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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars...
”I can’t be your boss. Because if what I have in mind is going to work, it’s going to have to be strictly off the clock and off the record.”
So, I’m not sure what I was expecting with this one, but what I got was a sweet, exciting, VERY hot story written by an author that I can’t wait to read more from. The characters were interesting, the storyline was appropriately fun and meaningful, and the outcome was realistic. I didn’t love every single detail ABOUT the story, but it didn’t matter because I loved the story itself.
That’s when it came back to him, in one, scrolling memory. Late nights and long conversations. Teasing glances and longing looks. He’d kissed those lips. He’d touched this woman. But only once.
Donovan and Marin meet when she is a freshman in college and he’s in grad school. Of course, he isn’t quite aware of the age difference, and Marin conveniently doesn’t volunteer that information. The sexual chemistry is off the charts in these early years, and the writing is perfection. Even though we as the reader knows they are at different stages in their careers and lives, they treat each other like equals. Yes, their dynamic is sexy, but there’s something deeper there too. Unfortunately, a tragedy happens in Marin’s life and they don’t see each other again for 9 years. This is when the bulk of the story begins- The setting being a high-cost facility outside of New Orleans, where both Donovan and Marin are employed.
”I’m doing my dissertation on female sexual arousal in response to auditory stimuli. I’m recording scripts of fantasies that we may use in the study.”
“Your study is about dirty talk?” she asked, surprised that the university was down with that. And if he was the one doing the dirty talking, where did she sign up to volunteer?
Marin Rush was very easy to love. My feminist heart loved her intelligence and professionalism, but most of all I loved how she wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable and REAL. Life had not been kind to her, but she just kept on truckin’. I also loved that she raised her younger brother, because it was a sweet, commendable reason for the fact she was a sex therapist and still kind of a square. She was this awesome mix of honest and strong, cautious yet vulnerable and open at the same time. She was even funny! She wasn’t complicated, but she was more than just a typecast virginal character. I think she is probably one of my favorite heroines ever!
This was the girl he remembered. The one who had pushed every one of his buttons, gotten him to talk about things he never had, given him her virginity, and then walked off like a boss. Bold bravery wrapped in a quiet, steel-lined package.
Donovan West may have been a tougher nut to crack, but by the last page, I loved him just as much as Marin. He’s been through some shit, but he wasn’t as good as dealing with it as Marin was. Until he changed in that aspect, I didn’t think he was good enough for Marin. But once he took accountability and TRIED, I was able to love more than just his sexy dirty talk (which, for the record, was amazing).
”I’m happy to take things slow since you’re new to so much. But that doesn’t mean I don’t think about hauling you up against a wall, hiking your skirt up, and fucking you like I own you. I think about it. I think about it. All. The. Fucking. Time.”
I swear, the chemistry and the sex were their own characters in this story. I also loved the side characters, like Ysa, Lane, and the little brother. The best parts of this one, though? The descriptions of their jobs and what it entails, as well as the patients. It was SO interesting; in fact, the entire story kept my attention from beginning to end, which is quite a feat when you consider I’m currently not medicated for my ADHD due to pregnancy. It’s not even funny how many books I’ve started and not finished the last few months. So when I say I loved reading this story, it really means something these days!!
”I can’t be your boss. Because if what I have in mind is going to work, it’s going to have to be strictly off the clock and off the record.”
So, I’m not sure what I was expecting with this one, but what I got was a sweet, exciting, VERY hot story written by an author that I can’t wait to read more from. The characters were interesting, the storyline was appropriately fun and meaningful, and the outcome was realistic. I didn’t love every single detail ABOUT the story, but it didn’t matter because I loved the story itself.
That’s when it came back to him, in one, scrolling memory. Late nights and long conversations. Teasing glances and longing looks. He’d kissed those lips. He’d touched this woman. But only once.
Donovan and Marin meet when she is a freshman in college and he’s in grad school. Of course, he isn’t quite aware of the age difference, and Marin conveniently doesn’t volunteer that information. The sexual chemistry is off the charts in these early years, and the writing is perfection. Even though we as the reader knows they are at different stages in their careers and lives, they treat each other like equals. Yes, their dynamic is sexy, but there’s something deeper there too. Unfortunately, a tragedy happens in Marin’s life and they don’t see each other again for 9 years. This is when the bulk of the story begins- The setting being a high-cost facility outside of New Orleans, where both Donovan and Marin are employed.
”I’m doing my dissertation on female sexual arousal in response to auditory stimuli. I’m recording scripts of fantasies that we may use in the study.”
“Your study is about dirty talk?” she asked, surprised that the university was down with that. And if he was the one doing the dirty talking, where did she sign up to volunteer?
Marin Rush was very easy to love. My feminist heart loved her intelligence and professionalism, but most of all I loved how she wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable and REAL. Life had not been kind to her, but she just kept on truckin’. I also loved that she raised her younger brother, because it was a sweet, commendable reason for the fact she was a sex therapist and still kind of a square. She was this awesome mix of honest and strong, cautious yet vulnerable and open at the same time. She was even funny! She wasn’t complicated, but she was more than just a typecast virginal character. I think she is probably one of my favorite heroines ever!
This was the girl he remembered. The one who had pushed every one of his buttons, gotten him to talk about things he never had, given him her virginity, and then walked off like a boss. Bold bravery wrapped in a quiet, steel-lined package.
Donovan West may have been a tougher nut to crack, but by the last page, I loved him just as much as Marin. He’s been through some shit, but he wasn’t as good as dealing with it as Marin was. Until he changed in that aspect, I didn’t think he was good enough for Marin. But once he took accountability and TRIED, I was able to love more than just his sexy dirty talk (which, for the record, was amazing).
”I’m happy to take things slow since you’re new to so much. But that doesn’t mean I don’t think about hauling you up against a wall, hiking your skirt up, and fucking you like I own you. I think about it. I think about it. All. The. Fucking. Time.”
I swear, the chemistry and the sex were their own characters in this story. I also loved the side characters, like Ysa, Lane, and the little brother. The best parts of this one, though? The descriptions of their jobs and what it entails, as well as the patients. It was SO interesting; in fact, the entire story kept my attention from beginning to end, which is quite a feat when you consider I’m currently not medicated for my ADHD due to pregnancy. It’s not even funny how many books I’ve started and not finished the last few months. So when I say I loved reading this story, it really means something these days!!
2.5. Explain to me why these incredibly intelligent THERAPISTS aren't in therapy, haven't worked on themselves and have just been completely unchanged in their trauma for 9 years?
That being said. The sexy parts are sexy. So I added an extra .5 for the heat
That being said. The sexy parts are sexy. So I added an extra .5 for the heat
- i think addiction weren’t handled too bad but take that with grain of salt bc im not very knowledgeable about that
- Deals with greaf, hit me harder than i thought almost too much for a smut book, wasnt in the mood for that at all
- Male scent… Tf that’s supposed to mean?
- The whole depression arcs seemed to only be there for dramatics
- What was this forced found family at the end?
- She also catches her brother doing the deed twice
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes