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heavenlyi's review against another edition
4.0
I’m a big fan of Staci Hart so I was excited to dive into this one. It definitely did not disappoint! There were so many different layers to this story that just grabbed me. There was a bit of the forbidden, some love/hate angst, and drama that all came together to delightfully entertain.
Joel is the owner of Tonic, a tattoo parlor he operates with his brother. He is a sexy, bearded, tattooed man that had me swooning. Reluctantly, he agrees to be a part of a new reality show featuring his shop. The minute he sees his new producer, Annika, he can’t help trying to get a reaction out of her. Immediately, sparks fly, and both are left reeling from the encounter.
“She was a woman with two sides, behind a wall of determination.”
Annika is an ice princess. She puts up a mask to the world, and keeps her true self hidden away from all but her family. She has to be tough in an industry that requires her to be ruthless. She manipulates and schemes all in the name of ratings and drama. She doesn’t have time for emotions or hairy men who drive her up the wall.
“Joel and I made no sense. He was charming and annoying and bossy and hairy and all wrong. He was everything I wasn’t.”
The interactions between these two are delightful. Joel pushes and Annika pushes right back. They are opposites in every sense, but it was only a matter of time before they gave in to their attraction. I loved Joel’s determination to win her over. He is a genuinely nice guy, who is loyal to his employees and protective over those he cares for. Annika is not as likeable in the beginning, but her walls begin to crumble the more time she spends with Joel. I love her independence and the relationship she has with her family where she can be the genuine, caring person she actually is.
“I wondered fleetingly if we would ruin each other. If my fire would melt her ice until it evaporated. If her fire would snuff my fire out of existence.”
I enjoyed the premise greatly and thought the reality show aspect was a wonderful backdrop. It added just enough drama and conflict to make things interesting. Annika’s Russian heritage was also another fascinating layer that added depth to her character. Sexy, heart-warming, and emotionally charged, this was an enjoyable read from start to finish.
Joel is the owner of Tonic, a tattoo parlor he operates with his brother. He is a sexy, bearded, tattooed man that had me swooning. Reluctantly, he agrees to be a part of a new reality show featuring his shop. The minute he sees his new producer, Annika, he can’t help trying to get a reaction out of her. Immediately, sparks fly, and both are left reeling from the encounter.
“She was a woman with two sides, behind a wall of determination.”
Annika is an ice princess. She puts up a mask to the world, and keeps her true self hidden away from all but her family. She has to be tough in an industry that requires her to be ruthless. She manipulates and schemes all in the name of ratings and drama. She doesn’t have time for emotions or hairy men who drive her up the wall.
“Joel and I made no sense. He was charming and annoying and bossy and hairy and all wrong. He was everything I wasn’t.”
The interactions between these two are delightful. Joel pushes and Annika pushes right back. They are opposites in every sense, but it was only a matter of time before they gave in to their attraction. I loved Joel’s determination to win her over. He is a genuinely nice guy, who is loyal to his employees and protective over those he cares for. Annika is not as likeable in the beginning, but her walls begin to crumble the more time she spends with Joel. I love her independence and the relationship she has with her family where she can be the genuine, caring person she actually is.
“I wondered fleetingly if we would ruin each other. If my fire would melt her ice until it evaporated. If her fire would snuff my fire out of existence.”
I enjoyed the premise greatly and thought the reality show aspect was a wonderful backdrop. It added just enough drama and conflict to make things interesting. Annika’s Russian heritage was also another fascinating layer that added depth to her character. Sexy, heart-warming, and emotionally charged, this was an enjoyable read from start to finish.
linaru's review
5.0
Copy gifted by the author.
Oh wow! Now I understand why people who read the book quicker than me were so hyper about it. The next thing I thought was: why haven't I discovered Staci before? How did I not read any of her books?
The story is seriously amazing. Detailed, with no loose ends and perfect in every possible way. Characters are developed so well that you feel like you know them. You are part of their life. Part of the world Staci's has created. Which is simply AMAZING.
The heroine - I have to admit it does take time to connect with her but once you do you just simply love her. Him. God. You love HIM straight away. Handsome, tattooed, broody type. MY TYPE.
Joel and Annika are the perfect mix. He sweet, caring, alpha protective and she stubborn, strong. The sparks between them were off the charts and I loved it.
I will make sure not to miss any books by this amazing author ever again.
5 Heavenly stars.
Oh wow! Now I understand why people who read the book quicker than me were so hyper about it. The next thing I thought was: why haven't I discovered Staci before? How did I not read any of her books?
The story is seriously amazing. Detailed, with no loose ends and perfect in every possible way. Characters are developed so well that you feel like you know them. You are part of their life. Part of the world Staci's has created. Which is simply AMAZING.
The heroine - I have to admit it does take time to connect with her but once you do you just simply love her. Him. God. You love HIM straight away. Handsome, tattooed, broody type. MY TYPE.
Joel and Annika are the perfect mix. He sweet, caring, alpha protective and she stubborn, strong. The sparks between them were off the charts and I loved it.
I will make sure not to miss any books by this amazing author ever again.
5 Heavenly stars.
beckyrendon's review against another edition
4.0
Cue the giggling squeals
Places people
Pan the camera to the fawning audience/clientele inside the shop
And ACTION!!
[said with a voice of silken, sex over a low growling]
Tonic- a hotbed of tattooed yumminess. With both sexes represented for sampling, anyone and everyone will enjoy the viewing with pleasure. There's plenty of drama if you search, but this secure family holds its own in their little bubble of New York.
[voice over ends and pan the front of Tonic]
Joel Anderson, oldest brother and owner, along side his brother Shep. Tragedy, love, and loss...parts of life- see where they fit into the Andersons' lives.
Ok, so maybe I won't be an executive producer for the show. Perhaps Ms. Hart will let me be a measly PA. I can get coffee. Well now that we've crushed my dreams, I should probably explain my random weirdness. Yeah, never mind, I can't explain and you don't have that kind of time.
So...
Joel is against this from the get go. He DOES NOT want his life being manipulated, twisted, and aired for all the world. It seems he's in the minority and allows his brother and friends to sway him.
He never could have prepared himself for her...Annika. The executive producer who seems to spark more than desire in the easy going, tattooed, bearded man. Everything about her has him on edge.
She lives for her job and her family. That's it. She won't risk either, especially not on some hairy, f@cking beast. Nope, not her. Not at all. That's ridiculous!
But we all know what saying NEVER is...it's a challenge. Will they live up to it or tear it apart? Can they be more with work getting in the way?
I loved this book. True to Staci's brilliant writing, she had me crying. The feels, the intense longing ( sorry, had to pause to shiver) it gets you in the center of your being. It's a fun story. The back and forth push and pull is very entertaining. Hot hands moving everywhere, caressing skin, ready to...Mark it! What were you thinking, it's a book about a tattoo parlor- honestly, your dirty mind is distracting.
Ok, well, not just your mind...some very naughty things happen in a very good way. But you would need to one click before you hear about any of that!
reviewed for The Sweet Spot Sisterhood
Places people
Pan the camera to the fawning audience/clientele inside the shop
And ACTION!!
[said with a voice of silken, sex over a low growling]
Tonic- a hotbed of tattooed yumminess. With both sexes represented for sampling, anyone and everyone will enjoy the viewing with pleasure. There's plenty of drama if you search, but this secure family holds its own in their little bubble of New York.
[voice over ends and pan the front of Tonic]
Joel Anderson, oldest brother and owner, along side his brother Shep. Tragedy, love, and loss...parts of life- see where they fit into the Andersons' lives.
Ok, so maybe I won't be an executive producer for the show. Perhaps Ms. Hart will let me be a measly PA. I can get coffee. Well now that we've crushed my dreams, I should probably explain my random weirdness. Yeah, never mind, I can't explain and you don't have that kind of time.
So...
Joel is against this from the get go. He DOES NOT want his life being manipulated, twisted, and aired for all the world. It seems he's in the minority and allows his brother and friends to sway him.
He never could have prepared himself for her...Annika. The executive producer who seems to spark more than desire in the easy going, tattooed, bearded man. Everything about her has him on edge.
She lives for her job and her family. That's it. She won't risk either, especially not on some hairy, f@cking beast. Nope, not her. Not at all. That's ridiculous!
But we all know what saying NEVER is...it's a challenge. Will they live up to it or tear it apart? Can they be more with work getting in the way?
I loved this book. True to Staci's brilliant writing, she had me crying. The feels, the intense longing ( sorry, had to pause to shiver) it gets you in the center of your being. It's a fun story. The back and forth push and pull is very entertaining. Hot hands moving everywhere, caressing skin, ready to...Mark it! What were you thinking, it's a book about a tattoo parlor- honestly, your dirty mind is distracting.
