Chelsea & Jessica Get Brazen! Down for the Count by Christine Bell

Hey guys! So happy it's time to get Brazen again! This week we read Down for the Count by Christine Bell! It featured a scorned new bride and an oh so sexy boxer! I do love my fighters!

Truth or dare…

When Lacey Garrity finds her groom in flagrante delicto in the reception hall closet with her bridesmaid, she's saved by her best friend’s older brother—childhood tormentor, crush, and boxing bad boy Galen Thomas. Galen’s solution is both exciting and dangerous. What better way to forget the mess of her life than go on her honeymoon with a hot guy who can’t promise anything beyond today?

…or TKO?

Galen had been counting on Lacey's wedding to put her out of reach—and out of his mind—once and for all, but their steamy Puerto Rican escape is testing all his boundaries. Now that Lacey’s embracing her inner bad girl, Galen is tempted to throw in the towel and claim her for himself. But with the biggest fight of his career on the line and an important business merger threatening to derail Lacey’s resolve, their romance might be down for the count before it even begins.

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You find your brand spankin' new husband of like 30 minutes screwing another woman at your reception. What do you do?

Jessica: Ok. Last week's episode of Bitten absolutely horrified me because of what happened. However, let's just say it involved a man strapped naked to a chair and the other with a very scary looking clamp device. I'll let you make your own assumptions from there. And then I'd get shitty ass drunk. 

Chelsea: Haha! Don't mess with Jess. I am a sucker for a good junk punch and you can bet your ass that my husband would NEVER be able to have children.

 

You have a perfectly good honeymoon waiting for you after the above incident. Do you a) cancel the reservations, b) go by yourself for some R&R, or c) get shitty ass drunk, play a game of Truth or Dare with your best friend's hot older brother who is a boxer, and accept the dare to take him on the honeymoon instead?

Chelsea: C. 100%! Jess?

Jessica: C! ALL. THE. WAY.


What is your dream honeymoon spot?

Chelsea: I would love to go to Hawaii to be honest. I've never been there!

Jessica: I always wanted to get married in Jamaica and then travel around for my honeymoon. I want to re-trace my steps through England, Ireland, France, Italy and then head over to Greece. :)

You meet a very attractive couple on your vacation and you later find out they are swingers. Do you a) run for the hills, b) first use their awesome pool to make out with your current beau, or c) join 'em?

Chelsea: Not gonna lie, C is out of the question but making out in a pool first sounds nice :-)

Jessica: I'm torn between A and B. I would totally freak out, but I wouldn't mind making out with my guy in an awesome pool first.....


You're in a tropical paradise. What is the sexiest place to get it on with your man?

Jessica: I love vanishing edge pools. I would be all for having some sexy times in one of those pools overlooking the beach and ocean.

Chelsea: Ooh, excellent answer! I think a hammock on the private patio of a villa would be pretty hot!


What was your favorite scene in the book?


Chelsea: I really enjoyed the game of "I've Never" that tempted their little trip. I liked how Galen used it to open Lacey up a bit and be playful with her.

Jessica: I have to say I loved the scene where they went on the cruise ship for dinner and dancing. It was fun to see that side of Galen, and I loved that she opened up not only to him, but to herself too.

What do you think of the dating the best friend's brother trope?

Jessica: It's one of my absolute favorites! I had a small crush on my best friend's older brother once! :D

Chelsea: I've honestly never been in the situation but I love this type of plot in a book. It's one of my favorites too!

 

Down for the Count is one of my favorite Brazens so far. I absolutely loved the writing and the characters and the plot. It was fun and sexy and had some really unique elements that made it stand out from the others. I was hooked right from the beginning.

Within the first few pages of the book, Lacey finds her brand new husband banging one of her bridesmaids and best friends. She is hurt, angry and humiliated so she asks her best friend’s brother, Galen to get her the hell out of there. What starts as a drunken game to help get her mind off of things, turns into a drunk dare and they end up on her paradise honeymoon together. A sexy villa in paradise? You can guess what’s going to happen.

I loved the chemistry between Lacey and Galen. They are clearly hot for each other and being in such close quarters only amplifies them. Lacey is so reserved and I really enjoyed watching Galen open her up and help her relax and experience new things. She didn’t know what she was missing out on until Galen and losing her ex was the BEST thing to ever happen to her. I was a little frustrated with Lacey at times, however, because she really let people walk all over her and despite what her ex did to her, she really fought her desire for Galen because she was technically married. Fuck that! She owed NO loyalty to him and I was glad that Galen was able to wear her down and make her see her worth and show her was she deserved.

