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Desert Dogs #1
Lay It Down
First in the exciting new Desert Dog series, starring hot and sexy bikers in the Southwest...
Backbreaking days, wild nights, and the hard hum of steel between your thighs...
That’s a life well lived, according to the Desert Dogs—four friends who call Fortuity, Nevada, their badlands home.
Vince Grossier is the self-crowned outlaw king around here. But when Fortuity’s slick new mayor invites a shady casino development to town, the invaders’ cutthroat takeover tactics quickly turn deadly. With police turning a suspiciously blind eye, it’s up to the locals to fight back, and Vince is on the front line. The pretty photographer hired by the developers might be the key to infiltrating the enemy. And a temptation too good to pass up.
Finally free of a controlling ex, Kim Paget’s not looking to be taken for a ride—not on the back of some tattooed roughneck’s bike and definitely not in his bed. But when she finds evidence that her bosses are rattlesnake-dangerous, Kim must entrust her safety to the man who threatens danger of a whole different kind.
Backbreaking days, wild nights, and the hard hum of steel between your thighs...
That’s a life well lived, according to the Desert Dogs—four friends who call Fortuity, Nevada, their badlands home.
Vince Grossier is the self-crowned outlaw king around here. But when Fortuity’s slick new mayor invites a shady casino development to town, the invaders’ cutthroat takeover tactics quickly turn deadly. With police turning a suspiciously blind eye, it’s up to the locals to fight back, and Vince is on the front line. The pretty photographer hired by the developers might be the key to infiltrating the enemy. And a temptation too good to pass up.
Finally free of a controlling ex, Kim Paget’s not looking to be taken for a ride—not on the back of some tattooed roughneck’s bike and definitely not in his bed. But when she finds evidence that her bosses are rattlesnake-dangerous, Kim must entrust her safety to the man who threatens danger of a whole different kind.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2014
62 people are currently reading
2609 people want to read
About the author
Cara McKenna
41 books2,238 followersSince she began writing in 2008, Cara McKenna has published nearly forty romances and erotic novels with a variety of publishers, sometimes under the pen names Meg Maguire and C.M. McKenna. Her stories have been acclaimed for their smart, modern voice and defiance of convention. She was a 2015 RITA Award finalist, a 2014 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award winner, a 2012 and 2011 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award nominee, and a 2010 Golden Heart Award finalist. She lives with her husband and baby son in the Pacific Northwest, though she’ll always be a Boston girl at heart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
August 28, 2015
4.5 oral-fixation stars. Full review posted August 11, 2014
Rating clarification
An extra half star for the orgasmically fucktastic sex! Besides, it's well-deserved because it includes the hottest dry hump ever. My favorite, however, was smexy time #2.
If you have been wondering if there's any pun attached to my oral-fixation stars…yes, absolutely! I love Vince's dirty mouth and his lips; I love the way he speaks, his deadpan humor, and I love watching him going down on Kim, and I definitely adore his dirty mind. How could I not volunteer?
Vince is having a drink at Benji's, when an attractive, bespectacled blonde woman enters the bar. Never been a shy guy, he's joining her at her table and starts chatting with her. Fortuity is dealing with a huge change. Sunnyside is going to build a casino that will not only provide prosperity for the town but might also endanger the old-established shops. Fact is, the solvent investor is always on the lookout to do a buy-out and, according to Vince, the attractive stranger came right on cue. Due to marketing reasons, Kim came to Fortuity, a town set in Nevada, for five days to take promotional photos. Vince is intrigued and offers to lend her a hand, playing the tour guide and showing her the most spectacular places. Of course he's also keen on keeping an eye on Kim. Soon enough, the story takes an interesting turn and Kim's stay in Fortuity expands beyond the five days. Kim had always stayed on the safe side and her ex had been quick to spoil any fun. Meeting bad boy Vince, who's on parole, is tempting her to take the exit and go for a little adventure...
Fine, busted. "I was…just wondering…if you were any good at kissing," she finished in a mumble.
"Oh, were you then?" he asked with overdone surprise.
"Don't act so satisfied."
"Quit giving me reasons to."
"Shut up and let's kiss," she decided. "Then at least we'll know whether or not all this flirting is a waste of time."
Guess what I will remember for a very long time? The. Awesome. Sex. Cara McKenna has sprawled her humble self all over my shelf labeled best-sex-scenes. What a feat!
"Are we fucking tonight?" she asked him, point-blank. No need to be subtle with this brute.
He looked scandalized. "Goddamn, woman. Here I thought you were just after a good-night kiss."
In reference to Rock Addiction where the sex had been shockingly bad, the sex in Lay It Down was shockingly good. Although it didn't come as a surprise because I know that Cara McKenna writes delicious sex scenes. Besides, less is more, isn't it? I prefer high-end quality over quantity any day. I have no clue why an author would fill a book with tons of short, poor, and gratuitous sex scenes when you can have this? This. Is. Insanely. Good. And. Insanely. Hot. Sex. Only a few super-duper steamy scenes but holy Mother of God was thispantymeltinghot! My windows were fogging up and my entire flat could have served as a sensuous sauna.
Yeah, Baba, memorize it. It turned your little world inside out. Fact is, Vince is a completely and utterly memorable lay, right up my alluring and dirty alley.
These few highly erotic scenes were incredibly fervent and exquisitely well-written. A. Total. F©cking. Turn. On. They are buried in my entire body, branded in my bones, imprinted in my brain. Gawd, I love how Cara not only writes sex but makes me want to get dirtied myself. And, folks, she does it with such style, it blows the mind. That's being dirty, talking dirty, and doing the dirty deed on one seriously classic level. Kudos, I am mighty impressed.
"Shall we head to Elko?" she asked, grabbing her shoes.
"Yeah. And we've got some business to take care of there."
She raised her brows. "Aside from dropping off my rental?"
"Unfinished business. Kind that's going down between our two bodies. You follow?"
She snorted. "A dog could've caught that innuendo."
"Good. 'Cause you've had enough surprises for one day. When I take you later, you'll sure as shit see it coming."
At first, I was a little bit miffed that up until the 22 % mark we got only two scenes that involved the main characters. Readers should be aware that Lay It Down isn't solely focused on Vince and Kim having an entertaining journey at finding their HEA under the mean Nevada sun. Cara did lay it all out when she introduced her readers to a rather vast yet very eclectic cast of secondary characters. I loved Miah and Raina and their dynamics with Duncan. Surprisingly, I even liked The Dick, Duncan Welch immensely. That guy has a hard and stubborn stick up his ass but, geez, is he one intriguing specimen of a snobbish and tightly wounded male with some serious personal s@it going on. I can't wait to see how this is going to pan out with Raina. Frankly, I can't shake off a feeling that he's either kinky (and domineering) or (more likely) he might even submit to a woman in the bedroom. Truth be told, I'd love to see him going down on his knees for a woman. Anyway, I have no clue yet but something is off and I could see Raina taking over the reins effortlessly. And Casey…what did he do in his past when he was away from home for nine years? It's hinted at but I couldn't quite grasp his character yet. There's definitely an interesting story buried somewhere, too. Oh my, I can practically smell the great potential and with this first book, the bow came off its packet. The wrapping and content, however, have yet to be unraveled.
To be honest, the (rather weak) mystery wasn't what kept me reading and I figured out who the main bad guy was pretty early on. This being said, it didn't prevent me from enjoying the story. And, friendly heads up, don't expect too much from the action department either because you won't find it here. Another benefit came into play, however, and that's the fact that Lay It Down is a very character-driven story and accomplished to intrigue me consistently.
I think it's not a surprise when I tell you that Vince made the story for me. Of course I have a hero fixation and it's a basic requirement that every book I'm reading, should feature a gorgeous hero. If you want subtle then look elsewhere because Vince is a lot of things but subtlety is definitely nowhere to be seen. There's just something so enticing about a bad boy; a little wrong and a little dangerous. And Vince is a bad boy with a sexy mouth, a dirty mind but also a vulnerable side. Fact is, Vince has it all in spades. In bed, he's bossy and demanding yet giving and generous. But also outside the bedroom he's the man who's in charge and he loves it when a woman relies on him. His portrayal is done well, although I would have liked a bit more fixation on his personal issues. So, while he's cocky and devoted and a total gift to a woman between the sheets, a touch of bitterness filtered through his characterization that should have been explored more thoroughly. What I got didn't quite satisfy me.
The snappy interaction between Vince and Kim was terrific. I felt they made quite a stunning couple and complemented each other wonderfully inside and outside the bedroom. I also loved Vince's deadpan humor and he sure as heck conjured many smiles on my face.
I haven't adored every book by Cara McKenna but what I truly love about her work is her diversity and her courage to explore different kinds of heroes and settings. The sky's the limit, right? Not once did I have to read the same story with the same characters. All of her protagonists are unique in their own way and she does a mighty fine job at giving them a face, a mind, a heart, a body and a background with layers upon layers that simply demand to be unraveled.
Bottom line, Cara McKenna has penned yet another fascinating story with great and likable characters, a plot steamed up with a couple fantabulous sex scenes and the promise of more to come. The mystery is not completely solved at the end of Lay It Down and, romance-wise, the sneak peek of Give It All as well as the blurb are reasons enough for me to let my expectations shoot sky-high for the next installment. Bring it on, Cara, I'll be ready to dig in anytime!
Recommended read.
Rating clarification
An extra half star for the orgasmically fucktastic sex! Besides, it's well-deserved because it includes the hottest dry hump ever. My favorite, however, was smexy time #2.
If you have been wondering if there's any pun attached to my oral-fixation stars…yes, absolutely! I love Vince's dirty mouth and his lips; I love the way he speaks, his deadpan humor, and I love watching him going down on Kim, and I definitely adore his dirty mind. How could I not volunteer?
Vince is having a drink at Benji's, when an attractive, bespectacled blonde woman enters the bar. Never been a shy guy, he's joining her at her table and starts chatting with her. Fortuity is dealing with a huge change. Sunnyside is going to build a casino that will not only provide prosperity for the town but might also endanger the old-established shops. Fact is, the solvent investor is always on the lookout to do a buy-out and, according to Vince, the attractive stranger came right on cue. Due to marketing reasons, Kim came to Fortuity, a town set in Nevada, for five days to take promotional photos. Vince is intrigued and offers to lend her a hand, playing the tour guide and showing her the most spectacular places. Of course he's also keen on keeping an eye on Kim. Soon enough, the story takes an interesting turn and Kim's stay in Fortuity expands beyond the five days. Kim had always stayed on the safe side and her ex had been quick to spoil any fun. Meeting bad boy Vince, who's on parole, is tempting her to take the exit and go for a little adventure...
Fine, busted. "I was…just wondering…if you were any good at kissing," she finished in a mumble.
"Oh, were you then?" he asked with overdone surprise.
"Don't act so satisfied."
"Quit giving me reasons to."
"Shut up and let's kiss," she decided. "Then at least we'll know whether or not all this flirting is a waste of time."
Guess what I will remember for a very long time? The. Awesome. Sex. Cara McKenna has sprawled her humble self all over my shelf labeled best-sex-scenes. What a feat!
"Are we fucking tonight?" she asked him, point-blank. No need to be subtle with this brute.
He looked scandalized. "Goddamn, woman. Here I thought you were just after a good-night kiss."
In reference to Rock Addiction where the sex had been shockingly bad, the sex in Lay It Down was shockingly good. Although it didn't come as a surprise because I know that Cara McKenna writes delicious sex scenes. Besides, less is more, isn't it? I prefer high-end quality over quantity any day. I have no clue why an author would fill a book with tons of short, poor, and gratuitous sex scenes when you can have this? This. Is. Insanely. Good. And. Insanely. Hot. Sex. Only a few super-duper steamy scenes but holy Mother of God was thispantymeltinghot! My windows were fogging up and my entire flat could have served as a sensuous sauna.
Yeah, Baba, memorize it. It turned your little world inside out. Fact is, Vince is a completely and utterly memorable lay, right up my alluring and dirty alley.
These few highly erotic scenes were incredibly fervent and exquisitely well-written. A. Total. F©cking. Turn. On. They are buried in my entire body, branded in my bones, imprinted in my brain. Gawd, I love how Cara not only writes sex but makes me want to get dirtied myself. And, folks, she does it with such style, it blows the mind. That's being dirty, talking dirty, and doing the dirty deed on one seriously classic level. Kudos, I am mighty impressed.
"Shall we head to Elko?" she asked, grabbing her shoes.
"Yeah. And we've got some business to take care of there."
She raised her brows. "Aside from dropping off my rental?"
"Unfinished business. Kind that's going down between our two bodies. You follow?"
She snorted. "A dog could've caught that innuendo."
"Good. 'Cause you've had enough surprises for one day. When I take you later, you'll sure as shit see it coming."
At first, I was a little bit miffed that up until the 22 % mark we got only two scenes that involved the main characters. Readers should be aware that Lay It Down isn't solely focused on Vince and Kim having an entertaining journey at finding their HEA under the mean Nevada sun. Cara did lay it all out when she introduced her readers to a rather vast yet very eclectic cast of secondary characters. I loved Miah and Raina and their dynamics with Duncan. Surprisingly, I even liked The Dick, Duncan Welch immensely. That guy has a hard and stubborn stick up his ass but, geez, is he one intriguing specimen of a snobbish and tightly wounded male with some serious personal s@it going on. I can't wait to see how this is going to pan out with Raina. Frankly, I can't shake off a feeling that he's either kinky (and domineering) or (more likely) he might even submit to a woman in the bedroom. Truth be told, I'd love to see him going down on his knees for a woman. Anyway, I have no clue yet but something is off and I could see Raina taking over the reins effortlessly. And Casey…what did he do in his past when he was away from home for nine years? It's hinted at but I couldn't quite grasp his character yet. There's definitely an interesting story buried somewhere, too. Oh my, I can practically smell the great potential and with this first book, the bow came off its packet. The wrapping and content, however, have yet to be unraveled.
To be honest, the (rather weak) mystery wasn't what kept me reading and I figured out who the main bad guy was pretty early on. This being said, it didn't prevent me from enjoying the story. And, friendly heads up, don't expect too much from the action department either because you won't find it here. Another benefit came into play, however, and that's the fact that Lay It Down is a very character-driven story and accomplished to intrigue me consistently.
I think it's not a surprise when I tell you that Vince made the story for me. Of course I have a hero fixation and it's a basic requirement that every book I'm reading, should feature a gorgeous hero. If you want subtle then look elsewhere because Vince is a lot of things but subtlety is definitely nowhere to be seen. There's just something so enticing about a bad boy; a little wrong and a little dangerous. And Vince is a bad boy with a sexy mouth, a dirty mind but also a vulnerable side. Fact is, Vince has it all in spades. In bed, he's bossy and demanding yet giving and generous. But also outside the bedroom he's the man who's in charge and he loves it when a woman relies on him. His portrayal is done well, although I would have liked a bit more fixation on his personal issues. So, while he's cocky and devoted and a total gift to a woman between the sheets, a touch of bitterness filtered through his characterization that should have been explored more thoroughly. What I got didn't quite satisfy me.
The snappy interaction between Vince and Kim was terrific. I felt they made quite a stunning couple and complemented each other wonderfully inside and outside the bedroom. I also loved Vince's deadpan humor and he sure as heck conjured many smiles on my face.
I haven't adored every book by Cara McKenna but what I truly love about her work is her diversity and her courage to explore different kinds of heroes and settings. The sky's the limit, right? Not once did I have to read the same story with the same characters. All of her protagonists are unique in their own way and she does a mighty fine job at giving them a face, a mind, a heart, a body and a background with layers upon layers that simply demand to be unraveled.
Bottom line, Cara McKenna has penned yet another fascinating story with great and likable characters, a plot steamed up with a couple fantabulous sex scenes and the promise of more to come. The mystery is not completely solved at the end of Lay It Down and, romance-wise, the sneak peek of Give It All as well as the blurb are reasons enough for me to let my expectations shoot sky-high for the next installment. Bring it on, Cara, I'll be ready to dig in anytime!
"That was the best sex of my life. And we didn't even quite have sex."
"I rounded it up."
"Me, too."
Recommended read.
August 3, 2014
3.5 Stars
Lay It Down was an intriguing start to Cara McKenna’s new series, and one that I hope to enjoy more as future installments come out.
Vince may come off as big, bad and tough, and he is, but he’s also a loyal friend, son, and brother. So when his longtime friend, Deputy Alex Dunn winds up dead in suspicious circumstances, Vince makes it his mission to find out what happened. Meeting Kim, a photographer for Sunnyside, the developer of a new casino, fits nicely into his plans of investigation, he just doesn’t expect to feel so deeply for her. When she comes into danger as the mystery unfolds, Vince’s top priority is keeping her safe.
Kim is on assignment in the little dusty town of Fortuity, photographing the future site of a big casino, a project none of the locals are happy about. During her stay she runs into the big, brutish, and gorgeous Vince. She’s completely fascinated and hopelessly attracted. He’s not her type at all but Kim’s ready for some passion, and maybe a little danger.
With a punch of hot curiosity, she let herself imagine what a guy like Vince would be like in bed. What he'd say. What he'd want, and how he'd likely bully his way into getting offered whatever that was, just like he'd strong-armed her into staying for the beer. And though that seemed kind of dangerous, it was also exciting.
As she becomes embroiled in the mystery Vince is hell bent in solving, Kim gets way more than she bargained for.
Cara McKenna’s writing is beautiful and she is a pro at writing scenes that can make you seriously hot and send your pulses racing! Vince was outwardly tough and maybe a little arrogant, but I wouldn’t complain:
He was a giving lover, in his own cocky way. If Vince was selfish, it was purely in how he wanted to master a woman, during sex. And that was a breed of male pushiness she could actually get on board with.
Yes, please!
I enjoyed Lay It Down overall, but I had some trouble investing in the story. For some reason the characters felt a little superficial, and I never felt like I had a good read on Vince or Kim. I’m not sure if it had something to do with the third person narration, which is not my favorite and usually makes me feel less connected. Also, I felt like the mystery, even though only a small part was solved, should’ve been fleshed out more to give us something to grab onto and wonder about in the next book. I guess the mystery will be part of a story arc continuing on into the next books.
Because this is the start of the series, it may be that we’re just getting the groundwork here, getting to know the characters and building on the overall story. I plan on picking up the next book to find out.
A copy was provided by Signet Eclipse in exchange for an honest review.
Lay It Down was an intriguing start to Cara McKenna’s new series, and one that I hope to enjoy more as future installments come out.
Vince may come off as big, bad and tough, and he is, but he’s also a loyal friend, son, and brother. So when his longtime friend, Deputy Alex Dunn winds up dead in suspicious circumstances, Vince makes it his mission to find out what happened. Meeting Kim, a photographer for Sunnyside, the developer of a new casino, fits nicely into his plans of investigation, he just doesn’t expect to feel so deeply for her. When she comes into danger as the mystery unfolds, Vince’s top priority is keeping her safe.
Kim is on assignment in the little dusty town of Fortuity, photographing the future site of a big casino, a project none of the locals are happy about. During her stay she runs into the big, brutish, and gorgeous Vince. She’s completely fascinated and hopelessly attracted. He’s not her type at all but Kim’s ready for some passion, and maybe a little danger.
With a punch of hot curiosity, she let herself imagine what a guy like Vince would be like in bed. What he'd say. What he'd want, and how he'd likely bully his way into getting offered whatever that was, just like he'd strong-armed her into staying for the beer. And though that seemed kind of dangerous, it was also exciting.
As she becomes embroiled in the mystery Vince is hell bent in solving, Kim gets way more than she bargained for.
Cara McKenna’s writing is beautiful and she is a pro at writing scenes that can make you seriously hot and send your pulses racing! Vince was outwardly tough and maybe a little arrogant, but I wouldn’t complain:
He was a giving lover, in his own cocky way. If Vince was selfish, it was purely in how he wanted to master a woman, during sex. And that was a breed of male pushiness she could actually get on board with.
Yes, please!
I enjoyed Lay It Down overall, but I had some trouble investing in the story. For some reason the characters felt a little superficial, and I never felt like I had a good read on Vince or Kim. I’m not sure if it had something to do with the third person narration, which is not my favorite and usually makes me feel less connected. Also, I felt like the mystery, even though only a small part was solved, should’ve been fleshed out more to give us something to grab onto and wonder about in the next book. I guess the mystery will be part of a story arc continuing on into the next books.
Because this is the start of the series, it may be that we’re just getting the groundwork here, getting to know the characters and building on the overall story. I plan on picking up the next book to find out.
A copy was provided by Signet Eclipse in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
July 21, 2016OH.MY.GOD!!
I need this book!
But August 14?!!! I think I just died a little
I need this book!
But August 14?!!! I think I just died a little
September 20, 2014
★Book Basics★
Genre : - Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Series : - 1st in the Series
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author? - Yes
Rating - 5
★Review★
This book was not what I was expecting at all.
I have read this author before, and I enjoy her books, and this, I sort of expected to be the typical MC romance book. A bit heavy on the sex and a touch of angst and almost unbelievable drama.
Well it is not, Vince, the hero, is a biker, but not in an MC (not sure why I though he would be) and the book is so much more than I expected.
It turned out to be a great romantic suspense book, with a hero that was not an outlaw biker, not a billionaire, did not have a secret dungeon or anything. He was just a rough, crude, at times tender man, with a lot on his plate, a bit of a chequered past, trying to do his best by his family and a lost friend. I loved him!
I really liked him and Kim together (they had a great chemistry, hot hot hot), but this felt very much like Vince's story, and even though it is a dual POV I loved being inside Vince's head, feeling his fears and hopes.
The romance part of the book, is a slow burn, yes there is an instant attraction, and the entire thing does only take place over the course of 1-2 weeks, but it never felt rushed, or unbelievable! You could see how these 2 people had found something they did not even know they were looking for, and if they had, would certainly not have gone searching for it in each other.
The suspense and drama side, did not detract from the romance at all, and only served to enhance, and not overtake, yet you did not get bored of reading that part of it. You wanted to know what had happened, and I found myself almost grieving for Alex, along with Vince and feeling quite sad that Alex was gone too.
With an intriguing cast of secondary characters, being set up to be involved in future books, I cannot wait for the rest of this series! And while we did not get all the answers regarding the suspense and mystery, it seems this will be an ongoing story arc throughout the series possibly.
Genre : - Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Series : - 1st in the Series
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author? - Yes
Rating - 5
★Review★
This book was not what I was expecting at all.
I have read this author before, and I enjoy her books, and this, I sort of expected to be the typical MC romance book. A bit heavy on the sex and a touch of angst and almost unbelievable drama.
Well it is not, Vince, the hero, is a biker, but not in an MC (not sure why I though he would be) and the book is so much more than I expected.
It turned out to be a great romantic suspense book, with a hero that was not an outlaw biker, not a billionaire, did not have a secret dungeon or anything. He was just a rough, crude, at times tender man, with a lot on his plate, a bit of a chequered past, trying to do his best by his family and a lost friend. I loved him!
I really liked him and Kim together (they had a great chemistry, hot hot hot), but this felt very much like Vince's story, and even though it is a dual POV I loved being inside Vince's head, feeling his fears and hopes.
The romance part of the book, is a slow burn, yes there is an instant attraction, and the entire thing does only take place over the course of 1-2 weeks, but it never felt rushed, or unbelievable! You could see how these 2 people had found something they did not even know they were looking for, and if they had, would certainly not have gone searching for it in each other.
The suspense and drama side, did not detract from the romance at all, and only served to enhance, and not overtake, yet you did not get bored of reading that part of it. You wanted to know what had happened, and I found myself almost grieving for Alex, along with Vince and feeling quite sad that Alex was gone too.
With an intriguing cast of secondary characters, being set up to be involved in future books, I cannot wait for the rest of this series! And while we did not get all the answers regarding the suspense and mystery, it seems this will be an ongoing story arc throughout the series possibly.
June 19, 2021
This was oddly slow, and even with really likable main characters I wasn't terribly invested. Maybe it is that first in a series thing, or maybe it's the suspense mix that didn't quite hit the mark. Not bad, just not great either.
I do appreciate McKenna's use of language to really get a feel of Vince's rough edges. It stood out to me as something we don't always see, even in a ex-con on parole hero who is working class. Which I guess is a hero we don't often see either. Considering he's a teddy bear.
I'll keep reading the series bc McKenna but also because I'm curious about Casey.
I do appreciate McKenna's use of language to really get a feel of Vince's rough edges. It stood out to me as something we don't always see, even in a ex-con on parole hero who is working class. Which I guess is a hero we don't often see either. Considering he's a teddy bear.
I'll keep reading the series bc McKenna but also because I'm curious about Casey.
September 2, 2014
Apart from the really HOT dry humping scene that everyone was talking about, this book didn't really hit the mark for me. Vince is a fun hero that is full of humor and a tad sarcastic. Kim, the heroine is a sassy one. The romance was okay, but lost steam after half way because they were mostly sleuthing around. The suspense didn't capture my interest. From the beginning, I didn't really care who kill Alex Dunn.
February 28, 2015
Wow…this is some hot and wicked romance with a dose of suspense thrown in. What a start to Cara McKenna’s Desert Dogs Series.
After being so disappointed with the last book I read by this author, I am over the moon finding this series.
Set in a small town in the Nevada boondocks, with interesting and not your average characters that you cannot help liking.
Vince Grossier is king in this town..never mind that he’s been in jail…not for any really bad things….and together with his friends, who call themselves the Desert Dogs since childhood , make things really interesting around Fortuity, He takes his responsibilities very serious…cares for his mother who some call mad but actually she sees things before they happen!!!! He also has a rather interesting brother who has returned home after being away for years….something mysterious about his absence which we never find out about….
Anyway, strange things are happening in this rather unremarkable little town with the coming of a casino being erected in the area.
Vince’s friend and one of the members of the Desert Dogs dies under mysterious circumstances and asking questions about the death opens up a can of worms.
Kim arrives in town to photograph the area for the casino contractors and wow….Vince takes one look at her and the sparks fly!!!!!
Vince is just one hell of a sexy seducer …..I could so understand how Kim was unable to resist this man!!!! He’s sexy, funny, caring, lovable…please can I have him for myself??? And in bed…HOT!!! He sizzles. He sure knows how to please a woman…lucky Kim.
I was totally captivated by the way the story evolves….I was never bored. I devoured every page, every word. Couldn’t get enough of the Forltuit characters.
There are some wonderful, quirky and even wacky and mysterious characters that I can’t wait to find out more about them in the next book.
The two characters in particular…Raina , the owner of the local bar and tattoo artist and the stuck up Englishman Duncan Welch. I can’t wait to see if these two go anywhere together!!!!
I am so glad to rediscover Cara McKenna again!!!!
After being so disappointed with the last book I read by this author, I am over the moon finding this series.
Set in a small town in the Nevada boondocks, with interesting and not your average characters that you cannot help liking.
