Only Trick

by Jewel E. Ann

“Don’t Look Back in Anger” In one night, I lost five years of my life. Here’s what I know … I was homeless. I’m a recovering drug addict. My inked skin crawls from lustful eyes. I have a serious aversion to women. My gay partner is a home wrecker. I own a gun and I’m a damn good shot. I’m a makeup artist, but it’s an insult to my talent. I’ve never wanted to possess anything except my Ducati … until I met Darby. Now here’s what I know since that day in the ER when she pieced me back together … nothing—but a few random thoughts. My new “friend” is distracting, clingy, and obsessed with acronyms, emojis, and phrases like “breakfast soul mates.” I didn’t want to like her, but she crawled under my skin and swallowed me whole. Now we’re best friends and she’s my new addiction. I'd drink her from a shot glass, snort her up my nose, or inject her into my veins if I could. What I won’t do … is ever tell her that. She doesn’t know me … I don’t know me. When those missing years come back, I think she will hate me … I think I will hate me. My parents named me Patrick Roth, and this is my story.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, Friends To Lovers, Adult, Humor

440 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 13, 2015

About the author

Jewel is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today best selling author with a quirky sense of humor. When she's not saving the planet one tree at a time, you can find her role modeling questionable behavior to her three boys, binge-watching Netflix with her husband, and writing mind-bending romance.

Her newest release is I Thought of You, a contemporary romance/women's fiction.

Upcoming Projects: Sunday Morning, book 1 in the Sunday Morning Series coming in Sept. 2024.
Stay in the loop by subscribing to her newsletter!—> Sign up here!

Reviews

[Geri Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

It was the blurb hooked me. I mean, come on. It's not everyday that you read about an amnesiac, gay, make-up artist for a hero. And for the first 15%, this book lived up to its promise.

The angst that came from longing after the unattainable was a great. The conflict, the guilt that Darby feels about her growing feelings for Trick only heightened the angst level of the book. Trick was an enigma and readers get an inkling that something about him isn't quite right. I liked Darby. She's awkward and pushy and her inner monologue was funny. At first.

Everything was fine until they got together and Trick decided to become and asshole and Darby quit being cute.

Then everything unraveled after that.

Darby became a clingy, obsessed, jealous and irresponsible woman with no purpose outside of Trick. He became her everything. She didn't think twice about quitting her job without notice to move to Mexico and get married without even informing her beloved Nana.

Yes, this is romance and yes, the heroine is supposed to love the hero but I could not for the life of me root for a heroine who would willingly lose her self-identity because of a guy. It just doesn't do it for me. I'm sorry but that's just unhealthy. I don't care if he's the most handsome or the most outstanding guy in the world, you are still a separate being from your lover or husband. It just didn't feel romantic to me.

And Trick...ugh, he suddenly became an obsessed, jealous, overbearing jerkwad whose vocabulary consist only of the word "come" and twitches his lips at a drop of the hat. He doesn't respect her boundaries. He had security cameras set up in his bedroom that records everything and the heroine didn't know this. When she did, she asked him to delete something because she was embarrassed. Guess what this asshole did? He just laughed at her and told her not to worry because it's hot and he got off on it.

Did I mention he's also irrationally jealous? He doesn't like it when Darcy talks with another guy but when Darcy gets jealous because -- oh, I don't know --Trick happens to be staring at a pair of impressive "rack" he gets all condescending and tells her it's so hot when she gets jealous?? WTELF!! He laughs at her feelings and totally manipulates her into doing what he wants. And Darcy, seriously, had she at least pushed back and called him on his BS would have been interesting. But tries many times but then he kisses her and she's overcome with lust and the issue doesn't get mentioned again. >_<

70% of the book was about Darcy and Trick constantly feeling jealous, possessive and horny for each other. The sex was hot until it became mundane. Things got boring and repetitive. Wake up, lip twitch, sex, breakfast, texting, lip twitch, sex, dinner, sex, jealous, lip twitch, sex, sleep, sex, oh eat jelly...lip twitch, sex...you get the picture.

Underneath all that, we get the looming threat of Trick's past hanging over their heads and all I could think of was "OMG, let's get to the good part already!" The good part came at around 85%-ish. We get the whole reveal about Trick's past. I actually liked this part. Even though some of his back story didn't quite make sense to me but I still liked how the reveal happened. I liked how they come together at the end.

Then the epilogue happened....

I have no words at how idiotic it was. Honestly. Trick said that he lost his parents when he was 15 years old. Well, Darby found them alive. And their reason for leaving Trick??? His mom got sick so his dad took him back to her grandparents so she can get well LEAVING TRICK BEHIND in New York. Why? "Because you're always so smart so we know you're going to be okay."

Spoiler Alert: He wasn't okay. He became homeless, became a junkie and lost his fucking memory!!!

*flips table*

And everyone was just crying and forgiving and crying and was so happy Trick got everyone and everything back.

The end.

ARC provided via NetGalley.

[Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****FOUR STARS*****



Just feet away from my gate, I close my eyes and let the tears fall. It hurts so damn bad. I've fallen in love with my best friend and he can never love me back.









I've been dying to read this one after having seen the synopsis and reading a couple of my friend's reviews on GR. At the same time I was also a little hesitant because there were some unfavorable reviews as well. What I should have learned by now is that we don't always agree with everyone's opinions. This story was so very entertaining and gave me many "feels" . It turned out to be so far from what I had expected. I will try not to give much away.




Darby Carmichael is a PA, who works in the ER of a Chicago Hospital. During one of her shifts she is presented with an outrageously gorgeous patient who is in need of some stitches. Trick Roth is every woman's wet dream with his bad boy looks and attitude. Darby gets a little tongue tied and goofy in his presence. As luck would have it, they will meet each other again. Her hair stylist sets her up with an appointment with a makeup artist, who turns out to be Trick. He's quite aloof and even a bit abrasive. Trick doesn't particularly trust or even like women, but somehow these two keep running into each other and develop a close friendship.




I loved Darby in the beginning because she was so funny and a bit awkward with people as she never had a real friendship with anyone other than her Nana. She has a very tense and toxic relationship with her father, who is married to a wealthy socialite that is also a bitch to the extreme. Darby also hasn't ever been in a serious relationship with a man. She has had many one night stands and sex only relationships, but has never felt the desire to connect with anyone. Until she meets Trick. Too bad she soon finds out that he is GAY.



Trick definitely had me swooning from the get go. I always love the guys who act like complete assholes in the beginning. It makes things so much more meaningful when you get underneath all the layers of bullshit they camouflage their true selves with.




The whole short term amnesia thing kind of didn't work for me and the big reveal had me rolling my eyes and for this reason, the book couldn't make it to a Five Star read for me. That being said, the angst at times had me so sick to my stomach and the yummy steamy scenes had me in need of a few cold showers. Those secret masturbation sessions of Darby's were freaking HOT!!!!




