Luck of Love

Luck #1

by Ashley Poch

Blake Riley thought she could leave her traumatic past behind when she left for college. Starting a new life and moving forward never sounded so good. Living carefree with her best friend in Ocean City New Jersey gave her the freedom she had always hoped for.

But sometimes life isn’t so carefree.


When Blake finds herself torn between the affections of two men, emotions that have been buried for years will be exposed. Derrick, a powerful CEO of a popular casino resort, instantly captivates her. Being drawn into his domineering passion, she bares herself to him in a way she least expected. With Landon, a successful attorney, she can be someone new; someone free from her haunting past. Each man evokes a different side of Blake. As both relationships grow stronger, walls will slowly begin to crack.


What will happen when the past slowly creeps its way into the present?

With two worlds filled with secrets and lies, it’s only a matter of time before they crash and truths are revealed.

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks, Amazon, M F Romance

222 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 20, 2013

Reviews

[~ Becs ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, if you’re looking for a new adult novel with some great characters and a complicated romance, this one fits the bill. We have Blake and Dean, working their way through college, sharing an apartment and working at the same bar. They’re great friends but it’s purely platonic. Derrick comes into the bar one evening when Blake is working and they share an instant connection but Blake is withdrawn, traumas from her past have made her reserved and she’s fairly rude to him but circumstances push them together again and she slowly warms to him and they begin, slowly, to form a relationship.

Dean is delighted – he has never seen Blake so happy. And along comes Landon. Tall, gorgeous easy going and a good friend of Dean and Blake finds she is inappropriately attracted to him despite the fact that she is falling in love with Derrick. What follows is an angsty story where I really wanted to yell at Blake sometimes – she makes some daft decisions but she’s unfailingly honest and will confess all her sins!

This was a fun read and I grew to love all the characters, even Landon who is interrupting and complicating the fledgling romance between Derrick & Blake. Blake is a sweetheart who’s got a dark secret in her past which casts a lengthy shadow over her life today. She’s guarded, withdrawn, a little rude and not easy to get to know.

Derrick is determined to get past her barriers and I really loved him for it. He’s got the patience of a saint, is incredibly romantic and understands the need to take things slowly with Blake. He’s never felt this way about a girl before and he’s starting to feel very protective and possessive of her.

Landon, despite complicating things, was easy to like too. He’s easy going, charming and is desperately attracted to Blake even though she warns him off and I also completely adored Dean, Blake’s roomie. He’s very protective of her but he truly needs to find a girl of his own.

I did enjoy the story, it was very romantic, very compeling but felt that we didn’t quite get deep enough into all the characters’ pasts to truly understand their motivations but this does end on a wicked cliff-hanger and there is obviously more to come in the second book which is due out in August and there’s still a lot of gaps to fill here and loose ends to tie up.

3.5 stars

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[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided for an honest review

4.5 where the fuck did this come from stars!!!

Ahh, Blake. Where should we start with Blake. I was concerned with how my feelings started out towards Blake right from the beginning. She practically calls herself bitchy and while I'll be the first to admit to being a super bitch, I'd almost rather not read about one. However, I do love a strong, independent woman and while Blake is all of those things considering her past, she definitely has a right to be a bit of a bitch.

Blake and Dean are best friends, I mean in a strictly platonic BEST FRIENDS type of friendship

I love this friendship! I have my own personal opinion on a boy/girl friendship and this pretty much sums it up. These two are honest and caring and share an incredible bond. Dean is a stand up guy.

Both Blake and Dean work at

and it's here where Blake sees HIM

He's tall, lean, and the most attractive man I've ever seen

I'm so excited because I can feel something coming


Meet Derrick! *SWOON*

Fire and Ice got noting on these two and their first meeting. There's just something about Derrick that puts Blake on the edge. It's definitely an explosion waiting to happen. But, will they see each other again? hmmmmmm

Enter Landon, Dean's family attorney and friend. The ultimate,

Does he dare give up his wild ways of


A small part of me wants to care that she has a boyfriend, but that's only because I have some morals. For the most part-I don't care. I want nothing more than to make her mine.

But, Blake has put up walls around herself. She's got something from her past that she can't seem to let go of, and while Dean has been her rock, can she learn to trust Derrick and/or Landon?

Landon and Blake have something. A spark maybe? I don't know, but it's there and a little emotional for me because I'm torn between these two really great guys. Okay, I like a bad boy (Landon) and I like a dedicated guy (Derrick) so I just can't decide. I don't think Blake can either at this point,

I want to laugh until I cry, be carefree without hesitation, love like there is no tomorrow, survive a heartbreak and know that I will have the strength to love again.

And then,
"Will you be with me tonight?"

