Be Creative

by Sam J.D. Hunt

Sometimes you have to be creative to escape the friend zone.

Want to snag the man of your dreams? The guy you’ve been in love with since the fourth grade? What better way to grab his attention than to offer him your virginity?

Except, of course, he’s about to propose to your best friend. And, well, he’s your best friend, too. But hey, sometimes life gets messy…

One chilly autumn, grad student Annie MacDonald finally gets her chance when Brent Andrews offers to show her the ropes of modern sexuality. Can love ever survive the complications of friendship and white hot sex?

Be sure to read the other five Escaping the Friend Zone novellas:

Be Supportive by Verlene Landon
Be Understanding by Thia Finn
Be Patient by Sierra Hill
Be Protective by Joy Eileen
Be Romantic by Kay Renee

All six novellas are unique, independent stories from romance’s hottest writers! Available on Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.

102 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 24, 2019

About the author

About Sam J.D. Hunt


Sam J.D. Hunt resides in Las Vegas with her husband, the inspiration for the young Thomas Hunt character, as well as her two children. Her debut trilogy, The Thomas Hunt Series, put a fun and unique spin on the popular BDSM genre. She followed up with the highly successful DEEP: A Captive Tale--a dark BDSM erotic captor/captive story about a pirate and his lady that spans time and space. Her fourth novel, the full-length standalone The Hunt for Eros is an erotic art adventure that combines spicy romance with a cultural adventure based on true life events. It has been described as being like The Da Vinci Code, but with lots of heat added.

Hunt's next release was co-written with her husband. Dagger: American Fighter Pilot is a steamy contemporary romance, which follows a squadron of fighter pilots as part of the American Fighter Pilot read-in-any-order series. Following the release of Dagger, Hunt released the much-anticipated MMF/Bi/Ménage erotic adventure, Taken by Two. Next, Hunt plans to release DEEPER: Capture of the Virgin Bride as a follow-up to DEEP. When not writing, Hunt enjoys travel, community involvement, spending time with friends and family, and hiking. She spends her days writing and trying to answer the age-old question: is it too late for coffee or too early for wine?

Connect with Sam:

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/samhunt
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SJDHunt
Twitter: @sjd_hunt
Google+: google.com/+SamJDHunt
Pinterest:www.pinterest.com/sjd_hunt/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/SJD_Hunt

Titles available for Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Paperback.

Reviews

[Raj · Rating 3 out of 5]

*****Please beware of spoilers*********Please avoid reading if you find spoilers irksome*****

Brent the hero catches his girlfriend Taylor kissing their dentist and straight away jumps to the conclusion that she is cheating and appropriately breaks up with her . “Taylor moved out.”
“Ah,” he said, walking toward me and joining me in the dark window seat. “I guess that’s that.”
I let out a big sigh as he sat next to me. “How did you find out she was cheating?”
“I saw them yesterday kissing in the Quad.”
“That’s horrific!”
“Yeah,” he said with a nod. “Do you know what’s crazy?”
“What?”
“That guy she was fucking – he’s our dentist.”
“So in one day you lost your girlfriend and your dentist. That’s messed up.”He is of course correct though unaware that she has cheated on multiple occasions as his other best friend and potential lover/heroine has kept this an iron clad secret for years.

Annis the heroine sees best friend/hero but now 'a friend with benefits' for whom she has pined away for years like some obsessed Victorian virgin and whom she has now corralled into being her sex tutor like days after his rough breakup,kiss another girl in front of her and of having also been made casually aware by the hero himself without an ounce of shame that he had indulged in revenge sex with his ex after having just had oral sex with the heroine just nights before because his ex girlfriend wanted to get back at the dentist for returning to his estranged wife.

So of course which guy in his right mind would refuse the free pussy(the hero's words) of a multiple cheater because of her lust for not him but revenge upon another cheater who has just run back to his estranged wife. “She had a fight with the dentist. I forget over what, his ex-wife or something.”
“Wow, he’s been married?”
Brent nodded. “I suppose. Anyway, she didn’t want me back. What she wanted was a revenge fuck.”
I felt a little better. Taylor didn’t want him back! But, he ran over there with the hope that she did, and that hurt.
“Why would you want a cheater back? Someone who is in love with someone else? I don’t get it.”
“I know.” He sat down across from my at our tiny kitchen island. “I guess it’s just that she’s been my girlfriend for so long, I’m not sure how to move on without her. It was easy, I guess.”
“Well, she was easy. That part’s true.”
“She was easy last night,” he said with a wink. A wink and a tone that made me want to die all over again.
“You didn’t…”
He raised his eyebrows. “Of course I did.”

