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Sidelined #1
Offensive Behavior
Everyone is virgin at something
This is the story of a man who’s never done it, and a woman with the experience to teach him how.
Reid McGrath is drunk and intends to stay that way. It’s what a man does when the world he built gets ripped out from under him. He’s staked a claim on the back booth at Lucky’s where he can fixate on a dancer who makes him wish things were different.
Zarley Halveston dances under shimmering lights in a barely there costume, but it’s not the gold medal life she trained for. She expected to stand on an Olympic podium, instead she glitters under disco lights, gyrating on a chrome pole.
Zarley can’t see the brooding man in the back booth, but she knows he’s there. He’s toxic, but it’s not her job to care, until the night he collapses at her feet and she has to choose to step over him or help him up.
Reid thought he’d hit bottom when he was fired as CEO of his own company, but knowing he’d needed the kindness of a stranger, and realizing she was the dancer he’d lusted after was a new low.
Question: What do a fallen golden girl and a sacked tech tycoon have in common except humiliation and failure?
Answer: The reawakening of a champion competitor and the sexual education of a frustrated geek.
This is the story of a man who’s never done it, and a woman with the experience to teach him how.
Reid McGrath is drunk and intends to stay that way. It’s what a man does when the world he built gets ripped out from under him. He’s staked a claim on the back booth at Lucky’s where he can fixate on a dancer who makes him wish things were different.
Zarley Halveston dances under shimmering lights in a barely there costume, but it’s not the gold medal life she trained for. She expected to stand on an Olympic podium, instead she glitters under disco lights, gyrating on a chrome pole.
Zarley can’t see the brooding man in the back booth, but she knows he’s there. He’s toxic, but it’s not her job to care, until the night he collapses at her feet and she has to choose to step over him or help him up.
Reid thought he’d hit bottom when he was fired as CEO of his own company, but knowing he’d needed the kindness of a stranger, and realizing she was the dancer he’d lusted after was a new low.
Question: What do a fallen golden girl and a sacked tech tycoon have in common except humiliation and failure?
Answer: The reawakening of a champion competitor and the sexual education of a frustrated geek.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2016
13 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Ainslie Paton
40 books144 followersAinslie Paton always wanted to write stories to make people smile, but the need to eat, accumulate books, and have bedclothes to read under was ever present. She sold out, and worked as a flack, a suit, and a creative, ghosting for business leaders, rabble-rousers, and politicians, and making words happen for companies, governments, causes, conditions, high-profile CEOs, low-profile celebs, and the occasional misguided royal. She still does that. She also writes for love and so she can buy shoes, and the good cat food.
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March 31, 2016
Coming Soon ☺ nope - it's not ... I could KILL blogger right now!!! It lost my review!
And since it was at least a month ago or more that I read this book - and I'm suffering from Books-Alzheimers - I have no idea what happened in the book and what I wrote :/ I HATE that.... I know the basics of what happened and I know I loved the book - but I just don't remember my thoughts about it - that's why I won't write anything - SO SORRY ABOUT THAT!!!
Please just go to your nearest amazon store and download this book - I remember it was very adorable and sexy and I know I made this Paris edit - and I know there were a few other guys in it for future books and it was set in San Francisco and the guy was a virgin!!!! I really remember loving it but that's it - please don't hold my forgetting about it against the book - that ALWAYS happens when I read a book!!!! That's why I have to write my reviews while I'm still reading the book and not a few days later ☺ gah - Bookalzheimers sucks :((((( I will save my reviews in a word doc from now on!
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July 31, 2016
3.5 Stars
Take away the tags 'exotic dancer', 'CEO/millionaire' and 'virgin hero', and Offensive Behaviour offers a surprisingly interesting story with complex main characters. Obviously, these tags are important as they determine what Zarley (silly name, to be honest) and Reid are at the beginning of the story. But Ainslie Paton adds layers to them, instead of presenting yet another millionaire/billionaire cliche ridden romance. Besides the romance, Offensive Behavior explores topics such as loyalty, friendship, failure, insecurity without being angsty. The strong secondary characters round up the challenging relationship of Zarley and Reid and made this book a very enjoyable read which is as much funny as it is serious and romantic. Not NA, by the way, or at least, I wouldn't categorise it as such.
Reid McGrath hits rock bottom when he finds himself fired from the company he and his best friends (who all get their own stories told) founded ten years ago. He may be the new Wunderkind of Silicon Valley when it comes to coding and developing new ideas, but his non-existent social skills started to threaten his company's reputation and success to an extent where his friends and co-founders had no choice but to kick his arse out onto the street. Imagine the cinematic portrayals (if you have watched those films, of course) of Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs to get an idea what Reid is like. Never having known failure, he now wallows in self-pity in the same bar every night for a month, watching this one woman who mesmerises him with her dancing.
Zarley has her own emotional baggage to carry. A former gymnast, who had a chance to go to the Olympics, lost everything after an unexpected pregnancy and miscarriage: her spot in the Olympic team, her family's support, her future. Going into a proper self-destruction mode, she parties, shags and takes drugs for the next four years, going from one dead end job to another. At the start of Offensive Behavior, Zarley has cleaned up her crap and now attends college, financing it by pole dancing six nights a week. She knows what it means to hit rock bottom and it's her biggest fear to lose herself the way she did.
The first significant difference to the many crappy CRs I've read lately was that the external conflicts are self made. No evil villains or crappy childhoods - though Reid has known poverty - that leads to 'poor little baby, pity me' moments. Wrong choices led to mistakes which had life altering consequences. I found this approach to be surprisingly refreshing and very relatable. Very human.
This book is full of sexy times - no wonder with Reid being a virgin - and though it felt a little gratuitous towards the end, they don't drag the story away from the slowly developing relationship between Zarley and Reid. And for most of the book it was entertaining to see these two headbutting while they tested each other's limits. Reid, in particular, is fun to watch, having finally found the time and the person to explore his sexuality. He's like a kid in a candy store. Because he's gone through life in the knowledge of his intellectual superiority in his job, and the job used to be the only thing in his life, he's equally unfiltered in his feelings. He's open, says what he wants and he wants Zarley. For Zarley it means insecurity: Is he in love with the sex or with her?
Zarley is a very strong heroine and I found her the most relatable character. Shaped by her choices and the resulting consequences, she's scared of losing focus on what's important to her: college, career and independence. Like Reid, she knows what she wants. Unlike all the
other people in Reid's life, however, she won't put up with his overbearing and sometimes petulant behavior, saying 'No' to Reid more often than he likes. Reid hates being told 'No' to an extent that it becomes difficult for Zarley to see a reason for this relationship to continue.
But it's also where this story shines. Ainslie Paton delivers a couple that talks about their fears, annoyances, expectations. Sex is a way to decompress but it doesn't offer solutions. The solutions for Zarley and Reid can only be found in communication.
That being said, the story takes a few twists and turns towards the end that I found a little unnecessary. It's mostly to do with Zarley's fierce wish for independence which was so dominating that I wondered about the power balance between these two. Reid finds himself constantly apologising and I started to wonder what for.
This book needs some serious editing, by the way. Some sentences were overdone and made little sense. At times I wasn't sure who was talking or there was a paragraph here and there that should have really been made into a new chapter. But in the end, I did enjoy Zarley and Reid's story. It wasn't perfect, but it was complex enough to keep me interested.
Take away the tags 'exotic dancer', 'CEO/millionaire' and 'virgin hero', and Offensive Behaviour offers a surprisingly interesting story with complex main characters. Obviously, these tags are important as they determine what Zarley (silly name, to be honest) and Reid are at the beginning of the story. But Ainslie Paton adds layers to them, instead of presenting yet another millionaire/billionaire cliche ridden romance. Besides the romance, Offensive Behavior explores topics such as loyalty, friendship, failure, insecurity without being angsty. The strong secondary characters round up the challenging relationship of Zarley and Reid and made this book a very enjoyable read which is as much funny as it is serious and romantic. Not NA, by the way, or at least, I wouldn't categorise it as such.
Reid McGrath hits rock bottom when he finds himself fired from the company he and his best friends (who all get their own stories told) founded ten years ago. He may be the new Wunderkind of Silicon Valley when it comes to coding and developing new ideas, but his non-existent social skills started to threaten his company's reputation and success to an extent where his friends and co-founders had no choice but to kick his arse out onto the street. Imagine the cinematic portrayals (if you have watched those films, of course) of Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs to get an idea what Reid is like. Never having known failure, he now wallows in self-pity in the same bar every night for a month, watching this one woman who mesmerises him with her dancing.
