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Need You #3
All You Need
A hockey romance burns up the ice in the third sexy Need You novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the Mastered Series and the Blacktop Cowboys® Series.
PR agent Annika Lund can spin any disaster into a win. But revamping the reputation of a notorious Swedish hockey player will take every trick in her arsenal, especially when his agent insists that convincing everyone he’s no longer a playboy is top priority. And that it requires a sham relationship—with Annika playing the part of loving girlfriend.
On fire in the rink and in the bedroom, Axl Hammerquist couldn’t care less about being anyone’s golden boy. So when his agent forces him to play nice with a new publicist, he takes satisfaction in being as much of a pain as possible. But the more time he spends getting to know Annika, the more Axl starts to think that being Mr. Nice Guy might be worth it if it gets him the girl...
PR agent Annika Lund can spin any disaster into a win. But revamping the reputation of a notorious Swedish hockey player will take every trick in her arsenal, especially when his agent insists that convincing everyone he’s no longer a playboy is top priority. And that it requires a sham relationship—with Annika playing the part of loving girlfriend.
On fire in the rink and in the bedroom, Axl Hammerquist couldn’t care less about being anyone’s golden boy. So when his agent forces him to play nice with a new publicist, he takes satisfaction in being as much of a pain as possible. But the more time he spends getting to know Annika, the more Axl starts to think that being Mr. Nice Guy might be worth it if it gets him the girl...
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 4, 2017
221 people are currently reading
2110 people want to read
About the author
Lorelei James
77 books8,328 followersLorelei James is New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary erotic westerns and erotic romances. She lives in western South Dakota.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
April 16, 2017
I’ve been waiting to get my hands on Annika and Axl’s story ever since Axl got all up in Annika’s space in Just What I Needed. The sparks were flying then, so I knew this was going to be good!
Axl’s reputation as a manwhore and partier has affected his hockey career badly, resulting in a trade to a new team. Axl needs to come off as serious and focused on hockey, so in an attempt to up his appeal Axl has to clean up his act. Part of that plan is pairing up with Annika, his new fake girlfriend. She’s gorgeous, a perfect Swedish beauty, nick-named the Iron Princess for her ruthless reputation, and Annika thinks he’s the scum of the earth.
Annika Lund is head of Lund Industries’ PR division. She didn’t think taking on Axl as a client would include being forced into a fake relationship with him. They get off on the wrong foot, both pretty much despising each other. It’s just cruel that Annika finds herself attracted to Axl, but hey, he is the epitome of a big hot Nordic god, so how can you really blame her?
Axl and Annika are blond, beautiful and Swedish; they look like the ultimate couple. Behind closed doors, though, they snipe and snarl, exchanging barbs, a hot attraction brewing in spite of all the jabs, and I loved it! They had a great antagonistic relationship to start off, filled with heated exchanges; so much fun! I had to laugh at the names they had for each other: Attila for Annika, but Annika’s names were the best: Ax-Hell, the pucktard, Swedish meathead, Ax-hole, etc, you get the picture.
As they’re forced to spend time together, they get to know each other, and slowly the animosity fades, the ice begins to melt. Reputations are not always as they seem, both for Axl and Annika, and their “fake relationship” turns into more: hot, passionate and delicious! They had oodles of chemistry, just the way I like it!
Love it when an author can make me initially hate a character, and then completely turn things around. I couldn’t stand Axl at the beginning, and then loved him by the end! Annika impressed me from the first page; she was strong, independent, smart with a soft heart underneath it all.
Lorelei James’ scored with her new hockey romance! I just love a well done antagonistic romance with a sweet, sappy HEA!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
Axl’s reputation as a manwhore and partier has affected his hockey career badly, resulting in a trade to a new team. Axl needs to come off as serious and focused on hockey, so in an attempt to up his appeal Axl has to clean up his act. Part of that plan is pairing up with Annika, his new fake girlfriend. She’s gorgeous, a perfect Swedish beauty, nick-named the Iron Princess for her ruthless reputation, and Annika thinks he’s the scum of the earth.
Annika Lund is head of Lund Industries’ PR division. She didn’t think taking on Axl as a client would include being forced into a fake relationship with him. They get off on the wrong foot, both pretty much despising each other. It’s just cruel that Annika finds herself attracted to Axl, but hey, he is the epitome of a big hot Nordic god, so how can you really blame her?
Axl and Annika are blond, beautiful and Swedish; they look like the ultimate couple. Behind closed doors, though, they snipe and snarl, exchanging barbs, a hot attraction brewing in spite of all the jabs, and I loved it! They had a great antagonistic relationship to start off, filled with heated exchanges; so much fun! I had to laugh at the names they had for each other: Attila for Annika, but Annika’s names were the best: Ax-Hell, the pucktard, Swedish meathead, Ax-hole, etc, you get the picture.
As they’re forced to spend time together, they get to know each other, and slowly the animosity fades, the ice begins to melt. Reputations are not always as they seem, both for Axl and Annika, and their “fake relationship” turns into more: hot, passionate and delicious! They had oodles of chemistry, just the way I like it!
Love it when an author can make me initially hate a character, and then completely turn things around. I couldn’t stand Axl at the beginning, and then loved him by the end! Annika impressed me from the first page; she was strong, independent, smart with a soft heart underneath it all.
Lorelei James’ scored with her new hockey romance! I just love a well done antagonistic romance with a sweet, sappy HEA!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2017
While this is book three in the Need You series, the only other book I have read in this series is book two. I somehow skipped over book one, but I fell in love with the characters and their love story in Just What I Needed. When I saw the next book was going to be Annika and a hockey player, I knew I had to get my hands on it!
Annika Lund is a PR agent and good at her job. She prides herself in making her way up in her family's company and works hard proving that she's worth it. But when her next client is Axl Hammerquist, notorious playboy and Swedish Hockey player, Annika wants nothing to do with him. Axl and Annika butt heads, so when Axl's agent insist they pretend to date to save Axl's image, Annika says no. But his agent gives her an offer she can't refuse and Annika finds herself spending more and more time with Axl. She learns that he may not be as bad as he seems...
I absolutely love hate to lovers romances and this one was no exception. Axl and Annika's banter in the beginning was so entertaining and I loved how they both had serious misconceptions about each other. The more time they spent together, the more they realized they were judging one another on what they've heard, not what they actually knew. It was so fun watching them start to realize that they actually liked pretend dating and that they couldn't wait to see each other or spend more time together.
I always talk about this when I review sports romances, but it's so important to me: the actual sport. I'm so happy that Lorelei James gave us lots of hockey and that Annika actually went and watched some of Axl's games. This makes the book so much more realistic and entertaining to me. Axl was very dedicated to his job and loved getting an inside look at his grueling practices and his banter with his teammates. Speaking of teammates, this book had so many amazing side characters and I could just see each of them getting their own books (at least I hope!). There was such a lovable cast of characters and I loved how they all interacted and had such strong connections.
Overall, I absolutely adored this next addition to the Need You series. Annika and Axl were so fun and I loved how we got a sports romance out of their story! And that ending?! Definitely knocked it out of the park for me! If you want a fun romance with plenty of banter and hot chemistry, you definitely have to pick up All You Need!
