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Operation Foreplay
SLOWING DOWN THE SEX-CELERATOR . . .
Melody Ashford hates waiting for anything-especially sex. But after a disastrous affair and a one-nighter with Mr. Micropenis, Mel realizes she's suffering from some bad bedroom juju. And no amount of hot, casual, or friends-with-benefits hookups is going to fix it. Instead, Mel's decided to resist the demands of her ladyparts.
Saying no might have been no problem . . . except that her temporary roommate, Jared Myers, is all kinds of hot male sex on a stick. Now Mel is consumed by all manner of dirty thoughts, and remembering why she decided to "go slow" is getting harder and harder . . . (70,000 words)
Melody Ashford hates waiting for anything-especially sex. But after a disastrous affair and a one-nighter with Mr. Micropenis, Mel realizes she's suffering from some bad bedroom juju. And no amount of hot, casual, or friends-with-benefits hookups is going to fix it. Instead, Mel's decided to resist the demands of her ladyparts.
Saying no might have been no problem . . . except that her temporary roommate, Jared Myers, is all kinds of hot male sex on a stick. Now Mel is consumed by all manner of dirty thoughts, and remembering why she decided to "go slow" is getting harder and harder . . . (70,000 words)
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
5 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Christine Hughes
5 books256 followersI’ve always wanted to write. Ever since I was little, I would craft stories and poems but the idea to actually do it “for real” never really crossed my mind until last year. After sitting on three paragraphs of what would eventually become my first novel, I decided to expand upon what I had. At the time I had no real idea of where the story would go, I just knew I had the time to do something with it.
I hadn’t researched market trends, I had no idea about query letters or the evil synopsis, and I was green on the idea of agents and editors and all that is publishing, really. I just wanted to write something I enjoyed. I didn’t plot, outline, or character build, I just wrote. And then an author friend mentioned that I should take my writing to a conference.
So with the confidence that my novel would surely be welcomed by all who read it, I signed up for as many seminars and critiques as I could. I knew someone would love it. In those two days, I found out I had a lot to learn.
Funny, but as a former English teacher, you’d think I’d have figured out the importance of editing and revision and revising again. You’d think I’d have known that the first draft is just that, a draft. And when the critiques started coming in, I thought I was done for. Not that the premise wasn’t good (I was told it was), not that the characters weren’t believable (I was told they were), but I used too much passive voice, I tense shifted and there were some holes in the plotline.
A few agents really liked it, but the market trend couldn’t support it. Some were not fond of the way I told the story. I queried and queried my way to 57 flat out rejections and a number of partial and full requests that didn’t pan out. But along the way I got some great criticism and pointers and I made the story better. Then, on a whim, I trolled the SavvyAuthors website and signed up for a three line pitch to editor Lauri Wellington and I did a happy dance when she requested my full manuscript.
A month later, she responded that she loved the story and the concept but it moved too slowly but I could resubmit if I revised. I informed her I sent her a revision that was based on the opinions of agents, authors and peers but I had the original (cleaned up, of course) and I was sending it in to see if it was more of what she was looking for. And guess what? It was! One caveat, I had to revise the manuscript into past tense. Easy peasy, right? Wrong.
Revising into past tense from present is line editing your entire novel. And it kinda stinks. By the end, I thought my eyes were gonna start bleeding and pop out onto my keyboard. But you know what? That little “exercise” tightened up what was loose, filled in any plot holes that might’ve still been there and forced me to realize I could be a better writer.
The road to publication can be long. It can be a hop, skip and a jump from your first query. Nothing in publication is set in stone. The market is always changing. And the biggest thing I learned is that it’s all subjective. Agents A-Y may pass but all you need is Agent or Editor Z to believe in you as much as you believe in yourself. And I believe in my first novel. And I am happy that Black Opal Books does too. I hope you do, as well.
I hadn’t researched market trends, I had no idea about query letters or the evil synopsis, and I was green on the idea of agents and editors and all that is publishing, really. I just wanted to write something I enjoyed. I didn’t plot, outline, or character build, I just wrote. And then an author friend mentioned that I should take my writing to a conference.
So with the confidence that my novel would surely be welcomed by all who read it, I signed up for as many seminars and critiques as I could. I knew someone would love it. In those two days, I found out I had a lot to learn.
Funny, but as a former English teacher, you’d think I’d have figured out the importance of editing and revision and revising again. You’d think I’d have known that the first draft is just that, a draft. And when the critiques started coming in, I thought I was done for. Not that the premise wasn’t good (I was told it was), not that the characters weren’t believable (I was told they were), but I used too much passive voice, I tense shifted and there were some holes in the plotline.
A few agents really liked it, but the market trend couldn’t support it. Some were not fond of the way I told the story. I queried and queried my way to 57 flat out rejections and a number of partial and full requests that didn’t pan out. But along the way I got some great criticism and pointers and I made the story better. Then, on a whim, I trolled the SavvyAuthors website and signed up for a three line pitch to editor Lauri Wellington and I did a happy dance when she requested my full manuscript.
A month later, she responded that she loved the story and the concept but it moved too slowly but I could resubmit if I revised. I informed her I sent her a revision that was based on the opinions of agents, authors and peers but I had the original (cleaned up, of course) and I was sending it in to see if it was more of what she was looking for. And guess what? It was! One caveat, I had to revise the manuscript into past tense. Easy peasy, right? Wrong.
