Release Blitz & Review ~~ Close to You by Kristen Proby

by Louisa · August 9, 2016

Rating:

Kristen Proby is known for writing heartfelt characters with deep connections and sizzling passion. In her brand new Fusion Series from William Morrow, she seduces readers’ senses with the sexy, contemporary romance in which five best friends open a hot new restaurant together. Today, we are thrilled to bring you CLOSE TO YOU, the second book in the Fusion Series! CLOSE TO YOU brings readers the next story in this amazing cast of characters. Grab your copy of CLOSE TO YOU today and check out the special offer below!

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby comes the second novel in her sizzling Fusion series.

Camilla, “Cami,” LaRue was five-years-old when she first fell in love with Landon Palazzo. Everyone told her the puppy love would fade—they clearly never met Landon. When he left after graduation without a backward glance, she was heartbroken. But Cami grew up, moved on, and became part-owner of wildly popular restaurant Seduction. She has everything she could want…or so she thinks.

After spending the last twelve years as a Navy fighter pilot, Landon returns to Portland to take over the family construction business. When he catches a glimpse of little Cami LaRue, he realizes she’s not so little any more. He always had a soft spot for his little sister’s best friend, but nothing is soft now when he’s around the gorgeous restauranteur.

Landon isn’t going to pass up the chance to make the girl-next-door his. She’s never been one for romance, but he’s just the one to change her mind. Will seduction be just the name of her restaurant or will Cami let him get close enough to fulfill all her fantasies?

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STEPHANIE’S 4 STAR REVIEW

Kristen Proby introduces us to the second book in her Fusion series. The series is centered around Seduction,a trendy, upscale restaurant in downtown Portland. It is owned and operatedby 5 friends and each play an important role within the restaurant.

Close to You focuses on Camilla, “Cami,” LaRue who handles the restaurant’s finances. Cami grew up with Mia and has had a crush on her older brother Landon since she was 5 years old. Landon has returned home after retiring from the Navy, his career as a pilot ending after an accident that forced him to eject from his aircraft.

Landon is my otherbest friend, Mia’s older brother. Addie, Mia, and I grew up together, and I’ve been in love with Landon for as long as I can remember.

“You’ve known him yourwhole life. It’s not like he’s new,” I remind myself in the mirror. “You’rejust going over to say hi. It’s no big deal.”

Landon has always connected with Cami. Unfortunately he was much older so she was off limits. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t into her…..

“I don’t remember a time when I didn’t want her. Had she been a couple of years older, there was a time when I would have pursued her romantically, but then I went into the Navy,and she got married, and life carried on.”

This is a friends to lover’s story. I love the flow of thebook. As I have said before it reads similarity to the Seattle Series with the flow and characters. It was very straight forward. I enjoyed it but there was no real drama or angst. There is an incident toward the end of the book but otherthan that it was pretty steady and straight forward.

I still enjoyed the story. And then there is the cat…..

Cami is opening her front door and a stray cat runs into herhouse. She can’t get him to leave. She ends up with this cat that she calls“Scoot” (because he won’t leave). I have to say I laughed out loud at some ofthe scenes with Scoot! I’m not even a “cat” person, but those scenes were so funny!I am looking forward to the next installment which I thinkwill focus on Kat?

EXCERPT

PROLOGUE

~Landon~

“Are you packed?” my sister, Mia, asks through the phone. Her voice is husky with sleep, which makes sense since it’s the middle of the night back home in Portland, Oregon.

“I leave tomorrow, Mia. Of course I’m not packed.” She snickers. I just finished up my last debriefing meeting, my last day as an officer in the Navy. I grip the zipper of my flight uniform and sigh. “It’s not right.”

“I know,” she says quietly. “But you’re safe and whole, and you could be dead, Landon, so I’ll take it.”

I frown, staring at myself in the mirror as I unzip my uniform for the last time. I’ll never wear it again, never pilot a plane again.

What the fuck am I supposed to do now? The Navy gave me options, but if I can’t fly, there’s no sense in it. Flying isn’t just what I do, it’s who I am.

“You’re overthinking,” Mia says.

“I’m a pilot, Mia. This is what I love. It wasn’t supposed to end like this.”

“You’re alive,” she says.

“Am I?” I murmur, then shake my head and wince at the neck pain that still nags me from time to time. Ejecting from an F- 16 will cause a crick in the neck. And a loss of an inch in height that may never return, along with an entire Naval career.

Son of a bitch.

“This has been the longest four months of our lives, Landon. We’re all anxious to see you.”

“I’ll be home in a few days,” I reply as I pull a T- shirt over my head and throw the last of my belongings in a box that the Navy will have sent to me from Italy.

I loved being in Italy for the past few years, and God knows I didn’t plan to leave it like this.

But I am. Maybe Mia’s right; at least I’m alive and I can walk and live a normal life.

I just can’t fly.

And that’s what hurts more than any injury from the crash.

“What time should I come get you from the airport?”

“No need,” I reply, regretting calling my sister and waking her up. I just didn’t know what else to do when I came in here and was faced with boxes and the end of a career I love. “I’ll get there.”

“Landon— ”

“It’s okay, really. I’ll see you in a few days.”

“Be safe,” she says. “And, Landon?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s going to be okay.”

I force a grin and a nod, though she can’t see either. “Of course it is.”

We say our good- byes and I sit on the edge of the bed, scrub my hands over my face, and take a deep breath. I hope she’s right.

Order CLOSE TO YOU during release week, fill out this form, and receive an email with the Exclusive Short Story, GROW WITH ME, featuring Will and Meg from Kristen Proby’s PLAY WITH ME in the With Me in Seattle Series after Release Week!

And Don’t Miss the First Novel in the Fusion Series, LISTEN TO ME!

OUR REVIEW OF LISTEN TO ME

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About Kristen Proby:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.

Kristen lives in Montana, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.