Annika Lund is a PR agent and good at her job. She prides herself in making her way up in her family's company and works hard proving that she's worth it. But when her next client is Axl Hammerquist, notorious playboy and Swedish Hockey player, Annika wants nothing to do with him. Axl and Annika butt heads, so when Axl's agent insist they pretend to date to save Axl's image, Annika says no. But his agent gives her an offer she can't refuse and Annika finds herself spending more and more time with Axl. She learns that he may not be as bad as he seems...
I absolutely love hate to lovers romances and this one was no exception. Axl and Annika's banter in the beginning was so entertaining and I loved how they both had serious misconceptions about each other. The more time they spent together, the more they realized they were judging one another on what they've heard, not what they actually knew. It was so fun watching them start to realize that they actually liked pretend dating and that they couldn't wait to see each other or spend more time together.
I always talk about this when I review sports romances, but it's so important to me: the actual sport. I'm so happy that Lorelei James gave us lots of hockey and that Annika actually went and watched some of Axl's games. This makes the book so much more realistic and entertaining to me. Axl was very dedicated to his job and loved getting an inside look at his grueling practices and his banter with his teammates. Speaking of teammates, this book had so many amazing side characters and I could just see each of them getting their own books (at least I hope!). There was such a lovable cast of characters and I loved how they all interacted and had such strong connections.
Overall, I absolutely adored this next addition to the Need You series. Annika and Axl were so fun and I loved how we got a sports romance out of their story! And that ending?! Definitely knocked it out of the park for me! If you want a fun romance with plenty of banter and hot chemistry, you definitely have to pick up All You Need!
April 18, 2017
I have a confession to make. When I started this book, I was sure I wasn't going to like it.
One, the heroine, I felt, has no personality whatsoever. She's too perfect for my taste. She has no flaws. She's basically a walking, talking cliche: tall, gorgeous, rich, blonde heiress who has everything. I have nothing against blonde heiresses for heroines but Annika Lund just left me cold.
Two, the book started off slow. Not only that it reads like any other sports romances out there. It's not bad but the story didn't stood out either.
Three, the hero was just okay. Again, he's your typical NA-ish hockey romance hero. I didn't find anything exciting about him even though I liked him better than the heroine.
Then 53% happened, and the story, the character just took off for me. The jokes that felt off at the beginning started to hit me and I found myself genuinely laughing at the banter between Annika and Axl.
“I’m happy I’m not Santa—the poor guy only comes once a year. And he limits himself to just good girls.”
Also, there's this chemistry thing. It finally worked. I started rooting for these two characters to figure their shit out and have their HEA.
And oh, did I mention that the secondary characters, specifically Annika's mom, Selka, was hilariously entertaining and entertaining? No? Well, they are. Selka especially. And the whole Lund clan had their own brand of crazy that I found entertaining. Same goes for Axl's teammates and neighbors.
Then there's that "big gesture" scene near the end that had me swooning. I admit, it might have been a bit cheesy but IT WORKED!! Big time. It just did.
So yeah. I ended up really enjoying this book. I'm glad I stuck with it otherwise I would have missed this gem:
“What’s a douchecanoe?”
“Worse than an asshat, but not as bad as a twatwaffle.”
March 27, 2017
Annika Lund has an Ice Queen reputation because she works hard for her family's company, always doing what is best for the family, even if her personal life takes a back seat. But until she started spending time with Axl, she hadn't been with a man who was worth the distraction. Now she's found a guy who matches her word for word and makes her toes curl in the process. If only she could share it with others.
Axl Hammerquist is much more than the handsome, rough, playboy hockey player he portrays, but why let anyone see the real man when they don't expect anything more from him? However, when his agent insists on a public image makeover, it is his attraction to and respect for Annika that gets him to change his mind. So when his agent decides it's time to publicly end Axl's PR relationship with Annika, he realizes he's in way more than he ever planned.
All You Need is a wonderful, feel-good romance that hits all the right notes for me. Axl and Annika are equals from the start, and while there is some minor jockeying for position, their relationship isn't a power play struggle for dominance. I admire that both have serious careers and neither has to compromise his/her work ethic or ambitions, rather, both support the other along the journey.
But their story is far from all work and no play! The couple starts off on the wrong foot, as Axl drives to challenge Annika's PR abilities, causing trouble just to see how she'll react. He recognizes her intellect and admires her strength, and he has fun creating situations for her just so he can watch her work. Their silly name calling and hockey puns give rise to entertaining conversations. Equally enjoyable is their mutual attraction which creates wonderful sexual tension.
While there are several things that worked for me in the title, it's the fact that once Annika and Axl became a couple, they stayed a couple, that made their story shine. Although these two alphas butted heads at the start, they were upfront not only about their issues with the other, but their mutual attraction as well. Yes, they did try to fight the sex appeal, creating wonderful sexual tension and moments of witty banter, but they both recognized right away that they weren't going to be able to keep this PR relationship strictly platonic. Both characters are honest and upfront about their mixed emotions, and both are such genuinely good people beneath the surface that they work well together. And due to the circumstances that drove them together, they become an "us versus them" team, sticking together despite or rather because of what others say to them. The more time the pair spent together, the closer they grew.
By no means is their journey a smooth road to happily ever after. They come across road blocks and difficulties, issues that in other titles have caused breakups and mayhem. But it's how the couple handles the bumps that makes their story so amazing. Rather than allowing external factors best them, they were patient, communicated openly, and worked through the problems.
All You Need is a wonderful romance about two equals who go from coconspirators to friends to lovers. I admire that both Axl and Annika possess honorable fortitude and genuine hearts, sharing of themselves with one another. Their journey is an enjoyable ride, and I look forward to discovering what is next for the Lund Family.
My Rating: A, Loved It
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher
Axl Hammerquist is much more than the handsome, rough, playboy hockey player he portrays, but why let anyone see the real man when they don't expect anything more from him? However, when his agent insists on a public image makeover, it is his attraction to and respect for Annika that gets him to change his mind. So when his agent decides it's time to publicly end Axl's PR relationship with Annika, he realizes he's in way more than he ever planned.
All You Need is a wonderful, feel-good romance that hits all the right notes for me. Axl and Annika are equals from the start, and while there is some minor jockeying for position, their relationship isn't a power play struggle for dominance. I admire that both have serious careers and neither has to compromise his/her work ethic or ambitions, rather, both support the other along the journey.
But their story is far from all work and no play! The couple starts off on the wrong foot, as Axl drives to challenge Annika's PR abilities, causing trouble just to see how she'll react. He recognizes her intellect and admires her strength, and he has fun creating situations for her just so he can watch her work. Their silly name calling and hockey puns give rise to entertaining conversations. Equally enjoyable is their mutual attraction which creates wonderful sexual tension.
While there are several things that worked for me in the title, it's the fact that once Annika and Axl became a couple, they stayed a couple, that made their story shine. Although these two alphas butted heads at the start, they were upfront not only about their issues with the other, but their mutual attraction as well. Yes, they did try to fight the sex appeal, creating wonderful sexual tension and moments of witty banter, but they both recognized right away that they weren't going to be able to keep this PR relationship strictly platonic. Both characters are honest and upfront about their mixed emotions, and both are such genuinely good people beneath the surface that they work well together. And due to the circumstances that drove them together, they become an "us versus them" team, sticking together despite or rather because of what others say to them. The more time the pair spent together, the closer they grew.
By no means is their journey a smooth road to happily ever after. They come across road blocks and difficulties, issues that in other titles have caused breakups and mayhem. But it's how the couple handles the bumps that makes their story so amazing. Rather than allowing external factors best them, they were patient, communicated openly, and worked through the problems.
