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Kingston Brothers #1
Open House
When Lacey Ferguson walked into her dream home the last thing she expected to find was her dream man. She was looking for granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Not rock hard abs and buns of steel. Meeting the rugged and downright sexy man who built her ideal home almost convinces her to take a chance on love, but is Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handy possibly hiding something? Too good to be true usually spells disaster, right? Or is she just making excuses to avoid having her heart trashed again?
Jackson Kingston has been using work as a distraction from life for the past year and a half. And it's been working great. His plan to re-build his father's home construction business with his three brothers is finally happening and he's so exhausted from working 16 hour days he doesn't have the energy to think about the past. Mission accomplished in his books.
When Jack meets Lacey while touring one of his properties, all he can think about is using the granite countertop for something much more erotic than meal preparation. Suddenly life is worth experiencing again. If only he can convince the voluptuous home buyer that a no strings affair is the ideal arrangement for both of them.
Things get complicated when they end up working on a real estate project together, and a no strings affair turns into something more. Can a man with a tendency to shutdown when emotions become involved and a woman who mistrusts love build something real together, or is their foundation too weak to last?
Approximately 45,000 words. (175 printed pages)
Jackson Kingston has been using work as a distraction from life for the past year and a half. And it's been working great. His plan to re-build his father's home construction business with his three brothers is finally happening and he's so exhausted from working 16 hour days he doesn't have the energy to think about the past. Mission accomplished in his books.
When Jack meets Lacey while touring one of his properties, all he can think about is using the granite countertop for something much more erotic than meal preparation. Suddenly life is worth experiencing again. If only he can convince the voluptuous home buyer that a no strings affair is the ideal arrangement for both of them.
Things get complicated when they end up working on a real estate project together, and a no strings affair turns into something more. Can a man with a tendency to shutdown when emotions become involved and a woman who mistrusts love build something real together, or is their foundation too weak to last?
Approximately 45,000 words. (175 printed pages)
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 12, 2012
22 people are currently reading
440 people want to read
About the author
Tamara Larson
9 books50 followersOkay, I'm actually pretty boring, so please don't be disappointed to find out that I am not actually married to a giant, alpha male with bulging muscles and jockey shorts. I don't even know a guy like that, though I wouldn't mind meeting one in real life rather than just my own twisted imagination.
What's interesting about me? Well, I'm a writer, but I also have a full-time office job which I actually enjoy when it's not sucking the life out of me.
I was ridiculously close to my mother (she passed away in 2019) and we actually used to look at real estate together, just like Lacey Ferguson and her mother from "Open House." The premise for that book is actually based on an Open House we went to one year where we met the devastatingly attractive builder. He very innocently showed us around, not even suspecting that he was going to be the subject of my next book. To this day I smile when I pass those particular townhouses because this poor guy has no idea that he's the subject of a romance novel that's been downloaded all over the world. Not him, exactly, but an idealized version of him. I wonder what he would think if he knew? Hmmm... I would email him if I knew his name. (Now, wouldn't that make for a good story? Hunky builder finds out he's the subject of a romance novel and seeks some revenge in the form of erotic torture....)
What else? Well, I've had the same hilarious best friend since 1985. We went to high school and university together and spent many nights watching movies and going to comedy clubs and bars. (Also drank our fair share of wine coolers during this period. It was the eighties. We had big hair too.) We live at opposite ends of the country now, but typically text just about every day. She's married to an incredibly patient guy and has two almost grown children now, but we still manage to keep our friendship alive despite living completely different lives. (And we drink Mondavi instead of wine coolers now.)
Yeah, I'm pretty lucky.
When I'm not writing about bulging muscles and jockey shorts I go for long walks and watch a lot of Netflix.
When I actually do sit down to write, I'm always surprised at how quickly time passes when I am in that creative space. After "Lost & Found" was rejected by Harlequin and Avon several years ago I stopped writing fiction for years. I was almost done the sequel, "The Love Laws" at that point, but I just abandoned it because I figured that writing was not my thing after all.