Zarley has her own emotional baggage to carry. A former gymnast, who had a chance to go to the Olympics, lost everything after an unexpected pregnancy and miscarriage: her spot in the Olympic team, her family's support, her future. Going into a proper self-destruction mode, she parties, shags and takes drugs for the next four years, going from one dead end job to another. At the start of Offensive Behavior, Zarley has cleaned up her crap and now attends college, financing it by pole dancing six nights a week. She knows what it means to hit rock bottom and it's her biggest fear to lose herself the way she did.
The first significant difference to the many crappy CRs I've read lately was that the external conflicts are self made. No evil villains or crappy childhoods - though Reid has known poverty - that leads to 'poor little baby, pity me' moments. Wrong choices led to mistakes which had life altering consequences. I found this approach to be surprisingly refreshing and very relatable. Very human.
This book is full of sexy times - no wonder with Reid being a virgin - and though it felt a little gratuitous towards the end, they don't drag the story away from the slowly developing relationship between Zarley and Reid. And for most of the book it was entertaining to see these two headbutting while they tested each other's limits. Reid, in particular, is fun to watch, having finally found the time and the person to explore his sexuality. He's like a kid in a candy store. Because he's gone through life in the knowledge of his intellectual superiority in his job, and the job used to be the only thing in his life, he's equally unfiltered in his feelings. He's open, says what he wants and he wants Zarley. For Zarley it means insecurity: Is he in love with the sex or with her?
Zarley is a very strong heroine and I found her the most relatable character. Shaped by her choices and the resulting consequences, she's scared of losing focus on what's important to her: college, career and independence. Like Reid, she knows what she wants. Unlike all the
other people in Reid's life, however, she won't put up with his overbearing and sometimes petulant behavior, saying 'No' to Reid more often than he likes. Reid hates being told 'No' to an extent that it becomes difficult for Zarley to see a reason for this relationship to continue.
But it's also where this story shines. Ainslie Paton delivers a couple that talks about their fears, annoyances, expectations. Sex is a way to decompress but it doesn't offer solutions. The solutions for Zarley and Reid can only be found in communication.
That being said, the story takes a few twists and turns towards the end that I found a little unnecessary. It's mostly to do with Zarley's fierce wish for independence which was so dominating that I wondered about the power balance between these two. Reid finds himself constantly apologising and I started to wonder what for.
This book needs some serious editing, by the way. Some sentences were overdone and made little sense. At times I wasn't sure who was talking or there was a paragraph here and there that should have really been made into a new chapter. But in the end, I did enjoy Zarley and Reid's story. It wasn't perfect, but it was complex enough to keep me interested.
August 14, 2016
2.5 Stars
I'm pretty undecided on the final rating - I liked the story, but it's got so many glaring flaws.
- The book could do with some heavy handed editing. It's just too clunky and long for its content , and things got very repetitive.
- A great amount of the pages are taken up by sexy times , which I totally get - a budding relationship with more than a little insta - lust. This is how the protagonists explore and communicate with each other. But the scenes are done in this awkward fade - to - black way, again and again and again .. So either make them more descriptive and hotter , or just cut them out altogether
- The book is so much more than a billionaire virgin X stripper romance. It explores facing failure and screwing things up , and then maturely facing the consequences and picking yourself up. Probably the first time I've seen the male hero screw it up so badly for himself ; and be self aware enough to make amends the next day. The conflicts facing the leads were more of a 'me vs myself' , internally driven variety , and I found it incredibly refreshing.
- The added complexity in the way the friends were introduced. All the four founders had distinct , layers - on - layers equation with Reid. I loved the way the author respected each thread to handle it on its own steam.
- Reid and Zarley's relationship had lots of unneeded angst towards the end. Especially since Zarley continuing to be an exotic dancer even after they got together and was such a non issue with Reid , the ending bits of jealousy and self destructive behaviour felt tacked on.
All in all I'm glad I read this book. Ainsley Patton's refreshing take on a standard contemporary romance makes me want to keep an eye out for future releases.
I'm pretty undecided on the final rating - I liked the story, but it's got so many glaring flaws.
- The book could do with some heavy handed editing. It's just too clunky and long for its content , and things got very repetitive.
- A great amount of the pages are taken up by sexy times , which I totally get - a budding relationship with more than a little insta - lust. This is how the protagonists explore and communicate with each other. But the scenes are done in this awkward fade - to - black way, again and again and again .. So either make them more descriptive and hotter , or just cut them out altogether
- The book is so much more than a billionaire virgin X stripper romance. It explores facing failure and screwing things up , and then maturely facing the consequences and picking yourself up. Probably the first time I've seen the male hero screw it up so badly for himself ; and be self aware enough to make amends the next day. The conflicts facing the leads were more of a 'me vs myself' , internally driven variety , and I found it incredibly refreshing.
- The added complexity in the way the friends were introduced. All the four founders had distinct , layers - on - layers equation with Reid. I loved the way the author respected each thread to handle it on its own steam.
- Reid and Zarley's relationship had lots of unneeded angst towards the end. Especially since Zarley continuing to be an exotic dancer even after they got together and was such a non issue with Reid , the ending bits of jealousy and self destructive behaviour felt tacked on.
All in all I'm glad I read this book. Ainsley Patton's refreshing take on a standard contemporary romance makes me want to keep an eye out for future releases.
March 28, 2016
A 2016 and all-time favorite!
Review to come closer to release but this book completely blew me away!!
28 March - My review:
Reid is broody, imposing, a control freak and hardass. For reasons he's also a virgin in his late twenties. At the beginning of this book he is fired as CEO of the IT company he started, also because of reasons. I thought this was an apt description from the author: ~He was a confusing mix of alpha male and raw boy~
Zarley is outspoken, sharp and a free spirit. She's a former gymnast who was on her way to the Olympics but circumstances forced her to transform into pole dancer Lux.
These two characters are so realistic and flawed. We have a pole dancer and an ex-CEO. Their lives are messed up for several different reasons and they come together in a way that you know will end happily but getting there will wreak havoc on you, the reader. The thing I loved most about them is that they own up to their mistakes and flaws.
They try, they (mostly Zarley) try so hard to keep what's between them a fling and keep it casual and about sex, but it's no use. The feelings side of this romance is built up gradually and in a brilliant way. Slowly but surely it's revealed layer by subtle layer and it pulls you in completely.
The secondary cast consists of Reid's friends and fellow owners of Plus (Owen, Dev, Sarina) and Zarley's coworkers/fellow pole dancers (Lizabeth/Lavinia, Kathryn/Cinnamon, Melinda/Missy, Violet the hostess, Therese/Tiffany the new girl). The secondary cast was truly supportive, complemented the main couple and never took the focus from them.
I was completely into this book from the first page until the last. Ainslie Paton writes romance that is so real and raw (I have no other words to describe it). If you want to use the term non-traditional romance in an appropriate and romance-positive way? Use it for this author's work, not for women's fiction trying to be romance. Her writing gets under your skin and takes hold of you with its beauty and rawness. The words and emotions hook you, reel you in and it's hard to let go once you're in.
Favorite Scene? Reid's deflowering scene! Hands down! It was so funny and so sexy. I'd forgotten that this was a virgin hero book and the fact that it was really helps me explain the realness of Ainslie Paton's writing. I've read virgin hero books before and the only differerence between those and the non-virgin heroes is that first sex/deflowering scene. In the other books the virgin heroes magically transformed into experienced lovers that knew exactly what to do in much of the same way a non-virgin hero does. In OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR Reid is a true virgin who is not magically in the know of all things sex or women after his first time. He remains insecure about what to do and if he's doing it right. And all without losing the sexy vibe of the book. I really loved that!
And sexy it was. It wasn't the dirty/filthy sexy but it was definitely hot in an intensely sexy way. Reid's enthusiasme and eagerness to learn and Zarley unapologetical about her sexuality and her willingness to teach made this a sexy contemporay the way I like them best!
OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR is a perfect blend of a corporate setting that's so realistic I wanted to send Plus my resume, an emotional romance that tugs on your heartstrings, beautifully flawed characters that imbed themselves in your brain and sneakily inserted sexy kinky stuff like voyeurism and roleplay that make you reach for a fan.
Favorite Quotes:
[Zarley and douchebag guy in the alley] “You need to step aside and let me through.”
“That’s not what you need.” He put both hands to his dick and thrust. “I’ve got what you need.”
She flicked her chin up. “You’ve got a hot bath and a plate of mac and cheese in your pants. Color me impressed.”
"[...] I started my business in college. I barely even dated. It’s no wonder I’m useless with people, I’m fucking unnatural.”
Oh, this man. She put her hand on his shoulder. “Do you want to have sex?”
