New job,
new town, new people— new life.
That’s what Olivia Langston needed. At twenty eight, she was given a rare
opportunity at an internship in the rolling valleys of Crystal Falls in
California wine country, far away from her small town roots in North Carolina.
It was an unexpected journey she desperately needed after her ex-husband
crushed her.
At DeVine Winery, she expected a fresh start in a new environment to help let
go of her past. Instead, she found Daniel Black and a hell of a lot of sexual
tension she wasn’t prepared for. He was gorgeous, modestly wealthy,
irresistible, and just happened to be part owner of DeVine, one of the largest
vineyards in the country.
If only she knew that before she kissed him her first night in town.
Excerpt:
We
stood at the base of a Ferris wheel, third in line as we waited for our turn. I
was about to have heart attack. At least
I’ll look good when I die. A couple got off the
wheel as another got on, putting us second in line. My heart raced remembering
the last time I rode one while in college. I had a panic attack once the wheel
had finally made it to the top.
“Why did we get all dressed up to come
to a carnival? Are you sure we have to do this?” I questioned in panic.
“This is just a pit stop. I want you to
see the view from the top.” He kissed the skin at the bend in my neck, sending
the two teenage girls behind us in to a swooning fit.
“I can see the view from here just
fine.” I huffed.
He
chuckled as the couple in front of us boarded the next bucket on the wheel. “Trust me, Olivia. You’ll be fine,” he
assured me.
I did trust him, but it didn’t stop my hands from shaking. And I
felt dumb getting so worked up over a children’s ride. The next bucket came
down, the ride operator lifted the metal bar across the riders’ laps, and they
hopped out, exiting to the left. The operator motioned us forward, but I could
hardly move. Daniel put his arm around my back, encouraging me forward. Once I
was seated, he slipped my shoes from my feet and placed them next to me on the
seat before whispering something to the ride operator. After he took his seat,
the operator lowered the lap bar and walked towards the control panel. My
anxiety kicked into gear. The bucket jolted forward and I gripped the bar,
squeezing it as if my life depended on it. I gasped and squeezed my eyes shut.
“I don’t even know why there’s a bar
here. Anyone could slip out underneath it. This can’t be safe at all.”
“Olivia, open your eyes.”
I
shook my head lightly, scared that any movement would make us fall out and drop
to our death. “Just tell me when
it’s over,” I whispered.
His
palm brushed over my bare shoulders in an attempt to soothe me when the bottom
of our bucket shifted forward, causing the back to tip backwards. “Oh my God, stop moving. We’re going to
fall. Please don’t move anymore.” I was on the verge of tears and frozen like
stone. His palm pressed against my cheek and pulled my face in his direction.
“Open your eyes, baby. Just focus on
me.”
I did
as he asked, cracking my lids open and searching for the blue of his eyes. “I’m sorry. I want to enjoy this, I
really do. But…”
“Have you always been afraid of
heights?”
“Yes. It’s one of the reasons I drove
to California.”
“I see.” He gazed out at our
surroundings. “We are about to go around again until the operators get everyone
off except us. He’s going to let us stay at the top for a while unless you want
to get off now.”
“He’s going to let you do that?”
“Money talks just about anywhere. Can
you handle thirty more minutes with me up there?”
“I’ll do my best. Talk to me. Keep me
occupied. Just don’t move too much. Please.” I squeezed my eyes tight and
leaned into his shoulder as we made another full rotation. It wasn’t so bad if
we were steadily moving, but the stopping and starting and the swaying of the
bucket was ripping my nerves apart. Despite the romantic situation Daniel had
created, I was too scared to accept the moment for what it was.
“We’ve stopped, and we’ll be here for a
while. Can you open your eyes now?”
I
cracked them open, lifting my head slightly to peek out in front of me. There
was nothing except the ocean and the great open sky coated in an array of
bright oranges and pinks as the sun prepared to slip into the ocean for the
night. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves and relax my tense
body.
“It really is beautiful up here.” I
marveled at the scenery. I peered in the opposite direction and could see the
entire amusement park and the wooden boardwalk that stretched along the beach.
“Normally, I would agree.” Daniel
slipped his fingers up the side of my neck, encouraging me to face him. “But I
swear, nothing is more beautiful than you.”
“You’ll have to forgive me if I
disagree.”
“You can disagree all you like; it
won’t sway my opinion.”
Review:
The Best I Never Had is a sweet contemporary romance about moving on and up after heartbreak. Olivia Langston's ex-husband destroyed her faith in men and marriage, but she didn't let the break up of her marriage destroy her. She worked hard to finish her degree and this internship is the last item that she needs to succeed. Her first night in town results in a chance meeting and a shared kiss with a handsome stranger.... only she discovers that the "stranger" is now her boss.
Daniel Black knows from the minute he sees Olivia that he needs to get to know her better. Olivia wants to keep things strictly professional. She needs this internship and her past has taught her to keep men at arms length. Olivia didn't count on Daniel's persistence and an undeniable sexual attraction. Things quickly heat up, but tension in the office around Daniel's ex, causes trouble and Olivia questions if she is willing to risk her heart again...
I gave The Best I Never Had 5 STARS, it contains everything I love in a romance. I wanted Olivia and Daniel together from the first kiss, and as twists and turns found their way into the story, I found myself speed reading with my fingers crossed that things would turn out the way I hoped. Daniel is a swoon worthy romantic hero and I think that readers will find themselves adding him to their list of most romantic book boyfriends I certainly did. I loved this book to the last page. I am also excited for what is next, the author does a beautiful job of setting the stage for Garrett's (Daniel's brother) story. I can't wait to see what becomes of him and Hannah. If you are looking for a good contemporary read with a little unpredictability and a perfect HEA I recommend you check out The Best I Never Had by Lori Flowers.
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Author Info:
Residing
in Eastern North Carolina with her husband, 2 girls, and couch-potato dogs,
Loni works a
full-time professional job during the day and writes in her free
time. She never thought it was possible to have a satisfying writing career,
but with the love and support of her family, she's made it part of her life.
Loni
searches for the tiniest speck of romance in any story and is a firm believer
in the happily-ever-after’s. She thrives off the sexual tension, and gets a
kick out of taking her characters on a roller-coaster ride of drama-filled
emotions. A romance that can soothe the soul is her number one priority.
Author Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review- as always, all opinions expressed here are my own.
