SYNOPSIS
Blake Riley thought she could leave her traumatic past behind when she left for college. Starting a new life and moving forward never sounded so good. Living carefree with her best friend in Ocean City New Jersey gave her the freedom she had always hoped for.
But sometimes life isn’t so carefree.
When Blake finds herself torn between the affections of two men, emotions that have been buried for years will be exposed. Derrick, a powerful CEO of a popular casino resort, instantly captivates her. Being drawn into his domineering passion, she bares herself to him in a way she least expected. With Landon, a successful attorney, she can be someone new; someone free from her haunting past. Each man evokes a different side of Blake. As both relationships grow stronger, walls will slowly begin to crack.
What will happen when the past slowly creeps its way into the present?
With two worlds filled with secrets and lies, it’s only a matter of time before they crash and truths are revealed.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
About Tiffany
I am 27 years old, with a wonderful family. My husband is in the Army, and we have two wonderful children. Ashley and I have been best of friends since we were 13. I recently graduated from South University with my Associate's Degree as a Paralegal. I enjoy listening to music, playing with my kids, and going to the beach, and anything that has to do with the outdoors pretty much.
I’ve always liked to write, but never really had an interest in reading until the summer of 2012. I am so excited to be taking my writing journey with Ashley, and we cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on Luck of Love, which is the first installment in the Luck Series. I have many authors that I consider my favorite so I’ll just name a few: E.L. James, SC Stephens, Molly McAdams, Rebecca Donovan, K.A Linde, Marie Coulson, and S.H. Kolee.
About Ashley
Ashley grew up in Texas but now has joined her husband to reside in North Dakota. She is a military wife and mother to two adorable children. She’s always wanted to travel having grown up in a small town. Her interest in reading sparked last summer and now she’s a lost cause without her e-reader. Since she loves to travel, the places she gets to go in her fictional books are what any girl could ask for.
When Ashley isn’t glued to her computer you can find her outdoors either playing with her children or relaxing and enjoying the sun reading a good romance novel.
http://www.facebook.com/tiffanyandashley
http://www.authorstiffanyandashley.com
BOOK LINKS
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
EXCERPT
I stopped Jax, the lead singer for Grunge, from breaking down their set when Blake had gone back to the kitchen. I told him that I’d match what he made tonight from here at Frankie’s if he would stay and play a song for me. I knew with an offer like that he couldn’t refuse.
I asked him if he knew Colbie Caillat’s “Falling for You.” Jax said he did, so I asked him if he’d play it. I kept watching for Blake to return from the kitchen as she pushed through the double doors, I nodded to Jax indicating for him to start strumming the beginning chords.
Her look of confusion was just what I was going for. Walking up to her with her eyes still fixed on the band, I gently grab her hand. Gasping, she looks at me wide eyed. Lifting her hand to my mouth, I softly brush my lips against the backs of her knuckles. Leaning into her with my mouth next to her ear, I whisper, “Dance with me.”
Pulling back, I admire those big beautiful green eyes that are staring back at me searching my face. “Okay,” she whispers through a smile.
Leading her out onto the dance floor, in front of the stage, I wrap my hands around her waist, resting them at the base of her lower back. With her arms wrapped around my neck, I pull her in to me. Cautiously, she rests her head on my chest while we sway back and forth to the music. Tilting my head down, I whisper some of the words to her.
Lifting her head off my chest, she looks up at me with a widening smile. Her body bounces as she silently laughs at me. “What’s so funny?”
“You like a chick song,” she says laughing harder now.
Smiling and laughing with her I say, “Yeah I do. But I like the way Jax is singing it. I like the little edge and soul he’s put behind it.”
“Me too. Thank you for this. It was very sweet,” she admits.
Her smile fades when she scans over the now empty bar. Trash cans overflow with empty beer bottles and plastic cups. Puddles of spilled drinks scatter along the floor. Removing one of my arms from around Blake’s back, I reach into my pocket and pull out my cell phone.
I begin searching for the DoubleTree hotel when she asks, “What are you doing?”
“Looking for a hotel,” I say, turning my attention to her, “Unless you want me to stay with you?” God, I hope she wants me to stay. Last Saturday, when she fell asleep in my arms, it was the best sleep I’ve had in a long time.
Averting her eyes to the floor, the bar, Dean, she looks anywhere else but at me. I know she’s thinking about it, I’ve seen her do this before when she’s unsure. Finally, her eyes drift back up to mine when she whispers, “You can stay.”
Putting my phone back in my pocket as Grunge strums the final chords; both of my hands cup Blake’s face. Gazing down at her, she searches my face with wide eyes, her breath quickens with the rise and fall of her chest. Achingly slowly, I lean into her brushing my lips against her cheek. Moving my lips closer to her ear I whisper, “Thank you for the dance.”
Pulling back, I see her lips tug into a grin. Stepping back and away from me, with a flushed face and wide smile she says, “You go and sit while I help get this place cleaned up.”
Review of Luck of Love by Tiffany Aleman and Ashley Poch
Reviewed by Wennie Conedy
3 stars
Luck of Love centers around Blake, Derrick and Logan - a good old-fashioned love triangle with an obsessed suitor tossed in for good measure. Before I go further, the story has dark themes of sexual abuse and rape is not suitable at all for children or teens.
Luck of Love revolves around Blake, who keeps a deep secret that she has shared only with two close friends. This secret has kept Blake closed off, unfriendly and unwilling to open herself to the possibility of romance. That is until she meets Derrick. She starts to think that she is in love with Derrick, until Logan comes along. She finds herself attracted to both, which puts her in a dilemma. And to complicate things further, only one of the parties knows what thread binds them together, wreaking havoc when Blake realizes how Derrick and Logan know each other. If that were not enough, add a bit of complexity, Blake is also being stalked by another.
I find myself engaged as a reader when the author allows me to peel off the layers of the story – through dialogue, character development, action and sequencing. Alas, I didn’t get to enjoy that luxury with this story. Character motives are revealed through narrative and inner character monologue.
The authors’ were able to paint the main characters of the story in broad strokes – Blake is a student who works as a bartender, Derrick is a CEO of a resort/casino in Atlantic City, and Logan is a successful lawyer. What I found wanting was the little details of their character that would make them come alive on the page. I would have loved to get to know more of them and what made them tick.
Blake seemed to vacillate from being a strong woman who can stand up for herself, is morally upright and strong, to someone who finds herself running away from difficult situations and unable to face the consequences of her actions.
A highlight for me in this book is the friendship between Dean and Blake. It’s uncomplicated, solid and based on mutual trust and like. There are no hidden agendas between them. Dean is also a protector, an advisor and supporter.
Logan on the other hand is harder to pin. I am not sure of his agenda – does he like Blake because in his eyes she is “forbidden fruit” and a challenge?
Luck of Love is a simple love story, made complicated by a love triangle, a stalker and a dark past. I felt that with a bit more editing, the pacing of the story could pick up and the whole story could be told in one book. The element of suspense in the story, for me, needs a bit more work to build up the pace and tension necessary to bring the reader along and bring the reader to the edge of their seat. Ms. Aleman and Ms. Poch cleverly ended book one on a cliffy, leaving the reader to wonder – what kind of future is in store for Blake, Derrick and Logan? Will Blake find love?
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17190700-luck-of-love
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
For the chance to win 2 x $25 Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iBooks Gift Cards enter the Rafflecopter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
