One Long Kiss

Affair Without End #3

by Susan Ward

“I knew it the first time I saw him. Some men have that power. They instantly ignite something feral in you, whether you want it or not, and the sexual electricity is always there, in every room and every moment, from the first time you see them. An inescapable web, swirling around you until you surrender. And at that point, they devour you.”~~Linda Cray

Leaving Jack a second time is the hardest thing Linda has ever done. Keeping their love intact proves an even greater challenge as she embarks on a new career: road manager for the British rock band Blackpoll and the girl expected to keep the mercurial Alan Manzone from self-destruction.

Building a successful career for herself fast becomes the least of her concerns. Jack’s heated custody battle over his daughter continues to thwart the great love of Linda’s life. Alone and heartsick and forced to stay away from Jack, she finds herself soon caught in a spinning web of lust for Alan Manzone. She wants him. She hates him. Yet there is something elusive about the enigmatic Brit that melts her heart.

Linda is determined not to falter in her love for Jack while they wait for his custody battle over Chrissie to be resolved, so they can at last start their future together. But will she surrender to the burning pull of Alan’s pursuit?

195 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2015

About the author

Award-Winning author Susan Ward is a #1 bestselling author of Rock Star Romance and New Adult Fiction. Known for complex, gritty, and unpredictable emotional reads, to the delight of her readers she is always expanding her fictional universe.

She likes her romance books to be packed with exciting heroes who keep you guessing, and intelligent, complicated heroines who make them work to get them. Her stories are filled with twists you won't see coming, both laughter and tears, and her Happy Endings are never cookie-cutter, but always deliciously satisfying.

She lives in California with her husband and dog Lady. Her favorite things to do are writing an angsty HEA love story, drinking coffee, eating chocolate, having a good glass of wine, traveling, binge watching TV series once the episodes are fully released, and chatting with her readers.

For future releases, upcoming book signings, or to contact: Http://www.susanwardbooks.com
Or follow on Twitter @susaninlaguna
Or Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanwardboo...
Want to know the reading order of her books: www.susanwardbooks.com/parker-series1...

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a buildup in this book. Linda has grown and learned to cope with her love. Jack is her everything but she doesn't see her future so easily. Will Jack wait for her to to come back! Onto the last book, One Forever Kiss.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series runs parallel to Ward's Half Shell series --- which I cannot get enough of simply because of Alan Manzone.
Alan is the anti-hero of my dreams and the love interest of Chrissie Parker - and in One Long Kiss, we get a large dose of Alan.

Mostly centered around the love affair between Jack Parker (Chrissie's dad) and Linda (who works for Alan at the time), Ward fills in many holes about Chrissie and Alan's love for one another. AND it is divine and sensual and poetic.

"I'm not fucking with Chrissie," he whispers into my hair. "I knew it the first time I saw her. There isn't anyone else on earth for me. I love her...She's the first person in my life to ever love me for only me." ~ Alan.

5 Anxiously awaiting the next Half Shell book Stars!

[Andrea (mrsaubergine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another Susan Ward series I'm reading out of order, but I really enjoyed this novella, which tells the story of Linda and Jack, Chrissie's father from the Half Shell series. In this third book, Linda is tempted by British rocker Alan Manzone, also from the Half Shell series, and I have to say I am now most intrigued by him. I fell in love with Jack, though, and now I definitely have to read the earlier books in both series. I also can't wait to see what happens next.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

What n ironic twist!

It just keeps getting more intriguing! What a bunch of fucked up emotional baggage all these seemingly successful people carry; but I’m sure this is all quite reflective of all our own peccadillos. This one was a lot more in depth, and I loved Alan’s, child star to rock star status. Reminded me of Robert Downey Jr.’s rise to fame after his heroin addiction!

[candace andrews · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful

This has got to be the most ridiculous and stupid series I have ever read and wasted money on. Linda is absolutely the most immature idiot throughout the entire series. Then there is Jack throughout the whole series, who by the way, gets the "shaft" from this "dipstick", Linda. What a crock this whole mess was.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich with plot development and character growth, Affair Without End series only gets better and better

"I knew it the first time I laid eyes on him. Some men have that power . They instantly ignite something feral in you, whether you want it or not, and the sexual electricity is always there, in every room and every moment, from the first time you see them. An inescapable web, swirling around you until you surrender. And at that point, they devour you.” ~ ~ Linda Cray

With a beginning like that, how could I not be prepared for temptation in one of the finest packages to grace my pages? It's been 2 months since Linda has left Jack in the States, 2 months that she's been on tour with Blackpoll, 2 months working for the mercurial Alan Manzone.

