Review: I'm Only Wicked with You by Julie Anne Long

USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long continues her Palace of Rogues series with a brand-new romance about an ambitious American and a headstrong British heiress.

I'M ONLY WICKED WITH YOU 

by JULIE ANNE LONG

Series: The Palace of Rogues #3

Publication date: August 24, 2021

Published by: Avon Romance

Genre: historical romance

 

SYNOPSIS

He's the battle-hardened son of a bastard, raised in the wilds of New York. She's the sheltered, blue-blooded darling of the London broadsheets, destined to marry a duke. Their worlds could only collide in a boardinghouse by the London docks...and when they do, the sparks would ignite all of England.

Nothing can stop Hugh Cassidy's drive to build an American empire...unless it's his new nemesis, the arrogant, beautiful, too-clever-by-half Lady Lillias Vaughn. The fascination is mutual. The temptation is merciless. And the inevitable indiscretion? Soul-searing—and the ruination of them both. Hugh's proposal salvages Lillias' honor but kills their dreams for their futures...until they arrive at a plan that could honorably set them free.

But unraveling their entanglement inadvertently uncovers enthralling truths: about Lillias' wounded, tender heart and fierce spirit. About Hugh's stunning gentleness, depth, and courage. Soon, Hugh knows that as surely as he'd fight a thousand battles to win her...the best way to love Lillias means breaking his own heart.

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Praise for Julie Anne Long:

“Julie Ann Long reinvents the historical romance for modern readers.”  -- Amanda Quick

"Long finds that delectable sweet spot with Angel in a Devil’s Arms, welcoming us all to the cozy warmth of the Grand Palace on the Thames with the peculiar blend of humor and pathos she writes with such aplomb."

-- Entertainment Weekly

“Deploying her usual perfectly calibrated mix of irresistibly dry wit and superbly nuanced characterization, RITA Award-winning Long adds another winner to her Palace of Rogues series with this lushly sensual, exquisitely emotional, and gracefully written tale about two people desperately trying not to fall in love with each other.” -- Booklist (starred review) for Angel in a Devil’s Arms

“Delightful...refreshing. Readers will enjoy this rich depiction of how the past informs but does not dictate the future.”  -- Publishers Weekly for Angel in a Devil’s Arms

“Sparkling banter, deep character insights, and a colorful supporting cast bring a clever scheme to life, setting up a series to savor. Historical readers will rejoice with Long’s return to the subgenre and will be intrigued by hints of the next 'Rogues' title.” -- Library Journal (starred review, editor’s pick), on Lady Derring Takes a Lover

“Julie Anne long is a fantastic writer.” -- New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Well, where should I start? I've lived in San Francisco for more than a decade, usually with at least one cat. I won the school spelling bee when I was in 7th grade; the word that clinched it was 'ukulele.' I originally set out to be a rock star when I grew up (I had a Bono fixation, but who didn't?), and I have the guitars and the questionable wardrobe stuffed in the back of my closet to prove it.

But writing was always my first love. 

I was editor of my elementary school paper (believe it or not, Mrs. Little's fifth grade class at Glenmoor Elementary did have one); my high school paper (along with my best high school bud, Cindy Jorgenson); and my college paper, where our long-suffering typesetter finally forced me to learn how to typeset because my articles were usually late (and thus I probably have him to thank for all the desktop publishing jobs that ensued over the years).

Won a couple of random awards along the way: the Bank of America English Award in High School (which basically just amounted to a fancy plaque saying that I was really, really good at English); and an award for best Sports Feature article in a College Newspaper (and anyone who knows me well understands how deeply ironic that is). I began my academic career as a Journalism major; I switched to Creative Writing, which was a more comfortable fit for my freewheeling imagination and overdeveloped sense of whimsy. I dreamed of being a novelist.