All You Need is a wonderful romance about two equals who go from coconspirators to friends to lovers. I admire that both Axl and Annika possess honorable fortitude and genuine hearts, sharing of themselves with one another. Their journey is an enjoyable ride, and I look forward to discovering what is next for the Lund Family.
My Rating: A, Loved It
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher
March 26, 2017
I absoulutly love the Lund family, this was a great book that made Hockey seem fun. I has never been my favorites. The romance was hot and the book moves along a very quick pace.
March 24, 2017
*4.5 stars*
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Berkley*
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Berkley*
May 30, 2017
review to be on joyfully reviewed
March 30, 2017
4.5 stars.
All You Need by Lorelei James is a marvelous enemies to lovers romance. Although this newest release is the third installment in the fantastic Need You series, it can be read as a standalone (but I HIGHLY recommend the entire series).
Annika Lund is loyal to her family which is why she grudgingly agrees to help hockey bad boy Axl "the Hammer" Hammerquist salvage his image. Annika positively loathes Axl whose list of transgressions is looonnng, so she is rather shocked to realize she is attracted to the hockey hottie. When Axl's agent suggests the two pretend to be in a relationship, neither is thrilled with the proposal but they both realize the plan has merit. What neither Axl nor Annika expect is for their contentious fake relationship to turn into a real romance. What will happen to their budding romance once Axl no longer needs Annika to save his reputation?
Annika is tough as nails but she loves her family so she will do anything to help them. Axl is nothing like the men she usually dates and she absolutely despises him right from their first introduction. Hiding her unexpected attraction behind scathing comments and a slew of hilarious nicknames, Annika is taken off guard once she gets to know the man behind the hockey mask and wild reputation.
Axl is an incredibly talented hockey player but his out of control antics are a PR nightmare for his new team. No one can bring themselves to look past the bad publicity swirling around him so his agent knows he has to clean up his client's image sooner rather than later. Axl has his reasons for his over the top behavior, but now that he is with a team that he genuinely likes, he is ready to do whatever it takes to smooth his transition with his new teammates. As he spends time with Annika, he realizes he has misjudged her but will Axl be able convince her he is not as out of control as she believes?
Annika and Axl do not make any effort to hide their disdain for each other when they first meet. Annika is particularly withering during their initial encounters but Axl's exploits are so incredibly outrageous, he deserves her inventive nicknames and derisive comments. However, once the fake relationship plan goes into action, Annika and Axl finally take the time to get to know one another. After the various misconceptions about each other are cleared up, will Annika and Axl give in to their simmering passion? What will happen to their fledgling relationship in the midst of well meaning interference from family and friends?
All You Need is a sizzling hot romance with a fabulous cast of well-developed characters and dialogue that is brimming with humor. The relationship between Annika and Axl is an absolute joy to watch unfold as their dislike for one another gradually gives way to mutual respect and eventually, love. Old and new fans will fall in love with this latest addition to the Need You series and the intriguing glimpses of Jensen Lund will leave readers eagerly awaiting Lorelei James' next release, When I Need You.
All You Need by Lorelei James is a marvelous enemies to lovers romance. Although this newest release is the third installment in the fantastic Need You series, it can be read as a standalone (but I HIGHLY recommend the entire series).
Annika Lund is loyal to her family which is why she grudgingly agrees to help hockey bad boy Axl "the Hammer" Hammerquist salvage his image. Annika positively loathes Axl whose list of transgressions is looonnng, so she is rather shocked to realize she is attracted to the hockey hottie. When Axl's agent suggests the two pretend to be in a relationship, neither is thrilled with the proposal but they both realize the plan has merit. What neither Axl nor Annika expect is for their contentious fake relationship to turn into a real romance. What will happen to their budding romance once Axl no longer needs Annika to save his reputation?
Annika is tough as nails but she loves her family so she will do anything to help them. Axl is nothing like the men she usually dates and she absolutely despises him right from their first introduction. Hiding her unexpected attraction behind scathing comments and a slew of hilarious nicknames, Annika is taken off guard once she gets to know the man behind the hockey mask and wild reputation.
Axl is an incredibly talented hockey player but his out of control antics are a PR nightmare for his new team. No one can bring themselves to look past the bad publicity swirling around him so his agent knows he has to clean up his client's image sooner rather than later. Axl has his reasons for his over the top behavior, but now that he is with a team that he genuinely likes, he is ready to do whatever it takes to smooth his transition with his new teammates. As he spends time with Annika, he realizes he has misjudged her but will Axl be able convince her he is not as out of control as she believes?
Annika and Axl do not make any effort to hide their disdain for each other when they first meet. Annika is particularly withering during their initial encounters but Axl's exploits are so incredibly outrageous, he deserves her inventive nicknames and derisive comments. However, once the fake relationship plan goes into action, Annika and Axl finally take the time to get to know one another. After the various misconceptions about each other are cleared up, will Annika and Axl give in to their simmering passion? What will happen to their fledgling relationship in the midst of well meaning interference from family and friends?
All You Need is a sizzling hot romance with a fabulous cast of well-developed characters and dialogue that is brimming with humor. The relationship between Annika and Axl is an absolute joy to watch unfold as their dislike for one another gradually gives way to mutual respect and eventually, love. Old and new fans will fall in love with this latest addition to the Need You series and the intriguing glimpses of Jensen Lund will leave readers eagerly awaiting Lorelei James' next release, When I Need You.
April 2, 2017
All You Need is Book 3 of the Need You series by Lorelei James. I haven't had a chance to read the first 2 books yet so it's certainly not necessary to read them in order. I do plan however to remedy that in the very near future.
This book was superb. I loved the connection between Axl and Annika and the chemistry between these two, oh my! I swear you could see the steam rolling off the pages.
Ms. James also set the scene for future books involving the Lund family and I cannot wait. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it.
This book was superb. I loved the connection between Axl and Annika and the chemistry between these two, oh my! I swear you could see the steam rolling off the pages.
Ms. James also set the scene for future books involving the Lund family and I cannot wait. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it.
April 4, 2017
Rating 4.5 Stars
I was well into this book before I could like Axl. What a royal jerk. Or so he appeared. I actually wondered how these two could ever get together but of course all was not as it appeared. Ax-hole wasn’t really the right name for the sexy hunk. Once we get to see the real Axl he’s pretty easy to love. He’s so sweet and caring with Annika and it’s no surprise when their fake relationship turns into much more.
I wondered about Annika’s reasons for keeping their romance secret until she could pitch her company to a potential client. It seemed a bit contrived. The rest of the story was solid enough though that it wasn’t distracting.
I’m getting tired of the couples so many novels have where one partner is slow to realizing there is something serious developing. These two never did that and I like the story more because of it.
James is very talented at creating great characters and writing engaging dialog and All You Need is another awesome read from one of my favorite writers. I can’t wait for the next book.
I was well into this book before I could like Axl. What a royal jerk. Or so he appeared. I actually wondered how these two could ever get together but of course all was not as it appeared. Ax-hole wasn’t really the right name for the sexy hunk. Once we get to see the real Axl he’s pretty easy to love. He’s so sweet and caring with Annika and it’s no surprise when their fake relationship turns into much more.
