Guest Review: By Referral Only by Lyla Payne!

Title:  By Referral Only (Whitman University #2)
Author:  Lyla Payne
Publisher:  Createspace
Release Date:  July 1, 2013
Page:  199
Format: Paperback
Source:  For Review
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult

After being unceremoniously dumped freshman year because of her family’s “new money” status, Ruby Cotton has taken care not to put her heart on the line. No matter how enticing Emilie and Quinn make it look, relationships are scary and hard—while a string of flings is easy and fun. That’s what Ruby wants. Easy and fun. The only problem is, when it comes to satisfaction in the sack, most of the boys at Whitman are nothing but pretty window dressing and false advertising.
Ruby takes it upon herself to make campus life more fulfilling, creating a referral database that allows female students to rate their sexual experiences, thereby informing girls of what they’re getting into before agreeing to a date.
When her acting partner, Liam Greene, finally shows some interest, Ruby figures she won’t need to utilize the helpful gossip. He’s handsome, fun, and most importantly, not a guy she’d ever fall for hard enough to let him break her heart.
Not only that, but dating Liam gives Ruby the perfect excuse to say no to Cole Stuart.
As a star swimmer and heir to honest-to-God Scottish royalty, Cole sits at the top of Whitman’s A-list—but he’s also the lowest rated referral on Ruby’s website. The ratings make rejecting his repeated requests for a date a no-brainer, but her real reason for avoiding Cole runs deeper than a string of unsatisfied exes.
He’s gorgeous, he oozes sweetness and charm, and the electricity between them could power half of Whitman, but Ruby knows it will only last until his family or friends convince him she’s not good enough.
Before she knows it she’s falling anyway, waiting for the other shoe to drop but clinging to a tentative hope that Cole might be as different as he seems. When the secret behind his low ratings comes to light, that hope is torn apart, and Ruby wonders if she was right to give him her heart…and whether she has the strength to let him keep it.

Even though you can read By Referral Only as stand alone, I highly recommend reading Broken at Love.  We get to see many of the characters you connected with from the first book.  I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that Ruby was the one getting her own story and what a wonderful story it is!

Ruby Cotton has always been on the outskirts of what people expect her to be like.  She doesn't quite fit into this highly respected lifestyle.  Ruby is what people at Whitman would call "new money”, based on that, she has gotten her broken because she doesn't necessarily belong.  When the dashing Cole Stuart takes an interest in her, she doesn't want anything to do with him, because if we are building a latter of where he belongs, he would be at the very top.  Scottish royalty is as "old money" as you can get.  Will Ruby learn to put down her walls and not let social status get in the way or will she live her life at arms length and never fall in love?

I found myself enjoying By Referral Only a lot more that Broken at Love.  Ruby has this way of capturing your attention and she's such an easy character to relate to.  I love that she was somewhat of a free spirit.  Ruby feels what every girl feels when they see someone happy and in love.  She craves what Emilie and Quinn have, yet she keeps Cole at a distance.  She can't help but be attracted to him, especially since every time they run into each other he is the epitome of gentleman.  Ruby has gone down that road before and doesn't have plans to ever visit it again.  Her heart is too valuable.

Ruby and Cole's chemistry is off the charts!  I loved getting to know both of them and come on, who wouldn't want a hot Scottish attractive man pinning after you? How Ruby resisted him for so long, is still beyond me.  I absolutely loved By Referral Only and I highly recommend it.

Guest Reviewed by Andy @ Owl Always Be Reading