Taking Jana

Paradise South #2

by Rissa Brahm

It’s her turn to drive.

Men take from Jana. Her dad and brother: money. Stage-side gawkers: her dignity. Still, she finished nursing school, won a spot in Manhattan’s top ER—thanks to no man. But when her dad’s business and heart fails, ever-loyal Jana Park must return to the stripper’s pole. Now even her boss’s chauffeur ogles her in the rearview. Faux-kindness—and irrefutable heat—aside, she glares back.

Because screw ’em all.

Chauffeur Antonio Ruiz is done with his cheating wife, the city, the almighty buck. His seaside home in Mexico calls. One last gig for his biggest client, the city’s strip club king, then he’s out. Except that the sharp, exotic, petite powerhouse of a woman he’s been hired to drive—day in-day out, glaring at him with those deep, solemn eyes—takes him over. If he could pierce her shield of doubt, he’d bring her home, far from this hell.

But, no. Jana’s got to take the wheel and drive. Away from her family’s abuse, her boss’s clutches…and toward Antonio’s true brand of love.

The road’s rocky. Will they make it to paradise? Or will it all go south… in the city.

359 pages, ebook

Published June 14, 2016

About the author

Award winning contemporary romance writer Rissa Brahm grew up in New York and has since lived in all four corners of the United States, and beyond. e beautiful paradise of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico—the core setting of her hot & heartfelt debut series, Paradise South—is Rissa’s most recent and beloved home.

When not chained-by-choice to her MacBook, she is embarking on out- door adventures with her husband and little girl, laughing to tears with a good rom com, eating amazing Indian food with something chocolate for dessert; reading good, hot scorchers in bed; biking, long walks, and yoga; zoning out to killer music from across the decades and the globe; and getting lost only to discover a new exciting route home again.

Rissa has won the 2017 HOLT Medallion Award for Best Novel with Romantic Elements and 3rd Place Finalist in New England RWA Chapter's 2017 Reader's Choice Competition for Best Long Contemporary Romance for the third novel in her Paradise South series, Catching Preeya.

You can connect with Rissa on Facebook, Twitter or by email anytime by heading to www.RissaBrahm.com.

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Taking Jana
Author: Rissa Brahm
Series: Paradise South
Publisher: 108 Degrees
Reviewer: Sheila
Release Date: June 14, 2016
Genre(s): Contemporary Romanc
Page Count: 359
Heat Level: 3.5 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:

It’s her turn to drive.

Men take from Jana. Her dad and brother: money. Stage-side gawkers: her dignity. Still, she finished nursing school, won a spot in Manhattan’s top ER—thanks to no man. But when her dad’s business and heart fails, ever-loyal Jana Park must return to the stripper’s pole. Now even her boss’s chauffeur ogles her in the rearview. Faux-kindness—and irrefutable heat—aside, she glares back.

Because screw ’em all.

Chauffeur Antonio Ruiz is done with his cheating wife, the city, the almighty buck. His seaside home in Mexico calls. One last gig for his biggest client, the city’s strip club king, then he’s out. Except that the sharp, exotic, petite powerhouse of a woman he’s been hired to drive—day in-day out, glaring at him with those deep, solemn eyes—takes him over. If he could pierce her shield of doubt, he’d bring her home, far from this hell.

But, no. Jana’s got to take the wheel and drive. Away from her family’s abuse, her boss’s clutches…and toward Antonio’s true brand of love.

The road’s rocky. Will they make it to paradise? Or will it all go south… in the city.

Review:

4 Stars Review

Wow what a great story line. A little bit of mystery, thriller, and mobsters all rolled up into a nice package. These characters really knew just how to handle the bad guys and come out on top.

First there is Jana. ER nurse, with her dream job.

Then there is Tony. Limo driver with his “magic” number.

