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BLURRED
LINES
LINES
Lauren
Layne
Layne
Releasing Aug
25th, 2015
25th, 2015
Loveswept
In
a
novel that’s perfect for fans of Abbi Glines and Jessica
Sorensen, USA
novel that’s perfect for fans of Abbi Glines and Jessica
Sorensen, USA
Today
bestselling
author Lauren Layne delivers a sexy take on the timeless
question:
Can a guy and a girl really be “just
friends”?
Can a guy and a girl really be “just
friends”?
When
Parker
Blanton meets Ben Olsen during her freshman year of college, the
Blanton meets Ben Olsen during her freshman year of college, the
connection
is immediate—and platonic. Six years later, they’re still best
is immediate—and platonic. Six years later, they’re still best
friends,
sharing an apartment in Portland’s trendy Northwest District as they
sharing an apartment in Portland’s trendy Northwest District as they
happily
settle into adult life. But when Parker’s boyfriend dumps her out of
settle into adult life. But when Parker’s boyfriend dumps her out of
the
blue, she starts to wonder about Ben’s no-strings-attached approach to
blue, she starts to wonder about Ben’s no-strings-attached approach to
dating.
The trouble is, even with Ben as her wingman, Parker can’t seem to get
The trouble is, even with Ben as her wingman, Parker can’t seem to get
the
hang of casual sex—until she tries it
with him.
hang of casual sex—until she tries it
with him.
The
arrangement
works perfectly . . . at first. The sex is mind-blowing, and their
works perfectly . . . at first. The sex is mind-blowing, and their
friendship
remains as solid as ever, without any of the usual messy romantic
remains as solid as ever, without any of the usual messy romantic
entanglements.
But when Parker’s ex decides he wants her back, Ben is shocked
But when Parker’s ex decides he wants her back, Ben is shocked
by
a fierce stab of possessiveness. And when Ben starts seeing a girl from
a fierce stab of possessiveness. And when Ben starts seeing a girl from
work,
Parker finds herself plagued by unfamiliar jealousy. With their
Parker finds herself plagued by unfamiliar jealousy. With their
friendship
on the rocks for the first time, Parker and Ben face an alarming
on the rocks for the first time, Parker and Ben face an alarming
truth:
Maybe they can’t go back. And maybe, deep down, they never want
to.
Maybe they can’t go back. And maybe, deep down, they never want
to.
BUY
NOW
NOW
Amazon | B
& N | iTunes | Kobo
& N | iTunes | Kobo
Excerpt
Most of the time, having a girl for a best
friend is awesome.
friend is awesome.
Among the highlights:
(1) My color-blind self never has to worry
about going out the door looking like a sad clown.
about going out the door looking like a sad clown.
(2) The Brita water filter is always replaced
on time.
on time.
(3) Parker actually likes doing laundry for fun, and she only complains when I sneak my stuff in with hers
about 30 percent of the time.
about 30 percent of the time.
Oh, and as this morning’s adventure
displayed, she’s an excellent excuse when a person needs
to rid himself of clingy one-night stands.
displayed, she’s an excellent excuse when a person needs
to rid himself of clingy one-night stands.
But then there are the not-so-great parts.
Like when she’s spent thirty-five minutes looking at lamps.
Like when she’s spent thirty-five minutes looking at lamps.
“Just get that one,” I say, lifting my arm to
point at a random floor lamp as the noisy, child-filled scariness that is IKEA
threatens to choke me.
point at a random floor lamp as the noisy, child-filled scariness that is IKEA
threatens to choke me.
She barely glances at the one I’ve selected.
“It looks like a uterus.”
“It looks like a uterus.”
“What the fuck does a uterus look like?”
“Like that lamp. And honestly, for as much
time as you spend rummaging around in women’s panties, you really should get
familiar with their parts.”
time as you spend rummaging around in women’s panties, you really should get
familiar with their parts.”
“Isn’t the uterus the—” I break off, looking
for the right word to describe the random memories from eighth-grade sex-ed
class.
for the right word to describe the random memories from eighth-grade sex-ed
class.
Parker lifts her eyebrows. “The baby cave?”
Like any normal guy would, I wince. “Christ.
Why would I need to know about that? I use a condom.”
Why would I need to know about that? I use a condom.”