I wondered about Annika’s reasons for keeping their romance secret until she could pitch her company to a potential client. It seemed a bit contrived. The rest of the story was solid enough though that it wasn’t distracting.
I’m getting tired of the couples so many novels have where one partner is slow to realizing there is something serious developing. These two never did that and I like the story more because of it.
James is very talented at creating great characters and writing engaging dialog and All You Need is another awesome read from one of my favorite writers. I can’t wait for the next book.
April 4, 2017
I Loved This Book!! Annika is a PR person and meets Axl Hammerquist to show a fake relationship and is trying to help his image as it is not a good image...Axl does stuff just to make Annika upset yet together they grow closer...Annika goes in disguise to a party and Axl knows but takes her to the closer..Rumors start and the fake relationship is called off...yet they keep seeing each other..
Will the Iron Princess and Ax-hell Hammerquist find the HEA???
Another fun book based in Minneapolis with all the hot spots added in!!
Will the Iron Princess and Ax-hell Hammerquist find the HEA???
Another fun book based in Minneapolis with all the hot spots added in!!
March 23, 2017
This series keeps getting better and better. Axl and Annika, Ax-hell and Attila, whatever names you call them, they are hot together. This is the couple readers of this series have been anxiously waiting to read about and Lorelei James delivers with her signature style and heat.
March 30, 2017
I didn’t even know how much I had a hankering a sports romance book before I cracked this one open and proceeded to devour it with gusto. All You Need hit all the sweet spots that my heart was craving – surly hot hockey player, smart, sassy heroine, a whole lot of playful flirty banter, and just a pinch of forbidden romance. It was delicious.
There’s also a fair amount of fire here. The chemistry between Annika and Axl is damn near explosive. This made them extremely fun to read – because their personalities are as fiery as the physical connection between them – but also crazy sexy. They’re the whole package, really and I absolutely loved it – from the way the two traded sharp tipped barbs to the way they exchanged tender, breathtaking caresses. I couldn’t get enough and now that it’s over, I could not feel more satisfied.
This series just keeps getting better and better. The Lund family dynamic is fascinating and authentic. Each book introduces new nuances that keep me on the edge of my seat waiting to learn more. Each character is written in such a way that it’s impossible not to love them – flaws and all (and they are flawed which is what makes them so fascinating, I think). The storytelling is skillful and enthralling and I found myself wanting to tear through this book as quickly as possible, and slow down and savor all the swoons and smiles for as long as I could.
I literally cannot wait for more. There are so many other characters I’m dying to learn more about and so many stories that still need to be told. This is technically the third book in a series – but it can be read as a standalone. If you want my advice? Read them all. But definitely don’t miss this one. ~ Shelly, 5 Stars
There’s also a fair amount of fire here. The chemistry between Annika and Axl is damn near explosive. This made them extremely fun to read – because their personalities are as fiery as the physical connection between them – but also crazy sexy. They’re the whole package, really and I absolutely loved it – from the way the two traded sharp tipped barbs to the way they exchanged tender, breathtaking caresses. I couldn’t get enough and now that it’s over, I could not feel more satisfied.
This series just keeps getting better and better. The Lund family dynamic is fascinating and authentic. Each book introduces new nuances that keep me on the edge of my seat waiting to learn more. Each character is written in such a way that it’s impossible not to love them – flaws and all (and they are flawed which is what makes them so fascinating, I think). The storytelling is skillful and enthralling and I found myself wanting to tear through this book as quickly as possible, and slow down and savor all the swoons and smiles for as long as I could.
I literally cannot wait for more. There are so many other characters I’m dying to learn more about and so many stories that still need to be told. This is technically the third book in a series – but it can be read as a standalone. If you want my advice? Read them all. But definitely don’t miss this one. ~ Shelly, 5 Stars
April 12, 2017
Pretending has never felt so real…
“Sexy car, Attila. You know you’re here because you’re dying to take me for a ride.”
“Ego much, Ax-hell?”
The first time PR agent Annika Lund met the notorious Swedish bad-boy hockey player their maître d’ caught him banging the waitress in the coat check room; the second time he insulted her before sending her a half-naked picture of himself; and the third time she caught him doing shots with two skimpy clothed women. Axl is every PR agent’s nightmare. But Annika promised his agent that she’d help clean up his image, and the only way to do that is with a pretend girlfriend. But Annika isn’t sure how they will pull this off seeing as Axl goes out of his way to be offensive, and her reluctant attraction to him sure isn’t going to help.
“So prove you’re a woman.” I blocked her in and crowded her against the car door. “Give me that mouth.”
She parted her lips and shifted closer. “How about a little slap and tickle instead?”
Axl Hammersquist doesn’t care what others think of him. All he cares about is playing hockey. And when his agent forces him into a pretend relationship with the beautiful and feisty Annika, he plans to annoy her as much as he can. But the more he gets to know her, the harder it gets to pretend he doesn’t want her and like her. Can he trust that he’s finally found the girl for him and convince her to change their pretend into something real?
“In that first scene where Charming slowly takes off his knight’s helmet—I’m guessing it’s very similar to when you take off your hockey headgear—and he shakes his head . . . There’s a collective aah as everyone admires his flowing hair? Yours is about the same length and the same color.”
I didn’t bother to mask my look of horror. “What the hell, Attila? I don’t swing my hair around like some vain cartoon character.”
“That’s why I said ‘misperception,’ Ax-hole. But it’d be really hot if you did it one time during the season.”
I absolutely loved the smart and sassy Annika. She’s my kind of heroine with her smart mouth and wit and the fact that she’s a bit of a Star Trek geek. I loved how she stood up to Axl, especially in the beginning when he acted like an ass and that she gave him such a hard time. I also liked how she noticed things about him that others didn’t, that she really liked him and tried to take care of him and how she made him laugh.
“You scare me, Annika Lund.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re outrageously beautiful, extraordinarily smart, ridiculously clever, utterly devoted to your family and so fucking sexy I fear you might ruin me for all other women.”
I adored Axl and that he was such a multi-layered hero. The more Annika got to know him, the more depth was revealed. He’s always so in control of himself, coming across as aloof and cold, never showing his real feelings. And although I hated his actions the first few times he met Annika, I loved how much he changed around her, how he started to show her the real him. I loved that he was attracted to her right from the first moment he met her, the way he saw her and liked everything about her and that here was no one else for him since the moment they started their pretend relationship.
Except it hadn’t been a sham. It was time to admit I’d fallen for her.
I wasn’t giving her up.
Although the attraction was there right from the start hidden beneath a deep layer of hostility, their romance was a definite slow burn and I loved that. I was at first worried about liking the romance, especially after the way things went when they first met with him shagging some waitress, but luckily I was so very wrong. I just loved them together, from their early hostile banter which was so hilarious, to their fake dating. How both wanted the other, but refused to admit it at first. I loved seeing the pretend become real, how with every fake date they started to like each other more and more, their chemistry just growing stronger with every encounter and watching them fall in love was awesome! And I loved that we got both of their POV’s throughout the book.
It was wonderful catching up with the other Lund family members, especially the really sweet moment between Walker and Trinity. I really hope we get a book for Dallas and Igor. I can't wait to read Jensen's book next.
This series has become a favorite of mine, I love the close Lund family and the sexy and sweet romance. I really like how this author writes, how the story captivates right from the first page, and doesn’t let go until the very last. A definite must read for all romance fans.
October 6, 2017
Annika finds herself unwillingly helping with the PR for Axl. He has a reputation for public sex and lots of ladies. I would be the first to admit I thought Axl was an arse during our initial encounters even if I laughed at his over the top displays. Poor Annika. She has her mother to thank for this mess. Axl doesn't heed her advice and soon finds herself faking a relationship with him when she unintentionally finds herself on Youtube. I adore the fake relationship troupe and James had me hooked.
I was unsure of Axl and couldn't get a handle on this obnoxious player. Thankfully, as James peeled back Axl's layers and exposed the man beneath I quickly found myself not only swooning but genuinely liking the guy.
Lorelei James has an incredible talent for bringing her characters to life while creating a fast-paced believable story with depth. She ultimately ends up melting my heart and I have a hard time deciding which book and characters are my favorite.
Annika is a powerhouse in her profession and likes to take control. While Axl filled her mind with lustful thoughts, he isn't the typical suit she usually dates. I loved the vulnerable sides of Annika that James exposed as well as her feisty, stubborn side. It was wonderful seeing this couple's relationship develop as James took them from annoyed to respect. Their dates and growing friendship were filled with laughter, wicked banter and shock as things moved to something more.
I loved the clever plot twist James gave us and enjoyed time spent with other members of the Lund family. Axl's motley crew of misfit friends added depth and humor. It also allowed us to see another, softer side of Axl. I was a little worried about the road to my HEA but I absolutely loved how James brought it all together. Fans of Cecy Robson, Jill Shalvis, Mandy Baxter and Jessica Lemmon will enjoy the Need You series.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
I was unsure of Axl and couldn't get a handle on this obnoxious player. Thankfully, as James peeled back Axl's layers and exposed the man beneath I quickly found myself not only swooning but genuinely liking the guy.
Lorelei James has an incredible talent for bringing her characters to life while creating a fast-paced believable story with depth. She ultimately ends up melting my heart and I have a hard time deciding which book and characters are my favorite.
Annika is a powerhouse in her profession and likes to take control. While Axl filled her mind with lustful thoughts, he isn't the typical suit she usually dates. I loved the vulnerable sides of Annika that James exposed as well as her feisty, stubborn side. It was wonderful seeing this couple's relationship develop as James took them from annoyed to respect. Their dates and growing friendship were filled with laughter, wicked banter and shock as things moved to something more.
I loved the clever plot twist James gave us and enjoyed time spent with other members of the Lund family. Axl's motley crew of misfit friends added depth and humor. It also allowed us to see another, softer side of Axl. I was a little worried about the road to my HEA but I absolutely loved how James brought it all together. Fans of Cecy Robson, Jill Shalvis, Mandy Baxter and Jessica Lemmon will enjoy the Need You series.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
April 4, 2017
Lorelei James writes some of the best family dynamics I've ever read. Most if not all of her series has a strong family presence and the Lund family is not to be missed.
I was really excited to receive Annika's story. Annika Lund, head of the Lund's PR is paired up with Axl Hammerquist a Swedish Hockey player.
Over the course of the book we learn things are not as the seem with both main characters. We see them help and heal each other and watch them fall in love.
On a side note* In this book we were also introduced to Lucy aka "Lucifer" (Mimi's mama) her character really intrigues me. I need her to have a book. Hopefully, Jaxson (the Lund cousin) will come around. Their story could be epic! My favorite sub genre of reunited romance + my favorite author writing it would be the cats meow!
4 stars
I was really excited to receive Annika's story. Annika Lund, head of the Lund's PR is paired up with Axl Hammerquist a Swedish Hockey player.
Over the course of the book we learn things are not as the seem with both main characters. We see them help and heal each other and watch them fall in love.
On a side note* In this book we were also introduced to Lucy aka "Lucifer" (Mimi's mama) her character really intrigues me. I need her to have a book. Hopefully, Jaxson (the Lund cousin) will come around. Their story could be epic! My favorite sub genre of reunited romance + my favorite author writing it would be the cats meow!
4 stars
March 21, 2017
I always say Lorelei James is the absolute best ever. And that continues with All You Need. I love the Lunds and annika is. no different. I loved all these but this one just got to me. I love that Lorelei always writes about strong women and yet they can be soft and loving while kicking ass. Axl is my new book boyfriend. there chemistry was off the charts you could actually feel it all through the story. two strong personalities going head to head is hot. these two burned it up. I hope the Need You series continues for many many books.
March 27, 2017
All You Need is the latest from Lorelei James and part of the Need You series that focuses on the Lund Family in Minneapolis. Annika Lund is the head of PR at Lund Industries and the younger sister of Brady and Walker Lund who were the focus of books one and two. In All You Need Annika has been conned into working with a sports agent to rehabilitate the career of bad boy hockey player, Axl Hammerquist. While this is outside of Annika’s usual work the sports agent is a friend of her mother and has recently taken her brother Jensen on as a client. Despite Axl being two years younger and the exact opposite of every man Annika has ever dated they quickly find that they are exactly what the other needs. Axl isn’t whom Annika assumes and Annika is the opposite of what Axl expected from a wealthy young woman.
The Need You series is different from the usual Lorelei James books and it took me until this book to really get into the series. I thought All You Need started off a little slow but it picked up quickly so that I wasn’t able to put it down. Annika and Axl are a fun couple that you will want to know more about in the future.
The Need You series is different from the usual Lorelei James books and it took me until this book to really get into the series. I thought All You Need started off a little slow but it picked up quickly so that I wasn’t able to put it down. Annika and Axl are a fun couple that you will want to know more about in the future.
March 24, 2017
I am really loving this series! I love Annika and Axl together--they're both smart, funny, hardworking people who like to have fun. I wasn't too impressed by Axl at first glance, but sometimes first impressions aren't a good indication of who a person is, and that was definitely the case with Axl. He's a much more complex man than his wild reputation indicates. Certain plot points have the two of them spending a lot of time alone together, so they get to know each other and the readers get to know the two of them as well. We also get to know other members of Axl's hockey team, his neighbors, and more of the Lund family, all of whom were fascinating and could keep this series going for quite some time. Hint, hint.
Although the conflict between Annika and Axl didn't quite work for me, it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book. There was enough going on with both main characters and supporting characters to keep me fully engaged and wanting more. I can't wait for the next book in this series!
Although the conflict between Annika and Axl didn't quite work for me, it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book. There was enough going on with both main characters and supporting characters to keep me fully engaged and wanting more. I can't wait for the next book in this series!
March 22, 2017
This was a sweet, hot, sexy, romance!!...It's hard to pick a favorite but I'd say this one is it for me.
March 6, 2017
Fantastic book! Annika & Axl's story was amazing. It was sexy, fun and had me craving for more. The Lund family & their friends are full of unforgettably characters & I cannot wait to read more of their stories!
August 16, 2017
I am totally swooning! I loved this so much. It was really entertaining to read but oh my goodness, getting to know these two characters and watching them fall in love was so sweet. And Axl? Omg! Thud! That man. Oh my!
Axel and Annika had this perfect, bickering, animosity, verbal sparring thing happening that totally made me smile. Mixed in with that was this flirtiness and I was just so excited for them to get together. I love how all their details were learned over the course of the story, I thought there was great character development and an excellent build throughout. This was told from dual POVs, I loved their voices and getting inside their heads. Annika is such a strong woman and I love her fight in going after what she wants. It was so nice getting to see a softer side of her after reading the previous two books. Axl, I swear this man made me melt. He came across as such a jerk but the more you get to know him and he opens up, I was seriously done for. I just loved him so much.