"I'm going to do things to your body that nothing else will ever compare. When your body aches, I'll be the only one to relieve the pain. When you're starving, I'll be the one to satisfy your appetite. And when you feel like you can't breathe, I'll be the oxygen you need."

BOOM



I can't tell you which one of the guys gets the nookie on, I hate to be a spoiler, so YOU HAVE GOT TO READ THIS BOOK! I will however warn you that at the end I was


and a little bit of this

and a whole lot of FUCK ME!!!!


My Cast:
Blake

Derrick


Landon:

[Jessica's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

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What do you get when you have ONE girl, TWO guys who happen to be best friends all interested in this ONE girl? A whole lot of DRAMA, that’s what!

Luck of Love by the writing duo team Tiffany Aleman and Ashley Poch took an interesting & different spin on a love triangle to create a fun but emotional read with great characters. These girls sure know how to create the perfect guy because there are three boys in this book I wouldn’t mind calling my “book boyfriend”.

Luck of Love is told in four different POV’s, Blake, Derrick, Landon, and Dean. I usually find so many POV’s while reading confusing but Luck of Love is the perfect book to have so many POV’s with this type of storyline. The main character is Blake, a 22 year-old college student who is running away from her past and moved to New Jersey from Florida. She is guarded and only lets herself be close to her two best friends Rachel and Dean. Dean is her roommate whom she met after moving to New Jersey. He is the only man Blake has ever let get close to her. They are strictly best friends but let me tell you girls, he is a NICE guy! He is good looking, smart, and just a good guy! There were times I almost wanted these two to hook up but Blake needed him in her life.

As much as I liked Blake and loved Dean; Derrick & Landon were the true stars of the book. Derrick and Landon are best friends who happen to meet Blake at different times developing feelings for her without knowing the other one even knows who Blake is. I was hands down a Derrick fan… at first. He just seemed more ready to settle down and mature with a big heart after his troubled upbringing and of course he is successful & handsome. Landon is successful & handsome as well but he came off more of a party boy still even though he is 32. By the end of the book I was rooting for BOTH men! I seriously do not know which one I want Blake to end up with. They both seem to truly care for Blake and have their positives & negatives to be the man for Blake. I can’t wait to read everyone’s opinions on who they would chose for Blake.

I found the book to really pick up towards the 60% mark when Blake finally hooks up with one of the guys. Before that I found the story to be a bit slow, but I understand the authors were setting up the series. Luck of Love DOES end on a cliff hanger, be warn! The drama really starts up there leaving a great set up for the second book in the series Luck and Faith that is scheduled to be released in August.

I give Luck of Love 3.5 Stars.


ARC provided by the author in return for an honest review.

[Hollie]

This looks good and I love love the cover, but I get anxiety when two men are involved....so we shall see.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the jump our heroine, Blake’s story lured me in. She’s a young woman who has lived a life guarding her heart from a dark secret in her past that only her two closest friends know about. When her best friend, Dean, finally convinces her it’s time to start tearing down the walls she has so carefully built, she finds that love isn’t always as easy as just letting go. Unbeknownst to two men, they are each vying for Blake’s affection. Derrick and Landon are both strong, successful men that draw out different sides to Blake she never knew existed. As she struggles with her conflicting feelings for both men she must both come to terms with her past and decide where her heart truly lies. This book has a cliffhanger but don’t let that stop you from picking it up because it’s a pretty shocking twist of events that will lead you into the next book. I enjoyed all these characters as well as their individual stories and how those stories surprisingly intertwined.

[Derna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Blake has a past that has left her guarded, unwilling to consider the possibility of romance. She doesn’t let anyone in only Dean and her other BFF Rachel. Things start to change when Blake meets Derrick the attraction is instant. However, she also meets Landon and there too is chemistry. Both men ignite feelings that Blake keeps hidden.

Queue a love triangle with a bit of a twist, as Derrick and Landon best friends, who unknowing to each other are falling for the same girl. I like how both men bring out a different side of Blake; Derrick breaks down Blake walls she lets her emotions show when she is with him. Landon brings out her carefree side; alas she finds it hard to decide which one she wants. She does choose and when she does it results in some steamy scenes, as the two are extremely hot together.

As with any love triangle I can tell pretty quickly who’s Team I’m on and in this one it was a no brainer I was Team Derrick all the way. So much so that when Landon came onto the scene and don’t get me wrong I like him a lot, but I was thinking ‘back off mate’.

I loved the storyline, it was romantic, fun, made me laugh; it had a little suspense and was emotional to read at times. As it touches on what is really a heavy and sensitive issue, when I found find out what happen to Blake in her past my heart went out to her, and I just wanted to give her a hug.

