Smokin' Hot Reads: Release Tour: Paper Roses, by Lily Morton

Monday, February 17, 2025

Release Tour: Paper Roses, by Lily Morton

RELEASE TOUR - Paper Roses by Lily Morton

Length: 90,000 words

Series: Confetti Hitched, book 3

Prior Reading: Prior reading NOT required

Genre: contemporary

Tropes: Fake marriage, Boss and assistant, Workplace romance, Forced proximity, Only one bed

Trigger/Content Warnings: Reference to spouse’s death. The death was 10 years before this story and is off page, but the grief is discussed.

Jed Walker is starting to think that cheerful oblivion about his feelings is the key to being fake married.

Jed Walker thinks he’s having a midlife crisis. The only trouble is that it feels too good to stop.

Widowed at a young age, he’s spent his life since then avoiding any relationships that might end up hurting him again. He has his successful wedding planning business, Confetti Hitched, and a series of uncomplicated hookups, and that’s all he needs in life.

The one person disrupting this controlled stoicism is his younger assistant, Artie. He’s sweet and kind and has a funny way of calming Jed’s mind. So, when Artie comes to him with a problem, Jed moves heaven and earth to help, which is how he finds himself entering a fake marriage with the younger man and catching feelings. Too bad it’s all pretend. Or is it?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a story about how love can completely derail the best-laid plans.

This is the third book in the Confetti Hitched series, but it can be read as a standalone.

AVAILABLE NOW

Jed shifts the salt and pepper shakers, pushing them together neatly, and then stacks the napkins. It’s only when he straightens the tablecloth that I realise he’s nervous.

“Are you okay?” I blurt out.

He looks up, startled, and his green eyes look almost gold in the low light. “I’m fine,” he says. He hesitates and then says abruptly, “I’d like to know about your wedding. Have you been seeing your fiancé a long while? You never said you were seeing anyone.” The pause is a beat too long. “Would you like me to organise it for you? It would be free as an employee of Confetti Hitched.” He licks his lip. “A very valued employee,” he adds softly. “And—”

Without thinking, I place my hand over his, cutting off his tumble of words. A beat of silence drops, and then he removes his hand and scratches his eyebrow awkwardly. For a second, his gaze seems to focus on my mouth, but he glances away when a waiter approaches our table.

It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve imagined him liking me and been disabused. It’s total wish fulfilment on my part, and I know it.

The waiter deposits our drinks and scurries away, and I sigh when Jed looks at me and raises his eyebrow. He’s not giving up on this.

“It’s a long story,” I say rather inanely.

“We have all the time you need.”

“What time does this place close?” I glance around the busy café, seeking distraction.

“Two in the morning. Plenty of time to talk about your wedding. Who’s the lucky man?” He seems to fumble that last question.

“Well, there’s the thing…”

He regards me patiently. That steady calmness is one of his best qualities. You feel safe with him. I run my hand through my hair.

His gaze sharpens. “Artie, what’s the matter?” He hesitates and then adds fiercely, “Are you in some kind of trouble? If you are, I want you to tell me and I will sort it out for you.”

I gape at him. “How did you get from a wedding to trouble?”

He rolls his eyes, but his cheeks are flushed. “It’s not such a big reach in our profession. Especially if you employ Raff and Joe.” He offers his hand, and I put my own in his without thinking. It should be startling to hold hands with my gorgeous boss, but somehow, it’s as natural as taking my next breath—smooth and right. “Tell me,” he stresses. “I know you’re troubled.” He gestures at my face with his free hand. “Your face gives you away every time.”

I groan. “And that’s my curse in life.” I feel his hand slip away from mine with sadness and then square my shoulders. “I need to get married.”

“Need to?” His gaze is laser focused, and I shift uneasily under it. I bet he was a good policeman, because he’s patient and steady until he gets his own way.

https://geni.us/PaperRoses

Lily lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven’t had a proper conversation with her since she bought her first Kindle.

She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – chocolate Baileys! Her lifetime’s ambition is to have a bath in peace without being shouted by one of her family.