"Alan Manzone unnerves me more than any guy I’ve ever met. And crap, he’s not even really a man yet."

This book had my feelings all over the place... I was anxious to see what was in store for Linda and Jack. Intoxicated by Alan. Apprehensive about how Linda would handle the new situations she faces... But mostly? Enamored by the story unravelling before me. Love is not always easy. It's not always kind. And this installment shows the trials and sacrifices true loves faces.

Jack... My heart melts for him. He's such a wonderful and caring man. But in this book, my heart breaks for him. He's dealing with a very complicated situation and it's affecting everything around him.

Linda... Though I don't necessarily understand the decisions she makes, I loved getting a look at an independent Linda. She's trying to pave her own way. To be someone worthy of love yet fighting it at the same time.

Alan is a temptation. He's enigmatic and has a way of reading people that can be uncomfortable if you are the one he focuses on. I loved his interaction with Linda. Though my heart hurts a little bit, I'm glad he came into her life and vice versa.

As a fan of the Hall Shell series, I eagerly devoured any and all Alan page time. He's a wounded man that I have a soft spot for. So for those of you that are reading about him in the Half Shell series, you won't be disappointed by this insight.

For those of you who haven't read the Half Shell series, don't fret. It's not necessary but it sure adds a whole new layer of insight and feels for all of these characters involved. You should pick up The Girl on the Half Shell and give it a try.

One Long Kiss t is rich with plot development and character growth. Each installment only gets better and better in the Affairs Without End series and believe me when I say I will drop everything for the next release.

Especially when Jack is involved. ;)

[Gypsy Madden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This installment was like watching a train wreck. You could see tragedy coming straight from the beginning since there were just so many things stacked against it. But I held out hope that it would swerve at the last minute since this was Book 3 out of what I assumed was a trilogy and Linda might actually go against character and save her relationship that I’ve cherished since the first book. Needless to say, I totally itch to pull Linda aside and knock some sense into her and it’s totally killing me that she pretty much put the final nail into the coffin to what was once a potentially beautiful relationship. But there is still hope out there since apparently there’s still another installment of this series to come. The foul language at the beginning seemed gratuitous. Alan is a wonderful addition to this series. He’s more than just the superficial bad boy rocker that he tries to come off as. Susan Ward ha created a complex character here with hidden layers and hidden motives underneath. But Alan is still no replacement for Jackson in terms of heart, finesse, manners, and enjoyment of life. But this really isn’t what I would classify as a romance since there seemed to be very little tenderness to be had. And the ending totally came out of left field as if the author said how can I tie this up and just randomly matched together characters that were barely mentioned earlier (and Jack in that very last scene felt out of character).

[Olivia Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Susan Ward did it again... Making me addicted with each page. This series has been an emotional rollercoaster for me... The ending to book 3 surprised me. I wasn't expecting it to end the way it did. That's what I love about books: not being able to predict the ending.

Jack and Linda are my favorite book characters. Their affair dragging me through hoops, and I still absolutely love them. Thank you Susan for creating them.

I highly recommend this series to anyone that loves a book that keeps them wanting more and not knowing what to expect next.

Now, on to the next Susan Ward book.

[Ju Haghverdian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was better than I expected, it is good to finally find out how and why she ended up with Len. Knowing more about Alan's background and personality help put together more pieces of the puzzle. I like how Ms Ward develops her characters. There are some typos and editing issues which always bug me but seem to be a constant on e-books but....
Susan Ward really knows how to captivate her readers... can't wait for what comes next.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a tribute to the author that I'm giving this book 4 stars in spite of the loathing I feel for Linda (the heroine for lack of a better term). I read both the Half Shell series and the Sand & Fog series before I read this one, an I loved them. The character of Jack is perfection throughout in spite of his flaws, but Linda is consistently unlikeable.
The stories and all other characters are captivating.

[Michelle Quintana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I felt really sad for Linda on the way she lost the love of her life. It was not the way I thought it would happen and I'm glad. I really liked the epilogue at the end because it ties in this series with Chrissie's story. Looking forward to reading the next books in both of these series

[Leynaa Yldz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought it was the last book but there is another one. I am sure as hell that I won't waste my time on it.

[Ana Oh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just killing me

I've read the other series. I know how this ends. Yet I just can't tear myself away. As always, a great story from a fantastic writer.