Vince Grossier is king in this town..never mind that he’s been in jail…not for any really bad things….and together with his friends, who call themselves the Desert Dogs since childhood , make things really interesting around Fortuity, He takes his responsibilities very serious…cares for his mother who some call mad but actually she sees things before they happen!!!! He also has a rather interesting brother who has returned home after being away for years….something mysterious about his absence which we never find out about….
Anyway, strange things are happening in this rather unremarkable little town with the coming of a casino being erected in the area.
Vince’s friend and one of the members of the Desert Dogs dies under mysterious circumstances and asking questions about the death opens up a can of worms.
Kim arrives in town to photograph the area for the casino contractors and wow….Vince takes one look at her and the sparks fly!!!!!
Vince is just one hell of a sexy seducer …..I could so understand how Kim was unable to resist this man!!!! He’s sexy, funny, caring, lovable…please can I have him for myself??? And in bed…HOT!!! He sizzles. He sure knows how to please a woman…lucky Kim.
I was totally captivated by the way the story evolves….I was never bored. I devoured every page, every word. Couldn’t get enough of the Forltuit characters.
There are some wonderful, quirky and even wacky and mysterious characters that I can’t wait to find out more about them in the next book.
The two characters in particular…Raina , the owner of the local bar and tattoo artist and the stuck up Englishman Duncan Welch. I can’t wait to see if these two go anywhere together!!!!
I am so glad to rediscover Cara McKenna again!!!!
August 14, 2016
3.5 Stars
It took me a while to understand how I felt about this book. It was NOT what I expected from this author.
Normally Cara McKenna can woo me, wow me, totally turn me into a big pile of melty goo. But this book is a lot more suspense, mystery, and much less steamy erotica. And she added a touch of the paranormal? Odd & it didn't seem to fit with the rest of the story.
The writing is very good. The characters are well developed and interesting. I liked the general idea of the book and the romantic storyline was excellent.
But overall this book was just ok for me. Perhaps it was timing & not getting what I was looking for. Or perhaps it was the crazy predictions? I don't know.
I still plan on reading the next in the series. But I will go in with a different mindset.
It took me a while to understand how I felt about this book. It was NOT what I expected from this author.
Normally Cara McKenna can woo me, wow me, totally turn me into a big pile of melty goo. But this book is a lot more suspense, mystery, and much less steamy erotica. And she added a touch of the paranormal? Odd & it didn't seem to fit with the rest of the story.
The writing is very good. The characters are well developed and interesting. I liked the general idea of the book and the romantic storyline was excellent.
But overall this book was just ok for me. Perhaps it was timing & not getting what I was looking for. Or perhaps it was the crazy predictions? I don't know.
I still plan on reading the next in the series. But I will go in with a different mindset.
February 22, 2015
I'm a fan of Cara McKenna's and I usually like her books, but this one really didn't do it for me. I liked the characters, the writing was good and the story held my interest, yet something was missing.
Will I read the next book in the series? Absolutely! There's still a lot of questions that need answering, plus it's Duncan and Raina's story. That should be very interesting.
Read
January 5, 2015This is the first and only Cara McKenna book I did not finish.
I love Cara's work, normally, and her writing is ALWAYS phenomenal but this story wasn't for me.
In saying that, give it a go because it might be your cup of tea ❤
I love Cara's work, normally, and her writing is ALWAYS phenomenal but this story wasn't for me.
In saying that, give it a go because it might be your cup of tea ❤
November 20, 2014
This book had way more story to it than I anticipated and I loved every second of it. It is heavier on the mystery and suspense angle but the author does a fantastic job of writing it and still incorporating all her characters while keeping the main couple, Vince and Kim front and center. This is Cara McKenna so do I even need to go into how hot the sex scenes are? Vince and Kim are instantly attracted to each other but it takes a little while for them to finally consummate the relationship but you won't complain as there is plenty of sweat inducing scenes to keep you occupied.
With the 4 main Desert Dogs introduced and given really good story layouts I'm highly anticipating the next in the series. Lay It Down was suspenseful, engaging, interesting, and burning hot. Give me more, Ms. McKenna!
With the 4 main Desert Dogs introduced and given really good story layouts I'm highly anticipating the next in the series. Lay It Down was suspenseful, engaging, interesting, and burning hot. Give me more, Ms. McKenna!
August 9, 2014
2.5-stars
Is this romantic suspense novel intense? No. The pace is slow.
Banter? Yes.
Are the characters well-developed? Yes.
Does the mystery hold my attention? Not really. It is very predictable.
Am I curious about their small town? Uh…no.
Vince and Kim are likable characters. But I feel that their relationship lack strong emotional connections. Honestly, I don’t even care if they got their HEA.
The uniqueness I find in some of the Mckenna’s books is simply missing in Lay it Down.
Is this romantic suspense novel intense? No. The pace is slow.
Banter? Yes.
Are the characters well-developed? Yes.
Does the mystery hold my attention? Not really. It is very predictable.
Am I curious about their small town? Uh…no.
Vince and Kim are likable characters. But I feel that their relationship lack strong emotional connections. Honestly, I don’t even care if they got their HEA.
The uniqueness I find in some of the Mckenna’s books is simply missing in Lay it Down.
did-not-finish
August 13, 2014DNF 60%
HUGE SIGH
I like MC books and when I picked up Lay It Down, I had high expectations. I wanted something steamy, dangerous and intense.
I didn’t get that.
Lay It Down didn’t seem like an MC book to me. It’s about a guy, who is a biker, trying to solve a mystery. The pace was very slow and I found myself skimming. It took a good portion of the book before any direction was in place.
Then, finally when I got to the steam, it was so descriptive and so long, I was wondering, why couldn’t some stuff just be edited?
I really did try to give this one a go. I would start it and put it down within twenty pages, it took me a month to finally put it aside. I don’t think there isn’t anything “wrong” with Lay It Down. It just didn’t work for me.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review
HUGE SIGH
I like MC books and when I picked up Lay It Down, I had high expectations. I wanted something steamy, dangerous and intense.
I didn’t get that.
Lay It Down didn’t seem like an MC book to me. It’s about a guy, who is a biker, trying to solve a mystery. The pace was very slow and I found myself skimming. It took a good portion of the book before any direction was in place.
Then, finally when I got to the steam, it was so descriptive and so long, I was wondering, why couldn’t some stuff just be edited?
I really did try to give this one a go. I would start it and put it down within twenty pages, it took me a month to finally put it aside. I don’t think there isn’t anything “wrong” with Lay It Down. It just didn’t work for me.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review
August 5, 2014
Despite the cover or what you may have heard, this is not a motorcycle club book. There is a murder mystery, a sexy and gritty romance and a desert setting that contributes a lot to this story. I have a fondness for Cara McKenna's voice, and I really enjoyed this book. It's different from her previous work and surprised me a bit.
Vince Grossier lives in a very small town in the desert of Fortuity. He has lived there his entire life and even though it can sometimes be a shitty town, it's his town. When word comes that a corporation named Sunnyside is going to build a big casino, the locals are not happy. Yes it will bring jobs, but it will also drive out all of the local businesses and bring in annoying tourists. Construction is in full swing with lots of corporate reps in their fancy business clothes completely out of place in his town. One night one of his long-time friends calls and drunkenly talks about some bones he saw out on the construction site. These bones really scared his friend and he asks to meet. But before he can, he dies in a drunk driving accident. Vince knows his friend was drunk, but would never drive drunk and this bones story makes Vince very suspicious. He alerts the police and tells his friends he fears suspicious play may have been involved in his friend's death, but no one is convinced.
Enter our heroine, Kim. She is a photographer in town to take pictures for casino brochures and to convince people the town is beautiful. Being in the desert, it really, truly is a magnificent place and she has plenty of scenery to film. She meets Vince in the local bar one night and he is immediately intrigued by this woman. She is very put together and proper - nothing like one of the locals. He tries his charm on her, but his charm is let's say...menancing. What intrigues him more is that Kim is a cool cookie. She doesn't go after his lusty words or crude flirtation.
“You're coming off kinda bipolar, Vince. I can't tell if you're trying to get in my pants or run me out of town on a rail.”
“Me neither, but it's turning me on. How about you?”
Unknown to Vince, Kim is freaking out on the inside. Having just broke up with her boyfriend, she is kind of ready for a wild fling, and Vince is all wild and all man.
When a man came built like Vince Grossier, it told you one of two things; Either his job was backbreaking, or he made violent love to his weight bench every morning.
There are four main things I want to talk about. First, the mystery, admittedly the weakest part of the story for me. It's a murder mystery of sorts, and while the events that lead to the truth worked okay for me, Vince's ill and erratic mother can see visions of the future, and alerts Vince and his friends that Kim will eventually be involved in the investigation. I call this unnecessary woo-woo. I don't like woo-woo in my otherwise non-paranormal stories. Her woo-woo is accurate too, having had many visions in the past come true.
