Love like this, p.1
Love Like This, page 1
Love Like This
Sometimes the most imperfect match is the most perfect surprise.
Hadley Cooper believes in happily-ever-afters with her whole heart. Described by her friends as a wide-eyed, eternal optimist, she looks for the bright side in most any situation. However, when her job as the assistant manager of Silhouette, a posh boutique on Rodeo Drive, is on the line, she realizes it’s time to pull her head out of the clouds and find a way to turn business around, and that just might mean partnering with the most stubborn up-and-coming fashion designer she’s ever encountered.
Spencer Adair has a passion for fashion, but hates the fact that it rhymes. She’s serious about her designs, fiercely protective of her work, and is waiting patiently for her big break. What she didn’t plan on, however, was the unsolicited opinions of that overly-friendly blond boutique manager. Or the way her heart beats faster every time she’s around.
Reviewers Love Melissa Brayden
“Melissa Brayden has become one of the most popular novelists of the genre, writing hit after hit of funny, relatable, and very sexy stories for women who love women.”—Afterellen.com
Sparks Like Ours
“Brayden sets up a flirtatious tit-for-tat that’s honest, relatable, and passionate. The women’s fears are real, but the loving support from the supporting cast helps them find their way to a happy future. This enjoyable romance is sure to interest readers in the other stories from Seven Shores.”—Publishers Weekly
“Sparks Like Ours is made up of myriad bits of truth that make for a cozy, lovely summer read.”—Queerly Reads
Hearts Like Hers
“Hearts like Hers has all the ingredients that readers can expect from Ms. Brayden: witty dialogue, heartfelt relationships, hot chemistry and passionate romance.”—Lez Review Books
“Once again Melissa Brayden stands at the top. She unequivocally is the queen of romance.”—Front Porch Romance
“Autumn Primm and Kate Carpenter are my favorite Brayden couple to date. This book had me laughing, crying and swooning like never before.”—Les Reveur
“Hearts Like Hers has a breezy style that makes it a perfect beach read. The romance is paced well, the sex is super hot, and the conflict made perfect sense and honored Autumn and Kate’s journeys.”—The Lesbian Review
Eyes Like Those
“Brayden’s writing is just getting better and better. The story is well done, full of well-honed wit and humour, and the characters are complex and interesting.”—Lesbian Reading Room
“Melissa Brayden knocks it out of the park once again with this fantastic and beautifully written novel.”—Les Reveur
“Pure Melissa Brayden at her best…Another great read that won’t disappoint Brayden’s fans. Can’t wait for the rest of the series.”—Lez Review Books
Strawberry Summer
“The characters were a joy to read and get to know. Maggie’s family is loving, supportive, and charming. They’re the family we all wish we had, through good times and bad.”—C-Spot Reviews
“The tragedy is real, the angst well done without being over the top, and the character development palpable in both the main characters and their friends.”—Lesbian Reading Room
“Strawberry Summer is a tribute to first love and soulmates and growing into the person you’re meant to be. I feel like I say this each time I read a new Melissa Brayden offering, but I loved this book so much that I cannot wait to see what she delivers next.”—Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
“Strawberry Summer will suck you in, rip out your heart, and put all the pieces back together by the end, maybe even a little better than they were before.”—The Lesbian Review
First Position
“Brayden aptly develops the growing relationship between Ana and Natalie, making the emotional payoff that much sweeter. This ably plotted, moving offering will earn its place deep in readers’ hearts.”—Publishers Weekly
“First Position is romance at its finest with an opposites attract theme that kept me engaged the whole way through.”—The Lesbian Review
“This book is thoughtful and compassionate, serious yet entertaining, and altogether extremely well done. It takes a lot to stand out, but this is definitely one of the best Traditional Romances of the year.”—Lesbian Reading Room
“You go about your days reading books, thinking oh, yes this one is good, that one over there is so good, and then a Melissa Brayden comes along making everything else seem…well, just less than.”—The Romantic Reader
How Sweet It Is
“‘Sweet’ is definitely the keyword for this well-written, character-driven lesbian romance novel. It is ultimately a love letter to small town America, and the lesson to remain open to whatever opportunities and happiness comes into your life.”—Bob Lind, Echo Magazine
“Oh boy! The events were perfectly plausible, but the collection and the threading of all the stories, main and sub plots, were just fantastic. I completely and wholeheartedly recommend this book. So touching, so heartwarming and all-out beautiful.”—Rainbow Book Reviews
Heart Block
