Smokin' Hot Reads: Release Blitz, Reviews & Giveaway: The One by Kristin Vayden

Title: The One

Author: Kristin Vayden

Genre: Contemporary Romance

When your best friend is also your boss, ‘great ideas’ aren’t always optional.

After all, when you run the largest fashion, gossip and trend blog in the country, you got to take risks to keep it edgy.

Believe me. This is edgy.

The idea? For one week, date every male fantasy.

The list?

The Jock

The Rock star

The Billionaire

The Stepbrother

See how they are all crossed off except one? That’s because he’s Satan.

And Scottish.

And my best friend’s stepbrother.

And there may or may not have been an incident in Jr. high that he hasn’t forgiven me for…but that’s history.

Or so I hope, because I’m at his mercy for the next week…

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I pushed too hard on the handle and it sprang off, clattering to the floor and increasing the water to full blast as it poured into the sink.

“I’ve got it.” I bent down to get the handle, grasping it just as Kirby did. And even though I had held his hand all day, on and off, just the simple touch of his fingers across mine was electric. I glanced up, wondering if it was just me.

His blue eyes dilated slightly as his gaze moved from mine and down to my lips, then back. I released the handle and stood as he did.

I backed into the corner to let him access the sink, but all I could really do was inch over so he could lean across me. The air was permeated with his spicy sweet cologne, calling to me and sending heat to all the wrong — or right — places.

“Fixed.” He turned the water off, but didn’t back away. Rather he shifted, making us hip to hip. He rested his hands on the counter; I glanced down noticing how they practically dug into it, as if holding himself there when he wanted to move… to touch. My heartbeat pounded through my body, echoing in my ears. I glanced up. He didn’t move and I watched as he watched me… as if waiting.

Waiting for me to make the first move.

Instinctively, I knew that this was different. This wouldn’t be just a kiss. This would be a turning point — and there would be no going back.

Did I want that?

Hell, yes.

Did I want to risk that?

Hell, no.

He must have seen the conflict in my expression, and he glanced away, shifting as if about to move. But I knew that as pivotal as this was… if I didn’t take the risk, I’d regret it.

Forever.

So before he even moved a full inch, I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him back. “Not this time.” His eyes flashed with blue fire and he leaned forward slightly, but paused.

Still waiting.

I reached my arms up and slowly trailed my fingers through his beard, marveling at its soft texture. He groaned low in his throat as I continued my caress up to his head and tugged on the tousled curls.

“Merry,” he murmured my name, low and deep.

I gently pulled his head down toward me, marveling at how easily and carefully he did as I asked.

I rested my hands in his soft beard as I gently kissed his lower lip, savoring the smooth texture of it as I caressed it with my tongue.

After releasing his lip, I went back for more. This time I flicked my tongue against his mouth, tentatively meeting his and then pulling away gently.

His hands moved to splay across my hips, pulling me in tight against him, running his fingers up and down my side then wrapping around my back and holding me secure as he returned the kiss. His hands roamed my back as he bit my lip, taking it into his mouth and caressing it softly with his tongue before releasing it and starting over, only with a different angle. His hands wove through my hair. I reached around his broad shoulders and pulled him in close, yet not nearly close enough. He broke the kiss and lifted me onto the counter so that I straddled his stomach, my legs wrapped around his back as he continued kissing down my neck, giving me shivers that made my toes curl.

I ran my fingers through his hair as he tugged the neckline of my sweater down and nipped at my shoulder, giving me goose bumps. I traced my fingers around his belt and tugged at his Henley, lifting the fabric up. He lifted his hands and broke the kiss only long enough to pull the shirt over his head before he attacked my lips once more. His bare skin was smooth against my palms as I memorized the lines and valleys. Warm heat radiated from him and I pressed in, wanting — needing to be closer.

The heat from his back burned my hands, searing them. There was no way I could touch him enough, or pull him in tighter. As if reading my mind, he reached behind me, pulled me off the counter, and carried me toward the living room. His lips left mine just long enough to navigate the narrow hall of the kitchen and pass by the sofa until we reached his room. He met my lips once more, slowly kissing me as if savoring the sensation, the contact. Holding tightly to his warm back, I memorized his flavor — the scent of masculine spice that simply permeated the air around him. With his foot, he kicked the door fully open and then leaned back, breaking the kiss.

With a smirk, he all but dropped me on the bed.