“Several of them, judging from the state of
your bedroom,” she says, tilting her head to study the lime green lamp shade in
her hands. “Do you think this would clash with my bedspread?”
your bedroom,” she says, tilting her head to study the lime green lamp shade in
her hands. “Do you think this would clash with my bedspread?”
“You’re asking the color-blind guy? Like I
have any clue what color your bedspread is.”
have any clue what color your bedspread is.”
“Seriously? Don’t act like you’ve never seen
it. Two nights ago you flopped onto my bed in your sweaty gym clothes and it
took me two washes to remove the man stank.”
it. Two nights ago you flopped onto my bed in your sweaty gym clothes and it
took me two washes to remove the man stank.”
I shake my head. “Poor Lance. Do you make him
wear a plastic bag when you guys hook up so he doesn’t get his man
stank on your sheets?”
wear a plastic bag when you guys hook up so he doesn’t get his man
stank on your sheets?”
“Lance doesn’t have man stank.”
I frown. “Hold up. If I
have man stank, Lance has man stank.”
have man stank, Lance has man stank.”
“No.”
I open my mouth to argue, but instead I
shrug. That’s another thing you learn having a girl best friend. You pick your
battles.
shrug. That’s another thing you learn having a girl best friend. You pick your
battles.
“You have two more minutes to pick your
lamp,” I say. “I’m starving.”
lamp,” I say. “I’m starving.”
Parker adjusts her purse strap on her
shoulder. “Oh, I’m not buying a lamp. I was just browsing.”
shoulder. “Oh, I’m not buying a lamp. I was just browsing.”
I inhale deeply to rein in my women
suck rampage when I catch her smirk.
suck rampage when I catch her smirk.
“Oh, I get it,” I say as we move toward the
end of the store where we’ll pick up my dresser. “This is payback. You’re mad
because I made up that story about you having a creepy doll collection.”
end of the store where we’ll pick up my dresser. “This is payback. You’re mad
because I made up that story about you having a creepy doll collection.”
“Actually, it was more punishment for
destroying the house rules. I’m totally laminating them next time.”
destroying the house rules. I’m totally laminating them next time.”
“Or you could just create an online version
and keep them in the cloud like normal people born after 1980.”
and keep them in the cloud like normal people born after 1980.”
I see a little lightbulb go on in her head
and almost regret giving her the idea. Not that it matters much. I’ve never
really followed her fussy rules anyway, although for the most part I try to not
be too much of a dick. The towel incident this morning notwithstanding, it’s
like I said, Parker loves laundry. I knew she had extra
clean ones stashed away.
and almost regret giving her the idea. Not that it matters much. I’ve never
really followed her fussy rules anyway, although for the most part I try to not
be too much of a dick. The towel incident this morning notwithstanding, it’s
like I said, Parker loves laundry. I knew she had extra
clean ones stashed away.
“Seriously, don’t get that color finish,” she
says, shaking her head at the dresser box I’m about to pull off the shelf.
says, shaking her head at the dresser box I’m about to pull off the shelf.
“Wood is wood,” I say with a shrug, starting
to maneuver the huge box onto our flat cart.
to maneuver the huge box onto our flat cart.
“No, there’s old-man wood and there’s modern
wood.”
wood.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Old-man wood, huh? You
and your kinky fetishes. Do you make the dolls watch?”
and your kinky fetishes. Do you make the dolls watch?”
She ignores me, and uses her hip to push the
box I’d started to move back onto its shelf. “That one.” She points.
box I’d started to move back onto its shelf. “That one.” She points.
“Espresso?” I ask, reading the label.
But Parker is now typing away on her phone. I
shrug, pushing her out of the way so I can get at the box she indicated.
shrug, pushing her out of the way so I can get at the box she indicated.
“How about tacos?” she asks, glancing up
briefly from her phone.
briefly from her phone.
“I just had Mexican last night,” I say
through a grunt as I move the box into position.
through a grunt as I move the box into position.
“You said I could pick.” She gives me a
challenging look, her goldish brown eyes practically daring me to argue with
her.
challenging look, her goldish brown eyes practically daring me to argue with
her.
“If it was a unilateral decision, why’d you
even ask?”
even ask?”
“Unilateral. Good word.
And it was a test. You passed,” she says, trotting to catch up with me as she
replaces her phone in her purse. “So how did you and Airhead meet? The Beta Phi
party last night? She looked like she was eighteen.”
And it was a test. You passed,” she says, trotting to catch up with me as she
replaces her phone in her purse. “So how did you and Airhead meet? The Beta Phi
party last night? She looked like she was eighteen.”
