Timeout (noun): An interrupt signal generated by a program or device that has waited a certain length of time for some input, but has not received it.
Brina Kingston and billionaire Luke Maxwell have decided that if they want their relationship to work, there has to be more to it than amazing sex. They've agreed to take a timeout for thirty days to work on being friends.
Brina believes this is her last chance to show Luke how serious she is about him, but his devastating charm and hot body are testing her will.
Luke Maxwell is determined to see this timeout through to the end, but Brina's advances have him seeking a cold shower.
Will Brina and Luke's plan ignite a fire that lasts a lifetime or will their flame flicker out?
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cassia Leo grew up in California and has lived in three different countries. She loves to travel and her dream is to one day score a record deal based on her awesome shower singing skills. She is the author of the Shattered Hearts series (Relentless, Pieces of You, Bring Me Home). She is also the author of the popular Luke and Chase series.
I started reading this while trying to pick my next read. I have had Part I of the Luke Series: Mirror on my kindle for a while and just clicked on it to read the first few sentences and well, went all the way to the end in one sitting. These are short reads but I purchased the complete series set after the first so it was like a full length novel.
Brina is a Cornell graduate working with NeoSys which is the 2nd best software company . She gets promoted to Competitive Intelligence Officer...AKA....a Spy.
Her assignment is to get the password for "BLAZE", the greatest innovation to hit the industry since the internet. BLAZE is being created by the number 1 company, Maxwell Computers, owned by the young billionaire Luke Maxwell. Brina is applying to be his executive assistant.
Luke isn't dumb, he knows there are people out there trying to steal his software and his programs. I mean come on, he's a giant nerd, HOT NERD but a nerd....he's smart!
Brian and Luke have an instant attraction but do wither of them know if the other is playing the other?
The obvious happens, the fall in love. Brina is faced with telling him the truth and losing everything. Both jobs and the man she has fallen in love with or to go through with the original plan.
Brina had a brother that killed himself 7 months ago and is extremely affected by it. This tragic incident is what draws Brina and Luke together. She isn't the only one holding something back.
Oh, I have to mention Milo....Milo works with Brina at NeoSys. He has had a crush on Brina since they met and well...we find out Milo has a few tricks up his sleeve...in more ways then one...wink wink!!
After the big reveal, things don't go so well....of course...what kind of book would the man just say, "Oh OK I know you love me and its OK that you were trying to steal something I have worked so hard on" NO, too too boring.
Here is were I think I took my .5 stars away. Six weeks after the reveal, BLAZE is being revealed at a conference that Milo helps Brina get into (see Milo rocks) well when she gets there, she sees Luke with a beautiful blond kissing...NOT GOOD. He apparently started dating her as a rebound but his feelings turned more serious for her. She was a good person and beautiful but....She wasn't Brina. I guess I was just like WHAT THE HELL that he could move on that fast. Seriously, you say you loved Brina that much and you just jump in bed with someone else...HUH, no, I think I would have like to see him suffer, kinda like she was.
WELL....The story gets really good after that. They try to become friends and take a "timeout", at first it didn't last a day but then they were determined to show the other that they were serious about one another, that it was just about the sex....Man, did they have a hard time with that one.
The story starts out being told in just Brina's POV but eventually we get to see Luke's POV as well, which I love!!
This series really pulled me in from the start. At first I was kind of like "DAMN GIRL, don;t waste anytime do you?" but then....who wouldn't with a man like that!
You can really feel Brina's pain. She has so much responsibility, I would be in a pickle as well.
Throughout the series, we watch their relationship go from HOT, to UH OH, to OH COME ON ALREADY, to AWWW!! LOL, best way to describe it. Without giving away any spoilers, the ending was great! There is definitely a HAPPY EVER AFTER!!
I really liked how the Author wasted no time. There wasn't any wasted time in this series. Both characters got right to the point. Yes, at times I wanted to scream at Brina and say TELL HIM ALREADY but of course that would be too boring....shoot, even Brian was yelling at herself in the story!
Cassia Leo really knows how to captivate you from the start. Her characters are all likable and real.
As a side note, I want to add something about the Author's Note in the end....
Cassia Leo lets us know that she is no stranger to suicide. She had a fellow classmate jump off a hotel during class across from the school. Her classmate actually survived a little after the jump and was able to tell this woman his name. She mentions how she always wondered how that woman dealt with that. She also had a friend who committed suicide years later and wonders if she could have done something to be a better friend and stop it from happening. This is what made her characters for this story.
I definitely would recommend this to anyone, it had a little bit of everything. I laughed (their banter is hilarious), I cried (poor Brina and her Brother Ryan, and I smiled at their love A LOT!!
If you want to buy the whole series (actually pretty cheap) Click Here
I am in awe of this the 5th book in the 'LUKE' series. At the start I thought this story was moving way too fast & they were just flying through their romance. I thought that they would crash & burn.
But Luke & Brina have come through, they have survived a shit load of pain & drama from all aspects of their lives. What they have both had to deal with & the trauma that they have both carried around, it was fantastic to get the HEA for them, long over due.
Their spitfire hot hot hot & passionate relationship is awe inspiring. I'm so glad it worked out for them. I know there is another book to come in their story & thats fine, because I love to read about them, so bring it on.
Thankyou for this romance, as a fan of this genre you did well.
I loved this part of the series!!! I was very happy at the end of part 4 that Luke and Brina were gonna work it out. I liked the idea of trying to be friends to make sure that it's what they both want. The temptation between Luke and Brina was amazing and I could feel it coming from my Kindle as I was reading. The story kept me on the edge as I was reading it. I started to fall all over again for Luke and I understood why Brina couldn't get enough of him. The twist at the ending was a little shocking but that means a happily ever after and both Luke and Brina deserved it! Was so sad to see this series end but very happy at how it ended. I would definitely recommend to readers!! Cassia Leo is an amazing author and everyone should read her books! They are freaking awesome!!
