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Lighter Ones #4

My Always One

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When we were young, Samantha Anderson was the girl down the street. For as long as I remember, she’s been my partner in crime, in adventures, and in almost everything. Sami is fun and sexy, my greatest confidant, and my best friend.

From early on, we vow that our relationship will never change—through thick and thin, we’ll remain always and forever in the friend zone. We will not cross that line.

After all, I’m not a forever kind of guy.

Then that line blurs.
We amend our agreement.

Best friends become friends with benefits.
Is this new agreement the key to our future? Or will I lose my best friend?


MY ALWAYS ONE is a new, fun, and sexy friends-to-lovers contemporary romance. A steamy stand-alone, MY ALWAYS ONE is not connected to any other of Aleatha’s Lighter Ones and may be read on its own.

270 pages, ebook

First published July 27, 2021

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About the author

Aleatha Romig

109 books12.7k followers
Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis, USA. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she's not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her friends and family, including her beloved grandchildren.

Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than a million e-readers. Her next series, INFIDELITY (not about cheating) hit New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-seller lists. Aleatha has since released over fifty novels in multiple genres: dark romance, romantic suspense, thriller, and romantic comedy. She went back to her edge of your seat romantic suspense thrillers with her WEB SERIES trilogies, Devil’s Duet, Kingdom Come, and most recently with her suspense series, the Sin series, ready to binge.

The titles keep coming. Be sure to check out her website to stay up to date.

Aleatha is a "Published Author's Network" member of the Romance Writers of America, NINC, and PEN America. She is represented by Danielle Sanchez of SBR Media and PR with Wildfire Marketing.

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5 stars
704 (42%)
4 stars
544 (32%)
3 stars
296 (17%)
2 stars
80 (4%)
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29 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
Profile Image for Julia Kottarathil.
9 reviews17 followers
July 14, 2021
First off, let me just say WOW! I enjoy all of Aleatha’s book, and this one is no different. I think friends-to-lovers may be a new favorite trope. I fell in love with the main characters instantly! This is a fun and sexy book. Everyone deserves their Always and Forever. 12/10 would recommend!
Profile Image for Shabby  -BookBistroBlog.
1,610 reviews871 followers
July 26, 2021
I L.O.V.E.D. AND L.O.V.E.D. This book so much!
I wish you could see the huge smile I'm sporting ever since I opened this fantastic friends-to-lovers story, The BEST I've ever read..
Aleatha has changed her tone a bit to lighter, funnier one and the Rom-com she has churned out is unlike any I've ever read. It took me through every emotion possible. I laughed, I swooned ( oh God did I swoon🥰) and I squirmed at times and my heart just ballooned with all the love there's possible.
The story starts with two childhood friends - Samantha Anderson and Marshal Michaels, sharing laughs, life and neighborhood.

description

I have to mention, I was half heartedly expecting a lot of cheesiness to it at some places but Aleatha surprised me at every turn, keeping it fresh and novel in every situation.

Marshall says," all I'll need to do is flash my baby blues, wipe the sweat from my forehead with my shirt, showing off my tight abs"

description

Aleatha lets their connection and comfortable relationship develop from school to college to adulthood. I could guage from the first scene that Marsh meant more than a friend to Sami, but to see their friendship grow and mature into a dependable, loyal love, was a delight to watch. They have each other's back, a shoulder to cry on, an ear for gossip and they truely are 2 am call- buddies to each other.