Jana has the world on her shoulders. She is at work when she receives the call her dad has just suffered a massive heart attack and is being taken into surgery. She drops everything to be with her parents. She has been taking care of her family her entire life. As soon as she turned 18 she had to turn to stripping to pull her parents out of debt because of her ungrateful brother’s gambling problem. So she has already achieved that while paying for nursing school. Now finding out her dad no health coverage, Jana is faced with the same situation all over again. She returns to her old job only to be given an opportunity of a lifetime. Hiring and training all the stripers at the club. All she has to do is turn the club's profits around and she will have enough money to pay off her parents debt. In comes Tony. the limo driver hired to drive jana around for 3 months. After this last job Tony will finally reach his goal and be able to return to his hometown in Mexico.

This book had it all. I loved the way you don't truly know who she is going to end up with. This author keeps you wondering all through out this story. Great read.



Review Copy of Taking Jana provided by the Rissa Brahm for an honest Review.
Reviewed by Sheila from Alpha Book Club

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an amazing story. I love Love LOVED it. This story brought so many memories back to me. I used to be Jana! LOL, well, not as bad but I really related to her. Until I found my own freedom, I was just like her.
This is a story about a hard working girl who just wants to take care of everybody and everything. The only problem, her family. Her brother disrespects her and her parents think she's a money pit. Jana is working a prestigious job in one of the best hospitals in the world. She put herself through nursing school and she is ruling the ER. Then she gets a call telling her that her father had a heart attack. She drops everything and runs to his bedside, only to find out that her parents cancelled their health insurance and have a HUGE hospital bill that Jana needs to take care of.
In order to put herself through nursing school, Jana danced at a strip club for a few years and is grief-stricken that she'll have to do it again. When she goes to her old club, now run by the son of the former owner, Johnie. Johnie is shocked to see his childhood crush and starts devising a plan to get her into his bed, at any cost.
Antonio, the brother of Isabel in the first Paradise South book, is trying to get back to Mexico. Even though he knows Johnie, the son of a long time friend and benefactor, is nothing but trouble, he takes a job driving his newest 'consultant' around 24/7. This is the job he needs to finally have enough money to get back to Mexico.
Antonio is intrigued by Jana but is just trying to get the job done so he can get back home and Jana just wants to get through the next 3 months working for Johnie. But as time goes by, Johnie gets more and more creepy and Antonio is getting more and more interesting.
This book ran me through every last one of my emotions. I laughed, cried and almost screamed in anger. It grabbed me from the moment I picked it up until I set it down. If you know, if I REALLY like a book, I almost start speed reading it or something like that. But I read it VERY fast. If the book is really good, I always have to read it again because I go so fast, I miss a lot. Let's just say, I'm on Chapter 5 and this one will be read over, a lot slower so I do not miss a word. Great Job Rissa Brahm! Can't wait to see what's next from you.

[Mommaleena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devotion

Jana's dream has always been to be a nurse, to help people, and she's done it on her own without help from any man, including her father. Now she's an ER Nurse on the Head Trauma Team at Manhattan's top hospital, her goal of the lead position is within her grasp. Her father's heart attack puts her dream in jeopardy again. She has to take a leave of absence and go back to working the same strip club she did 10 years ago to dig her parents out because her older brother just cannot be bothered yet AGAIN, her mother tells her "he has a family and needs the money, she's single so she can help". Her brother can do no wrong while she does everything for her parents and it's not enough. Her new boss has hired her a chauffeur, he says to make it easier; but is there more to it?
Antonio's a chauffeur from Puerto Vallarta, who wants to go back home. He's done with his cheating ex-wife and the city. He's close to his magic number in the bank, then he's heading home to begin his life and start a family. Growing up one of 12 had been tough, he wanted to make sure he was financially set before having children. One last big job for his biggest client, the strip club king, and he'll make his number. Antonio's hired to be Jana's driver, they get to know each other and become close friends.
Will Jana be able to help her parents and get her dream position? Will Antonio be able to go home to his beloved Puerto Vallarta and start his life? Do they both feel the connection the other does? Will they stay the course they've already set in motion or has karma stepped in and made them not only rethink but alter their courses? You'll have to read Taking Jana to find out but it'll be worth your time. I've already read it twice. The Paradise South series books are HEA's that do not have to be read in order, but make me want to vacation in Puerto Vallarta. Taking Jana is the 2nd story, I'm anxiously waiting for the next book Catching Preeya to be available! I give this story 5 stars!