Revising into past tense from present is line editing your entire novel. And it kinda stinks. By the end, I thought my eyes were gonna start bleeding and pop out onto my keyboard. But you know what? That little “exercise” tightened up what was loose, filled in any plot holes that might’ve still been there and forced me to realize I could be a better writer.
The road to publication can be long. It can be a hop, skip and a jump from your first query. Nothing in publication is set in stone. The market is always changing. And the biggest thing I learned is that it’s all subjective. Agents A-Y may pass but all you need is Agent or Editor Z to believe in you as much as you believe in yourself. And I believe in my first novel. And I am happy that Black Opal Books does too. I hope you do, as well.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 13, 2015
5 Refreshing Stars
I always said I didn’t want to be a relationship girl.
I always said I wasn’t girlfriend material.
I always said I didn’t want to be bothered.
I always lied.
Operation Foreplay was a big ol' breath of fresh air in a month of reading that's been surprisingly hit or miss for me. I can usually find something to amuse myself in most of the contemporary romances I read but lately the same old formulas have left me feeling flat and bored as hell. Well hallelujah and all that jazz because I loved this!
“Really. Look. Sex. I like that shit. And I’m not going to compromise my likes, dislikes, or general behavior because of this so you can take your fabulous idea of abstinence off the table. My vagina would revolt against me if I were to put her on hiatus and I love her and all the good feels she gives me entirely too much to do that to her. I mean , would you deny a blind man the gift of sight? Why deny her”— I actually pointed to my crotch—“ a good dicking?”
What do you do if, just weeks before turning 30, you find yourself in a relationship with your married boss and unable to let him go because you can't resist the sex? What if sexing random hook ups no longer holds any appeal? Kick anything with a penis to the curb and declare your lady bits out of commission until you hit the Big 3-0, of course.
What was it with men and their cocks? If it is small, own it. Work on the technique. Whatever. Make the girl forget that your penis is smaller than the heel of her shoe.
This book was all about emotional growth in my humble opinion. Yes, it was funny as hell and the dialogue between pretty much everyone rocked! I loved the fact there was no slut shaming and watching Melody finally realize she's been using her relationship with her very married boss as an excuse to not involve herself in a real adult relationship was awesome. Yes, she does the horizontal mumbo with a married man but in the name of entertaining fiction, I'm gonna allow it. And for a good 80% of the book we get to experience her slowly fall in love with her best friend's younger brother, Jared.
“I mean it. You need that slow buildup. Those crazy feelings where you think you’re going to lose your mind.”
Ahhh, Jared. Sweet, sexy and looks fabulous naked, Jared. Melody never stood a chance when he decided she was finally going to be his. He wasn't a growly, monosyllabic alpha which I found incredibly refreshing. He used complete sentences and never once either answered a question with or referred to her as "babe." Shocking, I know, but he won my jaded as hell heart.
Bottom line, I freaking loved Melody, Jared and almost everything about Operation Foreplay. If you're as worn out by the Instalove stories bombarding your life as I am, I highly recommend this.
I always said I didn’t want to be a relationship girl.
I always said I wasn’t girlfriend material.
I always said I didn’t want to be bothered.
I always lied.
Operation Foreplay was a big ol' breath of fresh air in a month of reading that's been surprisingly hit or miss for me. I can usually find something to amuse myself in most of the contemporary romances I read but lately the same old formulas have left me feeling flat and bored as hell. Well hallelujah and all that jazz because I loved this!
“Really. Look. Sex. I like that shit. And I’m not going to compromise my likes, dislikes, or general behavior because of this so you can take your fabulous idea of abstinence off the table. My vagina would revolt against me if I were to put her on hiatus and I love her and all the good feels she gives me entirely too much to do that to her. I mean , would you deny a blind man the gift of sight? Why deny her”— I actually pointed to my crotch—“ a good dicking?”
What do you do if, just weeks before turning 30, you find yourself in a relationship with your married boss and unable to let him go because you can't resist the sex? What if sexing random hook ups no longer holds any appeal? Kick anything with a penis to the curb and declare your lady bits out of commission until you hit the Big 3-0, of course.
What was it with men and their cocks? If it is small, own it. Work on the technique. Whatever. Make the girl forget that your penis is smaller than the heel of her shoe.
This book was all about emotional growth in my humble opinion. Yes, it was funny as hell and the dialogue between pretty much everyone rocked! I loved the fact there was no slut shaming and watching Melody finally realize she's been using her relationship with her very married boss as an excuse to not involve herself in a real adult relationship was awesome. Yes, she does the horizontal mumbo with a married man but in the name of entertaining fiction, I'm gonna allow it. And for a good 80% of the book we get to experience her slowly fall in love with her best friend's younger brother, Jared.
“I mean it. You need that slow buildup. Those crazy feelings where you think you’re going to lose your mind.”
Ahhh, Jared. Sweet, sexy and looks fabulous naked, Jared. Melody never stood a chance when he decided she was finally going to be his. He wasn't a growly, monosyllabic alpha which I found incredibly refreshing. He used complete sentences and never once either answered a question with or referred to her as "babe." Shocking, I know, but he won my jaded as hell heart.
Bottom line, I freaking loved Melody, Jared and almost everything about Operation Foreplay. If you're as worn out by the Instalove stories bombarding your life as I am, I highly recommend this.