I this this was my favorite installment of the bunch so far. Brina and Luke decide to take 30 days to get to know one another without having any sex. Visiting Luke's father makes Brina face her brothers suicide and helps her gain focus on life again. The book has a very happy ending.
Lots more drama for Luke and Brina but they make it through their month of just friend. They work through personal issue's and get a wonderful surprise in the end..
I bought the whole series as Audiobook. I really shouldn't have. The story is just plain flat (less than mediocre, in fact) and the only thing that makes it "worth reading" (at a stretch) is the book's steam-factor, but to be very honest, even that can't come to the rescue of a crappy book and its crappy storyline.
And honestly, how real can those characters be? After his break-up with Brina, Luke finds another girl and despite the fact that apparently he keeps thinking about Brina when he’s in bed with the new girl, he still plans to propose. But then, Brina comes to win him back (even though she just spent the night with her ex-archenemy) and Luke is completely pussy-whipped. Oh yeah, he even agrees to marry Brina after 3 weeks of being back together (that makes 2 months in total, minus the brak-up time) and guess what: his wife to be is pregnant and Luke is aware that it might not even be his!!! Hilarious bullcrap if you ask me!
Tthis novella represents a 20 minute read (or a 30 mins listen in my case). I am not criticising the length, because I am used to reading novellas but I am also used to reading novellas with an actual enticing storyline.
I respect the fact that other enjoyed this series and this is not me fighting a personal war with Cassia Leo since I had read one of her books before and absolutely loved it! So sorry, but this just didn't cut it for me and I really wouldn't recommend this
I didn't think that this part was going to be as long as it was, nor did I even register what might happen to put a strain on their relationship...so when Luke's dad had a stroke I was taken aback (not shocked just a little surprised). When Brina passed out in the hospital, and had a dizzy spell I had a feeling she was pregnant, honestly I thought it when they had sax unprotected. I am so happy Milo is with Jill, I thought early on they would make a good couple, and I would love to see a book about those two in the future.
I am not to sure what more can be added to this series, but I do plan on reading #6...I just don't see right now what more can be said about these two but I am excited to read it to find out. I must say I love Luke as a character, he could easily become a favorite of mine.
Are these guys the ones that stared the other four books? Seriously, they are very different. I think they finally matured.
Brina and Luke have finally realized how a relationship between to people must be. They realized that talking is allowed, besides having sex.
So yes, in this book the characters grew a lot, even more than in the four previous books together. As they grew, they changed, but the change is for good. Everything is sweeter in this one. They are forming a family.
I think the development was better because this one is the longest of the books in the series. On books so short is difficult to make a character tangible.
Now I'm eager to see if this development continues in the final two books of the series. I really hope it does because I'm just starting to enjoy reading this story.
When Brina and Luke finally make up, they agree to spend thirty days getting to know each other. As friends. No sex. They slip up right at day one, but then remain true to their promise to really get to know the other and learn everything that makes them who they are. The fifth installment of the Luke series is moving, sweet and oh so sexy. The love between them is responsible for the healing and mending of every hurt they've suffered until then. She helps him amend his relationship with his dad and he heals the wounds left behind by her brother. And then there are two sweet surprises... A lovely HEA for the billionaire and his love.
Brina and Luke decide that if they want a romantic relationship they have to be friends first and decide to just be friends for 30 days. Brina goes to San Fransico with Luke, to support him, to see his dying dad but this is the place she almost took her own life after her brother’s suicide, that along with the memories of her finding her brother's after his suicide at the VA she passes out. After Luke's father dies and they return home she realizes she is late. Worried it could have been Milo's a paternity test shows the baby belongs to Luke. Part 5 of 5 plus Trust ME.
Three day lol. Thirty days as friends and the kisses start on day three.....in the first 5 mins of seeing each other..... for the first time.....that leads into something more...... Love it! Then we have a 'real' thirty days, and boy oh boy is it a loonnnng wait! After his father died was a beautiful scene. I loved that Jill and Milo hit it off! Lucas James maxwell Jr, so adorable!! Such a fitting wedding in the bow of his boat! Changing the name of the boat from his grandmother to her brother had me in tears!! I.LOVED.THIS.BOOK!!! By far my fav! Hope number six lives up to this one!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Absolutely ridiculous! None of these "parts" have impressed me. The author leaves out vital information, fast forwards without giving us a clue if what happened inbetween, and these characters are just so unrealistic. The epilogue was horrible. It was 10 months later. What happened to all of the unanswered questions? Oh, that's right...you answered it with one sentence. Horrible. I'm so glad these were free on Amazon because if I had paid for these, I would be truly upset.
So this one has the HEA and felt like the end although there are two more about Luke and Brina's life together. I think this was meant to be the end but Cassia Leo changed her mind. It had a great ending.
I think this one was my favorite. It gave the character a better relationship where they weren't just sleeping together they were trying to get to know each other. I liked the ending and nothing bothered me. Yay!!
Okay but we seemed to lose a bit of the storyline and the pace went from really fast to warp speed. Reading this all back to back I was hoping the story would really develop, not so much but they do have really hot sex! On to 5.5
I loved this part of the series!!! I was very happy at the end of part 4 that Luke and Brina were gonna work it out. I liked the idea of trying to be friends to make sure that it's what they both want. The temptation between Luke and Brina was amazing and I could feel it coming.