Humpday Shout out to Ava Riley!

Like the little Engine that Could....half way through, I think I can, I think I can....it's one of those weeks (again) where we all seem to be needing a little extra something to get us through - luck, hope, friends, whatever gets you by, right?  Big birthday shout out to bestie Tyra - I managed quite the coup gathering a dozen of her fav ladies at local Irish Pub for rollicking good birthday bash surprise Sunday...with a lot of help from Kim!!!!  Showered that gal with a right generous outpouring of love we did and it couldn't have gone to a more amazing lady! Fortunately the showering of love included lots of gift cards for books and wine so we should be hearing about some really good reads from her soon (no pressure, T...hee hee).  This week brings a new to us author but one I think will find an auto buy slot on many of our shelves...Ava Riley!  We love it when a fav author introduces us to a new friend....friends are good.  Know what's better?  A little snack before we start in with the juicy details - here's a little eye candy, everyone's favorite calorie free treat!!!...Mmmmmmmm

A Lifetime To Find Love, Ava Riley, LazyDay Publishing, 2011

Tessa has no desire to spend another Friday night alone. Inviting her brother’s best friend, Cade, to hang out with her at a local club was nothing more than a night out with a friend. At least that’s what she thought. When unexpected advances are made, they are both forced to evaluate their life-long friendship and newly revealed feelings for each other. Can Tessa accept that someone as sexy and successful as Cade could want her for more than sex? Will their friendship continue on as it was or will these two find a love that lasts a lifetime?

Ever had one of "Those" mornings where you wake up and try to reconstruct the scene of last night? Well Tessa Worth sure has.  Her brother's brilliant plan to send her "out on the town" with his best friend Cade backfires when one drink too many sends her sex starved hormones into overdrive and she hits on him when he takes her home.  Unsure of whether the desire is from the heat of the moment or long repressed attraction, Tessa hopes to play it off.  After all, why would her big brother, Rowan's best friend be interested in the girl he once thought of as a giant pest?  Why indeed?  The sexy, confident self made free-lance photographer has every attribute on his dream girl list - when the hot doctor bothers to think about it. Can Cade save his friendship and convince Rowan his intentions are true? Hell, can Cade convince Tessa she's the woman of his dreams? How does anyone really know when it's the right time to fall in love?

This romance surprised me with it's deceptive simplicity.  Premise of boy who falls for best friend's little sister with a twist manages to feel fresh. Throw in the fact that he's a hot doctor and she's a freelance photographer with a job that entails shooting sexy shots of local MD's for a charity calendar spread and you have the makings of a classic romantic comedy.  Just shying away from true chick lit with characters that actually have some depth and motivations that are quite realistic, Ms. Riley gifts the reader with a storyline that enfolds the reader and secondary characters that clamor for more time and more attention - hopefully ensuring they too will find some wild romance blooming like Tessa and Cade. 

The friendship between the siblings and Cade, the depth of their connection through time, and shared history seems to be that long lost secret to achieving true love.  These characters feel so real, it's like a friend telling you her "let's catch up" stories...only you want more!  Knowing that Rowan gets his story in the follow up piece, Sacred Surrender, makes it a little easier.  (This reader would feel even better if the sassy sidekick Susan got a story out of her creator as well!)

Creating a fresh, sexy romantic read out of a traditional friends-to-lovers story is no easy task.  Ms. Riley succeeded quite nicely with A Lifetime to Find Love.  Readers of contemporary romance will enjoy this new to us author - snag a copy, enjoy the spring sunshine and read to your heart's content - how truly guiltily indulgent!

RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries - definitely on a romantic picnic on a west coast cove with champagne to toast to success and more HEA's for Ms. Riley's exceptional creations! 

This book was given to us by the author for an unbiased review. Many thanks.