November 10, 2015
ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
A sexy hilarious unfiltered romance!!!!! Operation Foreplay by Christine Hughes is the first book that I have read from this author and it definitely won't be my last. I honestly didn't know what to expect when I started this book. And let me just say that Christine Hughes had me hooked right off the opening pages.Operation Foreplay reminded me of the television series GIRLS and Sex And The City. If you are familiar with these shows then you are well aware that these single ladies are brazen, feisty, smart, sexy, and unfiltered especially when it comes to their sex lives. And so, Christine Hughes introduces readers to one sexy blonde named Melody Ashford, who reminds me of a mixture of Samantha Jones and Carrie Bradshaw of Sex And The City. Melody is an almost thirty year old single woman living in the city, who is sassy, feisty, unfiltered and has a voracious appetite for S-E-X. Yes, that's right Melody Ashford has a greedy vagina!!! LOL.
" Honestly, I felt like vagina was going to pack up her shit and leave. She was tired of the deprivation."
Unlike her girlfriends who are in a committed relationships, Melody's relationship status is undefined. She may be considered single but in actuality she has been having an affair with her married boss for quite some time. Melody is well aware of what people would think of their relationship but she justifies it with the fact that her lover is in the process of leaving his wife and will be getting a divorce. Long story short, it takes some time for Melody to finally realize that she needs to make big changes in her life before she turns the big 3-0. After horrible hookups and an awful one night stand with a Vienna Sausage Micropeen, she decides that her lady-parts needs to take a vacation and rejuvenate as well. But what happens when her lady-parts starts craving for SEX, when her best friend's brother moves back into town. Can Melody resist her carnal lustful desires and keep her legs closed from Jared Myers? Or will this sex on a stick be her downfall?
Operation Foreplay was a fun sexy hilarious read!!!!! I loved it!!! Ms. Hughes did an amazing job writing a witty, fun, and smart storyline of modern romance. This book had it all as layers of humor, banter, friendship, and embarrassingly awkward moments are told in a fun, fresh and loud way. I laughed, cried, cringed, laughed again, got embarrassed for Melody, and then was left with a big fat smile on my face. Any book that had me inhaling a book in one sitting is definitely a must read!!! So if you are looking for your next embarrassingly sexy and fun read, then I highly recommend you to read Operation Foreplay.
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Christine Hughes
A sexy hilarious unfiltered romance!!!!! Operation Foreplay by Christine Hughes is the first book that I have read from this author and it definitely won't be my last. I honestly didn't know what to expect when I started this book. And let me just say that Christine Hughes had me hooked right off the opening pages.Operation Foreplay reminded me of the television series GIRLS and Sex And The City. If you are familiar with these shows then you are well aware that these single ladies are brazen, feisty, smart, sexy, and unfiltered especially when it comes to their sex lives. And so, Christine Hughes introduces readers to one sexy blonde named Melody Ashford, who reminds me of a mixture of Samantha Jones and Carrie Bradshaw of Sex And The City. Melody is an almost thirty year old single woman living in the city, who is sassy, feisty, unfiltered and has a voracious appetite for S-E-X. Yes, that's right Melody Ashford has a greedy vagina!!! LOL.
" Honestly, I felt like vagina was going to pack up her shit and leave. She was tired of the deprivation."
Unlike her girlfriends who are in a committed relationships, Melody's relationship status is undefined. She may be considered single but in actuality she has been having an affair with her married boss for quite some time. Melody is well aware of what people would think of their relationship but she justifies it with the fact that her lover is in the process of leaving his wife and will be getting a divorce. Long story short, it takes some time for Melody to finally realize that she needs to make big changes in her life before she turns the big 3-0. After horrible hookups and an awful one night stand with a Vienna Sausage Micropeen, she decides that her lady-parts needs to take a vacation and rejuvenate as well. But what happens when her lady-parts starts craving for SEX, when her best friend's brother moves back into town. Can Melody resist her carnal lustful desires and keep her legs closed from Jared Myers? Or will this sex on a stick be her downfall?
Operation Foreplay was a fun sexy hilarious read!!!!! I loved it!!! Ms. Hughes did an amazing job writing a witty, fun, and smart storyline of modern romance. This book had it all as layers of humor, banter, friendship, and embarrassingly awkward moments are told in a fun, fresh and loud way. I laughed, cried, cringed, laughed again, got embarrassed for Melody, and then was left with a big fat smile on my face. Any book that had me inhaling a book in one sitting is definitely a must read!!! So if you are looking for your next embarrassingly sexy and fun read, then I highly recommend you to read Operation Foreplay.
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Christine Hughes
November 10, 2015
Oh, how I loved spending my weekend catching up with this fabulous group of friends. This time around we have Melody in the spotlight—a bright, shiny, “cop interrogation” spotlight that’s making her a bit uncomfortable with her life choices and rash decisions. See, Mel is all about instant gratification—she’s not a patient person, especially when it comes to her pleasure, and yeah, she really likes to… err, come.
To prove to her best friends she’s in “control” of things, Melody accepts the bet from her best friends that puts her ladybits on hiatus for a few weeks. Which is perfect timing for Mel to become reacquainted with Jared Myers. And of course, now all she can think about is all the dirty things she’d like to do to and with one hot-as-hell, sex-on-a-stick Jared Myers.
But good things come to those who wait, right? Yeah, except the waiting may just kill both of them…
Sigh. I just love these characters. Melody. Damn, she’s one stubborn, seize the moment and fuck the consequences personality. Until now. Now when she’s finally opening her eyes to the world around her, she’s realizing that her group of friends really are moving forward with their lives. Sarah and Drew are together and Caroline and Patrick are living together. Sure, the girls are still her best friends and best confidantes, but something is missing. She’s just not sure how to deal with this new reality and it’s hilarious and heartwarming to see her work through things.
