Who doesn’t love a bad boy with a gooey, marshmallow heart? While I often struggle with manwhore heroes, there really is nothing quite like a bad boy who falls for the right girl. I love seeing a hero grapple with feelings he’s unaccustomed to, trying to figure out how his life seemed to change in the blink of an eye – and that’s exactly what happens with this one. It drifted between 4 and 5 stars for me the entire time, mostly because I feel like this hero got what he wanted way too easily (more on that in a minute). But I also had zero inclination to skim any pages, and I was invested in the story from start to finish. Any issues I have with this are pretty minor, so it was easy to get caught up in the romance.
The story follows Fiona, a woman who is tired of wasting her time on guys who can’t commit. She’s dated several over the last year who seem like they’re in it for the long haul, only to leave after they’ve slept together. So Fiona has decided to take the dating process into her own hands, and writes up a contract for herself – the next time she kisses a guy, she’ll be certain of his commitment. But when shameless playboy Max comes striding into her life, all of Fiona’s plans go out the window. They’ve got instant, blazing chemistry, and that’s super inconvenient, given Fiona’s contract and Max’s aversion to relationships. As the two spend more time together, they realize just how well they fit – and that they need to figure out what to do about that.
I’ve been meaning to try this author’s work, and this was a great place to start. Her writing is interesting, the characters are complex, the steamy scenes are smoking, it remains light yet emotional, and while it’s longer than I would’ve liked, there were never any moments when it dragged too much. I was unaware that this was connected to another of the author’s books, Strictly Professional, but it reads just fine as a standalone. And, honestly, I don’t actually think I would’ve liked that book – this one has some dirty steam, but it does not have anything that I would consider BDSM. My only real issue with the steam in this pertains to the frequent reminders of Max’s (very recent) past, and the fact that he was sleeping around like a week before falling for Fiona. There’s no OW drama, but I needed Max to work harder for his girl – it felt like Fiona compromised a LOT more than Max, all the way through. Ultimately, the good greatly outweighs the bad in this, so I’m choosing to round up my rating. I would not hesitate to read more from the author, and liked this a lot. I received an early copy via Enticing Journey and am voluntarily leaving a review of this steamy romance.
Blurb:
He’s the best bad decision she’ll ever make….
Type A attorney Fiona Quinn has one goal left to accomplish before turning 30: A big, fairy-tale wedding. All she needs is a groom. So what if she’s never been in love—or even lust—before? She’s confident she can solve the problem the way she always does, with spreadsheets and an action plan.
When a family emergency brings Max “Bad Boy” Devlin swaggering back into town—with his cocky grin, tattoos, and wanderlust—Fiona has to remind herself that he’s as unsuitable as it gets. Nope. Not happening. No matter how irresistible his invitation is for a night or seven between the sheets. If she can’t tie him down—metaphorically, of course— her pants must stay on.
Max can’t remember the last time a woman turned him down. He’s a guaranteed three-orgasms good time, dammit. So what if he’s not the marrying kind? Those sweaty palms he gets when Fiona agrees to help him save his dad’s punk rock club are just an allergic reaction to her methodical march toward matrimony. Before he hits the road again, he’s going prove to Fiona that life’s more fun when you play, rather than plan.
No one gets hurt when it’s all just fun and games, right?
Author’s Note: A steamy, opposites attract standalone romance featuring a cocky bad boy (with a heart of gold) and a buttoned-up good girl (with a secret wild side). 1-click if you’re into dirty dancing, swoony first kisses from bad boys on motorcycles and hot trysts in supply closets. This book comes with a guaranteed (and very romantic) Happily Ever After.
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3bm0ehh
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2L61cU9
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/397g10D
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2Lrs6pa
Spotify Playlist: http://bit.ly/MaxAndFiona
About the Author:
Kathryn Nolan is an adventurous hippie chick and loves to write steamy romance. Her books are filled with slow-burn sexual tension, memorable characters, tons of heart — and are often set in wild and beautiful locations.
Kathryn started her writing career in elementary school, writing about Star Wars and Harry Potter and inventing love stories in her many journals. She blames her obsession with slow-burn on her similar obsession for The X-Files.
Kathryn is a wanderer at heart, and loves to spend her free time hiking, camping, and traveling in her camper van (“Van Morrison”) with her cute, nerdy husband and Walter, their rescue pup. Kathryn is a Philly girl who just moved back home after spending more than 8 years living in Northern California — and six months traveling across the country in her camper van.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.authorkathrynnolan.com
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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15806970.Kathryn_Nolan
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