So let's talk about the part of the book that put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day. ‘THE ENDING’ before I started this book I saw that it had an epilogue, so I was thinking Woo Hoo! No cliffhanger it's going to be a HEA Well you can imagine my shock when the epilogue turned out to be just one big cliffhanger! So be warned.

However don’t let that put you off, Luck of love is a wonderful read. I loved the writing style of Tiffany Aleman and Ashley Poch. Well done on a great debut. I’m genuinely looking forward to reading next one Luck and Faith.

Luck of Love gets 4 stars from me.

Some Quotes
I want to laugh until I cry be carefree without hesitation, love like there is no tomorrow, survive a heartbreak and know that I will have the strength to love again~ Blake

‘As I make my to the bar. The sexiest woman I’ve ever seen stands behind it and I can’t help but stare. Our eyes lock for a fraction of a second but enough time for me to see an edge of tension around those amazing green eyes’ ~ Derrick

‘Completely caught off guard that he remembers my name, I snap my eyes to him, and I lose myself. The depths of his eyes suck me in as I stare at him’. ~Blake on Derrick

I like her attitude. I like that she’s feisty. I like that she’s not afraid to stand up to me. I really like that she’s fuckin gorgeous’. ~ Landon

‘I’m met with the most amazing pair of blue eyes I’ve ever seen. I just stand there, frozen in front of him staring’, ~ Blake on Landon

[Fern (whirlwindbooks)]

Cannot wait to read and review!

- http://www.whirlwindbooksandreviews.com/

[* Meli Mel * · Rating 3 out of 5]

REVIEW TO COME...

[Debi Barnes- Mean Girls Luv Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great first book for Tiffany and Ashley. The characters are strong and the ending is amazing! I love a good cliffhanger and I can't wait for the second book.

[Books,Babes and Cheap Cabernet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noooo! I don’t want it to end like that!!! BEWARE of cliffhanger!!!

Excuse me; Tiffany Aleman & Ashley Posh, You guys can’t end a book like that! It’s not good for people’s hearts. Mine is pounding so hard that I feel like I am going to start convulsing any minute.

Okay so let’s go back to the beginning…

In Luck of Love we meet Blake a bartender, going to school for advertising, in Ocean City, New Jersey. She is a spitfire and a bit of a fashionista.
“I maybe sarcastic, bitchy even, but I always look good doing it.”
She lives with her best friend Dean (hottie bestie- YUM!) above, Frankie’s Tavern, the bar that they work at. She has had to have a fake persona in order to not let people in. Only her two best friends Dean and Rachel truly know her. Too scared by her past, she is unwilling to let anyone else in. She doesn’t date, like AT. ALL!
But when this tall, dark, and handsome guy (Derrick) walks into the bar she works at, she is floored by how much she can’t seem to stop staring at him. That’s so not like her. It’s almost like she craves him. But she is determined NOT to act on it. Can she resist?
Derrick is equally attracted to Blake from the moment he sees her. He is determined to make her see that she can let go of her ugly past, and let him in. But fate decides to be a snarky bitch and puts a bit of roadblock along the way for Derrick and Blake.

Shortly after meeting Derrick, Blake meets Dean’s friend Landon. Landon is a 32 year old lawyer who hasn’t out grown the “party” mentality. He is not looking for anything serious, but there is something about Blake that fascinates him. He is sort of a jokester, very easy going. Blake is able to not be so uptight around him. She likes that she can be easy going when she is with him and not have to worry about all the baggage she is carrying.
Who would ultimately be the right person for Blake? Will it be Derrick the person that she finds herself slowly opening up to? Or will it be Landon the person who she can be someone completely different and not have to worry about the past at all?
“I’m going to do things to your body that nothing else will ever compare. When your body aches, I’ll be the only one to relieve the pain. When you’re starving, I’ll be the one to satisfy your appetite. And when you feel like you can’t breathe, I’ll be the oxygen you need.”
“And just so you know Blake, once you’ve had a taste of what I can offer you, your body will crave me like a drug addict craves their next hit.”
Is it hot in here or is it just me? Woooo! (Takes a moment to fan herself)

But when fate once again throws a major dodgeball into everyone’s plans, will the consequences be too much for two people to move past?

Soooo, the ending… Blake’s past and future collide and the outcome is a catastrophic mess that leaves you hanging by the edge of your seat. So good!

I absolutely LOVE romantic suspense stories. For this being the debut novel of the writing duo of Tiffany Aleman and Ashley Poch, it was such a good story line. I did feel like it was a bit slow in the beginning but somewhere around the middle it picks up and there is no putting it down. The sex scenes where steamy and oh so hot! One of the bet lines was “Arghhh!” I scream out as I feel the shredding of my innocence. Isn’t that a fantastic line?
I really enjoyed the different POV’s. We really get to experience the story through Blake’s, Derrick’s, Landon’s, even Dean’s eyes. You get a better sense of where their heads are at. Something I truly appreciate. I battled with Blake at times because I felt like she was being too harsh, but in the end I understood her motives. I am glad that we don’t have to wait too long for the second book in the series that is scheduled out for later this summer.
4 stars!