“The story is enchanting with conflicts and issues to be overcome that will keep the reader turning the pages. The relationship between Sarah and Emory is achingly beautiful and skillfully portrayed. This second offering by Melissa Brayden is a perfect package of love—and life to be lived to the fullest. So grab a beverage and snuggle up with a comfy throw to read this classic story of overcoming obstacles and finding enduring love.”—Lambda Literary Review
“Although this book doesn’t beat you over the head with wit, the interactions are almost always humorous, making both characters really quite loveable. Overall a very enjoyable read.”—C-Spot Reviews
Waiting in the Wings
“This was an engaging book with believable characters and story development. It’s always a pleasure to read a book set in a world like theater / film that gets it right…a thoroughly enjoyable read.”—Lez Books
“This is Brayden’s first novel, but we wouldn’t notice if she hadn’t told us. The book is well put together and more complex than most authors’ second or third books. The characters have chemistry; you want them to get together in the end. The book is light, frothy, and fun to read. And the sex is hot without being too explicit—not an easy trick to pull off.”—Liberty Press
“Sexy, funny, and all-around enjoyable.”—Afterellen.com
Praise for the Soho Loft Series
“The trilogy was enjoyable and definitely worth a read if you’re looking for solid romance or interconnected stories about a group of friends.”—The Lesbrary
Kiss the Girl
“There are romances and there are romances…Melissa Brayden can be relied on to write consistently very sweet, pure romances and delivers again with her newest book Kiss the Girl…There are scenes suffused with the sweetest love, some with great sadness or even anger—a whole gamut of emotions that take readers on a gentle roller coaster with a consistent upbeat tone. And at the heart of this book is a hymn to true friendship and human decency.”—C-Spot Reviews
“An adorable romance in which two flawed but well-written characters defy the odds and fall into the arms of the other.”—She Read
“Brayden does romance so very well. She provides us with engaging characters, a plausible setup with understandable and realistic conflict, and ridiculously fantastic dialogue.”—Frivolous Views
Just Three Words
“I can sum up my reading experience with Just Three Words in exactly that: I. LOVED. IT.”—Bookaholics-Not-So-Anonymous
“A beautiful and downright hilarious tale about two very relatable women looking for love.”—Sharing Is Caring Book Reviews
Ready or Not
“The third book was the best of the series. Melissa Brayden has some work cut out for her when writing a book after this one.”—Fantastic Book Reviews
Love Like This
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eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com
eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.
Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.
Love Like This
© 2018 By Melissa Brayden. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13:978-1-63555-017-7
This Electronic Book is published by
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, NY 12185
First Edition: October 2018
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Lynda Sandoval
Production Design: Stacia Seaman
Cover Design by Jeanine Henning
By the Author
Waiting in the Wings
Heart Block
How Sweet It Is
First Position
Strawberry Summer
Soho Loft Romances:
Kiss the Girl
Just Three Words
Ready or Not
Seven Shores Romances:
Eyes Like Those
Hearts Like Hers
Sparks Like Ours
Acknowledgments
As I approached the last book in the Seven Shores series, I did so with happy-sadness. Happy to complete the journey, yet sad for it all to end. I’ve enjoyed my time with Isabel, Taylor, Autumn, Kate, Gia, Elle, Hadley, and Spencer. What I came up with for book four might be a little bit different from what the readers might expect, but it’s my hope that you’ll enjoy the journey, twists and turns and all!
I want to extend a warm thank you to the team of professionals at Bold Strokes Books for their guidance and understanding. I wrote this book very, very pregnant, and was humbled by the behind-the-scenes creative process and how much everyone along the way was willing to give to help me reach the finish line. I also send buckets of love to my friends and family, who were there with words of encouragement when I truly needed them. It’s so nice to have good people, and thereby a fantastic support system, on my side. I’m simply the luckiest.
I would be remiss in not taking a few lines to thank the little guy, who was with me each and every day as I wrote Love Like This, a firm reminder of what love can be. Everett made his debut in the world in the midst of the editing process and was the biggest inspiration one could ask for. I hope he’ll usher me along the path to many more books to come. It looks like I have a new sidekick.
When I think of my readers and the wonderful give and take I have with you, I feel nothing but an abundance of gratitude. Thank you for sticking with me, and for embracing this series! I’ve had a blast taking this ride with you. I hope you enjoy this final chapter.
