A Bookish Escape: Blog Tour: Trophy Husband by Lauren Blakely

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Trophy Husband

By: Lauren Blakely

Published: May 21, 2013

Source: Inkslinger (Author)

Summary

Sometimes you can't help falling in love, even when you try to do the opposite...Successful fashion blogger McKenna Bell has spent far too long protecting herself after the way her ex-fiancé left her at the altar for a college chick he met the night of his bachelor party. Loving again, trusting again, well, that's just not in the cards. Especially now that her ex is back in town with his new woman, demanding custody of McKenna's favorite creature in the whole world--her dog. No effing way. McKenna's had enough of him, and she decides to even the score by finding her own hot young thing -- a Trophy Husband. Sure, she's only twenty-seven, but doesn't that make it even more fun -- and infuriating to her ex -- to pursue a younger man? When she declares her intentions on her daily blog, her quest quickly skyrockets in popularity, and that's when Chris enters the picture, and he’s got all the assets. He's handsome, successful, and turns her inside out with a kiss to end all kisses, the kind that makes you feel like a shooting star. But loving again could mean losing again, and it's so much easier to focus on getting even, isn't it? Unless, you just can't help falling in love. Which means McKenna will have to come face to face with what she really wants in life -- protecting her heart from hurt, or letting go of her fears of a new beginning.

Trophy Husband is told through the perspective of the main character, McKenna. Her heart has been broken since her long time boyfriend, Todd, decided to leave her at the alter on the day that they were to marry. While he was in Las Vegas at his Bachelor Party, he met a much younger woman, and married her after knowing her for all of one day. As she was getting ready in her vintage wedding dress, he decided to break-up with her through voice mail. Since then, McKenna has been alone with only her dog, Pac Man, for comfort, and her successful Fashion Blog called, Fashion Hounds. She has been really lucky to have an excellent set of close-knit girlfriends, who have been there to talk, and support her in any way. Especially, her best friend Hadley, who she spends a lot of time with. McKenna feels good after a year has passed since her break up, until she runs into her ex and his new wife at her favorite diner. She ends up finding out that her ex has done things for his new wife that he never did for her, such as give up hard boiled eggs, (which were his absolute favorite) started drinking coffee, and tried her favorite diner, (which she had been begging him to do for several years. However, the topping on the cake is when she finds out that he had a child, and named her Charlotte, the name that they had planned to eventually name their daughter someday. McKenna leaves her breakfast, and hides in the bathroom crying for an hour, until her ex and his wife leave the diner. She then comes up with an idea, she is going to get herself a "Trophy Husband." If men can do it, (her ex did) then so can she. She immediately calls a meeting with her best friends, and gets them on board for her new project. They establish rules, such as the guy must be 23 years old or younger, good looking, with a great body, etc. While at this meeting, her best friends' cat pees on her brand new video camera. The next day, McKenna goes to the video shop to get it fixed, when she meets a good-looking guy, Chris, with a great personality, and they instantly hit it off. From this point on in between doing her show, and looking for a "Trophy Husband," Chris and McKenna become good friends, and continue to hang out with one another. Chris and McKenna have an instant attraction that continues to grow every time that they see each other, and they have an amazing, and intense chemistry between them. On top of all that, they have easy conversation, laugh at the same jokes, have fun together, and are perfect for one another. Too bad Chris is 29, and doesn't qualify as "Trophy Husband" material. The Question then becomes, will McKenna end up with accomplishing her project to find a "Trophy Husband," or will she take a chance with letting her heart be broken again, by letting real love in?