[Lauren :) (Romance Novel Giveaways) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another AMAZING book in this series!

First of all, NO ONE can write "love" like Rissa Brahm. These men she creates feel such a deeply intense love for their ladies, and that feeling is undoubtedly felt by the reader, thanks to Rissa's enormous talent.

I didn't understand how Jana and Antonio would ever meet up. Their lives seemed to be in completely different places, but once I got a hint of how they might meet, I could not wait to read it! As the book went on, I LOVED knowing that their meeting was imminent and the suspense Rissa built up was absolutely brilliant and VERY well done!

Much of the book dealt with some heavy issues, and again, Rissa relayed those emotions beautifully. But, I knew the despair I felt early on would make the elation from Jana and Antonio getting together THAT much better!

I liked their initial meeting because, unlike so many other romances, they weren't immediately enthralled with each other. Nope! No "love at first sight" here, but the way their relationship and feelings evolved was absolutely wonderful to read!

While I wanted to slap Jana quite a bit for her back-and-forth feelings for Antonio, her inner strength and drive for independence was admirable and fitting qualities for her.

And Antonio...goodness. He led a Rascal Flatts "Bless the Broken Road" kind of life resulting from people betraying him, but he kept his wonderful, albeit wounded, heart and attitude, and and they served him well in the end.

I am ON PINS AND NEEDLES waiting for the next book in this series. Rissa Brahm is ON FIRE, and I am an ENORMOUS FAN!!!

***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

[Sherri Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book by the author for an honest review.

I read the first book in this series and I enjoyed it enough to make me want to read the second. Unfortunately, I didn't like this one as much as Tempting Isabel.

When the book started, I was a little confused. The name of the series is Paradise South, so I assumed all of the stories in the series would be taking place in Puerto Vallarta, a.k.a. paradise. This story takes place in New York and New Jersey. The hero is Isabel's brother from the first book in the series, but she's barely mentioned until the end of the book.

Outside of that, this wasn't a bad story. I liked Jana and Antonio. They made a good match. As with the first book, it started slow, but once the romance began it flowed well.

My only other complaint was regarding the setting of the story. Not the New York/New Jersey part, but the part revolving around the strip club. There were things going on in the strip club that wouldn't occur in real life due to how the law is in New Jersey. As I'm sort of a stickler for detail, it pulled me out of the story every time it was mentioned. I realize, however, that it isn't something that would bother every reader.

Ms. Brahm is a good writer and I think she has a great future ahead of her. Will I read the next book in her series? I don't know. A part of me is curious to see if the things I feel need work will be improved upon.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a slower moving romance with lots of backstory.

[Questian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this. and the Publisher. i'm sorry if i can't name you, using my phone to do this review.

I actually tried to finished this book, like two weeks ago. But I got distracted with the rest of the book series that i was reading this month. Then last night, I got the hankering of hoping to see the ending of it. And it was a lot better ending than book one. No offence, but I really liked how this was made. The Built up, the way it was phased, the storyline, and even the dynamics of the Korean family is there. well, the bad Korean stereotypes that is.

I love Tony in book one, but here? he is just *swoons* there are no words for it. No words. Unlike the men in the books that I read, he was just there. There was no need to fully assert his personality, because my perception of him is ~just like Ms. Rissa describe him ~ a guardian angel ~ and he was the best kind.