“Hey!” I balanced myself, narrowing my eyes. But I didn’t have a chance to fully right myself before Kirby gave me a playful shove, making me lie back down with him hovering over me.

“Much better.” He grinned, his blue eyes twinkling before he hungrily captured my mouth in a kiss that put all others before it to shame.

The One is a sexy humorous stand-alone novel.

I would give it a 3.5 stars and recommend to others.

This is the first book I have read by this author but I find myself curious for more from her.

The setting of this book kept me intrigued because who wouldn't wanna know what its like to date all different types of men before selecting what would be best for yourself.

Meredith works alongside her best friend featuring a blog about relationships.. when her friend gets a crazy idea to boost the exposure of there blog Meredith knows she is in trouble... date different genres of men... could be fun.. or disastrous... but what will happen when she gets the dream vacation and her last 2 dates are in Scotland??? A blast from the past will capture her whole world in one day..

Kirby moved back to Scotland to start his life over and move on from his past.... but what he never told anyone was he never truly moved on from his past... when his ex step sister asks for a favor he will never believe his past will come back with a vengeance... in the form of a woman he has tried to forget...

Will Kirby and Meredith finally lay to rest there problems from the past and move on to a brighter future??

Get to one clickin' to find out!

Oh I adored this one. I was able to read this in one sitting. Seriously couldn't put it down. And now I seriously feel the need to go to Scotland.

Meredith is the CPA and co-investor in her best friends blog. And she has come up with a new idea that she wants Meredith to do. Speed dating of every arch type male that the female viewers were interested in. She dates the Jock, the Rockstar, The Biker, The Millionaire and the Step-brother. Each date successional bad disasters.

The last two - the millionaire and step-brother are located in Scotland and one is actually already known to Meredith... Kirby. Kirby and his awesome sexy Scottish brogue.

Kirby was once a step-brother to Meredith's best friend. They cross that thin line between love and hate. The repartee between these two his hilarious, and the chemistry that brews beneath the surface... hot.

Can Kirby be "The One" or will he just be another failed part of the blog experiment.

One click this now!

The One by Kristin Vayden is a quirky romantic comedy that has the main character jumping from man to man to test the waters of different types of men for the sake of her friend’s blog. She goes through the bad boy, the jock, the musician, the millionaire, and finally the step brother (not hers). Throw in a few twists and turns, and you have an enjoyable story.

Meredith works with and for her best friend as partner and CPA of one of the biggest blogs on the planet, and now Roxy wants to run an experiment and Meredith is the guinea pig. Going through the men on the list one by one, each one leads to disappointment until she finds herself in Scotland and things are suddenly looking up. However, when she realizes the stepbrother is her childhood nemesis and Roxy’s very own stepbrother, things look as if they are about to go downhill.

Kirby hates his name and says he hates Meredith as well, but they why does he want her so much? And what exactly is Roxy holding over his head?

There were a few inconsistencies that were hopefully caught during final edits and the ending seemed a little rushed, but other than that, the story is enjoyable and at times had me giggling. Ever have one of those friends that can convince you to do almost anything? That is exactly Meredith and Roxy’s relationship and the start of Meredith’s troubles. I laughed. I give the book 3.5 stars and recommend it to everyone. I truly hope the author writes Roxy’s story as well.

What happens when you help your best friend run a woman's blog? You get set up on a series of blind dates. For research purposes of course!

Roxi decides her best friend Meredith needs to be the lone test group for her latest blog series where they determine who really is the best type of guy... the billionaire, the alpha, the jock...

Each date fails miserably and when Meredith is just about to call it quits, Roxi offers her a change she cannot refuse. A trip of a lifetime, where she'll also meet the last two "types".

Poor Meredith has no idea she's actually being set up with SOMEONE'S step brother. Someone she has a past with. A past that consists of pranks and pubescent hate.

But what happens when all else fails?

Could their jokes and pranks have really been a way to hide their true feelings?

I enjoyed the banter between both Kirby and Meredith. Their candor and open comfort with one another. And I'll admit, Kirby won my heart with his backwards care for Meredith.

If your looking for a fun romance then pick up this one today. 3.5 stars for me for this humorous romance.

Kristin’s inspiration for the romance she writes comes from her tall, dark and handsome husband with killer blue eyes. With five children to chase, she is never at a loss for someone to kiss, something to cook or some mess to clean but she loves every moment of it!