“You, Samantha Ann, are a fantastic lay, but more importantly, you’re my best friend. You have been that person to me forever and I always want you to be.”

description

Add to that the sizzling chemistry between them which Aleatha has explored, in detail... Oh lawd!! The sex scenes alone could be held responsible for climate change!!
This Heartwarming and rib-tickling story should be read by everyone out there looking for their Always and Forever , don't lose hope and turn your head to the guy standing through it all with you.
This is easily, definitely one of my top reads of this year!.
5 stars for Best friends with benefits, For Always
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Profile Image for Jo.
316 reviews3 followers
July 27, 2021
Lighter for Aleatha Romig but no less punchy and a great page turner.
A friends to lovers romance but not predictable or without twists and turns.
This book leaves you with a big warm hug and is every beach bags must read accessory.
Profile Image for Hanan .
1,699 reviews16 followers
July 24, 2021
I’m a big Aleatha Romig fan.
But I almost always read her darker sided books.
Wasn’t to sure about going to the light side.
But I’m so happy I did!
What a wonderful feel good story this was.
I loved the friendship between Marshal and Sami.
I loved how the author really showed and developed their friendship and their bond.
Absolutely wonderful characters that had me falling in love with them all.
It may be on the “lighter side” but it certainly did not lack for anything!

784 reviews6 followers
July 14, 2021
This may be part of the "lighter side" series, but it is packed with thick, honey goodness! Friends to Lovers is one of my favorite troupes, and this story did not disappoint! I loved the way this story took you back to the early days of friendship between Sami and Marshal and really built the story up for the reader. It was well developed, had interesting characters that I hope get their own storyline, and I was thoroughly captured by the angst, drama, chemistry and yumminess that was this book!! I was sent a complimentary copy and I am choosing to leave my honest review.
Profile Image for Kristina Pernice.
153 reviews3 followers
July 21, 2021
I absolutely loved this book, it left my heart feeling lighter and happier. This book was a super fun and sex read. I loved watching the friendship grow to true lovers with a sweet happily ever after. A friendship like this is is absolutely beautiful.
Profile Image for Stacy.
289 reviews5 followers
July 18, 2021
Aleatha hit it out of the park on this one, baseball mom here. Her introduction into Sami and Marshall’s past was informative, pertinent but didn’t drag on forever. There friendship blossoms throughout the book and had me smiling and laughing all the way through. And this wouldn’t be an Aleatha book without a little angst which was perfectly played and wrapped up nicely in the end. My most favorite ‘lighter’ book from this amazing author.
Profile Image for Deanna❤Pink Lady❤️.
820 reviews847 followers
July 28, 2021
5 “Always and Forever” Stars


What a great friends to lovers story this was!! It was light, fluffy and had the passion and fire that made for a wonderful read. There was drama but it just flowed with the story and didn’t weigh it down.

Sami and Marshal have been friends since they were 5 yrs old. Growing up and always having each others backs and always being honest with one another, these two were really destined to be together. But always being “in the friends zone only” was where they wanted to keep their friendship so when the stars aligned one night out of heartbreak, WOW, was the only things they thought about each other. Friends with benefits wasn’t so bad as long as they kept their friendship tried and true. And dealing with Sami’s drama helped their relationship turn from just being best friends to being best friends lovers.

I will say that this is just a light, feel good story. It will make you smile and be thankful for stories that bring beautiful HEAs. A great beach read, rainy day read, or any day you want a wonderful friends to lovers romance.

*advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Aleatha Romig.
Author 109 books12.7k followers
July 11, 2021


This is my first "lighter one" in THREE years and I believe it was worth the wait. I hope you do too.

This small town, friends to lovers, best friends to lovers was so much fun to write. Marshal and Sami are waiting to jump into your heart and never go. I hope you'll welcome them and this fun and sexy story!!
Profile Image for The Romantic Rush Blog.
1,963 reviews902 followers
July 27, 2021
What a sweet and swoony delight! This friends to lover standalone was simply charming- a feel good story with ample heart and heat, and a surprising amount of humor. As someone who has read and loved the darker side of author Aleatha Romig, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this Lighter Ones series, but I was so pleasantly surprised. This story still capitalizes on the sizzling chemistry that I’ve come to adore about Aleatha’s darker stories, but she brings a much lighter and humorous flair to the story. Fun and sweet!