But most of us, I think, tend to take for granted the things that come easily to us. I loved writing and all indications were that I was pretty good at it, but I, thank you very much, wanted to be a rock star. Which turned out to be ever-so-slightly harder to do than writing. A lot more equipment was involved, that's for sure. Heavy things, with knobs. It also involved late nights, fetid, graffiti-sprayed practice rooms, gorgeous flakey boys, bizarre gigs, in-fighting—what's not to love?

But my dream of being a published writer never faded. When the charm (ahem) of playing to four people in a tiny club at midnight on a Wednesday finally wore thin, however, I realized I could incorporate all the best things about being in a band — namely, drama, passion, and men with unruly hair — into novels, while at the same time indulging my love of history and research. 

So I wrote The Runaway Duke, sent it to a literary agent (see the story here), who sold it to Warner Books a few months after that...which made 2003 one of the most extraordinary, head-spinning years I've ever had. 

Why romance? Well, like most people, I read across many genres, but I've been an avid romance reader since I got in trouble for sneaking a Rosemary Rogers novel out of my mom's nightstand drawer (I think it was Sweet Savage Love). Rosemary Rogers, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Laurie McBain...I cut my romance teeth on those ladies. And in general, I take a visceral sort of pleasure in creating a hero and a heroine, putting them through their emotional paces, and watching their relationship develop on the page. And of course, there's much to be said for the happy ending. :) 

And why Regency Historicals? Well, for starters, I think we can blame Jane Austen. Her inimitable wit, compassion and vision brought the Regency vividly to life for generations of readers. If Jane Austen had written romances about Incas, for instance, I think, we'd have racks and racks of Inca romances in bookstores all over the country, and Warner Forever would be the Inca Romance line.

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REVIEW

I'm Only Wicked With You by Julie Anne Long
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This series to date has been one resounding success after another. Instead of losing my enthusiasm just a little bit with each new book, I only fall in love with the Grand Palace on the Thames and all of its inhabitants more each time. The charm of the quirky boarders like Mr. Delacorte, the proprietresses' atypical friendship and their equally unexpected love matches, and the quick-witted banter between the main characters are just a few things that make me greedily coming back for more. And while some things feel familiar, they aren't so much so that they become stale. Julie Anne Long managed to give this book a completely fresh feel with these main characters. The first half of the book was spent primarily in the boarding house where hilarity and verbal sparring always ensues. Then we got to venture into Lady Lillias' world of privilege as she made sense of society's expectations and where she truly fit in the world in order to find her HEA. The themes of social disparity, classism, duty vs. passion, and a love triangle square kept me hooked until the very end.

Both the hero and heroine believed themselves to be in love with someone else when they met each other. That could have easily gone very wrong, but the transition of their affection never felt too abrupt or unnatural. I think that can be attributed to the work the author put into showing the reader how they fell-despite the odds stacked against them. Not telling us. There was no insta-love to be found, and no epiphany of love switch that was flipped. The characters work for it, and in doing so, the reader reaps all of the rewards.

Lillias is nursing a broken heart, and Hugh is in London to hunt down the missing woman he has his fragile heart set on. Neither are open to romance when they meet, but from day one they sparked competitive friction off of one another.

    Mr. Cassidy, she realized, always came out fighting. 

Which she supposed was flattering: 

it was a measure of the sort of adversary he saw in her.

It becomes like a game to them to properly fluster the other with sexual innuendoes and wordplay. Yes, they had an unsettling physical reaction to each other, but that inconvenient fact keeps getting compartmentalized in a nice and tidy box. Closed tightly, and tied up with a bow. Perhaps not as tightly as they imagine.

Lillias is a the dutiful daughter of the Earl and Countess of Vaughn, but lately, a bit of a rebel. When she met Hugh in the previous book, she was defiantly smoking one of her father's cigars. Then there was that time she climbed up to the top of the tower of her church and rang the bell just for giggles. She's lived her life in society's highest echelon. She looks the part, she plays the part, but she never really FIT the part. If she felt that her suiters' affections were artificial and her value in that world purely making an advantageous match, she tends to not acknowledge that. Her world is familiar, and there's a measure of comfort in that. Hugh Cassidy is everything unfamiliar and inscrutable to her. He's a man who came from nothing and paved his own way in the world. He sees things through a different lens than her and helps her to see the world with a clarity that she never has before.

