Love Machine

So, say you're a smart by not very, erm, experienced girl. And say that your bestie is not only super-hot with plenty of experience, but he also always has time for you. It only stands to reason, then, that you'd turn to him in your quest to get your groove back. And the rest, as they say, is history... Kendall Ryan's contemporary romances are guaranteed feel-good reads. I mean, it's impossible not to enjoy the heck out of yourself when you crack open one of her books. She's got a handle on all of the tropes, and they never cease to appeal. In LOVE MACHINE, Kendall tries her hand at the 'friends to lovers' story, with a touch of the 'secret romance,' and, well, she's got another winner on her hands. Keaton and Slate are both extremely likable, her for her nerdy earnestness, and him for his desire to be truly available to Keaton, and not just on a physical level. I love that their relationship has stood the test of time, and that they are actually invested in each other. Them making their way to each other seems more like a 'when' than 'if' scenario, and they are perfect for each other. The secondary characters are fun and supportive, especially Penny, the cat, who steals the show, and help make LOVE MACHINE the easy 4 stars (and probably one of my top KR reads) that it is. Kendall's fans, or any romance lover looking for some pure enjoyment, will want to make sure to grab this one right away and put it at the top of their summer TBR pile.

Love Machine is sexy, fun, and completely swoony; a friends-to-lovers romance that was written with the perfect amount of charm, fascination, and irresistibility! Slate is Keaton are a classic set of best friends. Always there for each other, always each other’s go-to person for advice, always one another’s rock. But in Keaton’s case, she needs more than a best friend. She needs a seduction coach. So when Keaton suggests Slate teach her his experienced seduction skills, their ever solid relationship quickly switches from friendship to red-hot intimacy and temptation. No one does romance like Kendall Ryan! Her books are pure enjoyment and entertainment, and Love Machine is no different. Slate and Keaton have a special relationship. But when taken to the next level, it showcases a new level of attraction, fasciation, and steamy passion. Already feeling they know each other through and through, it’s this next step into intimacy they take that truly makes the reader feel they are experiencing all the jittery butterflies, the anxiety of something new, and the rush of anticipation right along with the characters. And it’s the humor, sincerity, and genuine love and devotion fused into the storyline that sets this book apart from others in the friends-to-lovers trope. The author’s unique storytelling in Love Machine guarantees laughs, heartwarming emotions, and complete satisfaction. An absolute must read you can’t pass up!

Keaton is utterly adorable, although she has introvert tendencies with a dose of underlying insecurities, she is also a powerhouse of independence and has never met a task she wasn’t able to learn. It is this trait that leads her to a somewhat unusual situation following a cucumber induced trauma at a bachelorette party 😜 Determined to up her game in the bedroom, Keaton enlists the help of her best friend and resident player, Slate. Having been bf’s for the past ten years and knowing each other deeply adds to the sense of security for Keaton to tick off each item of boudoir basics, lol. What could possibly go wrong, especially as both Keaton and Slate are aware of each other’s limitation where relationships are concerned. Determined to maintain their friendship and avoid catching feelings along the way; Keaton and Slate up their status to friendship with benefits 😃 I completely loved the switch up of roles within Love Machine, with a reversal of who you would expect to remain level-headed and who falls hard and fast embracing the changes as they occur. Slate ups the romantic gestures and creates a whole lot of swoon in the process; his reluctance to become involved in relationships is understandable when his history is revealed. However, it is his ability to self-reflect and grow as a person that really draws you to him 💝 It is obvious to all those around them that Keaton and Slate belong together, what others have recognized takes Keaton and Slate a while to catch-up. The journey they take to reach that point is full of sugar and spice with a little dash of bitter to keep things interesting 😉