NAMED ONE OF THE MUST-READ ROMANCES OF THE YEAR BY USA TODAY • Violetta Rand’s explosive Lies & Leather series kicks off with a red-hot motorcycle racer who rides hard and plays for keeps. Twenty-one-year-old Karlie Augustine is a survivor. She’s smart and tough, but she’s in too deep with a bad boyfriend who isn’t above breaking her spirit—or her body. Luckily, help arrives in the form of … body. Luckily, help arrives in the form of a leather-clad, motorcycle-riding hunk on the right side of the law. Lucas Lafontaine is pure muscle, a Corpus Christi cop who ignites something primal deep within Karlie. And when he offers her room and board in exchange for housekeeping, she finally starts to feel safe again.
As their arrangement turns deliciously decadent, Lucas gets hooked on Karlie’s killer body and fighting spirit. He wants to heal the pain he sees behind her eyes, but to protect her he needs to keep her close, especially now that her psycho ex won’t take a hint. Even as Lucas fights his own battle for custody of his young son, he knows that what he’s found with Karlie is real—and that he’d do anything to protect the woman he wants to take to the finish line.
Praise for Loving Lucas
“Sensitive, endearing and hot . . . The lead characters’ voices are distinct, and the author gives excellent insight into what makes them tick. . . . Despite a busy reading schedule, I couldn’t resist reading it a second time. I did fall in love with Lucas—he deserves his own fan club.”—Lea Franczak, USA Today
“Violetta Rand books demand to be devoured in one sitting! Loving Lucas steams up the pages even as it pulls at your heartstrings.”—USA Today bestselling author Lauren Layne
“Heartbreaking and lovely . . . Violetta Rand nails this story of two damaged souls finding one real love.”—Cecy Robson, author of Once Kissed
“I absolutely loved . . . the heat and chemistry between these two! They were super steamy and I felt their attraction for each other instantly.”—Ramblings from This Chick
“The emotional chemistry is just as strong and I loved watching their relationship grow beyond the way they burn up the sheets in the bedroom.”—Books Need TLC
“An enjoyable read . . . Who wouldn’t want to read about a white knight who comes rushing in? . . . I’m interested in seeing where this series goes next.”—Travels n Reads
“Confession time . . . I’m addicted to Violetta Rand. Her books are fabulous. Her characters are insanely sexy. The emotion and raw desire is always amazing. These are three of the reasons why I snatch up and devour any of her books. Loving Lucas was no different.”—Crystal Blogs Books
“A fantastic, heartfelt, hot, and hard-hitting novel that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to others. I can’t wait to see where Rand goes with this series from here.”—Pure Jonel
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
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Karlie Augustine was in the foster care system as a child. She never was given love but she was taught and made to cook and clean. At 18 she was given $500.00 and put on the street no longer their responsibility. She did however find out they would pay for her college education, so she decided to make a go of it.
A year and a half ago she meets Connor Seville at a bar. They spent the night dancing, drinking, and talking the whole night. The one thing they had in common was motorcycle racing. You see Connor is a National winner making a hometown favorite. So when Karlie started showing up at the hospital with odd injuries no one questioned the fact she could be being abused by Connor their hero. Yet, she was.
This time though they were at a race when Connor lost control letting his temper out. He and she were in their trailer and he didn’t want her to go out to the fire pit alone where their friends were but she said she was going so he went after her by yanking, pulling her hair, trying to break her big toe, when she was able to stumbling out of the trailer. She looked around for her best friend Marie and her boyfriend Brandon, but they weren’t there. The only ones there were all Connor’s friends. None wanted to make an enemy of their hero.
When Connor was getting ready to strike her Lucas La Fontaine came to her rescue. Knocking Connor on his ass to the ground. At this point Marie and Brandon had already shown up and taken her away from the fire that Connor had almost backed her into. So he told Marie to go with Karlie to get her packed up. While he held Connor down with his foot on the chest. They did and Marie and Brandon invited him to their camp to talk and have a drink. At which point they start to learn about each other. All three knowing now that she is homeless and will need to find a part time job. Lucas offers her something she can’t resist. It is not without wanting to get close to her that is for sure. He lost his heart for her the minute he saw her and then to see Connor man handle her pissed him off.
This was an interesting erotic story. There were some very gripping moments that kept me on the edge of my seat for sure. Yet, there were tender moments that made you think. But those love scenes did at times make me fan myself that is for sure. All in all a very good storyline. I give this 5 stars. Provided by netgalley.com.
I’m in love with Lucas!
Lucas is hot! Did I tell you that Lucas is hot? Well, he is, he’s a dream that wears a badge on his impressive chest, and his heart on his sleeve. Who wouldn’t fall in love with this Texas hero? My only complaint about him is that he is too perfect, too good for any woman. But, he’s found his match in Karli Augustine, a sweet college girl whose life has been one helluva rocky road. Orphaned as a baby, she’s had to fight for everything in life. Along the way, she’s made a few bad choices, like the skanky, hotshot, alcoholic, champion motocross boyfriend that abuses her. The asshole destroyed her self-confidence, which was pitiful to begin with, and reduced her to a shaking shell of a twenty-one-year-old woman.
Enter Lucas, who rescues her and falls head-over-heels in love with this tiny bit of a woman. The adoring Lucas, with infinite patience, makes it his business to rebuild Karli’s confidence and help her blossom into the woman he believes her to be. Their attraction is “hotter than a mama cougar in heat,” and they don’t waste any time getting down with it.
This book is a quick, fun-loving read, that will sweep you up into its warm embrace and keep you wishing that Lucas was lying next to you.