    He had cracked her open in ways she had not expected 

and did not welcome, and all the things she truly was

were emerging. If she were honest, 

she knew the cracks had begun before he’d even arrived.

When Hugh isn't working to get a rise out of her, he isn't giving much of himself away. He's seen death on the battlefield and the lost his father and brother. He keeps his feelings close to his chest and uses his smile like a weapon. What he doesn't let show is that he yearns to build a real home, his own family, and an empire that will provide for them and at the same time make a real difference in the world. He has a smart business mind, and grand ambitions in politics back in America. He thought that the woman he went to England to find was the one who would fit into all of his well crafted plans. So why is he affected mind, body, and soul by the exasperating Lady Lillias?

    She wasn’t to know that she’d stopped his breath 

then and any number of times since, 

which meant the next breath he took after that 

was like the first one he’d ever drawn. So it was like 

he was being born anew every time he looked at her.

Lillias and Hugh start playing with fire. What harm could come from exploring a little passion together? A lot it turns out. Both of their expectations for the future go up in a pretty impressive ball of flames. As often found in historical romance, they're busted being...indiscreet shall we say? Hugh does the honorable thing and they're now trapped in circumstances that they can't see a way out of.

She was no safer than opium. 

Opium only led to disaster. 

And what was this if not a disaster?

I had to admire the hell out of Hugh for never resenting Lillias at this point or any other. He didn't take out his frustration out on her and he admitted his share of the responsibility. He never took advantage of her attraction to him when she was vulnerable. He was a true gentleman in every respect more so than how the upper class defined the word. There was so much to love about him and to root for. I could only imagine how unmoored he felt when he discovered Lillias' secret affection for her childhood friend just as they were growing closer. Once again, he behaved with total respect towards her and ultimately put her happiness above his own wants time and again. Love is making sacrifice even when it hurts and he illustrated that so beautifully.

One of the things I really appreciated was that Lillias' parents weren't the clichè greedy parents looking to sell their daughter. I know that's an accurate depiction of the culture at the time for the most part, but it gets a little repetitive when reading the same conflict in the genre. Her parents did want a titled match, but they weren't evil caricatures. They truly cared about their kids and their happiness even if they had certain expectations that they expected them to fulfill. They weren't paragons of progressive virtue, they had realistic prejudices and entitled attitudes, but when it counted they made the right choices to look out for their daughter.

The last 5-6 chapters made me emotionally wrung out. Between the absolutely gorgeous writing of Julie Anne Long that made my heart drop and soar from one moment from the next, and the angst I felt for this beautiful couple fighting for their forever, I didn't want the story to end. My eyes were watery and my heart was bursting with happiness as they finally fit everything perfectly in place. And the epilogue! I couldn't wipe the silly grin off of my face. I adored this book! I didn't think anything could top the last book, but I'm Only Wicked with You has managed the impossible task. If you haven't started the series yet, I'm not sure what you're waiting for. You absolutely need these books in your life.

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Review: Motion by Penny Reid

One week.

Home alone.

Girl genius.

Unrepentant slacker.

Big lie.

What’s the worst that could happen?

MOTION by PENNY REID

Series: Laws of Physics #1

Release date: February 11, 2019

Cliffhanger: YES

Genre: Contemporary romance

SYNOPSIS

Mona is a smart girl and figured everything out a long time ago. She had to. She didn’t have a choice. When your parents are uber-celebrities and you graduate from high school at fifteen, finish college at eighteen, and start your PhD program at nineteen, you don’t have time for distractions outside of your foci. Even fun is scheduled. Which is why Abram, her brother’s best friend, is such an irritant.

Abram is a talented guy, a supremely gifted musician, and has absolutely nothing figured out, nor does he seem to care. He does what he feels, when he feels, and—in Mona’s opinion—he makes her feel entirely too much.

