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tales_of_a_bookbug's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book of Staci Hart's that I am reading.The first was Wasted Words, which was a cute and heartwarming read.Tonic was quite different from it.First let me just say I appreciate the cover!It's really cute to look at and I think it captures the essence of the main characters perfectly.
Joel owns a tattoo shop named Tonic with his brother Shep.Upon Shep's insistence Joel agrees to star in a reality show that will feature the shop.One of the producers is Annika Belousov who is cold and an ice queen.She intrigues him and he wants to get under walls(and into her pants as well ;) )But Annika doesn't want anyhting to do with him despite the attraction between them.
They are complete opposites.Annika - the focused and independent woman who is seen as cold on the outside, but secretly has a heart full of love who is close with her family.Joel- the hot,hairy,tattoed guy who lives to experience and get the most out of life.Soon, one thing leads to another and Joel's persistence pays off.They fall into bed and soon spend more time with each other between the sheets and out of them as well.Usually Annika keeps her professional and personal life separate.But now everything has gotten tangled up.This could very well put her job on the line.So what will she do when she has to choose between her career and her heart?
The characters were amazing and the writing was equally beautiful.The chemistry between Joel and Annika was well done.I loved the difference in their personalities and how the author brought them together.The story was written beautifully in a manner that just captures your attention.
I would definitely urge you to read this book if you're looking for a light romantic read -low on the angst but with lots of feel. :)
Joel owns a tattoo shop named Tonic with his brother Shep.Upon Shep's insistence Joel agrees to star in a reality show that will feature the shop.One of the producers is Annika Belousov who is cold and an ice queen.She intrigues him and he wants to get under walls(and into her pants as well ;) )But Annika doesn't want anyhting to do with him despite the attraction between them.
They are complete opposites.Annika - the focused and independent woman who is seen as cold on the outside, but secretly has a heart full of love who is close with her family.Joel- the hot,hairy,tattoed guy who lives to experience and get the most out of life.Soon, one thing leads to another and Joel's persistence pays off.They fall into bed and soon spend more time with each other between the sheets and out of them as well.Usually Annika keeps her professional and personal life separate.But now everything has gotten tangled up.This could very well put her job on the line.So what will she do when she has to choose between her career and her heart?
The characters were amazing and the writing was equally beautiful.The chemistry between Joel and Annika was well done.I loved the difference in their personalities and how the author brought them together.The story was written beautifully in a manner that just captures your attention.
I would definitely urge you to read this book if you're looking for a light romantic read -low on the angst but with lots of feel. :)
jdmoates23's review
4.0
3.5 stars. I feel like I'm in the minority, I didn't love this book. it was slow and not very believable. I didn't hate it but it just wasn't a favorite.
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
2.0
A book about a reality show being filmed in a tattoo shop. Never read one before. A family business that turns out to be laundering money for the Bratva. I may have read that before. A big hairy tattoo artist who was burned so badly by love that he’s never doing that again. I’ve definitely seen that.
This book sounded so good. It was billed as a rom com but it was not that at all. It is more drama than rom com.
I liked Joel and Annika. I liked the surrounding characters. The entire story was just okay for me. I’d hoped there’d be more humor and more push and pull but although there was a lot of bang, there was not much flash. I wanted banter and snark and I got about 5 pages of it.
This book sounded so good. It was billed as a rom com but it was not that at all. It is more drama than rom com.
I liked Joel and Annika. I liked the surrounding characters. The entire story was just okay for me. I’d hoped there’d be more humor and more push and pull but although there was a lot of bang, there was not much flash. I wanted banter and snark and I got about 5 pages of it.
sexyvixenreader's review
4.0
Joel and Annika, Loved this story and who doesn't love a big hairy, tattooed bear. A must read, great job to Staci.
yeriwithaj_'s review against another edition
4.0
3.5 start rating
The story was cute. It wasn't funny haha. I enjoyed it a lot.
Joel and Annika (love the name) were completely adorable.
The story was cute. It wasn't funny haha. I enjoyed it a lot.
Joel and Annika (love the name) were completely adorable.
clare_s2395's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
wandereaderr's review against another edition
5.0
“I then decided two things. One: My new mission in life was to make her laugh. Two: I’d crack her open if it was the last thing I did.”
I love Staci Hart a lot and I love that she and Kandi Steiner released their novels on the same day. I’m very proud that I get to review these two incredible books. Staci Hart is a fan of beards. She writes her men rugged, a little rough around the edges, and a little dark. And those are the best kind of men. She also writes her women incredibly strong, beautiful, and sharp. And those are my favorite kind of women.
“I expected a cold voice to match the rest of her, but it wasn’t—it was burning embers and crackling wood.”
Our protagonists, Annika and Joel, meet when Joel and his brother, Shep, make a deal with reality TV show producers to film a new reality show on Joel and Shep’s tattoo shop. The chemistry is palpable straightaway, even if Annika is trying to cover up the fact that Joel ruffles her feathers. They’re complete opposites—her light to his dark. Of course, it bugs the shit out of Annika that a guy is getting to her, when she has a reputation of being an ice queen. I love this dynamic between Joel and Annika. It creates some incredible emotional angst—is Joel just in it for the thrill of the chase? Is Annika just sick of her controlled life?