Second, the romance. Hot damn this romance is very McKenna-esque. It's gritty, it's raw, and surprisingly, she makes us wait a darn long time for the actual sex to happen. It's okay though because the sexual tension is done so well. Vince is so masculine and rough..not smooth. He doesn't have charm or grace and he doesn't care or apologize for it. But somehow he fits pretty well with Kim. She is a tough cookie, very smart, good head on her shoulders, and weak for the leather wearing, bike-riding huge man. And there is this:
He didn't rush her. Didn't force her or even urge her, didn't do a thing aside from stand there, tense with anticipation. She rewarded that with a lap across that smooth, sensitive skin, and was repaid by a harsh suck of breath above her. Beg me, she wanted to say. She wanted to hear proof of how bad he wanted her, like those needy whispers in the hotel room, even as his body ha owned hers.
Another lap, another, but she held back taking him for real. Beg me.
In that deep voice, came the softest, "C'mon."
Close enough.
Third the setting. I loved that this book is set in the desert among the red sand. It makes everything that more dirty but beautiful. The blazing hot sun during the day. The cold temperatures at night. The town is poor and it's a hard life to live there. Being in jail or out on parole is a normal thing. The hatred for the casino being built and the loyalty the locals feel for their businesses and their people resonates well.
And finally, my favorite part – the characters. I really like Vince and Kim, but this entire cast of characters made me smile. We have what Vince calls his Desert Dogs. A group of friends that became close when they were young, but some moved out of Fortuity – and have now found their way back. Besides Vince, we have Miah, who works on his family's ranch. We don't know a ton about him, but he is a hard worker and a good friend who used to date and is still in love with the local bartender Raina. Oh Raina, I liked her. Hard ass woman and takes no shit from anyone. She intrigues me so much and her book is next. If you look on Goodreads you can see who her hero is going to be and I'm very excited. Vince's brother Casey comes roaring back to town and his mouth made me laugh so hard. He is such a crazy, loud-mouth dude. I love him.
And finally Duncan Welch. Not a Desert Dog, but an uppity lawyer with Sunnyside. He plays a big role in this book. He is the kind of character that you initially think umm okay, he is going to be the token creeper, loser, annoying dude. That he is too prissy and rich to belong anywhere near Fortuity But....just wait.
"Ready?" Idling, Vince tossed Welch the extra helmet.
"Close enough," the man said. He eyed Casey's seat with misgiving.
"Hop on, motherfucker. I don't have cooties."
"That's reassuring," Welch said as he adjusted the helmet's strap. He managed to mount up with surprising dignity, likely down to his long legs as much as anything.
"Feel free to get friendly," Casey said.
The characters in this book excite me for this series. They are big, sexy, loud, opinionated and kind of crazy. You never know what they are going to do or say. Can't wait for book two.
Rating: B
Goodreads l Author Website l Series
Kindle l Nook
Vince Grossier lives in a very small town in the desert of Fortuity. He has lived there his entire life and even though it can sometimes be a shitty town, it's his town. When word comes that a corporation named Sunnyside is going to build a big casino, the locals are not happy. Yes it will bring jobs, but it will also drive out all of the local businesses and bring in annoying tourists. Construction is in full swing with lots of corporate reps in their fancy business clothes completely out of place in his town. One night one of his long-time friends calls and drunkenly talks about some bones he saw out on the construction site. These bones really scared his friend and he asks to meet. But before he can, he dies in a drunk driving accident. Vince knows his friend was drunk, but would never drive drunk and this bones story makes Vince very suspicious. He alerts the police and tells his friends he fears suspicious play may have been involved in his friend's death, but no one is convinced.
Enter our heroine, Kim. She is a photographer in town to take pictures for casino brochures and to convince people the town is beautiful. Being in the desert, it really, truly is a magnificent place and she has plenty of scenery to film. She meets Vince in the local bar one night and he is immediately intrigued by this woman. She is very put together and proper - nothing like one of the locals. He tries his charm on her, but his charm is let's say...menancing. What intrigues him more is that Kim is a cool cookie. She doesn't go after his lusty words or crude flirtation.
“You're coming off kinda bipolar, Vince. I can't tell if you're trying to get in my pants or run me out of town on a rail.”
“Me neither, but it's turning me on. How about you?”
Unknown to Vince, Kim is freaking out on the inside. Having just broke up with her boyfriend, she is kind of ready for a wild fling, and Vince is all wild and all man.
When a man came built like Vince Grossier, it told you one of two things; Either his job was backbreaking, or he made violent love to his weight bench every morning.
There are four main things I want to talk about. First, the mystery, admittedly the weakest part of the story for me. It's a murder mystery of sorts, and while the events that lead to the truth worked okay for me, Vince's ill and erratic mother can see visions of the future, and alerts Vince and his friends that Kim will eventually be involved in the investigation. I call this unnecessary woo-woo. I don't like woo-woo in my otherwise non-paranormal stories. Her woo-woo is accurate too, having had many visions in the past come true.
Second, the romance. Hot damn this romance is very McKenna-esque. It's gritty, it's raw, and surprisingly, she makes us wait a darn long time for the actual sex to happen. It's okay though because the sexual tension is done so well. Vince is so masculine and rough..not smooth. He doesn't have charm or grace and he doesn't care or apologize for it. But somehow he fits pretty well with Kim. She is a tough cookie, very smart, good head on her shoulders, and weak for the leather wearing, bike-riding huge man. And there is this:
He didn't rush her. Didn't force her or even urge her, didn't do a thing aside from stand there, tense with anticipation. She rewarded that with a lap across that smooth, sensitive skin, and was repaid by a harsh suck of breath above her. Beg me, she wanted to say. She wanted to hear proof of how bad he wanted her, like those needy whispers in the hotel room, even as his body ha owned hers.
Another lap, another, but she held back taking him for real. Beg me.
In that deep voice, came the softest, "C'mon."
Close enough.
Third the setting. I loved that this book is set in the desert among the red sand. It makes everything that more dirty but beautiful. The blazing hot sun during the day. The cold temperatures at night. The town is poor and it's a hard life to live there. Being in jail or out on parole is a normal thing. The hatred for the casino being built and the loyalty the locals feel for their businesses and their people resonates well.
And finally, my favorite part – the characters. I really like Vince and Kim, but this entire cast of characters made me smile. We have what Vince calls his Desert Dogs. A group of friends that became close when they were young, but some moved out of Fortuity – and have now found their way back. Besides Vince, we have Miah, who works on his family's ranch. We don't know a ton about him, but he is a hard worker and a good friend who used to date and is still in love with the local bartender Raina. Oh Raina, I liked her. Hard ass woman and takes no shit from anyone. She intrigues me so much and her book is next. If you look on Goodreads you can see who her hero is going to be and I'm very excited. Vince's brother Casey comes roaring back to town and his mouth made me laugh so hard. He is such a crazy, loud-mouth dude. I love him.
And finally Duncan Welch. Not a Desert Dog, but an uppity lawyer with Sunnyside. He plays a big role in this book. He is the kind of character that you initially think umm okay, he is going to be the token creeper, loser, annoying dude. That he is too prissy and rich to belong anywhere near Fortuity But....just wait.
"Ready?" Idling, Vince tossed Welch the extra helmet.
"Close enough," the man said. He eyed Casey's seat with misgiving.
"Hop on, motherfucker. I don't have cooties."
"That's reassuring," Welch said as he adjusted the helmet's strap. He managed to mount up with surprising dignity, likely down to his long legs as much as anything.
"Feel free to get friendly," Casey said.
The characters in this book excite me for this series. They are big, sexy, loud, opinionated and kind of crazy. You never know what they are going to do or say. Can't wait for book two.
Rating: B
Goodreads l Author Website l Series
Kindle l Nook
August 8, 2014
Lay It Down is the first book in Cara McKenna Desert Dogs series.
Despite the cover, Lay It Down is not a MC book, which I liked, because I’m not really a fan of MC books. However if it was the case, I would have read it anyway, because Cara McKenna is one of my few favorite authors.
Vince Grossier lived all his life in Fortuity, a small town in Nevada. Even if he had seen the inside of a jail a few times, Vince is not a bad guy. He doesn't live an exciting life in Fortuity, but he likes his small town exactly how it is. Needless to say he’s not very happy when some corporation wants to build a casino in his town. He knows it’s a great opportunity for Fortuity and that it will bring money, but he also knows the local business will be affected and some things will change with the casino’s opening.
Something changed for sure when Vince’s finds out that his friend, Alex, was killed in drunk driving. He starts to suspect that Alex’s death was not an accident, but his friends don’t believe him. He is determined to finds what really happened with his friend so he start his own investigation.
Kim is a free agent, hired to take pictures for the casino’s promotional materials. She just break up with her boyfriend of two years, but this doesn’t stop her attraction for Vince.
When Vince meets Kim Paget he doesn’t know what he wants to get out of her, but he is curious about her role with this corporation who wants to build the casino.
You’re a very unusual man.
You’re a very attractive woman.
When Kim find herself involved in this crazy investigation, she is determined like Vince to discover the truth no matter what.
