First in a four book series. Jessica Lemmon introduces us to four college friends. Sabrina and Flynn have been best friends for a long time. Sabrina took a back seat when Flynn got married but he's divorced now and their friendship is blossoming again. The other two college friends are Reid and Gage and the three guys make a pact to never get married. In Flynn's case never married again. When Sabrina has some trouble with the plumbing in her apartment she moves in with Flynn for a while and romance flares to life. They decide to explore if there is more to their relationship than friendship. This is one of those shorter Harlequin books that are so fun to read when written well. Jessica Lemmon gives you a great story of friends to lovers. With a little over two hundred pages you feel like you get a full story and get to know all four friends to a extent. I loved Flynn with Sabrina and was rooting them from page one!



Find out more about this series and Jessica Lemmon here www.jessicalemmon.com

Life has dealt Flynn Parker a crappy hand, his life is in complete shambles, and he is struggling to find the light of day. His father has recently passed, leaving him reeling from the loss, and now he is expected to take-over running the family business. Not to mention he is also trying to heal a broken heart left by his cheating ex-wife, and the unraveling of their marriage. Their divorce was completely brutal, and it took a major toll on him.

His buddies saw his struggle and whisked him away for a guys only weekend, where they tried to take his mind off things, and get him traveling in the right lane again. They also decided a "no marriage pact" was in order, each agreeing to never let things with the women in their life to get serious enough to lead to wedding bells. Which at this point and time is something he can wholeheartedly support. But that becomes easier said then done when a longtime friend wanders back into his life, and they share an unexpected Valentines Day smooch. That one little kiss inspires some serious feelings, one's that could tests the bounds of everything in his life once again!

Best Friends, Secret Lovers is a perfectly crafted forbidden romance that comes brimming with heartfelt emotion, and finger singeing romance! These two really knew how to heat up the pages, every time they were near one another the sparks started flying and my toes started to curl. Swoon!! I loved this newest offering from Ms. Lemmon, the moment my eyes landed on the first page I was hooked, and it just continued to get better with each page that followed! I also really loved the secondary characters, and cannot wait to see what she has in store for them, bring on the next bachelor!! Highly recommend this one, it's the perfect literary escape!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

Flynn Parker is burnt-out and making enemies of the old guard within his dead father’s empire by changing too much too soon. He’s also licking his wounds after divorcing his wife upon discovering her affair with his flaky brother. Too soon to find real, enduring love and make a new start in the business? Apparently not, with the help of his best friend, Sabrina Douglas. For her part, it’s easy to see that Sabrina has been in love with Flynn since college without consciously realizing it. An erotic dream catalyses the transition from best friends to lovers, but it will take some honesty before lovers can transition to Happily Ever After. – Megan Osmond

3 1/2 stars.

This review appears in Romantic Intentions Quarterly #4

Jessica Lemmon delivers another fun, feel-good quick read for readers who love the friends to lovers trope. Interesting, real life characters who put forth just the right blend of real life believability and a lot of wit will keep you hooked throughout the story. I would recommend this book for sure!

Flynn and Sabrina have been best friends since college, along with Gage and Reid. Sabrina and Flynn grew apart when Flynn got married and his wife did not want him hanging out with Sabrina. Now that Flynn is going through a disastrous divorce, they are picking up where they left off. They are all older now (in their 30s) and all the guys are in a “no marriage” pact, Flynn’s father passed away and Flynn now has to run the corporation called Monarch consulting. The whole group works for Flynn, which makes for some interesting dynamics in the story.
Flynn has gotten grouchy at work and Gage and Reid have told him to take some time off. Sabrina is just the person to spend time with Flynn to get him back to normal. It just so happens that Sabrina’s plumbing is broken and she needs a temporary place to stay. So, Flynn takes advantage of the situation and invites her to stay at his place for a while. This is the perfect opportunity to spend time with each other and what could be if they just take a leap of faith with each other. This is a friends to lovers story, with witty dialogue and characters that are fun to spend time with. I like the corporate setting and the focus on friendship. This was the first book by Jessica Lemmon that I read and I really enjoyed it. Hopefully Gage and Reid will get their own stories and I will be waiting on release day for them.