There were so many aspects that I enjoyed about reading Trophy Husband. I liked the fact that McKenna was a strong, assertive, independent, and intelligent female character. She had her own home, successful career, a great set of friends, and was representative of the "average woman." She wasn't a virgin, and she wasn't sleazy either. Also, she really got to know Chris. This wasn't a case of insta-love. Yes, the mutual attraction, and chemistry were there all along, but they also really got to know one another, and developed a solid friendship. I enjoy humor, and this book had many humorous moments that were natural, and didn't seem forced. I enjoyed McKenna and Chris' unique and quirky personalities, and felt like they were truly each others perfect other half. Todd, McKenna's ex fiancé was such a sleaze ball, and made me outraged! He had the audacity to seek joint custody of the dog after a year had already gone by since the break up, and was trying to get a stake in McKennas' business! I mean this guy was a huge A** hole!!! McKenna had a lot of fun and steamy fantasies about Chris throughout the story, which only intensified, and added to the sexual tension when they would get together! It was fun seeing what was going on inside of her head. Both McKenna and Chris were authentic and unique characters, and they felt so real for me, that I easily visualized their looks, personalities, the way they dressed, talked, and interacted with one another. Ms. Blakely excels at giving her readers excellent visualizations, to the point that I felt like I was watching the book come to life before my very eyes. McKenna's friends, and younger sister, were fun to read about. I loved the interaction between McKenna and her best friends. It reminded me of when I get together with my sister and best friends, and we're having a great time. It also reminded me of times that I have struggled with break-ups, and my friend's have, and how we've all leaned on each other for support. I really connected with McKenna, and cared about what happened to her. Needless to say, I became invested in this story immediately, after I began reading it! I was rooting for McKenna and Chris from the start! Talk about a beautiful romance, "How can there be any other guys after a kiss like that? It's a kiss to end all kisses, it's a sip of lemonade in a hammock on a warm summer day. It's a slow dance on hardwood floors while a fan goes round overhead, curtains blowing gently in the open window." (EARC pg. 11) Wow, with a kiss like that, I would have dropped the whole "Trophy Husband" project!!! McKenna did frustrate me a little with her stubbornness to continue this project, in spite of what was staring her in the face, a possibility of real love with Chris.

I recommend Trophy Husband for a fast-paced, enjoyable story, that the average woman can relate to. We've all been in love, and had heartbreak, (I think) and have had to get back on our feet, and take a chance of getting hurt again. We've all felt insecure before, or not good enough, and wondered what we did wrong for things not to work in a relationship. It was also fun to read about McKenna fashion blogging, because I could relate of course to the blogging aspect. McKenna and Chris were well-developed characters, and the secondary characters served their purpose in the story. All you New Adult Contemporary Romance lovers out there, will enjoy Trophy Husband as a fast, feel good, funny, whirlwind of a story!

I give Trophy Husband 4 Fun, Flirty, Feel-Good, Laugh Out Loud Stars! Every woman that has experienced heartbreak and learning how to move on, let down the walls, and open your heart, will be able to relate to this fast-past whirlwind of a story! This was my first book by Lauren Blakely, and I have to say that I really enjoyed it! It was a nice change of pace from all of the books that I have been reading lately that have been heavy, dark, and laden with angst, issues, and drama. If your looking for something light, fun, non-angsty, then Trophy Wife, by Lauren Blakely, is an excellent choice for A Bookish Escape!

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By Lauren Blakely

Ah, this is the real fantasy post. I get to write about all the things I would be doing in my free time!

I don’t have as much free time as I would like, but yet I wouldn’t change a thing because I love writing and being a mom. However, when I have down time from the kids and the computer, I’m all about movies, bakeries, coffee shops, vintage stores, and the hunt for random little eateries I’ve never been before.

1. A good-rom com: There’s nothing quite like Love, Actually, Notting Hill, or The Wedding Singer, is there? I love the funny, sweet and swoon-y rom-coms with the kind of story you can get lost in.

2. Chocolate croissant, are you calling my name? Oh wait, was that a cookie I hear crooning to me? Or, hark! Perhaps a slice of chocolate cake singing? Why yes, I do believe I need to follow that well-drawn waft of something delicious and float like a cartoon character on down to the bakery for a sweet treat.

3. I am almost ashamed to admit this but I have become a latte snob. Ever since I tried the manna-from-caffeine-heaven that Ritual Coffee in Napa dispenses, I live in pursuit of the best lattes in the world. They are hard to come by, and most are bitter or watered down. But when you find a latte like Ritual’s - smooth, a tad sweet, and with the perfect amount of magical energy imps known as caffeine - then I bow down before the Gods of Caffeine.

4. Vintage shops! Like my heroine in Trophy Husband, I love a fun, pretty, original dress. The kind of dress that other gals will stop you on the street to say how cute it is or “wherever did you get that?” I love being able to answer, “Oh, I found it at a little retro shop in Guerneville.” Or “A cool boutique in Petaluma.” Or every now and then, I can even say, “I got this in Paris!”

5. The Hunt for Randomness: My hubby and I love to go on short little road trips (think under 1.5 hours!) to places like - the best diner in wine country, or the best donut shop in the city, or the best grilled cheese restaurant in San Francisco. (Hmmm, I guess this means we like food!). We will make it an adventure, bring the kids, and happily go hunting like restaurant critics.

Lauren Blakely is an unabashed fan of clever jokes, toast, and good guys in novels. Like the heroine in CAUGHT UP IN US, she thinks life should be filled with movie kisses and coffee drinks. Lauren lives in California with her husband and children, and spends her days writing both true stories and make-believe ones.