Cougar Challenge!
When Edie Howard meets cosmetic surgeon John Sung, she can’t think of anything except getting the younger man naked. Her friends on the Tempt the Cougar blog remind Edie of her promise—to seduce a younger man. It’s time for Edie to take action.
Dr. John Sung takes one look at Edie and knows he can’t operate on her. He signs off as her doctor and makes her a bet—if he can make her love her body as it is, she won’t have any surgery.
John’s bet involves close examinations—and torrid, sleepless nights. Their passion is far more than either expects, and John begins to wonder if he’ll ever get enough of this woman. Edie just counts her blessings and hopes their age difference won’t drive John away.
eBook ISBN · 9781419925573
Publisher · Ellora's Cave Publishing
Genre · Contemporary Erotic Romance
Length · Novel
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You must be 18 or older to read the following excerpt.
Edie had faced many mirrors in her time, especially naked, but this one was different. This time it was all about her, instead of the clothes she wore—or didn’t wear. That made a change.
People didn’t understand that essential difference—they weren’t looking at her, they were looking at Sunset, supermodel, and the Dior or the Calvin Klein or the Gaultier she was wearing, not at Edie Howard. She didn’t even use her first name professionally. She was Sunset or Adelaide, not Edie, the little girl from Coventry, scared of her own shadow.
So here she was, facing another mirror in another large, bare room with white walls and large mirrors. In the ateliers of the designers, the décor had been like this so that the designer and his acolytes could see the toiles and the gorgeous fabrics clearly. Here, it was to see the patient. Her.
She stripped out of the surgical gown and kicked it aside as she took a step closer to the mirror. Time to see herself clearly. Maybe for the last time.
Time had etched lines next to her eyes, and between her nose and mouth, but her breasts still held up well, and despite two children having nestled inside it, her stomach remained firm, only slightly curved.
At least they were allowed curves in her day.
She twisted to view her ass. Not bad for an old broad. It could still do with some refining, though. She doubted Victoria’s Secret would want her in its spectacular. Once, they would have paid her a shipload of cash and bestowed as many freebies as she wanted on her, but these days she bought her own underwear.
She preferred it that way. The modeling profession had been dirty enough in her day but these days it was vicious, but she’d remained in control.
Until this. Maybe she was wrong, maybe she shouldn’t do this. Doubt assailed her again as she looked at the body in the mirror, a body most women her age would be proud of, but used to assessing her body as if it were a separate entity, Sunset rather than Edie, she could see the flaws. And maybe, just maybe, she could shove it to the man she’d thought she’d loved who hadn’t hesitated to trade her in when a younger, more amenable Sunset clone walked by. A shame the bastard seemed to get more handsome with age. The suave, cool features, the dark hair, which she suspected owed as much to the bottle as her autumn-tinted locks, and every line added character instead of age.
Fuck him. He wasn’t worth it. But as much as she knew that, she couldn’t block the raw hurt that nobody but her knew about. Not her first two husbands, still friends, not her family. Nobody except Cam, and now the other women on the blog. They said she should be what she was, not turn herself into a Stepford Wife.
She wished she had half Cam’s confidence. A make-up artist, and friend of many years’ standing, she’d been the only one horrified when Edie had mentioned the possibility of plastic surgery. Everybody else had been all for it, encouraged her to take the plunge.
Except Cam, and the other women on the Cougar Claws blog.
She turned back to the mirror and only then saw the man who’d silently appeared in the open doorway. She didn’t even pretend to be startled. Why should she? After the chaos of changing rooms at big runway shows she could hardly pretend to be shocked by one man staring at her naked body. However gorgeous that man was.
She’d seen photographs of John Sung, plastic surgeon extraordinaire, but she’d never knowingly been the recipient of that dark, intense stare, emphasized by his heavy, black-framed glasses. No one had ever looked at her like that, with a hunger she could almost touch. She’d seen desire before; she’d even seen possession, but not starvation.
Not for her, surely. John Sung had to be significantly younger than her.
This man reminded her of nobody she’d known before. This was something new. A shudder passed through her and strangely, embarrassment. He was looking at her, Edie, not Adelaide, nor even Sunset. And Edie was embarrassed.
