L.M. HALLORAN | A Perfect Song Duet

A Perfect Song Duet

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HIGH ANGST, HIGH HEAT ROCKSTAR ROMANCE

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what readers are saying about a perfect song duet...

"Stunning. Lyrical. Honest. This book doesn’t hold back, it digs into the darkest parts of love, trauma, and self-destruction, and somehow turns them into something achingly poetic." Dawn, 5 Stars

“If I thought Wilder and Eva had already carved a space in my soul after First Verse, I now have no doubt: they’ve imprinted on me in ways I’ll never forget.” Catarina, 5 Stars

"This isn’t just a romance—it’s a story about second chances, soul-deep love, and the kind of promise that refuses to be forgotten. Prepare to be swept away." Stacie, 5 Stars

"Every line feels purposeful, steeped in metaphor, rhythm, and raw emotion. It’s poetry wrapped in pain, beauty wrapped in brokenness, and it had me feral for every page." Sarah Beth, 5 Stars

A PERFECT SONG DUET DELUXE OMNIBUS

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Don’t worry, they figure it out 😉 You’ll love River & Rue if you love…

🌻 Forced Proximity
🌻 Best Friend’s Brother
🌻 Fighting as Foreplay
🌻 He Falls First
🌻 Slow Burn Tension
🌻 Soulmate Magic

His eyes flare, then narrow. Without their typical sparkle, the effect sends a shiver down my spine. Muscles coil all over his half naked body, and then he’s stalking back toward me with determined strides.

My primal brain bleats danger! abort! run! but I’ve never been great at listening to that voice, so I plant my hands on my hips and wait. He halts inches away, battering my sensitive nose with a subtle (and totally revolting) combination of salt, citrus, and cedar. I ward off another memory, one so incongruent with the present it belongs in a different lifetime altogether.

River’s gaze zeros in on my neck, jaw working like he’s chewing on the idea of squeezing it. I swallow reflexively. It’s painful, the kind that burns your esophagus and feels like swallowing glass.

....

She doesn't believe he really wants her... He's more than willing to prove it. 🤭

💗 Forced Proximity
💗 Best Friend’s Brother
💗 Fighting as Foreplay
💗 He Falls First
💗 Slow Burn Tension
💗 Found Family
💗 Soulmate Magic

RIVER & RUE by L.M. Halloran is now available in Kindle Unlimited and Paperback.

🌼 NOW AVAILABLE 🌼

Read now in Kindle Unlimited or Paperback. Duet audio announcement coming soon!

—> More details (FAQ, teasers, etc) can be found in my pinned posts 🫶

•••

BLURB:

Everyone knows falling for your best friend’s brother is a disaster waiting to happen. Good thing I can’t stand him.

River Ashburn has all the makings of a main character — striking looks, seductive charm, and a career as modern art’s reigning prince. But to me, he’s a villain.

For the last nine years, the only passion we’ve shared is mutual loathing. As for the other tension I occasionally feel? That’s just my body confusing fury with foreplay, easy to ignore.

Until a plot twist changes everything.

When I arrive for my writing residency at a secluded retreat in Northern California, the last person I expect to cross paths with is River. Now he’s derailing my dream from the other side of a paper-thin wall.

Seeing him every day is a distraction I don’t need. Listening to him shower? Torture. But the real danger of forced proximity is the truth unveiled over days and weeks: beneath our hostility is powerful chemistry.

With every shared smile, vulnerable confession, and not-so-accidental touch, the magic between us grows. So does my fear. Writing happy endings isn’t the same as believing in them, and surrendering my heart means risking more than I can afford to lose.

Except River isn’t the villain in my story anymore.

He’s the hero.

And he’s about to steal my pen.

🌼

TROPES :

✔️ Brother’s best friend
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ Fighting as foreplay
✔️ Soulmate magic
✔️ Slow burn, maximum yearning
✔️ Dramedy (Comedy + Drama)
✔️ Hurt / Comfort
✔️ Found Family

🌼 NOW AVAILABLE 🌼

Read now in Kindle Unlimited or Paperback. Duet audio announcement is coming in a few weeks!

Swipe to read FAQ text for each slide. Have another question? Drop a comment below! 🫶

•••
BLURB:

Everyone knows falling for your best friend’s brother is a disaster waiting to happen. Good thing I can’t stand him.

River Ashburn has all the makings of a main character — striking looks, seductive charm, and a career as modern art’s reigning prince. But to me, he’s a villain.

For the last nine years, the only passion we’ve shared is mutual loathing. As for the other tension I occasionally feel? That’s just my body confusing fury with foreplay, easy to ignore.

Until a plot twist changes everything.