I don't know that this would be for everyone out there, but it definitely was a WINNER for me. I was very happy with how it all ended and I've never read any books by this author before, but I will definitely be checking out her other works.

[Patrycja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Only Trick
Series: Standalone
Author: Jewel E Ann
Release Date: 13 april , 2015
Rating: 5 stars
Cliffhanger:. No
HEA: Yes






Do you know the feeling when you read a book that takes your breath away and creates all those warm and fuzzy emotions that kind of fill to the brim your soul? That you feel so full and so happy and just… damn, you don’t want the feeling to ever go away? It doesn’t happen frequently. The Bookworm High is as rare as pink glittery unicorns strolling down the mall (at least in my case).

Frankly, these days no often do I get the chance to read something that would captivate all of me: my heart, my mind and my soul, and that’s why I tresure every single book that can make that happen. You just can’t imagine how happy I am to finally get another new addition to my special book collection of favorites.




Darby is working in the ER. Saving people’s lifes or generally helping them is her passion. She loves everything about her work, as it gives her purpose and makes her feel confident and needed. Even though she comes from money you would never know. Darby is a good person, she’s also socially akward, smart-ass, hilarious, clumsy and total nut job! She’s the best!



One day, Patrick Roth comes to her ER to get stitches. Immediately the tattoed, hot piece of a man, takes Darby breath away along with few of her brain cells. She tries to hold herself together, as she doesn’t want him to see how much she’s affected by his hotness. After this one encounter, Darby and Trick meet again, and again. Quickly they become friends and have absolutely weird, yet charming relationship. But Darby craves more than friendship, she wants to win over Trick’s heart, but she would settle even for a roll in the hay with him. There is a big obstacle, though. She doesn’t have the right ‘equipment’. Trick is gay.

“Why I torture myself is beyond me, but I can’t stop. Maybe I’m a masochist. Being around Trick and knowing he doesn’t want me the way I want him is masturbation without the release.”

Trick is as unique male hero as they come. He’s a makeup artist, drives a bike, has tattoos all over his body, is gay and despises women in general. He’s bad ass alpha. And there is a big part of his life he doesn’t remember. After an accident few years before he lost 5 years of memories.

I won’t be sharing more. It’s better to go into this book blind and just enjoy it. The only thing you have to know is that there is much more to the plot than Darby chasing after gay man.



“I need you to paint my future, write my story in permanent marker, just like the mark you left on my heart the day we met. Your touch is the only thing I feel, your voice the only thing I hear, your face the only thing I see, but your love … your love, my beauty, is the only thing I need.”

This story is very sweet, sexy and funny. Great combo if you ask me. Only Trick turned up to be phenomenal read. It made me all gooey inside. If I had to use only one word to describe it I would simply say AWESOME. There is really no point in looking for a better word; the writing, the plot, the characters are just AWESOME. Period.




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[Mysza · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 3,5 stars ***



Darby is a physician assistant working in the ER where she first meets Trick. They meet again and again by coincidence, Trick reluctantly helps Darby when she needs it, though he doesn't hide that he is very dissatisfied by that fact. He acts like jerk and Derby gives him an earful, he calls her names, she calls him names, they separate in anger.

Trick can't stand that she thinks he's an asshole and apologizes, the rest is history, they are best friends from now on. Trick, you would think, is unattainable at first , but that still doesn't stop Darby from lusting after her gay best friend. I don't blame the girl because who wouldn't lust after tattooed, sinfully sexy, broody but cocky and mysterious breakfast soul mate. She was not too bad herself either. She was very likeable character, funny, witty and a real next door kinda girl, I liked her humor and inner dialogue.

Since things are not what they seem, soon enough their friendship, after small bump, transforms into love relationship. I liked the pace of them getting together, and I liked how their relationship developed, Trick had some serious things from past and Darby had her father and step mom to deal with, but together they were strong and good. Also, the steam was pretty high and sex scenes well done.

I loved first 60% of the book and it was strong 5 for me, but then the book went little downhill and that's when I started to have problem with my rating. It was because of Trick actually, at some point he started to get on my nerves, and while his cockiness was sexy at the beginning, in the end he started to look like an asshole. It were small things, nuances really, but they managed to made me like him less.
* rushed "marriage ceremony" planned by Trick only because some young surfer looked at Darby, idk, to mark his territory?
* or how he shut himself in another bedroom for a few days because he had to finish a drawing and lied about what he was drawing and was cold and distant then
* or how he acted jealous when Darby was spending time with new neighbours though he was the one who neglected her
* or how he was checking some girl's rack just after the marriage ceremony because he was a boob man, but hey he thought everything was cool because he loved Darby and he can look but doesn't want to touch, just admire
* or how he took her to get ring tattoos without consulting it with her, who knows, maybe a girl wanted a REAL ring?

I didn't like the big reveal at the end too, but on the contrary, I liked how their relationship status was solved after that. And I think that epilogue was unnecessary and totally spoiled the ending. Long-lost parents suddenly found were total BS. Trick grew up homeless with his parents and they just vanished when he was 15, left him alone on the streets. It turned out, his mother was sick so they went back to his grandparents to get her help, only they forgot to take their son with them. I mean, come on, I'm mom, things like that don't sit well with me, I would never abandon my kid like that. And they are back and good after all those years and everyone is happy. Really???

But.... I have to give the book its justice, because when I finished it, except things I mentioned in spoilers, I liked it overall, especially the first half, which was intense and a little angsty, and I would still recommend it, even just for the first part.

ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[anouk♡ semi-hiatus · Rating 3 out of 5]

❝𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔, 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒆𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊 𝒂𝒎. 𝒊 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆, 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒓, 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒕.❞

━━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━━

❥ 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒓:

even though i gave this book 3 stars, this is going to be a rant. (still doubting if it’s 2 or 3 stars tbh)
if you love everything about this book, or if you don’t want any spoilers , i highly advice you to just scroll along and not read this.
i'm spoiling the whole thing including the epilogue so..

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

❥ 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆:
when i started this book, i absolutely adored it. i really thought i found a hidden gem, my new fav couple, the whole shebang - you get it. and for the first half of the book, that is exactly what happened. Darby and Trick are not the usual couple. when they meet, they don’t have an immediate connection. Darby is however immediately impressed. she can’t get over how hot Trick is. when she finds out Trick has a boyfriend, she decided to stay friends.
so i guess this is a ’we don’t really vibe to friends to lovers’ book.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
this is where the rant starts, because i’m upset that something that starts out great, ends so bad.
this is also where the spoilers start.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

like i said, the first 50% was great. Darby is growing as a person, standing up for herself, making choices that benefit her instead of everyone around her. Trick seems like a bad boy but is really nice if you knock that big wall down.