Jana? Oh my heart got broken every time she visits the hospital and she got that treatment from her parents. And I know the feeling. It was so, so, heartbreaking. The emotions that a person can feel when reading her part was so intense. But at the end? The smile? The happiness? It was priceless.

Once again, a book worth your time. it might be a slow read, but it is worth it.

And thank you Ms. Rissa, because you made another dynamic book to read.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where do you go when you hit rock bottom ? For Jana , her rock bottom is working at the local strip club dancing on the pole. A place she had hoped that she would never ever see the inside of again after she left the first time. Now with her dad needing heart surgery and her family's restaurant etc in jeopardy after her brother wasted all her parent's family on a useless education in which he dropped out of college. Jana has been pulled her to help support her family. This has come as a blow to Jana as she is finally working her way through her medical residency as she dreams of becoming a Doctor . The other person we meet is Antonio who is a limo driver and working for Jana's new boss as he drives her around. Are Antonio and Jana each other's saviours ? For me, personally I found this book quite hard going as I struggled with connecting to the characters and for me , I prefer my books to be quite fast-paced and Taking Jana was quite a slow read. Taking Jana is the sort of read where it shows that sometimes in order for life to start looking up and working out in your favour, you have to hit rock bottom as remember once you hit rock bottom you can't go down any further so the only way is back up.

[Gina Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Jana receives a phone call that her father is in the hospital after experiencing a heart attack, she rushes to be at her family's side. After learning her parents cancelled the health insurance policy she set up for them, once again the responsibility falls on her to bail the family out of trouble. In the past she worked for years as stripper to pay off family debt and put herself through nursing school. Now that she has achieved her goal of nursing at a prestigious hospital can she give it up. She takes a leave of absence at the hospital and goes back to one of the clubs she danced for. She has it figured out if she pools all her resources, a few months of dancing should take care of the rest of the bill. Upon entering the club, the owner's son who has always had a crush on Jana makes her an interesting proposition. Part of her deal is to be driven around by Tony. Will Jana be able to pay off the debts and return to her nursing job before she losses it? Will Tony be able to show her all men are not out to control her? A very interesting story that turns out to have a very sweet romance. This book will grab and hold your attention.
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Annamaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Fascinating Stars! Jana is finally in a place where she feels secure, she is working at a well known hospital as a nurse. She is proud that she has accomplish all of this without the help of any man. Jana finds out her father had a heart attack and her family needs financial help. This forces her to take a leave of absence from work and return to her previous job of stripping to help her family out of debt. Antonio is hired to drive Jana to work, he wants to forget about his ex wife and start over in Mexico. Can Jana pay off her family debt and will Antonio convince her that not all men want to control her? The author writes a story full of twists and turns, mystery and hot romance, that will keep you needing more. I loved Jana, she was a strong women. This book can be read as a stand-alone novel but it is part of the Paradise South Series book two. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one. Highly recommend it!

I received this book as an ARC for an honest review. This book was read and reviewed by Annamaria for Alpha Book Club.

Plot: 4.5
Chemistry: 4.5
Pacing: 4
Ending: 4
Character Development: 4

[Marichus Real · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gifted copy was given in exchange for an honest review.
Jana is an ER nurse and she loves her job. It was difficult to get there because she didn’t have any support from her family. After receiving a call from the hospital, where his father has been taken after suffering a heart attack, everything in her life starts to crumble.
Antonio is a chauffeur and he drives a limo. When he was six years old he thought a number and set it as a goal to achieve before starting a family and he is about to reach that goal.
The introducing of the characters took longer than usual in a book and it was difficult to see how the characters were going to get involved with each other. However, after a while, everything started to take its right place. The book is well-written, and the characters are well-developed. It is full of surprises, twists, and turns which make the book very interesting.
One thing I didn’t like is that Antonio is a little manipulative as in the end, he makes Jana do what he wants. I think it would have been better if he had tried to convince her. And it is not very clear why Jana’s family treat her like that.