[Sugar and Spice Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

Derrick or Landon????? Which HOT man should Blake choose?

I am trying to figure out where to start with my review......I guess at the beginning. The story begins quite slow for me....I know the authors are trying to give history and background for Blake but some of the information to me was so monotonous. But then BAM!!!! About 40% through the book it begins for me. Finally, the chase begins for Blake. So many secrets, love triangles and friendships on the verge of falling apart.

Blake, in a nutshell, has a horrible past that she has been hiding from ever since she left home for college. She is focused on graduating college and moving forward into an advertising career. Her best friend, Dean, is her roommate who knows all about Blake and her horrible past....But there is NO hanky panky going on with them. Dean is her best friend, supporter, protector and will do anything for her. He helps guide Blake through the bumps she encounters. Blake has closed herself off from most people around her not wanting to get close so no one can learn of her past. So much so, she has been described as a BITCH. But soon we learn this is a facade. Dean and Blake work at a bar they live above. This is where we first meet Derrick....Oh my....what a HOT and SEXY man. It was nice to have a man who has his stuff together! But wait........we still have Landon, the womanizer and a partier who enters the picture. And of course he is a HOT and SEXY playboy! Blake meets Derrick when he comes into the bar and for Landon, she meets him through Dean. This is when the hot pursuit from two men becomes such a tangled mess......Blake first begins to slowly connect with Derrick....after a few horrible bar encounters, he becomes Blake's hero. Blake finally lets Derrick in a tiny bit. And of course, Dean's daily advice finally breaks her down a little more. Finally, we see a sign that Blake is finally going to start her baby steps moving toward not being a BITCH! Now, for Landon....he is Deans' good friend who lives in the New York City. When he comes to visit, this is when he meets Blake. Her fiesty and 'I don't take sh_t' attitude is what he is immediately attracted to. After several encounters, Blake allows Landon close enough which is when the mutual attraction begins.

Now we have two HOT and SEXY pursuers and Blake in a lovers triangle.....Where will this triangle go? Not going to tell.....But let me tell you this is one book you cannot miss.......But you need to know, the book ends with a cliff hanger....now patiently waiting for the next book!

*Review by Kim

[Mary Tatar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure to read the arc of Luck Of Love by Ashley Poch and Tiffany Aleman. Boy am I glad I was given that chance. I am in love with this book and its main characters. What this book is an emotionally charged read full of angst and love, with a tad bit of mystery.

The main character in this book is Blake, she is a young college student working her way through school with a bit of a past she is hiding from. Blake is sort of a closed off girl and she has every reason to be. She ends up meeting Derrick a rich and powerful business man who wants to sweep her off her feet. Sounds good right, well not so fast. Blake also meets Landon a successful attorney who is so drawn to her he doesn't seem to care who stands in his way. So Blake has a bit of a problem. Not a life altering problem, but for Blake being torn between two men that she can easily be with scares her. She is so fragile that she needs to make the best decision, the decision she will be able to live with.

So there is Derrick he is sweet,caring, loving and makes her fell safe and protected. Just the kind of man she should be with. Then there is Landon he has a lot of good qualities as well he is sweet and caring, but he also makes her feel free and alive. Things she hasn't felt in a long time. Each one wanting to give her the happiness she deserves. Trying to avoid one or the other is not an option.

What drew me in was how lost and fragile she was. I felt that she could break at any time. But also she was brave and fierce at the same time. With a heart of gold giving all of herself to one of them is not something she will be able to do easily. I can understand why this is such a hard decision for her. I found myself going back and forth while reading this book. In the beginning I was all team Derrick. He is the logical choice, but as we know that with matters of the heart they are never logical. Then towards the end of the book I was leaning toward team Landon. He's not a bad guy at all, actually he's pretty perfect. So who gets her heart? Who can heal her scars? Good question! This I will tell you the end will shock you to your core.

This book is pretty fabulous. The cover is enticing and the story intriguing. I felt so many different emotions while reading this that I can't even name them all. This is definitely a book I would recommend reading. I kinda amazed by it all and I believe you will be too.

[The TBR Pile *Book review site* · Rating 2 out of 5]

http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...

The first half of the book is filled with a lot of dialogue and not much action, a lot of description but not much to keep the wheels of the story turning at my kind of pace. And then the cliffhanger... it felt as if the authors saved up all of the drama and angst for the last few pages of the story and then, BOOM, left you hanging.