━━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━━

❥ 𝒔𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒈𝒐 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈:
the second half of the book, they’re married. and 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗦
Darby becomes the worlds biggest pushover.
for example:

⁀➷ she moves to a different country and leaves her grandma, house, all her belongings and her job behind just because Trick decided so.
⁀➷ she never wanted a tattoo, but Trick drove her to a shop so now she has one.
there are a lot of examples but i think this paints the picture well enough..

Trick does so many things that are close to ‘the line’. i guess he’s not crossing it, depending on where your line is.. but he just does stuff that isn’t nice and i wonder why, when he claims he’s with the love of his life. he makes Darby very insecure with his behavior, which is obviously an issue she’s got to work on herself.. but in the beginning he seemed accommodating to her, try to make her feel safe and build something together, and now he seems to just not care. it also doesn’t matter angry Darby gets, because 5 seconds later she forgot because he’s just that hot.

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

❥ 𝑻𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒔’ 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕:
there was also a side plot where Trick doesn’t remember a part of his past. bits and pieces come back to him throughout the book, and obviously it’s not good. fun fact: he lies about it all to Darby even though it is a massive secret that involves her as well.

━━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━━

❥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒖𝒑 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑:
in the beginning everything was fine. we got to know them, it wasn’t an instant connection and it developed in a nice pace. However, when they got to the part where they admitted they were in love they did overdo it A LOT. where the beginning was mostly was cute and nice (even though they had there crazy moments as well), it now just seems toxic.
it also got veryyy repetitive; the whole story was basically:
sex, jealousy, sex, toxicity, sex, sexual comments, sex, lusting over partner, sex, arguments and fights, sex, repeat.
not to mention i don’t ever want to hear about trick’s lip twitch again.
i checked, the lip twitch is mentioned 35 times!
that’s a lot of twitching. i don’t care how sexy it is, you don’t need to bring it up that many times. at some point i got worried he had some nerve damage or something.

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

❥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈:
honestly, it was messy. not to repeat myself a million times, but the beginning the pacing was fine. romance was building, relationships were forming, you get the picture. but then at the halfway point, i felt like the romance part was done? we kind of got to the ‘end game’ point already and there was half a book left.
the whole ‘Trick-past situation’ was nowhere near done though.. it felt like the main story line was finished first, the subplot was written later and instead of intertwining them, they were put back to back. meaning with had half a book left, where we just had to suffer through their toxic horrible marriage.

━━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━━

❥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆:
another part of Tricks’ life i didn’t talk about yet, is that he was an orphan. when he was 15 years old, he lost both his parents and he had to find his own way.
BUT… ⁂ 𝚍𝚛𝚞𝚖𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 ⁂ 🥁

his parents are alive! 💀 like?? wtf.
now you probably think: they must have an insanely good reason to leave their 15 year old child to the streets to figure out life on his own right? RIGHT?
okay so.. his mom got really sick so his dad decided to get her back to her parents to get better. and at the ripe age of 15 years old, they thought he would be totally fine on his own because he was always so smart and creative.
first of all: that’s insane, you’re the worst parents ever. but also, why not tell him anything? he thought you were both dead, you freaking monsters.
anyway everyone in this book was totally fine with what happened and were just happy they were back and it was like an ‘emotional reunion’. not a single person asked wtf was wrong with them 🙄

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌!

writing this whole thing out makes me think if 3 stars isn’t a bit high..
but oh well, i enjoyed the beginning and i’m feeling generous today. 🫶🏼

━━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━━

❥ 𝒒𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:

❛𝘪 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘣.
𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶?❜

❛𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴.❜

❛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘪 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭. 𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘴. 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 … 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴❜

❛𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳. 𝘪 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘪 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦: 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.❜

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I'll always choose you."

This story and rating sadly went downhill for me the more I read and I really just HATED the reveal of Trick's missing years and the epilogue was simply dumb.



On the positive side, I did like the heroine she was very funny and well done and the hero and sex scenes were pretty steamy.

[Shabby -BookBistroBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jewel's backlog book which had me falling head over heels in love with her all over again. She's got this ability to write each book as a masterpiece in itself, leaving you pining and craving for her particular brand of exceptionalism like an addict. I'm a thorough superfan, die hard devotee like hundreds of her other readers, but maybe I'm a chose few who she deems worthy of calling a member of her tribe 🥰🥰 I love you Sinceriously ❤️
This book is a mesmerizing tale of man trying to find his way out of the impenetrable cavern of his past life, in the complete dark and a girl who accidentally becomes a fellow traveler on his quest. The Trick to open his lockbox of memories might not be a good thing cause they didn't know what the closet hides behind its closed doors!!
"And then she gave me her last heartbeat as I took my first breath."



One Fateful Night changes the composition of life of excess and debauchery for Patrick "Trick" Roth and he just wanders off into an unknown oblivion of his mind. Watching his back are Grady and his sister Tamsen, but the dark patch of missing 5 years are keeping him from finding his bearings. He closes his mind, his body, his heart. Living life one makeup brush at a time, his personal space is invaded by Darby Carmichael and in that instant his life changes direction again.
My journey through Jewel's Backlist has lead me to this treasure. I can safely say, Trick has become my top book boyfriend for all time! This Guyliner wearing Ducati Lover just zoomed in my heart, leaving treadmarks behind. His intensity, voice, his gaze had Darby stupefied.



"for the love of all things skin-tingling, breathtaking, and nipple-hardening sexy … Trick in black guyliner makes me crave friction in my girly parts like nothing and no one before."
In the same vein, the carefully constructed impenetrable walls around Tricks heart get a hole punched through and his mistrusting women heart starts beating again.
Their sexual chemistry is nothing short of explosion.
"The choir singing hallelujah echoes in my ears while the ball drops in Times Square with a mind-blowing fireworks display behind my tightly closed eyes, and every nerve in my body cheers in a pandemonium of celebration."



Darby, like every Jewel heroine, is a model of sass and verve, posesser of a kickAss sense of humor and compassionate heart. She's beautiful, funny, sexy and full of life. Desperately tr0ying to ditch her "Darby the Doormat" personality she's on a mission to knock down doors and punch walls.



The story isn't too complicated yet my wide eyed amazement and heart tingles stay the same. Exceptional is the word that comes to mind when describing this story by Sagacious jewel. Her insight and wisdom leave me spellbound everytime. Now I've started the Holding Duet, my last books unread in Jewel's Oeuvre!!
5 stars for BFFs & BSMs
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[~♡AB♡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★ 4.5 Stars ★★★★



This book was such an amazing surprise, I loved the characters and the story so much and I am happy to report I have discovered myself a great new author.

Darby Carmichael is a Physician's Assistant working in the ER in a hospital in Chicago when Patrick 'Trick' Roth comes in for some stitches. He's hot and tatted and brooding, so she's all up in that, acting all clumsy and unlike her usual calm and professional self.

When a week rolls by and her hairdresser recommends the make up artist across the road to do her face for a charity gala she is shocked to discover who will be doing his magic on her and even though she's informed that he is gay, she can't help but feel flustered around him.