“Airhead?” I ask.
“It was written on her pants. Literally.”
“Oh, right. Those weren’t her pants. Lindsay
left them last week.”
left them last week.”
She makes a disgusted face as she pulls her
long dark hair into a messy bun. I don’t notice most things about Parker as a
girl, because, ya know, it’s just Parker, but she does have some damn good
hair. It’s all Victoria’s Secret model–-like, long and dark with lightish
streaks running through it.
long dark hair into a messy bun. I don’t notice most things about Parker as a
girl, because, ya know, it’s just Parker, but she does have some damn good
hair. It’s all Victoria’s Secret model–-like, long and dark with lightish
streaks running through it.
The rest of her is kind of Victoria’s
Secret-ish, too, but other than an initial moment of whoa
when we first met, there’s never really been anything between us. I guess you
could say I like her too much.
Secret-ish, too, but other than an initial moment of whoa
when we first met, there’s never really been anything between us. I guess you
could say I like her too much.
That and she’s dating Lance, and I like the
guy. I mean, we’re not best friends or anything, but it’s impossible to live
with Parker and not have some sort of friendship with her significant other.
guy. I mean, we’re not best friends or anything, but it’s impossible to live
with Parker and not have some sort of friendship with her significant other.
Lance and I stop short of braiding each
other’s hair, but we watch games together on occasion. I’d never make a move on
his girl—even if I wanted Parker.
other’s hair, but we watch games together on occasion. I’d never make a move on
his girl—even if I wanted Parker.
Which I don’t.
“So let me get this straight,” she says, as I
swipe my credit card through the self-checkout machine. “One of your booty
calls leaves her pants, which is weird, by the way, and
then a week later, an underclassman sorority girl willingly puts them on?”
swipe my credit card through the self-checkout machine. “One of your booty
calls leaves her pants, which is weird, by the way, and
then a week later, an underclassman sorority girl willingly puts them on?”
I shrug and give her a look out of the corner
of my eye. “What’s wrong with that?”
of my eye. “What’s wrong with that?”
Parker closes her eyes and sort of scratches
at her eyebrow. “You don’t tell your mother any of this, do you?”
at her eyebrow. “You don’t tell your mother any of this, do you?”
“Sure, we actually have a family blog, and I
list my sexual activity for the week every Sunday. Is that weird?”
list my sexual activity for the week every Sunday. Is that weird?”
She ignores me, pulling out her phone again.
Lauren Layne is the USA Today
Bestselling
author of contemporary romance.
author of contemporary romance.
Prior to becoming an author, Lauren
worked
in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from
in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from
Seattle
to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing
to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing
career.
It took six months to get her first book deal (despite ardent
It took six months to get her first book deal (despite ardent
assurances
to her husband that it would only take three). Since then, Lauren’s
to her husband that it would only take three). Since then, Lauren’s
gone
on to publish ten books, including the bestselling Stiletto series, with
on to publish ten books, including the bestselling Stiletto series, with
several
more on the way in 2015.
more on the way in 2015.
Lauren currently
lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled
lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled
Pomeranian.
When not writing, you’ll find her at happy hour, running at a
When not writing, you’ll find her at happy hour, running at a
doggedly
slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.
slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
INTERVIEW
1) What is the first book you read
that comes to mind? Why is it so important to
you?
that comes to mind? Why is it so important to
you?
Perfect by Judith McNaught. Man, does
that woman ever know how to rip your heart out, and Perfect’s my absolute
favorite. In fact, I’m embarrassed to admit that my first couple writing
attempts were trying to mimic her style, until I realized that I’m more about
fun banter than I am angsty-drama. But I can remember exactly where I was when I
read Perfect. The first time. The second time. The third time. Whenever I think
back on it, I remember that romance really isn’t about the title or the cover or
the sales numbers—it how it makes readers feel. I think that’s the most
important thing a writer can focus on!
that woman ever know how to rip your heart out, and Perfect’s my absolute
favorite. In fact, I’m embarrassed to admit that my first couple writing
attempts were trying to mimic her style, until I realized that I’m more about
fun banter than I am angsty-drama. But I can remember exactly where I was when I
read Perfect. The first time. The second time. The third time. Whenever I think
back on it, I remember that romance really isn’t about the title or the cover or
the sales numbers—it how it makes readers feel. I think that’s the most
important thing a writer can focus on!