Overall, I absolutely adored this book. Not only was it sexy but it was fun and entertaining. Cat, Galen’s sister and Lacey’s best friend was so awesome and one of my favorite characters. Her friendship and loyalty to Lacey was awesome and she cracked me up with her fiery attitude. I’m super excited to dive into another Christine Bell Brazen again soon!

I had a lot of fun reading Down for the Count by Christine Bell! Not only was it sexy and steamy, but it had quite a bit of humor to it as well! I have to say- this was probably one of my favorite Brazen storylines I've read thus far. First of all, I love the best friend dating the older brother trope and second-  I can't even imagine being in Lacey's shoes and experience what she did!

 

Lacey has had a crush on her best friend's older brother, Galen, for some time now. However, when he calls her squirt and teases her- it doesn't seem like he reciprocates those feelings. He is really there for her now during a really awkward situation and I don't think there was anyone better for her in that moment than him.

 

I love how Lacey handles said situation. Sure, she's upset, angry, and hurt, but I love seeing her snark and sass come spewing out! My inner cheerleader was hooting and hollering at her comments to Marty, her new husband.

 

I LOVED Cat, Lacey's best friend. She reminds me of what MY best friend what do in this situation, and I thought she was made of awesome. Even though Lacey goes with the grain on a lot of things her parents say, Cat is the one exception to the rule. Lacey's mom never thought Cat was good enough and was too wild for her daughter. However, Lacey refused to bend to her mother's will on this one. It's a good thing too, because Cat is definitely a friend I'd want in my corner.

 

Galen had initially warned Lacey about marrying this guy and now that the shit has hit the fan, he doesn't want to get involved. He knows that it's a bad idea, as the lines have really been blurring between seeing her as his sister's best friend and as a beautiful woman that he can't help but be attracted to. He dares her to go on her honeymoon to Puerto Rico with him and she drunkenly consents, finding herself on a flight to paradise with someone who is NOT her husband.

 

Lacey is not good at embracing the unknown or being spontaneous. She likes everything planned down to the finest detail. Her mother is very overbearing and Lacey seems to always fall in line behind her and not go after what SHE wants. Her mother is also a pro at blame shifting and I hated that Lacey tended to make excuses for not just her mom, but for her pathetic relationship with Marty too. Galen is 100% right: she really did dodge a bullet with Marty. Lacey has so much to experience sexually and Galen wants to be the one to show her.

 

Their relationship is so much fun. I loved watching Galen slowly remove the stick Lacey had up her ass and show her what it was like to be free. It took a bit to get her to loosen up and enjoy herself, as she has so many things on her mind- worrying about keeping the merger for her father's company, dealing with her mother, and fighting her attraction to Galen when she's still technically a married woman. I thought she was crazy. The moment I would have walked in on my new husband screwing the hell out of someone else, I wouldn't have given a rat's ass if I were married or not. I'd be on my best friend's single, sexy older brother in a heartbeat!

 

Lacey and Galen's trip to Puerto Rico definitely changes everything for them both. Galen sees firsthand the depth of Lacey's feelings for him and how much she believes in him by keeping up with all of his fights and Lacey is exposed to so many situations that are beyond her control and that exposure is what slowly leads to setting her free. Yet, it's easy for Lacey to embrace her new freedom when there are no external factors hammering down on her.

 

This is a super short read and while that doesn't hinder the plot, I did feel the length affected the ending, as I felt there wasn't quite enough build up there. I am very excited to read the next book in the Dare Me series, as it is Cat's novel and is a falling in love with the brother's best friend story!

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Thanks for joining us for another Brazen feature this week! Come back next week as we get Blissed with Her Summer with the Marine by Susan Meier!

Sign Ups: Back to the Favorites Re-Read-A-Thon

Banner designed Jessica @ Lovin Los Libros

What?

A RE-read-a-thon hosted by Chelsea @ Starbucks and Books Obession and Trish @ Between My Lines

Why?

Are you thinking “ain’t nobody got time to re-read books”. We know how you feel! Myself and Trish found ourselves wanting to re-read books but rarely finding the time to make it happen. So we are setting up a re-read-a-thon in April to challenge ourselves to haul out some old favorites and to rediscover the magic of re-reading.

