Leave The Night On (Cottonbloom, #4) by Laura Trentham on August 1st 2017
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Love, betrayal, and sweet revenge—life in Cottonbloom is about to get a whole lot hotter . . .
Sutton Mize is known for lavishing attention on the customers who flock to her boutique on the wealthy side of her Mississippi town. So when she finds a lace thong in her fiancé’s classic cherry-red Camaro, she knows just who she sold it to: her own best friend. In an instant, Sutton’s whole world goes up in flames. . .
Wyatt Abbott has harbored a crush on Sutton since he was a young kid from the other side of the tracks. He witnessed Sutton’s shocking discovery in the Camaro at his family-owned garage—and it made him angry. What kind of man could take lovely, gorgeous Sutton for granted? But then Sutton comes up with an idea: Why not give her betrothed a taste of his own medicine and pretend that she’s got a lover of her own? Wyatt is more than happy to play the hot-and-heavy boyfriend. But what begins as a fictional affair soon develops into something more real, and more passionate, than either Sutton or Wyatt could have imagined. Could it be that true love has been waiting under the hood all along?
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If their first kiss was about revenge and their second about sealing their bargain, this kiss belonged to just the two of them. Gentle, yet devastating, the kiss made him want to stay in limbo with her forever.
Wyatt took her mouth in a series of gentle nips and forays, not wanting to push her too far, too fast. But, Sutton wasn’t playing by the same rules, her hands spearing into his hair and tugging him closer.
Her throaty, breathless sigh made his typical morning erection even more painful. Was she even aware the sexy little noises she was making drove him insane? He pulled back. Her eyes were closed but she’d pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, letting it go slowly, as if she was aware he was watching and wanted to tease him.
She ran her hand down his chest to his arm, the pull she exerted light but commanding, and hooked her leg over his. Her nipples poked at the thin fabric of her tank top. Through it all, her eyes remained closed. He didn’t want to be a faceless fantasy.
“Look at me.” His voice was roughed with sleep and more emotion than he wanted to claim.
Her eyes fluttered open, the shadows cloaking them both a blessing and curse. As much as he attempted to keep his thoughts hidden, he longed for all her secrets.
“Wyatt, please.” Her voice was husky and wanting.
His name on her lips offered satisfaction. If he could only have her for a little while, he not only wanted to leave her with memories she’d never forget, but make sure she understood how desirable and powerful she truly was.
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~~Reviewed by Evelyn~~
LEAVE THE NIGHT ON by Laura Trentham is the 4th visit to the fascinating southern town of Cottonbloom, a town split in half by the Mississippi River and the state line. Like the proverbial railroad tracks, social standing in Cottonbloom is dependent on which side of the river, and therefore which state you live in. A unique premise for a series, and like the previous books, this one relies on interesting characters to carry the story.
Sutton Mize who runs a clothing boutique on the wealthy Mississippi side of town wants to surprise her fiancée by having his classic Camaro restored. She takes it to the Abbott brothers’ garage across the river to have the work done. While she remembers Wyatt Abbott as being a trouble maker from school, what she doesn’t know is that Wyatt has always had a crush on her. While they are cleaning out the car so that she can leave it at the garage, Wyatt finds sexy underwear that Sutton knows belongs to her best friend and she is crushed. So that she won’t appear so pathetic when she confronts her fiancée and best friend, she tells them that she has been seeing Wyatt for a while, also. Wyatt gladly plays along.
Sutton and Wyatt soon find they enjoy spending time together and pretending that they are a real couple. It isn’t long, however, before the lines between real and pretend become blurred. It is easy to like both Sutton and Wyatt and to cheer for them as a couple. Sutton tends to lack confidence in many things and Wyatt has the knack of making her feel that she can do anything. Sutton accepts Wyatt as an equal, even inviting him to a formal social event, even though he grew up on the wrong side of the river. Sutton’s proper southern family and Wyatt’s dysfunctional one cause many distractions for the couple along the way, however.
The plot is steady and interesting, albeit somewhat predictable. There are very few highs, lows or surprises. Without giving away any spoilers, I also felt there were a few holes in the plot that should have been neatly tied up by the end of the book that were not. I’m sure they will be carried over to the next book and settled there, but I felt I was missing something when I finished this book.
In spite of the holes, I would still recommend LEAVE THE NIGHT ON to anyone who wants a quick summer read, especially those that are interested in life in the south. Cottonbloom is full of interesting characters, and I can’t wait until the next installment.
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
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About Laura Trentham
I was born and raised in a small town in Northwest Tennessee. Although, I loved English and reading in high school, I was convinced an English degree equated to starvation! So, I chose the next most logical major – Chemical Engineering- and worked in a hard hat and steel toed boots for several years. Now I live in South Carolina with my husband and two children. In between school and homework and soccer practices, I love to get lost in another world, whether its Regency England or small town Alabama.
Books One and Two of my Falcon Football Series are available from St. Martin’s Press (Slow and Steady Rush; Caught Up in the Touch). Book Three, Melting Into You, is available for preorder.
Thank you for hosting LEAVE THE NIGHT ON!