When I started again in 2014 I was shocked at how easy it was to submerge myself in that world, the one I had created for my characters. I also found a valuable lesson in being a writer. I'm in complete control of what happens next, but that doesn't stop when I retreat from the keyboard. I'm also the author of my own life and if the plot isn't going in a direction I want, then I have to take steps to get it back on track. Of course, in real life I can't kill off an irritating person with a particularly aggressive case of syphilis, but I do have the power to write myself a happy ending. I just have to figure out how to make it happen.
If I have one message for readers, it's this: Thank you for reading my words. Whether you paid full price or got it for free. I sincerely hope I've succeeded in entertaining you and giving you a little escape from a life that can seem mundane and occasionally downright cruel. If my work has made you smile and hopefully a little hot, then I've succeeded in my intentions.
Keep reading and I will be at my computer, looking for creative synonyms for penis.
I can be reached at [email protected]
What's interesting about me? Well, I'm a writer, but I also have a full-time office job which I actually enjoy when it's not sucking the life out of me.
I was ridiculously close to my mother (she passed away in 2019) and we actually used to look at real estate together, just like Lacey Ferguson and her mother from "Open House." The premise for that book is actually based on an Open House we went to one year where we met the devastatingly attractive builder. He very innocently showed us around, not even suspecting that he was going to be the subject of my next book. To this day I smile when I pass those particular townhouses because this poor guy has no idea that he's the subject of a romance novel that's been downloaded all over the world. Not him, exactly, but an idealized version of him. I wonder what he would think if he knew? Hmmm... I would email him if I knew his name. (Now, wouldn't that make for a good story? Hunky builder finds out he's the subject of a romance novel and seeks some revenge in the form of erotic torture....)
What else? Well, I've had the same hilarious best friend since 1985. We went to high school and university together and spent many nights watching movies and going to comedy clubs and bars. (Also drank our fair share of wine coolers during this period. It was the eighties. We had big hair too.) We live at opposite ends of the country now, but typically text just about every day. She's married to an incredibly patient guy and has two almost grown children now, but we still manage to keep our friendship alive despite living completely different lives. (And we drink Mondavi instead of wine coolers now.)
Yeah, I'm pretty lucky.
When I'm not writing about bulging muscles and jockey shorts I go for long walks and watch a lot of Netflix.
When I actually do sit down to write, I'm always surprised at how quickly time passes when I am in that creative space. After "Lost & Found" was rejected by Harlequin and Avon several years ago I stopped writing fiction for years. I was almost done the sequel, "The Love Laws" at that point, but I just abandoned it because I figured that writing was not my thing after all.
When I started again in 2014 I was shocked at how easy it was to submerge myself in that world, the one I had created for my characters. I also found a valuable lesson in being a writer. I'm in complete control of what happens next, but that doesn't stop when I retreat from the keyboard. I'm also the author of my own life and if the plot isn't going in a direction I want, then I have to take steps to get it back on track. Of course, in real life I can't kill off an irritating person with a particularly aggressive case of syphilis, but I do have the power to write myself a happy ending. I just have to figure out how to make it happen.
If I have one message for readers, it's this: Thank you for reading my words. Whether you paid full price or got it for free. I sincerely hope I've succeeded in entertaining you and giving you a little escape from a life that can seem mundane and occasionally downright cruel. If my work has made you smile and hopefully a little hot, then I've succeeded in my intentions.
Keep reading and I will be at my computer, looking for creative synonyms for penis.
I can be reached at [email protected]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 4, 2014
Four stars for sexy and sweet Open House
For people that know Jack Kingston, they know a sad, brooding, angry work-a-holic. That's how he's been for the past couple of years since tragedy struck his life. But when he meets Lacey, he's revived into the funny, kind--and horny--man he once was.
After meeting Lacey Ferguson he decides he wants to get back into the game, but he's a little rusty.
The truth was that he did, in fact, plan to stalk Lacey a little bit. Not in a twisted or scary 'I'll be hiding in your bushes when you come home' sort of way. But hopefully, in a charming, 'What a coincidence. We both drink coffee,' sort of way.
Sometimes there's a fine line between creepy and romantic.
His cousin and co-worker, Serena, decides to finagle a way so that Jack and Lacey have a legitimate reason to be around each other, to get to know one another. She proposes that The Kingston Brothers build a model home, custom and luxurious, on a scale that single people--like Lacey--would want, and could afford to buy. They would sell her the house for a reasonable price and she would allow them to use it as a showplace. The plan backfires a bit when Jack and Lacey decide that they shouldn't have a physical relationship and a working relationship simultaneously. So for five long months they hold out on giving into their urges.
Let me tell you that I LOVE a working-man-hero. Blue-collar, hard working, rough-around-the-edges sorts always get my engine going. It wasn't hard to envision Jack with his flannel shirts and tool belt. *Sigh* Who can't love a handy hero?
Plus, Jack wasn't just a hot hunk, he had deep hurt and guilt and insecurities that made him real. Once Lacey got to dig deeper into Jack's life and personality she had to adjust her own expectations.
When she'd met him, he'd seemed so perfect. Her romance novel stud, come to life. But instead of rescuing her, he was the one with actual issues, and a past, and a whole mess of problems to overcome. Was she ready for something so intense? Could she heal him after everything he'd been through?
Despite that heaviness that Jack has, this story is actually very light and funny and sexy. There's lots of steam interwoven with playful dialog that this author is so adept at delivering.
He looked at her breasts in a manner that was supposed to be speculative rather than hungry, but failed miserably. "Yes, your breasts are extremely dirty. It's a good thing you called me to help," he said, rubbing the rough cotton across her clean white mounds in a gentle figure eight that never quite touched her nipples.
"How about you?" Lacey gasped, rocking against his erection. "Do you need help washing anything?"
"Umm...somehow saying my dick needs cleaning doesn't sound very sexy, so I think I'll just wash your gorgeous body and keep my dirty talk to a minimum," he said leaning down to tongue one of her hard nipples.
"Maybe you're right about that," she laughed.
For such a short read this is very enjoyable and Serena is so likeable that I couldn't help but want to continue with the series to see how her love life pans out. I would have liked for this to be a bit longer, or even for there to have been an epilogue. But knowing this is a series, I'm sure I'll get to see more of how Jack and Lacey are getting on in future installments.
For people that know Jack Kingston, they know a sad, brooding, angry work-a-holic. That's how he's been for the past couple of years since tragedy struck his life. But when he meets Lacey, he's revived into the funny, kind--and horny--man he once was.
After meeting Lacey Ferguson he decides he wants to get back into the game, but he's a little rusty.
The truth was that he did, in fact, plan to stalk Lacey a little bit. Not in a twisted or scary 'I'll be hiding in your bushes when you come home' sort of way. But hopefully, in a charming, 'What a coincidence. We both drink coffee,' sort of way.
Sometimes there's a fine line between creepy and romantic.
His cousin and co-worker, Serena, decides to finagle a way so that Jack and Lacey have a legitimate reason to be around each other, to get to know one another. She proposes that The Kingston Brothers build a model home, custom and luxurious, on a scale that single people--like Lacey--would want, and could afford to buy. They would sell her the house for a reasonable price and she would allow them to use it as a showplace. The plan backfires a bit when Jack and Lacey decide that they shouldn't have a physical relationship and a working relationship simultaneously. So for five long months they hold out on giving into their urges.
Let me tell you that I LOVE a working-man-hero. Blue-collar, hard working, rough-around-the-edges sorts always get my engine going. It wasn't hard to envision Jack with his flannel shirts and tool belt. *Sigh* Who can't love a handy hero?
Plus, Jack wasn't just a hot hunk, he had deep hurt and guilt and insecurities that made him real. Once Lacey got to dig deeper into Jack's life and personality she had to adjust her own expectations.
When she'd met him, he'd seemed so perfect. Her romance novel stud, come to life. But instead of rescuing her, he was the one with actual issues, and a past, and a whole mess of problems to overcome. Was she ready for something so intense? Could she heal him after everything he'd been through?
Despite that heaviness that Jack has, this story is actually very light and funny and sexy. There's lots of steam interwoven with playful dialog that this author is so adept at delivering.
