Review: No Romance Required - Cari Quinn

Title: No Romance Required
Series: Love Required, #3
Author: Cari Quinn
Published: August 2013, Entangled Brazen
Format; ebook received for review

Faking it never felt so good…

Cory Santangelo is used to getting his way, both in the boardroom and the bedroom. Lately he hasn’t had much opportunity to do anything but work, but one unexpectedly sexy night in a gazebo with Victoria, his gorgeous and feisty interior designer, changes all that—especially when they’re caught on camera. Suddenly Cory’s sterling reputation is no longer above reproach. Since his impromptu encounter coincides nicely with his need for a girlfriend to get his well-meaning, meddling parents off his back, he decides to ask his lifelong frenemy for a favor.

To pretend to be his girlfriend for a month. No strings attached.

The only problem? Vicky Townsend wants those strings tied all around her. She’s battled a long-suppressed crush on Cory, and their combative work relationship has only fanned the flames. When he suggests his needs are more than she can handle, she’s ready to up the ante. And her bargaining chip is lots of delicious, inventive sex.

Until they discover nothing feels as good as making it real…

Last year I read No Flowers Required, and I loved it. Dillon and Alexa were fabulous. However – in No Flowers Required Dillon’s brother, Cory, was a bit of an asshole through most of the book and I got very mad at him. I think I harbored some of those negative feelings toward him, even a year later, going into this book. So Cory Santangelo had a bit of a hard road to travel with me. Did he get to the other side? That’s a tough question.


While not my favorite, I did enjoy this book. The characters were interesting and they felt real. I would have liked to see a little bit more build up between Vicky and Cory. I understand their relationship how it was before they entered the “fake relationship” and I love the concept. For me personally, it jumped a little too fast into the fake part without showing the love/hate they had previously.

She offered him her throat, holding on while he took full advantage. There would be marks from his teeth, hislips, and she’d happily resign herself to turtleneck sweaters for eternity if only he’d just keep going.

“This.” He yanked on her belt, his mouth almost vicious in its blazing sweep down the column of her neck. “I want you in this. Around your wrists. At my mercy.”

But then we get to the nookie. That was scandalously hot!! As it turns out, Cory is Dominant and into a bit of the kinkier side of things. The things he accomplishes in this book while in a “fake” relationship will make an ice cube turn to boil. This is fantastic –but Vicky, on the other hand, is a bit on the softer side of things. She’s got the image of town bad girl, but everything Cory wants to do is new to her. I had a bit of issue connecting to that aspect, but I still liked her as a woman.

I like Cari Quinn’s writing. She writes with a smooth flow and easily brings me into the story. Every time I got a chance to pick the book back up, I was able to jump right back in and feel like I was there. I ended up warming up to Cory, and felt content by the end of the story. If you are like me, and like the fake relationship plotline, I think you will enjoy this. It’s definitely heated and sexy, and the characters are likeable.

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Review: No Romance Required - Cari Quinn

Title: No Romance Required
Series: Love Required, #3
Author: Cari Quinn
Published: August 2013, Entangled Brazen
Format; ebook received for review

Faking it never felt so good…

Cory Santangelo is used to getting his way, both in the boardroom and the bedroom. Lately he hasn’t had much opportunity to do anything but work, but one unexpectedly sexy night in a gazebo with Victoria, his gorgeous and feisty interior designer, changes all that—especially when they’re caught on camera. Suddenly Cory’s sterling reputation is no longer above reproach. Since his impromptu encounter coincides nicely with his need for a girlfriend to get his well-meaning, meddling parents off his back, he decides to ask his lifelong frenemy for a favor.

To pretend to be his girlfriend for a month. No strings attached.

The only problem? Vicky Townsend wants those strings tied all around her. She’s battled a long-suppressed crush on Cory, and their combative work relationship has only fanned the flames. When he suggests his needs are more than she can handle, she’s ready to up the ante. And her bargaining chip is lots of delicious, inventive sex.