[Mary M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rissa Brahm knows what she's doing when it comes to putting emotions on paper. Holy moly! In Taking Jana, all Jana wanted in life was the love and approval from her parents and to succeed at making it at her career of nursing at a top hospital on her own. But when tragedy strikes her family, Jana has to call on an old source for help. With the stresses of her nursing job hanging in the balance, her temporary means for quick income and all the extras that come attached with that, and the added pressure from her family, Jana begins to breakdown quickly. But is she REALLY alone through the whole process and can she fully open herself and her heart without feeling taken advantage of or owned. Rissa does an excellent job at expressing first hand experiences and developed great stories and back stories for each character. The book flowed beautifully and left me wanting more but pleased with what I was left with. A true must read.
I received this book in return for an honest review.

[J.L. Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Facebook contest and I'm so happy I did! Although it's part of a series, it's a standalone. No cliffhanger. I really loved the plot of this book. Jana is a heroine that you can't help, but root for. She's strong and independent...willing to do whatever it takes to make it on her own. Her family just takes advantage of her loyalty, constantly bleeding her dry and expecting her to give up her own dreams to take care of them when they're not willing to lift a finger to try and help themselves. Antonio is a hard worker too, fighting to get back home to Mexico and finally begin living his life. I really liked the slow growing chemistry between them in the beginning. I do feel that once they connected, it was a little insta-love and rushed, but at the same time, also felt that they both deserved it so much that I didn't really mind it. There was action, sorrow, humor, steam, and surprises in this book and it was written superbly. I definitely recommend it!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Taking Jana is exceptionally well written. I was hooked on an emotional roller coaster from the very beginning. Jana is such a pure soul, who has been tested and tried over and over, but her candle refuses to dim. She is such a strong female character that is written so eloquently. Antonio does only what he feels is right, but to a strong woman it can often feel suffocating and threatening. The author nails the bitter struggle and raw emotions perfectly. Johnnie and Jake are exactly what the story needs in antagonists to push and pull it as are Dane, Jin and Chang. This can be read as a stand alone, but it's so much more enjoyable to read it in order as the first book is about Antonio's sister. This is a wonderful series with raw, pure emotions as the driving force and great storylines.

[Socially Book Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free copy for an honest review. I love this Series.... The women are powerful and epic but missing the connection love can bring them. Jana is jaded by family, and the past. Accomplishing a degree in Nursing and a competitive spot at the best hospital in Manhattan, she is a strong but jilted women. Antonio watched Jana on the drive to and fro and sees what an accomplished woman she is, and falls for her hard. But, he also has some issues to face as well. You fall and fall fast for Antonio, Rissa writes in away that you feel his troubles, pain and passion to the awesome man he is underneath.

[Mechelle Cheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book more than I liked the first book in the series. Even though these are standalone books there is the slightest thread that runs through to connect them. The characters and story line is very well plotted in the book and grabs you from the word GO! Much of this book is from 'her' point of view but there i so many facets to this story that you have to pay attention. Again, as in Ms. Brahm's first book, if you are a lazy reader and like to skip pages you will miss something. These books are alot of 'mind speak" and you really get to feel the books instead of just watching a story.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for my honest review. I loved it and couldn't put it down once I started reading it. I can't wait to read more to this series. You will love reading about Jana and Antonio. Will Jana finally break free?

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC from Netgalley for a honest review.
   A tantalizing book series ! A great read from beginning to end, this is the second in Rissa Brahm's  "Paradise South " series. It doesn't disappoint.
5 Stars !