He turned his head and they locked eyes. “I want it now like I want oxygen to breathe.”
“With me?”
“With you, oh God, yes, please, with you.”
He opened his arm and she tucked her face into his chest. “So . . .?”
He wrapped her closer. “No. I should’ve sorted this years ago. I need to hire a professional and work all the clumsy out and maybe then you might want me.”
“I want five minutes in the shower to myself and then you come join me, okay? Do you want to undress me?”
He took a breath and held it. Why was she asking him these difficult questions? Couldn’t she see he was riding a roller coaster and scared of the rattles, trying not to piss himself.
Damn, but she smelled good, enhancing his clean lemony linen with a different scent. Like that indescribable smell before it rained. He took a deep breath and held it in his lungs. Soap and sweat and them. She smelled of sex. Of what they’d done together. He wanted to snort her up, feel her up, kiss her, have her hands and her lips on him, have her cock-zapping sighs and little squeals breaking over him while he eased inside her slippery warmth again.
“I want to touch you.”
“I know you do.”
“Can I touch you?”
“Not yet.”
“You want me to burn up.”
“I won’t let you turn to ash.”
Reid was a storm of destructive emotion and Zarley was the land he broke over. She gathered all his panic, shame, guilt, and the sharp pain of his sudden awareness and took them into her body so he couldn’t use them to hurt himself. Because she was strong, and in this, he was freshly scored, and lashing out with misdirected fury. He was already wounded and she understood the shock of engineering your own downfall and what it meant to become unanchored because of it.
[Reid and Dev]
“Our friendship is contingent on me keeping Zarley?”
“Yup.”
“How is that reasonable?”
“It’s not. But neither are you. You were born without the reasonable gene. One day we might be able to steal you one on the reasonable gene black market, but until then having Zarley in your life makes you a more acceptable human being. I kind of like you again.”
Review to come closer to release but this book completely blew me away!!
28 March - My review:
Reid is broody, imposing, a control freak and hardass. For reasons he's also a virgin in his late twenties. At the beginning of this book he is fired as CEO of the IT company he started, also because of reasons. I thought this was an apt description from the author: ~He was a confusing mix of alpha male and raw boy~
Zarley is outspoken, sharp and a free spirit. She's a former gymnast who was on her way to the Olympics but circumstances forced her to transform into pole dancer Lux.
These two characters are so realistic and flawed. We have a pole dancer and an ex-CEO. Their lives are messed up for several different reasons and they come together in a way that you know will end happily but getting there will wreak havoc on you, the reader. The thing I loved most about them is that they own up to their mistakes and flaws.
They try, they (mostly Zarley) try so hard to keep what's between them a fling and keep it casual and about sex, but it's no use. The feelings side of this romance is built up gradually and in a brilliant way. Slowly but surely it's revealed layer by subtle layer and it pulls you in completely.
The secondary cast consists of Reid's friends and fellow owners of Plus (Owen, Dev, Sarina) and Zarley's coworkers/fellow pole dancers (Lizabeth/Lavinia, Kathryn/Cinnamon, Melinda/Missy, Violet the hostess, Therese/Tiffany the new girl). The secondary cast was truly supportive, complemented the main couple and never took the focus from them.
I was completely into this book from the first page until the last. Ainslie Paton writes romance that is so real and raw (I have no other words to describe it). If you want to use the term non-traditional romance in an appropriate and romance-positive way? Use it for this author's work, not for women's fiction trying to be romance. Her writing gets under your skin and takes hold of you with its beauty and rawness. The words and emotions hook you, reel you in and it's hard to let go once you're in.
Favorite Scene? Reid's deflowering scene! Hands down! It was so funny and so sexy. I'd forgotten that this was a virgin hero book and the fact that it was really helps me explain the realness of Ainslie Paton's writing. I've read virgin hero books before and the only differerence between those and the non-virgin heroes is that first sex/deflowering scene. In the other books the virgin heroes magically transformed into experienced lovers that knew exactly what to do in much of the same way a non-virgin hero does. In OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR Reid is a true virgin who is not magically in the know of all things sex or women after his first time. He remains insecure about what to do and if he's doing it right. And all without losing the sexy vibe of the book. I really loved that!
And sexy it was. It wasn't the dirty/filthy sexy but it was definitely hot in an intensely sexy way. Reid's enthusiasme and eagerness to learn and Zarley unapologetical about her sexuality and her willingness to teach made this a sexy contemporay the way I like them best!
OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR is a perfect blend of a corporate setting that's so realistic I wanted to send Plus my resume, an emotional romance that tugs on your heartstrings, beautifully flawed characters that imbed themselves in your brain and sneakily inserted sexy kinky stuff like voyeurism and roleplay that make you reach for a fan.
Favorite Quotes:
[Zarley and douchebag guy in the alley] “You need to step aside and let me through.”
“That’s not what you need.” He put both hands to his dick and thrust. “I’ve got what you need.”
She flicked her chin up. “You’ve got a hot bath and a plate of mac and cheese in your pants. Color me impressed.”
"[...] I started my business in college. I barely even dated. It’s no wonder I’m useless with people, I’m fucking unnatural.”
Oh, this man. She put her hand on his shoulder. “Do you want to have sex?”
He turned his head and they locked eyes. “I want it now like I want oxygen to breathe.”
“With me?”
“With you, oh God, yes, please, with you.”
He opened his arm and she tucked her face into his chest. “So . . .?”
He wrapped her closer. “No. I should’ve sorted this years ago. I need to hire a professional and work all the clumsy out and maybe then you might want me.”
“I want five minutes in the shower to myself and then you come join me, okay? Do you want to undress me?”
He took a breath and held it. Why was she asking him these difficult questions? Couldn’t she see he was riding a roller coaster and scared of the rattles, trying not to piss himself.
Damn, but she smelled good, enhancing his clean lemony linen with a different scent. Like that indescribable smell before it rained. He took a deep breath and held it in his lungs. Soap and sweat and them. She smelled of sex. Of what they’d done together. He wanted to snort her up, feel her up, kiss her, have her hands and her lips on him, have her cock-zapping sighs and little squeals breaking over him while he eased inside her slippery warmth again.
“I want to touch you.”
“I know you do.”
“Can I touch you?”
“Not yet.”
“You want me to burn up.”
“I won’t let you turn to ash.”
Reid was a storm of destructive emotion and Zarley was the land he broke over. She gathered all his panic, shame, guilt, and the sharp pain of his sudden awareness and took them into her body so he couldn’t use them to hurt himself. Because she was strong, and in this, he was freshly scored, and lashing out with misdirected fury. He was already wounded and she understood the shock of engineering your own downfall and what it meant to become unanchored because of it.
[Reid and Dev]
“Our friendship is contingent on me keeping Zarley?”
“Yup.”
“How is that reasonable?”
“It’s not. But neither are you. You were born without the reasonable gene. One day we might be able to steal you one on the reasonable gene black market, but until then having Zarley in your life makes you a more acceptable human being. I kind of like you again.”
January 5, 2020
Rounding out my 2019 goodreads challenge with a sexy, emotional romance between a pole dancer and a fired virgin CEO - great way to end the year!
I have read the rest of the Sidelined series but the first one had been languishing on my TBR so I decided it was time to dive in. As always, the author's combination of compelling story with emotionally complex characters, sexy scenes and interesting plot make for a thoroughly enjoyable read.
There's no denying that Reid is a jerk and a hothead and bordering on a career of alcoholism when he and Lux a.k.a Zarley first meet - he as a repeat customer at the exotic dance bar where Zarley performs her routines in between studying for a college degree. She's a former Olympic team gymnast for whom a teenage pregnancy and miscarriage derailed her career and now she uses her skills to forget her problems and immerse herself in her dancing. Reid made one too many mistakes while running the company he started with his friends and was kicked out before he could damage the company's reputation anymore. He's wallowing in self pity when Lux takes him home one night in his drunken state and it's the start of something that neither can really define.
Reid is a virgin, having spent his years more focused on business success than women and Zarley is comfortable with sex and intrigued by Reid despite his many failings and suddenly they are having a hot and heavy affair as Zarley shows Reid all he's been missing. He still makes lots of mistakes, but as he gets attached to Zarley he starts to want to be a better person and he gets the chance to step up and do the right thing when two of the top people at his former company, one being his best friend Owen, are injured in a car accident. His character evolution is most interesting and he never attains perfection, but who does? Zarley may be Reid's saviour but she's also not going to let her heart get too involved and needs Reid, with all his money to accept that his money isn't going to buy her. The sex gets a little kinky, the emotions get deep, and the romance blossoms, but not without some hard truths first. Their happy ending is thoroughly satisfying, and while I've already read Owen and Cara's (Zarley's best friend) story (the second in the series), I definitely think it's time for a reread.