Not before long, Darby and Trick become BFF's and breakfast soul mates, with a quirky relationship that is fast becoming something entirely different.

The first third of this book was very intense and I was worried that it was going to reach its peak too early. Whilst it did lose momentum a little bit, it still managed to progress into an equally intense love affair that had some wonderfully magic moments.

I loved that they would text each other when needing to tell the other something important, I loved that Trick would just give one simple command of 'come' when he wanted Darby to come close to him, there were so many little things and rituals that made my heart melt.

I also loved the mystery of Trick's past and how we couldn't begin to guess what secrets were hidden.

Yeah, the epilogue was a bit cheesy, but who doesn't love a bit of cheese on toast with jelly every once in a while.

Told 95% in Darby's POV, this is a standalone novel.

ARC gratefully received via Netgalley

Images featured in this review were created by me using stock images either purchased from deposit photo or from free stock sites.

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Breakfast Soulmate Stars



Title: Only Trick
Series: Standalone
Author: Jewel E. Ann
Release date: April 12, 2015
Rating: 4.5 stars
Cliffhanger:No
HEAYes



This is not my first Jewel E. Ann book, but this was a quite a pleasant surprise. I went into this hopeful, but trying not to let my expectations run away with me. After reading Holding You, I saw a whole lot of talent in the storytelling, but unfortunately the story itself I didn't end up loving. What I liked about this author in the past was here: intriguing and engaging characters that were well developed. And a fantastic, witty humor infused throughout the book that gave me one big, perpetual smile. Let me tell you, this book had its intense moments, but the heroine's playful levity balanced everything out to make a nicely fine tuned and well rounded book.

I enjoyed this sassy heroine so much! Darby is a girl whose life is stuck in a rut. She's a physician's assistant in the ER who loves her job but continues to get all of the most cringeworthy and undesirable cases. She takes a lot of crap from a lot of people and it's beginning to wear on her.



Even in the adult world, bullies pop balloons. If I were a guy, I'd be grabbing my crotch looking for my balls. Yep, they're still there, shoe marks and all.

Her family is snobby at best and emotionally abusive at worst. Her father is a politician whose only tender side is the one presented in public to impress the media. Her boyfriend is an egotistical tool who likes to refer to himself in the third person during sex.



So she has all of that to be bitter about. (She's not) What she actually is, is funny. Her inner dialogue in the first chapter alone made me a very happy woman; I couldn't stop chuckling. When she comes face to face with Trick in an exam room, every bit of her sense and her ability to speak evaporates. She's completely stunned by his male beauty and intimidated by his fuck off vibes. I really felt for the poor girl. Though she's instantly exploding in lust, panting after him like a dog in heat, he appears to want nothing to do with women.

Trick is gay.

She comes to find out that it's almost a blessing in disguise. Almost. They're able to spend some time together as Trick slowly lets his guard down. She finds out that he's a make up artist and he has a shady history that he won't speak of; he's seeped in mystery which only serves to build his intrigue more. The shadows surrounding him leave a very ominous feeling to build and you don't get many answers until the end.



Darcy becomes comfortable around him enough to be herself and let her true personality out. If there's one thing that Trick appreciates, it's honest people, and he hasn't come across anyone quite so straightforward and real as Darby.

"I have a vagina, you know?" Vibrant white teeth peek through his uncontrolled smirk.
"I heard that rumor."
"Can you deal with it?"

One thing that clear about Trick: he's imposing and kind of an asshole, but under all of that, he's vulnerable and trying to protect himself. He was so rude and blunt at times, but I couldn't help loving him. His feelings for Darby grew from exasperation and anger to a bond that's rooted in respect and friendship. He puts up with her silliness and gives her back all the shit she deals to him.

He's a take-me-as-I-am-I don't-give-a-shit guy, stopping on the confidence scale a hair shy of arrogant-aka make-you-beg-for-it-sexy. I've met my match.

I loved these two, they were complete opposites but at the same time, they understood each other implicitly like no one in their lives ever had before. They had much more in common than appeared on the surface. The sexual tension grew and thickened. He was clearly off bounds, but that wasn't stopping Darby from developing feelings for him that could never be returned.



I loved Trick, his dominant personality with a fierce protectiveness and affection for Darcy. He was strong, sexy, and an amazingly talented guy. He was a force to be reckoned with; could she weather the storm? All will be revealed in the end.

I just couldn't give it a full five stars as much as I enjoyed it. The reveal of his past wasn't quite as dark as I was expecting after all of the build up to be honest. But I couldn't find it in myself to rate any lower, I looked past that and the HEA on speed (it was extremely improbable and tied up in a perfect bow). But the fact that I was highlighting the story like crazy and read the book in almost one sitting speaks for itself. This book was a joy and a wild experience all at the same time. If you're looking for a book with originality, a fierce and unorthodox love, Only Trick could be for you. I can't recommend it enough.



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[Catarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Emoji Stars.

Darby meets broody and mysterious Trick in a night on the ER, when he needs stitches and she treats him. She immediately becomes attracted with him and with the time some sort of friendship starts to develop between them. The problem? Trick’s gay.
But Trick’s also don’t remember a great deal of his past and he maintains secret the parts he does remember. And when Darby starts to get close with him she realizes that in Trick’s life is nothing is what it seems… and that some things would be better to say forgotten in the past.



If you’re hesitant about this book because (A), this is described as New Adult, or (B) the hero is gay, don’t let that stop you. I didn’t feel like this was a NA book, nor I do understand why is it shelved that way. Yeah, the MC’s are in their twenties, but there is no juvenile or “coming of age” drama. And second, the gay issue is only a (very) small part of the plot.
I had some itches with the plot, especially the twists. What were supposed to be the two “biggest twists” were actually pretty obvious but somehow that predictability didn’t feel great.
However, this was a very well written book, engaging, with a refreshing storyline that grabbed from the beginning. If you’re in the mood for an “unusual” romance book, this is a very good choice.



Rating: 4 Stars,
Characters Development: Trick was pretty good in the beginning, until he started behaving like a possessive and unreasonably jealous asshole. Overall, I liked him, but he had some seriously bad attitudes. In the same way, Darby was pretty good in the beginning, until she suddenly became a doormat. Nana and Garry were the best characters of the book.
Steam: Hot.
Sensible Subjects: Besides some effed up past, with drugs, violence and so on? Not really.
Love Triangle: No.
Cheating: No.
HEA: Yes. With the cheesiest epilogue ever.

[Allison ❤️Will Never Conquer Her TBR❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

LIVE ON AMAZON- http://amzn.to/1aWARAs





4.5 BFF Breakfast-Soul-Mates Stars!





Only Trick was such an all-around great book! I requested an arc of this book strictly from the book blurb. The author was not known to me but something about it just looked different. I took a chance and I'm so happy I did!