I can see why readers might enjoy this story. The writing was strong much of the time, and the story did have it's high points. So while I didn't enjoy it overall, I think it's still worth a shot.

[Chris- Bookaddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars Review to come during Blog tour stop




ARC coming :)

[Lauren ♥ Inked in Chapters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Sara Bree High · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come with blog tour at
www.fabfunandtantalizingreads.com

See full review here

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, holy hotness. This book is unbelievable. I am anxiously awaiting the sequel.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luck of Love is Ashley Poch and Tiffany Aleman's debut novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I finished it rather quickly. I could not put it down and I was excited to see what was going to transpire between the characters.

Blake Riley hopes to leave her past behind when she left Florida to move to Ocean City, New Jersey and attend Rowan University. Blake has been living a VERY secluded life and she doesn't like when people invade her personal space. Blake has built walls to protect herself. She has distanced herself from everyone since she was twelve and she isn't quite sure how to let anyone inside those walls. In fact, the only two people who Blake allows in are her two best friends, Rachel and Dean. Rachel and Dean are the only two people who know why Blake is the way she is. Dean is a great friend and VERY supportive. He is always there for Blake and loves her like a sister.

"When I was twelve, someone stole all those dreams of normal from me." ~ Blake

While Blake is bar tending at Frankie's, a gorgeous guy walks in and catches Blake's attention immediately.

"His denim jeans have that pre-wash effect going on and match perfectly with his white button-up shirt covering his broad shoulders. His rolled sleeves stop at his elbows displaying the corded muscles in his forearms. I know he's not from around here. Most people in this town do not dress or look like him. He's tall, lean and the most attractive damn I've ever seen. He has dark brown hair and when he combs his fingers through it, I can see a slight wave in it. A small piece falls forward, resting on his forehead. The slight bump in his nose lets me know it has been broken at some point in his life. His lips, oh his lips, are perfect. The bottom one is fuller than the top, and they look perfectly mesmerizing and succulent. Mmm..I would love to feel those lips on mine. Wait. What? Where did that just come from? I shouldn't be having these thoughts." ~ Blake

Derrick has the most intense color of hazel eyes that Blake has ever seen. As Derrick and Blake stare each other down, you can feel the chemistry immediately.

While attending a seminar at Rowan University, the guest speaker is announced and Blake's jaw drops, when Derrick James is announced and he enters to stage. Immediately she recognizes him. Derrick is thirty-two years old and he is the CEO of Atlantic Knights Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Then there is Dean's friend, Landon. Landon comes to hang out with Dean and spend the night, so he doesn't have to commute back to New York City after a night of drinking. Landon is an attorney in New York City. Blake is trying to be friendly with Landon because he is Dean's friend and she trusts Dean's judgment in people. Landon is drop dead gorgeous. Landon's eyes are blue as the clear blue sky. He is tall, very muscular and has sandy blonde hair. Blake finds Landon attractive and the feeling is mutual on Landon's part. However, Blake decides it would be nice to have another friend and she enjoys Landon's company, so she wants to keep their relationship strictly "friends".

Derrick begins to frequent Frankie's Bar, just to see Blake and has his mind set on gaining Blake's trust. There is something about Blake that draws Derrick to her. After an incident at Frankie's, Blake lets her guard down and allows Derrick in. As they begin to spend time together and get to know each other, Blake realizes that she is falling hard for Derrick.

"I like you Blake, a lot. You're sweet, feisty and smart. I like being around you and I am so damn attracted to you. I've never met someone like you before. I want to give whatever this is, " I say pointing between the both of us, "a chance. I want to see where it can go because I think we could be good together." ~ Derrick

Blake is scared that she will mess things up because she has never been in a relationship.

"Will you try, for me? Will you give us a chance? I promise that we'll both make mistakes, but as long as we're honest with each other, we can work through it. As long as we don't hide things from one another, this can work." ~ Derrick

Dean warns Landon that Blake is not like most girls and he will not stand by and watch her get hurt. Landon tries to keep his feelings at bay, but he is drawn to Blake. There is just something special about her and he can not stop thinking about her. While spending time with Dean and Landon, Blake finds that she is also beginning to develop feelings for Landon. After a night of drinking, Landon and Blake find themselves crossing their "friendship" status. Will Blake be honest and tell Derrick about Landon? Will Derrick be able to forgive Blake?

Blake finds herself torn between two men. Lines begin to cross, and relationships may be broken. Could Blake be falling in love with both, Derrick and Landon? Will Landon back off once he knows that Blake is in a relationship? Can Landon win Blake's heart? Will Derrick be able to keep Blake's heart?