Laws of Physics is the second trilogy in the Hypothesis series; Laws of Physics parts 1 (MOTION) & 2 (SPACE) end with a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

PRAISE FOR MOTION:

"I. Am. In. Awe. This book is just everything!" -- L.J. Shen, #1 Bestselling Author

"I have no words, I'm actually speechless. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK RIGHT NOW!!" --Amo Jones, Bestselling Author
"A thoroughly adorkable story that will keep you flipping pages long after bedtime--or until the wolves come." -- Kayti McGee, Author

"Penny Reid continues to up her "smart romance" game with this New Adult gem." --Reading Frenzy Book Blog
"As much as I love this author's humor, I really appreciate that she integrates social topics into her stories in order to bring more awareness." -- Smokin' Hot Book Blog
"A Penny Reid book at its finest. Hilariously entertaining, slow burn romance, and amazing characters that will be the stars of your dreams, for months after reading this gorgeous story." -- Wrapped Up in Reading Book Blog

"You can never go wrong when picking up a book by Penny Reid. Whether it's laughs you're looking for or some sweet new adult romance, she's got the story for you." -- The Biblioholic

"...you'll forgive her for a brutal cliffhanger and be very glad you got to hang out for a while with the wonderful characters she creates." -- Author April White
"I was grinning the whole time, which is a trademark result of reading one of Ms. Reid's Smart Romances." -- Cover to Cover

"Motion was pretty much the reader getting to witness the beginning of something wonderful. Something unique and elaborate but so very, very delicate. It's beautifully staged and wonderfully written, where the characters are as multifaceted and alluring as every other player in the Penny Reid world." -- Emerald Book Reviews
"I couldn't get enough of the dynamic and burgeoning attraction between Mona and Abram, and I am so excited to pick up with the story left off with the release of Space." --Nightbird Novels

Purchase the book here:

B&N: https://bit.ly/2My1q2H

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2sOngG6 

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Kobo: https://bit.ly/2AZWRtd

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Penny Reid is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja. 

Connect with Penny:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PennyReidWriter/

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lakzsD

Twitter: @ReidRomance

Newsletter: http://pennyreid.ninja/newsletter/

Store: www.pennyreid.ninja

Motion by Penny Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first in the Laws of Physics trilogy, and as you would expect in a three book story arc, you're going to be left hanging in suspense a couple of times. I'm not gonna lie, Penny had me more than a little concerned about this cliffy she was warning us all about on social media. It got to the point where I was dreading the end of the book. (And not just because I was enjoying it and didn't want it to end.) Maybe my nervousness and fear of the unknown had built my expectations up, but it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! Though you WILL be consumed with curiosity about what comes next, make no mistake. I immediately went to read the synopsis for Space to hunt for some clues.

When Mona gets a call from her twin sister Lisa pleading for her help, she very reluctantly agrees. Leaving a PhD program interview in order to play the part of her sister for a week? It's a recipe for disaster. The two sisters are identical in looks, but complete opposites in every other way. Mona has always been the smart and responsible one, Lisa is the attention seeking wild child. One is a social butterfly, the other has difficulty relating to other people's humor and interacting socially. Mona is conservative and regimented, Lisa is flashy and impulsive.

Of course, I immediately loved the heroine for her gargantuan brain, her soft heart, and overall awkward ways. But she has this vulnerability to her as well that so easily endears you. Growing up with two famous rockstar parents, she was left to her own devices most of the time, even shipped off to live with a Professor in her teens. There was never anyone she could confide in, or a safe place for her to feel protected. It seemed like such a lonely life, especially one who's a little bit different and sees things at a deeper level than most people care to look. Mona has so much to offer, but often she's laughed at for her unique qualities or gawked at like a science experiment. That made me so sad for her.

    The universe—in all its infinite complexity and beauty—struck me as an apt reverse allegory for human interaction. We are deceived by the white dots. We label them stars. Often, they’re so much more. Layered. Complex. Important. Surprising. Beautiful.

