THE CARELESS BOYFRIEND (Bad Boyfriend #3) by Erika Kelly-Review & Excerpt Tour
THE CARELESS BOYFRIEND
Bad Boyfriend 3#
by Erika Kelly
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance
Release Date: April 23, 2019
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 23, 2019
Gray Bowie broke the bro code: he fell in love with his best friend’s girlfriend.
For years, he hid his feelings…until one terrible night, it all came to a head.
Since her life blew up in high school, Knox Holliday has spent her time honing her skills as a couture wedding dress designer. But, just weeks before her debut, a freak accident wipes out her collection. The culprit: her ex’s former best friend, Gray Bowie.
Gray does everything he can to get her career back on track. As they work together, they find forgiveness and start to stitch together something that looks a lot like love. But, at the very moment they realize they have a chance for something real, her ex comes back to town, bringing opportunities Gray can’t provide.
This time, Gray’s not going to step aside, so he can only hope Knox will hold onto his heart.
She’s his dream, but will he be hers?
•••••••••
REVIEW: THE CARELESS BOYFRIEND is the third instalment in Erika Kelley’s contemporary, adult BAD BOYFRIEND erotic, romance series focusing on the Bowie brothers. This is extreme sport athlete Gray Bowie, and bridal gown designer Knox Holliday’s story line. THE CARELESS BOYFRIEND can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Gray and Knox) THE CARELESS BOYFRIEND follows the rebuilding friendship and relationship between twenty-five year olds- extreme sport athlete Gray Bowie, and bridal gown designer Knox Holliday. The night of their senior prom Gray Bowie lost his two best friends as he witnessed one life spiral out of control, and another life pulled into the abyss of enabling. Fast forward to present day wherein a car accident would bring him face to face with the woman he has always loved. Enter bridal gown designer Knox Holliday, a woman whose enter future was destroyed by an accident not of her making. What ensues is the rebuilding friendship and romance between Gray and Knox, and the potential fall-out as Knox’s business is sabotaged by someone from the past.
Years earlier, Knox Holliday was caught between the love of two friends but addiction destroyed said friendship sending the trio in opposite directions. With her business on the line, an upcoming bridal show featuring her designs hangs in the balance when a ‘freak’ car accident destroys a year’s worth of work in a matter of seconds. Gray Bowie knows a thing or two about business, and with his connections helps Knox repair and replenish that which was destroyed.
The relationship between Gray and Knox is one of second chances, of a sorts, between two people whose friendship was destroyed by addiction, miscommunication and loss. Knox struggles with issues of trust as Gray battles the memories from the past. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are reintroduced to Gray’s brothers Fin Bowie and Calli (The World’s Worst Boyfriend #1); Will Bowie, Delilah and Ruby (the Heartless Boyfriend #2), and Brodie Bowie; Knox’s ex boyfriend Robert Granger; her mentor Luc Bellerose; and an assortment of people who work for Gray Bowie.
THE CARELESS BOYFRIEND is a story of second chances; of friendship and family; of betrayal and heartbreak; of addiction and loss. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is seductive and spicy; the characters are colorful, energetic and inspiring.
Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The World’s Worst Boyfriend
The Heartless Boyfriend
The Careless Boyfriend
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
“Well, hopefully that kiss cleared it up for you, because I’m still attracted to you, Knox, and I’m not gonna play games with you about it. The question is…” He trailed his fingertips along the inside of her forearm. “Are you attracted to me?”
Goosebumps exploded along her arm, racing up her neck, and cascading down her entire body, but she wouldn’t let Mr. Smugness see. “Please. We’re pals, nothing more.” But he wasn’t stupid. He had to hear the tremor in her voice.
“Hm. Interesting.” He leaned over her, looking into her eyes. “I had no idea your eyes were black. Oh, wait. They’re dilated.” He gently brushed his fingers over her collarbone, his thumb teasing her pebbled skin. “Are you…attracted to me?”
She squeezed her thighs together. “I mean, you’re okay and everything, but…” Her expression said, Meh.
“That right?” He shifted closer—but not quite touching.
His body heat, his scent, that intense look in his eyes…God. She tried to act nonplussed, but it didn’t work. Blood rushed up her neck, and desire pulsed between her legs.
“Let’s test it. If you’re not attracted to me, this won’t take but a minute.” He lowered his face into the crook of her neck. “Do me a quick favor? Inhale. Real deep. Get a lungful of my pheromones.”
“Shut up.” She tried to push him, but he was solid as granite.
“I just want to see if my scent works for you. Go on, breathe me in.”
“You’re such an idiot. Get off me.”
He lifted his head, bringing his mouth right to her ear. “I’m conducting an experiment, and I’m going to need you to stay very still. Quit squirming.” His lips brushed across her cheek—barely touching—until he reached her jaw line. Then, he glanced up at her. “Okay, that’s fascinating. I’d hoped for some pink, but you’re beet red. That’s way beyond blushing, sugar buns.”
“Okay, we’re done here.”
“Not yet.” He gently cupped her jaw. “There’s one last test.” The moment their gazes met, the mischief turned into pure, unadulterated lust. “This is the one that counts.” He brought his mouth over hers and kissed her.
Everything inside her turned creamy and hot. She wanted to slide her hands through all that thick, unruly hair, wanted to feel his hard, muscled body on top of hers.
But fear had a grip on her. It’s Gray. She didn’t want to know such extreme pleasure, get attached to a man who thrilled her, comforted her, wanted her, and then watch him walk away.
They didn’t have a future. Anyone could see that. What would happen after he left for his first competition? Got back into his familiar world of traveling from one country to another, one event to another?
She could have one night with him, maybe two. Three, four, what did it matter? Her heart and soul would get engage, and then he’d be gone.
Gray pulled away, the pad of his thumb on her mouth, looking utterly crestfallen. “It’s okay.”
What’s okay?
“I was just messing with you.” He started to roll away from her, and she realized she’d zoned out, let her fears stand on the mountain of her insecurities and plant a victory flag.
She grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back. His big, hard body fell half on top of her. God, did it feel good. More. Her hands threaded through his hair. “Gray.”
That was all it took to unleash him, just the sound of his name drenched in urgency and need. His mouth opened over hers, and he licked inside, his big hand clamping down on her hip and drawing her closer. He kissed with such fervor, she got swept away, the undertow so powerful it drowned her insecurities. She clutched his broad, powerful back. He feels so good.
His hand slid underneath her, caressing down to her bottom and then squeezing with such lust she literally writhed against him.
How had she ever thought he lacked passion? Holy smokes did he have it—and what a heady feeling knowing he had it for her.
Award-winning author Erika Kelly has been spinning romantic tales all her life–she just didn’t know it. Raised on the classics, she didn’t discover romantic fiction until later in life. From that moment on, she’s been devouring the genre and has found her true voice as an author. Over three decades she’s written poems, screenplays, plays, short stories, and all kinds of women’s fiction novels. Married to the love of her life and raising four children, she’s lived in two countries and seven states, but give her pen and paper, a stack of good books, and a steaming mug of vanilla chai latte and she can make her home anywhere.
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