What do you think?
Rate this book
Risking It All #2
Crazy for You
"Rachel Lacey is a sure-fire star." --- Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author
SHE'S TAKING A WALK ON HIS WILD SIDE
Emma Rush can't remember a time when she didn't have a thing for Ryan Blake. Haven's resident bad boy is just so freakin' hot-with tattoos, a motorcycle, and enough rough-around-the-edges sexiness to melt all her self-control. Now that Emma's over being a "good girl," she needs a little help being naughty . . . and she knows just where to start.
Before Emma's brother enlisted in the military, he made Ryan promise that he would protect her from everything--including himself. When her brother doesn't come home, Ryan needs to turn his screwed-up life around to honor his pledge. But he knows he's still not the right kind of guy for someone as sweet as Emma. Only he can't stop wanting to be with her. Wanting her. Falling in love with a good girl may be the craziest risk this bad boy can take . . .
Risking it All series:
Run to You
Crazy for You
Can't Forget You
SHE'S TAKING A WALK ON HIS WILD SIDE
Emma Rush can't remember a time when she didn't have a thing for Ryan Blake. Haven's resident bad boy is just so freakin' hot-with tattoos, a motorcycle, and enough rough-around-the-edges sexiness to melt all her self-control. Now that Emma's over being a "good girl," she needs a little help being naughty . . . and she knows just where to start.
Before Emma's brother enlisted in the military, he made Ryan promise that he would protect her from everything--including himself. When her brother doesn't come home, Ryan needs to turn his screwed-up life around to honor his pledge. But he knows he's still not the right kind of guy for someone as sweet as Emma. Only he can't stop wanting to be with her. Wanting her. Falling in love with a good girl may be the craziest risk this bad boy can take . . .
Risking it All series:
Run to You
Crazy for You
Can't Forget You
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 28, 2017
26 people are currently reading
1265 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Lacey
38 books2,407 followersRachel Lacey is an award-winning contemporary romance author and semi-reformed travel junkie. She's been climbed by a monkey on a mountain in Japan, gone scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and camped out overnight in New York City for a chance to be an extra in a movie. These days, the majority of her adventures take place on the pages of the books she writes. She lives in the mountains of Vermont with her family and a variety of rescue pets.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
March 28, 2017
5 - "No one but you." Stars!
The Risking It All series goes from strength to strength with the second full length novel; Crazy For You.
Its LIVE!
Amazon US -http://a.co/gFH3cj3
Amazon UK - http://amzn.eu/0393m6T
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crazy...
Not only do we get one of my favorite tropes – Older brothers best friend, but we also get to go back to the town and residents of Haven, Georgia.
Emma Rush has had a crush on Ryan Blake for a looooong time, being her brothers best friend growing up she saw and spent more than enough time with him to know that he was a guy with more going on than the bad-boy façade he let most people see.
Her little crush on Ryan Blake had just exploded into something a whole lot more… and she had no idea what would happen next…
But up until now, things had never stepped out of the friend-zone, with the loss of her brother, her decision to live on the wild side and to move away to study, the pair find themselves at an unexpected crossroads… Act on the attraction that has been simmering between them for a while, or stick to purely friendship.
"You drive me absolutely crazy, you know that?"
Ryan is reluctant initially, but it doesn’t take long for Emma to start pushing all the right buttons to bring the alpha protectiveness out in Ryan, and the sexy times take off at a rapid clip thereafter. She’s leaving, he doesn’t do commitment, so a friends-with-benefits arrangement is agreed upon.
"Just how bad do you want to be?"
I discovered Rachel’s writing through the prequel novella in this series and I haven’t looked back since, I love whole small town feel that she has got going on in that the characters are now established well enough you feel like you are catching up with old friends with each new story. The whole Off-the-Grid adventures aspect keeps things fresh, and all the secondary characters keep everything really well filled out when it comes to the plots.
"Sometimes dreams change… Sometimes once you start chasing them, you realize those dreams represented who you were ten years ago… not who you are today."
Nothing massively new about the story between Ryan and Emma, but it’s so well written you just fall in love with them as they are unwittingly falling in love with each other, it was one of those books you read and feel every emotion the H/h are experiencing, and go through with them.
"Nothing feels right when we’re not together."