We met Abram as a secondary character in the Elements in Chemistry series, and now we get to see him front and center here. He was always that broody and quiet character you wanted to know more about, with a heck of a lot of smolder. In this first installment, he still very much gave off that mysterious persona, and it took some time for him to warm up to Mona. It doesn't help that she's forced to act like her ill-mannered sister in order to pull off their ruse. On one hand, she wants to just be herself and forget all of the deception that surrounds their relationship. On the other, she can't very well throw her sister under the bus because of this uncomfortable attraction she can't begin to figure out what to do with. Her preconception of him as a surly, slacker musician is dismantled and shuffled into a new image. Her true personality falls through the cracks of her facade, and he can't help but smile at her unexpected intelligence and humor.

Her entire relationship with him during the week is based on fabrications and lies, and I was really nervous to find out how he would react when the truth was out. He's sweet and passionate with those he chooses to give his trust to, but when that trust is broken...it's not going to end well. Let's just say that I was reading with one eye closed while peeking through my fingers as the slow burn heated up. I half wanted to smoosh their faces together, half wanted to pull Abram away from the inevitable hurt and protect him. There didn't seem to be an easy way out of the predicament they landed in.

I can't say enough about the predictably witty and sharp science humor. You expect to laugh when you pick up a Penny Reid book, and belly laugh I DID. Mona's fierce battle over her chocolate donuts, the puns and whale jokes were just a few of the reasons why I couldn't stop smiling. But the book also explored the themes of sexual harassment and consent, and how males aren't given equal care when they are the victim. As much as I love this author's humor, I really appreciate that she integrates social topics into her stories in order to bring more awareness.

Mona and Abram had a ton of chemistry together that we just started to scratch the surface to see. I cannot wait to continue the series and see how their unconventional connection will unfold.

**Though there is a connection to characters from other series, this is a complete standalone.

Part two, Space is scheduled to release March 11, 2019.

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Review: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Title: The Kiss Quotient

Author: Helen Hoang

Series: The Kiss Quotient #1

Publication Date: June 5, 2018

Publisher: Berkley

SYNOPSIS

A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there's not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.
Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position...

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he's making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic...

Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS

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Praise for The Kiss Quotient:

“The Kiss Quotient had me under a spell the moment I met the hero. I was excited, in love, and couldn’t wait to get back to this book every time life forced me to put it down. A rare and riveting love story.”—Penelope Douglas, New York Times bestselling author

“I devoured The Kiss Quotient. It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time. It has everything—it’s funny, sad, poignant and impossible to put down.”—Christine Feehan, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Original and sexy and sensitive.”—Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author

“The Kiss Quotient is unexpected, unconventional and unputdownable. I loved it. Hoang’s writing has a sharp, quirky, emotional edge that will resonate with anyone who has ever tried to navigate the complicated world of modern relationships. Opening this book is like setting a match to a handful of fireworks — lots of sparkle, heat and energy.”—Jayne Ann Krentz, New York Times bestselling author

“In just under 24 hours I devoured The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang and it was AWESOME. Adorable, sexy, smart. Exactly the book I wanted to read!”—Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author
“An unexpectedly sweet erotic romance that left me with a huge smile on my face. I dare you not to fall in love with these two characters and their story. Helen Hoang’s debut is quite simply delightful!”—Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author

NEXT IN THE SERIES

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang is coming January 29th, 2019!

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.

As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.

With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.

Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Helen Hoang is that shy person who never talks. Until she does. And the worst things fly out of her mouth. She read her first romance novel in eighth grade and has been addicted ever since. In 2016, she was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in line with what was previously known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Her journey inspired THE KISS QUOTIENT. She currently lives in San Diego, California with her husband, two kids, and pet fish.