And the more the merrier! We’d love as many people as possible to join in so we can all encourage each other on. There are no rules, you can read as many or as few books as you want. All we ask is that you link your posts back to us and let us know how you are getting on!

What’s on the Agenda

- There will be daily prompts and link ups in relation to rereading that you can do a blog -post about

- Competitions!

- A twitter party 

- Share the love by reviewing the books you re-read or any other way of spot-lighting them 

that you choose

Where?

On your blogs, twitter and anywhere else you want to share your progress! 

When

From April 10th, 2014 through April 14, 2014

Sign up in the linky below!

Release Day Launch & Giveaway: Four Years Later by Monica Murphy

We're so excited that Monica Murphy's FOUR YEARS LATER is finally here! FOUR YEARS LATER is a New Adult contemporary romance and is the final book in the Drew+Fable Series! Check out the excerpt below, then enter to win the fabulous prizes she has for you!

New Adult bestselling author Monica Murphy winds up her sensational series with this sexy story of two college kids with nothing in common but a bunch of baggage and a burning attraction.

Over. That about sums up everything in my life. Suspended from my college football team and forced to cut back my hours at The District bar because of my crappy grades, I can’t keep turning to my sister, Fable, and her pro-football playing husband, Drew, to bail me out. I just can’t seem to find my own way. Weed and sex are irresistible temptations—and it’s messed up that I secretly hand over money to our junkie mom. A tutor is the last thing I want right now—until I get a look at her.

 Chelsea is not my type at all. She’s smart and totally shy. I’m pretty sure she’s even a virgin. But when she gives me the once over with those piercing blue eyes, I’m really over. But in a different way. I won’t deny her ass is killer, but it’s her brain and the way she seems to crave love—like no one’s ever given her any—that make me want her more than any girl I’ve ever met. But what would someone as seemingly together as her ever see in a screwed up guy like me?

     

  ~EXCERPT~ 

“Anything else?” I ask them minutes later as I drop the check on their table. Owen slaps his hand against the piece of paper and drags it toward him. “I think that’s it.” “Great.” I smile but it feels brittle. “I can be your cashier or you can pay at the register.” “Hey, what else can you be for us, huh?” one of Owen’s friends ask, making the other one laugh. My cheeks are hot again and my mouth is open. I’m gaping at them like a dying fish and thankfully Owen rushes to my defense. “Shut the hell up, Des.” He glances up at me, all traces of the buzzed foolish boy who first walked in here gone. “He’s drunk. He doesn’t know what he’s saying.” “I know exactly what I’m saying,” drunken Des mumbles, clamping his lips shut when Owen shoots him a deathly stare. “It’s all right,” I say, backing away from them slowly. “Take your time.” I turn to flee from their table when I hear someone slide out of the booth, strong fingers curling around my upper arm and stopping me from leaving. He’s standing directly behind me, the warmth from his body seeping into mine and I go completely still. Willing myself not to react, not to say something stupid and embarrass myself. Look what he’s doing to me just by touching my arm. This sort of thing doesn’t happen to me. I don’t care about boys. I’ve been kissed a measly three times in my life, once by Cody Curtis the tongue thruster and he definitely doesn’t count. So twice. Twice I’ve been kissed and I’m a virgin. A freaking virgin. Owen Maguire has player written all over him. I’m nothing to him. So why is he touching me? Talking to me in that husky low murmur of his that slides over me like slow, warm honey? “…need to talk to you. About this tutoring thing,” he’s saying and I wrench myself out of his grip, irritated that I didn’t pay attention to what he said at first. “Just meet me Monday afternoon as scheduled and we should be good to go.” I turn to face him, a fake smile plastered to my face and he stares at my lips for a long, breath stealing second before he finally lifts those too pretty green eyes up to meet mine. My lips are tingling like he actually kissed them. God. “I don’t even know your name,” he murmurs. 