The two of them together had so many fun playful moments, I was smiling big time. The ease they have with each other and how things progress just made me happy. It was entertaining. In the beginning they had so much sexual tension and I was literally thinking, now! Do it now! Get together now! I was just so excited for them to connect. They had awesome chemistry... my belly literally flipped on several occasions thanks to these two. There is a nice amount of emotion mixed in as well as bits of drama. There were just so many scenes throughout where I would literally stop and and think, this is so fanatic. And that ending? Holy wow talk about romantic! Again with me swooning for Axl.
Throw in all these great secondary characters and I was loving it even more. The Lund family, the cousins and brothers, Axl's friends and teammates. I felt they all really added something to the story. There were a few updates for previous couples and some things hinted on with others and I'm excited to see how it will play out in the series.
It was all so great. Storyline, development, build, pace. Characters. The sexy times. It was all awesome. I love story's like this that are filled with humor but are also sweet and sexy with really great characters. They leave me feeling so happy and content. This was definitely a winner!
Axel and Annika had this perfect, bickering, animosity, verbal sparring thing happening that totally made me smile. Mixed in with that was this flirtiness and I was just so excited for them to get together. I love how all their details were learned over the course of the story, I thought there was great character development and an excellent build throughout. This was told from dual POVs, I loved their voices and getting inside their heads. Annika is such a strong woman and I love her fight in going after what she wants. It was so nice getting to see a softer side of her after reading the previous two books. Axl, I swear this man made me melt. He came across as such a jerk but the more you get to know him and he opens up, I was seriously done for. I just loved him so much.
The two of them together had so many fun playful moments, I was smiling big time. The ease they have with each other and how things progress just made me happy. It was entertaining. In the beginning they had so much sexual tension and I was literally thinking, now! Do it now! Get together now! I was just so excited for them to connect. They had awesome chemistry... my belly literally flipped on several occasions thanks to these two. There is a nice amount of emotion mixed in as well as bits of drama. There were just so many scenes throughout where I would literally stop and and think, this is so fanatic. And that ending? Holy wow talk about romantic! Again with me swooning for Axl.
Throw in all these great secondary characters and I was loving it even more. The Lund family, the cousins and brothers, Axl's friends and teammates. I felt they all really added something to the story. There were a few updates for previous couples and some things hinted on with others and I'm excited to see how it will play out in the series.
It was all so great. Storyline, development, build, pace. Characters. The sexy times. It was all awesome. I love story's like this that are filled with humor but are also sweet and sexy with really great characters. They leave me feeling so happy and content. This was definitely a winner!
April 4, 2017
I am in love with this series! Just when I thought it couldn't get any better... it does. Ax-hell (Axl) and Attila (Annika) are PERFECT for each other. This is such a great read... best of the series to date in my opinion and that's saying something (because the other Lunds.. Walker in particular... are amazing!). Aside from the romantic love affair between the two main characters, All You Need gives you a very good look at the rest of the Lund clan that you hadn't really gotten before. It cracks open the family in a way that could lead to many, many other books in this series if the author so chooses to go there. And I for one really hopes she does. If you've enjoyed the Rough Riders or Blacktop Cowboys series, the Need You books are an absolute must read.
August 10, 2017
All You Need (Need You #3) by Lorelei James
Author: Lorelei James
Title: All You Need
Series: Need You
Cover Rating:
Book Rating:
Buy This Book:
PR agent Annika Lund can spin any disaster into a win. But revamping the reputation of a notorious Swedish hockey player will take every trick in her arsenal, especially when his agent insists that convincing everyone he’s no longer a playboy is top priority. And that it requires a sham relationship—with Annika playing the part of loving girlfriend.On fire in the rink and in the bedroom, Axl Hammerquist couldn’t care less about being anyone’s golden boy. So when his agent forces him to play nice with a new publicist, he takes satisfaction in being as much of a pain as possible. But the more time he spends getting to know Annika, the more Axl starts to think that being Mr. Nice Guy might be worth it if it gets him the girl.
I'm caught between three and four stars but the cast and their personalities carried All You Need and carried me as the reader through the opposites attract relationship between Axl and Anni. I liked that James opened Anni up to the sports equation and Axl to some normalcy.
It wasn't just the h/h that carried the weight of All You Need but the supporting characters had a lot to do with it as well. As many know that is something I like with the books I read is heavy character involvement. Lorelei James wrote a fantastic story that I really enjoyed. Sports and all.
Until next time book lovers...
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley Publishing. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like my post or leave a comment to let me know what you think. I love hearing from you!
Thank you so much for stopping by!
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Author: Lorelei James
Title: All You Need
Series: Need You
Cover Rating:
Book Rating:
Buy This Book:
PR agent Annika Lund can spin any disaster into a win. But revamping the reputation of a notorious Swedish hockey player will take every trick in her arsenal, especially when his agent insists that convincing everyone he’s no longer a playboy is top priority. And that it requires a sham relationship—with Annika playing the part of loving girlfriend.On fire in the rink and in the bedroom, Axl Hammerquist couldn’t care less about being anyone’s golden boy. So when his agent forces him to play nice with a new publicist, he takes satisfaction in being as much of a pain as possible. But the more time he spends getting to know Annika, the more Axl starts to think that being Mr. Nice Guy might be worth it if it gets him the girl.
I'm caught between three and four stars but the cast and their personalities carried All You Need and carried me as the reader through the opposites attract relationship between Axl and Anni. I liked that James opened Anni up to the sports equation and Axl to some normalcy.
It wasn't just the h/h that carried the weight of All You Need but the supporting characters had a lot to do with it as well. As many know that is something I like with the books I read is heavy character involvement. Lorelei James wrote a fantastic story that I really enjoyed. Sports and all.
Until next time book lovers...
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley Publishing. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like my post or leave a comment to let me know what you think. I love hearing from you!
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews
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Save
December 18, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 SOLID STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A good ending is everything!
More reviews and book talk at :
You can find me here too ☞
A good ending is everything!
More reviews and book talk at :
You can find me here too ☞
May 22, 2017
This review also appears at All About Romance: http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...
Lorelei James is a familiar voice to many in the erotic and contemporary romance world, having published more than sixty books in the last ten years. While I’d heard of her, I hadn’t actually read any of her books until this one. All You Need is a sports romance with a fairly typical plot idea – a bad boy hockey player needs a reputation makeover and who better to accommodate him than a PR expert? What the blurb doesn’t tell you is that once you read this story you’ll immediately want to read the preceding stories in the series, and possibly everything on Ms. James’ backlist. From the very first chapter until the absolutely delightful ending, every part of this contemporary romance clicked with me.
The Need You series is centered on the Lunds, a wealthy and successful Swedish family who live in Minneapolis. There are four siblings, each of whom will have a standalone romance in the series, and this third installment is about Annika, a public relations agent for her family business, Lund Industries. The first time she meets Axl is at a chic restaurant, welcoming him to Minnesota on behalf of her cousin Jaxon, a former teammate of Axl’s in Chicago before he was acquired by the Minnesota Wild. He doesn’t speak much English so she’s there partly as a translator, though he clearly doesn’t need her language abilities to maneuver their waitress into a compromising position in the coat check room. Axl’s agent, Peter, wants Annika to take Axl on as a client and reform his playboy image, but she isn’t interested and turns him down. But under the steadfast nagging of her mother who wants Peter to be Annika’s brother Jensen’s new agent, she reluctantly agrees. She’ll use her skills to try to turn Axl’s reputation around, and Jensen will get his new agent. Win-Win.