Talk about long time friends- Sami and Marshal have been friends since they were little, long enough to develop a camaraderie and honesty between them that they want to protect. Determined to hold sacred one of the most important relationships in their live, they make a pact to only ever stay in the friend zone. But in a moment of heartbreak, Sam turns to her dependable and compassionate bestie Marshal, resulting in a moment of passion that obliterates their carefully drawn line. And now they can’t deny that being something more feels good- so why not blur the lines a smidge? But can they stick to just friends with benefits when Sami is a forever kind of girl and Marshal is an anti-relationship kind of guy? And how will they protect the thing they hold most dear- their connection?

Sami is such a relatable heroine- I love her sincerity, her idealism and romanticism, and her spark. And Marshal is just yummy- a devoted and compassionate friend with a sharp wit- and super sexy to boot. I loved how openly these two communicated, how natural their friendship felt. There was a real authenticity to their emotional connection that speaks to their years of friendship, of growing up together, and I loved how beautifully Aleatha evolved it as they grew older, and as their hearts and feelings evolved. And for those curious, even in this lighter story, Aleatha brings the sexy edge. These two are so hot together. Meow!

This was such a quick, fun, and delicious read. The drama wasn’t too prolonged, and there are plenty of happy squishy feels. Turns out Aleatha captivates me in the light just as much as in the dark, and I’ll definitely be snatching up more of this series!

4.5 stars
Profile Image for Lori [semi-hiatus].
276 reviews160 followers
Shelved as 'nopeeee'
July 27, 2021
Why I hate friends to lovers? This book right here.
Took every cliché and packed it in one book.
Best friends since young, both with others. And of course, the best line of the book.

"Over the years, I've listened to Marshal's stories of sexual expertise. It isn't that I thought he was lying. I just figured he'd embellished—exaggerated."

Right, and that really makes me believe they are some sort of soulmates.
Profile Image for Lisa Mandina.
2,048 reviews484 followers
July 28, 2021
While I found Aleatha through her really dark Consequences series, I do also enjoy her lighter stories like this one when she writes them. And this one was so perfect! The friendship to lovers trope is one I do enjoy, and the way the friends crossed that line was perfect in this one. Plus, I adored Marshal, both as Sami’s friend, as well as when they became friends with benefits. And while this was pretty much a lot lighter than Romig’s usual stories, it still had a little bit of a surprise twist toward the end that was a little deeper than expected. Once again, I really liked how the author handled that, or should I say had the characters handle all of that.

Perfect summer read!

Review first published on Lisa Loves Literature.
Profile Image for Jo - •.★Reading Is My Bliss★.•.
2,415 reviews234 followers
September 8, 2021
Sami and Marshal have been best friends for years and have shared all their significant milestones in life so far. Sami is the girl who believes in finding ‘the one’, getting married, having children and living happily ever after. Marshal can’t imagine wanting to settle down so fast, he enjoys enjoying his singledom and indulging in the pleasures offered by the women he dates.

The story goes back 10 years and then moves forward into the present day so we can get caught up on their back story and how their friendship has evolved. Back to the present day, Sami has recently become engaged and she is excited about ticking all those life goals off once she gets married. Her fiance seems quite fixated on appearances and is particular when it comes to Sami and it is starting to bother her a bit.

When everything completely implodes for Sami, Marshal is there to pick up the pieces and the friendship lines blur into something neither of them quite expected. Friends with benefits is a happening thing and they are both loving this change to their friendship. Marshal is feeling things he never has before and is very protective of Sami. Has commitment phobe Marshal finally realised that he too just needed to find the right person to settle with - he had no idea she was right there all along.

This was my weekly audio read of choice this week and it was the perfect distraction to my exercise and housework making them way more enjoyable.
Profile Image for Myla.
627 reviews120 followers
August 12, 2021

5 Stars

My Always One was one of those books you just fell in love with. I couldn’t put it down. It's about friendship and love. It's about how we support the people we love and let ourselves fall in love with our best friends. Marshal and Sami's characters are well developed where you'll feel as if they're real.