In a nutshell, Darby Carmichael is a Physician's Assistant working in a busy Chicago Emergency Room when a squirrel comes in needing stitches. Now, I had zero clue what a squirrel was so I'll spoil it as I don't want you thinking the dude has a long fuzzy tail and stores up nuts in his cheeks- a squirrel is a hot-ass guy. But I digress...Patrick Roth (aka Trick) needs his hand stitched up and when Darby enters, she's tripping over herself at the sight of him.



"Cut my hand...tightening a bolt." Yep, his voice is just as dark as the rest of his suffocating sexiness. It's deep with a slight raspy edge that allows me to actually feel it, not just hear it. He might as well have said, "I just dropped by to suck on your nipples."



Darby runs into Trick soon after when she needs her hair and makeup done for a election dinner. The daughter of a US Senator, it's all about image with her father. Trick is an makeup artist... At first a bit aloof, cocky, yet Darby can resist her attraction to him. Dark hair, tattoos...guy liner? What guy is hot in guy liner!? Trick.


Trick hides behind his cocky good looks. A victim of a car accident, he suffers from amnesia. Five years of his life are wiped clean. One thing he knows for certain...he's not comfortable around women. He doesn't trust them for some reason. And it's more than them constantly touching and falling all over him. So he calls himself gay. Which has worked...till Darby.





First, I fell in love with the humor in this story. At the risk of comparing authors, I think it's fair in this instance. There's an undercurrent of endearing comedy infused throughout the book much like you'd find in a Penny Reid story. Seriously, from page one I was laughing out loud at Darby's inner monologue. You find yourself smiling at your e-reader because you just can't help but love her. She doesn't have many people she can call friends so she latches onto Trick whether he likes it or not. His friendship is what she really pushes for at first. And she has a backbone. Not a weak heroine, thank f$ck.


Trick- in a blink of an eye, you go from laughing out loud at Darby to wanting to save this damaged hero. He doesn't stand a chance with her. All his previous antics to keep people at arm's length fail with Darby. She's immune to his aloofness. Chivalry is dead with him at first. But once he's on her radar, all bets are off. After all, don't we ALL want a 'gay' BFF? Commence her BFF emoji filled texts. He hates emojis! Loved this aspect of their relationship.





Second, the book really invests the reader wholeheartedly in their love story. Early on, Darby struggles with her growing feelings for her 'uninterested' best friend. Everything is strictly platonic so talk about lady blue balls! But rest assured, it's ramps up. I'll admit, in the middle, the day to day aspect of their life dragged a bit for me, but it all was for a purpose...to get our hearts so wrapped up in these two, the twist in the end is that much more shocking to the heart. Gah. What's Trick's story? How can someone get hit by a car and have nobody looking for him or caring about what happened to him?








Third, steam. Holy smoking kindles! Me likey Trick in zee bedroom...and elevator, and couch, and closet...you get me. Smokin! Combine his physical attributes to his dirty talking, and I'm in love!









Fourth, the secondary characters were zee bomb. His gay partner Grady almost stole the show for me. I'd LOVE to see an MM of his story. But her Nana was my show stopper. I had a total Betty White visual the entire book whenever she opened her mouth.


You used to be able to tell by the ear piercing—right for gay left for straight. Or is it the other way around? Anyway, these days everything gets pierced and so it becomes terribly confusing.”


Only Trick is the WHOLE PACKAGE. Steam, comedy, mild angst, slow-building suspense, endearing characters...just an all-around enjoyable read.






The only reason I deducted the half star was the tiny bit of drag in the middle. It served a purpose in the end though. But it was mainly due to a certain plot twist in the epilogue. PLEASE- Don't click spoiler if you haven't read this. I didn't love Darby finding and bringing his parents back at the end. Who would abandon their 15-year old kid to go get medical treatment in Minnesota? I would've been fine with them still out of the picture...considered dead. Sorry if that's cold-hearted but it wasn't a twist I needed in the end. Too much "wrapped up in a bow" for my taste.





Advanced copy received by author in exchange for an HONEST review.

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't expecting that...

Yeah, i was having a good feeling from the first moment i lay my eyes on that book, but still....
OMG!!!That book was so blow-minding!!!! It literally blew me off....

This story was sooooo.... interesting!!!

The two main characters were lovely...
The chemistry between them was intense!!!
Trick was an intrigue,mystery man who made my heart trobbing like crazy!!!

And Darby was sooooo funny!!! I was laughing so hard with her inner talk and her entire attitude...

Grady and Tamsen were "the" best BBF... I adore them, but most of them all, i fell in love with Nana...
What can i say about Nana??? This woman was unbelievable!!!
She was clever and hillarious at the same time!!!

You probably think that Nana was a young girl, but no, my friends!!!
Nana was an eighty years old lady which was adorable!!!!


No, no, no!!! Don't confuse yourselves!!!
This book was both funny and heartbreaking!!!

Especially Trick's past was breaking your heart in million tiny pieces...


Trick and Darby was fitting so great together...

Their connection was intense, fiercy, beautiful, sexy and very special!!! Their love was rare... and the obstacles in their way too many...
But with guide their love they step away from the ugliness that surrounded them and they fought to be together...


But let me tell you two words about the plot...
Darby is a unique girl who enjoyed to work in the ER and live a simple life, until one day in her shift meets Trick... He is handsome, cocky, arrogant and he needs stiches... Three days after that incident they met again and again in the same day with unexpectable turn... Trick is helpfull but at the same time he is a total asshole!!! Something that pissed Darby off!!!

The next day Trick apologised and a strange friendship began...

Why strange??? Well, you see the rumors says that Trick is gay!!!
How is that possible??? Yeah, i was wondering the same...
How could that happen when you have in front of you a beautiful man, covered with tattoos, with cocky attitude, very manly in his ways and when he obvious checking out Darby all the time???
I would have say that this would be a misunderstanding... Don't you agree???
But Darby accepted his peculiarity because she was too thrilled with him to lose him from her life... Even though she was drooling everytime Trick was around her...

I really liked Darby's character, but I loved fiercely Trick!!!
He was a very unique person and his past was very intrigue...
First of all, he was having a 5-year memory loss and his trust in women was zero... His first friend after many years was Darby and she spoke directly in his heart... He used to be an addict and Darby became his new drug...
He was an artist but he was working as an make-up artist... And many, many things that you have to discover by yourself!!!
I loved him and their relationship was having many interesting levels...

I would like to tell you so much more about them, but at the same time i don't want to tell nothing!!!
I will keep them forever in my heart!!!
They will be unforgetable for me!!!
I'm so sad that this journey came to an end...

... but i was having a really good time!!!!