Vince and Kim are drown to each other from the beginning, even if they are so different. Vince is not exactly boyfriend material, he doesn’t do relationship but he knows who he is, he seems to say exactly what he felts and he doesn’t care about anybody thinks of him. He is attracted to Kim from the start, even if he knows she’s too stylish and polished for him. Kim is not intimidated by Vince, she’s cool and unimpressed when they meet, but she’s intrigued by his rough, tattooed exterior. She isn’t exactly scandalize by Vince’s image because Vince is unlike any man she’d ever been with.
Soon, Vince and Kim can’t run away from each other and from what they feel. Lust becomes more, feelings are involved and they’re curious about where this relationship will go.
You’re the kind of mistake I haven’t let myself make before. But should. - Kim
And you, you’re wrapped up in my troubles. I don’t understand yet why the fuck you’re a part of all this, or what to think about it. – Vince
The chemistry between Vince and Kim it’s fantastic and it’s there from the start and their connection it’s palpable and strong. From the start I liked their interaction and how their relationship progressed. It felt real, natural. I liked both main characters. I enjoyed Vince cocky side and his dirty mouth and I like that Kim wasn’t a weak heroine.
I don’t know exactly what I love more about Mrs McKenna books,but she knows for sure how to write. When it comes to write a steamy scene, she’s one of the best. Her choice of words is fantastic, she can make you see everything, but she can also make you feel. ( And of course I wanted to feel Vince!!! ). To say that I enjoyed the sex scenes would be an understatement! They are so hot, so intense, so real and so…HOT. One think it’s for sure, I read them very slowww, only because they are very well written and I wanted to experience every moment.
I also liked the setting of this story. I like when I read a book with something new, anything new, so the setting, Nevada, was a good part of this story for me. There are some mystic elements in this story. They didn’t bother me ( too much ), but I didn’t understand the author’s need to use them.
Lay It Down it’s a contemporary erotic romance with some mystery elements. I can’t say suspense elements, because for me it wasn’t a suspense romance. The suspense is very weak in this story. I guess I expected more action.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and I can’t wait to read the other books in this series!
August 8, 2014
It's not an MC romance, but rather an intense romantic suspense thought the guys (and girls) do ride bikes and support each other without there being an official motorcycle club.
I loved everything about this story - the characters, the plot, the suspense, the romance, the hot love scenes and mostly the superb writing style of Ms McKenna!
Full review to come soon
So, here is my full review, also posted on http://elliereadsfiction.blogspot.com/
Cara McKenna is quickly becoming one of my favourite author of romance (including erotic romance). I love her writing style and the characters she creates feel so real, yet complex and unique, that I get completely lost in them.
This is my favourite of her books that I've read so far. It's not an MC book, though some of the characters can be described as bikers. It's more of a romantic suspense set in a small, run-down town in the middle of the Nevada desert. It's not an epic love story, but a love story of discovery. He is not her type, she is not his either, yet they get together, as a one-time hook-up, which grows into an affair, then into the forever-kind of love.
The hero, Vince was a typical Cara McKenna's character - rough around the edge, a small-time criminal, fighter, yet he was honourable, loyal to his friends and family, to his town and ultimately he was on quest for justice.
He was not romantic or gentle in his pursuit of the heroine, Kim. On the contrary, he was pushy and insistent, rather direct and blunt in expressing his desires. Yet, the relationship which developed between them took him by surprise - he developed feeling for her, feelings that were new for him - he wanted her to stay, to be his, he wanted to take care of her, to protect her, to love her.
Their relationship was journey of revelations for her, a sort of self-discovery. Kim had been sheltered all her life, discourage from taking chances, so her stay in Fortuity and her affair with Vince was all about tasting freedom, risking her heart (and life) to experience love (life) to the fullest. I liked her a lot and it was easy for me to relate to her. He had her doubts and insecurities, yet she was curious and determined, in a way brave both in love and in helping Vince solve a murder mystery.
My least least favourite aspect of the story was the vision/prophecy of Vince's mother. It added a different dimension to the romance (and the suspense). I felt it was down-played eventually but I'm not sure how well it fits into the rather realistic story.
Ms McKenna introduces a cast of great supporting characters around the main couple, whose stories will be feature in the next books in the series. Raina and Declan are to the in the center of the next release, and they are both rather unique and intriguing characters, especially him. He did good for Vince and his friends but I'm still not convinced of his good nature or intentions.
The romance was honest and real, very intense and emotional which is one of the things I like the best in Ms McKenna writing. The suspense was strongly present in this book, though it didn't overshadow the love story. It did give fast pacing to the story and kept me turning the pages in a hurry to find out what happens in the end.
There is no cliffhanger ending, Vince and Kim get a nice HFN, yet there is a lot to look forward to in the next books, both for them and for their friends (and enemies).
It's a highly recommended read!
I loved everything about this story - the characters, the plot, the suspense, the romance, the hot love scenes and mostly the superb writing style of Ms McKenna!
Full review to come soon
So, here is my full review, also posted on http://elliereadsfiction.blogspot.com/
Cara McKenna is quickly becoming one of my favourite author of romance (including erotic romance). I love her writing style and the characters she creates feel so real, yet complex and unique, that I get completely lost in them.
This is my favourite of her books that I've read so far. It's not an MC book, though some of the characters can be described as bikers. It's more of a romantic suspense set in a small, run-down town in the middle of the Nevada desert. It's not an epic love story, but a love story of discovery. He is not her type, she is not his either, yet they get together, as a one-time hook-up, which grows into an affair, then into the forever-kind of love.
The hero, Vince was a typical Cara McKenna's character - rough around the edge, a small-time criminal, fighter, yet he was honourable, loyal to his friends and family, to his town and ultimately he was on quest for justice.
He was not romantic or gentle in his pursuit of the heroine, Kim. On the contrary, he was pushy and insistent, rather direct and blunt in expressing his desires. Yet, the relationship which developed between them took him by surprise - he developed feeling for her, feelings that were new for him - he wanted her to stay, to be his, he wanted to take care of her, to protect her, to love her.
Their relationship was journey of revelations for her, a sort of self-discovery. Kim had been sheltered all her life, discourage from taking chances, so her stay in Fortuity and her affair with Vince was all about tasting freedom, risking her heart (and life) to experience love (life) to the fullest. I liked her a lot and it was easy for me to relate to her. He had her doubts and insecurities, yet she was curious and determined, in a way brave both in love and in helping Vince solve a murder mystery.
My least least favourite aspect of the story was the vision/prophecy of Vince's mother. It added a different dimension to the romance (and the suspense). I felt it was down-played eventually but I'm not sure how well it fits into the rather realistic story.
Ms McKenna introduces a cast of great supporting characters around the main couple, whose stories will be feature in the next books in the series. Raina and Declan are to the in the center of the next release, and they are both rather unique and intriguing characters, especially him. He did good for Vince and his friends but I'm still not convinced of his good nature or intentions.
The romance was honest and real, very intense and emotional which is one of the things I like the best in Ms McKenna writing. The suspense was strongly present in this book, though it didn't overshadow the love story. It did give fast pacing to the story and kept me turning the pages in a hurry to find out what happens in the end.
There is no cliffhanger ending, Vince and Kim get a nice HFN, yet there is a lot to look forward to in the next books, both for them and for their friends (and enemies).
It's a highly recommended read!
February 22, 2015
RATING: 4 "You're coming off kinda bipolar, Vince." HEARTS!!
I think its safe to say that my VERY FIRST Cara McKenna book is a success! And that has to do with two major things: 1) VINCE --> This man could set Hell on fire with his hotness and that mouth (I do love his mouth very much! :P) and... 2) The beautiful writing. It makes you feel so many emotions in the span of minutes, all the high and lows, you feel right along with the characters, especially the DELICIOUS sex scenes! Mmmm...soooo good! LOVED IT & ENJOYED IT! :D
Full Review to Come...
August 11, 2014
I liked it.
It was good. Just sex with a premeditated arrangement and a condom good. Still sex. Still good. Just...diluted. Muted.
McKenna in the past was that tipsy, oh shit-chemistry, right here right now, clothes on or off, don't care how, nothing in between-we need to feel, straight up nasty, ooochie wally wally fucking.
They don't compare, exactly.
Ps: I did like the mother's and brother's gift.
It was good. Just sex with a premeditated arrangement and a condom good. Still sex. Still good. Just...diluted. Muted.
McKenna in the past was that tipsy, oh shit-chemistry, right here right now, clothes on or off, don't care how, nothing in between-we need to feel, straight up nasty, ooochie wally wally fucking.
They don't compare, exactly.
Ps: I did like the mother's and brother's gift.
Want to read
August 13, 2016Ok, Cara McKenna, I'll read about bikers. Because it's you.
The things I do for this lady.
The things I do for this lady.
August 6, 2016
Still not quite sure how to rate this one. Liked it but didn't love it... 3 1/2 maybe?
August 15, 2014
I loved this one!!! This book is exactly why I love Goodreads and my Goodreads friends. I read Louder Than Love and it was a 5 star read for me. I raved about that book and reviewed it and pimped it...Then one of GR friends (Hey Baba) tried it and was doubtful because she thought it was YA/NA. She loved it and thanked me for pimping it up...Well...FAVOUR returned my friend!!!
