Former Marine Scott O’Callaghan got into a fair amount of trouble as a teenager, but now he’s grown and runs a respectable auto body shop. After eight years in the military, he’s left his troublemaking past behind him. Unfortunately for him, the sheriff of his town has it out for him no matter how much he’s cleaned up his act.
When he’s accused of a crime he didn’t commit, no one is more surprised than him when straight laced Michaela Miller provides him with an alibi. An alibi that’s a complete lie. Determined to find out why his sexy next door neighbor helped him out, he puts himself in danger of losing something he’d never considered. His heart.
Savannah Stuart is the pseudonym of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katie Reus. Under this name she writes slightly hotter romance than her mainstream books. Her stories still have a touch of intrigue, suspense, or the paranormal and the one thing she always includes is a happy ending. She lives in the South with her very own real life hero. In addition to writing (and reading of course!) she loves traveling with her husband.
This is a short book I picked up as a kindle freebie it's only about 140 pages or so but, oooh so sweet, hot, and fun!!
Scott O'Callaghan is a former Marine sniper who has returned home. Scott grew up on the wrong side of the tracks with an abusive alcoholic father and was on the road to destruction until he joined the Marines. Now he's home and the local mechanic having opened his own garage. He has a serious crush on his neighbor Michaela but gets tongued tied whenever she's in the vicinity.
Michaela Miller is from one of the oldest and most influential families in their small town, she owns and operates the local Yoga studio and is just as attracted to Scott as he is to her, but, no matter how many times she has tried to talk to him, he cuts it short and bolts.
When Scott finally makes his move, he does everything in his power to keep Michaela including standing up to overprotective brothers.
There's a bit more going on in this book, and a couple of secondary characters that stand out and will hopefully get their own books. All-in-all great read with a small epilogue but I'm hopeful we'll get more of Scott and Michaela.
This is the story of Michaela and Scott. They are neighbors that are attracted to each other and watch each other but don't get passed a few hellos. That changes when the Sheriff harasses Scott because he thinks Scott is no good and thinks he commited a crime but Michaela provides an alibli for him. This gives them a chance to get farther than hello and so begins their relationship.
I liked it but wasn't one a favorite. It had some steam and some sweet moments but I really wish I got to see them more out of the bedroom. I also could have done without the sheriff's pov and the stuff with Scott's dad.
Love triangle? Cheating? HEA? Any Descriptive Sex w/OW/OM/Ex? Would I read more by this author/or in this series? YES. Rating: 4 stars
Review
Such a sweet read, I'm so glad I read it.
Tempting Alibi is a short story about two neighbours that fall in love. I really liked both main characters, especially Scott. He is so sweet, thoughtful and protective. Loved how at the beginning he couldn't speak more than tree sentences to Michaela, thankfully she helped him out and made him more confident around her. As for Michaela, she funny, sassy and knows what she wants. At the end, there's also a bit of angst and action.
Copy received via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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★Book Basics★
Genre: - Contemporary Romance Series: - Stand Alone Writing - Third person Dual POV. Main Characters: Michaela Miller - Yoga instructor. Nursing a secret crush on her next door neighbour. Scott O'Callaghan. Ex Marine. Ex trouble maker. Own his own garage now. Likes Michaela but is too shy to do anything about it Love triangle? - Cheating? - HEA? - Would I read more by this author? - Yes Rating - 4 stars.
★Review★
Michaela Miller likes to watch her next door neighbour exercise every morning. On day she gets a bonus when he is also exercising in the evening. So the next day, when she is at the garage as her car needs fixing, and the Sheriff, who has it in for Scott, turns up to accuse him of a robbery, she provides an alibi, as she knows he did not commit any crime at that time, as she was watching him.
Luckily for her and Scott, this gives him the opening and push to come to her and actually start a conversation.
For a short read, it was enjoyable. I really liked Scott and Michaela together, and loved Scott as a character. A man of few words, a little shy, but no wimp. There was something very endearing about him.
Even given the length of the book, the relationship did not feel overly rushed, and was paced quite nicely, especially given the years long attraction they have held for each other.
A hugely enjoyable 4 stars. ["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
3.25-3.50 RATING - There wasn't much of a story here honestly, basically a hook up between two neighbors. Still, I liked this sexy little novella and am glad I made time to read it. I thought the writing was good even if the ending was a bit rushed - I didn't realize Savannah Stuart was a pen name for another author I like, Katie Rues.
3.25 stars. Super short but very hot:Di wish it was A little longer and had an epilogue. Not too much plot to this more physical but enjoyable!
safety: both weren't virgins. H didn't seem like a manwhore. I think both had relationships in the past but nothing is really discussed. No mention of using condoms before but I think they both have used them and do with each other. no mention of oral skills, although H does mention liking pleauring women in the past but nothing like it is with h. whatever that means.lol I simple believe he just made sure the women he was with always came first to orgasm.lol nothing is detailed, No other man or women!
The hero was from the 'wrong side of the tracks' and a little shy. It was refreshing to read about a quiet hero, rather than the cocky-as-hell heros that are more common in romance novels. The novella is low on the plot and emotional aspect of the relationship and heavy on the physical side. Even though I liked the novella, I would've liked it even more if it was a little longer. Not as a full length novel, but at least around 100 pages. And an epilogue would've been great.
Loved the chemistry between these two characters. Plus the hero's former military, so that already put points in his favor before I even started the book. This author has a very smooth, distinctive voice that's so enjoyable to read. Keep up the great work Savannah!
Quick read. Too much sex not enough relationship development between H and h. Not sure why the author felt the need to add a subplot in this book. She should've stuck with working on the H and h's relationship out of bed!
Tempting Alibi Review by Savannah Stuart D+, inferno, mild kink, contemp
Michaela and Scott have barely spoken to each other, even though they've been neighbors for months now. But when Michaela's car needs some work, she takes it to Scott's garage. While she's there the sheriff comes in and asks Scott where he was the night before. Michaela pipes up and tells the sheriff that Scott was with her. Later that day, Scott knocks on her door to say thank you and the relationship builds quickly from there.
I was happily reading my way through the pages of this one and then the last page snuck up on me. I knew it was on the shorter side as far as length goes, but I didn't feel like the story was done yet. It almost felt like a long exerpt from a novel rather than a complete story in itself. The summary made me think there was going to be a lot more conflict than there ended up being. The main conflict would be the issue with the sheriff, but after she provides an alibi it's a complete non-issue. And even the climax of the book (no, not that kind of climax) was rather anit-climactic. I didn't feel like there was much, if any, character growth. Rather than watching the pair of them discover each other and themselves this one seemed to be an matter of one of them finally getting up the nerve to talk to the other. After that all communicating was done in the buff. And there was a lot of in the buff stuff being done. All in all, I was left with a definite feeling of "there should have been more."
Liked it, liked the characters. Next door neighbors Michaela and Scott are attracted but neither has made a move. He thinks she's out of his league and he's naturally quiet but turns tongue-tied whenever he sees her. Michaela is sweet and unassuming. The town sheriff has a grudge against Scott for nothing more than the fact that Scott's father is a drunk loser. When the sheriff tries to accuse Scott of breaking into his nephew's business, Michaela claims he was with her during the time. This brings them together. Mostly about them, it's a quick read but I liked it. They are hot together and their is no drama, or other person trouble and best of all no tstl stuff. I do wish it was a little longer.
It turns out that Katie Reus' books are really perfect for me when I'm in a reading funk. I always enjoy her books, and even if they aren't AMAZING, they keep me entertained and turning the pages. That is the kind of book I have been needing this year. Reading funks suck, and this one is particularly persistent. Anyway, I decided to read Tempting Alibi because it was a novella written by Katie Reus. And it did want I needed it to do (kept me reading) but it wasn't really a standout or special.
Tempting Alibi is a novella, and a very quick read. It's about Scott O'Callaghan and Michaela Miller, who are neighbors. I do love neighbor romances. Anyway, the town sheriff doesn't like Scott because he was a mischief maker as a teen. It's kind of crazy, really, because that was years ago, and Scott has since been in the Marines, and is now a respectable business owner. Scott has been admiring Michaela from afar, and she's been doing the same thing. When she stops in his shop, and the sheriff accuses Scott of a crime, she steps in to give him an alibi. And from there romance.
Scott and Michaela were both very easy to like and root for. There wasn't a lot of angst, or back and forth between the two, and I really appreciated that. Both Scott and Michaela were pretty honest with each other, and I love when the main characters act like grown ups.
The suspense aspect, if you could even call it suspense, was only so-so, but that was okay. The whole thing about the sheriff believing Scott was no-good seemed pretty silly and not that believable. Tempting Alibi is only a novella, and I kind of resented having the sheriff's POV in this book. It wasn't about him, and I would have liked a little more time with the hero and heroine.
Overall, I enjoyed Tempting Alibi, but it wasn't anything special. While the hero and heroine were cute together, they were not standout characters. And I didn't enjoy the sheriff's POV in this novella. But still, it was a cute read, perfect for a reading funk.This review was originally posted on Quinn's Book Nook
Tempting Alibi by Savannah Stuart is my first book by the author. I requested for this title on Netgalley because of the tattooed hotness gracing the cover of this novella. Nothing more, nothing less. And turned out I made the right choice by judging the book by its cover in this instance. Tempting Alibi delivered a hot mess of a read that I couldn’t get enough of.
Scott O’Callaghan, the hero is as exotic as the name itself. Ex-military, Scott is the owner of O’Callaghan’s Auto Body Shop and Michaela Miller’s neighbor since he returned to town a couple of months back. Michaela can’t help but obsess over the beautiful specimen that her neighbor is and though she’d like to get to know Scott better, the fact that Scott has very little to say where she is concerned makes her steer clear of her neighbor’s path.