Jess and Mark are up next, and I am more than a little excited for the release of Can’t Forget You in October. This is a couple that have a huge amount of history between them, but the author has been very careful in what she has revealed about it in that we still don’t 100% know what actually happened, so I am eager to get their full story.
ARC generously provided by TastyBookTours via Netgalley, and it was my pleasure to provide the above honest review in exchange.
The Risking It All series goes from strength to strength with the second full length novel; Crazy For You.
Its LIVE!
Amazon US -http://a.co/gFH3cj3
Amazon UK - http://amzn.eu/0393m6T
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crazy...
Not only do we get one of my favorite tropes – Older brothers best friend, but we also get to go back to the town and residents of Haven, Georgia.
Emma Rush has had a crush on Ryan Blake for a looooong time, being her brothers best friend growing up she saw and spent more than enough time with him to know that he was a guy with more going on than the bad-boy façade he let most people see.
Her little crush on Ryan Blake had just exploded into something a whole lot more… and she had no idea what would happen next…
But up until now, things had never stepped out of the friend-zone, with the loss of her brother, her decision to live on the wild side and to move away to study, the pair find themselves at an unexpected crossroads… Act on the attraction that has been simmering between them for a while, or stick to purely friendship.
"You drive me absolutely crazy, you know that?"
Ryan is reluctant initially, but it doesn’t take long for Emma to start pushing all the right buttons to bring the alpha protectiveness out in Ryan, and the sexy times take off at a rapid clip thereafter. She’s leaving, he doesn’t do commitment, so a friends-with-benefits arrangement is agreed upon.
"Just how bad do you want to be?"
I discovered Rachel’s writing through the prequel novella in this series and I haven’t looked back since, I love whole small town feel that she has got going on in that the characters are now established well enough you feel like you are catching up with old friends with each new story. The whole Off-the-Grid adventures aspect keeps things fresh, and all the secondary characters keep everything really well filled out when it comes to the plots.
"Sometimes dreams change… Sometimes once you start chasing them, you realize those dreams represented who you were ten years ago… not who you are today."
Nothing massively new about the story between Ryan and Emma, but it’s so well written you just fall in love with them as they are unwittingly falling in love with each other, it was one of those books you read and feel every emotion the H/h are experiencing, and go through with them.
"Nothing feels right when we’re not together."
Jess and Mark are up next, and I am more than a little excited for the release of Can’t Forget You in October. This is a couple that have a huge amount of history between them, but the author has been very careful in what she has revealed about it in that we still don’t 100% know what actually happened, so I am eager to get their full story.
ARC generously provided by TastyBookTours via Netgalley, and it was my pleasure to provide the above honest review in exchange.
March 28, 2017
NOW LIVE!
*Amazon*B&N*Kobo*
Crazy For You brings us a brothers-best-friend type of story with two characters that will leave you with a huge grin on your face. Emma was a sweet heroine but she was plenty strong and able to stick up for herself, which I loved. Ryan had a war raging inside of him because of how he wanted Emma, and getting to see that fight with himself was really captivating.
So here's the special thing about this story: It's nothing different. This book gives us the sweet and simple story of a heroine looking for an adventure and the perfect guy to give her that crazy ride. And it's that simplicity that really sucked me into this book and had me loving all of it. There was no over the top drama or scenes that made this hard to read, instead it was pure romance.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for an easy to read contemporary romance. I can't wait for more from this series and I just know the other characters are going to have amazing stories as well.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
*Amazon*B&N*Kobo*
Crazy For You brings us a brothers-best-friend type of story with two characters that will leave you with a huge grin on your face. Emma was a sweet heroine but she was plenty strong and able to stick up for herself, which I loved. Ryan had a war raging inside of him because of how he wanted Emma, and getting to see that fight with himself was really captivating.
So here's the special thing about this story: It's nothing different. This book gives us the sweet and simple story of a heroine looking for an adventure and the perfect guy to give her that crazy ride. And it's that simplicity that really sucked me into this book and had me loving all of it. There was no over the top drama or scenes that made this hard to read, instead it was pure romance.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for an easy to read contemporary romance. I can't wait for more from this series and I just know the other characters are going to have amazing stories as well.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2017
4 When Wild Feels Just Right Stars
* * * *
Doing a series takes a special knack. It has to keep the readers interested and wanting to know all about the town, the culture and the main characters of each entry. Rachel Lacey has figured this out and her second entry, Crazy for You (Risking It All #2), is a perfect example.
This is a combination tale of Friends to Lovers, Brother's Best Friend, Bad Boy/Good Girl and a little Friends with Benefits, too. Now normally one could look at all of that and say... do ya think there is enough to grab on to... and it might be overkill....
But with this story and in the hands of Rachel Lacey, it all worked. We were give insight as to who these characters were... how they felt about each other from their shared past... How they always had hidden feelings and they just never thought they could...Go There with them...
It was a life changing event which brought both of them focus...on each other...and once that happened...There was no going back to just friends....
In this story we get to see things develop... we get the realization of how much each person means to the other... We get little nods to how our guy isn't such a Bad Dude... and has heart and caring...We see how our gal is needing the connection to someone who is there for her....as her beloved brother is gone... and she is a little lost and at loose ends...
This is a sweet and yes, SEXY, love story wrapped up in a community small town bow. We are lucky Ms. Lacey has figured out the series thing... more are coming.
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * *
Doing a series takes a special knack. It has to keep the readers interested and wanting to know all about the town, the culture and the main characters of each entry. Rachel Lacey has figured this out and her second entry, Crazy for You (Risking It All #2), is a perfect example.
This is a combination tale of Friends to Lovers, Brother's Best Friend, Bad Boy/Good Girl and a little Friends with Benefits, too. Now normally one could look at all of that and say... do ya think there is enough to grab on to... and it might be overkill....
But with this story and in the hands of Rachel Lacey, it all worked. We were give insight as to who these characters were... how they felt about each other from their shared past... How they always had hidden feelings and they just never thought they could...Go There with them...
It was a life changing event which brought both of them focus...on each other...and once that happened...There was no going back to just friends....
In this story we get to see things develop... we get the realization of how much each person means to the other... We get little nods to how our guy isn't such a Bad Dude... and has heart and caring...We see how our gal is needing the connection to someone who is there for her....as her beloved brother is gone... and she is a little lost and at loose ends...
This is a sweet and yes, SEXY, love story wrapped up in a community small town bow. We are lucky Ms. Lacey has figured out the series thing... more are coming.
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
March 1, 2017
3.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Emma is tired of being the good girl, she wants to take a walk on the wild side for once. When a dare has her flirting with a childhood friend, she may get more than she bargained for.
Ryan has had a strict hands-off policy with his friend's little sister, especially after his friend died. When she kisses him though, a door he has tried to keep shut is flung wide open.
Emma and Ryan are about to find out that being bad has never felt so good.
Second in the Risking It All series, we find ourselves back in the small town of Haven. This time it is Emma and Ryan's turn for romance. Both characters are extremely likable. Emma is feeling lost in her life and wanting a change. She's always had a crush on her brother's friend Ryan but he only saw her as a kid. While it is brought up more than once, I thought a couple flashbacks to her and her brother could have added an emotional punch. We learn he died in Afghanistan and hear how Emma misses him, but I missed seeing their relationship. The same could be said about flashbacks showing Ryan and Emma's brother as friends. I'm glad it wasn't dwelled on too long about Ryan feeling guilty about dating his friend's sister, it would have felt like drawn out angst.
The small town flavor that showed up in the first continues here with a circle of friends showcased that you know are just waiting in the wings for their own stories. The motorcycle rides Ryan takes Emma on also gave a great sense of scenery and location that helped place me in the story. Ryan's half-brother drama helped to give his character different layers but the brother's character never journeyed too far from young adult angst. In fact, while this was a nice, pretty calm story, excitement and wow factor are missing. In an over flush small town contemporary romance market, none of these character stand out, we've all read them before. While this is definitely comparable to a Jill Shalvis series, I would say the heat factor is ramped up a bit.