Jared is swoonworthy. And he and Melody are so alike it’s scary. Their relationship is full of laugh-out-loud witty banter and crazy moments. Trust me when I tell you to not be drinking or eating when you read this because you will spit food and drink. And don’t even think about not reading this in one sitting—you’ll have to know how the bet ends. To see it through to the climax. ~ Missy, 4.5 stars
To prove to her best friends she’s in “control” of things, Melody accepts the bet from her best friends that puts her ladybits on hiatus for a few weeks. Which is perfect timing for Mel to become reacquainted with Jared Myers. And of course, now all she can think about is all the dirty things she’d like to do to and with one hot-as-hell, sex-on-a-stick Jared Myers.
But good things come to those who wait, right? Yeah, except the waiting may just kill both of them…
Sigh. I just love these characters. Melody. Damn, she’s one stubborn, seize the moment and fuck the consequences personality. Until now. Now when she’s finally opening her eyes to the world around her, she’s realizing that her group of friends really are moving forward with their lives. Sarah and Drew are together and Caroline and Patrick are living together. Sure, the girls are still her best friends and best confidantes, but something is missing. She’s just not sure how to deal with this new reality and it’s hilarious and heartwarming to see her work through things.
Jared is swoonworthy. And he and Melody are so alike it’s scary. Their relationship is full of laugh-out-loud witty banter and crazy moments. Trust me when I tell you to not be drinking or eating when you read this because you will spit food and drink. And don’t even think about not reading this in one sitting—you’ll have to know how the bet ends. To see it through to the climax. ~ Missy, 4.5 stars
November 4, 2015
I picked this to read because it looked fun but I ended up struggling with it quite a lot. If I never have to hear the term “lady-boner” again in my life, I will be happy. Obviously the author heard it somewhere and thought it was hilarious – and maybe it is, dropped once or twice.
Melody Ashford loves sex and has quite a lot of it – good for her. Most of the sex she’s having is with her married boss, not so cool. In an attempt to get over that she picks up random strangers in bars, including the one with the referred to Micropenis. Melody’s friends seem a bit bored with her sex life and they challenge her to take it slow, to give up sex for a while and just enjoy the foreplay, the build up. In other words, stop gorging yourself on McDonalds and maybe go out for a nice steak.
Melody’s friend dumps her brother on Melody while her apartment is being fumigated without even asking her, giving her brother a key to Melody’s one bedroom apartment and when Melody comes home, it’s to be greeted by a naked Jared. I think this scene is supposed to be funny but it kind of just struck me as all types of wrong. You’re a guest in her apartment….and neither you nor your sister had the decency to actually ask her properly before just moving in. Rude. And then you wander around the place naked, which is not exactly how it’s polite to behave in someone else’s home. But it’s billed as okay, because Jared is hot. Like, super hot. Really, really hot. TOTALLY HOT. I get it, but I still don’t think it makes much of a difference. It was weird. And a bit creepy.
For a sex freak, Melody reverts to a shrieking Victorian virgin when confronted with naked Jared and there’s a clumsy attempt to make her reluctant to hook up with him because she might possibly like him. The thing is Melody and Jared bicker like thirteen year olds and it’s really annoying. Also, Jared continually references how much Melody secretly wants him which is pretty much the least attractive thing that anyone can do, ever.
Whilst I thought the idea of slowing down, enjoying the build up and holding off on the actual sex was fun, it was so overblown in practice that it just makes me laugh. Melody says she won’t have sex until her birthday which is about two weeks away but you’d swear it was about two decades the way she carried on. She complained like it was air or water that she was being forced to go without and the constant whining about how horny she was and her lady-boner just got on my nerves. It really took away from any chemistry that might have been established because it was all about the desperation to have sex and how agonising it was to wait this looooooong period of time, not to just enjoy the journey there.
Melody Ashford loves sex and has quite a lot of it – good for her. Most of the sex she’s having is with her married boss, not so cool. In an attempt to get over that she picks up random strangers in bars, including the one with the referred to Micropenis. Melody’s friends seem a bit bored with her sex life and they challenge her to take it slow, to give up sex for a while and just enjoy the foreplay, the build up. In other words, stop gorging yourself on McDonalds and maybe go out for a nice steak.
Melody’s friend dumps her brother on Melody while her apartment is being fumigated without even asking her, giving her brother a key to Melody’s one bedroom apartment and when Melody comes home, it’s to be greeted by a naked Jared. I think this scene is supposed to be funny but it kind of just struck me as all types of wrong. You’re a guest in her apartment….and neither you nor your sister had the decency to actually ask her properly before just moving in. Rude. And then you wander around the place naked, which is not exactly how it’s polite to behave in someone else’s home. But it’s billed as okay, because Jared is hot. Like, super hot. Really, really hot. TOTALLY HOT. I get it, but I still don’t think it makes much of a difference. It was weird. And a bit creepy.
For a sex freak, Melody reverts to a shrieking Victorian virgin when confronted with naked Jared and there’s a clumsy attempt to make her reluctant to hook up with him because she might possibly like him. The thing is Melody and Jared bicker like thirteen year olds and it’s really annoying. Also, Jared continually references how much Melody secretly wants him which is pretty much the least attractive thing that anyone can do, ever.