“Why?” I blinked hard a couple of times to banish the threatening tears.
“Shit, Annie, like I’m going to pass up freely offered pussy.”
He had no idea how cruel he was being to me. How could he have?
Despite the voice in my head screaming at me to stop, I lost it. Standing up across from him, I howled like a Real Housewife on a drunken season finale.
“Did you kiss her? Did you do that thing you did to me to her?”
He held up a hand to me. “Whoa, you’re being weird. What thing?”
I stuck my index finger in his face. “Did you put your mouth on her…business?!?”
“Her business,” he mocked.
“Am I a joke to you?”
He stood up and narrowed his eyes at me. “Get a grip, Girl. Do you think yours was the first pussy I’d ever eaten? Or ever will again? Seriously? Grow up.”

The ex who is the heroine's best friend is also well aware now that the heroine has decided to put on her big girl panties to actively pursue the hero as they had had a conversation about it and the ex had encouraged her to go ahead with her plan to get her second hand man with her grudging blessing.It was hinted that the best friend the ex girlfriend was aware previously that heroine had had a massive crush on a than new boy so had decided to acquire him as her toy before the heroine could.

As aforementioned the hero proudly proclaimed to the heroine "who refuses free pussy' as a valid excuse for diving back between the cheating wanton thighs of his ex girlfriend and did not at all correlate any of his shenanigans with being well cheating obnoxious behaviour because he was just only a cunnilingus expert/teacher to the heroine at her pleading. And he is well aware that kissing is not always cheating but just only sometimes is when the mood suits him.

It's unclear when the hero had an epiphany about being in love with his best friend.
Was it during the time with Taylor the girlfriend.
Was it during the time while having the revenge fuck with Taylor the cheating now ex girlfriend to assist her get payback on the guy with whom she cheated with while with him.
Was it....during the Kennedy kiss “For you. I just…” And then she was there. Not only was she standing behind him, her stupid pointy nailed hand was on his back!
He turned to her. “Oh, hey, Kennedy.”
Kennedy Reed had been after Brent for years, just hovering and waiting for Taylor to be out of the picture. She was a platinum blonde with perpetually painted brick red lips.
“Hello to you, too,” I said, my eyes never leaving her hand that sat casually on my man.
“Oh, hello Annis. I didn’t notice you there; you sort of blend in with the background.”
“We were just going, weren’t we, Brent?”
Around eleven-thirty, I had to pee. As much as I dreaded it, I couldn’t hold it any longer after the gallons of beer I’d consumed. On my way to the bathroom,

I saw them. He was kissing her right there in the middle of our bar. As I flew by them, his eyes opened. Around her stupid head, he looked at me. The look in his eyes was the same: sadness and sorrow.
Sitting in the ladies room stall, I sobbed

You weren’t answering your phone. I went back to the bar and Andy said you left with that dickwad.” His shaky finger pointed toward Roger’s bolted door. “And why exactly were you kissing him in the first place?”
“I thought you went home with Kennedy.” Of course I had to say her name in that mocking tone that five-year-olds do.
“Nah, Girl, I can’t stand her.”
“Your lips sure could stand her!”
He reached a hand to me. “Don’t be mad.”
Was it....during the Taylor candle lit dinner closure kiss The sign over the door was something in French – Le Bistro or some pretentious crap. I ducked inside, and as my eyes adjusted to the candlelit interior, I saw them.
Hours later, in the twin bed I grew up in, I lay sobbing.
My mother’s hand was on my back, her reassuring tone doing nothing to ease my gut-wrenching grief.
“Are you sure, Annis?”
“He was kissing her! I saw them. Brent and Taylor are back together.”

His lips were at my ear. “Then why did you run from me? From us? You broke my heart.”
My eyes locked to his. “I saw you with Taylor. That night – I was going to tell you how I felt, all of it. But at that ritzy French bar next to the restaurant, I saw you with her.”
A wave of epiphany washed over his face. “You thought…no, Annie, that was me telling her my feelings for you!”
That night I told her that I loved you. What you must have seen was simply closure and a nod to the future; nothing more.”

We would never know because the entire sad tale is told by a sobbing mess of a heroine and the hero of the tale is a silent dark duck whose actions continuously spoke louder than any sweet droppings that may have fallen out of his mouth.

But to his credit he had warned her:
His large hands reached for me and pulled me to my feet. “I’m still not convinced we should cross this bridge, but you’re my best friend and I adore you. And besides, despite your lack of self-awareness, you’re a sexy little thing. So, if you promise we can do this without it affecting our friendship, I’ll teach you.”

The book suffers from a distinct absence of a male POV as the hero regularly exhibited lack of mouth control without there being a deeper insight to justify any of his actions.The heroine ran away snivelling at the drop of the hero's lack of inhibitions and I'm was puzzled about his addiction to toxic women.Even though the book is borderline safe,it does not have descriptive sex scenes with ow/om.There is also no cheating by the hero/heroine as they are not officially together.The heroine is a virgin.

Please avoid cheating by not reading the spoilers if your appetite has been aroused to read the book.I would definitely read a follow up if Brent has a POV and if the Heroine grows a spine.

