{"id":14353,"date":"2016-12-10T08:00:49","date_gmt":"2016-12-10T13:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=14353"},"modified":"2018-08-26T09:04:16","modified_gmt":"2018-08-26T13:04:16","slug":"blog-tour-excerpt-arc-review-the-only-one-a-one-love-novella-by-lauren-blakely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=14353","title":{"rendered":"Blog Tour, Excerpt, & ARC Review: The Only One (A One Love Novella) by Lauren Blakely"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"the-only-one-tour-banner\"<\/h4>\n

From\u00a0<\/b>New York Times<\/i><\/b>\u00a0Bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes THE ONLY ONE, a sexy new\u00a0standalone novella in her\u00a0<\/b>One Love Series<\/i><\/b>, brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights!
\n<\/b>Be sure you grab your copy today!<\/b><\/h4>\n

NOW LIVE!
\nAmazon US<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<\/b>Amazon UK<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<\/b>Amazon CA<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<\/b>Amazon AU<\/a>\u00a0|<\/b>\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/b><\/h4>\n
\n

\r\n <\/div><\/div><\/b><\/h4>\n
\n

Blurb<\/b><\/h4>\n

From the New York Times bestselling author of THE SEXY ONE<\/a> comes a romance about fate and second chances.<\/b><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say there was this guy. And he gave you the most mind-blowing night of sex in your life. And you never saw him again.
\nUntil ten years later.
\nNow, it turns out he\u2019s the ONLY ONE in all of Manhattan whose restaurant is available the night of my charity\u2019s gala.
\nThe trouble is, he doesn\u2019t recognize me.
\n***
\nThis woman I\u2019m working with is so damn alluring. The first time I set eyes on her, I\u2019m captivated and I can\u2019t get her out of my mind. Even if it\u2019s risky to tango with someone I\u2019m working with, she\u2019s a risk I\u2019m willing to take.
\nThe trouble is, she won\u2019t give me the time of day.
\nBut I\u2019m determined to change that.<\/p>\n

THE ONLY ONE is a standalone novella following characters first introduced in THE SEXY ONE<\/a> (Gabriel) and WELL HUNG<\/a> (Penny).\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Find\u00a0The\u00a0<\/em>Only One<\/i> on GOODREADS<\/a><\/strong>
\n\"the-only-one-tour-available-now\"<\/p>\n

BOOK TRAILER<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n

Review<\/b><\/h4>\n

4.5 “Shortcake” stars!<\/p>\n

I love second chance romances and I love Lauren Blakely. Put those together and you get The Only One and it was perfect in every way. Mixed with heart, humor, and steam, this fantastic novella left me with a smile and a happy heart.<\/p>\n

Ten years ago when Penny was twenty-one, she met a handsome man in Barcelona who rocked her world. They planned to reconnect a week later when both were scheduled to be in New York City at the same time, but when Penny goes to meet Gabriel, she waits by the Lincoln Center Fountains only to find that fate was not on her side.<\/p>\n

My three-day love affair under the starry Spanish sky with the man who whispered sweet nothings in my ear while he played my body like a virtuoso pianist isn’t getting a second act.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hurt and devastated, she vowed to move on and let him go. She removed his reminders from her life and tries to forget about him.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to present time, it’s been ten years since Penny saw Gabriel. She lives in Manhattan and runs an animal rescue called Little Friends. She is in desperate need of finding a caterer for the\u00a0upcoming picnic for her organization, so with\u00a0\u00a0the short list of available restaurants in hand, she heads to her appointments.<\/p>\n

The last restaurant with an opening is called <\/i>Gabriel’s.
\nI startle as I read the name and, unexpectedly, my breath catches.
\n<\/i>That name
\n…Even now, years after my valiant attempt to erase that man from my history, his name alone does something to me.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Though he doesn’t appear to recognize her, Penny is wholly affected by Gabriel’s presence the moment she walks through the door to his restaurant. She doesn’t know how to manage the situation and he doesn’t know how to come to terms with the fact that this woman could possibly be the same one from his past.<\/p>\n

I blink, momentarily transported to another place. I swear an image of Penelope slips over Penny, and the two seem one and the same. It\u2019s as if I\u2019m in two lives at once\u2014this one here with her, and a past life with a girl I was falling in love with in hardly any time at all.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As they spend time with each other, the heated glances become more frequent and the sexual tension increases. Penny and Gabriel’s chemistry is electric\u00a0and\u00a0they cannot keep their hands off each other.\u00a0Will they find that second chances really are the sweetest?<\/p>\n

I loved The Only One. \u00a0It was equal parts fun, sweet, and steamy, and had a fantastic complete storyline even though it is a novella. I enjoyed the setup of the story and how the memories were filtered throughout and\u00a0I loved that we get to watch Penny and Gabriel\u00a0fall twice.<\/p>\n

The characters were wonderful and I am glad it was written in duel POVs. Penny was refreshing\u00a0and Gabriel was delicious. I loved getting inside their heads and understanding what they were feeling while coming to terms with what went wrong in the past.<\/p>\n

Penny was so sweet. I loved her confidence and how hard she worked towards her dreams. She recognized what she wanted out of life and what type of man she wanted to be with\u00a0and\u00a0I was so happy\u00a0that it was Gabriel. Gabriel was sweet, charming, and oh so sexy. The things that came out of his mouth made me swoon and I loved everything about him. He had a tender heart and was fully invested in Penny when he realized who she was.<\/p>\n