Blake finds herself in a VERY sticky situation. Derrick and Landon are both sweethearts. I was torn between the two and I didn't want to see either men get hurt. I wish one of them was a jerk, so I didn't have to love them both. Throughout the book, my heart broke for Blake for what she endured as a child and I wanted her to have happiness as an adult. One thing I enjoyed the most was seeing Blake trust Derrick and open up to him about her past.

The only thing I did not like about Luck of Love was the MAJOR CLIFFHANGER... I HATE CLIFFHANGERS!!!! However, the cliffhanger did not change my feelings about the book. I am very pleased that I read it and the cliffhanger just left me wanting more. It just sucks that I have to wait till August to get the 2nd book in the series. I hope you ladies write FAST !!! Great job, I commend the two of you on writing a great debut novel !!!

I received an ARC for an honest review.

[Laura Hampton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review, 3.5 stars...first time Authors gave it a pretty good shot. I liked the story line...just seemed to be weak in spots and rushed in others.

Luck of Love, Tiffany Aleman and Ashley Poch's debut novel.

I enjoyed the story of Blake Riley and her struggle to overcome the demons of her past and try to move on with her life. She has moved to New Jersey to attend Rowan University with her best friend and roommate Dean. He is her protector. Always making sure she is where she needs to be and has what she needs to complete her days at work and school. He and Rachel, Blakes other best friend are her main support network since she has left her home in Florida behind.

Blake lives a quiet, uneventful life. She has built walls up around herself. She has no intentions of letting anyone into her world for fear of being hurt again. Only Dean and Rachel are aware of her hurtful past. Blake never even told her parents what she dealt with growing up at the hands of one of her teachers. She spends her days attending classes and tending bar at Frankie's Tavern.

"When I was twelve, someone stole all those dreams of normal from me." ~ Blake

Blake's world is brought to a screeching halt one night, when gorgeous Derrick James walks into the bar.

His denim jeans have that pre-wash effect going on and match perfectly with his white button-up shirt covering his broad shoulders. His rolled sleeves stop at his elbows displaying the corded muscles in his forearms. I know he's not from around here. Most people in this town do not dress or look like him. He's tall, lean and the most attractive damn I've ever seen. He has dark brown hair and when he combs his fingers through it, I can see a slight wave in it. A small piece falls forward, resting on his forehead. The slight bump in his nose lets me know it has been broken at some point in his life. His lips, oh his lips, are perfect. The bottom one is fuller than the top, and they look perfectly mesmerizing and succulent. Mmm..I would love to feel those lips on mine. Wait. What? Where did that just come from? I shouldn't be having these thoughts. ~ Blake

After exchanging small talk during the night, Derrick leaves the bar, very intrigued with Blake.

Little does Blake know that she will run into Derrick again the next day. As he is the speaker at a seminar that she is attending with dean on campus. Afterwards she has a brief exchange of words with Derrick, Blake leaves. They are both very taken with the other. But Blake is afraid to take a chance. She doesn't want to have to explain her past or worse yet, be hurt again. After an incident at the bar a few weeks later, Blake begins to let Derrick in. Letting her walls slowly begin to come down as Derick shows her that not all men are bad, that he can be trusted to not hurt her.

"I like you Blake, a lot. You're sweet, feisty and smart. I like being around you and I am so damn attracted to you. I've never met someone like you before. I want to give whatever this is, " I say pointing between the both of us, "a chance. I want to see where it can go because I think we could be good together." ~ Derrick

"Will you try, for me? Will you give us a chance? I promise that we'll both make mistakes, but as long as we're honest with each other, we can work through it. As long as we don't hide things from one another, this can work." ~ Derrick

Enter Landon, Deans friend who comes to visit for a night. He is just as taken with Blake, and sets out to get to know her better. Blake finds him very good looking, but has decided to give it a try with Derrick and asks Landon to be her friend. Little does she know that they are longtime friends (brothers).

Landon looks at me, and I am met by the most amazing pair of blue eyes I've ever seen. They aren't just any blue. No, they're a clear sky blue color. He's tall, much taller than I am. Wearing a pair of dark jeans and a grey long-sleeved T-shirt, his clothes can't conceal the build of his body. Unfortunately for me, his shirt hides what I'm sure is a sculpted stomach and chest. His shoulders are broad, and his sleeves outline the bulge of his biceps. His sandy blond hair is long enough on top, but kept short around his ears and his neck, damn, he's smokin' hot! ~Blake

I seriously don't need another sexy, intoxicating, strange man entering my person space. ~Blake

One night Blake and Landon cross the line with one another. Blake now has to decide if she should tell Derrick and risk losing him. She is attracted to both me in different ways and her heart has a hard time trying to decide where it is that she wants to be.