“Guys like Hairy were the kind you met at a bar or a concert, let ravage you, do all those things you wouldn’t expect from a respectable guy. Let him own you, for a moment, at least. But they’re not the kind you keep around.”
And that’s the extent of the attraction… at least that’s what Annika is trying to convince herself—that it’s “enticing because it was imagined.” I fell in love with Annika straightaway. She’s this kickass woman who gets what she wants. It kind of hurt to realize how the industry changed her. She went into the TV business thinking it was all sunshine and warmth, yet it turned her into a manipulator, a liar, cold. And I absolutely love that Joel helps her out of that.
“She was all eyes and lips and a story I wanted to know. I needed to know.”
I fell in love with Joel, as well. I have a thing for beards, okay? And guys who can sweet talk the living fuck out of you. Whew, he is sexy. And again, the allure of changing a man is what sets off this insane attraction. He’s a player. Yet, Annika gets to him on a molecular level and it’s incredibly fascinating to watch.
“Three steps and I was in his arms. Two heartbeats and I looked into his eyes. One breath and I kissed him.”
Tonic is a romantic, sexy, and all-around magical novel. Staci Hart has done it again and made me fall hopelessly and irrevocably in love. #SteinHarts forever!
Happy Reading!
Love,
The Wandereader
kandisteiner's review
5.0
I've said it before and I'll say it again - Staci Hart is the queen of romantic comedy, and it doesn't look like she's stepping down from that throne anytime soon. Tonic is romantic comedy gold. No, PLATINUM. Staci Hart will tattoo her phenomenal words on your heart forever.
I don't even know where to begin. Truly, I don't. Because I had the immense pleasure of being able to watch this book be born from one word to more than 90,000 and every single one is so well-crafted, it's almost sick.
Joel isn't just a book boyfriend - he's a book HERO. Literally. He's caring, protective, alpha as HELL and sexier than melted chocolate on a set of rock hard abs. He'll make you laugh, swoon, and fan yourself - sometimes all at once. His passion for his shop is admirable, his love for his friends and family unparalleled, and his moves in bed? Well, I'll let you try to think of a word for that. ;)
But honestly? It wasn't Joel who stole this show for me.
It was Annika.
Too often, I think we see the heroines get beat up by readers. We judge them harsher than the hero, every single time. Why? I'm not sure, but I DO know that Annika is my favorite heroine in any book I've read in 2016. She's strong, independent, knows what she wants and how to get it. On top of that, she's honest with herself and others. She gets herself into trouble, sure, and she can be frustrating - but THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HER! Helloooooo Lord KNOWS I am a frustrating woman. We all are. There IS no perfect woman, so why do we demand that from our heroines? Her family story was what took this book from gold to platinum. It literally made my heart soar reading her speaking with her family in Russian, especially her dad! SIGH.
And can we just talk about the metaphors? The bear?! DEAD.
I could go on and on, but really what I want you all to take from this review is this: I am one lucky SOB to be sharing a release day with someone as fantastically talented as Staci Hart. And you MUST read this book.
Romantic and hilarious with scenes that absolutely sizzle, Tonic is hands down Staci Hart’s best work yet. Prepare for heart-racing magic!
I don't even know where to begin. Truly, I don't. Because I had the immense pleasure of being able to watch this book be born from one word to more than 90,000 and every single one is so well-crafted, it's almost sick.
Joel isn't just a book boyfriend - he's a book HERO. Literally. He's caring, protective, alpha as HELL and sexier than melted chocolate on a set of rock hard abs. He'll make you laugh, swoon, and fan yourself - sometimes all at once. His passion for his shop is admirable, his love for his friends and family unparalleled, and his moves in bed? Well, I'll let you try to think of a word for that. ;)
But honestly? It wasn't Joel who stole this show for me.
It was Annika.
Too often, I think we see the heroines get beat up by readers. We judge them harsher than the hero, every single time. Why? I'm not sure, but I DO know that Annika is my favorite heroine in any book I've read in 2016. She's strong, independent, knows what she wants and how to get it. On top of that, she's honest with herself and others. She gets herself into trouble, sure, and she can be frustrating - but THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HER! Helloooooo Lord KNOWS I am a frustrating woman. We all are. There IS no perfect woman, so why do we demand that from our heroines? Her family story was what took this book from gold to platinum. It literally made my heart soar reading her speaking with her family in Russian, especially her dad! SIGH.
And can we just talk about the metaphors? The bear?! DEAD.
I could go on and on, but really what I want you all to take from this review is this: I am one lucky SOB to be sharing a release day with someone as fantastically talented as Staci Hart. And you MUST read this book.
Romantic and hilarious with scenes that absolutely sizzle, Tonic is hands down Staci Hart’s best work yet. Prepare for heart-racing magic!
alexandriarosee_'s review
3.0
I love the way Staci weaves characters (and bars) from her other books into this story. It was also pretty great to see a little bit behind the scenes of filming a TV show. It just wasn't quite as good as some of her other books. I feel like the conflict that drives them apart wasn't nearly as strong as the rest of the plot. Would be a really great, light, beach read though.