Kate's Review
One night I couldn't sleep so I grabbed my phone to find something to read and I remembered I had just downloaded a novella from a fellow Midwestern indie author! I blew through the novella of With This Ring and immediately downloaded I Thee Wed. I was so impressed with this debut from Savannah Leigh/JA Hensley. It was funny and sexy and, as it previously stood in two parts, a wonderful quick read. Wedding Dreams takes the idea of insta-relationship and turns it on its head. Lily and Drew find themselves both wanting something from the other (she's looking for a little whirlwind fun and he's looking for a wife to bring home to Mom due to unfortunate circumstances) and it feels as though it will be a perfect partnership. But the chemistry between these two complicates what was meant to be a unique business agreement. This is a fantastic collection from a debut author. If you like hot sex, funny inner monologue and a touch of sappy-swift-love, then read this book! I give the whole thing 5 stars and honestly, I would love to see more from Lily and Drew. Either way, whatever J.A. writes next will be on my Kindle in a heartbeat.
Lily Kramer is a thirty-something, single wedding planner. Her business is failing and she has no way to save it. Drew Hamilton is a self-proclaimed lifetime bachelor who reluctantly agrees to be a groomsman in his friend's wedding. When things go south, he consoles the wedding planner and sparks fly.
Drew's mother has always wanted to see her only son married and happy, but he's not interested in a relationship. When Drew and Lily hook up, he sees the answer to his mother's wish. Drew offers Lily enough money to save her business if she agrees to stage a wedding and live with him to give his mother her wish, before she loses her mind to dementia.
Neither one of them is ready for what happens to their lives when they take on this charade.
“Well, I’m here now. What do you want to do?” I raise one eyebrow, hoping he’s thinking the same thing I am.
“I thought we’d have a glass of wine on the back patio and talk. Then we can have dinner and see where the night goes from there. How does that sound?”
I try to hide my disappointment at his plan. I was hoping to have him as an appetizer and go from there. I can’t believe my sex drive is revved up after only being with this man twice.
“Sure, sounds like a plan to me. What kind of wine do you have?” I’m not a wine expert, but I know what I like.
“I’ve got a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or a Pinot. Is there one you prefer?”
“I’ll start with the Chardonnay, please.” It’s my favorite, but I’m not going to tell him just yet.
Drew pours the wine, takes my hand, and leads me out to the patio where he first proposed this idea of marriage. I hadn’t taken the opportunity to admire the view the last time I was here. If this is going to be my home, I think I should take a look around. There’s the patio, which is covered over about six feet by a deck above. The large grill and a patio table are on one side. Beyond the patio is a beautiful in-ground pool with an infinity edge. I love swimming pools. On both sides of the pool are large grassy areas that seem to go on forever.
I could get used to this. I shake my head trying to clear my head. I shouldn’t be thinking like this when our relationship is fake.
Drew pulls a chair out from the table for me before sitting down. Such a gentleman. I smile at that thought, and when I look up he’s staring.
“What?” I can’t help but grin.
“Nothing, just that you have a beautiful smile.”
Okay, my panties are wet again. How is it he keeps doing this to me?
“Um, thanks?”
Drew smiles again and I can feel my cheeks heat up. I’ve got to stop blushing in front of him.
“So, Lily, is there anything in particular you’d like to do on your days off?”
Oh, there are plenty of things I want to do, but I’m not sure I can say them out loud right now.
“Well, I haven’t really thought about it. I have until Monday, so I’m sure we’ll think of something.”
“Monday? I thought you had a wedding this weekend.”
“Nope. The bride postponed due to a family emergency. I don’t have anything going on until Monday, so . . .”
“Wow, that’s great. I’m sure we’ll find a way to fill the time.”
That statement holds promise. I smile at Drew and try to convey my dirty thoughts with my eyes.
When I reach my room, I stop short at one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen.
Lily is curled up on my bed, her hair splayed out on the pillow, and she’s sleeping. She looks so peaceful and content; my dick twitches at the thought of burying myself inside her. My heart rate speeds up and I realize I really like this view. I want to have it view every day. Fuck. There go my plans to keep things simple. I’m falling in love with Lily. I didn’t see that coming, but I kind of like the idea. As I change my clothes, I wonder how this woman got under my skin so quickly.
I know I should let her sleep, but I have to touch her to figure out if what I’m feeling is real, if I want to put my heart on the line again and risk it being crushed. I climb carefully on the bed and she rolls toward me, but doesn’t open her eyes. I brush a few strands of hair away from her face and she smiles. That smile pushes me over the edge. I know I want this woman in my life, and I’m going to do what I can to keep her. It’s a foreign feeling, one I’ve fought for years, but it feels right. I pull her into my arms. She makes a small moaning sound and curls into me. She’s soft where I’m hard and we fit together like we were made for each other. I relax and get lost in the rhythm of her breathing. Soon, I’m dozing, too.
J.A. Hensley wrote her first books under the pen name, Savannah Leigh. Her debut novella, With This Ring, reached #1 on Amazon's Top 100 Free Erotica list. She loves smut of all kinds and is a reader first. J.A. is constantly working on a new project, whether it's writing or working in her craft room. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and daughter, and spends her days teaching college students about social work and human sexuality.
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