[sef · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3 stars.


reading this book was a bit weird for me and towards the end i just wanted it to end. the main character antonio was amazing. i loved absolutely everything about him. his patience. his love for the fmc. his whole outlook on life. he’s the reason why this book is sitting at a 3 star.
jana… not so much. in fact i almost stopped the book three times because of her.
the first 300 pages of the book was almost nothing compared to the last 70. the last pages were so rushed you miss a sentence and you miss a whole plot. and i hate that. why do authors drag a story for so long just to jam everything up in the last pages.
another thing i hated about the book was the “smut”.
reading this book it’s quiet obvious that it is extremely explicit. especially with johnnies pov. every act when talked about was so detailed even i paused a little when reading some. which makes no sense because when it came to the actual DOING, the actual sex, we got a fade into black scene.

this won’t make sense unless one reads the book. like we get to see johnnies nastiest fantasies in detail. even antonio. then when we get to the actual part we get FIB?
hell nah
give me smut. like i demand it. let it be my reward for sitting through every single disgusting thought johnnie had. and this is funny coming from me because i’m not a serious advocate for smut in books. in fact i enjoy books w/o smut just the same.

jana was spineless and annoying and i didn’t get enough closure at the end for how terrible her family treaded her. especially her brother.

[G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Liked this. The never ending question of how miuch do you help your parents out is alive and well in this, it's even more poignant when the one helping is female( always ends up that way) and her help is secret and in this case at odds with her new life.

The writing was good, the characters were interesting and I liked where this all ended up. The breakthrough of sorts, revelation from parental burdens etc.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't actually finished the book yet, but I needed some mental images to glance at as I read on and enjoy this book

Models for the above collage are Jennifer Cheon Garcia and Damian Quintero

[poppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series but can be read on its own i love this series and liked this book better than the first so cant wait for the next one

[Terri Oconnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a non stop heart pumping ride full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing till the end. Jana has more strength than I do. I would have kicked her family to the curb long before Antonio shows up. This was a sweet love story with enough action that everyone will be happy. This was my first book by this author and I will be looking for her other work

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book amazing.
I have lived a sheltered and comfortable life near NYC for many years so the setting of TAKING JANA was in a familiar setting but in contrast to my reality. This story presented a slice of life different from my experiences. The characters were complex sensual and sexy too.
Jana is if Korean and Spanish descent- bilingual- a beauty and former stripper and now ER nurse at a prominent NY hospital. She has struggled to lead a meaningful and financially secure life against the odds of a demanding family who placed less to a daughter than a son. As the story unfolds, her life is good, though love hasn't been on her playlist, but she is a brilliant and empathetic nurse giving all she has to her patients. She left the strippers life behind- an end to her means, " Dance make money get out". But now a family crisis threatens to derail her life.
Antonio is the hot Master of Taekwondo and chauffeur who is assigned to drive Jana to where she needs to be while dealing with her sick father and temporary job at the Wetspot Strip Club. He is a strong quiet and handsome hulk from Mexico, an entrepreneur, hurt in love and intrigued and confused by his passenger. What is this beautiful nurse doing at a stop club working for a sleezebag? He had to protect her. Antonio had"all the sacrifice hyper focus on his business and extreme lack of focus on all else, it was for his future family... Whoever she maybe". Was Jana the one?
The secondary characters added depth to Jana and Antonio. They supported and yes, threatened their story and life.
The sexual and emotional tension builds as this story goes with twists and turns lead to a surprising climax worth reading towards. I smiled, was infuriated and got hot and bothered by the second book invThe Paradise South Series by Rissa Brahm. So enjoy!

[SG Barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking Jana (book 2 of the Paradise South series) is another hit for author Rissa Brahm. I read the first book, Tempting Isabel, and was captivated through the entire book. The same held true throughout Taking Jana. When I rate books, 4 stars is usually as high as I'm willing to go as most books are really good, but owning the ebook version is enough. To give 5 stars, I'd have to also want the print version to go with the ebook. I definitely want to add the print version of both books to my print library.

The book is action packed and tells a wonderful story about a young woman who has sold her dignity to save her family. Only to truly learn the depths of their selfishness and ungratefulness. In the book, Jana must learn how to live for herself and be happy instead of always taking care of others. Antonio is more than happy to teach her and protect her from the dangers they find themselves confronting. I would highly recommend this book to older teens and up.