He looked at her breasts in a manner that was supposed to be speculative rather than hungry, but failed miserably. "Yes, your breasts are extremely dirty. It's a good thing you called me to help," he said, rubbing the rough cotton across her clean white mounds in a gentle figure eight that never quite touched her nipples.
"How about you?" Lacey gasped, rocking against his erection. "Do you need help washing anything?"
"Umm...somehow saying my dick needs cleaning doesn't sound very sexy, so I think I'll just wash your gorgeous body and keep my dirty talk to a minimum," he said leaning down to tongue one of her hard nipples.
"Maybe you're right about that," she laughed.
For such a short read this is very enjoyable and Serena is so likeable that I couldn't help but want to continue with the series to see how her love life pans out. I would have liked for this to be a bit longer, or even for there to have been an epilogue. But knowing this is a series, I'm sure I'll get to see more of how Jack and Lacey are getting on in future installments.
February 5, 2013
I really enjoyed this first book about the Kingston brothers. Jackson is a troubled soul. Lacey it seems is just what he needs to bring him back to life. I really hope that in the next book that there will some sort of an update with them. This book ended with them confessing their love. So I would really love to see where they are now. This is a sweet and sometimes funny romance. Not much drama just misunderstandings and hurt feeling.
August 7, 2014
Amazon Freebie it was a light and fun book to read. 3 Stars
Lacey is looking for a new house but something that is in her price range. Lac is the girl next door type and meets Jay and is instantly in lust with him. Lac is a regular Miss Sunshine.
Jack Kingston has been through shit the past one and a half years and has turned into a regular
that is until he meets Lacey and there is instant attraction. They start to work on a real estate project and they wait for the relationship or no strings attached. The moment Jack saw Lac his Mr. Happy wanted to pound and I don't mean this Mr. Happy ladies but
the other one.
There were certain things that annoyed me for example he was in the bath with her and then suddenly she was taking his boxers off a duh already did that himself, sweetheart.
In the kitchen he was wearing grey slacks but Lac took off jeans that was a miracle to say the least. All in all a enjoyable read.
Lacey is looking for a new house but something that is in her price range. Lac is the girl next door type and meets Jay and is instantly in lust with him. Lac is a regular Miss Sunshine.
Jack Kingston has been through shit the past one and a half years and has turned into a regular
that is until he meets Lacey and there is instant attraction. They start to work on a real estate project and they wait for the relationship or no strings attached. The moment Jack saw Lac his Mr. Happy wanted to pound and I don't mean this Mr. Happy ladies but
the other one.
There were certain things that annoyed me for example he was in the bath with her and then suddenly she was taking his boxers off a duh already did that himself, sweetheart.
In the kitchen he was wearing grey slacks but Lac took off jeans that was a miracle to say the least. All in all a enjoyable read.
May 26, 2019
Super hot
A very sexy book. Lacey wants a new house but when she sees the builder she wants him. Great contemporary romance.
A very sexy book. Lacey wants a new house but when she sees the builder she wants him. Great contemporary romance.
May 3, 2014
I liked being in Jack's mind on some aspects the boy was like a teenage girl, "should he stare back at her? Ignore her? Wait and see what she did? Slip her his number? Cop a feel? No, definitely not. That would get him a slap for sure." I found the way he explains things are amusing, "probably not a good idea. Because if my brain loses, then you're going to be spread-eagled, with your legs in the air and your jeans balled up on the floor faster than the speed of light. And 3 seconds after that, I'm going to be really embarrassed. So Mr. Happy really needs to lose this battle today, but hopefully he will get a chance to win another day. Alright?" The boy is just damn strange when it comes to what turns him on, "do it then. It would make me really happy, not to mention really hard, if you just said 'co**' or 'di**' or 'love hammer' just once." He also likes to make sure he's there for his woman, "umm...to help you move. Men lift heavy things to impress their women. It's kind of a rule," he said, gravely." This was a fun read and I open Jack's brothers get a story as well.
May 3, 2014
What a ridiculous story!
What a ridiculous story!