If you haven't read any of Ainslie Paton's stories, this series is a great place to start.
Note: It's possible this story was provided for review but I can't remember, and I bought it at amazon anyway because if it was a review copy I was woefully behind on it!
I have read the rest of the Sidelined series but the first one had been languishing on my TBR so I decided it was time to dive in. As always, the author's combination of compelling story with emotionally complex characters, sexy scenes and interesting plot make for a thoroughly enjoyable read.
There's no denying that Reid is a jerk and a hothead and bordering on a career of alcoholism when he and Lux a.k.a Zarley first meet - he as a repeat customer at the exotic dance bar where Zarley performs her routines in between studying for a college degree. She's a former Olympic team gymnast for whom a teenage pregnancy and miscarriage derailed her career and now she uses her skills to forget her problems and immerse herself in her dancing. Reid made one too many mistakes while running the company he started with his friends and was kicked out before he could damage the company's reputation anymore. He's wallowing in self pity when Lux takes him home one night in his drunken state and it's the start of something that neither can really define.
Reid is a virgin, having spent his years more focused on business success than women and Zarley is comfortable with sex and intrigued by Reid despite his many failings and suddenly they are having a hot and heavy affair as Zarley shows Reid all he's been missing. He still makes lots of mistakes, but as he gets attached to Zarley he starts to want to be a better person and he gets the chance to step up and do the right thing when two of the top people at his former company, one being his best friend Owen, are injured in a car accident. His character evolution is most interesting and he never attains perfection, but who does? Zarley may be Reid's saviour but she's also not going to let her heart get too involved and needs Reid, with all his money to accept that his money isn't going to buy her. The sex gets a little kinky, the emotions get deep, and the romance blossoms, but not without some hard truths first. Their happy ending is thoroughly satisfying, and while I've already read Owen and Cara's (Zarley's best friend) story (the second in the series), I definitely think it's time for a reread.
If you haven't read any of Ainslie Paton's stories, this series is a great place to start.
Note: It's possible this story was provided for review but I can't remember, and I bought it at amazon anyway because if it was a review copy I was woefully behind on it!
April 11, 2016
When I saw this had a virgin hero, I grabbed it up. There is something about virgin heroes that suck me in! I can’t help it. Reid is in a bad place in his life – fired as the CEO of the technology firm he built for basically being an asshole, and now he has turned to drinking. At twenty-eight, his life is a mess. He is a control freak, who couldn’t learn to work with others, forcing his work partners to make him resign. Reid now spends his nights drunk at a place called Lucky’s where he can watch a woman with the stage name of Lux, pole dance. He has become fixated on her, and a little obsessed (not creepy though!).
Lux aka Zarley was on track to be an olympic gymnast, until she grew too many curves and got too old. Now in school, she dances as a pole dancer at Lucky’s to make money. She knows a mysterious man is always staring at her when she dances, and after colliding with a undesriable man in the alley, Reid makes his presence known. Zarley really wants nothing to do with him – until one night as she is leaving, he is very ill in the parking lot from food poisoning. She takes pity on him, gets him home and stays the night to make sure he doesn’t die. Reid wants to make this up to her – and in all honesty, date her – so he starts to woo her, finally breaking her down. But in a turn of events, Reid becomes insecure about dating her and courting her and Zarley is the one to show him the ropes.
I really enjoyed Zarley (except her name – I’m sorry to any Zarley’s out there!!!) Anyway, Zarley is strong and confident and attracted to Reid, although his moody, surly behavior gets on her nerves – which she makes known. Reid, although very sexy, takes on a lost puppy tone at some points. At 28, I think he says the last time he had a tongue down a girl’s throat was his senior year of high school – tack on being a virgin, and that is quite a dry spell. He blames it on being an obsessive workaholic. He wants Zarley badly, but doesn’t know how to make that step. Zarley, once she admits to herself how attracted she is to him, shows him the pleasures of sex. They have a great physical relationship and Reid falls hard and fast. I love that Zarley calls him out when he moons over her too much
She didn’t even get a head turn out of him. “Could you look at me, please?”
A slight swivel of his chair, a quarter turn of his head, then he focused on his screen again. “I’ll take you back to the apartment whenever you’re ready, or wherever you want to go.”
“Are you sulking?” He closed his eyes.
“I’m giving you space to do what you need to do.”
“You sulked at Lucky’s for a month. You’re sulking now because,” she flapped her arm. “I don’t know why, but that’s what you’re doing. I shouldn’t want to kiss you when you’re sulking but I do.” And what was that about? Possibly something to do with how miserable he looked. “I’m not going to because it will reward the behavior and you’re better that that.”
She doesn’t let him get away with silly or sulky behavior. In a sense, she helps him grow up – except in a sexy way and not like your mom.
Towards the end, there is conflict – some that made me roll my eyes, some that made me want to shake Reid. It felt a little forced in my opinion and I almost gave the book three stars – but the way Reid apologizes is so sweet he made up for it. He grew up so much *wipes tear*
I felt like Reid and Zarley had a little different dynamic than a normal romance couple and I appreciated that. Looking forward to book two.
Grade B
Lux aka Zarley was on track to be an olympic gymnast, until she grew too many curves and got too old. Now in school, she dances as a pole dancer at Lucky’s to make money. She knows a mysterious man is always staring at her when she dances, and after colliding with a undesriable man in the alley, Reid makes his presence known. Zarley really wants nothing to do with him – until one night as she is leaving, he is very ill in the parking lot from food poisoning. She takes pity on him, gets him home and stays the night to make sure he doesn’t die. Reid wants to make this up to her – and in all honesty, date her – so he starts to woo her, finally breaking her down. But in a turn of events, Reid becomes insecure about dating her and courting her and Zarley is the one to show him the ropes.
I really enjoyed Zarley (except her name – I’m sorry to any Zarley’s out there!!!) Anyway, Zarley is strong and confident and attracted to Reid, although his moody, surly behavior gets on her nerves – which she makes known. Reid, although very sexy, takes on a lost puppy tone at some points. At 28, I think he says the last time he had a tongue down a girl’s throat was his senior year of high school – tack on being a virgin, and that is quite a dry spell. He blames it on being an obsessive workaholic. He wants Zarley badly, but doesn’t know how to make that step. Zarley, once she admits to herself how attracted she is to him, shows him the pleasures of sex. They have a great physical relationship and Reid falls hard and fast. I love that Zarley calls him out when he moons over her too much
She didn’t even get a head turn out of him. “Could you look at me, please?”
A slight swivel of his chair, a quarter turn of his head, then he focused on his screen again. “I’ll take you back to the apartment whenever you’re ready, or wherever you want to go.”
“Are you sulking?” He closed his eyes.
“I’m giving you space to do what you need to do.”
“You sulked at Lucky’s for a month. You’re sulking now because,” she flapped her arm. “I don’t know why, but that’s what you’re doing. I shouldn’t want to kiss you when you’re sulking but I do.” And what was that about? Possibly something to do with how miserable he looked. “I’m not going to because it will reward the behavior and you’re better that that.”
She doesn’t let him get away with silly or sulky behavior. In a sense, she helps him grow up – except in a sexy way and not like your mom.
Towards the end, there is conflict – some that made me roll my eyes, some that made me want to shake Reid. It felt a little forced in my opinion and I almost gave the book three stars – but the way Reid apologizes is so sweet he made up for it. He grew up so much *wipes tear*
I felt like Reid and Zarley had a little different dynamic than a normal romance couple and I appreciated that. Looking forward to book two.
Grade B
August 30, 2016
This book started out like a house on fire but the longer it went on (seriously, it never seemed to end) the more my interest waned. I loved the opening. Reid pickling his liver and sulking in a dive bar. Zarley's no-nonsense attitude. But once Reid sobers up and the sex shows up I got bored. It morphs into a Rescue Fantasy (even though Zarley pushes back, "I'm my own person blah blah blah" whatever cupcake) and the separation at the end was super weak (Dear Zarley: It's called being a grown-up. Deal with it.).
After the initial 30% or so I just was no longer engaged in these characters. Any of them. Absolutely no interest in reading any other books in the series. I can recognize why others liked the book (as I did - for the first 30%), but it felt too drawn out. I'm thinking this would have been a dynamite Harlequin Blaze. As it is? I feel like it took me forever to finish it and I'm glad I can move on to a different book now.
After the initial 30% or so I just was no longer engaged in these characters. Any of them. Absolutely no interest in reading any other books in the series. I can recognize why others liked the book (as I did - for the first 30%), but it felt too drawn out. I'm thinking this would have been a dynamite Harlequin Blaze. As it is? I feel like it took me forever to finish it and I'm glad I can move on to a different book now.
