I need a fake date. She needs my late-night expertise. Now, if we can just keep our hands off each other… completely.
After all, just look how she’s kept her lips sealed about the hot, multi-O night we spent together. Yes, just look at those sexy lips.
In any case, we only fell off the wagon once, and it was months ago. I’m sure we can make it through these weddings without banging each other in the limo.
Or can we?
INSTANT GRATIFICATION is a sexy, standalone romantic comedy in the Always Satisfied series of standalones! The series includes SATISFACTION GUARANTEED, INSTANT GRATIFICATION and OVERNIGHT SERVICE and they can be read in any order.
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When a hot British guy walks into her bar, Truly is quickly attracted to Jason; what’s not to like? Well, turns out he is her twin brother’s friend and suddenly Truly and Jason are in the strictly friend zone.
This story was so funny, and the way the main characters danced around their attraction, carefully treading the thin line between platonic friendship and something more, kept me on edge. Plus, Jason is a Best Man escort, which brought in some really interesting characters with the weddings he worked at.
I’ve liked the narrators Andi Arndt and Shane East for a long time, they frequently narrate Lauren Blakely’s audiobooks. It is well worth listening to this audiobook past the end story as they have outtakes and an interview (Joe Arden questions them about weddings, since there were so many weddings in the book.)
Super sexy characters and a great fun story. As usual, Lauren Blakely did it again! A do not miss!
It’s not a secret that I’m a huge Lauren Blakely fan, but of all of her awesome books, and there are so many, it’s her male point-of-view stories that are my favorite. Blakely’s innate ability to get into her hero’s heads and giving her readers their thoughts, feelings, reactions and realizations genuinely and authentically. There is something about experiencing the story solely through the hero’s perspective that makes it completely addictive to me, and no one does it quite like Lauren Blakely.
Instant Gratification is a combination of two of my favorite tropes – friends-to-lovers and best-friend’s sister, and Blakely blended them perfectly. Jason, a modern gentleman and best-man-for-hire, and Truly, a successful business owner, had such delicious chemistry. After one sizzling night together months earlier, they decided it better to focus on their friendship. But that kind of chemistry was hard to ignore. I loved how Blakely paired this couple, and between their witty back-and-forth bantering, their smart conversations and that simmering attraction, it was becoming increasingly difficult for them to remain in the friend zone.
After reading Satisfaction Guaranteed, I was really looking forward to Jason and Truly’s story, and Blakely delivered the fun, flirty and fiery romance I was hoping for. She just has this way of telling a story that is uniquely hers, and it never fails to make my heart happy. A fabulously executed romantic comedy, Instant Gratification had exactly what I look for when I pick up this genre: well-developed characters in a smoking-hot romance with enough of that ‘will they or won’t they’ push and pull to keep me on my toes. Five smooches from me for Instant Gratification by Lauren Blakely!
~Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads
4.5 stars
Jason Reynolds has career goals that he is quickly meeting. His main project is as The Modern Gentleman, teaching men how to navigate polite society ad achieve their goals. But his side hustle is as best man for hire: speech writer, wedding party member, whatever the groom needs to give his bride the day she’s always dreamed of. He needs a date to a wedding after his usual helper backs out. His best friend’s sister is the perfect person to step in to help, except for that one time they took things too far. But they are adults and can forget that ever happened, right?
I loved Truly and Jason! The sexual tension between them is thick. They had one very hot night together, but both felt like they couldn’t go there for real because of Truly’s brother. Though they ignore that night and don’t speak of it, neither has forgotten it, and the chemistry between them is high.
There was so much back and forth between them. They may have had off the charts chemistry, but it also took a lot for them to even think about trying something. That back and forth made it feel like they were always on the edge of something new, just waiting for the courage to take the leap. Spending so much time together sounded like an easy feat until their attraction came into play.
These characters were introduced in Satisfaction Guaranteed, but their story is complete with only this one book. The characters from SG were back on the outskirts, though Truly’s brother, Malone, played some pretty big roles in the reasoning keeping these two apart.
This was a great mix of fun, sass, and heat. Truly and Jason have great banter even before the sexual tension ramps up. They are friends first ad that relationship is important to both of them. As they explore what could be between them, the heat only grows hotter!
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Instant Gratification is the second book in the ‘Always Satisfied’ series by my favorite rom/com author, Lauren Blakely. As usual, this book is full of sexy, funny, drop dead gorgeous and adorable characters. Add in the ‘British’ element and her female cast are drooling in their pints, or they would be if they drank beer like that, lol.