What I also enjoyed about this story was the author's writing, I like how she laid their history from kids to teenagers to adults and never found myself bored. The story is an old classic but written in such a fun, romantic way. My Always One is a heartwarming story that will leave you with a smile when you finished this book. I would recommend this to anyone who loves contemporary romances and to anyone looking for a fun, light read.
Profile Image for Somer Grey.
9 reviews
July 11, 2021
Fun, sexy with a side of spice.
The perfect read when you need a break from the world.
Loved.

Aleatha brings this book to life with characters who make your heart beat a little faster.
It is a great addition to her lighter side stories which are all stand-alone.
July 27, 2021
I’ve been looking for a fun,
light hearted, romance read for awhile now and Aleatha delivered. This book is perfect for a relaxing day at the beach or pool. It’s an easy and enjoyable read that had me hooked from page one. I loved Sami and Marshals story!

~Kim💜

📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Always One is such a cute romantic feel good story about two best friends of the opposite sex that finally realize what has been in front of them their whole life...True Love.

Aleatha demonstrates in this adorable love story that she can really do it all, from anti-hero to soft and sweet friends to lover there is nothing that this author can't write that won't be pure literary jack pot.

I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading the other stories in the All Ones complete collection.

~Glori💜
Profile Image for Jamie.
1,366 reviews57 followers
July 23, 2021
This was an AMAZING book! Friends to lovers books are quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

Sami is this strong woman who is just looking for her forever. She wants marriage, kids, and that happy ending. Marshal has absolutely no desire to settle down with anyone, EVER. These two have such a strong friendship. Always there for one another, supporting each other no matter what. I also loved the little snippets into their past that we started with. It helped build their story. I was rooting for them throughout!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
68 reviews
July 14, 2021
I received an ARC and was honored. I love Ms. Romig’s books, especially the darker ones. I’ve read almost all of them and though I am a tough rater, I have given them 5 and 4 stars. But this book is a lighter friends to lovers story and I loved it! Ms. Romig is a very good writer and story teller. The characters, Marshal and Sami, are likeable; their romantic journey is realistic; and the twists and turns are just enough to keep the reader engaged.
Profile Image for Ilona.
276 reviews7 followers
July 11, 2021
Loved...


My Always One by Aleatha Romig is fun and sexy. It has a bit of salty and sweet making it the perfect read.
Profile Image for Avid Reader.
1,748 reviews
July 31, 2021
My Always One (Lighter Ones #4) by Aleatha Romig
5 stars
M/F Friends to Lovers
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.

Sami and Marshal have been friends since she punched him in the nose. I love that!

Sami knows that Marshal will always be there for her. She and Marshal have always had a special bond. They also have a special rule... No friends or siblings. Sami knows Marshal will never settle down with anyone, but she wants that for herself.

As they grow into adulthood, their friendship doesn't waiver. They are still each other's best friends. Leaning on each other through good times and bad, their bond is one that will last an apocalypse.

When Sami's life changes direction drastically, she runs to Marshal for a shoulder to cry on and someone to help hide the bodies. They find themselves at a crossroads. Choosing one path will alter their friendship forever, potentially severing their bond. But, to not go down that road could also lead to heartache for them both.

This lighter Romig story will touch you in a way that only true love can. You get to watch them grow up, change, move forward, but still keep that one strong bond. You won't be disappointed in this story.
Profile Image for Melanie Cesa.
928 reviews32 followers
July 25, 2021
This friends to lovers story is sweet and heartfelt. Marshal and Sami have the most incredible bond and watching their relationship blossom into more is heartwarming. This story is sexy, fun, and lighthearted and leaves you with a smile.
Profile Image for Sandy S.
7,148 reviews187 followers
July 27, 2021
MY ALWAYS ONE by Aleatha Romig is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, erotic, romance storyline focusing on twenty-eight year olds advertising executive Samantha ‘Sami’ Anderson, and architect Marshal Michaels.