Annika and Axl start out with some clearly antagonistic feelings about each other. Axl refers to Annika as Attila and in return she calls him Ax-hell or Ax-hole. Annika needs Axl to follow some rules to keep a low profile and out of the media spotlight and when she catches him at a club doing the exact opposite, her anger results in a very public scene. The result is a claim that spreads like wildfire on social media that Annika’s behaviour was caused by jealousy because she is Axl’s new girlfriend. Peter thinks it’s the perfect set up. If Annika will keep up the pretense, Axl’s bosses will be convinced that he’s focused on his hockey career and reforming his scandal plagued media image. In return for Annika pretending to be in this fake relationship, Axl will help out with any charity work she is involved in. For the sake of her brother’s career, Annika can’t really refuse. But what really frustrates her is the current of sexual attraction that ripples between her and Axl. He is nothing like the men Annika dates. He’s an uncouth, boorish hockey player who’s too attractive for his own good. Only as they get to know each other, Annika discovers that the old adage ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ might just apply to this man, too. Is it possible that she’s actually found her perfect match?
I love being surprised by an author, and I don’t just mean because of an unexpected plot twist. You think you know how this story will go from the start, that Axl will be converted from player to committed boyfriend by his growing affection for Annika. That’s not the story here. Instead, what you get is a male character who is so much more than the reputation that precedes him, a reputation that while true, has been designed to be a certain way. Appearances are Annika’s game as a PR expert, and even she is fooled at the start. There are layers to Axl that get revealed from chapter to chapter until at the end you’ve got a man who deserves pride of place on your book boyfriend shelf. I don’t want to give away any spoilers because it’s so much fun to discover Axl’s real character the way that Annika does. Telling the story from both points of view is essential to how the plot unfolds and I definitely appreciated it here.
As a sports romance with an emphasis on the game of hockey this definitely scores with me too. The author is familiar with the sport and does an admirable job of including scenes both on and off the ice. The reality of player reputations, contract negotiations, and press interactions are balanced with the physical on-ice play and Axl’s personal challenge to find a place for himself on his new team. I don’t know the author’s future plans, but I’d love to see a spinoff series with some of Axl’s hockey teammates getting stories of their own.
Annika’s family interactions are also an important part of this story, not surprising since the series is based on her and her siblings. The Lund family has connections all over Minneapolis, and with her brother Jensen playing football for the Minnesota Vikings they have a sizable stake in the community. Annika, while being a hardworking businesswoman, is also involved in the charity arm of the company and doesn’t mind getting down to the grassroots level herself to make things happen. She comes across as a passionate woman in everything she does, with a family loyalty that transcends everything else. Suffice it to say, her brothers are not particularly keen on her ‘relationship’ with Axl, knowing his reputation. This creates some tension, because Annika doesn’t like keeping secrets from her siblings but can’t reveal the truth behind their agreement. There are some quite touching and emotional scenes later in the story as some plot twisting events occur that impact the whole family.
The romance between Annika and Axl is simply delightful. The uncovering of Axl’s true personality leads to a bond of trust between them as they share meaningful conversations and truly intimate moments. The sexual tension builds and perhaps somewhat surprisingly, this is a slow burn romance. There is no hopping in the sack from the beginning to ‘take the edge off’ as one might expect. Axl is a hero in pursuit (my favorite kind!), wooing Annika in such a way that it would be impossible not to fall for him. The sex scenes in this story are hot but not super explicit – the dirty talking is kept to a minimum (which I’ll admit is a nice change) and there is a bigger emphasis on the feelings they are developing for each other than on a play by play of their bedroom scenes.
Of course, there has to be some conflict that makes you wonder how this couple can get their happy ending but it happens in an organic way and suits the story well. I can tell you that the ending made me clap my hands over my mouth and laugh in delight, it’s that good. All You Need is exactly the kind of story I want when I read a contemporary romance – laughs, a few tears, strong likable characters, an interesting and well executed plot, sexy scenes and a sweet happy ending. I’m already planning a re-read!
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Lorelei James is a familiar voice to many in the erotic and contemporary romance world, having published more than sixty books in the last ten years. While I’d heard of her, I hadn’t actually read any of her books until this one. All You Need is a sports romance with a fairly typical plot idea – a bad boy hockey player needs a reputation makeover and who better to accommodate him than a PR expert? What the blurb doesn’t tell you is that once you read this story you’ll immediately want to read the preceding stories in the series, and possibly everything on Ms. James’ backlist. From the very first chapter until the absolutely delightful ending, every part of this contemporary romance clicked with me.
The Need You series is centered on the Lunds, a wealthy and successful Swedish family who live in Minneapolis. There are four siblings, each of whom will have a standalone romance in the series, and this third installment is about Annika, a public relations agent for her family business, Lund Industries. The first time she meets Axl is at a chic restaurant, welcoming him to Minnesota on behalf of her cousin Jaxon, a former teammate of Axl’s in Chicago before he was acquired by the Minnesota Wild. He doesn’t speak much English so she’s there partly as a translator, though he clearly doesn’t need her language abilities to maneuver their waitress into a compromising position in the coat check room. Axl’s agent, Peter, wants Annika to take Axl on as a client and reform his playboy image, but she isn’t interested and turns him down. But under the steadfast nagging of her mother who wants Peter to be Annika’s brother Jensen’s new agent, she reluctantly agrees. She’ll use her skills to try to turn Axl’s reputation around, and Jensen will get his new agent. Win-Win.
Annika and Axl start out with some clearly antagonistic feelings about each other. Axl refers to Annika as Attila and in return she calls him Ax-hell or Ax-hole. Annika needs Axl to follow some rules to keep a low profile and out of the media spotlight and when she catches him at a club doing the exact opposite, her anger results in a very public scene. The result is a claim that spreads like wildfire on social media that Annika’s behaviour was caused by jealousy because she is Axl’s new girlfriend. Peter thinks it’s the perfect set up. If Annika will keep up the pretense, Axl’s bosses will be convinced that he’s focused on his hockey career and reforming his scandal plagued media image. In return for Annika pretending to be in this fake relationship, Axl will help out with any charity work she is involved in. For the sake of her brother’s career, Annika can’t really refuse. But what really frustrates her is the current of sexual attraction that ripples between her and Axl. He is nothing like the men Annika dates. He’s an uncouth, boorish hockey player who’s too attractive for his own good. Only as they get to know each other, Annika discovers that the old adage ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ might just apply to this man, too. Is it possible that she’s actually found her perfect match?
I love being surprised by an author, and I don’t just mean because of an unexpected plot twist. You think you know how this story will go from the start, that Axl will be converted from player to committed boyfriend by his growing affection for Annika. That’s not the story here. Instead, what you get is a male character who is so much more than the reputation that precedes him, a reputation that while true, has been designed to be a certain way. Appearances are Annika’s game as a PR expert, and even she is fooled at the start. There are layers to Axl that get revealed from chapter to chapter until at the end you’ve got a man who deserves pride of place on your book boyfriend shelf. I don’t want to give away any spoilers because it’s so much fun to discover Axl’s real character the way that Annika does. Telling the story from both points of view is essential to how the plot unfolds and I definitely appreciated it here.