Baba reviewed this one...and her review is AWESOME. I had this one on my TBR, but after reading her review, I laid out the big bucks (8.99$ for a digital, which for those who know me is a huge stretch since I usually beg authors for ARCs or hit NetGalley to support my addiction). Well, friends...this book is worth every single penny (not that we have pennies any more in Canada).
I loved Vince, his voice and his presence. He was the perfect mix of good meets bad and an amazing example of where lines are blurred to support family and friends. I adored Kim too! I love when the couple in the book are just as strong. She did none of those TSTL things that heroines do in suspense books. She let her man take care of business and then held her own when the smexy times came around.
Now, to be honest...about 8$ of the 8.99$ was spent because Baba had rated this one in orally fixated orgasmic stars...well, you know that I was gonna hit that up! Baba is so right! Cara (Meg) writes amazing love scenes and they are the perfect mix of description with lots of dialogue (dirty little secret...I love dialogue in a smexy scene)!
Any whoooo...get this book. Not a "biker" book of any sort, but a great story, hint of mystery and great dialogue, interplay and character development. LOVED!!! Thanks for the heads up my friend...keep the recommendations rolling.
I for one will be reading the Desert Dogs #2...Raina, Miah, Welch...how is that gonna play out???
Baba reviewed this one...and her review is AWESOME. I had this one on my TBR, but after reading her review, I laid out the big bucks (8.99$ for a digital, which for those who know me is a huge stretch since I usually beg authors for ARCs or hit NetGalley to support my addiction). Well, friends...this book is worth every single penny (not that we have pennies any more in Canada).
I loved Vince, his voice and his presence. He was the perfect mix of good meets bad and an amazing example of where lines are blurred to support family and friends. I adored Kim too! I love when the couple in the book are just as strong. She did none of those TSTL things that heroines do in suspense books. She let her man take care of business and then held her own when the smexy times came around.
Now, to be honest...about 8$ of the 8.99$ was spent because Baba had rated this one in orally fixated orgasmic stars...well, you know that I was gonna hit that up! Baba is so right! Cara (Meg) writes amazing love scenes and they are the perfect mix of description with lots of dialogue (dirty little secret...I love dialogue in a smexy scene)!
Any whoooo...get this book. Not a "biker" book of any sort, but a great story, hint of mystery and great dialogue, interplay and character development. LOVED!!! Thanks for the heads up my friend...keep the recommendations rolling.
I for one will be reading the Desert Dogs #2...Raina, Miah, Welch...how is that gonna play out???
Read
May 10, 2017Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into this book. From the start I hadn't been feeling it, but then our two mains met I decided to give it another chance. I just didn't feel anything. Not even a spark. This could have nothing to do with the author or the book and just my mood and therefore I've decided not to rate this book. Sorry ladies, I know there were high hope for me and jamming with this book. :(
June 12, 2014
Finally! A Cara McKenna heroine I totally like. And bonus - a side female character that I totally really liked too.I am a fan of this author, she has written a few of my favorite steamiest romances. But it never fails that in previous books, there is always something about her heroines that really freaking bugs me. It's usually her heroes and her stories that make up for it. Not this time! The hero, the heroine, the supporting characters who will inevitably get their HEAs in future books. Welllll the plot was a little draggy here and there, but establishing a series can be tricky. I am excited for this series and believe existing fans are gonna love, and so will new McKenna fans. I enjoyed her spin on motorcycle roughnecks, I didn't feel like she was giving us the same old Kristen Ashley (Motorcycle Man, Chaos), Joanna Wylde (Reaper's) and Madeline Sheehan (Undeniable) Motorcycle Club series. These guys just love to ride, and are friends. And are hot and each appealing in their own way. Applause for this new series!
March 15, 2018
3.25 stars
Definitely not the best book Ms.McKenna has written, but also not the worst. This is not an MC book. For the most part I enjoyed it. However it was such a close storyline to another book I read years ago by a different author, I kept getting confused. I felt the heroine lacked depth and so she was hard to relate to. I did not understand how it when her relationship with Vincent became more than a fling.
Safe book.
Definitely not the best book Ms.McKenna has written, but also not the worst. This is not an MC book. For the most part I enjoyed it. However it was such a close storyline to another book I read years ago by a different author, I kept getting confused. I felt the heroine lacked depth and so she was hard to relate to. I did not understand how it when her relationship with Vincent became more than a fling.
Safe book.
October 27, 2015
3-3.5 stars
This was a good story. I liked Kim and Vince and the story was enjoyable overall but there were a few times I had trouble feeling completely sucked in to the story. I will say I almost gave it 4 stars but for the most part it felt like more of a 3 star read and I just couldn't go 4 stars for the overall rating.
Kim is a photographer that comes to Fortuity to take promotional photos of construction of a casino that's being put up in town. Her mother died when she was young and her father became a controlling jerk in the guise of being protective and looking out for her. Kim got out of her dad's clutches, only to get involved with a guy that tried to push her around (in a nice way) as well. They end up breaking up right as Kim is starting her photo job in Fortuity.
Vince is a bit of both a good and bad guy. He works in a rock quarry but supplements his income with odd jobs, some of which aren't legal. He's been in jail (although it hasn't been for anything too serious) and is currently on probation. On the other hand, his mother has checked out (mentally) and he lives with her so he can take care of her. He doesn't sleep around constantly but when he does, he's never been one to get attached and is usually looking for the door soon after he's had his fun.
When the story begins, Vince gets a call from one of the sheriff's deputies, Alex. He and Alex have been friends for a long time (regardless of the fact that sometimes they fall on opposite sides of the law) and he's concerned when Alex wants to meet him at the bar talking about having seen some bones. Alex says he needs to talk to Vince about it and since he's freaked out, Alex agrees to meet him. Alex never makes it to the bar and the next day, Vince finds out that Alex supposedly died in a car accident. Vince thinks something is up with the whole "bones" thing and then Alex suddenly having a fatal accident but can't get anyone to believe him...not even some of his oldest friends. Around this time, Kim arrives in Fortuity for her photo shoot and decides she need s drink. She goes to the local bar and attracts the attention of Vince. Vince and some of the other residents of Fortuity aren't too happy about the casino being built because they like their small town and are worried about how the influx of tourists and such into the town will change it. When Vince finds out she works for the casino he's not thrilled but soon he gets over that because he's interested in Kim enough that he wants to get her in bed.
Vince and Kim don't jump into bed immediately and Kim makes him work for it because he starts out treating her like just another one night stand. To woo her, Vince takes her out into the wilderness on his motorcycle for some shots she wouldn't normally get and they explore their mutual attraction a bit. Kim isn't sure if Vince is the kind of guy she should be getting involved with but is very attracted to him and thinks that if nothing else, he might be an adventure. Along the way, Vince tells Kim about the issue with Alex and his "bones". He asks Kim to keep an eye out while she's taking photos of the construction site but neither of them actually think she'll see anything that will help. While this is going on, Vince's brother comes back to town after being gone for the last 9 years and Kim gets pulled into some family stuff and finds out more about Vince...some good, some not so much. Still, Kim finds that she likes him and wants to be with him and Vince is surprised to find that he feels the same. While all this is going on. Kim does end up being the key to Vince and his friends finding some evidence that proves something messed up is going on. As they figure the mystery out (at least partially) they also discover that they both have fallen for each other and want something more. The story ends with Vince and Kim starting on a HEA together.
This was an enjoyable story. I liked both Kim and Vince. They weren't perfect people but they worked well together, especially once they both realized their feelings and agreed that they wanted more with each other. It was a bit strange going into the story because I thought Vince was in a motorcycle MC but he wasn't..however, he and his friends decide to form one at the end of the story so it does become a MC story in the end. Overall, I liked the story and may decide to try more of the series in the future.
* note - I listened to the audio version of this story and the narrator did a very good job.
This was a good story. I liked Kim and Vince and the story was enjoyable overall but there were a few times I had trouble feeling completely sucked in to the story. I will say I almost gave it 4 stars but for the most part it felt like more of a 3 star read and I just couldn't go 4 stars for the overall rating.
Kim is a photographer that comes to Fortuity to take promotional photos of construction of a casino that's being put up in town. Her mother died when she was young and her father became a controlling jerk in the guise of being protective and looking out for her. Kim got out of her dad's clutches, only to get involved with a guy that tried to push her around (in a nice way) as well. They end up breaking up right as Kim is starting her photo job in Fortuity.
Vince is a bit of both a good and bad guy. He works in a rock quarry but supplements his income with odd jobs, some of which aren't legal. He's been in jail (although it hasn't been for anything too serious) and is currently on probation. On the other hand, his mother has checked out (mentally) and he lives with her so he can take care of her. He doesn't sleep around constantly but when he does, he's never been one to get attached and is usually looking for the door soon after he's had his fun.