For the Daydreamers
Chapter One
Hadley Cooper turned the page at lightning speed. She had only four minutes before she needed to grab her bag and leave for work. Unfortunately, this also happened to be the exact moment the time machine ran out of fuel and the portal to return to the present was slowly closing on her band of new book friends. She read quickly, her eyes sweeping across each sentence, gobbling up what happened next in the story as fast as she could. Her heart leapt into her throat as the suspense climbed to a terrifying crescendo. Janika, the protagonist, mashed the buttons, playing the control panel like a piano, anything to find a backup source that would give them enough power to make it home. Hadley exhaled and rolled her shoulders to ease the increasing tension. It didn’t work. They weren’t going to make it. With her hand covering her heart, she checked the clock.
“Oh no,” she breathed. While the characters were out of time, so was she. She sadly closed the book, reminding herself that, on the bright side, she had something to look forward to later that night. After holding the book to her chest for a few tender moments, she placed it gently on her coffee table and gathered her belongings for the day ahead.
Silhouette, the posh boutique on Rodeo Drive that Hadley proudly assistant managed, would open for the day at eleven. She would need to be there by ten to ensure the displays were updated and her staff briefed on the week ahead. She had an extra burst of energy, however, as today was the day she would meet in person with the up-and-coming designer she was convinced would help change the image of the store. The store’s owner and general manager, Trudy, had been hounding her for months about revising their current list of designers. Trudy wanted new lines that weren’t stuffy, weren’t geared to the over-forty-five crowd exclusively, and would give Silhouette an edgier appeal. No designer Hadley had presented her with thus far had fit the bill, and the pressure seemed to grow exponentially with each day that ticked by.
But this one was different. Spencer Adair came with a design book that left Hadley drooling. She would be new on the LA retail scene and came with a cult following on social media where she promoted her work, which she sold entirely from her own website. Making the leap to retail was a big deal, and Hadley wanted to be on the inside track. She was confident that once Trudy saw the same innovation that Hadley had, she’d be thrilled with Hadley’s find, and Silhouette would burst onto the forefront of the younger market, shooting it into the stratosphere of Rodeo history. At least, that’s how she imagined it would all play out, and dreaming was everything to Hadley. She lived for those pie-in-the-sky possibilities.
“Someone’s in a hurry,” Gia Malone said, as Hadley dashed from her apartment. The two had been next-door neighbors on the second floor of the Seven Shores apartment complex for close to three years now and best friends for nearly all of that time. Gia’s long dark hair was down that morning and she wore cut-off shorts and a bikini top, blending nicely with the August temperatures. In her right hand, she carried the remnants of what Hadley recognized as a protein smoothie that would usher Gia into her workout. As a professional surfer, she kept in tip-top shape.
“I got lost in my book,” Hadley said remorsefully. “I should have been on the road and sitting in traffic fifteen minutes ago, but it was so good I couldn’t stop.”
“I have a feeling you’ll smile your way out of any true consequence.”
Hadley sighed, straightening her designer black dress paired with designer heels, aka her upscale work clothes, not to be confused with her more comfortable Hadley-at-home persona. “But I’m also meeting with that new designer this morning, the one Elle recommended.” Elle Britton was Gia’s fellow surfer on the Women’s Pro Tour. The two were major competitors. She also happened to be Gia’s girlfriend, and the love of her life.
“Oh yeah? I didn’t realize that had panned out.”
“It hasn’t yet, but it will!” Hadley said with a smile and sprinkle of determination. “This is gonna be the one that gets Trudy off my back and puts Silhouette on the map.” She headed down the outdoor stairs to the central courtyard of the complex. “Gonna be a fantastic day, G,” she called over her shoulder.
“Yeah, it is. You’re gonna rock this meeting. Hit me up later tonight with all the details. We’re gonna want to hear all about it.”
She realized that meant Elle would be over, which was perfect! She adored Elle.
“Off to work, I take it,” Autumn Carpenter said as Hadley scurried past the adjacent coffee shop, the Cat’s Pajamas, on the way to the parking lot. Hadley beamed at Autumn, another of her three best friends. Autumn stood on the sidewalk, phone in hand, wearing her work apron over her ginormous stomach. The twins she was carrying were due the following week, and Hadley was about ready to burst herself—in her case from warm fuzzies and uncontrolled excitement.
“Yes!” Hadley said, with a smile. “I have a much-anticipated meeting with a designer before opening. Any signs of labor? Contractions? Nesting?” It was her standard series of questions.
Autumn touched her stomach. “While there is certainly a one-on-one soccer match going on in there, no labor pains yet.”
Hadley nodded. “You know that the second you feel them—”
“I am to call you immediately.” Autumn ran a probably tired hand through her untamed red curls. “I know the drill, Had. You remind me daily.”
Hadley kissed her cheek with a smack. “I adore you, so please don’t spend too much time on your feet today. Call that firefighting wife of yours for backup. You need to rest up for the big day.”