November 14, 2016
A great twist on a classic romance trope. I'm biased because I love a sexy geek but Offensive Behavior was an interesting story with great sexy parts and snappy dialogue aplenty.
November 23, 2017
Well folks, I think it's safe to admit that I love Ainslie Paton's writing. Offensive Behavior was only my second book from her, but I love the way she crafts her romances. I was chatting with the author on Twitter and basically admitted to my full-blown love affair with grumpy, buttoned-up heroes, when she told me all about her grumpy heroes. Ainslie was kind enough to send this broke college student review copies, so THANK YOU, Ainslie! Anyways, this was the first book I picked up from the ones she sent for one simple reason - VIRGIN HERO. And she certainly delivered on that front. Reid isn't the sort of man you'd think would be a virgin. I mean the guy is a drunk who frequents strip clubs after all. And usually the broody kind of hero is known to be quite proficient in bedroom activities, but not this one. He could honestly be a class-A jackass from time to time, but this was a guy with principles. I loved that when he made mistakes, he repented AND groveled. Hello, I'm a sucker for a groveling hero! Zarley was an even greater girl! After a failed Olympic career, she has had to turn to dancing at a gentleman's club to afford school and life. She's sharp, brutally honest, and has a heart of gold. Both these characters are slightly messed up, but together they start to untangle all that messiness. I loved how well-developed the relationship between the two was. It starts of as a sexual education of sorts, but grows into something much more intimate than that. Ainslie Paton writes great romance, and even banter, dialogues and sexy times. Phew! The sexy times are wild, and steamy and fan-yourself hot! I was honestly into the book from start to finish, it's so addictive. I also really enjoyed the glimpses of the secondary characters here. I'm eager to read the next books as soon as I get a chance! If you haven't discovered Ainslie Paton yet, then change that ASAP, because she knows what she's doing with romance!
April 6, 2016
OMG - hot! Offensive Behavior is the first in a series called Sidelined. I am happy to say the characters I met in this first one will have their stories continued on, because I became really invested in their lives as I read this first one, and I just know they will be treats in store for the future.
I've said this before and I'll say it again. Ainslie Paton writes outstandingly good romance. It is entirely unique, gutsy and different. Don't expect the 'same old, same old' story when you read one of hers.
This is the story of Reid and Zarley. Reid is a founder of a very successful company, but he was sacked from it because of his offensive behavior. He just hasn't been a people person, he is passionate and driven about his work, and those who work with him never knew when they would be yelled at and told they were fools. He believes he is alway right ( usually is) and doesn't matter who he offends along the way. Until... he unbelievably is shown the door - and how that hurts him.
Sitting in a back booth now every night he wiles away his miserable life ( that should be miserable, rich life) watching Lux an incredibly talented pole dancer. He becomes obsessed with her - not in a creepy way - and one night things take a turn and they meet up. Lux, or Zarley - her actual name, is fabulously compassionate and brave.
Through time their relationship develops, they grow and learn in all kinds of way. There is a lot of sex! No the bedroom door does not close on their intense relationship. You see, just go back and read the first paragraph of the book blurb above. Yep, he is a virgin. Told you Ainslie Paton turns tables. There is sex and fantasies galore. Now usually I am not a reader who likes a lot of sex in a romance. Just saying! However this is so intrinsic to the story I suffered through!
Zarley has a whole back story that is full of determination, intense training and a failure she didn't see coming. She has hit rock bottom, she knows what it is like to have been there. She is determined she will never sell herself down the drain to any man. She knows she needs to respect herself and be someone in her own right. So much to love about her.
I really look forward to the stories of Owen, Cara, Dev and Sarina. They all work at Plus - the company Reid started. They all will have rich and different stories I am sure. Yay, can't wait.
I've said this before and I'll say it again. Ainslie Paton writes outstandingly good romance. It is entirely unique, gutsy and different. Don't expect the 'same old, same old' story when you read one of hers.
This is the story of Reid and Zarley. Reid is a founder of a very successful company, but he was sacked from it because of his offensive behavior. He just hasn't been a people person, he is passionate and driven about his work, and those who work with him never knew when they would be yelled at and told they were fools. He believes he is alway right ( usually is) and doesn't matter who he offends along the way. Until... he unbelievably is shown the door - and how that hurts him.
Sitting in a back booth now every night he wiles away his miserable life ( that should be miserable, rich life) watching Lux an incredibly talented pole dancer. He becomes obsessed with her - not in a creepy way - and one night things take a turn and they meet up. Lux, or Zarley - her actual name, is fabulously compassionate and brave.
Through time their relationship develops, they grow and learn in all kinds of way. There is a lot of sex! No the bedroom door does not close on their intense relationship. You see, just go back and read the first paragraph of the book blurb above. Yep, he is a virgin. Told you Ainslie Paton turns tables. There is sex and fantasies galore. Now usually I am not a reader who likes a lot of sex in a romance. Just saying! However this is so intrinsic to the story I suffered through!
Zarley has a whole back story that is full of determination, intense training and a failure she didn't see coming. She has hit rock bottom, she knows what it is like to have been there. She is determined she will never sell herself down the drain to any man. She knows she needs to respect herself and be someone in her own right. So much to love about her.
I really look forward to the stories of Owen, Cara, Dev and Sarina. They all work at Plus - the company Reid started. They all will have rich and different stories I am sure. Yay, can't wait.
September 9, 2016
Story okay but too much sex with weak tension. Author voice might not be for me. Lots of copy errors like missing words and Australian phrases set in San Francisco often pulled me out of the story.
November 7, 2018
Zarley, once on her way to an Olympic Gold in gymnastics, is now an exotic dancer at not-quite a strip club. She's there to pay her way to a new future, but doesn't know what she wants that future to look like.
When she stumbles across the passed out body of the broken down, drunk stranger who has been in the back booth at the club every night she works, she takes a chance and makes sure he gets home okay.
Turns out this stranger is Reid McGrath, the former CEO of the prestigious tech company Plus. He's on the skids after being forced to leave the company for breaking his own "no assholes" rule. He doesn't know what to do with himself as forming the company with his best friends has consumed his entire existence, so much so he's never had a relationship, or sex. He's now consumed with the woman he knew as "Lux" but who turns out to be so much more.
Zarley only meant for it to be about showing Reid the ropes, but as she falls for him, she struggles to not also lose her own search for identity.
I at turns LOVED and hated this story, but overall it kept me captivated. The first third was just steamy to die for great, but the conflicting plot points between Zarley's search for a career and Reid's struggle to get his job back and become a better person went on FOREVER. Plus, there were about five climatic fights between Zarley and Reid that caused them to break it off, but then quickly come back together. It grew a bit exhausting.
There are a couple scandalous moments in this book - including some voyeurism and the inclusion of a third participant (albeit briefly) that while hot, felt a bit out of place? Also, there is a brief question of cheating if that bothers anyone.
Overall, enjoyable and I'm definitely reading the next books in the series. I loved the friendships.
This book was recommended to me as part of November 2018 #RomBkLove fest online as a trope I find it difficult to find - a virgin hero.
When she stumbles across the passed out body of the broken down, drunk stranger who has been in the back booth at the club every night she works, she takes a chance and makes sure he gets home okay.
Turns out this stranger is Reid McGrath, the former CEO of the prestigious tech company Plus. He's on the skids after being forced to leave the company for breaking his own "no assholes" rule. He doesn't know what to do with himself as forming the company with his best friends has consumed his entire existence, so much so he's never had a relationship, or sex. He's now consumed with the woman he knew as "Lux" but who turns out to be so much more.
Zarley only meant for it to be about showing Reid the ropes, but as she falls for him, she struggles to not also lose her own search for identity.
I at turns LOVED and hated this story, but overall it kept me captivated. The first third was just steamy to die for great, but the conflicting plot points between Zarley's search for a career and Reid's struggle to get his job back and become a better person went on FOREVER. Plus, there were about five climatic fights between Zarley and Reid that caused them to break it off, but then quickly come back together. It grew a bit exhausting.
There are a couple scandalous moments in this book - including some voyeurism and the inclusion of a third participant (albeit briefly) that while hot, felt a bit out of place? Also, there is a brief question of cheating if that bothers anyone.
Overall, enjoyable and I'm definitely reading the next books in the series. I loved the friendships.
This book was recommended to me as part of November 2018 #RomBkLove fest online as a trope I find it difficult to find - a virgin hero.