Truly is American, through and through, while Jason is the quintessential Brit. He’s a gentleman to his core but that doesn’t stop him from being sex as sin. He and Truly have been friends for years, and have quietly lusted after one another. But, Truly is Malone’s sister. You remember Malone from Satisfaction Guaranteed? Yeah, so instead of the ‘bro code’ it’s the ‘girl gate’ stopping them.
Well, that ‘gate’ only stays up for so long. They’ve given in to their feelings once before, it’s only a matter of time before the whole wall is tumbled.
Jason and Truly are so sweet together. They’re also hot as Hades and it’s obvious they are meant to be. Will Malone agree. Women are more level-headed than men when it comes to their family/ best friends getting together, aren’t they? Grab your copy today and find out in this laugh out loud romance.
Audio Review from September 2019
Best friends sister with some history.
This story was a lot of fun! I loved seeing how Jason and Truly gave into their desires for each other.
The full cast narration was epic also!
Andi Ardnt and Shane East were the primary characters with Jason Clarke as her brother, Sebastian York played a couple of past characters, Grace Grant, Vikas Adam and more!!
This story is awesome. I loved everything about it. And the many cast of narrators makes the story come alive. It was one of the best I have heard yet because of all the different people telling the story.
I can’t wait to read or listen to more from these characters. This story was fun, and the friends-to-lovers aspect was the best. And you have to listen to it because the audiobook has the best bloopers, extras, and even an interview with Shane East and Andi Arndt conducted by Joe Arden that will have you laughing until the very end.
An enticing, sensual, witty, and entertaining romance. Jason and Truly embarked on a forbidden, fun, an all consuming journey that lead them to a place that neither of them expected. I loved it.
Lauren Blakely is an automatic one-click, pre-order-every-time author for me. I love her books, especially the fact that you get to revisit previous characters in every read. I listened to the audiobook day of release, and then read the actual book day of release as well.
This book is fantastic. Truly and Jason are a very well-matched pair, but their career ambitions and concerns about their separate relationships with Malone (Truly’s brother and Jason’s best friend) get in the way of their budding relationship. Luckily Jason’s work forces him into some romantic settings with Truly, and they stop ignoring their feelings for a little while so they can actually take the time to fall in love.
I love that we got to see some previous LB couples, like Malone and Sloane, Nick and Harper, and the one that started this whole train ride in Big Rock – Charlotte and Spencer. It’s always great to catch up with beloved couples from the past.
The audio book is PHENOMENAL! It is a full cast recording, and the narration and rapport between the voice actors is spot-on amazing. Andi Arndt and Shane East are great as Truly and Jason, and bringing back classic LB narrators to voice the original voices from their stories is a fun nod to the past. This is like a who’s who of the greatest romance narrators in the business. Great narration + great story = AUDIOBOOK NIRVANA. Seriously, so worth it. Hope you love it as much as I do.
15 stars for the Audible version. The narrators are amazing and make the story so much more fun.
I love all Lauren Blakely books. I am currently reading my 4th in a row. My other authors are being ignored. However, I felt there was no point to this book whatsoever.
I listened to this book on audio and let me tell you the narrators are fabulous! This book has a higher heat level than I normally read but I thought it was well done and had a great storyline.
Another amazing Rom-com from the queen, Lauren Blakely. In Instant Gratification Lauren gives us the perfect Gentleman with Jason. Jason has a way with words, advice, and one hell of a sexy voice the only thing that could make him not a gentleman is Truly. Truly is everything that I love about Lauren’s heroines she’s strong, sexy, caring, independent, and has a way of making cocktails. Between flirtatious moments and ‘pancakes’ these two bring love, humor, and prove that with the right person…..the One you can be truly happy and do what you love.
4 Best Man Stars!!
Jason is the ultimate best man in NYC and I absolutely loved him and his ability to make a wedding the best day ever with his speech, good looks and witty banter with young and old. Truly is a woman that he’s known for a long time and become good friends with because she’s his best friend, Malone so there’s this pesky, “don’t touch my sister” rule that’s hanging between them…too bad they broke that rule and now know what it’s like to be at each other’s mercy in the bedroom!
As hard as he tries, Jason just can’t forget that wild weekend, and quite frankly neither can Truly, but they’ve gone back to being “flirty” friends until Jason calls upon Truly to be a date to one of his “weddings” which brings all the flirtation they’ve been doing to the proverbial head!