[Angela (Reading Frenzy Book Blog) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hurray, I finished! I feel like I deserve a Medal of Perseverance for finishing this novel. It has such a strong beginning so I’m still trying to figure out what went wrong. We’re given a quirky and sympathetic heroine in Darby and I really enjoyed the “falling in love with your gay best friend” angle. Trick is a supposedly gay, über hot, guyliner-wearing, tattooed makeup artist. Darby has never had a friend and Trick never lets anyone in. Watching them bond as friends was lovely and funny; however, the story seems to lose its footing when they become more than friends.

Trick has an unexplainable aversion to women that has something to do with a past he can’t recall. Ok, I can understand that. But for the love of all that’s holy, why did he have to pretend he was gay just to avoid women’s advances?! It just didn’t make any sense to me and it’s a major basis of the plot. Darby becomes clingy when she’s away from Trick for one minute. Trick behaves like a jackass by ignoring her and pretending he doesn’t notice when other women put their hands all over his body. The sex is hot but Trick and Darby act like dogs in heat and it becomes extremely repetitive. “Come”. Sex. Lip smirk. Sex. Jellied toast with eggs. Sex. Emoji texts. Sex. – Every. Single. Chapter. Wash, rinse, and repeat.

Although things seemed to be heading downhill, I held out hope until the story completely jumped the shark. Darby – this intelligent woman who has a fulfilling career she loves, and who lives down the street from a grandma she adores – spontaneously quits her job one day and moves to another country the next day to live with Trick. Whyyyy? Why was it necessary? And the big reveal about his past? 1) Who cares? 2) Grow up, Darby! Why so much angst? I asked myself far too many questions while reading this book and it was exhausting.

I don’t think I’ve ever said this but I could have done without the epilogue. This one is illogical and far too cheesy.

This is a case of “when good books go bad” and I know this author is capable of better. I will definitely give her another chance and hope her next book will be a winner.

** ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. **

[Kirsten]

DNF @ 36%

I'm a little concerned, to be honest.
This was my 5th book in a row where I felt absolutely no connection to the characters, and was not feeling the love...at all. Clearly I am in the minority with this one, as it seems everyone is loving it. Unfortunately I could not continue.

I thought the writing was good, and I liked the heroine, Darby, in the beginning. But then something just felt off about her. She claimed she had no friends and is socially inept, but I found her to be kind of a bitch. My thoughts were confirmed when she went all drama queen and smacked the hero (5x).



I am not against men getting slapped when it's deserved, but this felt overboard and made me lose a lot of respect for her. After this incident, I attempted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but she did not redeem herself, and I started to get even more annoyed by her.

The blurb definitely grabbed my attention, and I even stopped a good book to start this. I mean, hellooooo?? Male make-up artist, possibly gay, aversion to women, recovering addict, and a pure mystery... I had to see what this was all about. I liked it immediately. It was kind of humorous and cute...and then... it wasn't. I started to get frustrated, and then found myself not into it at all. It says a lot when you're reading a book, and then you start wondering about bills and other mundane things going on. I repeatedly found myself stopping just to do something else. When I was more aware of this, I knew it was time to pull the plug.



By all means, it could've just been me. I wish everyone else who reads it enjoys.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so relieved to be finished with this book. I struggled greatly to reach the last page. I could have finished lastnight but I. Just. Couldn't.
I knew at 10% this wouldn't be a book I loved. I really don't like an excessive amount of inner dialogue. This one was done in italics with exclamation marks. Luckily that tapered off as the book went on.
The whole pretending to be gay thing--non issue for me. The guy liner-- eh didn't see the point. Doing her makeup so often-- kinda lame. Since her face was soooo naturally beautiful. The way Darby fell head over ass for him--huh?? The tatted up image-- ya ok I did like that.
The dots didn't connect for me. She never really looked at him as the unattainable gay guy. She always lusted for the "squirrel".
There are many things that made me dislike this book. I really don't believe it was a case of "It's not you its me". It wasn't me.
The most enjoyable part of the book was the sex. Gotta be some good hair pulling fucking against any and all surfaces.
At 65% I was like please end. Please please end. And the damn reveal at like 92%??? You would've thought it was a doozie but no. You could tell what was gonna be revealed. There were two things revealed. One predictable. The second completely unnecessary.
And the Epi?? PUH-LEASE.
It just made me more pissed off that I bothered to finish it. I should have DNF at 11%.
To all my GR friends, I'm glad you were able to enjoy this more than me. I mean that :). On to something that won't make me feel like I lost valuable reading time!!

[Bj · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 "Squirrel with a Forgotten Past" Stars! If you read the book, you'll understand the reference. If you haven't, then I challenge you to explore this unique read. I have to say the blurb hooked me, though the read was unlike anything I was expecting or that I have previously read. This is one of those reads where the less you know going in, the better, as a number of important factors in the plot are a "trick". You will no doubt be left to surmise one conclusion, only to be intrigued by the crafty writing which hides the truth, like a magical illusion. The one thing I can tell you, is that if you enjoy emotionally gripping, sensual, erotic and romantic reads with a suspenseful overlay, then I highly recommend adding Only Trick to your TBR list.

They were never supposed to meet. Having grown up on complete opposite sides of the tracks, Darby Lucille Carmichael, a senator's daughter, and Patrick "Trick" Roth, a former drug addict and the son of homeless parents are the least likely couple you could imagine. Nonetheless when their paths cross, notwithstanding their unlikely connection, they feel a camaraderie unlike any they had previously known. Soon they become enveloped in a friendship like no other. Trick becomes Darby's first real friend and Darby gains a position in Trick's life unlike that which he has allowed any other woman to possess before.

They were warned to stay away from each other. Trick, a make-up artist, living with an older man; and Darby's step-mother and father ever conscious of their public political image; theirs was not a union meant to be exposed. Still no obstacle, large or small, could keep them away from each other. When their chemistry, however, starts creating undeniable, yet arguably unfulfillable signals, they will be left to question the forces that appear to keep them apart.

They couldn't help but let destiny take its course. When exceptions are made, the forces that strive to keep them apart begin to unravel. Though the truth has been forgotten, it nonetheless threatens their new found happiness. Will memories be the death knell of their fragile union or is their connection stronger than any dark force could ever destroy?

My background is purposefully vague. Go in with an open mind. The magic of this read is in the unfolding of its tale. There is also a touch of the forbidden that makes the romantic and erotic nature of this read so much more palpable and profound. I also really enjoyed the feeling of being constantly assaulted with the sense that there is more to this story than what you are being told, leaving you engaged, alert and waiting to discover the inevitable. In the end, however, you can't help but root for love, forgiveness and second chances.

This was my first read by Jewel Ann, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. Ms. Ann has hooked me with this unique read. I so look forward to reading more of her works in the near future.

Source: Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so let’s check out that blurb. Attention grabbing right?

Memory loss.
Homeless and a recovering drug addict.
Hates women.
Gay.
Falls for a woman.

