Blocked, a new romance novel by Lisa N. Paul, due for release Monday, March 9, tells the story of a man and woman both unlucky when it comes to love, but find each other and struggle to forge a relationship amidst misunderstandings, family dramas and trying to be the best single parents they can be to their children.
April Maddox, a teacher, thought she hit the jackpot in the love department at the tender age of 16. Too bad, her seeming Prince Charming turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, cheating on her and leaving her pregnant with their son, Elijah. Now gun shy and distrustful of men in general, she’s reluctant to open her heart again though her best friend and certain family members want her to finally find the man she was meant to be with.
Decker Brand hasn’t had it easy in the love area either. A widower left with a young daughter named Charlie, who he adores. The owner of successful construction business, his wife, Olivia, who died in a car accident four years earlier, robbed him of his manliness with her callous behavior and hurtful comments. He’s been slowly trying to regain his sense of masculinity ever since and now that he has, he wants to jump back into life and find real love.
Despite their love-flawed pasts, April and Decker’s mutual attraction jumps off the pages from their very first encounter. Paul’s vivid descriptions and the dialogue between the two, both in public and during their most intimate moments of shared desire, will definitely make readers’ hot under the collar.
To give readers an idea of what I mean, here is an excerpt:
Decker could practically see the dimples forming in her cheeks as her giggle tickled him through the line. “Well…” He cleared his throat. “I hate to admit this, but your mother wasn’t altogether wrong, babe. I had no intentions at stopping with just one kiss.” Even though they’d been flirting and chatting for weeks, tonight was their first official date. While it was obvious that April was as attracted to him as he to her, he didn’t want to scare her off, but he also wanted her to know he was no Boy Scout. The way she had his blood churning… mmm, one kiss would have been a mere appetizer.
“I’m glad to hear that, big guy,” April cooed, her voice honey smooth but sinfully sexy, “because I would have been disappointed if one kiss was all you had to offer.”
Decker pulled the phone from his ear and looked at the screen. Yeah, it was still lit and connected to April Maddox. No, he wasn’t dreaming. The woman was sexy as sin. He closed his bedroom door, kicked off his shoes, and sauntered over to his bed. “April”—gravel and heat filled his tone—“will you let me kiss you now?”
Brief silence met his ear—no words, no breath—until she answered in a whisper, “Yes, Decker, I’d love for you to kiss me now. How do you plan to do that?”
The certainty in her answer, mixed with the innocence of her question, had Decker’s cock hard as steel and begging to be released from its confines. “Do you trust me, April?”
A moment of time passed before she stammered, “I-I don’t know.”
Her honest response came as a bit of surprise. He’d never asked that question and received an answer other than “yes.” The truth had him grinning; Ms. Maddox was a smart, sincere woman who told it like it was. He hadn’t earned her trust yet, but he was going to.
“Deck, I didn’t mean—”
“No, April, your answer was honest, and I respect that. So here’s my honest answer—I like you, a lot. I’m not a liar, a cheater, or any of the things that fathers pray their daughters stay away from. I have no intentions of hurting you, and right now, in this moment, I just wanna make you feel good. Now, will you allow me to do that?”
“Yes,” she murmured.
“Go to your bedroom, beautiful,” he ordered.
“I’m already there, big guy.”
While he couldn’t picture the room, having never been to her house, the thought of her surrounded by a huge bed and her flawless skin draped on smooth sheets had him unbuttoning his jeans as he spoke his next demand. “Perfect. Now peel off that sexy top of yours. Just the hot little V-neck, honey. Leave the bra alone, and lie down. And April, keep those incredibly long fingers off your body until I say otherwise.” The sharp intake of breath he heard followed by the soft hum gave him the incentive to continue their game. “Are you lying back?”
“Yes, Decker,” her voice turned husky as she responded. “My shirt is rumpled on the floor, my head’s resting on the pillow, and I’m laying here wearing just a lacy green bra and my jeans.”
“Mmm,” Decker rumbled while he removed his shirt and edged back on his mattress. Her breasts, so firm and round, had teased him all through dinner in that tight black top, and now imagining them in nothing but green lace… his hand grazed over his denim-clad dick. First her, then you, he thought, repeating his motto over in his head. “Close your eyes, April.”
“Decker—” His name wasn’t a question but a plea.
He knew she was letting him in, and he wasn’t going to let her down. “Shh, you said you’d let me kiss you. Now, trust me and close your eyes.”
“Okay,” she murmured, “they’re closed.”
His voice thick with desire, Decker closed his eyes as well and began to instruct April through the most erotic kiss of his life. “Good. Now imagine me beside you, our bodies so close, the heat of my skin warming yours as I lift your chin so I can look into your eyes.
“Imagine my breath, April, a hint of chocolate, sweet and close, caressing your skin with a promise of things yet to come.” With each word Decker’s heart skipped faster, but when he heard her shallow breath, his pulse began to race.
“Keep your eyes closed, beautiful, and lift your left hand to your face. Just before you touch your cheek, rotate your wrist so it’s your knuckles that stroke your skin. Start by your ear, and slowly drag your hand down your jawline. That’s my touch you feel on your soft skin, my knuckles that are making your breaths quicken.”
“Now, move the index finger of that same hand across your silky-soft bottom lip. Do you remember how it felt when my mouth claimed yours? When my tongue breached your lips and slid into your warmth? Fuck.” Decker groaned as the images he painted came alive in his head. “Let me feel your tongue, beautiful. Lick your finger for me.”
“Oh, Decker,” she whimpered, “Christ, how the hell did you do that?”
Of course, no beginning relationship is devoid of obstacles. Misinterpretations, advice by both April and Decker’s friends and family members, some welcome, some not, issues with April’s ex, Ben, the ghost of Decker’s deceased wife Olivia’s hateful treatment of him and various concerns with their children threaten to ‘block’ their involvement before it even begins.
Paul let readers’ wait with bated breath for April and Decker to finally consummate their passion for each other, but the delay is well worth it as the characters finally open up to each other completely, both physically and emotionally. While there is a certain amount of profanity bandied about throughout the book, by both April and Decker, it doesn’t detract from the dialogue and isn’t just thrown in unnecessarily.
Paul crafts April as a strong, witty and assertive female who isn’t afraid to speak her mind to stranger and family member alike, but still harbors hidden vulnerabilities. She also creates a resilient yet somewhat troubled hero in Decker as his past insecurities threaten his ability to ever give his heart and soul to any woman ever again.
In conclusion, Blocked by Lisa N. Paul will have readers’ yearning for April and Decker to overcome the interferences that permeate their romance. Paul has constructed authentic characters with real life problems and flaws, yet she still packs the novel with steamy love scenes, sexy dialogue and a tender yet original romance between two people who were burned by love who finally find their true soulmates.