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REVIEW

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Authentically true characters elevate a good book to great, and Michael and Stella are as real as you can get. That's only a fraction of what makes The Kiss Quotient one of the most exciting and memorable books I will read this year. It's only May, and I know this to be a fact. I'm sitting here trying to come up with a way to explain just how much I enjoyed this book without sounding trite. These two characters have completely stolen my heart and they deserve so much more than that.

This is one of those stories that I entered into with zero expectations. (Helen Hoang is a debut author!) After only a few pages, I found myself so completely immersed and invested that there was no real life until I turned the last page. I was utterly ADDICTED, and unable to put it down. Word of advice: do not start this book late at night, people, because you can kiss a good night's sleep goodbye. The humor was effervescent, the narrative crisp and clear, and the love story was an unconventional match made in heaven.

On the outside, Stella Lane seems to have it all. She excels in her chosen career as an Econometrician. After all, facts, figures, algorithms, and statistics are like child's play for her. She's creatively gifted, comes from a family that loves and only wants the best for her. But there are many things that Stella struggles with every single day, simple things that most people take for granted. Stella has Asperger's. Interacting with people always seems to end badly for her, so going to work becomes her solace, and her personal life becomes non-existent. She has no close friends and no past romantic relationships to speak of. After constant pressure from her mother to find a man, she decides to take charge of her life and hire a professional to help ease her into physical intimacy and dating.

    Going out was supposed to be fun. For her, it was work— hard work. She could interact with people if she wanted to, but it cost her. Some times more than others.

I adored everything about Stella, even the things that she perceived as faults. There was absolutely zero artifice to her. Her thoughts filtered through her brain, and directly out of her mouth with complete innocence. The unpredictability of what she would say would have me laughing out loud on many occasions. Her brain is hardwired to examine things analytically as opposed to emotionally. She would use data she discovered from work to solve her problems in her personal life.

    If a woman purchased underclothes for a man, it meant she loved him. Stella was fully capable of purchasing underclothes.

Getting inside her head was fascinating and endearing all at the same time.

Escort Michael Phan only works on Friday nights, and there are no repeat performances. It wasn't something he enjoyed, but a sacrifice he was willing to make. Like a mask he would take on and off, he became another person, and then slipped back into his everyday life. A desperate financial situation has him backed into a corner, forcing him to live a double life, hiding his activities from his family. When he arrives to see his client, Stella is the last thing he was expecting. You could see right away that he thought she was adorably funny and cute, and her intelligence was a turn on. His protective side immediately came out as he noticed her vulnerability, and my heart swelled seeing how sweet he was with her.

I could feel how perfectly they matched during their first interaction. He intrinsically knew she needed patience, and he soothed her anxiety without judgement. That was something that was imperative for her to have. But despite his best efforts with Stella, she was going to need more time...something he didn't have to give. What he didn't know? She was about to make him break all of his rules and shatter every last one of his expectations.

    Everything about him pleased her. Not just his looks, but his patience and his kindness. He was good. He was an obsession waiting to happen.

I loved the way their relationship evolved. There was never a moment where I felt that what they had was cheap or meaningless. They both treated each other with respect from day one. He didn't see her as just a paycheck, and she didn't treat him as her personal property. And there was a total comfort between them that eased them into their attraction. Before they knew it, they were moving from a physical tutoring arrangement, to a fake dating relationship, to true intimacy and hopes for more.

Both were clinging to secrets that they felt would alter how the other felt about them. Big secrets. Insecurities would get in the way, and fears would have to be faced. Michael had to let go of his fear of turning into his father, and allowing himself to pursue his own path. Stella needed to love herself exactly as she was, challenges and all, and have the confidence that others could as well.

I can't finish the review without talking about Michael's relationship with his family. The ribbing between the siblings, and the honor and loyalty that centered around them all was beautiful. They were the absolute sweetest. I couldn't get enough of those scenes, especially the ones where they brought Stella into their fold and accepted her as one of their own. Michael's friend Kai will be getting his own story next in The Bride Test , coming January 2019! My impatience anticipation is through the roof for more!

