Winter Bloom

Hollywood Connections #1

by Lily Alexander

Are you lost, Pea?

That was the question my best friend asked me before inviting himself on my cross-country road trip. The one I hoped would help me find myself.

We shared food, secrets, hotel rooms. Despite the near misses and almost kisses, it was the same as it always had been between us, just more.

Instead of finding myself, we found each other.

It was always the plan that he'd go home at the end of the trip. Except everything was different now.

We crossed a line we swore we wouldn't. If it didn't work out, would things be broken between us forever?

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Contemporary Romance, Road Trip

406 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 11, 2020

About the author

Lily is a Colorado native enjoying the fantastic climate of Southern California with her family and cranky cat after surviving more than a decade in hot, humid places where hurricanes get their own season and Winter is a myth.

The written word is her favorite thing - reading or writing, she doesn’t discriminate. Left to her own devices she can read about a book a day; that HEA is a powerful drug!

As an only child she grew up inventing elaborate stories for her dolls to act out. She started word processing on a computer around age 10 and never looked back. After suffering the heartbreak of catastrophic drive failure a regrettable number of times, she has finally learned to back things up appropriately and often.

Follow her antics on social media! (If she disappears for a bit around late August, don’t worry, that’s just her wanderlust kicking in. She’ll be back soon.)

Sign up for New Release notifications here: https://forms.gle/VgR9iqKYMkm4mrzn6

Facebook: https://bit.ly/LilysReaderLounge

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Reviews

[Danielle Keil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for Phae's story ever since meeting her in Image Protector! As soon as I read about her in that book, I've been dying for more about her.
And to get a bit of Daniel, Devons (from Image Adjustor) brother too? Day. Made.
This road trip romance takes off like none other, bringing a bit of angst, sexiness, troubles, and love along the way. Bookish Phae and fun-loving Daniel make this a road trip to remember! All the stars for Winter Bloom!

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phae and Daniel are best friends, and when she decides that she is going on a sola road trip he cannot help but invite himself along. Daniel challenges Phae at every turn to open herself up to her feelings. Will their relationship move from friends / lovers? No spoilers: this is a definite must read, you will not be disappointed. This is a well written little gem which has witty banter, and is an entertaining and all-consuming read, with engaging and realistic characters. I was hooked and intrigued throughout and look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I recommend for all.

[Elisabete · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[That Chubby Unicorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily Alexander has done it again!! She left me begging for her next book and I'm willing to bribe or blackmail her to get it!

Winter Bloom is the first book in the Hollywood Connections series. It's a spinoff from the Image series. I was really excited to read Olivia and Ollie's story (Image Destroyer that will be released soon... I hope!) but I'm so thrilled that Lily decided to tell Pea and Daniel's story first!

Daniel is Devon's (We met and fell in love with him in Image Adjuster) younger brother and he just happens to be best friends with Nora's (She and Max fell in love in Image Protector) younger sister, Phae... yeah I can't say her full name so I just call her Pea. BTW once you find out why D calls her Pea, you will fall in love with yet another Greene brother!

So... these two claim that they're just friends... 2 peas in a pod (Did you see what I did there?) But when Daniel hijacks Pea's roadtrip from Sweet Home Alabama to Cali, I knew they were liars and that their pants were on fire!!

I'm not from the US of A so I did the touristy thing and looked up each city they visited so it could feel like I was there with them!! New Orleans has been on my Cities-to-visit-before-I-kick-the-bucket since I was in high school and I didn't even know you had to drive over a verrry long bridge to get there! But now I want to go even more!

While they were sightseeing and traveling each day, this book felt more and more like a Hallmark Christmas movie (and I really mean this as a compliment) On the one hand Pea wanted to explore new places, spent time with her friend (who's too hot to be her friend) and find herself but she also wanted to be in time for Christmas and spent the holidays with her sister and D's brother (and their other halfs! Yeah it'sa reunion of all our fav characters) I was actually chewing off my nails cos I was convinced that they wouldn't make it in time... if you want to know if they're in time for Christmas, you will have to buy the book! At least they got yo have some fun in the snow... I've always wanted a White Christmas!

