Dancer

Pleasure Before Business #2

by Kelli Ireland

Alguns homens gostam de ver mulheres dançando...
Já ele adora dançar para elas...

Justin Maxwell está comemorando a última noite como stripper antes de iniciar uma nova carreira em psicologia. Tudo vai bem, até ver Grace Cooper na plateia. Há anos ele a deseja, mas mantém distância por ela ser sua aluna. Agora Justin se permitirá realizar uma fantasia proibida: levá-la para a cama. Grace também está cansada de negar a atração por Justin. Dentro de duas semanas ela deixará a cidade, e essa é a chance perfeita para uma despedida digna de seus sonhos mais libidinosos. Porém, tudo tem um preço, e talvez custe o futuro de ambos…

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin Blaze, Contemporary, Harlequin

225 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 16, 2014

About the author

Kelli Ireland spent a decade as a name on a door in corporate America. Unexpectedly liberated by Fate's sense of humor, she chose to carpe the diem and pursue her passion for writing. A fan of happily-ever-afters, she found she loved being the Puppet Master for the most unlikely couples. Seeing them through the best and worst of each other while helping them survive the joys and disasters of falling in love? Best. Thing. Ever.

Visit Kelli’s website for more information: www.kelliireland.com

You can also catch up with her on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/kelliireland...

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was only one thing to do. Starting now, he was going to seduce Grace. Not seduce her with suggestive dances or passionate kisses that would allow her to claim she'd only been caught up in the moment. No, he was going to offer small things, little words of kindness, gestures of comfort - whatever it took to get her to realize that he was a better man than he'd shown himself to be and that he hadn't meant what he'd said.

Justin Maxwell is working his last regular night as a stripper at Beaux Hommes. He has just obtained his PhD in psychology. When he scans the crowd, he is shocked to see Grace Cooper, a student he's known for three years through the psychology classes he'd TAed. Now freed from the confines of their teacher-student relationship, he goes after her.

He takes her to a motel and the have a night of hot sex.

Well, a night of hot sex is one thing, but as everyone knows, as soon as you let it go beyond that, things get complicated.
...

Ireland's strongest points are:

1.) Her sex scenes. They are pretty good. Not perfect, but definitely enjoyable.

2.) Her sense of reality. Most romance novels are lost in la-la land, but Ireland is great at serving up the nitty-gritty of everyday life. Living hand-to-mouth, student loans, not-so-pretty pasts - Ireland brings it all. While some people may not enjoy this (most people read romance novels to escape life), I always really like to delve into life and the psychology of situations.

Ireland's weakest point is:

- Without a doubt, her jokes. They are TERRIBLE. The characters' witty banter with each other is just groan-inducing. The MCs always crack each other up and think each other is hilarious, but the reader not so much. Trust me. However, this being the second Kelli Ireland book I've read, I now find her characters' jokes rather endearing in their awfulness.

....

I really liked the addition of both Grace's and Justin's mysterious pasts. Ireland drops little hints to us throughout the book, but it all comes to a head by the end and I really liked how exciting it was to see both Grace's and Justin's pasts get put to rest. This made for a better and more interesting read than most romances.
...

Both Justin and Grace - while far from perfect people - were likable. This is very difficult to do, apparently, seeing how many romances I've shredded in the past two weeks. So props to Ireland for this.
...

Tl;dr - A rather fun and exciting romance novel with a healthy dose of realism. Some extra drama for extra fun. The sex is good. :) I'm still holding out for amazing, though.

3 REAL STARS, 4 ROMANCE STARS

Harlequin Blaze January 2015

[CL · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5*

Cover: Yay

Chemistry: Low boil

POV: 3rd Person

One-Sentence Summary: Stripper turned psychologist ends up hooking up and working with his former student

Review: I was really looking forward to this second book in this "stripper" series as I thoroughly enjoyed the first one. However, unfortunately it didn't end up turning out to be the sizzling page-turner that I expected.

My pet peeves:

1. Justin pushing Grace into a relationship even when Grace keeps saying no. Yes Justin knows and we know that Grace has feelings for him but I'm sorry, if she keeps pushing you away, stop kissing her and stop trying to convince her that a relationship is what she wants. There was this endless cycle in the middle of the book where he kept pushing and she kept saying no and I really just wanted Justin to walk away and let Grace come back to him on her own. Additionally Justin goes from accusing Grace of ruining his life because of the fact they'll be working together, to making out with her whilst they're on the clock at work? Seriously?!

2. Justin and Grace's angsty backstories. I wanted to feel for them both, I really did, given what they had been through but to be honest I just grew tired of hearing about Grace/her Mum.

3. The rush through to "I love you"s and marriage proposals. I get that Justin/Grace knew each other for a couple of year prior to getting together but only in a professional TA/student capacity but then all of a sudden when they sleep together they have this -instant love connection- and that's that? I didn't buy it.

4. The move away from the focus of the stripper world. Apart from the Meet cute at the beginning we don't end up seeing Justin in his old job which was what first drew me to this series.

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Characters and steamy romance were very enjoyable. Hero's relationship with his family and friends were very heartwarming. However even more than the first book in the series, some plot twists and ethical conflict of interest choices left me feeling uncomfortable. Some examples were the hero promising to keep his hands off the heroine, and within an hour he was forcing her to respond to a kiss - it felt manipulative. Also his 'blowing off' as 'no big deal' disciplinary measures for crossing the line with his intern. I don't know that his employer would be keeping him as an employee based on several of his decisions...Although I liked many things about these characters as individuals, there were too many things about the plot twists that did not sit well with me, so I toasted the book.

[CoffeeTimeRomance andMore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laying out a life plan and following it to the letter is what brings Justin and Grace to this intersection. For a short moment in time they burn hot and hard, yet the flames are doused just as quickly. Seeing if they can find a way back without destroying each other’s dreams is what holds you captive to their story. There is so much feeling and honesty to these characters you cannot help but want everything to go right for them.
Lototy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelli Ireland is a new author for me and I was looking forward to reading this book. I really enjoyed it. I loved the cover too!!!! It's an easy read for a quiet winter after noon with a nice cup of tea! I recommend it highly!!!

[Hannah Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I can't wait for Levi's turn in book 3!

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Pleasure Before Business

[Geraldine Sadiku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!!!

Gahhh we all need a Justin Maxwell in our lives 😍🥺❤

[Kate]

Can't really decide what to star-rate this one. I read it for my Adult Popular Literature class, and while I didn't hate it, it's not one I would go back to again and again. Likely because Harlequin books aren't made to live up to re-reads? Regardless, I enjoyed the forbidden romance trope, and I loved Justin's family and how Grace interacted with them. It felt a bit rushed at the end, but again, that's probably a fault of the category romance genre and the length more than anything. All in all, not terrible, but not something I'd recommend.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially I found both main characters immature. In fact, after I read the first several chapters and put the book down for the day in wasn't sure I wanted to keep reading. But I'm glad I picked it back up to finish. The story grew unexpectedly, and I began to empathize with them both. Overall a good story.

[Shamekia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read a Harlequin novel since high school, but I figured I'd grab this because it was short and I needed something to read on my lunch break. I was surprised at how much I liked it. I mean it's still corny in a lot of places, but I was surprised that the characters weren't the stereotypical young ingenue working for a high powered business man/celebrity/duke-baron-prince in disguise.

[Krys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! So hot! Great story and characters! Can't wait to read Levi's story!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting and a good read