  Buy Links:

AMAZON US | BARNES AND NOBLE

   

ABOUT MONICA MURPHY: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.  
LINKS:                                                          

Website: http://www.monicamurphyauthor.com/# 

Blog: http://missmonicamurphy.blogspot.com/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsMonicaMurphy 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MonicaMurphyauthor 

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5934418.Monica_Murphy  

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Monica-Murphy/e/B00AVPYIGG

FOUR YEARS LATER Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17978533-four-years-later?ac=1

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Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: On The Rocks by Sawyer Bennett

On The Rocks

Last Call #1

Author: Sawyer Bennett

Publisher: Big Dog Books LLC

Publication Date: February 17, 2014

Genre: New Adult

Source: eARC via ATOMR Tours

~Synopsis~

He left to travel the world for fame and glory, but only after spurning Gabby Ward and crushing her young heart. Now Hunter Markham has come back home to the sand and salty breeze of the North Carolina Outer Banks so he can open up Last Call, a beach bar nestled among the dunes of the Atlantic. 

Gabby Ward is not happy that Hunter has returned. Bitter over his rebuff years before, she’s content to stay far away from him and his dangerously charming ways. 

Gabby’s well-schemed plans to ignore Hunter go up in flames when he presents an offer to her that she simply can’t refuse, throwing them together in a common quest to each reach their goals. Working together day in and day out proves to be problematic for Gabby, who soon realizes that the feelings she had for him are still very much alive. Hunter struggles to reach through to Gabby’s cold heart, all while starting a new career away from his life as a top ranked, professional surfer.

What starts out as a mutual business arrangement soon turns into a passion that neither of them can continue to deny. 

Hard choices lay ahead for both of them when Hunter is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to return to the pro surfing tour.

Choices that could destroy what they have built or take them further than they ever had dared to hope.

~Review~

I have a lot of Sawyer Bennett’s books but with my hectic schedule, I haven’t been able to read any yet so On the Rocks was my first and I absolutely adored it. It was such a great read and I really liked the writing, the characters and the plot.

Gabby has loved Hunter for as long as she can remember but when he breaks her heart on her high school graduation night, she vows to hate him forever. However, five years later she has to work side by side with Hunter and all those feelings come back. Hunter liked that kiss with Gabby but he was freaked out and did the only thing he could think of at the time; deny. Now that they are working together, he is determined to break down her defenses and claim her as his.

I loved the interaction between Gabby and Hunter. You could tell their was chemistry there from the beginning and as much as Gabby wanted to pretend that she didn’t have feelings for Hunter, it was totally obvious. I liked Gabby. She was a strong woman and not afraid to speak her mind. She’s a woman trying to make it in a man’s business and I give her props for that. However, sometimes she frustrated me to no end with her denial about her feelings for Hunter. I was so happy when she finally just let go and stopped kidding herself.

Hunter was definitely a straightforward guy and I loved that about him. He wanted Gabby, he went after Gabby and he had no issues with letting her know how he felt. I really liked the way he supported his brother, Brody too. He is a total family guy and that was so sweet. He retired from his surfing career to come home and help acclimate his brother who just got out of prison. That shows true loyalty. I also liked the way Hunter handled the tough situations he and Gabby dealt with. He had no doubts about his feelings and he wasn’t going to let her go. She loved him and tried to push him away so he’d take his second opportunity at surfing. Hunter wasn’t having it and I loved him for that.

The passion between these two lit up the pages. It was hot and steamy but also sweet and tender. I could tell Hunter was in it for more than just a good time from the beginning and even though Gabby tried to deny it, so was she. I was hooked to this book from the beginning and enjoyed every minute. Sawyer has an excellent writing style that really draws you in and then she builds characters that are developed so well, you can’t help but become invested. I can’t wait for Brody’s story!

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would 

like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

The Sunday Post: Issue #34~ The One with All the Brazens

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

I recently celebrated my 28th birthday and recieved $100 in Amazon Gift Cards (Thank you to my girls Dani, Jess, CeCe, Wendy, Tonya and Trish for the gifts!) Since I have a fully loaded GC on my account and Entangled had a bunch of their Brazens on sale for $.99, I loaded up!

February 25, 2014-- Release Day Launch: White Hot Kiss by Jennifer Armentrout

Blog Tour Review: Worth the Chance by Vi Keeland

February 26, 2014-- Cover Reveal: Night After Night by Lauren Blakely

Excerpt Reveal: Unconditional by Melody Grace

February 27, 2014-- Release Day Launch: Hazards of a One Night Stand by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Swoon Thursday: Four Years Later by Monica Murphy

February 28, 2014-- Blog Tour Review: Four Years Later by Monica Murphy

March 1, 2014-- Chelsea & Jessica Get Brazen! Game for Marriage by Karen Erickson

March 2, 2014-- The Sunday Post: Issue #34

ARC Review: Girl in Love by Caisey Quinn

Books I received for Review/Blog Tours

 Thanks to the authors, T.A. Foster and Melody Grace, as well as Inkslinger PR for Kissing Eden and Unconditional.

