A sexy standalone romance from #1 NYT Bestseller Lauren Blakely! That inked bad boy who’s been flirting hard with me since he rode into town? Turns out he’s my new housemate, which is one heck of a problem since our chemistry is so hot it should be illegal. I have a fantastic family, great best friends, a job I love…and now I’m up for a promotion to police sergeant. I need total focus–not a … promotion to police sergeant. I need total focus–not a flirty, dirty, irresistible, tattooed hottie riding into my town on his motorcycle. Can I arrest him for being too good-looking? When he kisses me senseless in the back of a waffle truck, it’s criminal, the things he makes me think about hot syrup and melted butter. One order of hot, fluffy hookup to go, please. But the next time I see him, it’s not for our date with benefits. He’s the guy who just rented the room above my garage. I need the rent to pay my bills, not a man like Derek, who I soon discover to be strong, caring, generous, good with kids, and kind to puppies… If I’m not careful, he’ll be moving into my heart as well as my house.
***
A no-strings-attached fling with the fiery redhead who revs my engine? Why, yes, that does sound like a delicious perk of my new job in this new town, thank you very much. I’m coming off a bad relationship, and I have zero interest in anything serious. I’ve got all the serious I need helping my sister take care of her three little kids while her husband is deployed. Except, surprise! Perri isn’t just my future fling. Turns out she’s my sexy, sassy landlord. A lease definitely counts as “strings attached,” and as much as I’d like to get tangled in her sheets, I can’t let myself get tangled up in a relationship. But as soon as we put the cuffs on our escapades, I learn over late-night conversations in the kitchen, that my landlord is so much more than the sexiest woman I’ve ever met- she has a quick mind and the biggest heart. Once I’m in, I’m all in. And to convince her that we should see where this goes, I plan on turning up the heat–and not just in the kitchen.more
WHEW. Everyone loves a bad boy…but a bad boy with a heart of gold? Sign me up! Local cop Perri isn’t one to flirt on the job. But Mr. Trouble speeding down her block is just the man she dreamed of pulling over. Tattooed, dark stubble, and a cocky grin to match his wit, Derek is delectable with a capital D. But all the flirting stays in her head when she’s on the job; she’ll just have to daydream about Tall, Dark, and Handsome. That is until his continues to show up everywhere she is (in a completely non-stalkery way). Made to sin, Derek is the ultimate temptation and the answer to her kissing contest debacle her boss has put her in. Yes, her boss wants her to compete in the local kissing contest to show the departments community spirit. Thank gods she’s doesn’t have to lock lips with some stranger….well one that ISN’T drop dead gorgeous. The whole plan goes awry however when her cocky brother rents out her spare room to Derek. No with a forced proximity that could lead them down one passionate path…these two have to fight the feeling…HARD.
Derek wasn’t looking for anything particular when he came to town. Wanting to focus on supporting his sister and her family while taking a quieter career path as an EMT was all he was reaching for. Who knew that with the first day of arriving to town he’d be struck by the most beautiful cop he’d ever seen. A sassy redhead who takes none of his flirting when in uniform but all of it when she’s off-duty is his perfect brand of temptation. Teasing her at every chance he gets is going to get even trickier when it turns out she’s his new landlord. Loving with the ultimate lust generator is not something he planned on but Derek is fully ready to dive on in with Perri.
They may have tried to fight temptation but when these two finally combust? Look out! Hot and naughty, their fire sparks off the pages with so much passion, you’ll need a glass of wine after each chapter. I love that their back and forth wit and teasing of one another just made it that much worse fro them both. And finally admitting they want to be together for real is one hell of a tease to readers. This is absolutely one of Blakely’s hotter books and steers a bit away from the rom-com aspect to be a more traditional contemporary romance. There’s still sass and still humor…just a lot more heat!
Lauren Blakely is my go-to author for sexy and smart romance, and The Feel Good Factor is just that. Derek has temporarily moved to town in order to help his sister while her husband is overseas, but he never expects to consider staying permanently or fall for Perri, the small town’s beloved police officer. When they end up as roommates, they give into their strong attraction and agree to a fling, but both are taken aback when have develop feelings for one another. You’ll love these two well-matched leads and their swoon-worthy journey to happily ever after.
Recommendation appeared on Frolic on March 24, 2019.
ARC provided, but this review was voluntarily and honestly written.
Holy Moley! This may be Lauren Blakely’s HOTTEST story yet! I loved the idea that the heroine is the hot cop and the hero is a paramedic. Oh the angst! It was so much fun to read Perri and Derrick’s story. I adore the small town of Lucky Falls, and I have fallen in love with the people who live there. Arden and Gabe were super cute, but my goodness, Perri and Derrick lit up the pages with their chemistry! Readers are going to fall in love with this tall, dark, and tatted bad boy with a heart of gold. I know I did! Now… I just need Shaw’s story. I’m not ready to leave this cozy little town!
Review by Lys
Are you looking for a new hot, sweet, charming, and did I mention all around incredible book boyfriend? Yes, please! Well, in that case, Blakely may have just penned her most delectable male lead to date!
Derek embodies everything a gal is looking for – both physically and emotionally. This sweet, tatted up guy will have you gushing from the first pages.
Perri was a gal after my own heart. She was a great friend, in an honorable profession, just keeping her nose down and focusing on her career, until that is she had to pull over her soon to be housemate while on patrol.
These two everyday heroes just wanted to feel good while enjoying one another’s company, until feeling good just wasn’t enough! So, if you are looking for something sweet, steamy, and a brand new book boyfriend, look no further because this book will be making you Feel Good too!
As Always, Happy Reading!
“5/5 Beaming Brains!” – Lit-Up My Mind
45.*
Sweet lord in heaven above, Derek has just sky-rocketed to the top of my Lauren Blakely bbf list. Yep, he’s surpassed Colin and Clay and Chase and Cooper. And his name doesn’t even start with a C!
Derek is so deliciously dirty, I thought I might spontaneously combust more than a time or 2. But, gah, he’s so freaking sweet, too. Ms. Blakely has really created the perfect man, there wasn’t one thing I could fault him for. Seriously, he reminds me of the chocolate man my coworker gave me for Valentine’s Day last year- The Perfect Man. “He’s sweet and decadently rich. Just like a man ought to be!”
Perri is terrific herself. I love her spunk and attitude- she gave as good as she got with Derek, in ALL things! It was awesome to read a character like Perri, I kind of want to be her.
The Feel Good Factor was so good and fun and sooo sexy, everything you’d want, and everything you’d expect, in a contemporary romance from the queen that is Lauren Blakely. The fun and witty banter, the blazing hot chemistry, the familie and friendships. This is one book that will definitely leave you feeling good! And maybe, most probably, needing cold shower.
Good Lawd! The meet-cute is the best ever in this one! Lauren Blakely is the Queen of Rom-Com for a reason! Perri and Derek are amazing! Witty banter, chemistry for days and characters you instantly fall in love with! FIVE STARS!!
The Feel Good Factor is one of my favorite Lauren Blakely books to date. The chemistry between Perri and Derek is unreal and individually they were both just well fleshed out characters. I enjoyed the friendship between Perri, Arden, and Vanessa – while it was established in Best Laid Plans we really get to see it in action and I loved it. I also loved watching Derek interact with his sister and her children; it’s very easy to see why Perri fell for the bearded, tattooed, dirty-talking teddy bear. Not only was the heat between them PHENOMENAL, their normal interactions were great as well. As with the other Lauren Blakely books that I love, Perri is focused on her career and doesn’t NEED a man to feel complete or accomplished, but recognizes that having the right one in her life can add to her joy. And that’s exactly what she gets with Derek. I love that their bump in the road was not super angsty or drawn out and it was resolved in a super cute way. I also loved the forced proximity aspect of the book. Overall, The Feel Good Factor is just a winner for me – it may actually be a contender for my Best of 2019 list! 5 out of 5 wine glasses.
The Feel Good Factor is Lauren Blakely’s newest sexy bad boy, hot cop romance. Derek rode into town with his tattoos and sexiness only to be pulled over by Perri, resident police officer and the best friend of Arden and Vanessa. Lauren does something no other author can do, she introduces new characters and you can never pick your favorite! Just when you think “This is my favorite couple!” you meet the next one and then they are your favorite! It’s a gift of Lauren’s.
When we met Perri in Best Laid Plans, I knew her story was going to be great! She’s strong, sexy, independent.
Perri isn’t looking for distractions. She wants to further the career she’s worked so hard for. Derek is new to town to help out his sister and her kids. He’s a distraction she doesn’t need but wants so badly. So what’s a little fun no strings fling between new friends? Even if they are roomies? As the fling heats up and the strings become tangled will Derek and Perri realize there’s more to just having fun? Will they be able to put aside their pasts and move forward with each other? Wow. I loved this story! I didn’t realize how fast I was going to fall for both Derek and Perri! She’s a kickbutt cop with the smarts and looks. She’s the whole package. Derek my look like a bad boy with the motorcycle and tattoos, but he’s a big softy with his nieces and nephew. I was swooning all over the place every time he held the baby! Derek likes to take control and Perri likes to give it up. A match made in Heaven. Overall, I laughed, teared up, got very hot and bothered, sighed, smiled and cheered for them! And the notes? Good God, I was a puddle of mush with the notes! Lauren is a romance genius!
I can’t help but think this cover model is daring us to check out the goods in this new release by Lauren Blakely. What does it make you think of, my fellow romance book loving friends? Honestly though, Derek, the actual hero of this story doesn’t need to show off amazing abs to make him appealing. No, siree, my feel good factor flew off the charts at 14% when he showed just how sweet and manly he was on the inside. Forget shirtless, hot guys posing with puppies or flexing muscles. Derek carrying around a crying baby in his hunky arms and a warm bottle in his hand, cooing, and loving on a precious infant so his sis can get a much needed midnight break, yeah, that did the trick. He set the bar pretty high with me right then and there. He’s a keeper, that’s for sure.
As far as this storyline goes, it pretty much revolves around Derek and Perri being in denial about where their hearts are already headed. It just takes awhile for their heads to catch up. It definitely begins as off the charts insta-lust attraction. They flirt, tempt, tease, and eventually begin a very passionate, no strings attached fling. Uncertainty about their future not surprisingly gets in the way. It morphs into a very graphic erotic read, folks, with numerous smexy, steamy scenes and lusty language. So if steam is your thing, you’ll enjoy a large part of this book. Fortunately, you’ll also see them bond emotionally, as well.
As a police officer and an EMT, both of them have very upstanding jobs. You get brief glimpses of a day in the life of each of them. I must say I was surprised Perri, her boss, or anyone on the police force didn’t put the pieces together early on regarding a certain crime that needed to be solved. I thought that would have been a forgone conclusion to check into as a possibility when there were no other leads.
The community “contest” that everyone seemed to be jumping on the bandwagon about seemed rather odd to use as a way for Perri to kiss up to a certain someone to get ahead, even more so when that guy highly encouraged it. Yeah, it served both a steamy and romantic factor/purpose, but just got to say, it was kind of out there for non-couples to consider doing it. The author ultimately made it work though.
I’ll wrap this up, folks, by saying I was glad to see these two perfect for each other knuckleheads were destined for better things than just a short fling. Though a cop heroine always grabs my attention, Derek definitely stole the show here, at least for me.
Romance Safety Gang: Derek’s skeptical about love after a previous live-in girlfriend cheated on him. Perri has been unlucky at love, as well, so both have swore off dating. They start a no strings affair, with an expiration date. Begins as insta-lust then mutual admiration sets in, and they start to feel like a couple.
Title: The Feel Good Factor, Author: Lauren Blakely, Pages: 314, stand-alone, cop heroine, EMT good guy hero, no cheating, no love triangle, no OM/OW drama, lots of graphic smexy, steamy scenes with lusty language, some knuckleheaded thinking, romantic twist at the end.
(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/PR firm.)
Who doesn’t love a fun, sexy, insta love! Perfect read to put a smile on my face!
The Feel Good Factor certainly made ME feel great! Lauren Blakely gives us one of the most passionate couples she’s written since Clay and Julia. Their immediate chemistry was electric but theirs is a very slow burn to finding that nirvana they both know will bring each to their knees.
I loved that Blakely used a kissing contest as the reason for a slew of practicing btw Derek and Perri. The EMT and the cop have a very hard time resisting each other and then they are suddenly tenant and landlord as Perri’s brother Shaw suggests Derek to fill her suddenly vacant attached apartment. And that’s when the fun really begins. With the help of a kitchen chalkboard, both Derek and Perri find themselves falling hard for the other when they both swore they’d never get into a serious relationship again. I loved their sharp banter and they way they were truly there for the other and not just sexually. But then you add the fiery passion that occurred whenever they had the chance to explore one another’s bodies, and you get the perfect couple!
With Derek having a weakness for a woman in uniform and Perri having a penchant for the bad boy look, it was only a matter of time before these two would finally realize that this was more than just a feel good factor between them. Blakely always finds a way to make these stories charming with the right amount of adorable details and the amazing support of the very best in friends.
Another great read that is bound to make you happy, I gladly give The Feel Good Factor 4.5 stars!!
5 stars was not enough for this book!
I’m a huge fan of all Lauren Blakely’s books and this one is by far my favorite so far. If you are looking for a hot, dirty talking, caring alpha male then look no farther then Derek. He is every woman’s fantasy. The book starts out with him riding into town on his Harley and getting pulled over by Perri. From that moment on, he is totally attracted to her and hopes to run into her again real soon. The chemistry between these two is off the charts. Once she learns that her brother set him up as her housemate they decide that they need to set up some house rules since they are so attracted to each other. Watching these two navigate living together is hilarious. I love the chalkboard notes. You’ll have to read the book to understand what that is about. Don’t pass this book by as it is very well written and will keep you entertained from start to finish.
Lauren Blakely’s newest book is entitled The Feel Good Factor, and boy does it deliver on its promise because I certainly felt oh-so-good while reading it. Loosely connected to Blakely’s two earlier releases–Unzipped and Best Laid Plans–this romantic comedy novel can still be read as a standalone (though those two other books I mentioned are awesome so read them anyway!). If you’re a Blakely fan like me, then you know just how undeniably hot her male main characters tend to be, but Derek McBride burns them all to ash with his hotness factor. He’s downright dirty and delectable. Oh, and Perri Keating? Now there’s a female main character who embraces her sexual side with gusto because the days of shaming a woman who likes sex should be totally extinct.
This book is easily one of my top three Lauren Blakely reads. It was fun and flirty and filthy, and I enjoyed the heck out of it. That doesn’t mean, though, that Blakely’s other rom-com books weren’t any of those things. They were, but Derek and Perri took it to a whole new level. I swear, these two had the sort of chemistry that simply couldn’t be contained no matter how much they tried to. They did, however, manage to also establish an honest-to-goodness friendship between them as they went all-out pretending they could merely be friends and nothing more. Having the supporting characters around them brought out other aspects to their respective personalities that made it clear that what was brewing between them was more than just lust. Speaking of the supporting cast, can I just say that I’m glad I preordered Nobody Does It Better because I can’t wait to read THAT rom-com. But first I’m giving my favorite awesome twosome that is Perri and Derek and all things The Feel Good Factor five-plus stars.
3.5 – 4 stars
The Feel Good Factor was super cute, fast paced and hot. The characters, side and main, really drove this story. We met both Perri and Derek (briefly) in Best Laid Plans. I couldn’t wait to get their story.
I love, love, love, that Lauren Blakely always makes her heroines strong, independent women. Perri is a well respected cop. She’s thriving in a male dominated field. I enjoyed her spirit, her heart and her personality. I absolutely LOVED her friendship with her friends.
Derek is swoon city. Dirty talking sweethearts like Derek make me weak in the knees. He came to Lucky Falls to help his sister and her kids while her husband was overseas. I mean come on hottie alert. Add in his fan yourself dirty mouth, his job as an EMT, and a motorcycle, it’s obvious I never stood a chance.
Unfortunately, I will admit that while I did enjoy the characters, the banter and sexiness of this book, It didn’t completely wow me like some of Lauren Blakely’s other books. Something was lacking for me. I’m not usually turned off by instalove but Perri and Derek’s relationship may have been too instalove-ish.
Feel Good Factor is still worth a pick up. Lauren Blakely is a pro at the fun, flirty sexy books. That’s why she’s one of automatic one-click authors.
I absolutely adored The Feel Good Factor! The instant chemistry between Derek and Perri was off the charts and so hot. I loved the contrast of Derek’s outside image (hot tattooed biker) with his sweet, thoughtful personality- I swooned every time he spent time with his nieces and nephew. The banter was fantastic and the build-up of the physical relationship was paced so perfectly. The author always creates fantastic side characters and I enjoyed catching up with Gabe and Arden from Best Laid Plans. I am also so excited for Shaw and Vanessa’s upcoming story!
This book has the feel good factor!
This book made me feel so good, made me smile and made me swoon! I loved this book, and all the characters inside it! There was insta-lust between Perri and Derek, and I am always good with that! Their chemistry sizzles so hot throughout the whole book. I adored Perri – she was an intelligent, strong, independent woman with a strong sense self-worth who loved her job, family and friends but struggled with admitting her feelings and being vulnerable. Derek was, in my opinion, the perfect specimen of man! He was confident (if not a little cocky but could back it up!), smart, sexy, loved his family but was afraid to get his heart broken again. As I said, I even loved all the secondary characters in this book. This book is a perfect, fun, sexy, quick read that had me engaged the whole time! I highly recommend this romance!
I started feeling good the minute I set my eyes on the super sexy cover model on Lauren’s latest book! The Feel Good Factor does exactly what it advertises by setting off a chain of events that place tattooed and muscled Derek and flirty, red headed cop Perri way too close for comfort. With the sparks that fly between them it’s a wonder my iPhone didn’t burn itself to a crisp. He’s a dirty talking sexy stud with all the right moves, but he’s also a loving uncle and brother and that just make the attraction Perri feels toward him that much harder to resist. Lauren has perfected the art of combining awesome characters, sizzling sexual tension and witty banter that guarantees you’re going to feel oh-so-good about buying this awesome read. I read an early copy of this book and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.
I love this authors writing style. Not only does she give you an happily ever after but all the good feels!
Perri is the fiery redhead who pulls Derek over on his way into town.
Derek is the hot paramedic who looks like the typical bad boy but he is oh so more.
These adorable pair have so many random encounters that steam up the windows. I loved how fierce Perry is and how Derek is just a big softie.
The author manages to steal the show with this loveable storyline that has you swooning so hard.
It’s hard to describe how engaging Lauren Blakely’s “The Feel Good Factor” is from the get-go – a contemporary romance that perfectly balances fun and flirty with sweet and swoony. The story is as frothy as it sounds, centering on sassy Perri Keating and mildly cocky Derek McBride, whose chemistry is off the charts from the moment they lay eyes on each other even though their romance is doomed because neither is interested in a relationship.
She’s a small-town police woman determined to get a promotion in a male dominated world. He, meanwhile, is a paramedic simply trying to help out his sister with her kids and adjusting to his new job and life. She needs to rent a room and a partner at a fundraising kissing contest, he fits the bill for both. A fling is inevitable and so in the expiration date they’ve set. But as they get to know each other they also learn that their connection runs too deep to be ignored.
Derek and Perri are both charismatic characters whose sexual tension is heightened by their equally quick, sharp and witty tongues. They also fell very real, generous individual who surge off the page with irresistible vitality. I fell in love with both instantly. Perri is funny, sarcastic and sassy with a big heart. While Derek is deliciously sexy and dirty, thoughtful and generous, absolutely swoon worthy.
I smiled, laughed and fanned myself while falling hard for this couple it’s almost impossible to do anything but enjoy every single word and cheer this couple on. The supporting characters are warm and delightful that add another layer to like about this book, and I highlighted a bunch of share worthy quotes, especially from the extra sweet epilogues. Plainly, The Feel Good Factor feels good!
The Feel Good Factor is a standalone, contemporary romance by Lauren Blakely. It is told by both points of view with a happy ending.
Feel Good Factor by name, feel good factor by nature!
“The man I stopped the other day looked like he could kiss a woman senseless on a park bench.”
The day that Derek McBride arrives in town, he’s gets pulled over by a hot female cop. There’s instant attraction between them but she sends him on his merry way. When he next sees her, she put a proposition to him that has him panting and very, very keen to accept.
“This woman is going to kill me with lust. She’s in my head and under my skin.”
Perri is desperate for the promotion at work. If that means showing how dedicated she is by entering the local kissing contest, then she’s willing to do it, especially when she has the perfect candidate to be her partner. However, she’s blindsided when her brother offers said candidate the spare room at her house. What looked like a promising no-strings fling between two people who have no interest in relationships becomes slightly complicated, so they agree to keep things all above board and just practice…kissing for the contest. Unfortunately, a solid connection, intense sexual chemistry, and sweet flirtation has them re-thinking about what exactly is happening between them.
“I like this woman so much that it’s well beyond like. It’s moved to the next level.”
I loved this story – it was amusing, adorable and super sizzling sexy! Perri and Derek had such fantastic witty banter between them. I loved everything about them – their playfulness, their seriousness, their combustible chemistry. They were so hot together.
This was a low angst novel with plenty of fun and sexy times, and great characters.