Whilst I thought the idea of slowing down, enjoying the build up and holding off on the actual sex was fun, it was so overblown in practice that it just makes me laugh. Melody says she won’t have sex until her birthday which is about two weeks away but you’d swear it was about two decades the way she carried on. She complained like it was air or water that she was being forced to go without and the constant whining about how horny she was and her lady-boner just got on my nerves. It really took away from any chemistry that might have been established because it was all about the desperation to have sex and how agonising it was to wait this looooooong period of time, not to just enjoy the journey there.
November 9, 2015
3.5 Stars
I really enjoyed Operation One Night Stand and when I found out that Melody was getting her story I was excited to see if anything or anyone could slow her down.
Honestly, I have to say that Melody wasn't a very likable girl for the first 50% of this book. She's sleeping with a married guy and hoping he leaves his wife but still flirting, and sleeping with other guys? I am all for women having sex when and with whomever they choose but when it is hurting someone other than those who are having the sex, that's a hard limit for me.
After the 50% mark I start to like Melody as a person better but I was bored with the story. There were some pretty hilarious jokes and I did like how playful Melody and Jared were with each other but it just felt like the story was dragging on.
The writing was good and I enjoyed the banter between the characters, especially when they were drinking their naughty named drinks, but I just didn't fall in love with Melody and Jared the way I did with Brian and Caroline.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I really enjoyed Operation One Night Stand and when I found out that Melody was getting her story I was excited to see if anything or anyone could slow her down.
Honestly, I have to say that Melody wasn't a very likable girl for the first 50% of this book. She's sleeping with a married guy and hoping he leaves his wife but still flirting, and sleeping with other guys? I am all for women having sex when and with whomever they choose but when it is hurting someone other than those who are having the sex, that's a hard limit for me.
After the 50% mark I start to like Melody as a person better but I was bored with the story. There were some pretty hilarious jokes and I did like how playful Melody and Jared were with each other but it just felt like the story was dragging on.
The writing was good and I enjoyed the banter between the characters, especially when they were drinking their naughty named drinks, but I just didn't fall in love with Melody and Jared the way I did with Brian and Caroline.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
January 3, 2016
I very much enjoyed this book like the first one. It's hilarious and has great drink ideas that I'll be trying. If your looking for a book that will make you laugh til your side hurts. this is it!
January 12, 2016
2.5* the sex-crazed heroine keeps saying that she has a lady-boner (?!) I don't know, it's not boring, but I don't really like it either..
November 11, 2015
In a world of romance novels where heroines are glorified virgins and goody-goody girls who never make mistakes, Melody was the perfect anti-heroine. She was so refreshing. Melody drinks, she fucks and she makes questionable life choices.
Melody is having an affair with her married boss and, while her friends are all in stable relationships or moving up in their careers and making major life changes, she’s feeling stuck in a rut a month before her thirtieth birthday. It’s when things don’t work out with the boss, her latest one night stand was one for the record books of awful and her friend’s younger brother rolls back into town looking finer than ever that Melody decides to abstain from sex until she gets her shit together. The younger brother, Jared has always had a crush on Melody and does his damnedest to make things, um… hard for her.
Jared has just left a long term relationship and really isn’t interested in anything serious. Jared and Melody are two peas in a pod and when it comes to one night stands and flirting the two can give each other a run for their money. When they both decide to ban orgasms for the next two weeks, things become really interesting, with each one trying to break the other’s willpower.
This book is all about the sizzle of anticipation, enjoying naughty flirtations and with a host of quirky characters, Melody’s inner monologue and some hilarious situations this book was laugh-out-loud funny! This book is a good time and definitely recommended!
(ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review)
Melody is having an affair with her married boss and, while her friends are all in stable relationships or moving up in their careers and making major life changes, she’s feeling stuck in a rut a month before her thirtieth birthday. It’s when things don’t work out with the boss, her latest one night stand was one for the record books of awful and her friend’s younger brother rolls back into town looking finer than ever that Melody decides to abstain from sex until she gets her shit together. The younger brother, Jared has always had a crush on Melody and does his damnedest to make things, um… hard for her.
Jared has just left a long term relationship and really isn’t interested in anything serious. Jared and Melody are two peas in a pod and when it comes to one night stands and flirting the two can give each other a run for their money. When they both decide to ban orgasms for the next two weeks, things become really interesting, with each one trying to break the other’s willpower.
This book is all about the sizzle of anticipation, enjoying naughty flirtations and with a host of quirky characters, Melody’s inner monologue and some hilarious situations this book was laugh-out-loud funny! This book is a good time and definitely recommended!
(ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review)
November 9, 2015
Let me start by saying I absolutely LOVED Operation One Night Stand. It was witty and fun, I definitely laughed my ass off. Operation Foreplay started off strong but then just sort of went downhill for me. I can't really pinpoint where things went wrong. It was a good read and it was cute, I loved reading about the whole gang and how their lives progressed since Operation One Night Stand. I think that was definitely a plus for me. The banter was fun as always and so the fun drinks with some sort of sexual name, which most of these drinks I've never even heard of. 3.5 Stars. I really wanted to love this, but I just didn't. I think I was spoiled with Operation One Night Stand ;-)
"Figured out early on I was a numbers guy. All those sixes and nines-"
"He sucked until I swore to God my clit was going to pop off and shoot down his throat like an errant pea."
I liked Melody but she acted tough on the exterior and yet she was falling apart on the inside. She seemed to make the same mistakes constantly with her boss even though she knew it was wrong. It took her quite a while to finally realize it would never work out with a married man. I loved Jared's character, he was fun and flirty while also being super sexy. I loved the sexual tension between Melody and Jared but it seemed like Jared was completely different later on in the book. I feel like he was so smooth and charming at first but then he becomes more sappy and I felt like he lost his man card there towards the middle to end.