This was your typical friends to lovers, office romance. Jilted by his fiance man is attracted to his best friend, who is mutually attracted to him. I wanted very much to like it bc this is my catnip, but I couldn't get into it. The characters did not pop off the page for me. The writing style was decent enough. I'd give it three stars.

I love best-friends-to-lovers stories, but the romantic pacing in this one seemed a bit off, and as a result the chemistry between the hero and heroine seemed lukewarm.

I really liked the snappy dialogue between the hero and heroine, but the hero’s personality didn’t always seem consistent. At times he came across as a slightly confusing mashup of good boy next door, hard-headed CEO and party animal. The heroine was a nice character but I had a hard time relating to her at some points in the story, which made my reading feel a little disjointed.

Overall, it was only an okay story that I personally didn’t really get into.

This was a little different than the blurb/synopsis in a good way. Flynn, Sabrina, Gage, and Reid are all college friends who have all stuck together ever since. Now, thirty not much has changed other than Flynn has just gotten divorced from a woman who is the worst of the worse.
Not only did she make him jump through hoops during the three years they were married. She always wanted bigger and better. Plus, there was this under the table written law that he could not be too close of buddies with Sabrina outside of work. Nothing was ever enough. Not even him apparently. She takes up with his older brother, Julian. He was more creative. Well, yeah, he’s an artist.
So, once the divorce came down the guys went skiing not inviting Sabrina for it was a male bonding experience. Plus, they were re-spouting their original pact of not ever marrying ever. Women were nothing but trouble. Flynn was saying he had no argument from Reid for he never planned on marriage due to his background.
Gage, however, was on the fence. But Flynn made them both promise him. When they get back Flynn’s father lost his fight to cancer and passes away. He must run the company that his father really never let him be a part of while he was alive. The thing is his dad’s cronies are not taking the changes well. So, the lawyer makes a suggestion to Sabrina that she makes him take a hiatus or the employees will walk.
The business really couldn’t handle that. So, she plans to go on vacation with him. She vows to turn him back into the Flynn she remembers and less like his father which everyone hates. Even him. On the first day of vacation, they kiss. Which leads to a week of what ifs.
When Sabrina needs to move in they start a friend with benefits arrangement. It is going great, well sort of. Until they end up at Veronica’s home and she puts in Sabrina’s head that she’s the “rebound girl” and nothing that will last. She can’t get those words out of her head.
Once they head back to work, she is back at her apartment. The see way less of each other. Making what Veronica said become Neon lights flashing. She needs to do something to set things right again. So, that it no longer feels like quicksand.
This is a really quick read. Fast pace, fun with a good set of friends. You will enjoy the author’s humor and straightforwardness she makes Sabrina a strong character on her own behalf. Can you be friends and lovers?

I give this: 4 stars. Provided by netgalley.com.
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Best Friends, Secret Lovers by Jessica Lemmon is the first book in the Bachelor Pact series. I absolutely adored the story of Flynn and Sabrina. Flynn had became jaded due to his father's untimely death and his wife cheating on him with his brother Julian. Sabrina has been Flynn's best friend since college. She was the one person who could challenge him and engage him and never be shut out. She understood Flynn on levels no one else did. This friends to lovers romance is absolutely perfect. I adored it and can not wait to read the rest of this series.

What a fantastic read!!! Flynn is a workaholic and Sabrina has been his best friend for years. Together they take us on a journey of love. Storyline was easy to follow, characters were very easy to relate to and feel like your apart of the book. I would highly recommend this book.

I was given a ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5

Flynn and Sabrina have been best friends since college, never even thinking about crossing the line from friendship into something more intimate. Their friendship took a slight derailing during Flynn's marriage, but after his disastrous divorce, they're back on track again and not too soon either as Flynn's father has also recently passed away and Flynn finds himself the head of his family's corporation. Unfortunately, not everyone is embracing the change to the company hierarchy, and they've threatened to walk out unless Flynn takes some much needed time away to reassess.