Something happened to cause Gabriel to miss the rendezvous point with Penny and the story slowly reveals what happened in the best possible way. Every word I read that touched on the missed opportunity had me more and more eager for the answer. When the whole truth came to light, it was refreshing that there was no over the top drama. I loved that they were mature about the situation and trusted each other, giving in completely, and that they realized and understood that all relationships have ups and downs.<\/p>\n

He curls his hand around mine and kisses me deeply. It tastes like the past, like the present, and like all our tomorrows.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Overall, The Only One is a sweet little gem and it was the perfect story to hold us over until Full Package releases.<\/p>\n

*ARC generously provided by the author and Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest\u00a0review*<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Excerpt<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The last restaurant with an opening is called <\/span>Gabriel\u2019s.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0I startle as I read the name and, unexpectedly, my breath catches.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0That name.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0I freeze, one hand on the mascara wand, the other holding my phone. Even now, years after my valiant attempt to erase that man from my history, his name alone does something to me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0I\u2019ve dated since him. I\u2019ve had a few serious boyfriends. But there\u2019s still just something about that man. Maybe that\u2019s the curse of experiencing the best sex of your life at age twenty-one. At the time, I figured that sex with Gabriel was so great because I didn\u2019t know better. Now, I\u2019ve learned that sleeping with him was mind-blowing because\u2026sleeping with him was mind- blowing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Those three nights in Spain were magical, passionate, and beyond sensual. I\u2019ve tried to implement Gabriel amnesia, but he still lingers in the corners of my mind. Letting go of the mascara tube, I take a breath and tell myself a name is just a name. It\u2019s a mere coincidence that this eatery on my list shares the same name.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Except\u2026my Gabriel was a cook. A struggling line cook in a small bistro in Barcelona that summer, planning to move to Manhattan for a job here.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0I drop my forehead into my hand as a fresh wave of foolishness crashes over me. What if he\u2019s been here all these years? What if he came to New York and simply didn\u2019t want to see me? What if we\u2019ve been sharing the same island for the last decade? What if he was married when we were together? What if he went home to his wife, his girlfriend, his lover?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0I forced myself to stop playing this <\/span>what if <\/span><\/i>game ten years ago when he didn\u2019t show for our rendezvous. I booted him from my brain and refused to linger on him, and especially on all the possible reasons why he left me alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Now, he\u2019s all I can think about. I need to know if this Gabriel is <\/span>my <\/span><\/i>Gabriel.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0When I google the restaurant, I let out an audible groan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0I blink.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Blink again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Try to still my shaking fingers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0He\u2019s here.<\/span><\/i> He\u2019s in Manhattan. After a decade, I\u2019m going to come face-to-face with the man who stole my heart and my body.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"the-only-one-tour-teaser-1\"<\/p>\n

\n

More books by Lauren Blakely<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A series of inter-connected standalones with characters that link across books. Though all\u00a0books can standalone, we have listed them in publication order so you can follow along in order if you prefer to.<\/p>\n

\"big-rock\" \"Mister \"Well \"\" \"\" \"\" \"\" \"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Big Rock<\/strong>\u00a0(Spencer & Charlotte)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0| \u00a0Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Audiobook<\/a><\/p>\n

Mister O\u00a0<\/strong>(Nick & Harper)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0| \u00a0Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Audiobook<\/a><\/p>\n

Well Hung <\/strong>(Wyatt & Natalie)
\n<\/strong>Review<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a> \u00a0| \u00a0Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Audiobook<\/a><\/p>\n

Full Package<\/strong>\u00a0(Chase & Josie)
\nReview<\/a>
\n<\/strong>Buy:\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a> \u00a0| \u00a0Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Audiobook<\/a><\/p>\n

Joy Ride<\/strong>\u00a0(Max & Henley)
\n<\/strong>Review<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0| \u00a0Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Audiobook<\/a><\/p>\n

Hard Wood<\/strong>\u00a0(Patrick & Mia)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a> \u00a0| \u00a0Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Audiobook<\/a><\/p>\n

Stud Finder – A Novella (1001 Dark Nights)\u00a0<\/strong>(Dylan & Evie)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy: Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Audiobook<\/a><\/p>\n

Come Again
\n<\/strong>Buy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Paperback\u00a0 <\/a>|\u00a0 Audio<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Bigger Rock<\/strong>
\nCollection of four novels – Big Rock, Mister O, Well Hung and Full Package
\nBuy:\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Audiobook<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

About the Author<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"lauren-blakely\"Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US over three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1.5 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that’s full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With thirteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than seventy times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire as well as standalone hit romances like BIG ROCK, MISTER O, WELL HUNG, and THE SEXY ONE which were all instant New York Times Bestsellers. In January she’ll release FULL PACKAGE, a standalone romantic comedy.<\/p>\n

To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her NEWSLETTER<\/a>!<\/p>\n

WEBSITE<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0FACEBOOK<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0TWITTER<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NEWSLETTER<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0GOODREADS<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n

\"inkslinger-blogger-final\"<\/a><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From\u00a0New York Times\u00a0Bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes THE ONLY ONE, a sexy new\u00a0standalone novella in her\u00a0One Love Series, brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights! Be sure you grab your copy today! NOW LIVE! Amazon […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14421,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":4.5,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"Product","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[454,290,36,9,24],"tags":[59,56,48],"class_list":["post-14353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-audio-recommendation","category-book-news","category-novella","category-romance","category-second-chance-romance","tag-arc","tag-lauren-blakely","tag-review"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/THE-ONLY-ONE-cover.jpg?fit=150%2C234&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-3Jv","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14353"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14353\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}