An Ex for Christmas by Lauren Layne Series: Love Unexpectedly #5
Published by Loveswept on November 7th 2017
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Christmas
Pages: 218
Format: Kindle Edition
Source: Bought
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She’s making a list—and checking it twice. But is there a nice guy among all her naughty exes? The New York Times bestselling author of Blurred Lines returns with a charming friends-to-lovers rom-com.
When a psychic tells spunky, superstitious Kelly Byrne that she’s already met her true love, she becomes obsessed with the idea of tracking him down before Christmas. Kelly immediately writes up an “Ex List” and starts contacting old boyfriends to figure out which one is the one. When her college sweetheart rolls into town, Kelly convinces herself that they’re meant to be. The trouble is, sparks are flying with someone she’s never given a chance: her best friend, Mark.
Mark Blakely has watched the guys on Kelly’s list break her heart, and he’s not looking forward to watching them do it all over again. Mark’s always been there for her, but the timing’s never worked out for their relationship to be something more. Now, just as Mark is ready to move on, the sexual tension between them is suddenly off the charts. With Christmas morning around the corner, he just hopes Kelly will wake up and realize that everything she wants has been right in front of her all along.
Lauren Layne’s USA Today bestselling Love Unexpectedly series can be read in any order
This ebook includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
When a psychic tells a superstitious Kelly Byrne that she had already met her true love, she becomes obsessed with tracking him down so she isn’t alone for Christmas. Kelly makes an “Ex List” and starts contacting her old boyfriends to try and figure out which one of these guys are her true love that she has passed up on. But, Kelly never expected that this Christmas sparks might be flying with someone else.
Mark Blakely has been Kelly’s best friend forever. He has watched the guys on Kelly’s list break her heart and isn’t really looking forward watching, or experiencing that again. Plus, Mark has been sitting on the sidelines long, and is ready to move on to something more. All he has to do is convince the woman who is looking elsewhere to see what is in front of her.
YES! This is exactly the type of romance I adore and always on the look out for. Kelly and Mark were so perfect together in this book. It’s been a while since I have enjoyed or read a romance, so when I picked this one up and was unable to put down, I knew I had a winner.
I enjoyed the humor and the romance. I totally love best friends to lovers tropes, so I was sold on this right away. Plus, Layne has a way of building up romances that are both adorable, tension filled and steamy. I really liked the build up, I loved when sparks flew between the two with both became aware of each other.
I loved that they co-own a dog and how wonderful and protective their friendship/relationship was. Turning the pages both warmed my heart and made me giggle. Layne does a great job of lacing humor into her books.
If you love Christmas, this really brings romance and holiday to the table as Kelly is a complete Christmas junky.
I did like Kelly, I liked her spunk and her personality, but her belief in the Sight and superstition turns into a gospel she lives by and feels a little crippling at times. When she was starting to discover her feelings for Mark, she never took the time to sit back and think about the woman’s words, what they meant, and that maybe, just maybe she didn’t have to live by them. It was especially exasperating when she mentions that she always wanted to feel like that about someone, as she does for Mark.
Mark totally won the story for me, I wish if she author was going to put one chapter from his POV in it that maybe there would have been more. I’d really liked to get into his head and find out his thoughts on Kelly’s process and how he felt about it, because it felt like Mark had a big role in what kept happening to Kelly and her Ex’s.
There was a bit of unnecessary drama thrown into the end, I honestly did not expect Kelly to actually get through her list and I would have been fine with that, especially with the way she felt for Mark.
But this was a totally cute, totally feel good Christmas romances that just melts your heart. I think it’s perfect for the holiday season.
I so need a xmas read, soooo
I so want to read this one!! ! Glad you enjoyed it. Great review!
Aw, they co-own a dog? That’s adorable! And it seems like Kelly should realized at some point that “you already met your true love” doesn’t mean you dated them! LOL I’m glad you liked this one. Holiday reads are great.
-Lauren
I so want to read this now, it sounds sooo good. I think I just want to read it for Mark too, he seems pretty amazing. 🙂 Great review
Oh, this sounds like such a fun read. I love the cover. I think I am going to go grab it 🙂
I love that cover! This also sounds like my kind of read. It sounds so cute. Great review!
This looks so good! I don’t usually read holiday-themed books, but I’dread this anytime of the year. 😀
oh YES!! I am so glad that picking up your first romance in a while was a win for you!! Definitely want to read this one, her humor is fantastic.
Aw! This sounds so cute, but I hear you on Kelly’s character being crippled by the Sight plot point. That can be frustrating!
It looks like a nice one there and I really like the cover!
Awe, I love a good friends to lovers romance. This sounds like a yummy christmas romance. I need to read more from this author. I’ve read one book by her years ago. I remember enjoying it 🙂
I enjoyed this one as well. I haven’t posted my review yet but it will be up soon. I thought it was a lot of fun. Mark was really awesome and a great fit for Kelly. I think you liked it a bit more than I did but I did enjoy it.
It sounds so good. I was wary at first that it was about exes, but now that its a friends to lovers, oh yes! 🙂
I have been eyeing this book since its release. Glad you enjoyed it.
OMG! I’m already sold with the mention of friends-turned-lovers. Added to my list!
I’m sure I’d love Mark, but I have a feeling Kelly would irritate the heck out of me for being so blind! Still, it does sound cute and I know Jasprit loved it, too. Wonderful review, Lily! 🙂
This one sounds like a sweet holiday read 🙂 I do think Kelly would drive me a bit crazy though. Friends to lovers can be such a fun trope.
I have this one sat on my iPad and I have heard so many good things but I’m kind of saving it for a feel-good Christmas read over the holidays because until I finish rushing around at work I will not feel in the holiday spirit. I love the fact it involves a psychic and friends to lovers trope. It sounds the right level of ridiculous and fun that I love Lauren Layne books for.
I really loved this one so much. I love LL and her last few books I didnt love so it was so nice to love a book from her again.