Until they discover nothing feels as good as making it real…

Last year I read No Flowers Required, and I loved it. Dillon and Alexa were fabulous. However – in No Flowers Required Dillon’s brother, Cory, was a bit of an asshole through most of the book and I got very mad at him. I think I harbored some of those negative feelings toward him, even a year later, going into this book. So Cory Santangelo had a bit of a hard road to travel with me. Did he get to the other side? That’s a tough question.

Review: No Flowers Required by Cari Quinn

Title: No Flowers Required
Series: Love Required, Book Two
Author: Cari Quinn
Published: August 2012, Entangled Publishing
Format: Ebook received from Entangled for review

He’ll give her everything she desires...except his identity.

Flower shop owner Alexa Conroy had it all before the recession hit and her customers fled to cheaper shopping grounds. Desperate to make ends meet, she sells her dream home and moves into the rundown apartments above her shop. When she spots six feet of sexy distraction—complete with muscles, piercings, and tattoos—ripping up flooring, Alexa knows the karmic windfall she’s due just landed on her doorstep.

And the attraction’s definitely not one-sided.

Dillon James, reluctant heir to the corporation about to foreclose on Alexa’s shop, is not about to jeopardize their scorching chemistry by admitting he’s not the building’s handyman. But with only weeks until her business goes under and his identity is revealed, Dillon must find a way to convince Alexa cooperation isn’t a dirty word, help her save the shop from his brother’s greed, and persuade her that he’s not the enemy...or risk losing the only woman who’s seen the real him.

Hmmm… Where do I begin?  Never having read anything from Cari Quinn before, I was a bit apprehensive.  Would the writing be sickly sweet?  For some reason this felt like a real concern to me.  Needless concern, apparently.  Cari’s writing is fabulous.  She really knows how to relate the story to the reader in such a way that I felt every sweat bead, every rain drop, every muffin crumb tumble.  I was mad as hell when the pipes leaked, and I lost all brain power when I saw the sexy guy tearing up flooring in the apartment down the hall.  I am a definite new fan, and I will be checking out more of her books soon.  If you have any suggestions for me, let me know!  Her writing has a lot of humor, that special smart ass tone that I love so much. 

Alexa and Dillon… Dillon and Alexa… K-I-S-S-I-N-G!  Whew, these  two, I tell ya… I loved both of these characters, and I wanted them both to find that complete happiness within each other.  The story is told in both of their POV, so you get the full story on what is happening.  You understand their fears, sadness, and rejoice with their joys.

Alexa is kind of down on her luck after being on top of the world.  She’s just moved into a shabby apartment that seems to be falling apart just as quick as she is.  She might be down, but she is not out.  And luckily she finds the handyman right away so she can get these blasted repairs done in her apartment. 

Dillon… Dillon is the handyman who is hot, has tattoos and an affinity for copper accessories.  He’s tough looking, but you know there is more than meets the eye when he sets his gaze on you.   And apparently there is even more than that, cause this man is keeping some big secrets.  But the guy has a heart as big as Texas and I just want to hug him for all that he puts himself through internally.  He knows his secrets are going to cause everyone pain, but he has an end goal in sight, you see.  And sometimes that goal is bigger than satisfying your own needs.

                “Change was coming.  Time to seize the day, and everything that came with it.”

I feel like I am struggling with this review, trying to not give too much away.  Truth is, I just want to go over all the details and see what you thought.  That would be a good way to end my blog though, I suppose!  This book has some of the most sensual and riveting scenes I’ve read in a while.  Even though I am afraid of heights, I feel like I am going to spend a lot more time on rooftops looking for my own Dillon James.   In my notes for this book I doodled.  What did I doodle?  I doodled Dillon James with hearts around his name. 

This book has some sex scenes that will just melt you to a little puddle of goo on the floor.  Seriously.  The fire between these two is white hot, and I couldn’t get enough.  Over and over I felt like I was reading something new and fresh.   The drama and troubles that arise feel like mountains, and I found myself being so sad when things went south.  Not just for Dillon, but for Alexa.  I wanted them to be happy together. The emotions were high and heart felt.  The scenery was superb and tangible.  If you want a romance to curl your toes and hug your heart in a tattooed sexy beast of an embrace, then I definitely think you should read this book.

