Looking for an easygoing romance to read over your summer break? Check out Kendall Ryan’s new standalone contemporary romance novel Love Machine!

After finding the hero in Bro Code a touch problematic, I was a bit weary going into Love Machine. Over the past year, I’ve found myself way less tolerant of any romance hero that seems even a bit like an Alphahole.

But since the blurb for Love Machine seemed to hit all of the right things to get me excited, I decided to give it a shot – and I’m glad that I did.

At it’s core, Love Machine is a best-friends-to-lovers trope. Keaton and Slate have been friends for years, since their college das. They’ve never been more than that since Slate had dated one of their friends in college. And Keaton also considers herself something of a nerd, a maybe out of Slates league.

Despite the fact that they’re close and compatible, Slate and Keaton just never cross that line. Until Keaton asks Slate for a big favor.

After and embarrassing event at a bachelorette party Keaton begins to doubt her bedroom skills. And who better to teach her than Slate?

Yet I can’t deny that her indecent proposal excites me. She’s stunning, like a sexy librarian fantasy come to life. Let’s face it, I’m a red-blooded man with a functioning set of eyeballs who just so happens to have the equipment that can take care of whatever her needs require. No one could fault me for finding the idea of touching her appealing. If she wants me to be her personal love machine, let’s face it, I’ll jump at the chance.

At first, he’s just supposed to coach her through dating other guys. But when Slate feels unexpectedly jealous of the guys that Keaton tries to practice with – he takes matters into his own hands. As most things like this go, they start of great and then they begin to get messy.

It turns out that Slate is still a little messed up from his ex-girlfriend whoo did a number on him. While that does leave him cautious, it doesn’t mean that he’s entirely closed off. Keaton mistakenly assumes that Slate will never want to leave his bachelor lifestyle.

There’s definitely a break down of communication and it leaves them both vulnerable for pain. Neither one of them wants to lose the other one, but they have to figure out how they can both open themselves up for something more.

Slate is a great mix of sweet and sexy hero who stands up for Keaton even when some of their other friends don’t. He is slightly selfish when he gets jealous of her being around other guys, but it didn’t feel like he was being an alphahole – which is where things can get tricky in romance novels.

Why the hell haven’t I done this before? What have I been missing out on all these years? All my reservations and doubts are swept away in a wave of desire. No overthinking, no self-doubt, just chemistry. Pure, primal instinct. Our tongues touch and my heart rate triples because, holy fuck. …I’m kissing my best friend. And, fuck me, I really, really like it.

And of course, those teaching moments where Slate is still assuming the role as Keaton’s coach to becoming a better lover ensures that there are plenty of steamy moments in the novel. I’ve actually read a few novels lately with a similar plot line where the girl turns to the guy for help in this way, and I think Love Machine does a great job with it.

If you’re super busy like I am in the summer than this is just what you need for a night when you actually have time to read. It won’t take up a ton of your time, and you don’t need to read anything prior to it. Kendall is also great at slipping right into the storyline so there’s no waiting to get to the good stuff!

Love Machine is a great read for when you just want something light, fun, and flirty. It’s not exactly a romantic comedy but it gives the same enjoyable feeling.

Love Machine by Kendall Ryan will be released on July 16! Pre-order now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, or iBooks! And don’t forget to add it to your Goodreads!