She snatched up the robe and shrugged into it, pulling the belt tight around her waist and turned to face him, tilting up her chin. Only then did he speak.
“You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen in my life. I can’t do this to you. Wait here.”
Abruptly he spun around and left the room.
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Book Two of the Cougar Challenge features the very dynamic author Lynne Connolly and her explosively riveting story that delivers excitement and red hot seduction for the reader's pleasure. Beauty of Sunset offers an imaginative and solid romp with emotional and physical intensity, highlighted by a smoking hot hero and a sassy heroine. The vibrant and detailed descriptions of the characters and as well as each scene make the story come alive and the twists prove to be quite interesting. Edie and John are appealing, multi-dimensional and incredible characters that are not only well developed but who continue to grow through-out the story. The chemistry and sexual tension between Edie and John sizzles page after page keeping the reader firmly engaged in the story by adding a compelling edge to it. The witty banter and lively dialog add to the action. The deeply sensual love scenes are erotic and romantic at the same time touching the reader's heart. The secondary characters along with the blog scenes work wonderfully to move the story forward and to introduce the other ladies from the group.
Readers get everything they could want from this sinfully delightful tale. It isn't necessary to read the first book in this series to fully enjoy this story. Yet I'm betting once the reader finishes this story they are going to be tempted to pick up the first book in the Cougar Challenge! Older woman and a younger man talk about red hot and way too sexy! Oh baby, time to play! "Rawrrrr!"
Shannon for The Romance Studio
Beauty of Sunset is book two in the Cougar Challenge series. I found this one to be the best and most heart touching. Lynne Connolly has a deep understanding of how a woman feels about herself and it shows in this novel. I have even reread this one many times before writing this review I loved it so much. Edie is feeling that she has to be young to compete in the fashion world that she once ruled. She sees flaws everywhere on herself and can no longer see the good. John has his own reasons besides the fact he loves what he sees when he looks at Edie. Together they can heal the inner wounds they both have with the power of love and trust. When you want a story to remember you want Beauty of Sunset.
Tina for Twolips Reviews
Meeting Dr. John is a gift in every way and that scares her. In a way these two are perfect and his age just makes her more energetic and sexual. She has found her sexuality again with Dr. John and it was funny to see them interact. It was interesting to see Edie coming to terms with life and her beauty.
Melinda for Night Owl Reviews
Beauty of Sunset is probably the most thought-provoking book of the Cougar Challenge series, mixing the erotic romance with the more serious issue of plastic surgery and a woman's right to choose what to do with her body, and the whys and wherefores of this type of surgery.
Maija for Fallen Angel Reviews
This was a more emotional story with no elaborate sexual themes. As the majority of the story is told from Edie’s POV, I did miss having more of John’s POV but despite that I felt John’s intensity and passion. He made both Edie and me shudder. Underneath the intensity there's insecurity lingering, left over from his past and when he thinks Edie's hurt him, he lashes out, pretending their affair meant nothing to him.
If you’re looking for a story that’s both emotional and hot, Lynne Connolly knows how to deliver that and just with one-on-one, mostly vanilla, sex scenes.
Pearl for Pearl's World of Romance
John is a master at seduction and Edie, thank goodness, is a woman who knows her own mind and has enough confidence to be John's partner through this slow, sexy journey showing Edie that she should remain as she is because to John she is absolute perfection. What a beautiful love that is shared in this book and touches my heart. It will touch yours as well. This has everything you could want in an erotic love story and more.
Don't miss out on the Cougar Challenge books. They are off to a wonderful start with the first two books and I was absolutely in love with John by the time the book came to an end. You will find you are as well. What woman could resist the type of loving John gives to Edie? I wouldn't and I bet you will feel the same after reading this loving, sexy story. I am now craving the entire collection of 'The Cougar Challenge' and can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Judy King for Veiled Secrets
Beauty of Sunset is a fun, sexy story that takes the reader along for a marvelous romantic adventure. It moves quickly and feels authentic. A great tale,
Morgan Wyatt for Novelspot |
