Good With His Hands

It is undeniable that Lauren Blakely and Lili Valente are a dynamic writing duo. I love their similar styles. Both write steamy, funny, romantic stories and Good with his Hands had all of that with an emotional component as well. After a tragic accident, Ruby is recovering and learning to heal. She has completed her physical therapy and it is time to turn over a new leaf and overcome some of the things that are holding her back in life. Enter Jesse, her best friends brother. He has given her a to-do list of sorts and he is vowing to help her tackle the list and become once again the vibrant woman she has always been. Jesse owns a garage in Brooklyn, New York but is packing up to move across country to LA in two weeks. Jesse is rugged and handsome and Ruby has crushed on him since she was a teenager. As the two embark on this journey together things are getting complicated quickly as their attraction to one another cannot be ignored and time is running out. I loved Jesse and Ruby's friendship. He is encouraging, and supportive and pushes Ruby to trust her heart and take chances. I adored their flirty banter and amazing chemistry. I also loved Ruby's strength and determination. Together they bring the best out in each other. I am looking forward to Ruby's cousin, Gigi's book next in Good To Be Bad, coming in May 2021.

Lauren Blakely has teamed up with Lili Valente to bring us a delectable romance with a friends to lovers trope. After a tragedy, Ruby wakes from a comma to find her best friend has passed. Her besties brother, whom she has had a crush on for years, not only takes the place of her best friend but as they spend more and more time together reminiscing about Claire and other things, after two years they become something more. This is not just a tale of falling for your friends brother, it’s deeper with overcoming adversity, finding yourself and fulfilling your own passions and not other’s expectations. And most importantly, trust - trusting your instincts and doing the hard things even if you’re scared. It may have been just me, but this was a super quick read that pulls you in with these cute main characters. I found it more in the contemporary romance than romcom but it still delivered with some good laughs. Ruby is a strong woman having to learn all the basics again after the accident and with Jesse as a supportive pal, only solidifies their bond. I think if Claire was still around, she’d give them her blessing and would be thrilled they found each other. If you’re a fan of epilogues, then you will be happy with these three. Each of them is adorable. Now to wait for Gigi’s story and her Hollywood hunk lookalike. Should be a doozy.

GOOD WITH HIS HANDS is the first instalment in the contemporary, adult GOOD IN BED erotic, romance series co-authored by Lauren Blakely and Lili Valente. This is twenty-seven year old, illustrator Ruby Valentine, and artist Jesse Hendrix’ story line. Told from dual first person perspectives (Jesse and Ruby) GOOD WITH HIS HANDS follows the best friend’s brother relationship between twenty seven year old illustrator Ruby Valentine, and artist Jesse Hendrix. Two years later Ruby’s life imploded when her best friend Claire Hendrix aka Jesse’s sister died following a car accident that left Ruby struggling for her life. Fast forward to present day, after two years of therapy, Ruby is ready to move on with her life when Jesse presents Ruby with a bucket list of no regrets, a list drawn up by Claire that Ruby and Jesse are about to fulfill but timing is crucial as New Yorker Jesse Hendrix is set to move out to California, to start a new career without the woman with whom he is falling in love. What ensues is the two -week relationship and journey of no regrets between Jesse and Ruby, and the potential fall-out as Jesse reveals a secret about the list Claire wanted Ruby to finish. Jesse Hendrix lost his only sister two years earlier but the loss brought him closer to Ruby Valentine. Ruby has always had a crush on her best friend’s brother but never knew that Jesse felt the same about her in return. With the list of no regrets about to be fulfilled, Jesse and Ruby realize that falling in love may be the biggest ‘no regret’ of all. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive without the use of over the top,sexually graphic language and text. We are introduced to Ruby’s best friend and cousin Gigi, as well as Ruby’s mother who owns and operates Sweetie Pies bakery. Gigi’s story line is next in GOOD TO BE BAD. GOOD WITH HIS HANDS is a fun and flirty story line. The premise is entertaining and captivating; the romance is flirtatious and enthusiastic; the characters are dynamic and imaginative.