So yeah, I read that and thought... I need to read this book. I had no idea what I was going to encounter when starting this. I just knew that there were a ton of answers needed. So I’ll let you take that journey on your own. I will say that I loved the developing friendship between Trick and Darby. She was a bit of an awkward mess and Trick was no doubt quite damaged. I could have read fifty more pages of just their interactions at the friendship level of things.

As the story progressed and we start to see the real Trick, the heat was turned up. From the quiet guy who barked out his one word demands to the beast in the sheets... he did not disappoint one bit. I loved watching him become a bit vulnerable for Darby. The text messages these two shared throughout the story were some of my favorite parts.

I loved the buildup to the end of this story. The author hit all her marks as this story progressed. I was biting my nails as we approached the end and falling apart just a bit. That moment in his loft, was so shattering. A single word turned out to mean everything.

This was my first read by Jewel E. Ann and I know it won’t be my last.

[FMABookReviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hard book for me to review.  Because being honest about your opinion sometimes sucks.  Did I hate this book? No, definitely not, but I didn't love it, or even like it either, it was just okay. Some of the things that didn't work for me are things that might work for other readers.

• There were a lot adjectives used within each paragraph which distracted from my reading.  It became too flowery and seemed forced.
⋯
• The female main character's instant sexual attraction to Trick, as well as instant and ongoing desire to bed him, was too much.  It was all Darby thought about.
⋯
• I felt the blurb was misleading.  Easily 95+% of the book was told in Darby's POV.  It wasn't until well into the end of the book that we even begin to learn anything about what the blurb might mean when Trick's POV is brought to life.  We get it sporadically throughout the book, and I mean sporadically like 5 sentences in a chapter here and there.  This book was 380 pages long, that is too long to wait to hear from him and start to learn what the blurb is about.  Which is a shame, because I was so intrigued by the blurb that I couldn't wait to read this book.  I think perhaps I would have liked the book better had I not read the blurb first.
⋯
• There was a lot going on, so many different "fire's" going on that the plot didn't feel developed, instead felt confusing... Darby's relationship with her step-mom, her relationship with her dad, and why the hell did she feel like she had to go to those dinners, I didn't get it, Trick and his guy liner, his relationships or nonexistent ones which leads to is he gay, isn't gay - - - , If I had to read "come" and see that she did, one more time... and on, and on...
⋯
• This is a minor detail, and one I only noticed as I was making my banner for my review, but the cover does not represent Trick.  Trick has tattoos (that are mentioned a lot), the guy on the cover does not have any visible tattoos.
⋯

Okay, now with all of that said, you are probably asking why I still thought it was okay. Two reasons.  1st, even though with the problems I mentioned above, I think it had a good premise, and with perhaps some further editing/beta reading this could have been a book I would have liked.  2nd, the writing was good as was the dialogue and it improved toward the end of the book.  Trick's POV was done well, which I definitely appreciated.

This is just MY OPINION! And what doesn't work for me, may work for YOU!


*ARC provided in exchange for honest review!*

[Mariℓina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only Trick is an interesting book, with an intriguing premise and a nice set of main and supportive characters, but even though i enjoyed it immensely, it left me pondering some parts and i still have a few questions, plot-wise.


Let me explain what the story is all about first, Trick -Patrick- is a bitchy make-up artist with an interesting and dangerous past, a five year gap on his memory and an inclination to hide behind another persona.


Darby on the other hand is amazing. What can i say? I loved that girl right away. She is smart, sexy, witty and a lovable, goofy goddess!
She has already spent too much time caring about her father's approval and trying to connect with someone except her too-active-from every-aspect, grandma.


The real story starts when Darby meets Trick for the second time. They will try hard to become friends and stay that way but their chemistry is off the charts and too hot to handle. So prepare for a scorching romance with many secrets and twists in every turn. Some good, some bad and some totally unexpected.


I loved most of it, but after a certain point i couldn't really feel the same about the story. Towards the end, something snapped but i still i ended up enjoying it a lot. It's a great story with a few fairy-tale traits and incredible characters, like i already pointed out.




THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK

- Mainly told from Darby's POV, with a few paragraphs told by Trick.
- Interesting start.
- So much chemistry and passion.
- Trick is very unique.
- His parents were a very difficult subject for me.
- I would a more extensive built-up.


ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you!

[Malene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Holy shit! This was just spectacular. For quite a while now I've seen raving reviews about this book, but for some reason I kept pushing it aside. What a dumb ass I was. Now I'm so glad that I finally took the time and read it. So many emotions, such a compelling story with amazing characters.

Trick and Darby were phenomenal characters. I just loved them. As individuals but most definitely also as a couple. I enjoyed their energy and how they "fed" off of each other. They had so much chemistry and heat. Damn, it was so hot but in a romantic and of course sexy way. But their friendship, which is what they begin with first, was such a great lead in to their relationship. I loved how casual they were with one another, but then again their sexual attraction was peaking through the surface. I couldn't contain my excitement for these two and their undying love. It was so powerful! Damn, there were times when I couldn't stop the tears. 
I loved that Jewel E. Ann made their friendship important through out the whole story, because it simply is and it has to be experienced.

The secondary characters worked as well. How I loved Darby's Nana and Trick's "family", Grady and Tamsen. So much heart and love from these people. I was so glad that they were a part of Darby and Trick's lives.

This was such a stunning, heartfelt and at times heartbreaking story. I loved every twist and turn but mostly the story of Darby and Trick. How love conquers all. Jewel E. Ann, I'm watching you! You've got mad skills. I loved your flawless writing and I'm ready for more.

5 BadAssDirtyBFFStars

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was not at all what I was expecting, maybe because I didn’t get a synopsis. I got Trick giving me what he thinks I want to hear.

Going in blind with just a snippet from Trick really did make all the difference. I was able to follow the good doctor, Darby Carmichael, along her journey of patient turned friendship turned more. Funny and captivating, Only Trick is a sexy mystery wrapped in intrigue.

I really enjoyed spending time with a heroine that refused to be a door mat. She stood her ground and voiced what she would and would not put up with. Just because Trick was beautiful and every woman threw herself at him didn’t change the fact that Darby has a standard of self-preservation. She’s not gonna be a doormat or sit idly by, which makes for some amazingly delicious confrontations between these two.

Trick was complicated and we get just enough of his POV to make it intriguing and draw more curiosity into who he really is.

I know, I’m not telling you much and I’m being somewhat vague, but guys, just read it and don’t over think it. It would be easy to spoil it if too much is given away. Sometimes it’s better not knowing and just jumping in.

Believe me it's a great ride! 5 Stars


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[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 'squirrel?' stars

Prior reading this book I had no idea there are so many meanings behind the word 'squirrel'.

Squirrel: a person who gives alot of blow jobs, they always have a mouth full of nuts.
The Squirrel: the action of inserting your nuts in a girls vagina while fucking
Dirt Squirrel: a typically shorter, unkempt, unwashed, tatted-up individual who will more than likely fuck you in the ass and steal your wallet
Flying Squirrel: Stretching your scrotum and balls over a person's face, and laying your penis on their forehead, resembling a flying squirrel with its arms spread.

Really? Who the hell came up with those?

When I read the blurb and saw the cover, I'm anticipating a dark read, one with some much needed male POV. I was disappointed to find out that the whole book was told from the heroine POV, which is full of chicklit humor. I'm not against her inner babbling that drew out a few laughs from me, is just not really what I'm expecting when I pick this up.

I enjoyed the general gist of Darby, the physician assistant lusting after her new gay BFF, Trick who is a makeup artist and the mystery surrounding his past. How do you describe woman's blue balls? Poor girl.

Maybe I'm a masochist. Being around Trick and knowing he doesn't want me the way I want him is masturbation without the release.

Trick's POV is so little and far in between, which is such a shame. I'm instantly intrigue with his brooding persona and mystery on his past. Obviously he isn't gay, but why he let people assume he is?

The first quarter was interesting, despite Darby tends to talk too much, but from 40% until 80%, I felt like the story lack direction and left me feeling as if I'm reading fillers. Everything is so lovey dovey, the whole being in a relationship. I am desperately waiting for something to happen ASAP and also questioning how many pages in there in the book. I was also suspecting the progression bar below my Kindle is not working right.

I'm struggling with what I should rate for Only Trick. I was partly intrigue, partly bored. The last 80% things finally pick up where Trick past catch up with him and Darby. I've spent the whole book waiting for the other shoe to drop, so forgive me if I start making up farfetched story in my head. Long story short, I felt the ending was a bit anti-climatic.

I think with some filler removes and giving a more interesting past to Trick might make this one better for me.

[Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

JEWEL E. ANN IS UNDERATED

Writing: The books I’ve read by her so far have been wonderful. Her writing makes you forget the real world around you. She creates a world that inhabits you, not the other way around.

I did have issues with the directional narration. My mental images were going haywire.

Characters: Jewel creates such beautiful, complex MC’s. Trick and Darby were made for each other. Darby needed Trick’s confidence and Trick needed Darby’s healing powers, but they were both afraid of each other. The delicate dance of should I pursue this or not was delicious.

Storyline: This is my second Jewel book and it was fantastic. I think I may have found my favorite author.

I don’t usually read synopses, however a quarter of the way through this book I gave in and read it. I had to know if I was investing my heart and emotions in the wrong character. I was really invested and the fall was going to hurt if I didn’t get a handle on it. Thank goodness I was cheering for the right MC.


The dilemma Jewel created…My goodness. I didn’t know what to do. I knew when everything came back that it was going to hurt, but who would have thought THAT would be it. The pain that was coursing through my body was real. The heartbreak I felt for these two was palpable.

SPOILER ALERT:
I subtracted a star because I despised a section of the epilogue. Tricks parents explanation for abandoning him was a bunch of crock. Everybody’s (including Trick) instant understanding and forgiveness was not acceptable. Both parents being in a coma is acceptable. Being kidnapped and held for ransom, understandable. Both having a severe mental disorder and wandering off and getting lost, yep I would totally get that. BUT WHAT THEY EXPLAINED-


Intimacy Scenes: Trick knows his way around a woman. That supply closet scene


Overall: It was fantastic. More Jewel E. Ann.

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5 ⭐'s

“You’re not going to stop until you’ve claimed every single piece of my heart, are you?”

“I’m not going to stop until I feel your soul take my last breath.”

Another Jewel E. Ann book that somehow managed to slip by me. The good news is that I did finally get to read it and really enjoy it.

Darby is a Physician's assistant working in the ER and that's where she meets Patrick (aka Trick) when he comes in after cutting his hand. There's an immediate attraction but Trick is cold and a jerk so she thinks that's that.

However, after getting her hair done for a function of her Senator father, she's sent to a make up shop and runs into Trick again. There's just something about him that Darby can't shake.

After getting thrown together again, they decide to be friends because Trick is gay after all. That's right...gay. The problem is he doesn't seem gay at all.

Events get even more intense the more time they spend together and slowly Darby is getting hints of what's going on. It's very intriguing to say the least.

I love how these two played off each other - Darby softening Trick up and Trick giving Darby something she never knew she needed.

But then there's the twist...very interesting and I'm not sure I bought how it all came together but it all made for a good story.

There are a few things that Trick did that were questionable and I kind of hated that because I wanted him to be sooo good for Darby.

I really enjoyed Grady and Tamsen and liked how things ended up for them as well.

Jewel E. Ann has a magical way of weaving words into these wonderful stories that dig a little deeper than most and I just love that!

[TF · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!!

[Ela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a wonderful surprise! Loved the story, characters and everything in between!

[Elodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I fist-pumped through the whole damn book. It was just so good. So, so, so good.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by author in exchange of honest review

When a book can take you on an emotional journey and leaves you feeling so happy that you took a chance on this book, that's what Only Trick by Jewel E. Ann did for me. Only Trick was such a gem of a read but that I have nothing but praises for this book since it engages you as a reader and leaves a profound feeling of love, forgiveness, and second chances.

Ms. Ann did an amazing job in writing a story that had characters that I loved instantly. She was able to showcase the strong relationship of Trick and Darby in a way that flowed easily into the story line. In this beautiful well written book, Ms. Ann showed readers two people from opposite sides of the tracks forming a strong relationship. Two people whose paths were to never meant to cross but they did. I really don't want to say much about the book since Trick and Darby's relations was one of those reads that you must experienced as the twists begins to unfold and unraveled. This book was sweet, sexy, and fun. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the emotional journey and connection it took me on. This was my first read by this author and I look forward to reading future works of this author.

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Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a novel of two halves for me. The first 58% would have been a 4-star read and I wish the book had ended somewhere around that mark. The remainder made it to 2 stars.
I liked:
• The premise of Derby, a workaholic physician's assistant who's never had any friends, falling for Trick, a make-up artist she presumes is gay.
• I liked both characters, and the dialogue and plot as they become 'best friends' was fun and entertaining.
I didn't like:
• The drama and angst. This is the first time this has happened in any of the novels I've read by this author, but I just couldn't buy into it. What was the big deal? Maybe I'm getting too old.
• Both characters made decisions I just couldn't understand.
• The command: "Come." Occasionally useful when I talk to my dog. Bearable the first two or three times when uttered by a guy who wasn't the most talkative anyway. After that it became irritating.
• I can't believe I'm saying this, but the sex became so frequent and repetitive, I was starting to look forward to my next serial killer book.
• That totally unnecessary epilogue. Apart from the fact that a certain part of it was beyond unbelievable, it really took cheesy to a whole new level. I wish I could unread it.
I love this author, I still do, but if you've never read a book by Jewel E. Ann before, don't start with this one.

[Jewel Ann]

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