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Review: No Flowers Required by Cari Quinn

Title: No Flowers Required
Series: Love Required, Book Two
Author: Cari Quinn
Published: August 2012, Entangled Publishing
Format: Ebook received from Entangled for review

He’ll give her everything she desires...except his identity.

Flower shop owner Alexa Conroy had it all before the recession hit and her customers fled to cheaper shopping grounds. Desperate to make ends meet, she sells her dream home and moves into the rundown apartments above her shop. When she spots six feet of sexy distraction—complete with muscles, piercings, and tattoos—ripping up flooring, Alexa knows the karmic windfall she’s due just landed on her doorstep.

And the attraction’s definitely not one-sided.

Dillon James, reluctant heir to the corporation about to foreclose on Alexa’s shop, is not about to jeopardize their scorching chemistry by admitting he’s not the building’s handyman. But with only weeks until her business goes under and his identity is revealed, Dillon must find a way to convince Alexa cooperation isn’t a dirty word, help her save the shop from his brother’s greed, and persuade her that he’s not the enemy...or risk losing the only woman who’s seen the real him.

Hmmm… Where do I begin?  Never having read anything from Cari Quinn before, I was a bit apprehensive.  Would the writing be sickly sweet?  For some reason this felt like a real concern to me.  Needless concern, apparently.  Cari’s writing is fabulous.  She really knows how to relate the story to the reader in such a way that I felt every sweat bead, every rain drop, every muffin crumb tumble.  I was mad as hell when the pipes leaked, and I lost all brain power when I saw the sexy guy tearing up flooring in the apartment down the hall.  I am a definite new fan, and I will be checking out more of her books soon.  If you have any suggestions for me, let me know!  Her writing has a lot of humor, that special smart ass tone that I love so much. 

Alexa and Dillon… Dillon and Alexa… K-I-S-S-I-N-G!  Whew, these  two, I tell ya… I loved both of these characters, and I wanted them both to find that complete happiness within each other.  The story is told in both of their POV, so you get the full story on what is happening.  You understand their fears, sadness, and rejoice with their joys.

Alexa is kind of down on her luck after being on top of the world.  She’s just moved into a shabby apartment that seems to be falling apart just as quick as she is.  She might be down, but she is not out.  And luckily she finds the handyman right away so she can get these blasted repairs done in her apartment. 

Dillon… Dillon is the handyman who is hot, has tattoos and an affinity for copper accessories.  He’s tough looking, but you know there is more than meets the eye when he sets his gaze on you.   And apparently there is even more than that, cause this man is keeping some big secrets.  But the guy has a heart as big as Texas and I just want to hug him for all that he puts himself through internally.  He knows his secrets are going to cause everyone pain, but he has an end goal in sight, you see.  And sometimes that goal is bigger than satisfying your own needs.

                “Change was coming.  Time to seize the day, and everything that came with it.”

I feel like I am struggling with this review, trying to not give too much away.  Truth is, I just want to go over all the details and see what you thought.  That would be a good way to end my blog though, I suppose!  This book has some of the most sensual and riveting scenes I’ve read in a while.  Even though I am afraid of heights, I feel like I am going to spend a lot more time on rooftops looking for my own Dillon James.   In my notes for this book I doodled.  What did I doodle?  I doodled Dillon James with hearts around his name. 

This book has some sex scenes that will just melt you to a little puddle of goo on the floor.  Seriously.  The fire between these two is white hot, and I couldn’t get enough.  Over and over I felt like I was reading something new and fresh.   The drama and troubles that arise feel like mountains, and I found myself being so sad when things went south.  Not just for Dillon, but for Alexa.  I wanted them to be happy together. The emotions were high and heart felt.  The scenery was superb and tangible.  If you want a romance to curl your toes and hug your heart in a tattooed sexy beast of an embrace, then I definitely think you should read this book.

Follow Cari Quinn Online

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Click Banner to View Complete Tour Schedule