 Thanks to Ann Brashares, Random House and NetGalley for The Here and Now.

Books I Bought This Week

 

 

 

 

March 3, 2014-- Blog Tour Review: On The Rocks by Sawyer Bennett

March 4, 2014-- Release Day Launch: Four Years Later by Monica Murphy

Release Day Launch: Feel the Rush by Kelsie Leverich

March 5, 2014-- ARC Review: Sweet Little Thing by Renee Carlino

March 6, 2014-- Swoon Thursday

ARC Review: The Hazards of A One Night Stand by Alyssa Rose Ivy

March 7, 2014-- Chelsea & Jessica Get Brazen! Down for the Count by Christine Bell

March 9, 2014-- The Sunday Post: Issue #35

There is a good chance this will change next week because I am crazy like that but as of now this is what I plan.

Chelsea & Jessica Get Brazen! Game for Marriage by Karen Erickson

Hey fellow Brazen lovers! It’s that time again and this week we’re getting Brazen with Karen Erickson’s Game For Marriage! This time we’re showing the love for Jared Quinn, a sexy QB whose image is in need of repair. What better way to show you’ve settled down than by getting hitched?!

He’s going in deep to make her his…

Struggling artist Sheridan Harper never imagined she’d spend a sizzling night with Jared Quinn, the smoking-hot star quarterback of her local professional football team, the San Jose Hawks. And she’s even more shocked when Jared’s publicist offers her a proposition: a fake marriage to keep Jared out of the gossip mags. Being that close to Jared would be too tempting, so to protect her heart, she insists on secretly including a clause forbidding sex between them.

Jared just wants to keep his starting QB job and keep it in San Jose. His reputation as a ladies’ man has landed him in the headlines one too many times, but there’s something about his kind, passionate new wife that tempts him beyond reason. Any sort of intimacy between them is completely forbidden, but as their bodies fall in deep, will their hearts follow suit?

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If a sexy football player comes up to you and asks you to be his pretend wife and offers you money to do it what would your response be?\

Jessica: HELL FREAKING YES! I mean, ah, I’d think about it very carefully.

Chelsea: I’d like to say “No, that would be morally wrong.” However, who are we kidding? You know I would be on that and not for the money… for the sexy football player!\

If you had already had mind-blowing sex with above sexy football player would your decision change?

Jessica: ……………………………………… Really? Is this even a question? Chelsea. Tell our question maker to stop being ridiculous.

Chelsea: Question maker, stop being ridiculous ;-) I’m pretty sure the mind blowing sex would firm up my decision.

What was your favorite moment in this book?

Jessica: Definitely the jumbotron one. It was sweet and I just loved what was said!

Chelsea: Oh, that was such a great scene. My favorite was probably the hotel room after the football game in Miami. I loved the sensual they were with each other.

Nick, Jared’s best friend and teammate, is chasing Willow, Sheridan’s best friend, pretty hardcore. Do you like making a guy chase you a bit or would you rather shoot it straight?

Jessica: Ooh boy. I love being chased. I know it’s sort of childish, but I just do. I’ve always been a runner when it comes to starting new relationships. I think I just freak out and don’t know how to handle it. So I usually make the guy chase after me.

Chelsea: I’m with you Jess. I am more of a be chased than do the chasing kind of girl. I like when a guy goes for what he wants and it’s even better when it’s me. Well most of the time, lol.

Becoming a famous QB’s wife will definitely put you in the spotlight and earn a lot of unwanted attention from paparazzi. Is that something you could deal with?

Jessica: I think I could. But, I would probably hate it, always being photographed, having the whole world judging and watching me. I am who I am and I don’t know that I would do a good job of reigning it in just to make a good impression though.

Chelsea: I agree. I think I could do it but I would hate always having to be self-conscious and careful about what I do or say.

Men are either ass or boob guys. Women tend to notice other features. What is your favorite feature on a man?

Jessica: Sexy Biceps. I love a guy with a good strong set of arms!