They have the best banter between them while being sassy and sexy but still trying to keep from doing all sorts of sexy things together. They’re truly a match when it comes to their ability to give as good as they get…which is one of the many reasons I love Ms. Blakely’s writing. There’s just the right amount snarkiness to her books and this friends-to-lovers books is a gem of a read.
Jason and Truly have a few things to get past to get to their HEA but it’s a fun time going on this journey with them. Add in that we get some of my favorites as secondary characters Nick and Harper and of course her twin brother Malone and it’s a trifecta of a read!
Another great book from Lauren Blakely!
This Modern Gentleman will sweep you off your feet with his manners, his accent, and his discourse. You only have yourself to blame when you are putty in his hands or a puddle at his feet. I say this with all my heart because this consummate wingman is already taken..he Truly is.
Sexy and sweet meets intense chemistry and longing for plenty of gratification! This friends to lovers story is speech worthy. You will be pulling for Jason and Truly long before they realize how deeply down the rabbit hole they are. Be careful though…there are other characters around to try and steal your heart as well.
Lauren Blakely did it again. She gave us a cast of characters that scream new BFF and never enough time with them. She dangled their forevers in our minds and now we have to wait for the whole story…except for a few! She included the best man for hire ever afters in an epic epilogue for all those greedy readers like myself!
Great characters. Good read. Thank you.
This second book in the Always Satisfied series feature’s our heroine, Malone’s twin sister, Truly and his best friend, Jason, our Hero. This story blends two familiar tropes, friends to lovers and best friend’s sister, the latter providing the major road block for these two. I loved the easy going banter they shared as good friends. I really enjoyed the flirtatious banter they shared as they kept trying to deny their growing attraction for one another, all in the name of preserving their respective relationship with Malone. Even more entertaining were the quips and barbs from their collective friends encouraging them to make the commitment toward one another because it was soooo obvious…even to Malone! Loved their chemistry and especially their devotion to supporting their respective dreams!
Instant Gratification is the second rom-com in the Always Satisfied series by one of my favorite all-time authors, Lauren Blakely. I have read every word she has ever written and will continue to do so until she retires which I know won’t be any time soon. She is on fire! Each book can be read as standalone but I do recommend reading Satisfaction Guaranteed along with Delayed Satisfaction (A short story) since that is where you first meet Jason (Malone’s Best Friend) and Truly (Malone’s Sister). You can feel the tension even back then.
Off-limits. Very off-limits in fact. Not only was Truly, Malone’s sister she was also a good friend. And one night six months ago she was even more. Much more. She was a minx. One he wanted over and over again except they made a deal. To never speak of it again. It couldn’t happen again. They both didn’t want to ruin their friendship or the friendship between Malone and Jason. They were the most important people in his life. So, that was it. One night. It was just enough to make him remember every curve in her incredible body. Her moans in ecstasy. Ones he should try forget but never could. And now, that she agreed to be his plus one for a few weddings…he was totally fucked. Holding her will be the best kind of torture.
The friend zone. It’s the zone they had to stay in to make this work. They were there before their one night of pure sin and they were there now. Except the flirting and innuendos are on point. It was not to be spoken of but rules are broken. Again and again. Will they be able to keep their hands of each other while he helps her with her business project. And his best man gigs?
Of course not!! And it fan-fucking-tastic! It’s steamy, sweet, and sexy. I loved these two. Their banter is full of sass, laughter, flirt, and sexual tension. I also love that they full support each other in their businesses and in life. And one of my favorite things about a Lauren Blakely book is the cameos! The connections are epic. I don’t know how she keeps it all together. Actually I do. She is a rock star! I have been saying that for years. I can’t wait for the next book!!
Quotes:
“We friend-zoned each other. It was mutual. Do I need to remind you of the morning after?”
“Only if you want me to remind you of all the things you said the night before.”
She heaves a sigh. “Jason.”
“Yes. Like that. Only with a little more of a long, lingering moan. Kind of breathy. Sort of like Jason, yes, right there. Harder.”
“I’ve missed this sight. You, hot, wet, and bothered.”
“Aching. Don’t forget aching.”
Lauren certainly has a way with writing characters that I love. A fabulously funny, sexy, quirky friends to lovers tale! Jason and Truly have been skating around their feelings for years. Yes Truly is Jason’s best friend’s sister but she is also his friend. The more they fight the feeling the more it becomes apparant that they are compatible. A weekend away and they feel like they have a free pass and they now can’t forget the chemsitry that surrounded them! THey are cute, sassy have amazing witty banter and they are sizzling off the pages ! Loved them and their wonderful cast of characters !
~~Michele McMullen ~~