Solo by Lauren E. Rico ❤️ Review, Book Blast & Gift Card Giveaway ❤️ (Contemporary Romance)

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When graduate student Katherine Brenner walked into my class, I couldn’t stand her—all perfect skin and big, blue eyes—just like the woman who broke my heart.

If it wasn’t for that blizzard, if her car hadn’t broken down outside my house, if she hadn’t looked amazing by the firelight, I never would have kissed her. No matter how hard I try, every excuse I make not to see her comes up flat.

I can’t stop thinking of her lips. Or the way her curves fit perfectly in my hands. There’s a million reasons why this won’t work. I’m her professor. It’s against university policy.

And if this gets out, I could lose everything.

This book is SO FREAKING GOOD!!!

I was ENTHRALLED by this book. I fell absolutely in love with page 1 and loved it until the very last word.

Lauren's writing style is excellent. The story flows and a steady pace, the dialogue is realistic and I totally got Kate's brand of humor.

The synopsis didn't really prepare me for exactly what was at play between Kate and Drew. Between Kate and Drew and a lot of other characters, for that matter. No spoilers, but there be lots of twists in this book!

I loved Kate. She definitely got the short end of the "stick of life," but she made the best of it and was a really beautiful person. I could not wait to see how this story ended for her!

And Drew. My gosh. The snowstorm, the reporter, the teachers, the students...he certainly had one heck of a gauntlet to survive, and I was so happy with his ending.

The final conflict of the story was absolutely heartbreaking and yet, I COULDN'T WAIT to see how it got resolved. Lauren gave me a villain to hate, which I did and I LOVED it, and all of the loose ends were neatly tied up.

I am a FOREVER FAN of Lauren Rico and I CANNOT WAIT for her next book!!!!!

(I received a copy of this book in consideration of an honest review)

I hear the creak of the bathroom door behind me and there’s a palpable shift in the room as he enters. Then I feel his hand on my shoulder. It just makes me cry harder. And then he is there, on the floor with me, pulling me up against his chest with strong arms. I shake my head no. I don’t want this. But I do. I don’t need this. But I do. And, somehow, this awful, mean, arrogant man seems to know this already.

With my face buried in his sweatshirt, I just cry and cry until the only thing left is the sound of my dry, hiccupping, heaves and sniffling nose. He’s patting my back, rubbing my arms and shushing me softly.

Oh. My. God.

This is my worst nightmare, and then some. I sit up, abruptly, trying to wipe my sodden face with my hands, not looking at him. I can’t look at him.

“I’m sorry,” I say in a hoarse whisper.

Drew Markham gets to his feet and holds out a hand for me to take. I do, still not able to meet his gaze. When I’m upright once more, he turns away from me and briefly runs the water in the sink.

“Here,” he says, cupping my chin in his hands gently, trying to direct my face to his. I stare at the floor and shake my head. “Please? Katherine?”

When he says my name, it’s so unexpected that my head jerks up. He reaches toward my face and I just close my eyes, allowing him to press the wet, cool facecloth to my skin. When I open my eyes again, he’s smiling. But not any smile I’ve ever seen in his limited repertoire of pleasant expressions. It’s shocking. And disarming. And sexy as hell.

Lauren Rico was going to be principal French horn of the New York Philharmonic. That was HER plan, anyway. The New York Philharmonic had no idea of her intentions, and that's probably a good thing, since she wasn't an especially good French horn player!

Lauren was, however, an exceptionally good classical music radio host. Calling herself a "Classical Music Reanimator," she has made a career of demystify classical music for her audiences by taking it off a dusty old pedestal and putting it into a modern context.

It's only been over the last couple of years that Lauren has discovered a passion for writing, which she's managed to combine with her love and knowledge of the classical music world.

You can hear Lauren Rico on SiriusXM's Symphony Hall Channel; on WQXR and WSHU-FM in the New York City metro; WSMR in Tampa/Sarasota, FL; WDAV in Charlotte, NC and KMFA in Austin, TX