Chelsea: Arms are always nice! I’m gonna have to be honest and say hair. I love a guy with a good head of hair.

I absolutely adored Game for Marriage. If you know me, then you know I’m a fan of plots with fake relationships and I loved this one. What woman wouldn’t want to marry a sexy hot pro football player? The hardest part for these two is the fact that they have such passion and chemistry but the whole relationship starts out being fake.

Sheridan and Jared are immediately attracted to one another and it is obvious from the start that something is there. Jared finds her beautiful and an incredible artist. She’s also really down to earth, giving and real. She’s definitely not like any other girl he’s been with. Likewise, Sheridan KNOWS a night with Jared would be incredible and earth shattering and she’s willing to give it a shot. What starts as one night, turns into a fake marriage that turns into true love.

I really liked Sheridan and Jared together. He is a confident man and I liked that Sheridan could be sassy and sarcastic with him. She wasn’t afraid to tell Jared how she felt or what she was thinking. I also liked how normal she stayed while being a pro quarterback’s wife. Even though it was fake, she had access to his money and his fame but she never exploited it. This is exactly why Jared fell for her and she was exactly what he needed in his life.

Jared is definitely sex incarnate and he and Sheridan have some incredible passion in the bedroom. He is not someone you can only have one night with. I like the way he tries to work Sheridan up but he also respects her and would never do anything to hurt her. He loves football and it has been his whole life. He is plagued with a shoulder injury and worried about being replaced by a younger guy. When Sheridan’s watching him, he’s motivated like he never realized he could be with a woman. Spending time with her has shown him what he’s been missing.

Overall, I absolutely loved this Brazen. It was light, sweet and quick to read. It had a fun plot that was easy to follow and flowed really well. I loved Sheridan and Jared and the development of their characters. I also really liked Willow and Nick and I can’t wait to read their story in Game for Trouble.

Game for Marriage is a light, fun, sexy read and I didn't want to put it down! I am also a huge fan of the fake relationship trope in romances and I love watching the couple fight their attraction and feelings for one another.

 

I liked both Jared and Sheridan instantly. They have an instant attraction to one another and decide to act on it. While Sheridan writes it off as a one night stand, Jared has other ideas in mind. Because of an incident with an ex-teammate's wife, Jared is required to clean up his playboy image. Naturally, the best way to do that is to have him settle down and become a married man- or so his agent thinks. Jared loves playing football and he doesn't want to be anywhere but San Jose. He agrees to finding a fake wife and after his one night with Sheridan, knows she's the one he wants.

 

The fact that Sheridan hesitates is CRAZY to me! Ok, maybe not crazy, but still. If I had hot sex with an even hotter guy who just so happens to be an incredibly well known talented football player, I would totally jump on that train. I think it really bothers Sheridan that Jared and his agent are offering her money to do this. Yet, they have done their research on her and know she needs the funds to keep her grandmother's art studio open. Sheridan has already had a taste of Jared Quinn and knows he has the power to destroy her. To protect herself and her heart, she has her lawyer put a no sex clause in the contract. While Jared is surprised at this, that certainly doesn't deter him from getting under Sheridan's skin.

 

I loved watching the tension between these two build up. Sheridan is fighting an inner battle of wills, as Jared is undeniably sexy and quite seductive. His promises of what he can do to her and for her make her come dangerously close to losing control. However, if that clause is violated, the contract would be null and void. These two definitely test their own limits and pull back right as things are getting good, letting doubts and fears plague their minds. I definitely get it with Jared's profession. There are so many people who want to exploit him and would use him to achieve their own endgame. Once these two are able to push aside their doubts and truly embrace their fake marriage, sparks literally fly. Jared is a much happier person and the people around him really take note of this. Sheridan also shines and is basking in that post-Jared glow. Once they both realize they are falling for one another, will they be able to turn their marriage into a real one or will they let outside influences and factors make them doubt what they thought was real?

 

I really liked Willow and Nick, Sheridan and Jared's best friends and I can't wait to read their story Game For Trouble! These two definitely have serious chemistry as well, but something is holding Willow back from letting her and Nick explore that chemistry together.

 

If you are in the mood for a quick, steamy read I would definitely recommend this one. I love Karen's writing style and she certainly knows how to write some delicious scenes! 

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That’s all folks! Join us next week as we read Down For the Count by Christine Bell!