To sum up: It was delicious. I happily devoured the charm Hoang served up with a spoon, and left the table fully sated in romantic bliss. It was sexy, sassy, and everything I could hope for in a contemporary romance. Don't walk...RUN to pre-order this gem of a book.

Recommended for fans of: fake relationship trope, rom-coms

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Review: Managed by Kristen Callihan

     

It started off as a battle of wits. Me: the ordinary girl with a big mouth against Him: the sexy bastard with a big...ego. I thought I’d hit the jackpot when I was upgraded to first class on my flight to London. That is until HE sat down next to me. Gabriel Scott: handsome as sin, cold as ice. Nothing and no one gets to him. Ever. He’s a legend in his own right, the manager of the biggest rock band in the world, and an arrogant ass who looks down his nose at me. I thought I’d give him hell for one, long flight. I didn’t expect to like him. I didn’t expect to want him. But the biggest surprise? He wants me too. Only in a way I didn’t see coming. If I accept his proposal, I leave myself open to falling for the one man I can’t manage. But I’m tempted to say yes. Because the real man beneath those perfect suits and that cool façade just might be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I just might be the only one who can melt the ice around his heart.   Let the battle begin…  

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 In all this time, I had yet to see Gabriel without a shirt. He hides his body like a pious Victorian, never letting me see anything other than him fully dressed and polished. Now I know why. Had he let me get a glimpse, I might never have been able to form a coherent thought around him. This man’s chest is a work of art. It’s every fantasy I’ve had about a man’s body made real. I don’t even know how that’s possible, but I’m not about to complain. God, he looks touchable. Olive skin, tight little brownish nipples, a smattering of dark chest hair over the most incredibly honed— “You’re staring.” His tone is dry. “Yes, I am.” I drag my eyes up and find his expression bemused. A thick brow lifts. I try to mimic the look and fail when both of my brows lift as one. His lips twitch in amusement. He shifts his weight, causing his abs to clench. Good Lord. He’s not some overdeveloped gym worshiper, just solid and strong, that perfect balance between defined musculature and healthy male— “You’re still staring, Sophie.” “You think it’s easy looking away from all this splendor?” I ask his belly button, licking my lips when he huffs out a laugh and just a little bit more of his lower abs are revealed, slanting toward the thick bulge of his cock, which is lamentably hidden behind his slacks. “You’re impossible,” he mutters, though there is humor in his voice. He strolls farther into the room and then practically kills me when he sits in one of the low-slung armchairs. That body, sprawled out on display, those thick, long thighs braced as if to take me in his lap—it’s too much. I want to straddle him and lick my way from the hollow of his throat to the tip of his cock. He eyes me as if he knows what I’m thinking, and the air thickens. So many things we left unsaid. I’m remembering his lips now, surprisingly soft, but strong with purpose. From the way his lids lower, I wonder if he’s remembering things as well. But he doesn’t move. Tension glides over his body and snakes around the room. I feel it in my throat and down my spine. We’re closing up again, retreating. Slowly, I toe off my shoes and set my gear down, never breaking eye contact. “I was being completely honest,” I tell him. “I see you like this and I want to stare forever.” He snorts, shaking his head even as he rests his temple on his knuckles. “What do you mean ‘like this’?” “Undone.” He tenses. It does lovely things to that chest. I focus on his face, mainly to maintain some semblance of decorum. “You think this is me undone?” he asks quietly. “It’s a start.” I reach for my camera bag. “Will you let me photograph you?” There is safety to be found with the camera between us. A way for both of us to hide until we’re comfortable around each other again. “You’re serious?” “You sound surprised.” Holding my camera, I sit in the sofa opposite him. “Don’t tell me no one has asked to take your picture before.” “They’ve asked. I never saw the point.” He shrugs. “I’m not the story.” You’re my story. You always were. “This is just for me,” I say instead. “No one else.” His shrewd gaze pins me. “Why do you want this?” So I can have a bit of you forever. “Pictures capture moments in time. I want this one—when you finally let me see a sliver of the man behind the clothes.” His nostrils flare on an indrawn breath, and he slowly lets it out. When he speaks, his voice is a rasp. “Take the pictures.”