While Tempting Isabel took place in Puerto Vallarta, Taking Jana is set in New Jersy. Turns out Antonio is Isabel's brother, so nicely linking the two books. It was a nice link with an update on Isabel and Zack.

One of the things I really like about reading Ms. Brahm's books is that they are well edited. As readers, we have to get used to poorly or un-edited books. It's refreshing to read an author who cares about the reader experience by ensuring quality editing.

While I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a candid review, know that I don't let that sway my opinion of a book. When I take my valuable time to write a review, I always make sure to be honest about the book and how I feel out of respect for other readers.

[Rebecca Grove]

Jana is an ER nurse who comes from a horrible family. In the past, her brother stole from his parents leaving the family in deep financial trouble. Jana was forced into stripping to help her family and get money for school. She is now successful but then her father needs heart surgery. Once again Jana is forced to come to the rescue.
Antonio is a limo driver and company owner. He has a goal of earning a million dollars before returning to Mexico. One of his regular customers is so bad he refuses to drive her any more. He asks an old friend for help and he gets the job of driving Anna around.
The two are thrown together daily and Antonio is the only one trying to take care of Jana.
This story has a lot of back story. It seems like you go through a third of the book before the 2 meet. They have lots of misunderstandings and Jana is too focused on the past. She is in a toxic family relationship and needs to let her parents sink or swim on her own. The lack of respect she gets from her family is ridiculous.
I got a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars Excellent contemporary romantic suspense. This was intense at times. JaNa was extremely loyal to her parents yet they never appreciated her. She worked her way through school, hating her job but doing what she felt she had to do. She became desperate because her dad got very ill and had no health insurance. She took a position that paid well but hurt Bert heart and soul. Tony owns a limo service and met Jana as her boss hired him. JaNa is smart, beautiful but was overwhelmed. While acting as her driver they became friends. This is what I like about this author the way the personalities, quirks and characters come to life. Like 'real' people life is complex and hard. Both the main characters had many singular hurdles to climb but also had issues in order to try to be a couple that they had to deal with. Not only is the male lead character strong but the female has deep integrity and strength. Definitely my mind of book. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to review it.

[Jennifer Holzapfel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read. Jana an ER nurse has to leave her prestigious job to rush to her father's bedside, where she it totally berated by her parents for not answering her phone and dropping everything for him. Her parents are delusional. They stopped their health insurance and expect her to pay it all. She has bailed them out since she was 18 when her brother blew the family money and they had to mortgage their Korean restaurant. Jana was a stripper to pay off their bills and to get money for nursing school. Now she finds herself in the same position, but it is not stripping it is training girls to pole dance. The scumbag son of her old boss has an ulterior motive, he wants her as his sex toy and hires Antonio to be her personal driver during her 3 month commitment. She dislikes tony from the beginning, but he is the only man that can save her from the danger she puts herself into. Sex, love, violence, danger, and freedom ensue.

[SueBee★bring me an alpha!★]

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[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ex- stripper Jana Park has been used by all the men she knows but she has not let that pull her down she has completed nursing school and works for the top Manhattan E.R.but now because of her Dad she must go back to stripping. Chauffeur Antonio Ruiz is hired to drive Jana for the owner of the club where she works , Antonio has had it with women especially his cheating wife he was about to go to Mexico but decided to do this one last job. Will these two mismatched people find out through the friendship they form that maybe there is something better for them? I was gifted a copy for an honest review barwatts@telus.net

[Sheila Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. This is the second book in the Paradise South series. Rissa Brahm has me hooked! This story was about family, hardship, friendship and some steamy attraction. At times I felt there was too much information and dialog between Jana and Antonio...no wait...it was perfect! She wrote so much into this story that I felt I knew the characters personally. I laughed, got pissed, cried and then wanted to kick Jana out and take Antonio for myself! I can't wait to read the next book!