Ok, well, not just your mind...some very naughty things happen in a very good way. But you would need to one click before you hear about any of that!
reviewed for The Sweet Spot Sisterhood
ivana_kroeger's review
2.0
Surpreendeu! Esse foi o primeiro livro da Staci Hart que li e não será o último.
Quando li a sinopse, confesso que fiquei meio receosa. Não sou fã de enredos que envolvem reality shows, 99,9% das vezes os autores erram a mão no drama e nos clichês. Por sorte, a Staci Hart soube dosar bem o humor, drama e romance, tornando a leitura gostosa e leve. Uma das coisas que mais gostei no livro foi como a autora soube incluir elementos da cultura russa de forma natural, além disso, a família toda da Annika, em especial o pai e a sobrinha, deram um toque a mais à narrativa.
Só não foi uma leitura 5 estrelas pois da metade do livro até os 70%, ela acaba arrastado um pouco a história e ainda temos alguns clichês espalhados ao longo do livro que poderiam ter dado lugar para mais cenas de crescimento pessoal das personagens. No geral, o livro é ótimo para quem está atrás de um romance sexy com toques de humor.
Quando li a sinopse, confesso que fiquei meio receosa. Não sou fã de enredos que envolvem reality shows, 99,9% das vezes os autores erram a mão no drama e nos clichês. Por sorte, a Staci Hart soube dosar bem o humor, drama e romance, tornando a leitura gostosa e leve. Uma das coisas que mais gostei no livro foi como a autora soube incluir elementos da cultura russa de forma natural, além disso, a família toda da Annika, em especial o pai e a sobrinha, deram um toque a mais à narrativa.
Só não foi uma leitura 5 estrelas pois da metade do livro até os 70%, ela acaba arrastado um pouco a história e ainda temos alguns clichês espalhados ao longo do livro que poderiam ter dado lugar para mais cenas de crescimento pessoal das personagens. No geral, o livro é ótimo para quem está atrás de um romance sexy com toques de humor.
jackiemcee's review against another edition
3.0
Too much inner monologue. I couldn't even fathom the deepness of the hero & heroine's relationship with their family nor friends because their conversations were always abrupt just for the author to focus more on the inner monologue repetitively.
kate_and_books's review against another edition
My thoughts on this book are solely my own which in the grand scheme of things means jack shit. I know that I am in the minority so nuff said really.
At 52 % I just stopped reading. I had lost interest before then but there it was just real. I couldn’t continue. I love the older man/younger woman trope and this book could have been a real hit my problem? And maybe this is stupid but the whole reality TV show isn’t my thing. I know that everything is overdramatised but it still didn’t make it any better. These are real people with lives and all the problems that they have. Yes they signed up for it but it still didn’t sit right with me. I also knew that this book was going to take a direction I wouldn’t have been happy with.
Based solely on what I’ve read so far I’ll write a review.
Joel has owned a tattoo parlour since he has been 19 years old. His parents died and he then took in and looked after his younger brother. He had a destructive relationship and then marriage and since then he hasn’t had a relationship yes he’s had women here and there but nothing more than that. That is until he meets Annika who is one of the producers of the show. Up until now he hasn’t really taken anything seriously but then again why should he.
I like Joel. He is everything you want in a Hero. Funny, sexy, and a hot hairy bastard.
Annika is the ice queen of the business. But starting the new show and meeting Joel she starts to thaw. She has become a mini version of her boss Laney and let’s face it Laney is a grade A bitch by treating people as meat puppets didn’t endear her to me. I actually wanted to throat punch her. Annika has a plan and a specific type of man she wants that isn’t Joel but they have chemistry and in the end that can’t be denied.
I’m indifferent about Annika to be honest. I couldn’t care less and I actually couldn’t see what Joel found so appealing about her. They get down and dirty and those scenes are hot.
I think as my recommendation you should give the book a try.
Book received in exchange for an honest review.