November 27, 2017
There was a good story underneath the many clichés and the meandering way the author took about telling it. His character was well drawn, his faults laid bare, along with his path to redemption in overcoming them. She was a bit cardboard initially - some wooden dialogue and uncharacteristic acquiescence, but with some great skeletons of her own in the closet, a strong backstory and a backbone that kept creeping up in-between. Not a wilting lily towards the end, so I was curious as to how they were going to make it through their income disparity issues. Secondary characters were memorable - the whole silicon valley techie world came alive. Zarley's name grated throughout, constantly reminding me of my friend's rescue dog Snarly. The author is not afraid of uncomfortable moments, and sexy times were definitely sexy.
March 29, 2016
ARC received for an honest review
Ainslie Paton is the queen of the role reversal. Each and every time I pick up one of her books, I know that there is going to be something different about her story.
And this time, we have a 28 year old male virgin! And not a whimpering, simpering kind of guy. He is - or was - successful in business, but as a person he is brusque, kind of a bully - not at all a people person. I can imagine how easy it would be for him to p!ss people off. But I couldn't help but love him in all his sexy nerdy cluelessness.
Zarley is mourning the loss of her dreams, and now is doing what she can to make a better life for herself.
When their worlds collide, things are never going to be the same again for either of them.
I loved the spark between our lovelies. LOVED that they didn't jump straight into bed with each other. Adored the banter and the lessons they taught each other.
Loved that they strived to be better people.
I am not going to lie. When things happened between Reid and his friends/former business partners, my heart was shredded and it was hard to read through the snotty tears. Thanks for that - I may need to send you the bill for tissues!
I just wanted them to make it through today to create a wonderful future together!
I adored every second of Offensive Behavior. Ms Paton always, and I mean always give us a wonderful story that dances to the beat of a different drummer, and I can't wait to see what she brings us next.
♡
♡
♡
♡
Ainslie Paton is the queen of the role reversal. Each and every time I pick up one of her books, I know that there is going to be something different about her story.
And this time, we have a 28 year old male virgin! And not a whimpering, simpering kind of guy. He is - or was - successful in business, but as a person he is brusque, kind of a bully - not at all a people person. I can imagine how easy it would be for him to p!ss people off. But I couldn't help but love him in all his sexy nerdy cluelessness.
Zarley is mourning the loss of her dreams, and now is doing what she can to make a better life for herself.
When their worlds collide, things are never going to be the same again for either of them.
I loved the spark between our lovelies. LOVED that they didn't jump straight into bed with each other. Adored the banter and the lessons they taught each other.
Loved that they strived to be better people.
I am not going to lie. When things happened between Reid and his friends/former business partners, my heart was shredded and it was hard to read through the snotty tears. Thanks for that - I may need to send you the bill for tissues!
I just wanted them to make it through today to create a wonderful future together!
I adored every second of Offensive Behavior. Ms Paton always, and I mean always give us a wonderful story that dances to the beat of a different drummer, and I can't wait to see what she brings us next.
♡
♡
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♡
April 8, 2016
Zarley is a former gymnast turned classy stripper paying her way through school. Reid is a rich, nerd fired from a company he help build. He drinks, broods and watches her dance night after night, never having the nerve to talk to her. A back alley altercation and misunderstanding leads to a breakfast date. She finds out he's a virgin and the bedroom antics begin. Reid was desperate and eager to please Zarley. In between their hot, sexy times they learn about each other and fall in love. Zarley is tough, she's putting her self through college, proud of her dancing and isn't looking for any hand outs. Reid doesn't know how to deal with people, limitations frustrate him and he speaks his mind. He was supportive of Zarley's dancing, not judgmental about her sexual experience and past. There was a little too much contrived drama in the end. The characters developed emotionally and so did their relationship.
April 14, 2016
Offensive Behavior by Ainslie Paton did not hold back on the surprises, shocks and bluntness of the characters and their actions, which made for an original, likeable read. Reid was a jumbled mess of emotions and such a perfectionist but I liked his character. Zarley from the start was all heart - even begrudgingly so lol. Both headstrong. The two of them together was some great reading. Both characters so vulnerable and both with their own challenges. Complete role reversals for both of them in the story. Both had a supportive but challenging nature between them. The struggles they both faced was written with believability by the author and even some of the characters questionable decisions throughout the story, still kept this readers attention fixed to the pages.
September 4, 2016
Podría dividir el libro en dos partes, una primera hasta la mitad donde se nota que los personajes son distintos y cada uno está en distintas situaciones así que van progresando con el paso del tiempo y la otra parte de la historia es simplemente un estire sin sentido porque ya todo estaba resuelto. Cada uno se pierde y dejan de tener su costado individual, volviéndose aburridos y predecibles.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2016
Really, really good. Loved Zarley & Reid.
I can't touch my toes without bending my knees, which made reading about a heroine ex-gymnast pole dancer was a real eye-opener. I'm wildly jealous of what Zarley can do.
And Reid is just gorgeous.
I particularly loved their time in Paris, plus the night of the Plus ball.
I can't touch my toes without bending my knees, which made reading about a heroine ex-gymnast pole dancer was a real eye-opener. I'm wildly jealous of what Zarley can do.
And Reid is just gorgeous.
I particularly loved their time in Paris, plus the night of the Plus ball.
March 23, 2017
2.5 stars
Thought this was great until I got over the 3/4 mark. Then, everything became a mass of contradictions (just way too many) and misunderstandings.
Thought this was great until I got over the 3/4 mark. Then, everything became a mass of contradictions (just way too many) and misunderstandings.
August 29, 2018
I've enjoyed every one of Ainslie's books that I've read and this was no exception. She always writes characters that are just a little bit different and isn't afraid to show their warts. In this book, Reid, the hero, starts off as a somewhat unlikable a**. He's that boss in the tech industry that everyone hates - the tech genius with no people skills and no filter, who bullies his employees when he doesn't think they are working hard or smart enough, and can reduce his subordinates to tears, but who gets away with it because of the amazing products he creates. As the book opens, Reid has been forced out of the company he started with a group of friends because they've grown too big to tolerate that kind of behavior.
Reid is lost and wallowing in self-pity, getting drunk every night and visiting an exotic dancing club (a cut above a full-on strip club), where he's become fixated on one of the dancers. Zarley is a failed Olympic gymnast who is now just trying to make it through college and dances because it pays a lot better than any other labor she could be doing. Zarley typically tries to ignore all the guys who come to watch her dance, and she initially blows Reid off, but then she comes to see a different side of him and they start a pretty torrid affair. Zarley is pretty closed off, and Reid makes a lot of stupid mistakes due to his lack of social skills and lack of experience with women, but eventually, he starts to learn how to deal better with other people. I loved watching him slowly start to understand where he was going wrong and resolve to do better and his love for Zarley is pretty epic.
If it wasn't for a few sex scenes that were a bit jarring and didn't really fit the plot, I probably would have given the book 5 stars. There were also some editing errors - not enough to totally throw me out of the book, but definitely more than I would have liked. I've noticed this in the author's other self-pubbed books so that didn't surprise me. I read this after I read the second book in the series, Damaged Goods (which was also great), and now I'm looking forward to going on to the third book.
Reid is lost and wallowing in self-pity, getting drunk every night and visiting an exotic dancing club (a cut above a full-on strip club), where he's become fixated on one of the dancers. Zarley is a failed Olympic gymnast who is now just trying to make it through college and dances because it pays a lot better than any other labor she could be doing. Zarley typically tries to ignore all the guys who come to watch her dance, and she initially blows Reid off, but then she comes to see a different side of him and they start a pretty torrid affair. Zarley is pretty closed off, and Reid makes a lot of stupid mistakes due to his lack of social skills and lack of experience with women, but eventually, he starts to learn how to deal better with other people. I loved watching him slowly start to understand where he was going wrong and resolve to do better and his love for Zarley is pretty epic.
If it wasn't for a few sex scenes that were a bit jarring and didn't really fit the plot, I probably would have given the book 5 stars. There were also some editing errors - not enough to totally throw me out of the book, but definitely more than I would have liked. I've noticed this in the author's other self-pubbed books so that didn't surprise me. I read this after I read the second book in the series, Damaged Goods (which was also great), and now I'm looking forward to going on to the third book.