I seldom review books I didn't enjoy but I have to warn off the rest of you. One minute the heroine is inexperienced and bashful, the next she discussing exchanging sex for building materials. In a word .... corny.
For those of you who persevere I hope it gets better toward the end. Sigh.
What a ridiculous story!
I seldom review books I didn't enjoy but I have to warn off the rest of you. One minute the heroine is inexperienced and bashful, the next she discussing exchanging sex for building materials. In a word .... corny.
For those of you who persevere I hope it gets better toward the end. Sigh.
July 17, 2013
Oooohhh eck what a scorcher!!! Loved this book to bits Jack was sex on legs I have to say. I have started reading the second in this series and I love that there are bits about characters in the previous book..
added-it
March 22, 2022🎁 FREE on Apple iBooks today (3/22/2022)! 🎁
November 6, 2015
This was a delightfully quick read. "Open House" was an unexpectedly funny, romantic, and sexy book. To be honest I'm not sure how this book came into my hands, I was looking at my Kindle app and there it was and I can't remember how I got it - but I'm glad I did. The characters well constructed and the hero's back story is compelling. Although the ending does feel slightly rushed and a little too neatly tied up the characters are so likeable that you really want this for them and ... well I just gave it some slack.
Tamara Larson writes a funny, playful, yet heart wrenching book. She provides us with not only humor but some serious sexual chemistry to accompany this romance, served up with a steaming helping of spicy SMEX! This is a light and flirty super fun, the perfect weekend, getaway reading material! I'm looking forward to finding out what happens in Serena's story.
To read the entire review please visit: http://bit.ly/1NhoLND
This is a honest review - even though I have no idea where this book came from.
Tamara Larson writes a funny, playful, yet heart wrenching book. She provides us with not only humor but some serious sexual chemistry to accompany this romance, served up with a steaming helping of spicy SMEX! This is a light and flirty super fun, the perfect weekend, getaway reading material! I'm looking forward to finding out what happens in Serena's story.
To read the entire review please visit: http://bit.ly/1NhoLND
This is a honest review - even though I have no idea where this book came from.
October 23, 2015
I am struggling with the rating a little here so I am going with a 3.5 stars
What I didn't like: The Point of View switch was distracting and confusing. There was no indicator of a POV switch it just happened randomly all the time. I prefer changing POVs with new chapter or at least indicating it with a page break. It wasn't just the main two characters either we saw the POV from the mom (to which we never here of again) and the cousin/real estate agent...it was weird.
There were also some editing and grammatical errors.
What I did like- the dialog and thought processes. There were some humorous scenes and off handed comments that really make these characters pop as real. The character development and story flow were right on.
I really enjoyed the story!
What I didn't like: The Point of View switch was distracting and confusing. There was no indicator of a POV switch it just happened randomly all the time. I prefer changing POVs with new chapter or at least indicating it with a page break. It wasn't just the main two characters either we saw the POV from the mom (to which we never here of again) and the cousin/real estate agent...it was weird.
There were also some editing and grammatical errors.
What I did like- the dialog and thought processes. There were some humorous scenes and off handed comments that really make these characters pop as real. The character development and story flow were right on.
I really enjoyed the story!
September 23, 2012
Lacey Ferguson was looking for a new home for herself and her dog Charlie. When she goes into a new home which she knows she can't afford she is excited about the house but also about the builder.
Jackson Kingston is one of the three brothers helping his father improve their business. Personal disaster has left him without the will to do much except work. When he meets Lacey, he feels the first spark that brings him back to life.
Thanks to a nosy cousin they will meet again.
This was a free kindle book. The story was short and fast paced. I enjoyed it.
3/5 Fangs
cross posted at my blog http://mrsleifs.blogspot.com
Jackson Kingston is one of the three brothers helping his father improve their business. Personal disaster has left him without the will to do much except work. When he meets Lacey, he feels the first spark that brings him back to life.
Thanks to a nosy cousin they will meet again.
This was a free kindle book. The story was short and fast paced. I enjoyed it.
