Lips Close to Mine

LIPS CLOSE TO MINE is the second instalment in Robin Bielman’s contemporary, adult WHEREVER YOU GO erotic, romance series. This is photographer and cameraman Levi Pierce, and twenty three year old Harper McKinney’s story line. LIPS CLOSE TO MINE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Told from dual first person perspectives (Levi and Harper) LIPS CLOSE TO MINE follows the building relationship between photographer and cameraman Levi Pierce, and Harper McKinney, a woman struggling with ghosts from the past. Harper and Levi were childhood friends but somewhere along the way, the grew up and went in opposite directions. Several months earlier Harper and Levi reconnected for a sexy one-night stand, a night neither one is willing to forget…but Harper doesn’t do relationships, and Levi’s heart was destroyed by a previous love. A chance to work together brings Levi and Harper back into one another’s radar, and the proverbial sparks continue to fly. What ensues is the rebuilding friendship and relationship between Levi and Harper, and the potential fall out when Levi’s past comes looking for a second chance, and Harper’s darkened memories continue to plague her days and nights. Harper McKinney struggles with a direction in life. An Olympic swimming career that was sidelined by an accident and loss finds our heroine aimlessly searching for that one thing to bring her back on line. Levi Pierce battles between his head and his heart-a heart that begins to beat for our story line heroine but a heart destroyed by a previous love. The relationship between Harper and Levi is one of second chances, of a sort between childhood friends who reconnect following a one-night stand; whose best roommates, best friends and siblings are all interconnected making for some uneasy moments in the palpable sexual attraction between our story line couple. The $ex scenes are intimate, seductive and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Mateo and Teague (Talk British to Me #1), as well as a large number of acquaintances, friends and family-extended or otherwise, Harper’s old swim coach Brad Halloran, and Levi’s roommate Elliott. LIPS CLOSE TO MINE is a story of friendship and love; memories and loss; forgiveness and moving forward with moments of humor and fun, conflict and tears. The premise is sexy, edgy and impassioned; the characters are colorful and charismatic; the romance is heartwarming and emotional. LIPS CLOSE TO MINE reveals the tortured secrets of two people who have loved and loss but are willing to take a second chance on love-once again.

This second book in the Wherever You Go series can be read as a standalone but once you read it, you'll want to go back and read Talk British to Me!! Harper and Levi were featured extensively in book one of this series so I have been waiting, sort of patiently, for their story since I read the last page of Talk British to Me. Harper is a swim instructor who is applying for an ambassador position to bring awareness to water safety. A traumatic event in her youth makes her passionate about the topic but also a little weary of letting people get close. Levi is a cameraman who, because of his own experiences, is reluctant to let women get too close. Since their best friends are dating and they have a history with each other, it seems like these two just can't escape the connection that obviously exists between them. Levi is one of the swooniest lead characters I've ever read. Both Levi and Harper have been through quite a lot and those experiences keep them from just embracing their chemistry instead of holding each other at an arm's length. This book was much heavier on the angst but all of it seemed purposeful and added to my connection to the characters. I'm really looking forward to where this series goes and seeing HEA for everyone in this group of friends. *This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

I liked this book overall. There was angst and drama and a ton of chemistry. I will say that Harper's hang ups got in the way a little more than I wanted but I get it. She didn't know he wanted more and loved her. Typical poor communication. Overall great read.