March 8, 2019
Virgin romance with a twist.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the first chapter. Reid is an arrogant, volatile control freak who finds it difficult to relate to people. He often just speaks what's on his mind without any filter between his brain and his mouth. He was CEO of the company he founded but has been fired because he has consistently broken their "No asshole" rule. His whole life had been centered around his company, and now he is floundering. With no social life and no job, he is angry, resentful and lost and he spends his nights getting fall down drunk at a club, watching exotic dancers. Well, to be precise, one particular exotic pole dancer. Zarley had once been a gymnast, training for the Olympics, but unfortunately had to drop out of the team. She now works at "Lucky's" to pay her way through college. Both characters feel the have lost a vital part of who they are and are trying to come to terms with their present situations. Zarley is sexy, sassy, fiery and high spirited and although Reid is so obviously into Zarley he is awkward and shy around her. He reluctantly admits that he is still a virgin at 28. In his own words he says he has always been a " geeky weird loner guy" who buried himself in work. Zarley agrees to educate him sexually and so their relationship begins. I loved Reid. He has the emotional maturity of a 16 year old, but the arrogance and assertiveness of a 28 year old CEO. He is a genius in his own field at work but finds relationships difficult to understand. And although he can undoubtedly be an asshole, he is also very kind, thoughtful and caring, he just sometimes expresses these traits the wrong way. Zarley begins the relationship sure that it won't last, but Reid knows that his heart is already hers. The chemistry between them is hot, hot hot. There are a lot of ups and downs, highs and lows, tears and laughter as their romance unfolds. It was refreshing to read a book where the heroine is the more confident, experienced character. I really enjoyed the storyline, the characters and the dialogue. A great read!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the first chapter. Reid is an arrogant, volatile control freak who finds it difficult to relate to people. He often just speaks what's on his mind without any filter between his brain and his mouth. He was CEO of the company he founded but has been fired because he has consistently broken their "No asshole" rule. His whole life had been centered around his company, and now he is floundering. With no social life and no job, he is angry, resentful and lost and he spends his nights getting fall down drunk at a club, watching exotic dancers. Well, to be precise, one particular exotic pole dancer. Zarley had once been a gymnast, training for the Olympics, but unfortunately had to drop out of the team. She now works at "Lucky's" to pay her way through college. Both characters feel the have lost a vital part of who they are and are trying to come to terms with their present situations. Zarley is sexy, sassy, fiery and high spirited and although Reid is so obviously into Zarley he is awkward and shy around her. He reluctantly admits that he is still a virgin at 28. In his own words he says he has always been a " geeky weird loner guy" who buried himself in work. Zarley agrees to educate him sexually and so their relationship begins. I loved Reid. He has the emotional maturity of a 16 year old, but the arrogance and assertiveness of a 28 year old CEO. He is a genius in his own field at work but finds relationships difficult to understand. And although he can undoubtedly be an asshole, he is also very kind, thoughtful and caring, he just sometimes expresses these traits the wrong way. Zarley begins the relationship sure that it won't last, but Reid knows that his heart is already hers. The chemistry between them is hot, hot hot. There are a lot of ups and downs, highs and lows, tears and laughter as their romance unfolds. It was refreshing to read a book where the heroine is the more confident, experienced character. I really enjoyed the storyline, the characters and the dialogue. A great read!
October 10, 2017
As a virgin male story this was a great read. The story line directly involves him being a virgin and learning sex with a lot of sex scenes. As a romance story this wasn't so great. Reid has a personality that seems to be on the spectrum; think Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. He is super intelligent, doesn't understand people, is super strict in the way he thinks things should be done, is rude to others etc... Problem is people know this about him, even help him get away with it. Then when it is too much for them they get him fired from the company he built. I actually felt sorry for him a lot of the time. Zarley is a stupid name. She calls read an asshole so many times. He is blunt so he is an asshole, she is blunt but she just straightforward?? Honestly him telling you that he could help make your paper better isn't that big a deal, you even say you needed tutoring for the subject. Why can't anyone explain things to him instead of yelling, name calling, or threatening him?
Overall it had some editing and grammar problems. Was to repetitive.
Overall it had some editing and grammar problems. Was to repetitive.
December 31, 2017
This is really a group review for all the books in this series because I zoomed through them all once I found this one. They're really compelling -- from the unusual set up with four founders of a start up all transitioning into new phases of their lives to the emotional complexity of each particular story. All three books have a great sex-positive attitude but this one was probably my favorite: Reid and Zarley are both tough characters to like but together they fit perfectly and make each other better. There were some parts I didn't love but overall it was a refreshing story about two really complicated characters trying to make sense of their pasts and futures. A great series!
April 18, 2018
Characters: pole dancer/student/former gymnast, former tech mogul
World Building: gymnastic training, pole work
Plot: largely internal, putting yourself back together after big failures
Sex: hot, but definitely tied to character
Read another: Yes
For once, the story gives a plausible reason why performing on the pole might be a logical choice for the character. The characterization of the geeky guy is very detailed.
World Building: gymnastic training, pole work
Plot: largely internal, putting yourself back together after big failures
Sex: hot, but definitely tied to character
Read another: Yes
For once, the story gives a plausible reason why performing on the pole might be a logical choice for the character. The characterization of the geeky guy is very detailed.
Read
January 8, 2020No rating, I am throwing in the towel at 75%. Too many little things about this bother me and I just don't care enough for either MC to finish it :(
Read
February 18, 2023DNF 12%
I have a lot of book on my TBR and I am not feeling this one so I prefer to move on to another one
I have a lot of book on my TBR and I am not feeling this one so I prefer to move on to another one
Read
March 8, 2017DNF. I tried but it just didn't work for me.
Read
April 27, 2016This review originally appeared on Heroes and Heartbreakers:
Can I interest you in some crazy sauce?
How about an ex-gymnastic golden-girl pole dancer and a virgin billionaire hero?
Yes, you read that right, the hero in Offensive Behavior is entirely ‘innocent’ when he first meets the heroine. For a while Zarley, the heroine, has known him as Mr. Back Booth, as that’s where he chooses to sit while she works out her anger on a pole in a not-quite-a-strip-club and calls it exotic dancing. She’s always peripherally aware of his presence, but not inclined to approach him.
Alone at the same booth at the back, an endlessly refilled glass of spirits in his had, not a hint of any food ordered. A brooding mess of a man who exuded such a toxic air of anger and disgust that, despite being a big tipper and a quiet drunk, none of the hostesses wanted to wait on his table.
Reid, lurking in the back booth, is hoping to drink himself into an early grave after being fired as CEO of his own company—by his own friends. Zarley is nothing more than his favorite pole dancing eye candy, and he only knows her by her stage name, Lux.
None of the other dancers affected him like Lux did. It’s not that they weren’t as athletic, as graceful or as fuck hot as Lux, it was just that they didn’t send him like she did. Lux sent him to places he’d never been and never wanted to come back from while he watched her for five eight-minute sets, six nights a week. On Sunday, Lux, and Reid’s liver, rested.
Their relationship is destined to remain distant, until the night Zarley helps Reid out of the gutter after he suffers a bad case of food poisoning at Lucky’s (the nightclub where Zarley dances).
But despite rescuing Reid, Zarley wants nothing more to do with him. You see, Zarley and Reid’s biggest barriers to love are, well, Zarley and Reid. They don’t come more prickly and defensive than Zarley, or more socially inept than Reid, and Zarley initially bristles at Reid’s attempts to thank her because she thinks he believes he can buy her (she’s put his expensive apartment, where she took care of him during his food poisoning, down to drug money). But Reid is persistent, in fact his friend considers him as a human bulldozer.
“…she doesn’t know you’re obsessed with her, and when Reid McGrath is obsessed, the future holds its breath.”
At the start it looks like it’s going to be one of those immovable object meets unstoppable force kind of relationships, but then things take a pleasantly sexy turn and Reid’s secret is exposed:
“I’m twenty-eight years old. I’ve been to college and I had my own business and I’ve never been inside a woman. The last time any of me was inside any part of a woman, and I’m talking my tongue in her mouth, I was a senior in high school.”
I never expected to find a billionaire virgin dude hot, but there’s something extremely hot about Reid’s inexperience. Perhaps it’s the contrast, because he’s so successful and almost insufferable when it comes to other areas of his life (computers, business, wealth) but entirely vulnerable when it comes to the boy-girl stuff. It makes for some wonderful banter:
Can I interest you in some crazy sauce?
How about an ex-gymnastic golden-girl pole dancer and a virgin billionaire hero?
Yes, you read that right, the hero in Offensive Behavior is entirely ‘innocent’ when he first meets the heroine. For a while Zarley, the heroine, has known him as Mr. Back Booth, as that’s where he chooses to sit while she works out her anger on a pole in a not-quite-a-strip-club and calls it exotic dancing. She’s always peripherally aware of his presence, but not inclined to approach him.
Alone at the same booth at the back, an endlessly refilled glass of spirits in his had, not a hint of any food ordered. A brooding mess of a man who exuded such a toxic air of anger and disgust that, despite being a big tipper and a quiet drunk, none of the hostesses wanted to wait on his table.
