By: Jessica Lemmon
Releasing
July 25, 2017
Loveswept
Don’t
trust lust at first sight. One woman chooses
reality over fantasy in this friends-to-lovers romance.
Jacqueline: As an adult woman—and the
vice president of a marketing firm—I shouldn’t be waiting by my office window
to ogle the mystery man who jogs by every morning at 11:45. Sure, he’s a
gorgeous, perfect specimen of the human race, but I can’t bring myself to hit
on a total stranger. However, my best friend–slash–colleague Vince Carson
thinks I should do more than talk to the guy. In fact, he’s borderline
obsessive about “getting me laid.” (His words.) But the more time we spend
together, the more it’s clear: The one I’m falling for is Vince.
Vince: Jackie
Butler’s got it bad for some pompous, over-pumped A-hole who struts his stuff
past her window. That doesn’t bother me. I know she deserves nice things. What does bother
me is that she friend-zoned me big-time last year, so I can’t ask her out
myself. But what if I set her up with Mr. Steroids? Then, when he breaks her
heart, I can swoop in and save her like the nice guy I am. Everything’s going
according to plan . . . until we share a ridiculously epic kiss. And suddenly
anything is possible.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review*
Eye Candy is the first book in the new Real Love Series by Jessica
Lemmon. And for those of you who have read my books before, I normally I really
enjoy Jessica Lemmon's work, her books are normally fun for me and thrilling, swoon worthy and
scorching hot for me to read.
But where it came to Eye Candy I struggled, I didn't like any of the
characters, and for such great "friends to lovers" they basically
knew very little about each other past the surface, because at a few points I
was like…"why!" The only character I liked out of Eye Candy, was
Davis, but he wasn't enough for me to fall in love with this book. The premise of friends to lovers is a common theme in romance, but for me, there was nothing fresh that gripped me.
With all that being said, I give Eye Candy 2 stars.
JACQUELINE
“Truly pathetic, Butler,”
I hear behind me. It’s Vince, using my last name, per his usual.
I swirl around and peg him
with a look of pure fury. He’s VP too, by the way. Did I mention that? Last
year when the vice president quit, two of us were promoted to handle the workload
in tandem. I guess that was better than one of us leaving the other behind.
“What does the sign say?”
I bark, pointing at my ajar office door.
Vince frowns, looks at it,
then reads, “Knock if this is closed.”
“And did you? Knock?” I
fold my arms.
“Yes, actually.” He sticks
his fingers into the front pockets of his snug, well-fitting pair of jeans. He
always wears dark jeans, a black belt, and a pair of leather shoes. Button-down
and tie. He gets away with denim because our company president encourages free
spirits and creativity . . . in the men who work here. Meanwhile, the women are
expected to look the part of the professional, so I’ll be over here in my silk
shirt and pencil skirt and stilettos if you need me. Such is life as a human
with XX chromosomes.
“You were too busy
admiring Golden Boy to hear me.”
“I don’t know what you’re
talking about.” I crane my chin, because nothing says “I’m not lying through my
teeth” like a jutted chin.
Vince walks over to the
window and points at a cheek-shaped smudge on the otherwise perfect glass.
“What’s this?”
“I . . . fell asleep. Long
night.”
He grins and a rare blush
steals across my cheeks. Not because he’s attractive—though he is. In a
scamplike, puckish way. Since he was always “off limits,” it’s easy to forget
he might be someone I’d look at twice if circumstances were different. If he
hadn’t been so completely gone for his wife when I met him. A dart of pain
shoots through the center of my chest at the thought. Leslie leaving shattered
him. Whenever I think about those first six months, and how angry and hurt
Vince was, I want to mail her an envelope full of glitter.
No, seriously. It’s a
thing. Have you ever tried to get glitter out of carpet? I have. I used to host
craft night at my place. You find shiny little specks for months. Months.
“You fell asleep,” Vince
repeats flatly, giving me the slowest blink ever. “When are you going to admit
you have a schoolgirl crush on that muscle-bound jerk?”
“Mark is not a jerk,” I
blurt.
“His name is Mark?” Vince
winces. I backtrack.
“No. That’s
what Kayla calls him. His name is J.T.”
“Do you know why guys use
initials for their names?” He smirks, cocky.
I prop my hands on my hips
and wait.
“One of two reasons.”
Vince holds up a finger. “One, he’s either too lazy or stupid to spell it, or
two, both names are embarrassing. Like”—he pauses, both fingers out like a
peace sign as he studies the ceiling before finishing—“Judson Taylor.”
I drop my arms. “You think
his name is Judson Taylor?”
“Or”—another dramatic
pause, only one finger elevated this time—“Jaundice Toe . . . jam.”
I can’t help it. I burst
out laughing, holding my stomach with one arm as I double over. When I recover
and push my hair behind my ears, Vince is smiling, pleased with himself. This
is why we’re friends. He pulls me out of my why-so-serious, and I make him talk
about his feelings.
We’re good for each other.
Aformer job-hopper, Jessica Lemmon resides in Ohio with her husband and
rescue dog. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an
impressive frame. When she’s not writing super-sexy heroes, she can be found
cooking, drawing, drinking coffee (okay, wine), and eating potato chips. She
firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you
can create the life you want.