        

 

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal , best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

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I've been a huge fan of this author for some time now, she's an auto-buy for me. But this particular book was one of my most highly anticipated reads this year. After reading Idol, the cranky band manager Scotty with the movie star good looks had me completely hooked and begging for his full story. He's snooty, he's got a fortress around his heart, and a tongue like a whip. And he's brought to his knees with one encounter of the very provoking Sophie Darling. (How amazing is that name?)

“I’ve never met a person I couldn’t manage,” comes his tight reply a few seconds later. Not bothering to take the mask off, I extend a hand his way. “Sophie Elizabeth Darling.”

That opening airplane scene?? I fell. Hard. Dizzy, giddy, happy feels were all over those pages. It was love at first sight....er...banter. The chemistry these two had was instantaneous and done to perfection. Gabriel "Scotty" is an exacting man, and used to intimidating people and getting his way. Sophie is a woman who is free with her opinions and isn't shy about cutting pompous men down to size. They were destined to clash. And oh, how they did. Enough to have me laughing out loud and feeling that magic "click" when you connect to two characters completely effortlessly.

“I’m stuck next to the one afflicted with an apparently incurable case of verbal diarrhea.” “Says the man who is socially constipated.”

Scotty, or Gabriel as he allows Sophie to call him (inexplicably as he gives no one else the honor), is closed off from people for self-preservation. Losing his mother at an early age has left its permanent mark on him. He's driven and structured which has led to a successful career leading the band to fame. But when it comes to his private life, he doesn't allow anyone close enough to have the ability to hurt him. At least, that's what he tells himself.

He may be a strict taskmaster, but he's also fiercely loyal to these men who accept him and his tough exterior. They've known each other since their school days, and been there for each other ever since. Not until Sophie has he felt like someone has broken through his defenses. And she has, with spectacular colors. Bringing laughter and a strange addiction that he can't curb.

I want this woman more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life. But I want to keep her. I have no idea how to keep anyone close to me. Because I have no idea how to expose my heart.

Sophie is a fun-loving, bright, and warm person. She flits from job to job, living life wherever it is that makes her happy. She has shame and regrets from her past, and her job handling the band's social media forces her to face those parts of herself she wishes were buried. And Gabriel? He's a complication that rattles her cage at every opportunity. As she's given a rare window into his hidden depths, their attraction flares brighter and hotter with every night spent on tour together.

God, it burns, the way he watches me. It’s covetous and possessive. He looks at me as if he’s mentally stripping off my clothes. With his teeth. He looks at me, and the bottom falls out of my belly.

Their attraction was a slow burning ember. Though he had an unexplained need to be close to her early on, it was a hard-earned culmination. They didn't jump into bed early and grow into their feelings later. It was the opposite, and that was something that I appreciated. Gabriel was resistant to his growing feelings and he fought the hard fight. But when they finally did make the leap into a physical relationship, they were both all in. Seeing him open up and grasp onto her with both hands tight...it was thrilling. She softened him, relaxed him. He gave her a safe place to be herself with, someone who doesn't always have to be shiny and happy.

The band dynamic was highly entertaining and is sure to put a smile on your face. Each supporting character was given enough development to see their individuality and the potential for their own stories. I don't have many complaints about this book. If I had to nitpick, the conflict that arose in the last 10% did seem rushed from appearance to resolution. I could have done without it. But at the same time, it served the purpose of showing Gabriel's struggle to put his full trust and faith in those he loves. So, I'm not necessarily complaining about it. Maybe it just could have been introduced a bit earlier and explored more.

This latest installment of the VIP series hit all the right marks with me. It was infused with loads of witty humor and enough heat to make your pulse flutter and your breath catch. I am without a doubt continuing on with the next book and I encourage anyone who hasn't started this series to get started.

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