NOTE: MY ALWAYS ONE by Aleatha Romig is part of a ‘lighter’ series of romance stories juxtaposed to the author’s usual dark, angsty and dangerous affairs.


Told from dual first person perspectives (Marshal and Sami) covering approximately twelve years, MY ALWAYS ONE follows the childhood best friends to lovers relationship between advertising executive Sami Anderson, and architect Marshal Michaels. Marshal and Sami have been best friends since five years old, and always had each other’s back including an agreement to never cross the invisible line but four years of college followed by real world life experiences found Sami engaged to another man, while Marshal reluctantly accepted the choices that she made. An act of betrayal pushes Sami into the arms of her ‘always one’, a betrayal that will cut deeper when the truth is revealed.


Sami Anderson has loved Marshal Michaels for most of her life but their long standing agreement meant never crossing the line from friendship to lovers, a line that when crossed means no going back. Marshal Michaels is not a one-woman man or the type to settle down until a night spent with the woman that owns his heart. Marshal is willing to accept a friends with benefits relationship but all bets are off when the heart wants something more.


The relationship between Marshal and Sami is a best friends to lovers with all of the palpable sexual energy between two people who have loved one another most of their lives. Sami never believed her ex was her ‘always one’ but never expected betrayal at the heart of the fall. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top,sexually graphic language and text.


There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Sami’s ‘zombie apocalypse prepared’ father who reaction to the ex is perfect on so many levels.


MY ALWAYS ONE is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; a story of betrayal and revenge, acceptance and forever. The premise is captivating; the characters are flirty and sassy; the romance is spicy and hot.

www.thereadingcafe.com
Profile Image for Ruthie Taylor.
3,684 reviews39 followers
July 20, 2021
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

This is the fourth in a series of interconnecting books, but can definitely be read as standalone.

Sami and Marshal have been best friends since the age of 5, and even though Sami is now planning her wedding to Jackson (the ultimate jerk), they are still really close. We get some memories of incidents in their past at the start of the book, and it gives us all the clues as to just how in simpatico these two are. So really it is no surprise how the book pans out, but immensely enjoyable to read.

When Sami finally comes to discover just what a jerk her fiancé is, she does all the right things and chooses to move on with her life - thanks in no small part to her parents being absolutely supportive and her bff being utterly wonderful ... and possibly just the man she needs. Nervous of it being a rebound, there are some issues to iron out, but it is like the curtains have been pulled back on what could have been all along.

Jack does not fade into the background quite like he should have done - proving himself to be a douchebag as well as a jerk . His behaviour will definitely shock, and enrage any reader, but seeing how Sami deals with it, is a lesson in class and determination. Be ready for some gasps!

Through all the messiness, Marshal stays firm and their relationship gets the chance to blossom. It is sweet, sexy and liberating. A great addition to the collection, and hopefully more to come!

Wicked Reads Review Team
Profile Image for Franci Neill.
2,116 reviews91 followers
July 28, 2021
5 Oh My Swooning Heart Stars!!!

I love a great friends-to-lovers book and Ms. Romig has given me a wonderful story of deep and abiding friendship that becomes oh so much more. Sami and Marshal have been best friends for forever and while they always swore nothing would change between them…this is a promise that can’t be kept, but for all the right reasons!!

I loved these two together. The joy and caring of their friendship and how much they loved each other came through every single word. They also have this innate ability to tell what each other’s thinking which led to some good times! As adults, there’s a chemistry between them that is aching to breakout because what’s better than having mind blowing sexy times than having it with your best friend? Nothing I tell you… absolutely nothing LOL.

There are moments of swooning, flirting, laughing out loud and discovering that yes, their relationship can change leading to an enduring love for the rest of their lives. The lighter side of being Aleatha’d was exactly what I needed right now!
Profile Image for Chris.
571 reviews
July 15, 2021
Five fabulous stars for this "lighter" offering from Aleatha Romig. This contemporary friends-to-lovers romance is simply perfection! The lead characters, Sami and Marshall, grabbed my attention from the beginning. Ms. Romig's wonderful writing style brings her characters to life as you read, making you feel like a silent observer standing in the corner, completely engrossed in everything that's happening. The story unfolds from past to present, giving the reader a good sense of the closeness of the lead characters. By the time you arrive in the present, their lives are well-established. Then the twists and turns begin. Bring on the fun! For me, this story had it all...lots of emotions flowing from beginning to end...happiness, sadness, chills, thrills, and utter joy. I loved it all! My Always One is a captivating, enjoyable, feel-good romance to warm your heart. Don't miss it!
Profile Image for Krista.
1,050 reviews66 followers
July 16, 2021
While I absolutely love Aleatha’s twisty-turny stories – her “lighter ones” are as equally amazing. I find myself reading straight through until “The End”.

Samantha and Marshal have been best friends since they were 5. We traverse through their lives, through school, boyfriends, partners, new jobs, new places of residents… and their friendship has remained steadfast. Marshal was even supportive when Samantha got engaged – wishing her nothing but the best since she has found her forever guy. But that all changes once she catches her fiancé having sex with another woman, in their bed.

Now Sami and Marshal have blurred that line and amended their agreement – remain best friends with the added bonus of sex. After all, Marshal has always claimed he was never a forever kind of guy. But little moments pop in unbidden that makes him think that maybe he does want a forever with Sami.

So what happens? Definitely one-click now.
Profile Image for Amy [Book Addict Reviews].
2,333 reviews167 followers
July 25, 2021
Sami and Marshall have been best friends since they were five years old. They have always been there for each other through the good, the bad and the ugly. They had an agreement and they would never cross the line with each other and put their friendship at risk.

I absolutely loved Sami and Marshall’s friendship. These two are best friends and you can tell. They are each other’s rocks and they are supportive of each other. There is also chemistry between them and they can only deny their chemistry for so long.

This is a light, feel good story, with pretty much no drama. It is sweet, but also packs LOADS of steam….seriously Marshall is swoony.

If you’re looking for a friends to lovers romance with some steam this is one to read!
Profile Image for marshas_world_of_books.
456 reviews11 followers
July 22, 2021
When I saw that this was a lighter book for Aleatha Romig I was curious what it would be like, since I hadn’t read anything of hers that has no element of darkness or mafia. I have to say, this book did not disappoint! I absolutely love it. Marshal is the best friend anyone could ask for and Sami is no pushover. Then the two of them together was straight fire! Then there’s Jack. I found myself imagining ways to hurt him, you know if he was a real life person. This book is full of passion, drama for sure, but also the best kind of love. Again, I love this book and would definitely recommend it!
Profile Image for Mary Mooney.
2,468 reviews57 followers
July 24, 2021
Sami and Marshal have been best friends since they were 5 years old. They told each other everything, done everything, and loved each other as family.
Sami is like every other girl, she wants a forever love. While Marshal is like most guys, he wants fun. When Sami's world falls apart, Marshal is there for her, neither of them thought about the other as more than friends. But the sparks began to fly and they want to explore and see where things might go.
Sami and Marshal are right for each other, a love to last is made from a friendship that blooms into love and that is what they have. Her family already loves him and his family loves her.
This story is perfect and I loved everything about it. Author Aleatha Romig can write the best suspenseful stories but when she wants to write about lighter romance, she knocks them out of the park and leaves you feeling light-hearted and loved.
**I received a free copy of this book to read and review and this is my honest opinion**
Profile Image for Gladys.
12.2k reviews140 followers
July 20, 2021
I thought this was a great read. I love a friends to lovers romance and in my opinion this was a really good one. All that history, the buried feelings, the suppressed desire and the terrible turmoil and deep anxiety of risking what is already so precious to you for a chance at what your heart yearns for. Sami and Marshal deliver all that in this super fun read that doesn't skimp on the heart or the heat as this swoon worthy romance unfolds. Simply delightful! This is my frank, freely posted review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews

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