"Figured out early on I was a numbers guy. All those sixes and nines-"
"He sucked until I swore to God my clit was going to pop off and shoot down his throat like an errant pea."
I liked Melody but she acted tough on the exterior and yet she was falling apart on the inside. She seemed to make the same mistakes constantly with her boss even though she knew it was wrong. It took her quite a while to finally realize it would never work out with a married man. I loved Jared's character, he was fun and flirty while also being super sexy. I loved the sexual tension between Melody and Jared but it seemed like Jared was completely different later on in the book. I feel like he was so smooth and charming at first but then he becomes more sappy and I felt like he lost his man card there towards the middle to end.
October 23, 2015
When I started this book I didn't really know what to expect in the long run but it was hilarious, cute and it made me not want to put it down.
As far as the characters go they sure are lively bunch of friends who know when to have a good time but they also are very close. I don't know if this will be a series but I really enjoyed each and every character in one way or another.
The plot was different. Mel goes from having sex all the time to basically trying to hold out and take it slow. I really liked how her character grew from not wanting anything serious to being hopeful it could actually happen. The one issue I had with her was how promiscuous she was during the book. Maybe she could have just talked about her past instead of sleeping with 3 men in one book.
I enjoyed how Jared wanted to take things slow to see where they would lead and how he managed to actually court her while holding back. I liked the sexual tension between them which only made it sweeter when they finally took their relationship to a new level.
One of the things I really loved with this book was the dialogue. It was real and unfiltered between these close friends. They spoke openly with each other and even though they might have not agreed with the other persons choices it worked for them. With some of the topics they had I couldn't stop laughing.
Since Hughes is a new author to me I am really looking forward to reading more from her in the future.
As far as the characters go they sure are lively bunch of friends who know when to have a good time but they also are very close. I don't know if this will be a series but I really enjoyed each and every character in one way or another.
The plot was different. Mel goes from having sex all the time to basically trying to hold out and take it slow. I really liked how her character grew from not wanting anything serious to being hopeful it could actually happen. The one issue I had with her was how promiscuous she was during the book. Maybe she could have just talked about her past instead of sleeping with 3 men in one book.
I enjoyed how Jared wanted to take things slow to see where they would lead and how he managed to actually court her while holding back. I liked the sexual tension between them which only made it sweeter when they finally took their relationship to a new level.
One of the things I really loved with this book was the dialogue. It was real and unfiltered between these close friends. They spoke openly with each other and even though they might have not agreed with the other persons choices it worked for them. With some of the topics they had I couldn't stop laughing.
Since Hughes is a new author to me I am really looking forward to reading more from her in the future.
November 10, 2015
After reading Operation One Night Stand, picking up Operation Foreplay was a no brainer. There was no way I was going to miss it and sure enough I wasn't disappointed.
Mel is bolshy, confident, unafraid of going for what she wants in life. She has a healthy sexual appetite and a reputation among her friends that reflects that.
And then you get to know her.
Hughes delivered with Mel. I laughed with her, commiserated with her, cringed for her and hurt for her. My gut ached reading about her relationship with the boss. Her misplaced hope in him and what she means to him stung to read. How I hoped she would see through his crap. But fear makes us do funny things and, for me, Mel was like many of us who stay in something that is undoubtedly toxic.
And Jared... Oh holy yumminess...It is clear just how great he is for her. I might even have developed a little fictional crush.
The development of the characters and their relationships is beautifully done by Hughes. We meet with old friends and new, uncover new secrets and different views into their lives. The sweetness of the budding relationship with Mel and Jared, and the way a woman who "doesn't do relationships" just seems to fit with him, is satisfying to read.
Hilarious, touching, sweet and satisfying. I wholeheartedly recommend this to readers.
Mel is bolshy, confident, unafraid of going for what she wants in life. She has a healthy sexual appetite and a reputation among her friends that reflects that.
And then you get to know her.
Hughes delivered with Mel. I laughed with her, commiserated with her, cringed for her and hurt for her. My gut ached reading about her relationship with the boss. Her misplaced hope in him and what she means to him stung to read. How I hoped she would see through his crap. But fear makes us do funny things and, for me, Mel was like many of us who stay in something that is undoubtedly toxic.
And Jared... Oh holy yumminess...It is clear just how great he is for her. I might even have developed a little fictional crush.
The development of the characters and their relationships is beautifully done by Hughes. We meet with old friends and new, uncover new secrets and different views into their lives. The sweetness of the budding relationship with Mel and Jared, and the way a woman who "doesn't do relationships" just seems to fit with him, is satisfying to read.
Hilarious, touching, sweet and satisfying. I wholeheartedly recommend this to readers.
November 11, 2015
Fabulous! Operation Foreplay started off with Melody accepting a bet from her best friends to prove that she’s “in control” which put her…lower region in a series of great foreplay and sexual frustration for a few weeks which also helps her have the advantage to get reacquainted with Jared Myers. The man who has starred so many times in her fantasies.
Time will only tell if the chemistry is really there between Melody and Jared or if it’s just sexual frustration that makes them so attracted to each other.
I love Melody’s character. She’s a woman who's looking forward into her future. There are some things she has to work through with a couple of her friends and just overall in her life, but it’s nice to see her accomplish so much during that process.
Jared. Oh boy! He’s a sexy beast. You would think that someone that's so similar to Melody’s personality would destroy the story, but for me it made the story even more intriguing. Their relationship is full of witty banter, crazy moments and amazing humor. Which I absolutely loved reading.