When I arrive for my writing residency at a secluded retreat in Northern California, the last person I expect to cross paths with is River. Now he’s derailing my dream from the other side of a paper-thin wall.

Seeing him every day is a distraction I don’t need. Listening to him shower? Torture. But the real danger of forced proximity is the truth unveiled over days and weeks: beneath our hostility is powerful chemistry.

With every shared smile, vulnerable confession, and not-so-accidental touch, the magic between us grows. So does my fear. Writing happy endings isn’t the same as believing in them, and surrendering my heart means risking more than I can afford to lose.

Except River isn’t the villain in my story anymore. He’s the hero.

And he’s about to steal my pen.

🌼

TROPES :

✔️ Brother’s best friend
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ Fighting as foreplay
✔️ Soulmate magic
✔️ Slow burn, maximum yearning
✔️ Dramedy (Comedy + Drama)

Q: Is River & Rue a standalone?
A: Yes. While there are a few cameos from other characters in the Breaking Love universe, reading prior books in the series isn’t necessary.

Q: Is it as angsty as First Verse?
A: Definitely not. There IS angst (have you met me? 😆) but these characters are completely different. R&R is heavy on slow burn schmexual tension, banter, and intense emotional discovery.

Q: How spicy is it?
A: I’m horrible at the whole chili-pepper rating system. Expect a slow burn followed by unhinged explicit scenes.

🌼 TEASERS 🌼

Swipe for excerpts from RIVER & RUE, a story about two people who belong together but have to figure their shit out.

(Spoiler: they do.)

MICROTROPES:
- whimpering (him of course)
- slooty glasses (also him)
- a surprise in his pants (iykyk)
- hair washing (and hair in general but not in a weird way just trust me)
- hand necklaces (with neck support)
- agony wanks (both of them)
- one tent (couldn’t resist)

Welcome to the Pacific Arts Collective, a renowned retreat for creatives nestled in the shade of California’s mighty redwoods. Enjoy meals prepared by our Michelin-starred chef, complimentary acupuncture and massage, and the breathtaking views from our saltwater pool!

I should probably warn you that cell service is spotty at best, and don’t bother asking Kirk about the WiFi. Sorry in advance for the plumbing issues too. Oh, and don’t worry – your cabin may look seconds from collapse, but it passed all relevant safety inspections.

May your time here be transformative!

Best of luck,
Laura

p.s. Whatever you do, don’t look at Kirk’s feet, eat his homemade candy, or ask about Gilbert...

I study his face, frowning. “What’s wrong?”

River scoffs. “Like you care.”

I’m so taken aback the truth slips out. “Of course I care.”

His eyes snap to mine, simmering with new intensity.

I stammer, “Because—duh. You’re my best friend’s brother. You’re basically… you know.”

The slow curl of his lips is too sinister to be mistaken for a smile. It’s part snarl, part smirk. A smarl. Snirk?

Shit. I’m breathing way too fast.

Like it’s feeding on my panic, his not-a-smile grows. “Go on. I’m basically what? A sibling?”

I scoff extra-emphatically, then do it again for good measure.

“If we were related, I’d put myself up for adoption.”

He barks a laugh. A real one. Twinkling eyes with fanning creases and that lopsided grin, the right side boasting a single dimple as though a smile like his needed punctuation.

He knows ✨exactly✨ what he’s doing.

•

When River braces an arm on the doorframe beside my head, at least a billion of my brain cells spontaneously combust. Even more disintegrate when he curves over me, all bare skin and messy man bun and oh-

When I started writing River & Rue, I had no idea it would evolve into a dramedy, let alone contain elements of magical realism and the supernatural. Playing with metafiction and the dichotomy of surrealism/realism within the boundaries of contemporary romance? NOT on my 2026 bingo card.

::hysterical laughter::

The thing is, my muse does what she wants. I’m just along for the ride. And in the end (as always) I wrote the book I needed to write.

In many ways, River & Rue was an unexpected letter from my younger self—a dreamer who found magic everywhere she looked. And I really, really needed the reminder of who I’m meant to be.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking this journey with me. I can’t promise it won’t get weirder, but I’ll bring snacks.

What’s next:

First up, RIVER & RUE duet audio is coming this winter. I already know it’s going to be EPIC. More info on that soon!

In 2027, Breaking Giants and The Muse are both turning ten (!!!!), so I’d like to do something special for them. I’m thinking a limited batch of special editions??

After that... Ivy Ashburn.

Like I said, it might get weirder.

I’m not rushing her story though. Maybe it will release next year. Maybe not. I need to step back a bit. Breathe and settle and dream and live. But my muse is smiling, and so is Katherine.

Until the next one.

💗
Laura

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