I really liked the general idea of this book. I felt that their relationship was a little rushed in spots. The supporting characters were great. The part that I struggled with was the end...be prepared for a cliffhanger...I hate cliffhangers! Overall, I would recommend this book. I give it 3.5 stars. I feel that both Authors gave it a good go at their first novel. I look forward to reading book two and hope to see a tighter story.

[Wennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of Luck of Love by Tiffany Aleman and Ashley Poch
Reviewed by Wennie Conedy
3 out of 5 stars
Luck of Love centres around Blake, Derrick and Logan - a good old-fashioned love triangle with an obsessed suitor tossed in for good measure. Before I go further, the story has dark themes of sexual abuse and rape is not suitable at all for children or teens.
Luck of Love revolves around Blake, who keeps a deep secret that she has shared only with two close friends. This secret has kept Blake closed off, unfriendly and unwilling to open herself to the possibility of romance. That is until she meets Derrick. She starts to think that she is in love with Derrick, until Logan comes along. She finds herself attracted to both, which puts her in a dilemma. And to complicate things further, only one of the parties knows what thread binds them together, wreaking havoc when Blake realizes how Derrick and Logan know each other. If that were not enough, add a bit of complexity, Blake is also being stalked by another.
I find myself engaged as a reader when the author allows me to peel off the layers of the story – through dialogue, character development, action and sequencing. Alas, I didn’t get to enjoy that luxury with this story. Character motives are revealed through narrative and inner character monologue.
The authors’ were able to paint the main characters of the story in broad strokes – Blake is a student who works as a bartender, Derrick is a CEO of a resort/casino in Atlantic City, and Logan is a successful lawyer. What I found wanting was the little details of their character that would make them come alive on the page. I would have loved to get to know more of them and what made them tick.
Blake seemed to vacillate from being a strong woman who can stand up for herself, is morally upright and strong, to someone who finds herself running away from difficult situations and unable to face the consequences of her actions.

A highlight for me in this book is the friendship between Dean and Blake. It’s uncomplicated, solid and based on mutual trust and like. There are no hidden agendas between them. Dean is also
a protector, an advisor and supporter.
Logan on the other hand is harder to pin. I am not sure of his agenda – does he like Blake because in his eyes she is “forbidden fruit” and a challenge?
Luck of Love is a simple love story, made complicated by a love triangle, a stalker and a dark past. As a love story, it is simple yet complicated. I felt that with a bit more editing, the pacing of the story could pick up and the whole story could be told in one book. The element of suspense in the story, for me, needs a bit more work to build up the pace and tension necessary to bring the reader along and bring the reader to the edge of their seat. Ms. Aleman and Ms. Poch cleverly ended book one on a cliffy, leaving the reader to wonder – what kind of future is in store for Blake, Derrick and Logan? Will Blake find love?

[Fab Fun & Tantalizing Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luck of love

Sometimes the past keeps us from living. It keeps our hearts closed and our life broken. It makes us guarded and shielded. We live a half life because of the things that we had happen that were out of our control.

Blake was living a half life. She had her best friend Dean. She works and goes to school, she has a handful of people in her life. A very small handful! Dean she allowed in, he is her rock, her partner in many ways. It's platonic and endearing. (Although on and off I thought maybe just maybe!)

Living a half life will only work for
so long...

One fateful night in walks Derrick! Blake takes notice, and is taken with him. He is sexy, confident, alluring...you get the picture. Trust me he was a very well written picture!

Imagine your sexy sexy Derrick NOW!

Blake being Blake is rude, stand offish and over all bitchy. (Recall half life- guarded)

Fate though she is a wicked mistress and has other plans. They found themselves in the same place again. The connection cannot be denied. Taking a cue from her dear Dean- who wants her happy. She plays nice. This sets off a chain of events that I adored! Derrick is hot! He is nice, caring and successful. He does not push his way into her life, and he wants to earn her trust.

"I'm going to do things to your body that nothing else will ever compare. When your body aches, I'll be the only one to relieve the pain. When you're starving, I'll be the one to satisfy your appetite. And when you feel like you can't breathe, I'll be the oxygen you need."

Now don't think it's that simple.. Is it ever? Enter Landon.. Haha! One tall sexy distraction who just happens to be friends with Dean. Omg! So much I want to tell you.. So so much. The backstory and things that go on made me just wanna scream, life is not fair, holy batman that is hot. I was all over the place. Then I was mad that my name was not Blake. (I mean really how is it right all that hot)
In the end I loved them all and wanted to strangle them equally.
Derrick made me ❤him beyond words!
Landon made my ❤melt, even with playboy flirty ways. He is a good guy.
Dean was awesome. I want a BFF hottie please!
Drama we have it! Twists we have them. Sexy sexy -- honey we have that. Wow! I enjoyed the story from beginning until the end.. Omg! Really?!? I need more promptly please. This is one devilish cliff hanger I cannot lie and it will leave you unsettled and needing more. I'm in the group of waiting for more. Haha! Well done ladies, well done!

[Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.

Whoa. Where the heck did that come from?! I don’t even know where to begin with my review for Luck of Love by the wonderful duo of Tiffany Aleman and Ashley Poch.

When I first started this book I wasn’t entirely sure where the story was going to go. I mean, I guess we never really are completely sure, but I was very curious which route the authors were going to take with this story because there were so many open avenues to them. But as I dove in, I found myself hooked and couldn’t put my Kindle down. In fact, I read it in one sitting.

First, there’s Dean. You love Dean. He’s Blake’s best friend. He’s caring, supportive and… HOT! Who doesn’t love the hot best friend? Then you get Derrick…Oh Derrick. Derrick was WAY HOT! And then you meet Landon and are you surprised to hear that Landon was also SUPER HOT? But the best part of these three guys is their connection which you learn more about throughout the book. I found that part very interesting and made for a deeper twist and connection within Luck of Love. Then you dive into Blake’s past and find yourself so involved with the story, you feel you’re living it.

For a debut novel, I was quite impressed with Luck of Love. I think Tiffany and Ashley both did a wonderful job. And I’ll tell ya’ what – they can write one hell of a perfect man. How many books do you know that have 3 entirely different book boyfriends? There is something in this story for everyone. Check it out!!

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I'm always choosing books with damn cliffhangers but I have to say I liked this one. Not the cliffhanger the book. Derrick and Blake start off with a lovely interaction, I mean derrick is a bit bit**y but I guess it's only fair since from day one Blake has been a bi***,
"What is your problem? Huh? I've been nothing but nice to you, so why the attitude?"
"My problem, well, let's see...you stared at me all night at the bar; you stared at me in a room full of people today, you left me a ridiculous tip!"
It's like dayum gurl why you bit**ing about him leaving you a nice tip! Landon I'm not to sure what to think about him yea he's flirty and nice but I just don't think he's Blake's 'it' guy you know? "we can share it if you'd like, because I'm the kind of man who doesn't give up easily." Derrick he's always honest (well in most cases) "it means, why don't you come and have lunch with me today and we'll figure it out. Because right now I have to go back to my hotel room and take a cold shower," he says, raising an eyebrow, "and then I have to hurry up and finish the rest of my business so we can have lunch." He's also a naughty boy, "baby, you're killing me. Grip it a little harder and move your hand a little faster," he says through gritted teeth." He's also a cocky little s***, "and just so you know Blake, once you've had a taste of what I can offer you, your body will crave me like a drug addict craves their next hit."

[Desiree Mosley - A Love Affair With Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh holy hotness! Love triangles are always fun to read but Tiffany and Ashley sure put the holy hell in HAWTNESS with this one. It always makes me happy when I don't go in picking one guy over the other, the female character leads me to the one that ultimately she sees herself with. "Luck of Love" is told from multiple point of views which were easy to follow and really added something special to the entire story.

Blake, a 22 year old college student living in New Jersey, has escaped a horrible past in Florida but could not leave the scars behind that cover her emotionally and mentally. As such, she is only able to truly befriend and trust two people, Rachel who she's known forever and Dean who she met in college. Dean is her roommate and swoon worthy all in his own. Beyond sweet, Dean is the perfect best friend to Blake.

To read the rest of my review, please visit the blog at A Love Affair With Books.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cliffhanger! Well book 2 was supposed to release in 2013, and still nothing!!! So reading this book that totally ended in a cliffhanger may have been a total waste of time and money. No updates whatsoever.
Original review: Cliffhamger!!! The story was really good and well written, I just got a little tired of Blake's inner monologue. Probably woulda been a 5 star read if it didn't. Loved how the story was written from several POVs. Overall it was a wonderful story and I will definitely read the next book in the series.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great first book from Tiffany and Ashley. Blake was running away from her past, and living with her best friend, Dean. Then, she meets Derrick, and Landon. They are best friends, but have no idea that they both have fallen for the same girl. I love the friendship she shares with Dean, and the way she is torn between Derrick and Landon. I cannot wait to read more of this story!!

[Heather Cornell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was hard for me to get into--but I finished it and actually liked it, BUT it had a cliffhanger (I've been reading a lot of those lately). I will read the next book just to see how it goes....

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

NNNNOOOOOOO!!!! It cant just stop there - i was soooo into the story and then.....yup.....CLIFFHANGER!!!!!
But oh so exciting!!!

Love love love a good love triangle.....
Am really looking forward to the next book :)

[Sara]

Release date May 24th!!

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but a major cliffie at the end. Boo. That's all I have to say.