This is just what we needed to forget about the shitstorm that's 2020! I mean who doesn't want realize that you've been in love with your best friend for years without knowing it? Nothing else will give you all the feels and Christmas spirit like this book! It's like that Tik Tok challenge where you have to kiss your best friend... you don't want to mess up the friendship but you'll die if you don't feel those kissable lips pressed against your own!

Oh just thinking about this book makes me want to read it again! D's smirking all the time (30 times! I counted!) and he's just making me weak in the knees and that's just from imagining his smirk!

I can't wait for Spring Breeze... I'm already in love with Devon and D! Might as well fall for Dennis and make it a foursome!

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read it has an enjoyable storyline and characters are engaging and well developed throughout out the page’s.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckle up and settle in for an epic road trip...Alabama to California. Phae has her road trip color coded for the fastest route (3 days) and then her best friend, Daniel, surprises her by joining her on the cross country adventure. He starts the shenanigans off immediately by tossing Phae’s color coded plan right out the window. This book has it all: a cross country road trip, friendship, family , slow burn romance, and vulnerability. Absolutely loved Phae & Daniel!! Once you start this book you won't want to put it down, the pages will just call you right back! This is the first book i’ve read by Lily and this book is not to be missed!

[Lily Alexander]

Here's the quick and dirty about this story:

It’s a friends-to-lovers, holiday season, road trip romance!
It has:
✔️ Holiday Themes
✔️ Road Trip Shenanigans
✔️ Friends-to-Lovers Sweetness & Steam
✔️ Some laughs, some sighs & some snark
✔️ A guaranteed HEA
✔️ Familiar characters plus some new ones

To celebrate, I'm giving away a $25 Amazon gift card!
To enter the GIVEAWAY, just visit my author page here: https://www.facebook.com/authorlilyal...
(This giveaway will close 11/15)

Grab it now! Winter Bloom is FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

✔️ It's NOW AVAILABLE (and #FREE with #KindleUnlimited!)
✔️ Buy link for ANYWHERE: https://geni.us/BloomHC1

Keep reading for a Goodreads EXCLUSIVE sneak peek!



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"Come on." Daniel opened his arms for a hug and his overly enthusiastic gesture made me smile. "Bring it in." His goofiness was just what I needed to shake off my doldrums and I allowed him to crush me to his chest in a slightly painful, too-tight way. He rocked me back and forth all while making silly baby-talk at me until I started to laugh.

"Quit trying to kill me!"

He was still chuckling as I pulled away and stalked toward the bathroom, ready for a face clean of what felt like a thick layer of road grime.

"You're welcome!" He called after me and I shut the bathroom door in response.

My smile greeted me in the mirror and I shook my head again.

I was in so much trouble with him.


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RELEASE DAY: November 11th 2020
KINDLE UNLIMITED? Yes

[Sia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was always ready for Phae. I loved her spirit and knew I would just love her story. Lily Alexander gave us her fun, her light, her planning, and her love in Winter Bloom. I was so happy to experience it all.

There were the best laugh out loud moments along with the swoonworthy ones too. Oh my gosh, the cactus. You'll know what I mean when you get there.

You aren't ready for this winter read but I promise it will warm your heart. What a wonderful way to start the season! Road trip with this pair into Christmas and enjoy them falling in love and enjoy their shenanigans too.

[Elsie Pitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic story! Phae and Daniel totally captivated me with their charm and banter. This is a new author for me and I will be looking for more from this author! I love that Daniel is provoking and Phae is open with her feelings. This was a wonderful holiday story with a friends to lovers theme that will carry you through the holiday season and into the new year.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book I've read written by Lily Alexander; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.

The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.

I loved the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ga Books LoverX · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can be a little iffy on friends to lovers romances because sometimes they just don't seem plausible, but this one, oh I liked this one! I adored Phae and down right swooned at Daniel! These two and completely perfect for each other and I loved seeing their fun road trip. It was a perfectly balanced book with fun humor but also a healthy dose of feelings. The author did a great job with it and I give it 4.5 outta 5 stars!

[Karina]

DNF , please don’t mention so many characters names in short amount of time . My brain can only handle so much

[Amanda McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet best friends to lovers read. Daniel helped Phea come out of her shell. The road trip showed her that she didn’t have to have everything planned down to the last second. She started to finally find herself and who she really wants to be and how to balance life so that she is fulfilled in work and play.

[Ashley Cestra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I enjoyed certain parts of this story but wish there was oomph to it. It lacked so intrigue and plot twists along their journey. This one read like a hallmark movie- not in a bad way just in a run of kill, have it on as background noise.

[Mara Correa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My trip

Loved how I can relate to so many of the details in this story. I have lived and traveled to many of the places they stopped at, it felt like I was there too. A fun, sweet read.

[H.C. Bentley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story! The characters kept the story moving (literally, from one end of the country to the other), with plenty of moments to pull at the heartstrings. Definitely recommend. :)

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Loved this story of friends to lovers! Got me from the start! Fantastic read!

[Cyd Highfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Healthy relationships ftw

I am in utter love with how the relationships are written here. They’re shown as healthy and supportive and it makes my heart swell.

[Hnm Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a first-time read author for me and quite surprised I hadn't discovered her until today. Wow, thoroughly enjoyed it, and felt all the swoon and young-in-love vibes! Love it!

[Cherye Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmm

Sweet romance book.... But something was missing. Chemistry. The words coming from my kindle just fell flat. It could be me.

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was...fine. it had a lot I liked - slow burn, besties to lovers, one bed - and had minimal angst. It read a little young, but the characters were fresh out of college. It also had so little going on plotwise, but there have been enough books that are character studies that get good reviews that im not going to downgrade for that.

No, this getting bumped for very specific character choices. Our heroine is very much Not Like Other Girls and also doesn't know how beautiful and amazing she is. Our hero does though, and is of course smitten. Partly because of her looks but also because of her NLOG status. At one point, she muses on how she hasn't worn makeup and how free and vibrant she looks. Okay, fine. But he later thinks about how she hasn't worn makeup and how glad she is that she's in to the natural look. Because makeup is like false advertising. Seriously, he says that. He also calls makeup war paint. And earlier in the book, he mused on his ex and how she always was fake everything. Later, the two go to a spa and we hear again how low maintenance she is, and how her famous actress sister gets in trouble for never doing maintenance off set, and then the idea gets mocked as though it is weird to need to maintain one's body. Okay then.

Anyway, it feels like it talks down to the audience, and I get that a lot of people don't wear makeup and don't enjoy it. But MAYBE we don't denigrate the act of it as fake and false advertisement? Thanks.

[Juliana Rios · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think it just makes this story so much more cutesy and wholesome knowing that they were definitely in love with each other from the moment they met and were just hiding those feelings to keep the friendship. like the romance happened so fast you just KNEW it was bound to happen.

but definitely a sweet story! and the title doesn’t cringe me out as much as it did when i first started, now knowing she’s a horticulture freak lollll! all i really have to say about this is that it was cute! the conflict was dumb but the resolution was cute! the family dynamics between phae and nora and the greene family is cute! cute story all around, and you can’t help but fall for the romance because it’s sickeningly sweet.

[Sue Negrillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Phea graduated from college, she heads out on a road trip across country to move to Cali. Daniel her best friend invites himself along. Phea is a list maker, organizer stick to the plan. Daniel is let’s let things happen and see what we can find. At first Phea is nervous not sticking to the plan, Daniel has come up with lots of fun places not on the list. Phea begins to relax and feeling are coming. Daniel takes things from frinds to lovers and they fall hard. They get to Cali and Dan has to go back and get things ready to move to Cali. It takes months and Phea feels it’s not going to happen… just when she gives up. He’s there.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

Pea and Daniel are best friends that embark on a cross country road trip that took their relationship to the next level.