[gilleoin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first three books in the series. They were all novella length, short n sweet.

#1- Her BFF is a guy who has always been there for her. She’s just had another man cheat on her. She decides an FWB relationship may be good for her but it’s complicated when she wakes up after a night in bed with BFF. They finally realize they need to get over themselves and admit to having feels.

#2- She has had the hots for H since they were prepubescents but never had the guts to say/do anything about it and he starts dating her BFF as a teen and it’s a long term on-again/off-again kinda relationship. He finds out BFF has been cheating *again* and MC uses this opportunity to offer up her V-card under the guise of learning. Confused feeling occur, they need space but it all works out in the end.

#3- Roadie whose abusive step-sister is in opening act is asked where injuries came from by hot lead singer of main act. They hang and catch feels. Misunderstanding occurs, she takes off but it all straightens out in the end.

They were all acceptable for what they are, genre-wise, nothing beyond the regular super quick formulaic romance read....it’s not often a story in this genre really stands out, these didn’t. It was a cute idea to get different authors to write the series and there’s nothing truly bad/wrong with them.

[Teresa Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam had written another great book.
Annis (Annie McDonald) and Bret Stevens have been best friends since the moment she was hurt on the playground in the 4th Grade and has Loved him when she seen him in 3rd grade.
Annie, Bret and Taylor her other Best friend all live together while in College. Bret is in Love with Taylor and after a breakup Annie decides its time to try to get Brett to Love her. He is blind to see what is
in front of him and her love. He only see's them as being Best friends. Will he ever find out the truth of her feelings or will it be to late?
I loved how the characters interacted with each other and Loved how the book was written as if it could have been you going through this. Its about Love and finding it. I can't wait to see if there will be more of Annie and Bret.
3 Amigo's Wicked Book Reviews
Written by SS (Teresa)

[Jessica Laws · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends or lovers?

This is the story of Annie and Brent. Brent came to Annie's school in the 3rd grade and she fell in love. By 4th grade they were best friends. Now in college they are still the best of friends and living together. Brent is dating their best friend Taylor. Brent has no idea Annie is in love with him. When things go wrong and Brent Taylor break up she sees this as her chance. She brings up the friends with benefits arrangements. She thinks she can get him to fall in love with her like she is him. But does it work or did she just ruin the best friend and friendship she ever had? Does he have tha same feelings? Read to find out!

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taylor, Brent, and Annie are best friends. Brent’s with Taylor, but Annie has been in love w/him forever. Loyal Annie won’t do anything to rock their best friends boat. Without any input from her, the boat gets seriously rocked. And that’s when the fireworks begin!

This was an adorable friends to lovers rom-com. There are plenty of laughs to go with the heat Sam is known for. I hope their story continues; I want more!!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story by Sam. I so want more of the characters. Annis (Annie) always sees herself as the ugly ducking when others see her as the beautiful swan. She just doesn't see it. Brent is Annies best friend and seems blind to her feelings for him. Will Annie find a way to break through the friend zone that he has her in or will they always just be friends?

[Amy Darragh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great friends to lovers novella

There's a whole lot of story packed in this quick read. I couldn't put it down and read it one sitting!
Annie has no idea how great she is and Brent doesn't admit how he feels.
Can best friends add benefits? Not without hurt feelings, but they sure are hot together when they try it out!

[Jackie Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie and Brett have been friends forever.. Now they are college roommates and Annie can't stop helping falling more and more in love with Brett everyday.. Brett totally has her in the friend zone but when Annie comes to him with an unusual request with she remain in the friend zone?

Looking forward to more of their story

[Christie Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Friends Zone is one of the best ways to find out if you are meant to be more to one another, having a good friend they come to know who you are and what you need when it's needed. Brent and Annie were no different the best of friends with one exception, Annie was in love with Brent. I really loved this story, it was funny and emotional!

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I loved these characters. I loved that they were friends but they both secretly was attracted to each other. But they did get some obstacles thrown in their way. Going from friends to lovers is a scary step. They were a couple I was rooting for over come it all and find a hea.

[Ann Kelly-Uhryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read. I enjoyed the premises of the story but felt it was lacking due to the length. This book could have been much longer to be able to expand on scenes. Overall I did enjoy the characters.

[The Smutbrarians · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feels 4
Steam 2
Storyline 4
Overall Rating 4
Kindle eArc provided by Author
Reviewed by Lindsey

Super interesting read. Very funny and very fast paced. Over all I enjoyed it and was wanting a little more from the characters. For a novella length book it hit the spot.

[Amanda Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. I really connected with Annie. It’s easy to fall for your best friend. It’s even harder to get out of the friend zone. You must read to see if Annie can do it!

[Tammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story I really enjoyed. I love a good friends to lovers and this one added comedy to the steam making me love it more. I read it on sitting!

[Elizabeth]

You couldn't pay me to read this crap.