it.~TSRBR
Hero – Ty Sullivan 4.5 stars
Heroine – Lauren Cunningham 4.5 stars
Steam Level: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Cliffhanger: No!
Would I recommend this book: Yes! If you want a book that will make you feel all the way to the depths of heart, read this book!!! This is an exquisitely written love story, filled with angst, passion and unhealed wounds. I couldn’t stop reading until the end, as a result of the delicate promise of heart-rending love. Excellent writing, Kristen!
Would I recommend this author: Yes! Ms. Proby writes stories that make you believe in happily ever after and true love triumphs over evil. I love her books and cannot wait to read the next in this series, Falling for Jillian.
***Received an ARC of this book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review***
smutbookjunkie
Posted Tue Aug 19 00:00:00 EDT 2014
This read was scorching hot. Ty is a man who knows a thing or two about how to please a woman in bed. I mean a hot tattooed lawyer, need I say more. The man is as fierce in the courtroom as he is in the bedroom.
I absolutely love it when an author takes a series and just when you think you know what book is coming next she throws you a curve ball. I thought for sure after Loving Cara we would get Jillian and Zach's story, but instead Kristen gave us an amazing treat with Lauren (Lo) and Ty. I knew I wanted Ty's story from the get go but Lauren, not so much. She was friends with Misty and Misty is Satan's mistress in my opinion. She is pure evil and you get a taste of her again in Seducing Lauren. I love to hate the villains. Kristen once again does an excellent job developing her characters. Just going through a divorce myself I can appreciate what Lo is going through with Jack. This storyline truly portrays the difficulties that can occur when a divorce goes seriously bad.
I really do enjoy a good friends to lovers story. Ty is an amazing book boyfriend as he takes care of Lo while she is in her writing cave. He makes sure she eats and checks in on her to make sure she is sleeping as well. The more Ty and Lo get to know each other the faster they fall Lo fits in with Ty’s friends like she always belonged there and it does not take Ty long to figure out that she is it for him.
The chemistry between Ty and Lo is smoldering. The shower scene, the pool scene, the kitchen scene, the office scene…the list of sexy rendezvous goes on and one and if you asked me to pick my favorite I don’t know if I could. *Ladies this is most definitely a B.O.B. read where you will want to make sure your Duracells are up to date. I would have never expected something scandalously sexy from Kristen Proby.
If you like alpha male heros that have hearts of gold and sexy and intelligent women who love their men with all their heart you will love Seducing Lauren.
lilbook-worm
Posted Tue Aug 19 00:00:00 EDT 2014
AMAZING BOOK!! A MUST READ!
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Overview
In the second book in the Love Under the Big Sky series from this New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the With Me in Seattle series, life in Montana gets spicy when a woman and her divorce lawyer sign off the papers—and sign on to love.
Now that his best friend, Josh, has happily settled down with his true love on a Montana ranch, small-town lawyer Ty Sullivan starts thinking that maybe single life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And when Lauren Cunningham’s ...