This was a great read with a super lovely storyline. I am obsessed with Christmas, so the Christmas theme was right up my alley. Their shenanigans had me laughing along with them especially the cactus scene!

Since I’m not from the USA, I really enjoyed tagging along this trip with them. I just wished I could eat with them too!

Overall this story gave me amazing Hallmark holiday movie vibes and I LOVED it. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Lydia B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute friends to lovers story! Daniel and Phae are the perfect match for each other, he balances out her anxiety and he helps her find herself after leaving a mentally and emotionally abusive home life. Their move to California is just what they both need.

I love the side characters of her sister and his brothers and parents. Such a good addition to the story.

Their adventure across the country really works for the build up of their love story. Before they hit California they know they want to be more than just the Best Friends they've always been.

Overall this was the perfect amount of love and spice with a great ending and no loose ends.

[Jenni Coomber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phae has finished collage and is moving to California to run a flower shop with her sister. Daniel is her best friend and will not let her travel across the country by herself. He turns up on her doorstep the day she is leaving to do the road trip with her.

Phae has the tripped planed out to the last detail. Daniel decides that they need to put a little adventure into this trip. Phae is worried about it as she wants to be at her sisters for Christmas.

Daniel convinces her to do the road trip properly. He pays for the hotels and fuel much to Phae’s disgust. Daniel knows that she needs to have the list to help her feel like she has some kind of control over her life.

Her childhood wasn’t the greatest, and her mum is still trying to control her and her sister’s lives. They both have cut her out, but Phae still has contact with her father. This means that their mum can still get him to try and manipulate them inti doing things.

Phae and Daniel are having fun on their road trip. Daniel has been in love with Phae for a long time. As they are spending time together Phae is starting to develop feelings for Daniel as well.

They each wonder if the other feels the same way. It isn’t until they get stuck in a hotel while it is snowing that they feelings burst out and they act on them. Daniel loves on her like she is lifeboat and Phae is trying not to freak out.

Phae worries that once they get to her sister’s house that will be the end of the relationship. Daniel has no plans of letting her go once the road trip is over. Phae is saddened that their time together is coming to a end.

They keep their relationship under wraps while around their families, but Dsaniel’s brother has guessed that they are together and runs interference so they can have alone time. Daniel has to return home but he is coming back to Phae.

Phae feels lost without Daniel and when Daniel tells her that she needs to stop with the list as he doesn’t feel important, she closes down. Daniel thinks he has blown it but that is far from the truth. They’re surprised when they meet at the airport. Phae is on her way back from a getaway and Daniel is coming back to her.

This is truly a sweet romance to read.

[Chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute read with just enough spice to make it interesting. Phaedra and Daniel were super predictable. I knew exactly where their relationship was going and what was going to happen. That didn't make the book any less enjoyable. I adored Nora and Stephanie as side characters. Nora is extremely supportive of Phae, and I think that's so important to see in a book. Hardly ever do I see a good sisterly bond written in books. Usually it's nothing but Jealousy and backstabbing. The whole book felt like a hallmark movie and I'm not mad about it.

[Steph L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spicy and sweet romance

Characters-8- the characters in this book were fun. I enjoyed Phae and Daniel’s story. I loved the road-trip elements and them getting to know each other.

Writing-8- I thought this story was written well. I will definitely check out more from the author.

Plot-8- I liked the story. It was a tad slow in places for my tastes but I enjoyed it overall.
Enjoyment-8- I enjoyed this story.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️Enjoyable book. I will continue the series. Phae and Daniel were a cutencouple and worked through growing pains. I'm wondering if there were stand alones or prequels for Devon's and Nora's stories. I really found Alan intriguing and hope he has a book somewhere out there. Pretty sure this is my first Lily Alexander book and it won't be my last.

[Achu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute friends to lovers. The whole road trip was so lovely, their banter was so fun to read and the fact that even tho there was a fallout, it lasted less than 3 chapters 😌