The only warning that I would give you is don’t read this while eating, jogging, or drinking because this book will get you laughing so much that you’ll have tears leaking from your eyes. I know I did!
If you wanna see how the bet ended then one-click this book!
HIGHLY recommend!
~On Behalf of Once Upon An Alpha
Time will only tell if the chemistry is really there between Melody and Jared or if it’s just sexual frustration that makes them so attracted to each other.
I love Melody’s character. She’s a woman who's looking forward into her future. There are some things she has to work through with a couple of her friends and just overall in her life, but it’s nice to see her accomplish so much during that process.
Jared. Oh boy! He’s a sexy beast. You would think that someone that's so similar to Melody’s personality would destroy the story, but for me it made the story even more intriguing. Their relationship is full of witty banter, crazy moments and amazing humor. Which I absolutely loved reading.
The only warning that I would give you is don’t read this while eating, jogging, or drinking because this book will get you laughing so much that you’ll have tears leaking from your eyes. I know I did!
If you wanna see how the bet ended then one-click this book!
HIGHLY recommend!
~On Behalf of Once Upon An Alpha
December 11, 2015
I have never laughed so hard reading a book as I did this one! Melody Ashford is a breath of hilarious air. She is a woman who likes sex. She has been sleeping with her married boss and hoping he will eventually leave his wife. Then along come Jared. The second she sees Jared she is instantly attracted to him. She recognizes him but can't put her finger on how she knows him. To her surprise he is her best friend Sarah's brother. She now remembers him and his cocky attitude. Sarah ends up asking Melody if Jared can stay with her for a week. During this week they decide that they are going to pretend to be boyfriend/girlfriend to fool her parents and make them leave her alone. Then here comes the bet. No sex and no other form of gratification for 15 days. Melody loves sex and has no idea what she is getting herself into. In the end it was definitely worth it. Melody learned to love without sex. She has never loved anyone in her life and Jared brought that out. Jared is definitely swoon worthy and lovable. The banter between the 2 was awesome! I want more of Jared and Melody! Definitely going into my top 5 reads this year!!
*Reviewed on behalf of Once Upon An Alpha *
*Reviewed on behalf of Once Upon An Alpha *
December 14, 2015
I was given this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Mel is a career woman who's in a rut. She's having an affair with a married man and sees nothing wrong with it until Jared, her best friends younger brother, makes her view things differently. She hasn't seen him since he was a lanky teen and now he's panty dropping hot.
Jared just moved back to town after being away for a number of years and he sees Mel again. He can't help but want her just as much as he did years ago. Fresh from a broken engagement he wanted to start over and he intended to do this with Mel despite her compulsion to push him away
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Jared and Mel chemistry was so strong that it took on a life of its own. The banter between those two was hilarious and when they finally were able to get together, the steaminess was well worth the wait.
My only critique is that I wished it ended a little sooner, or a potion of the ending could have been used as an epilogue.
Four stars
Kirha The Club
November 10, 2015
Melody isn't having the greatest luck with her love life. After a doomed relationship follows it's natural course to doom, and her next encounters leave her less than satisfied, she thinks the universe might be telling her to slow down the sexcapades and take a break.
But when she realizes her friend's gorgeous brother is now staying in her apartment, well, that break seems a whole lot more difficult.
I love the humor and lightness in both the Operation books from this author. If you are looking for something fun and light that doesn't involve shaming, then this might be for you. I loved the girls and how they interacted with each other, and I loved Jared's way of dealing with Mel. Operation Foreplay was just a fun read that I enjoyed.
ARC provided for review.
But when she realizes her friend's gorgeous brother is now staying in her apartment, well, that break seems a whole lot more difficult.
I love the humor and lightness in both the Operation books from this author. If you are looking for something fun and light that doesn't involve shaming, then this might be for you. I loved the girls and how they interacted with each other, and I loved Jared's way of dealing with Mel. Operation Foreplay was just a fun read that I enjoyed.
ARC provided for review.
February 14, 2016
Follow Melody as she learns to drop her facade and face reality, as she begins to realise that her life is going nowhere fast. When she meets her best friends brother, she enters into bets that could make her heart melt and change her perspective.
With reappearing characters from the first book (Operation One Night Stand), Melody is my least favourite of the girl gang, but I think it's because I couldn't connect to her. Personal taste, I guess.
The build up and sexual tension between Melody and Jared (our lead hunk) is well crafted and works well, whilst the other members of the gang have their own issues coming up, and become instrumental to the plot. We have a list of drinks at the back and I certainly want to try some of them!
With reappearing characters from the first book (Operation One Night Stand), Melody is my least favourite of the girl gang, but I think it's because I couldn't connect to her. Personal taste, I guess.
The build up and sexual tension between Melody and Jared (our lead hunk) is well crafted and works well, whilst the other members of the gang have their own issues coming up, and become instrumental to the plot. We have a list of drinks at the back and I certainly want to try some of them!
December 1, 2015
What an incredible story! I love how Christine Hughes shows how a woman can be just as sexually driven as a man. She has no problem grabbing the reader by the libido and heading for the stars and then suddenly *POOF* no sex. Innuendos abound, sexual tension and flirting goes to a whole new level. Her characters face day to day challenges, have friends who are blunt and to the point. Real life day to day happenings and sexual frustration lead way to finding out the truth behind the facade. Well written, funny, distracting and oh some amazing adult beverages! This book will have you smiling and smirking.
