The Thrill of It
Lauren Blakely
Series: No Regrets
Published on November 21, 2013
A new adult story of Love. Sex. Addiction. Blackmail. And Power...
Some say love can be an addiction. Others say it's the thing that makes life worth living. Let me tell you everything I know about love...Love isn't patient, love isn't kind. Love is a game, a chase. A thrill. Love is wild and war-like, and every man and woman must fight for themselves. At least that's how it was for me. A high-priced virgin call girl by the time I started college, I was addicted to love and to sex. Even though I've never had either. I controlled love, played it, and held the world in the palm of my hands. Then I fell down from those highs, and I'm being blackmailed for all my mistakes, forced to keep secrets from everyone, except the only guy I don't regret.
Trey...
With all the other women, I knew what they were. They were temporary. They were pills, they were bottles, they took away all the pain, and numbed the awful memories that wore down my ragged, wasted heart. Until I met Harley. She's the only girl I ever missed when she walked away. But now she's back in my life, every day, and there are no guarantees for us, especially since I don't know how to tell her my secrets. What happened to my family. All I know is she's the closest I've ever come to something real, and I want to feel every second of it.
How can you love with no regrets when regret is all you know?*This novel is recommended for 17+ due to sexual content and mature themes. THE THRILL OF IT is book 1 in a 2-book series. The sequel, EVERY SECOND WITH YOU, releases on Feb 10 and is the conclusion of Harley and Trey's love story.*
Here’s a THROWBACK review of The Thrill of It, Book 1 in the No Regrets series.
This is a new adult story about trying to understand love when you feel like you don’t deserve it, it’s about trying to be able to differentiate between lust and love.
Meet Harley, a young college student who was raised in NYC by her successful journalist mother, who wanted and treated her as a friend, not a daughter. The dynamic between Harley and her mom is so intriguing. My heart broke for this sweet girl who only wanted to feel loved. Harley is beautiful, she’s quiet and shy, she’s smart and creative, she’s also a high class call girl, oh yeah, and a virgin. Yes, a virgin. No one believes that she’s still a virgin, especially the person blackmailing her into writing her story. Nice twist? I thought so!
Meet Trey, a hot college senior trying to follow his own dreams of being a tattoo artist, therefore disappointing his parents and their dream of him following in the family business in medicine. He suffers from years of sadness and guilt which led him on a sexual quest with older women as a way of dealing with his problems. He’s the ideal cougar magnet and gets his fair share of mid-30’s conquests. On top of all that, he’s also battling sex addiction.
One night in No Regrets tattoo shop, Harley meets Trey. Trey meets Harley. The two enjoy an unforgettable night together. Just one, electrifying, amazing, perfect no-sex night. Until they see each other in SLAA, Sex, Love, and Addiction Anonymous, a support therapy group for those who are addicted to sex and love. They can’t be together until their recovery is complete-that’s at least a year in therapy…or can they? Can these two just be friends? Can they ever be more than just friends? Can they get over their past dramas and move on, together? This is their story.
This is a unique story, which I really enjoyed. Lauren Blakely writes in a way that keeps the reader wanting more. She drops a little bit of information that you’re gobbling up, but never reveals the whole story so it leaves you wanting more and more. I found myself unable to put down the book because I needed answers, I kept telling myself that I’ll just read one more chapter…until I realized I was finished the book. It was a wonderful change from the books I’ve recently been reading. It offers the perfect escape— a quick read that leaves you wanting answers in every word you read and in every chapter you finish.
I loved the connection I felt from Harley and Trey. The chemistry and longing felt between the two was evident in the two alternating POV chapters. I really enjoyed the secondary characters, even Cam. Harley’s mom is so despicable, the reader instantly roots for Harley to stand up to her once and for all. There’s a great amount of angst, but it’s not overdone, which I really enjoyed. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author, especially since this book ends in a cliff! I want to know if these two are going to get their HEA that they both deserve. Luckily book 2 is currently out.
4 stars for The Thrill of It
Book 2, Every Second with you, is now available and will be reviewed soon.
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Jennifer Lane
This does sound like a unique plot. Not cool for Harley’s mother to treat her as a friend, not a daughter. Sex addiction intrigues me because it’s not an official psychiatric diagnosis yet many believe it exists. Great review!
Kristi
Thanks Jennifer, I really enjoyed this book, and book two is currently out (thank god!). Nothing better than picking up a book and having it be a goodie.