In relationships, Calisa Harper has clear rules: no expectations, no commitments, no one gets hurt. She doesn't need a diamond ring to bring her happiness. She just needs Jared. Fine, fit, and ferocious in bed, Jared is Calisa's ideal combination of friend and lover. But the no-strings status they've shared for years is about to get very tangled.
Jared Williams is the kind of man most women long for: sexy, successful, and ready to settle down. He knows convincing the commitment-phobic Calisa that forever is nothing to fear won't be easy—especially when his ex turns up with a daughter she never told him about. In a heartbeat, Jared and Calisa's passion goes from fiery to fragile. He wants to hold on to the love they share but is terrified that their next night together could be their last.
Born and raised in Southeast Michigan near Ann Arbor, Elle learned the importance of reading from her mother. It was also her mother who, later on in her life, gave Elle her first romance novel: Indigo by Beverly Jenkins. From that moment on, Elle became a fan of Ms. Jenkins for life and a lover of all things romance. An old journal she wrote back in college became her first book (which she still wants to publish one day).
"They'd promised no commitment, and he accepted that. But he'd realized a long time ago that his life was better with her in it."
I often thought of the movie Candyman when reading this book. No lie, I wanted to say the name Jared three times and hope he would magically transform from a fictional character into a real life man in my presence!! Red and Cali are very good friends with a no-strings attachment sexual relationship but conflict begins when Red wants more. Cali comes with baggage and an "I can take care of myself" mentality, so reading how Red loved her while she worked through her stuff was heartwarming.
Wright does a perfect job of bringing the sexual heat, drama, laughter, and the underlying theme of having unconditional love from friends and family. Oh, and I really liked Morgan from the previous book in the series, but I LOVED Jared in this one!! A full review will be posted during the blog tour later this month.
Elle Wright did a great job with this friends with benefits story. Of course it doesn’t work because both Cali and Red have feelings for each other – feelings that are deeper than just scratching a sexual itch. What I liked about this couple is their support of each other, especially Red. He was there to be a shoulder to cry on for Cali, even when they agreed they would no longer hook up and go back to being friends. (That agreement lasted all of two seconds.)
Rounding out the story are the couples' friends and family, and I really fell in love with Red's adorable daughter. From the first sexy encounter, it’s obvious Cali and Red belonged together. Elle Wright weaves an angst-ridden story with smoking hot love scenes that will make you keep reading until the perfectly sweet conclusion.
His All Night is a wonderful romance that shows Elle Wright on a deeper level. Cali Harper has an ideal situation with Jared "Red" Williams. He's her homey, lover, and friend. They have a arrangement that works perfectly. But when the tables turn and lines blur Jared is prepared but Cali fears in the worse way.
The tension, the lust and the love asserts itself in such a way that sets the tone for a very, very good romance story that fills you up and satisfies your literary palate. Elle Wright I applaud you. Awesome job!
I'm so pleased I got the opportunity to read this second book in this Edge Of Scandal Series. In His All Night, the spotlight is on Jared “Red” Williams and Calista “Cali” Harper. This can be read as a standalone, although to appreciate the supporting characters, especially Morgan and Red's twin sister Sydney, I recommend The Forbidden Man too.
Red and Cali think they have been careful to hide the 'friends with benefits' aspect of their platonic relationship, not realising their friends are waiting to see if their arrangement becomes something more. A careless mistake leads Cali to make a blunt remark which leaves Red reeling. The problem? He wants more...only that is far from what Cali expects. Is it time to end their physical relationship, or can they work for a happy ever after together?
Cali is one frustrating woman and I really wanted to knock some sense into her, as she constantly tries to push Red away, when she really doesn't have to. She underestimates his feelings, believing her personal choices in life will be a deal breaker, when it isn't even an issue. She jumps to the wrong conclusion instead of following her heart and listening to what Red is saying, assuming it is better to just walk away. There is more to Cali and Red's story but I don't want to spoil anything...there are obstacles to face and overcome but they eventually find their way.
The writer really knows how to set a scene and draw emotions in an entertaining and believable way. It's easy to become embroiled within the plot and become invested in the protagonists emotions. There is angst, heartbreak, humour and lashings of passion. Elle James is one of my favourite new authors I've discovered in 2015.
I'm loving this series and intrigued to know what is happening in Allina's life next.
***arc generously received from publisher Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in exchange for an honest review***
From Friendship to realizing you love one another!
OMG! I love this story about Jared and Cali, it was such an emotional ride, I felt like I was taking this journey with them every step of the way. It also makes you realize that I you start out as friends in the beginning it could turn in to something even more special. I definitely recommend this book. I can't wait for next book.
These two have a lot to over come, mainly Calisa not being able to commit. Red and Calisa have been friends forever and his twin sister Sydney is her best friend. Knowing there was an attraction from the start, but never doing anything about it. Finally they acted on their impulses and started a "no-strings" relationship. Only thing was Cali was the only one that wanted to no-strings. Red wasn't sure when it had happened, but he wanted more and Cali didn't. He couldn't even get her to stay the night, let along admit she had real feelings for him. Cali couldn't admit that she really did love Red. She didn't have the best of upbringings, and her Uncle raised her. So when he decides to come and visit but won't tell her why, it sets her on edge. And Red being his attorney, she couldn't get answers from him either.
Knowing they have a certain arrangement that allows them to see other people, Red does just that when Cali just won't bend to becoming more. This makes Cali jealous and she can't stand the feeling. Sydney of course tries to talk them both into giving in the each other. One other thing to throw in there, Red is trying to find his daughter. Cali does not want kids and Red is very aware of this fact, but it won't stop him from getting his daughter from his crazy ex-girlfriend. There chance comes when Cali's Uncle comes to visit and ends up in the hospital. She needs someone to lean on and he is there for her. They open up to each other and finally give them a real chance. Only to have it all come crumbling down when Cali's uncle passes away. She is left not knowing how to move on. She knows Red will do anything once he has found his daughter and she doesn't want to be in the way.
So what does she do? She ups and leaves without a word. Going to take care of her Uncle's things like his house and figuring out what to do with all his stuff.
When she comes back does she think Red will be waiting? Will he give her another chance?
A little different of writing style than I typically read, but I really enjoyed it! Cali and Red had a chemistry that made you want more. More sex, more cuddles, more laughter, more talking, etc. Just more of “them”. A sexy read with lessons in being a survivor no matter what life throws at you.
Calisa Harper is one tough cookie. She takes what she wants and doesn’t take any slack for it. What she wants right now is Jared Williams.
Red’s twin sister, Sydney, is Cali’s best friend. They’ve known each other for years and were great friends first, and for a few years now have added benefits to their friendship. They keep it on the down low, and always say “no strings”. But Red’s life changed when he found out that he fathered a little girl with an ex. He’s trying to find out where she is, and knowing that he’s a Dad has changed his outlook on life. He wants a happily ever after … but Cali is still running scared from her past.
Will Red be able to convince Cali that she can have a happy ending? And will finding his daughter help them, or end them?
** Received free in exchange for an honest review **
Calisa Harper and Jared Williams have been friends ever since she became best friends with his twin Sydney. He has always been her confidant, her sounding board, her person. And then they decided they wanted to be friends with benefits, no strings attached, able to keep personal feelings out of their "arrangement." Somewhere along the way the lines were twisted and feelings got involved. Now they are dancing around the thoughts of do we continue on or can we stop what we're doing and go back to just being platonic? Do they take a chance on love?
This was a very good novel. I like the complexity of the relationship between Cali and Red and the passion that they shared. Even when life threw so much at them and Cali let insecurities of her childhood and her issues surface, Red was still willing to fight for what could be. A very enjoyable read. A little long but very well written. I look forward to the next book in Elle Wright’s series.
Book two in the Edge of Scandal series is downright titillating. And emotional roller coaster which had me chuckling, crying, and wanting to smack a person or two.
Cali is fiercely independent and wants no man to restrict her, not even Red, her longtime friend with exclusive benefits. From book one I wondered how these two could’ve had such a volcanic sexual relationship, but never taken it further. Time and circumstances change all things, especially relationships.
Add in an adorable child, a sick uncle, and a best friend on bed-rest and the story holds just the right amount of drama and emotional turmoil to keep the pages turning.
I was given a copy of this book for an honest review.
That Jared and Calisa are certainly going to give you your money's worth and twists and turns. In continuation from a pregnant Sydney and Morgan who have moved on to Baltimore, more antics for the fab five. Kent is still in the story line as is Allina. Sydney comes home to deliver to a hot mess for her best friend Cali and brother Red. Red has a daughter we didn't see coming and Cali has a past behaviors, places and things to leave behind. It was a great read, plenty of twists an turns. Action packed, mysterious, sexy and thorough.
Red I loved him, he liked to give his woman ideas, "grabbing her hips and moving her over his hardening erection, he asked, “Why don’t you hop on that and ride me like you mean it?” There are certain situations Red is calm in, "Red pulled up his pants, leaving them unbuttoned. “It’s cool. I doubt they heard us. Roc is messing with you. Every room in his place is soundproof and he did that for a reason. It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” I enjoyed this book, it had a huge family aspect and I liked that.
I almost gave up on this book. It started out super hot...then sorta fizzled out and I drifted for a while (unable to emotionally connect to the characters, I think)...then it got super sweet once we truly got into the story. But that was actually my main issue with it: Not falling for the characters until about halfway through. I'm happy I didn't give up, though. I would have missed out on some truly emotionally satisfying moments.