July 3, 2016
LOVED this book! One minute I'm fanning myself and the next I'm rolling in laughter - so hard, I have people staring at me wondering What.The.Heck is going on.
Jared ♡ So swoon - worthy it hurts to admit it. I fell in love with him the moment Mel laid her eyes on him (even if she was in denial, I wasn't).
Melody is as hilarious as they come, but yet sensitive and relatable. Love her character!
I read this story late into the night until my phone was close to dying. At that point, I only hoped my Kindle was charged so I could continue reading.
Did I mention I LOVED this book??
Jared ♡ So swoon - worthy it hurts to admit it. I fell in love with him the moment Mel laid her eyes on him (even if she was in denial, I wasn't).
Melody is as hilarious as they come, but yet sensitive and relatable. Love her character!
I read this story late into the night until my phone was close to dying. At that point, I only hoped my Kindle was charged so I could continue reading.
Did I mention I LOVED this book??
October 28, 2015
A sleeping Jared makes for an entertaining scene, "he was talking about me. Feeling awkward about intruding on his subconscious, I backed out of the room but not before he rolled onto his back, complete with a saluting soldier, and mumbled, “See you naked.” Jared is just really sexy, “no worries.” Jared leaned back and whispered, “You bite that bottom lip one more time and I’m going to blow a load in my pants.” This book was funny and entertaining, I loved it.
February 4, 2016
I literally cried and laughed until I was unable to breath correctly reading the 3rd chapter. I'm sorry I haven't laughed that hard in a long time, and if it means I have a teenage sense of humor then I will gladly accept that. The rest of the book was honest to goodness foreplay for these characters. It was a nice easy read. Not some epic love story, but it was a great read glad I found it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 31, 2015This story is the follow up to Operation One night stand. It was hilarious, witty and sexy as well. I love these character and look forward to reading more about them, maybe we'll get a book about Sarah???
November 22, 2015
I loved it!!! I loved Operation One Night Stand but I loved this one more. The banter between these two was great!! Just a great fun read.
October 12, 2015
Fun, hot and hilarious! Full review to come!
October 28, 2015
Loved it! Hilarious and sexy. I haven't laughed out loud so much reading in FOREVER. Highly recommend this one.
~~ARC provided through NetGalley~~
~~ARC provided through NetGalley~~
November 19, 2015
Loved this book! Jared Myers is my new book boyfriend. Love the main and secondary characters. Cannot wait to read more from Christine Hughes.
July 4, 2016
Very cute. Enjoyed the dialog.
February 18, 2016
The first book "operation one night stand" was a 4 star read, this book, second one in the series, unfortunately isn't as great.
The first 50% of the book isn't bad, but as soon as The Hero and heroine decided to "take things slow", to prolong the "foreplay", the book went down hill slowly.
Books tease the readers, sometimes it is a good thing. However, if pacing isn't handled correctly, the book became draggy and I started to skim and skip through the chapters.
When finally finally finally the couple decided to do the deeds, I had so much expectation build up, and only to find the scene mediocre at best, lack the spark and excitement and I was disappointed.
Having said all that, I do enjoyed and like this author enough that I will continue to check out future releases of her new books.
The first 50% of the book isn't bad, but as soon as The Hero and heroine decided to "take things slow", to prolong the "foreplay", the book went down hill slowly.
Books tease the readers, sometimes it is a good thing. However, if pacing isn't handled correctly, the book became draggy and I started to skim and skip through the chapters.
When finally finally finally the couple decided to do the deeds, I had so much expectation build up, and only to find the scene mediocre at best, lack the spark and excitement and I was disappointed.
Having said all that, I do enjoyed and like this author enough that I will continue to check out future releases of her new books.
Read
October 30, 2015I'm going to hold off on my rating for now - I'm thinking a 2.5 or a 3.
There were a few things that really annoyed me - like the repetitive use of the phrases "Lady boner" and "I'm going to blow a load". Instead of the sexual tension and build up being sexy I started rolling my eyes every time these two got near each other. Then there was the abrupt ending.
On the other hand I loved the girls friendship, Jared was a nice guy and it was nice to see Melody wise up about a certain guy in her life.
I'm thinking this one just wasn't for me but would appeal to most romance readers.
There were a few things that really annoyed me - like the repetitive use of the phrases "Lady boner" and "I'm going to blow a load". Instead of the sexual tension and build up being sexy I started rolling my eyes every time these two got near each other. Then there was the abrupt ending.
On the other hand I loved the girls friendship, Jared was a nice guy and it was nice to see Melody wise up about a certain guy in her life.
I'm thinking this one just wasn't for me but would appeal to most romance readers.
August 19, 2018
So just reread this book again a little over 2 years later. I still was a little annoyed by Melody, and I still found it annoying how attractive Zac’s character was. I honestly did not remember any of the book until I got about halfway through, and maybe being closer to Melody’s age now than when I first read the book, had led me to be slightly more understanding of the book. I would still say it’s a 3/5 star read, I was probably being over generous 2 years ago on my rating based on my comments on the book. Now I would say a solid 3, maybe even a 3.2.
June 7, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It was a light, fun read. It had all the characters from Operation One Night Stand which was great. I love all their repor they all have with each other. There is a lot of humour in this too which is great and a whole lot of chemistry between Melody and Jared! lol
Definitely recommend this book. A great light, easy read with great humour in it as well as a few HOT parts!
Definitely recommend this book. A great light, easy read with great humour in it as well as a few HOT parts!
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