2) How much of you and/or your
surroundings is a part of your stories? Is the influence based on a conscious
decision, or do you periodically recognize yourself in one of your characters
and it wasn’t
planned?
surroundings is a part of your stories? Is the influence based on a conscious
decision, or do you periodically recognize yourself in one of your characters
and it wasn’t
planned?
I rarely pull elements from my own
life into my books. Oddly enough, when I *do* make a conscious decision to do
so, those are usually the spots where readers criticize the character as the
plot twist as being unlikable. Ha. Ouch! Although honestly, I’m okay with this
feedback. I’d much rather depict situations that are real (I know they’re real,
because I’ve seen them happen) than try to manufacture something just to please
someone.
life into my books. Oddly enough, when I *do* make a conscious decision to do
so, those are usually the spots where readers criticize the character as the
plot twist as being unlikable. Ha. Ouch! Although honestly, I’m okay with this
feedback. I’d much rather depict situations that are real (I know they’re real,
because I’ve seen them happen) than try to manufacture something just to please
someone.
3) If you had the chance to
influence the questions people ask you in interviews, what question is the most
annoying and you would love to never hear again? What question would you really
like to answer that you have not been asked yet, and what is your answer to that
question?
influence the questions people ask you in interviews, what question is the most
annoying and you would love to never hear again? What question would you really
like to answer that you have not been asked yet, and what is your answer to that
question?
Haha, I was actually just discussing
this with an author friend yesterday! One question that exhausts us is “Tell us
X things about yourself that nobody knows.” Honestly, I didn’t have that many
secrets in the first place, and the ones I do have are all exposed now, because
so many people ask the question 😉 As far as what people don’t ask — I wish
more people would ask “why should I read this book?” Our books are so dear to us
authors, and we’re always dying to tell you why we love a particular story so
much. In the case of Blurred Lines, I’d say that I want readers to read this
book, because it’s fun. Pure and simple. Fluffy in the same way a romantic
comedy released on Valentine’s Day might be. And I’m just fine with that
🙂
this with an author friend yesterday! One question that exhausts us is “Tell us
X things about yourself that nobody knows.” Honestly, I didn’t have that many
secrets in the first place, and the ones I do have are all exposed now, because
so many people ask the question 😉 As far as what people don’t ask — I wish
more people would ask “why should I read this book?” Our books are so dear to us
authors, and we’re always dying to tell you why we love a particular story so
much. In the case of Blurred Lines, I’d say that I want readers to read this
book, because it’s fun. Pure and simple. Fluffy in the same way a romantic
comedy released on Valentine’s Day might be. And I’m just fine with that
🙂
4) Name three characteristics of your writing style
that are important yet different from other
authors.
that are important yet different from other
authors.
Hmm, I’ve only got 2
…
…
Concise | Most of my author friends
have to work with their editors to trim word count, but I always have the
opposite problem. My editors and I are always trying to figure out how to build
upon my rather short writing style
have to work with their editors to trim word count, but I always have the
opposite problem. My editors and I are always trying to figure out how to build
upon my rather short writing style
Take Me As I Am | What I mean is, I
have talk to a lot of authors who struggle with how to make their characters
more likable. I don’t really worry about that much — I focus more on “is this
action true to this character.” i.e., I let my younger characters make mistakes.
Big ones. I make my stubborn characters, well, stubborn. The uptight ones aren’t
going to be come less uptight just because you want them to be more popular
🙂
have talk to a lot of authors who struggle with how to make their characters
more likable. I don’t really worry about that much — I focus more on “is this
action true to this character.” i.e., I let my younger characters make mistakes.
Big ones. I make my stubborn characters, well, stubborn. The uptight ones aren’t
going to be come less uptight just because you want them to be more popular
🙂
5) What do you want tell your
readers at the end of this
interview?
readers at the end of this
interview?
To consider easing up a bit on heroines — lately I’ve been
encountering so many book reviews (of my own books and others) where the heroes
can act like complete jerks, and we call it “alpha” or “hot,” but if a heroine
makes a mistake, she’s pretty much dead to the reader. I’d love to chip away at
that double standard 🙂
encountering so many book reviews (of my own books and others) where the heroes
can act like complete jerks, and we call it “alpha” or “hot,” but if a heroine
makes a mistake, she’s pretty much dead to the reader. I’d love to chip away at
that double standard 🙂