Though this book is a part of a series, it can be a stand alone as well.
As always, Elle Wright does an awesome job evoking emotion within the reader and delivering HOT SEX SCENES but in comparison to "The Forbidden Man"... "His All Night" was just an okay read for me. Between Syd's high risk pregnancy, Uncle Cal's news and Cali's childhood issues, my nerves stayed on edge! At times, I felt like the storyline sounds like a broken record with Cali's constant whinny issues and stubbornness. In my opinion... Cali and her rules didn't need love, she needed some professional help! Red deserved better but YOU BE THE JUDGE!
I thought that this book was only ok. It took me way too long to finish it because it did not keep my interest. The book seemed to drag on, and I started to get a little frustrated with the main character, Cali.
Elle Wright has passion down to a T. Cali and Red are as hot as all of her other couples and I love that. I love that chemistry, the way they just have to have each other, no matter who is around. But story wise, I was a little underwhelmed. The premise is good, but some parts of this read like Cali and Red are new to this arrangement when clearly they're not. Sometimes their behavior and attitude feels like two people still trying to figure out boundaries--not two people who have been friends for ten years and fucking for five. A great example of this is her not figuring out until the very end that she'd been projecting her trauma onto other people for years. And if she had such "tell it like it is," friends, it would have been nice for them to say it.
Also, I don't really like the lack of empathy towards her mother having an actual diagnosed mental illness. I'm not saying Cali had to love her, like her, or pursue a relationship with her, but constantly painting the picture that she was bad mother willfully was kind of awful. Because Cali knew she had a mental illness. And even if it was just drugs, addiction is an illness also, so I didn't really like that either.
The love story was great though. I love how Red stood his ground the entire book. He was my favorite character by far.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the relationship between Red and Cali. Although, Cali not admitting how she felt at first got on my nerves at times. What I liked about this couple though was their “straight talk” they told each other how they felt even if it was hard to hear. There were no silly games.
I also loved Cali’s relationship with her uncle. Red’s compassion for Uncle Cal and Red’s being there when Cali needed him was also very endearing.
Jared “Red” is my favorite of the men in this series so far. I like that he tells it like it is and doesn’t play games. He is a strong alpha male who can go from the courtroom to the basketball court with ease. Red’s connection with his daughter Corrine was so heartfelt. His relationship with Corrine showed his vulnerable side, which made me like him even more. I loved little Corrine by the way. She was a little firecracker!
I enjoyed Red’s and Sydney’s relationship in this book more than in the previous. They had a closeness that you would expect from their being twins that came through in this book.
Thety had carried on a not so secret friends with benefits relationship for years. He was ready for more and truthfully so was she but fear from issues in her past held her back. A pregnancy scare, the unexpected arrival of the daughter he had been searching for, the early arrival of his niece her goddaughter, the death of a loved one, and the revealing of a awful secret brings them together, tears them apart and brings them together for their final happily ever after. Elle pens an amazing story of friendship, love, pain, and healing in His All Night, the second story in the Edge of Scandal series.
Elle is just such a phenomenal writer. She truly knows how to bring characters to life, and this story is no exceptions. Callie and Jared (Red) are friends with benefits, but what happens when they have to deal with their true feelings for each other. This was a great book and an even greater series.
This is a well written page turner full of love, romance, humor, and humility. The author’s writing sets the tone for every scene. The romantic, sexual encounters were vivid and intense. The love displayed by all of the characters is genuine and touching; and of course my favorite characters are Jared and Cali, I look forward to reading their sequel.
Another great read by an amazing author. I was glad when Cali realized that she was nothing like her mother. I loved how supportive Cali and Red are to their friends and vice versa. Thank you Elle for sharing. I will read the 2 remaining books.
Messy, messy good y’all. It’s a dumpster fire gone good. If chaos is or isn’t your thing, you can get caught up in this with no damage done to your own day.
I mean it is chaotic, sloppy good. You WONT be disappointed, ‘I promise’
Cali & Red totally intense professional couple, denying they are a couple, "just friends with benefits". This was a very good storyline, the definitely take advantage of the "benefits". But greatly aside from the erotic scenes, it's a great story with dramatic results.
What an intriguing story. Many themes and lessons to discuss. An inspirational book, I had to read it slowly so that I could gather all the lessons. I enjoy this author's perspective and artistry, makes the reader think and ponder.
How we are raised and the trials we go through growing up make us who we are, and finding love along the way is beautiful. This is a great story about hurt and redemption a good read.
Sometimes a bad parent has a negative influence. Sometimes they don't. Thanks to Cali's Uncle Cal she survived and thrived. She can teach and guide Corrine along with Red.