When the story begins, Vince gets a call from one of the sheriff's deputies, Alex. He and Alex have been friends for a long time (regardless of the fact that sometimes they fall on opposite sides of the law) and he's concerned when Alex wants to meet him at the bar talking about having seen some bones. Alex says he needs to talk to Vince about it and since he's freaked out, Alex agrees to meet him. Alex never makes it to the bar and the next day, Vince finds out that Alex supposedly died in a car accident. Vince thinks something is up with the whole "bones" thing and then Alex suddenly having a fatal accident but can't get anyone to believe him...not even some of his oldest friends. Around this time, Kim arrives in Fortuity for her photo shoot and decides she need s drink. She goes to the local bar and attracts the attention of Vince. Vince and some of the other residents of Fortuity aren't too happy about the casino being built because they like their small town and are worried about how the influx of tourists and such into the town will change it. When Vince finds out she works for the casino he's not thrilled but soon he gets over that because he's interested in Kim enough that he wants to get her in bed.
Vince and Kim don't jump into bed immediately and Kim makes him work for it because he starts out treating her like just another one night stand. To woo her, Vince takes her out into the wilderness on his motorcycle for some shots she wouldn't normally get and they explore their mutual attraction a bit. Kim isn't sure if Vince is the kind of guy she should be getting involved with but is very attracted to him and thinks that if nothing else, he might be an adventure. Along the way, Vince tells Kim about the issue with Alex and his "bones". He asks Kim to keep an eye out while she's taking photos of the construction site but neither of them actually think she'll see anything that will help. While this is going on, Vince's brother comes back to town after being gone for the last 9 years and Kim gets pulled into some family stuff and finds out more about Vince...some good, some not so much. Still, Kim finds that she likes him and wants to be with him and Vince is surprised to find that he feels the same. While all this is going on. Kim does end up being the key to Vince and his friends finding some evidence that proves something messed up is going on. As they figure the mystery out (at least partially) they also discover that they both have fallen for each other and want something more. The story ends with Vince and Kim starting on a HEA together.
This was an enjoyable story. I liked both Kim and Vince. They weren't perfect people but they worked well together, especially once they both realized their feelings and agreed that they wanted more with each other. It was a bit strange going into the story because I thought Vince was in a motorcycle MC but he wasn't..however, he and his friends decide to form one at the end of the story so it does become a MC story in the end. Overall, I liked the story and may decide to try more of the series in the future.
* note - I listened to the audio version of this story and the narrator did a very good job.
July 9, 2018
I'm not sure why the average rating for this book is so low...I absolutely loved it. It's not a traditional "biker" book, so maybe that's why.
As with any Cara McKenna book, the characters are deep and well thought out. They seem like very real people with flaws and thoughts and reactions.
Vince is consumed by his friend's mysterious death. No one believes him but he cannot ignore his gut. When he meets Kim, there is intense attraction and the sparks fly. But in his heart, Vince doesn't think she'll stay for the long run.
As with any Cara McKenna book, the characters are deep and well thought out. They seem like very real people with flaws and thoughts and reactions.
Vince is consumed by his friend's mysterious death. No one believes him but he cannot ignore his gut. When he meets Kim, there is intense attraction and the sparks fly. But in his heart, Vince doesn't think she'll stay for the long run.
August 22, 2014
“Hold on tight, now. Don’t be shy.”
Kim Paget rolls into the small western town of Fortuity, Nevada, and she’s got her camera and her determination. Her camera turns out to be more useful than she anticipates, and her determination to get control of her life(live a little) puts her into contact with Vince Grossier, a man with a quicksilver smile and a quicker charisma.
Her gaze had moved to his mouth, and he dropped his own to her lap, smiling. “Got an oral fixation.”
Vince is first presented as a man who pays attention and follows his instinct. Then he is successfully shown to be the wild playboy, a great potential who stayed in a small town with not much going for him. Surprisingly, the balance of these two sides to Vince’s character work well to give him enough complexity to keep you interested. And of course the element of suspense doesn’t hurt.
Bones could mean anything.
A mysterious death of a friend leads Vince down a dangerous path. He rallies his long-time friends, a group he nostalgically calls Desert Dogs. They are secondary characters that have histories of their own, whose point of views add great flavor to the plotline. Another secondary character who almost steals the show is a lawyer/PR manager who inadvertently finds himself like Kim, in a desert town, amongst a group of rebel friends who’d prefer rough and tumble to polish and champagne any day of the week. They live by their own rules.
I just might make a habit of you
A certain moment between Vince and Kim stuck with me. Though Kim is not made as complex as Vince or even the other characters, the romance of this piece is enhanced by Vince’s unwanted need for Kim and her conviction to stay with him, even though they haven’t known each other for long.
I would say that this was a case of insta-love, but refreshingly, it didn’t feel like it. Instead, it felt like two people with a healthy attraction for each other, who were willing to see where this thing might take them. No declaration was too over the top.
“And you’re in a motorcycle gang or something? Sorry—motorcycle club..."
“Neither.”
I call this an MC extra-lite book because motorcycles are present. The group of friends operate more like a secret or unofficial club and some sense of loyalty and/or childhood bonding ties them together. Either way, I had too much fun with this book to discount its overall impression as mediocre. Sure, there are some holes in the storyline and the suspense is not as wrapped up in this first installment, so it's more of a 3.5 star rating, but I’m gonna give it 4 stars for keeping my interest, being light and being chock full of intriguing characterization.
I shall read the next in this series.
Kim Paget rolls into the small western town of Fortuity, Nevada, and she’s got her camera and her determination. Her camera turns out to be more useful than she anticipates, and her determination to get control of her life(live a little) puts her into contact with Vince Grossier, a man with a quicksilver smile and a quicker charisma.
Her gaze had moved to his mouth, and he dropped his own to her lap, smiling. “Got an oral fixation.”
Vince is first presented as a man who pays attention and follows his instinct. Then he is successfully shown to be the wild playboy, a great potential who stayed in a small town with not much going for him. Surprisingly, the balance of these two sides to Vince’s character work well to give him enough complexity to keep you interested. And of course the element of suspense doesn’t hurt.
Bones could mean anything.
A mysterious death of a friend leads Vince down a dangerous path. He rallies his long-time friends, a group he nostalgically calls Desert Dogs. They are secondary characters that have histories of their own, whose point of views add great flavor to the plotline. Another secondary character who almost steals the show is a lawyer/PR manager who inadvertently finds himself like Kim, in a desert town, amongst a group of rebel friends who’d prefer rough and tumble to polish and champagne any day of the week. They live by their own rules.
I just might make a habit of you
A certain moment between Vince and Kim stuck with me. Though Kim is not made as complex as Vince or even the other characters, the romance of this piece is enhanced by Vince’s unwanted need for Kim and her conviction to stay with him, even though they haven’t known each other for long.
I would say that this was a case of insta-love, but refreshingly, it didn’t feel like it. Instead, it felt like two people with a healthy attraction for each other, who were willing to see where this thing might take them. No declaration was too over the top.
“And you’re in a motorcycle gang or something? Sorry—motorcycle club..."
“Neither.”
I call this an MC extra-lite book because motorcycles are present. The group of friends operate more like a secret or unofficial club and some sense of loyalty and/or childhood bonding ties them together. Either way, I had too much fun with this book to discount its overall impression as mediocre. Sure, there are some holes in the storyline and the suspense is not as wrapped up in this first installment, so it's more of a 3.5 star rating, but I’m gonna give it 4 stars for keeping my interest, being light and being chock full of intriguing characterization.
I shall read the next in this series.
July 22, 2021
3.5
Tom Weiner does a good job at narrating this story. His woman ‘voice’ was pretty good, and he does a great job at all the different male voices too.
This is not a MC book, it’s more of a murder/mystery/small town story. It centers on a group of men who ride motorcycles and have been friends since childhood.
Kim is a photographer, hired by a casino development poised to take over the small town called Fortunity. Most of the town’s residents don’t want the casino but it’s being build as this story begins. Vince gets a call one late night from a friend that he’s seen something that has shook him at the building site and wants to talk to Vince about it…but he never makes that meeting.
There is a small paranormal/mysticism side of the story with Vince’s mother having ‘visions' that predict the future. I liked Vince and Kim’s budding romance and snark.
This description of Vince’s bike perfectly describes his personality as well.
Tom Weiner does a good job at narrating this story. His woman ‘voice’ was pretty good, and he does a great job at all the different male voices too.
This is not a MC book, it’s more of a murder/mystery/small town story. It centers on a group of men who ride motorcycles and have been friends since childhood.
Kim is a photographer, hired by a casino development poised to take over the small town called Fortunity. Most of the town’s residents don’t want the casino but it’s being build as this story begins. Vince gets a call one late night from a friend that he’s seen something that has shook him at the building site and wants to talk to Vince about it…but he never makes that meeting.
There is a small paranormal/mysticism side of the story with Vince’s mother having ‘visions' that predict the future. I liked Vince and Kim’s budding romance and snark.
This description of Vince’s bike perfectly describes his personality as well.
“It’s very you, that bike. Fast and dirty and loud.”All in all, a good story.
“Watch it, missy. My girl hums like a lullaby.”
“Oh yeah. Completely.”
“You’re just not listening right, that’s all.”
“I suppose my hearing’s too sensitive.”
“Just the opposite. You listen properly, behind the growl, it’s all purrs. Pure pussycat.”
September 5, 2014
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 5, 2014
I just couldnt connect with the characters and it was a bit boring. A disappointment from McKenna. I probably wont be finishing this one
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