Book can be found @ http://jerisbookattic-reviewblog.blogspot.de/2016/10/tonic-by-staci-hart.html
aoibhrua's review
DNF @ 30%. strong start and then fell off a talented cliff to a pool of clichés. possible full review to come if I've time.
j_m_miller's review
5.0
I adored this sweet, steamy rom-com. Joel and Annika. The bear and the ice queen. These two--their words, their chemistry. Gah! Staci Hart never disappoints with her character development and her prose. Great read!
jen286's review
4.0
4.5 stars
I really love Staci Hart. Her books are also so great to read. They are sweet. Sweet romances. Sure they are super hot at times and make me feel the feel, but overall they are super sweet reads that I absolutely love.
Tonic was so much fun. Annika and Joel are amazing together right from the start. Joel is this guy who never takes things serious. He never seems to care much about what will happen in 10 years or anything like that. He is happy working in his shop and doing his thing. He was married, but that ended badly and he doesn't want to talk about it or think about it or anything. Really he never thought he was cut out for the happily ever after. It is just not for him.
Then Annika walks into his shop and everything changes. She intrigues him with her buttoned up, straight laced, no nonsense ways. She is kind of the exact opposite of Joel. She is driven, she knows what she wants, she knows who she wants, and someone like Joel is not it. He doens't fit her list. So what she is attracted to him. So what once she starts working with him she likes him. It would never work. How could it? She needs someone different...or so she thinks.
These two were so sweet together. I loved them. Especially Joel. How he was with her? Swoon. Seriously. At first she wants him, but doesn't so it is a bit tricky. He tries to make a move and she will rebuff him and so he will back off. I love love loved that as soon as she said wait or stop or anything indicating that she might not want his advances he immediately stopped and took a step back. At first he was being joking flirty with her, but that made her uncomfortable and as soon as she asked him to stop doing that he did. No questions asked. Just you don't like this? Sorry, won't happen again. Not that I read a lot of books where the guys are jerks or something, but the way it was written was simply amazing and a bit different from other books. I loved him so much!
Of course there are some issues along the way. Annika still has to do her job and the two of them don't really talk about the important things so much which can cause some problems. I will say I liked this inside peek into reality TV. I have no idea if this book is accurate, I've never worked in television, but it seems like this is what it would be like. The author makes you feel so much for both of these characters and it was wonderful. I also love getting a glimpse of some of the people you met in her prior books. This was a great read. If you are looking for that book to give you the warm fuzzies this is if. If you want super hot sexy time this is it. If you want to feel the feels and fall in love with some fictional characters then this is the book for you. It was a wonderful read.
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book
I really love Staci Hart. Her books are also so great to read. They are sweet. Sweet romances. Sure they are super hot at times and make me feel the feel, but overall they are super sweet reads that I absolutely love.
Tonic was so much fun. Annika and Joel are amazing together right from the start. Joel is this guy who never takes things serious. He never seems to care much about what will happen in 10 years or anything like that. He is happy working in his shop and doing his thing. He was married, but that ended badly and he doesn't want to talk about it or think about it or anything. Really he never thought he was cut out for the happily ever after. It is just not for him.
Then Annika walks into his shop and everything changes. She intrigues him with her buttoned up, straight laced, no nonsense ways. She is kind of the exact opposite of Joel. She is driven, she knows what she wants, she knows who she wants, and someone like Joel is not it. He doens't fit her list. So what she is attracted to him. So what once she starts working with him she likes him. It would never work. How could it? She needs someone different...or so she thinks.
These two were so sweet together. I loved them. Especially Joel. How he was with her? Swoon. Seriously. At first she wants him, but doesn't so it is a bit tricky. He tries to make a move and she will rebuff him and so he will back off. I love love loved that as soon as she said wait or stop or anything indicating that she might not want his advances he immediately stopped and took a step back. At first he was being joking flirty with her, but that made her uncomfortable and as soon as she asked him to stop doing that he did. No questions asked. Just you don't like this? Sorry, won't happen again. Not that I read a lot of books where the guys are jerks or something, but the way it was written was simply amazing and a bit different from other books. I loved him so much!
Of course there are some issues along the way. Annika still has to do her job and the two of them don't really talk about the important things so much which can cause some problems. I will say I liked this inside peek into reality TV. I have no idea if this book is accurate, I've never worked in television, but it seems like this is what it would be like. The author makes you feel so much for both of these characters and it was wonderful. I also love getting a glimpse of some of the people you met in her prior books. This was a great read. If you are looking for that book to give you the warm fuzzies this is if. If you want super hot sexy time this is it. If you want to feel the feels and fall in love with some fictional characters then this is the book for you. It was a wonderful read.
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book