Ever since returning to town, Scott has his head full of Michaela. Knowing that someone like him who comes from “bad seed” is not for the likes of Michaela, Scott finds it difficult to string two full sentences together whenever he encounters the woman who keeps him awake at night, wanting her with a fierceness that Scott knows is not just simple desire for someone of the opposite sex.
When Michaela comes to his rescue, all the walls between them come tumbling down and Scott proves his mettle as a lover who knows how to rev the engines of the woman he holds in his arms. Scrumptious and hot, the love scenes in this short story took my breathe away and then some and I loved the emotional impact the scenes brought to the developing relationship between Scott and Michaela.
When an author manages to wow me with the minute number of pages in a novella, it is safe to say that the author has incredible talent in spinning a good tale and that is the reason why I finished Tempting Alibi in one single sitting; with a huge smile on my face and a wistful yearning for my own Scott O’Callaghan.
Recommended for those who love erotic romances that scorch! Plenty of deliciously hot sex scenes with enough emotional sweetness to make it a splendid read. Savannah Stuart has definitely landed on my radar.
3 1/2 stars, Scott and Michaela live next door to each other and both find the other very attractive but the one time Michaela tried to talk to Scott he made it clear he didn't want to be friendly, neighborly, and defiantly nothing else. When she has car problems Michaela stops by Scott's auto body shop, while she is their getting her car fixed the towns sheriff comes and accuses Scott of breaking into his nephews auto shop.
Michaela is Scott's alibi and gladly tells the police this. Scott can't believe that Michaela would stand up for him, she is class and he grew up on the wrong side of the road. Going over to thank Michaela Scott and Michaela get carried away and quickly fall into a relationship. Neither can seem to stay away from the other the longer they are together and they both begin to fall in love. But Scott has his doubts since they grew up so differently, when he thinks all is lost between them trouble again comes knocking on his door.
I liked this novella, it is right to the point which I appreciate in novellas. I hate waisting time and words in novellas because they don't have any words to waste. We get a complete story but I wish the end had been a little longer. I also wish instead of so much intimate time together we could have had a little more relationship time together. Scott was a great hero, he was passionate, kind and though he was quiet he was possessive and very loving. Michaela was a great heroine she was smart and thoughtful and didn't fly off the handle and do stupid things that hurt herself, Scott or their relationship.
Overal I really liked this book it was a really quick read but it had a complete story, The novella would have benefitted from an epilogue but having said that I think every book long or short could benefit from an epilogue. Tempting Alibi was just a fun refreshing book that didn't have a lot of the tropes other books have and it ended up being a very unique storyline that I really enjoyed.
*ARC provided by CrushStar Multimedia LLC and NetGalley, Thank you
A very readable love story about two people who live next door to one another, who are lonely, yet who can't seem to connect. When they do, they discover their attraction is stronger than the social and class distinctions that separate them. It is a really nice novella and one that I will definitely re-read.
This book is an excellent example of why I like romance novels - the escape into someone else's life, the strong, silent hero you love to adore and wish you had one of your own, a smart heroine you can relate to. Savannah Stuart/Katie Reus is on my must-read list. Awesome-sauce all around.
I have this book a two because I'm a fan of Katie Reus/Savannah Stuart, but really it's more like a 1 1/2 stars.. I'm not of a fan of short stories like this one (it was really short), there just isn't enough substance in the book for my liking. And this book has less substance than most of the same length simply because it mostly went from one sex scene to another. And while it was well written, I prefer more of a plot so to speak. So I can't say that I'll be reading this one again but it won't put me off reading or rereading Katie's other books
I know I have read this story before but for the life of me I cannot recall from where. The book doesn't show up as read on my kindle I don't own another copy and it's not marked as read on Goodreads either. Did the author Re-print the book under a different name?
The first time I read this I liked the story a lot and I enjoyed it the second time as well, even though my mind was screaming at me that I already knew the story. I am not accusing the author of plagiarism! Maybe it's just that the first book in her her hit man serie has a similar tone.
So many things wrong with this short book. Absolutely no relationship development, they never even talked, except during sex and it that wasn't even sexy dirty talk. This could have been great if developed. It had a side story but it was just out of place. H's dad died and he buried him, really that was the extent of it, so why add it?
Don't get me wrong I love me so sexy hot novellas but this was not even that.
I did love Scott who was certainly not very talkative at first and Michaela and her friends, the twins, certainly made me laugh. I certainly didn’t like or trust the Sheriff much.
This was a quick read..but good. Loved Michaela & Scott....Scott who grew up as the town bad boy from the wrong side of the street was back from being in the war for over 6 years, he moved back opened a Mechanic Shop and moved in next door to Michaela. She had been secretly watching him from afar, but did not know how to approach him. He liked her a lot and did not know how to even talk to her. She gave him an alibi for something he was accused of and they began a relationship from there!!!