As a sports romance with an emphasis on the game of hockey this definitely scores with me too. The author is familiar with the sport and does an admirable job of including scenes both on and off the ice. The reality of player reputations, contract negotiations, and press interactions are balanced with the physical on-ice play and Axl’s personal challenge to find a place for himself on his new team. I don’t know the author’s future plans, but I’d love to see a spinoff series with some of Axl’s hockey teammates getting stories of their own.
Annika’s family interactions are also an important part of this story, not surprising since the series is based on her and her siblings. The Lund family has connections all over Minneapolis, and with her brother Jensen playing football for the Minnesota Vikings they have a sizable stake in the community. Annika, while being a hardworking businesswoman, is also involved in the charity arm of the company and doesn’t mind getting down to the grassroots level herself to make things happen. She comes across as a passionate woman in everything she does, with a family loyalty that transcends everything else. Suffice it to say, her brothers are not particularly keen on her ‘relationship’ with Axl, knowing his reputation. This creates some tension, because Annika doesn’t like keeping secrets from her siblings but can’t reveal the truth behind their agreement. There are some quite touching and emotional scenes later in the story as some plot twisting events occur that impact the whole family.
The romance between Annika and Axl is simply delightful. The uncovering of Axl’s true personality leads to a bond of trust between them as they share meaningful conversations and truly intimate moments. The sexual tension builds and perhaps somewhat surprisingly, this is a slow burn romance. There is no hopping in the sack from the beginning to ‘take the edge off’ as one might expect. Axl is a hero in pursuit (my favorite kind!), wooing Annika in such a way that it would be impossible not to fall for him. The sex scenes in this story are hot but not super explicit – the dirty talking is kept to a minimum (which I’ll admit is a nice change) and there is a bigger emphasis on the feelings they are developing for each other than on a play by play of their bedroom scenes.
Of course, there has to be some conflict that makes you wonder how this couple can get their happy ending but it happens in an organic way and suits the story well. I can tell you that the ending made me clap my hands over my mouth and laugh in delight, it’s that good. All You Need is exactly the kind of story I want when I read a contemporary romance – laughs, a few tears, strong likable characters, an interesting and well executed plot, sexy scenes and a sweet happy ending. I’m already planning a re-read!
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
April 3, 2017
I have a soft spot for the Lund family. Lorelei James always knows how to do connections between characters that feel like real bonds and that's been my favorite thing about this series, as well as her previous work. In this installment, Annika Lund is tasked with helping to get the reputation of hockey bad boy Axl "The Hammer" back under control. This is her field of work but she's somewhat manipulated by her mother to do this to help her brother's career.I liked Annika character. She's a successful and independent woman but at the same time she does do "too" much for her family. Sometimes to her own loss. I liked seeing Axl step in as the caregiver in this aspect of her life and push her to do the right thing for her, not only for her family.
Axl is definitely sexy. All that testosterone flying around the ice translates into lots of steam off the rink. The fact that he was able to get everyone to believe he didn't speak English for such a long time was a bit of a stretch for me to believe, especially considering there must've been players from that country in the league before and the fact that studying English was basically mandatory would've come out.
Their relationship was fun and playful and I enjoyed that, as well as their banter and ease being around each other. But I think at times it lacked a "spark" to make it stand out for me. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading it and read it in one sitting. There was something sweet and cute about them as a couple, but also about the supporting cast of characters, that kept me turning the pages.
Speaking of family, I'm definitely intrigued about Lucy and is totally wrong of me to want her to end up with Ash instead of Jaxson? What is wrong with me? LOL It would definitely make for some crazy family drama! Regardless, I'll be awaiting the next in the series so I can be back in the fold of the Lund family and see what awaits Jensen.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
March 17, 2017
To say that Annika and Axl got off on the wrong foot would be an understatement. I mean, why would an executive with her family’s company readily agree to do her mother’s bidding and go on a pre-arranged date with a hockey player who doesn’t speak English? When the same mother sets her up to have a made-for-public-relations relationship, who wouldn’t get upset?
Axl has his own secrets, which is why he got traded to the Minnesota Wild. He’s not as much of a player (off the ice) as the most recent stories and photos in the media make him out to be.
This is the third book in Ms. James’ NEED YOU series. Each book gets better and better. You don’t have to start with the first book but I’d highly suggest it so you’ll understand all the family relationships.
Axl has his own secrets, which is why he got traded to the Minnesota Wild. He’s not as much of a player (off the ice) as the most recent stories and photos in the media make him out to be.
This is the third book in Ms. James’ NEED YOU series. Each book gets better and better. You don’t have to start with the first book but I’d highly suggest it so you’ll understand all the family relationships.
April 4, 2017
The Need You series by Lorelei James is the series that gets better and better with each book. All You Need is Book 3 and can be read as a standalone. If you’re at all like me, I like to start at the beginning. You can’t go wrong with this series. I’m in complete love with the Lund family and their love matches!I was drawn in on page one and did not want to put it down! All You Need is told in alternating POVs which has become one of my favorite ways to read a book. There is something about being directly inside the head of the hero and heroine. I enjoy how much more personal these kinds of stories are to me.
Annika Lund is an intelligent, hardworking, sexy, and sassy businesswoman. The press calls her the “Iron Princess” and she’s anything but ice cold. She is hilarious! Her sense of humor is fantastic. How she deals with life is relatable.
Axl “The Hammer” Hammerquist is a smart, sexy, strong, Swedish hockey player. Did I mention HOT? Axl is a force to be reckoned with on and off the ice…if anyone would take the time to get to know him. He is so much more than what meets the eye.
The Lund family is a tight knit, loving family. Like real people, they have real problems. I love how Miss James makes us feel as though we could be in the story ourselves. Characters dealing with real-life issues in very real ways. Your heart cannot help but be touched.
I highly recommend All You Need. I enjoyed Miss James fresh take on this romance trope. There are some twists I didn’t see coming with an ending fit for a princess!
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
March 26, 2017
Annika Lund is the PR agent who has been tasked with revamping the reputation of Axl, a Swedish hockey player that has been making a reputation for himself, great hockey player and racking up the sexual encounters. So when Axl’s agent insists that Annika date Axl to save his image, she give a definite NO, only problem is Annika really is drawn to the impossible, cocky, head strong man and as she helps him out she finds that he really isn’t the man everyone is making him out to be, in more ways than she evens begins to know.
The love hate banter that volleys between these two is funny. The chemistry and sparks that ignite when they are in a room together, but each tries to deny and the shenanigans they get into throughout the story are funny and enlightening to watch. Bringing in the family dynamic is just as funny, the Lund family is full of surprises and action.
Another great hit Ms. James turned out in the Need you series and can’t wait to see what she has planned for the rest of the Lund’s as I hope she plans to keep going with this series.
The love hate banter that volleys between these two is funny. The chemistry and sparks that ignite when they are in a room together, but each tries to deny and the shenanigans they get into throughout the story are funny and enlightening to watch. Bringing in the family dynamic is just as funny, the Lund family is full of surprises and action.
Another great hit Ms. James turned out in the Need you series and can’t wait to see what she has planned for the rest of the Lund’s as I hope she plans to keep going with this series.
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