Reid, lurking in the back booth, is hoping to drink himself into an early grave after being fired as CEO of his own company—by his own friends. Zarley is nothing more than his favorite pole dancing eye candy, and he only knows her by her stage name, Lux.
None of the other dancers affected him like Lux did. It’s not that they weren’t as athletic, as graceful or as fuck hot as Lux, it was just that they didn’t send him like she did. Lux sent him to places he’d never been and never wanted to come back from while he watched her for five eight-minute sets, six nights a week. On Sunday, Lux, and Reid’s liver, rested.
Their relationship is destined to remain distant, until the night Zarley helps Reid out of the gutter after he suffers a bad case of food poisoning at Lucky’s (the nightclub where Zarley dances).
But despite rescuing Reid, Zarley wants nothing more to do with him. You see, Zarley and Reid’s biggest barriers to love are, well, Zarley and Reid. They don’t come more prickly and defensive than Zarley, or more socially inept than Reid, and Zarley initially bristles at Reid’s attempts to thank her because she thinks he believes he can buy her (she’s put his expensive apartment, where she took care of him during his food poisoning, down to drug money). But Reid is persistent, in fact his friend considers him as a human bulldozer.
“…she doesn’t know you’re obsessed with her, and when Reid McGrath is obsessed, the future holds its breath.”
At the start it looks like it’s going to be one of those immovable object meets unstoppable force kind of relationships, but then things take a pleasantly sexy turn and Reid’s secret is exposed:
“I’m twenty-eight years old. I’ve been to college and I had my own business and I’ve never been inside a woman. The last time any of me was inside any part of a woman, and I’m talking my tongue in her mouth, I was a senior in high school.”
I never expected to find a billionaire virgin dude hot, but there’s something extremely hot about Reid’s inexperience. Perhaps it’s the contrast, because he’s so successful and almost insufferable when it comes to other areas of his life (computers, business, wealth) but entirely vulnerable when it comes to the boy-girl stuff. It makes for some wonderful banter:
April 11, 2016
I read the book Grease Monkey Jive by this author and really enjoyed it. I’m not quite sure what happened as that was a while ago and I hadn’t read anything since until this one happened onto my radar the other day. And now I have to fix that as I equally enjoyed this book. What I love about her books, and I now have several more waiting is she writes unusual love stories. And in this one Zarley works at a strip club and Reid is a regular client who watches her. By the sounds of it, one would think creepy, but that’s not the case at all.
It’s not a real strip club per say, more of an exotic dancer type club. While the ‘girls’ so strip down it’s not to nothing and there is no ‘private’ dances or lap dances. And most of the dancers are doing for a second income. In Zarley’s case, she is former gymnast who does pole dancing because she loves the movement. She never really pays attention to customers, she just wants an outlet for her love of gymnastics.
Reid does notice her though. He comes to see her every night and sits in a back booth. He never tries to approach her until one night when she is being accosted he helps. Then later when she is leaving, she notices he’s pretty much passed out on the sidewalk. Turns out he’s sick and not drunk so she helps him home. When he wants to get to know her better and she’s not wanting that to happen, he becomes very persuasive in many a hilarious way.
While I really like Zarley, Reid is without question the star of this book. He is exactly my kind of hero. He’s very rough around the edges, he has no filter on what he says or does and he’s a virgin hero. And he’s absolutely mad for Zarley, mad, mad, mad. He’s had a rough go of it lately. He’s a geek and he and several friends from college have formed a company that became very successful. Sadly though, they booted Reid out of it even though he was the main force in founding it. But they have a non-asshole rule – which Reid agreed was good. But because he has no filters, he’s been hoisted by his own petard so to speak. And he’s not handling it well. Though he understands, he’s still angry, resentful and determined to get back in. And since he’s a workaholic with no work, he’s pretty lost so he gloms unto Zarley.
This book is sweet, it's funny, it’s poignant, it’s sad in places and an absolute joy to read. For sure this is one I’m going to read again. It’s the first in a series and it looks like the other books will be about Reids friends. I can hardly wait.
It’s not a real strip club per say, more of an exotic dancer type club. While the ‘girls’ so strip down it’s not to nothing and there is no ‘private’ dances or lap dances. And most of the dancers are doing for a second income. In Zarley’s case, she is former gymnast who does pole dancing because she loves the movement. She never really pays attention to customers, she just wants an outlet for her love of gymnastics.
Reid does notice her though. He comes to see her every night and sits in a back booth. He never tries to approach her until one night when she is being accosted he helps. Then later when she is leaving, she notices he’s pretty much passed out on the sidewalk. Turns out he’s sick and not drunk so she helps him home. When he wants to get to know her better and she’s not wanting that to happen, he becomes very persuasive in many a hilarious way.
While I really like Zarley, Reid is without question the star of this book. He is exactly my kind of hero. He’s very rough around the edges, he has no filter on what he says or does and he’s a virgin hero. And he’s absolutely mad for Zarley, mad, mad, mad. He’s had a rough go of it lately. He’s a geek and he and several friends from college have formed a company that became very successful. Sadly though, they booted Reid out of it even though he was the main force in founding it. But they have a non-asshole rule – which Reid agreed was good. But because he has no filters, he’s been hoisted by his own petard so to speak. And he’s not handling it well. Though he understands, he’s still angry, resentful and determined to get back in. And since he’s a workaholic with no work, he’s pretty lost so he gloms unto Zarley.
This book is sweet, it's funny, it’s poignant, it’s sad in places and an absolute joy to read. For sure this is one I’m going to read again. It’s the first in a series and it looks like the other books will be about Reids friends. I can hardly wait.
May 6, 2016
Really enjoyed this one, enjoyed the left of centre characters, the knowing, funny voice of the author. It is quite erotic, but also effectively charts a relationship from lust to love.
Virgin heroes seem to be a bit of a thing at the moment - in the books I’ve read with this theme the men are grateful for the heroine’s experience and sensitivity- have to say I like the trend.
Reid was a great hero- he can’t believe his luck that Zarley has chosen him- he is a virgin not just in terms of sex but also relationships. He really has no clue as to how they work and is almost certain that he is going to stuff things up but he is the most willing student ever. He has been loner tech IT genius, scary to his employees, confronting, brutally honest, not aware or caring if he hurts people. Both have had major major failures in their life- Zarley as an Olympic gymnast hopeful and Reid forced to leave the tech company he helped to create. However Zarley is certainly not intimidated by Reid, his behavior is nothing on some of the coaches she has had in the past- she calls him on his bs and helps him navigate his first relationship. For once in a book, I almost believed that the power differential between the millionaire and the poor heroine was reversed.
I was willing to forgive a few things-
- Some weird sentence constructions
- The seemingly romanticized depiction of Lou’s bar- where the exotic dancers are not required to strip or provide extra services to the clientele
- Overreliance of metaphors about gymnastics to describe their relationship – lots of teaching Reid how to ‘fly’, or Zarley ‘flying’ in their relationship
- I really didn’t buy the whole ‘madame Amour’ competition for exotic dancers- I found the actual competition a bit of an anticliax
It outstayed its welcome just a bit for me.
I thought the secondary characters were really well done and I look forward to their stories- I will definitely be reading them!
Virgin heroes seem to be a bit of a thing at the moment - in the books I’ve read with this theme the men are grateful for the heroine’s experience and sensitivity- have to say I like the trend.
Reid was a great hero- he can’t believe his luck that Zarley has chosen him- he is a virgin not just in terms of sex but also relationships. He really has no clue as to how they work and is almost certain that he is going to stuff things up but he is the most willing student ever. He has been loner tech IT genius, scary to his employees, confronting, brutally honest, not aware or caring if he hurts people. Both have had major major failures in their life- Zarley as an Olympic gymnast hopeful and Reid forced to leave the tech company he helped to create. However Zarley is certainly not intimidated by Reid, his behavior is nothing on some of the coaches she has had in the past- she calls him on his bs and helps him navigate his first relationship. For once in a book, I almost believed that the power differential between the millionaire and the poor heroine was reversed.
I was willing to forgive a few things-
- Some weird sentence constructions
- The seemingly romanticized depiction of Lou’s bar- where the exotic dancers are not required to strip or provide extra services to the clientele
- Overreliance of metaphors about gymnastics to describe their relationship – lots of teaching Reid how to ‘fly’, or Zarley ‘flying’ in their relationship
- I really didn’t buy the whole ‘madame Amour’ competition for exotic dancers- I found the actual competition a bit of an anticliax
It outstayed its welcome just a bit for me.
I thought the secondary characters were really well done and I look forward to their stories- I will definitely be reading them!
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