Luckily, Sabrina is just the person to pull Flynn out of his funk. But being along together, and single at the same time, has started giving them both glimpses into what could be between them, if they just give in and take that next step.

Best Friends, Secret Lovers is full of everything I have come to expect from Jessica Lemmon. It's a simple, no-nonsense story that's quick to read and doesn't stray from it's main focus which is the relationship (friendship and otherwise) between Flynn and Sabrina. I felt like Jessica Lemmon did a great job incorporating the conflicts that surround any kind of intimate relationship between Flynn and Sabrina (i.e. his ex-wife, their friendship, his workaholic nature, the fact that Flynn is in a pact to never get married again, and marriage is definitely on the table in Sabrina's future), but only delves into them on enough of a surface level, like an acknowledgement of said conflicts, but in a way making a statement that any arguments for them to not be together are quite trivial. Instead, we get a lot of focus placed on Sabrina and Flynn's feelings even if, at first, they're not sure how deep those feelings run. I just liked that the idea of Flynn and Sabrina being together seemed so easy and natural like a romantic relationship is a natural extension of the friendship they've always held for one another.

Never to be outdone, Flynn and Sabrina's two friends Gage and Reid - also members of the notorious single-man's pact - play interesting secondary characters. Not only for the obvious way in which they're each just begging to be thrown for a loop in love (I honestly can't wait for their books), but in the way they enhance the group dynamic. A relationship moving from platonic to romantic can have an impact on more than just Flynn and Sabrina, but unlike with the other possible conflicts, I genuinely liked the fact that it was never a question of anything being "ruined". Instead it was about their friends' happiness.

I really enjoyed this first book, it's a good one to curl up with on a lazy afternoon.

3.5 stars for this story. Flynn is a workaholic and Sabrina has been his best friend for years. He's been burned by his ex-wife and his father's death, so Sabrina convinces him to take a sabbatical to refresh himself and avoid his company going under. They end up exploring a relationship together.

I enjoyed the romance and the overall storyline. I did think his ex-wife and her behavior was cliché, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. I do look forward to Reid and Gage's stories.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

Raise your hand if you stayed up too late last night and it wasn't to watch the snow falling? Guilty as charged! It actually is a pretty quick read, and totally worth being tired today. Yes, friends to lovers has been done before but not like this. And yes, it is a romance book, but it had "real" qualities. It's not over the top or unbelievable (well, besides them of course being rich, but gotta have something to dream for, right?) and you will be rooting for this couple from the beginning. You want to see them get their happily ever after, together. No crazy antics or unnecessary interference- just two people who should be together and just need to realize what everyone else probably already knows. Hallmark movie worthy but not cheesy or sappy. And side note- can't wait for Reid's story (British guy with cheeky charm? Sign me up now!). And if you've read any of Jessica Lemmon's books before, you understand when I say- nailed the cover, again!

Flynn and Sabrina have known each other for a long time but only as friends. Then one day their feelings deepen and evolve into romance and things get complicated. Their friends try to help but just make things more difficult. Loved this sweet hot romance!

I really liked this book but I don't think the description of it really does it justice. Flynn and Sabrina meet in college and become great friends but then he meets another woman and he marries her, putting distance between the two. Now his wife cheated on him (with his brother) and he is divorced and very bitter. He works with Sabrina and his two other best friends and the three guys form a "I will never get married" oath.

Meanwhile Flynn is very grumpy and stressed as his father has died and he is fighting for power within his company. His besties tell him to take a vacation and Sabrina agrees to take one as well. THat is when they kiss at valentines. They both agree to ignore it even though that starts both of them having erotic dreams.

That is until Sabrina is forced to live with Flynn and the passion comes out. These two are so wonderful together. They are best friends but until that kiss neither really saw the other romantically which I liked about the story. They fall for the other but the oath gets in the way....Flynn will have to learn to trust his heart to Sabrina and Sab has to learn that love is a risk.

This was a wonderfully written story with characters I absolutely loved. I cannot wait for more in this series.

Flynn and San were perfection. I loved their friendship and their falling in love. I also love Gage and Reid and can’t wait for their books too!