3/5 Fangs
cross posted at my blog http://mrsleifs.blogspot.com
March 30, 2015
For me, there was way too much build up and the over all union was anti-climactic. This had so much potential but when they came together (pun intended) the fact that they had such a deep conversation about his wife and son with his pants down around his ankles was just odd to say the least. The fact of that the author skipped the whole 5 months of the build where we could've seen all their sexual tension was another missed opportunity in my mind. I don't think I'll be reading anymore of this series, but I won't rule out this author for the time being.
May 3, 2014
Story starts out with h ogling H and remembering the time she drank too many lemon drop martinis and groped a Chippendale's dancer. I guess this is supposed to be cute and endear her to the readers. It made me feel queasy.
The text is full of grammatical errors and tense shifts that are distracting. I gave up at Chapter 4. There are too many good books out there to waste time on this drivel.
I can't recommend this book to anyone and will avoid this author.
The text is full of grammatical errors and tense shifts that are distracting. I gave up at Chapter 4. There are too many good books out there to waste time on this drivel.
I can't recommend this book to anyone and will avoid this author.
February 1, 2016
Too bad
The heroine drove me crazy. This could have been a really great, hot, sexy, fantastic, low angst, fun romance, but the author killed because she turned the heroine into a idiot, and it was so utterly unnecessary, and the reasoning past ridiculous. I immediately dropped my rating on that one thing, because it never showed what caused her sudden about face from being stupid. Ruined this near great read.
The heroine drove me crazy. This could have been a really great, hot, sexy, fantastic, low angst, fun romance, but the author killed because she turned the heroine into a idiot, and it was so utterly unnecessary, and the reasoning past ridiculous. I immediately dropped my rating on that one thing, because it never showed what caused her sudden about face from being stupid. Ruined this near great read.
Read
July 17, 2013When Jack meets Lacey while touring one of his properties, all he can think about is using the granite countertop for something much more erotic than meal preparation. Suddenly life is worth experiencing again. If only he can convince the voluptuous home buyer that a no strings affair is the ideal arrangement for both of them.
June 13, 2015
Hot passion!
Yes hot passion with not a lot of sex! The tension between Jack and Lacey is thick enough to cut. Lacey has put brakes on because she wants to be more than a rebound.
Jack is a contractor that when he meets Lacey at one of his open houses at a project that wakes him up! Contained sparks ignite a burning desire on both of them is combustible.
Yes hot passion with not a lot of sex! The tension between Jack and Lacey is thick enough to cut. Lacey has put brakes on because she wants to be more than a rebound.
Jack is a contractor that when he meets Lacey at one of his open houses at a project that wakes him up! Contained sparks ignite a burning desire on both of them is combustible.
July 24, 2014
Awesome Series
Awesome Series
This was a fantastic and very romantic book to read, the characters were so fun and loving can't wait to read more of this story especially Serena's story....she is so sassy....fantastic
Awesome Series
This was a fantastic and very romantic book to read, the characters were so fun and loving can't wait to read more of this story especially Serena's story....she is so sassy....fantastic
April 19, 2012
Another free kindle read. This one was better than the novella I paid for earlier today. Not a true resolution tor the main characters, but it is the first in a new series.
April 28, 2012
Very hot and steamy but there was a cute story as well. free download
May 9, 2012
3.5*
Read
June 3, 2020Good. I felt kinda short though.
October 23, 2018
This was a really good free read. Read the second one first by mistake so was glad when I found this one! Nice beginning to a series.
1st read 2-8-15
2nd read - 10-19-18
1st read 2-8-15
2nd read - 10-19-18
August 28, 2012
beautiful beginnig! I know this is just going to be a great read.
October 17, 2012
This was a cute shorter romance. The story was good and the characters were decently developed. It had some awkwardness to it but overall it was pretty good.
June 16, 2014
Yes please...I'll take a Kingston any day.
June 29, 2013
ahhh..., lovely sweet, funny, sad, romantic love story, definitely worth a read.
September 8, 2013
3.5 stars!
June 7, 2013
This was an ok story.
July 2, 2013
Nothing impressive, but funny. A lot of double entendre since page (1) makes it rather enjoyable and fun. If you are looking for a short, fast read, this will do.
July 25, 2013
A STEAMY hot fast read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews