USA Today Bestselling Author, Terri E. Laine, brings a new standalone, Thirty-five and Single.
It hits me while celebrating my birthday with my sisters that I’m thirty-five and single. Shouldn’t I finally date someone other than my ex? I totally deserve that, right?After way too many lemon drop shots, I’m tricked into trying on my younger sister considerate gift as she put it. Did I mention … right?
After way too many lemon drop shots, I’m tricked into trying on my younger sister considerate gift as she put it. Did I mention it’s a gag gift? A “my milkshakes bring all the boys to my yard” t-shirt and velour sweatpants with “Sin-a-Buns” written across my bottom which she finds all too hilarious.
That’s how Joel finds me, too smashed to open my apartment door and when I do, I take a drunken slip and slid across the floor with my Sin-A-Buns on full display.
When I look up into his gorgeous face, I forget all the reasons why it’s a bad idea to hook-up with my twenty-something neighbor. Infact, it’s a fan-freaking-tastic idea.
Until I wake in the morning with a delicious ache between mylegs and a pounding headache. I’m mature enough not to regret it, but adultenough to realize it can’t happen again.
First–I’m too old for him. He’s in his twenties.
Second– I’m single for the first time in years. Like I’veonly ever dated one guy.
Third–Shouldn’t I date multiple men before I find the one?Wasn’t that my first mistake?
Only Joel isn’t giving up.
He’s determined to prove age is just a number–
And I’m his number one.
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This book was a pleasant surprise. Terri is a new author to me and I am glad I took the chance to read this because I devoured it in under 24 hours! I couldn’t get enough. It had it all.
Forbidden, age gap, heat, sweetness, romance, twists and turns that I certainly didn’t see coming. It wasn’t a deep read but it wasn’t light. It was somewhere in the middle, and it held enough of an emotional pull and a deeper feel to keep my attention.
Olivia is a recently divorced 35 years old, and her sisters are pushing her to have some fun, and find a new man and get her back in the game and after a drunken one night stand with the man next door Joel, who is only 27 years old. Who has been holding out for her, for over a year now, and when she became legally single, he knew it was his chance to win her over. Things start to change for her, at first she tries to push him away, and it’s not something Joel expected her to do. But there is more going on for Joel, responsibilities, and though they don’t seem right, he can’t help but be responsible and help. Will Olivia see what’s right in front of her? That Joel is the man for her? Or will it be too late?
I loved this. It was fun, it was swoony and it had all the feels and it held depth. It shows that age doesn’t always matter and that love will always win out in the end. When I heard about this book, I wasn’t expecting a story quite like this, but I am glad I read it. It’s given me the itch to go and read more of Terri E. Laine’s books.
Her writing style is pretty perfect and I read this with ease, and I can’t wait to see what else she has that I know I will love!
5 Stars
Thirty Five And Single was a fun, sweet charming read! Wonderful characters! Enjoyed Joel and Oliva’s journey! Fantastic ending!
THIRTY-FIVE AND SINGLE by Terri E. Laine took me for a Whirlwind Romance Surprise and devoured it in ONE Sitting!! She is a New Author for me and Had me Intrigued from the Very Beginning of the First Chapter!
Joel and Olivia storytelling had So much Sexual chemistry between the two characters and Suspenseful events happening that will Leave you Speechless!
It was such a Wonderful enjoyable read that at times had you laugh out loud and then Crying the next.
Definitely will be looking out for more of her Writing!!
An older woman and a younger man romance.
Olivia is 35, divorced from an ex-husband who cheated on her and she’s now finding herself again as a single woman, of course, Olivia finds her friendly 27-year-old neighbor Joel who she fast became friends with very attractive but because he is younger she doesn’t let her mind go there, the problem is her sisters are pushing her to enjoy the single life more and move on and Joel believes age is a number and he wants Olivia, in fact, he makes it his mission to change her mind.
Thirty-five and single is a hot, funny and flirty read with plenty going on in the mix, disastrous dates, hotness and an ex that won’t let go. I enjoyed it all. I adored both characters, I laughed, swooned, the story was hot in all the right places, it was a perfectly balanced read with a beautiful hea.
Olivia just served divorce papers to her husband because he cheated on her. They have been together since childhood and she thought he was her one and only. It’s her 35th birthday, and she is out drinking with her sisters. She ends up drunk, slips right outside her apartment door, and her sexy, hunky, younger neighbor catches her. They have sex that night, and Joel is happy because he has been wanting to date her since he met her, but has been biding his time, and they have been great friends. Only Olivia can not get over the age difference, he’s 27 and she’s 35. She goes on some dates that are beyond awful…and starts wondering why it’s OK for older guys younger women, but not for women to date younger. She’s attracted to Joel and thinks about him a lot, but still the age bothers her. There are many other things with both of them. The chemistry and sexiness between these two is HOT when they are together. Her ex also wants her back, and he seems like a good guy that made a few bad decisions when he got some devastating news. The epilogue was amazing!! I devoured this book in one sitting, and honestly did not want it to end. I loved Olivia and Joel, and would love more books about some of the supporting characters, Olivia’s sisters and Joel’s brothers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and author’s style, and plan to read other things she has written.
In all honesty, I wasn’t gonna read this book. But, I did and I wasn’t disappointed. This book made me hopeful for us “older” ladies who have been burned by love a time or two. This really was an enjoyable, quick, steamy read that I would recommend to anyone not averse to hot and heavy sex scenes.
This was such a cute book with some sexy scenes in it. A second chance at love after spending most of her with one man with comical dates gone wrong and the one she’s been hanging with all along. Joel was the sexy neighbor with tats and a heart of gold. He has his own issues but doesn’t let that stand in his way with Olivia. These two are cute and adorable especially at the end! I laughed and swooned all thru this book!
Olivia and Joel’s story has it all. A second chance romance and an older woman younger man. When Olivia gets over the age difference, her and Joel’s relationship is gorgeous. He proves over and over again that they are meant to be together. Loved it!!
4.5 Stars
I loved this story! It captured my attention from the start and I loved Olivia and Josh!! This is my first book by this author and I’m now a fan. This story had the right amount of sexy and sweet!
I must say, this book is different from what I normally read. Its a wonderful short but sweet story. Definitely recommend.
I am not a huge fan of age gap themed books but as I became engrossed in Olivia and Joel’s story I can say I definitely changed my mind in regards to this book. I loved the hot and cold, push and pull between the main characters. The want and not knowing if she should that Olivia feels and Joel who knows what he wants and is sure trying to get it. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author.
Great story proving age is only a number. Loved it.
Olivia’s story is relatable. She is divorcing her high school sweetheart, her one and only. He cheated on her and now she’s ready to accept that’s she’s thirty-five and single. Thanks to lots of alcohol on the eve of her birthday, she slips in front of her sexy neighbor. Too bad he’s younger than she is, otherwise, she might take a chance with him.
Olivia faces lots of hurdles and obstacles as she tries to find her way to happiness, but Joel is right there with her, hoping she’ll give him a chance to help her and show her a whole new life.
Their epilogue left a huge smile on my face. Quick and easy read with some drama and lots of sexy times. I highly recommend Thirty-Five and Single.
5 stars. I really loved this book. I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. Olivia just got the papers that she is officially separated from her cheating husband. She always planned to be with him forever. Joel is her neighbor that is there for her. The first time they meet is when she moved in. He just came and helped. There is feeling between them but Olivia doesn’t want anything to come of it. She can’t get over the age difference. I loved this story. The author did an amazing job.
Not my usual read (older woman/ younger man) but I have to admit that is was a good read. It’s hard to begin from scratch when you thought that your life was going as planned, I guess why shouldn’t you have fun while you are at it. A short, sweet but funny ready. Definitely recommended.
I’ve read a few books by Terri E. Laine previously, so I was looking forward to Thirty-Five and Single. As a woman who is no longer in her twenties (haha!), I like when my characters are a little older. And knowing that Olivia was falling for a man who is eight years younger? Yes please!
I liked a lot about this book. I liked that it touched on an older woman/younger man. I liked that it really showed Olivia struggle with that decision to be with Joel. I liked how much Joel pursued Olivia.
One thing that bothered me was that, for such a short book, there were an awful lot of other events going on; I could see that the author is trying to set up more books for Joel’s brothers perhaps, but it made the book feel really busy. That being said, I would like to read Joel’s brothers’ stories.
This book was so much fun to read. Olivia has spend the last year recovering from the break up of her marriage and learning to find herself, she is ready to date and looking. The last thing she things is best for her is the friendly, super hot, much younger guy next door. But Joel is ready to prove is just how right for Olivia he is. A fun, steamy, what can go wrong read. I loved it.
I can’t figure out how Terri can write book after book and give some much in each. Her writing is amazing and each story gives me so many emotions!!!
Thirty-Five and Single is so much more than the title! Olivia is turning thirty-five just as her whole life is turning in a different direction. She thought is was a done deal – married to her childhood sweetheart until he cheats. Now her sisters have ideas for her dating life even though there is one person that is constantly on her mind. Joel has been her neighbor, her friend and always there for her. Their chemistry is sweet, hot, beautiful. Their story has them both dealing with lots of feelings. I loved these two so much and their love for each other, family, friends, exes even and making it all work.
This was a good read. It took awhile to warm up to Olivia though. I just found her really annoying.
3.5 Stars – A lovely story with much more depth than expected.
Although I’m usually not a fan of age-gap stories, I wasn’t bothered by the age difference in this book because both characters were already adults and the gap was not even a decade. It was also mostly a lighthearted, easy and fast read. I enjoyed it a lot but it took me a while to get into it at first.
The Story:
Instead of starting a family with her husband like Olivia planned to do, she found herself childless with thirty-five and divorced to a cheater. After her birthday celebration with her sisters, she drunk-stumbles into the arms of her hot young neighbor who more than brought her home safely. Despite her attraction to him and her new state of being single Olivia can’t give in to Joel because of their age difference. But he doesn’t care that she was older than him and is determined to make her see that age is just an insignificant number when it comes to feelings.
Thoughts:
Joel was sweet and such a humble person. I liked that we got to know his family and got to admire even more how he made something of himself without the help he could have gotten.
While Olivia’s story was rather predictable, I was surprised about other secondary characters and their role in this book. What I really loved was how her ex-husband wasn’t painted as the bad guy despite his faults, cheating and lying ways. Which sounds worse written like that than it was, because despite what he did I understood his hurt. Although I didn’t approve of his actions I felt for him in a way. The same goes for Calli, a person who had a tough life and who was used by others but although she didn’t accept the offered help and may have had it worse because of it and hurt others in the process, my heart ached for what she had been through.
So, I hope I didn’t spoil too much now but I just had to tell you how much I loved that there was more to the story than the obvious romance part and that it wasn’t all black and white. Sometimes there are no drawers or labels that fit and people have to adapt to situations just as they come.