Emma is looking to shake things up in her sex life and while they don't do anything considered left of center kinky, they do get it on, frequently. Ryan and Emma's chemistry and steam did a great job of providing some spark to the story. Unfortunately, the lack of excitement or differentness made this read more of the mundane variety for me. However, if you like small town stories, a nice main couple, and want more heat in your contemporaries without crossing over into erotica, you'll want to read this. The next in the series will feature a second chance romance where unresolved issues and a wounded warrior will be the stars.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Emma is tired of being the good girl, she wants to take a walk on the wild side for once. When a dare has her flirting with a childhood friend, she may get more than she bargained for.
Ryan has had a strict hands-off policy with his friend's little sister, especially after his friend died. When she kisses him though, a door he has tried to keep shut is flung wide open.
Emma and Ryan are about to find out that being bad has never felt so good.
Second in the Risking It All series, we find ourselves back in the small town of Haven. This time it is Emma and Ryan's turn for romance. Both characters are extremely likable. Emma is feeling lost in her life and wanting a change. She's always had a crush on her brother's friend Ryan but he only saw her as a kid. While it is brought up more than once, I thought a couple flashbacks to her and her brother could have added an emotional punch. We learn he died in Afghanistan and hear how Emma misses him, but I missed seeing their relationship. The same could be said about flashbacks showing Ryan and Emma's brother as friends. I'm glad it wasn't dwelled on too long about Ryan feeling guilty about dating his friend's sister, it would have felt like drawn out angst.
The small town flavor that showed up in the first continues here with a circle of friends showcased that you know are just waiting in the wings for their own stories. The motorcycle rides Ryan takes Emma on also gave a great sense of scenery and location that helped place me in the story. Ryan's half-brother drama helped to give his character different layers but the brother's character never journeyed too far from young adult angst. In fact, while this was a nice, pretty calm story, excitement and wow factor are missing. In an over flush small town contemporary romance market, none of these character stand out, we've all read them before. While this is definitely comparable to a Jill Shalvis series, I would say the heat factor is ramped up a bit.
Emma is looking to shake things up in her sex life and while they don't do anything considered left of center kinky, they do get it on, frequently. Ryan and Emma's chemistry and steam did a great job of providing some spark to the story. Unfortunately, the lack of excitement or differentness made this read more of the mundane variety for me. However, if you like small town stories, a nice main couple, and want more heat in your contemporaries without crossing over into erotica, you'll want to read this. The next in the series will feature a second chance romance where unresolved issues and a wounded warrior will be the stars.
April 10, 2017
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ocykwx
Super cute! Crazy or You was a sweet romance that hit all the right spots. Hunky hero, heroine ready for some adventure, friends since forever, a little drama, a lotta sexy. Totally delicious.
Basically these two have known each other a day past forever. He was her brother's best friend and she was the kid sister always trying to tag along after them. Now all these years later she's still smitten, they're best friends, and suddenly things are starting to heat up...much to his dismay since he'd promised her brother he'd never take advantage and always look out for her.
He turned away. "I'm not that guy anymore. I can't be responsible for corrupting you."
Corrupting her? Was he serious? She kicked at a clump of weeds growing across the path. "God, Ryan. It's not like I asked you for advice on how to become a stripper."
He squeezed his eyes shut. "Please promise me that you won't."
"Who should I go to on that one then? There was that one girl in high school who everyone said--" She broke off when she caught sight of the look of horror on his face and doubled over in laughter.
He scrubbed a hand over his jaw. "You're messing with me now."
Aw these two were cute! They had great chemistry, had that perfect balance of ease that comes from knowing each other so long and awkward from seeing each other in a new sexy light and trying to figure out what to do about it. They had some fumbles and frustrations but whew when they were able to just be them and embrace the sexy...lordy they were on fire. Naughty things were done on the back of a motorcycle, yall. lol They really did suit, too, even if he was the bad boy trying to go good and she was the good girl trying to live on the wild side. They both loved the out of doors, longed for family to call their own and were trying to figure where they fit in life. It was nice seeing them both find what they needed even if it wasn't quite what they thought they desired. Totally characters you can love and root for.
All in all, Crazy for You was adorable. I totally fell for these two and can't wait for the next book. Lacey has earned herself a spot on my Must Reads list.
March 28, 2017
4.5 stars
I enjoyed being back in the town of Haven, North Carolina and spending more like with this group of friends who are more like family. Crazy For You is a friends to lovers story with a bit of a twist, her big brother who died serving in the military was best friends with the object of her desire and he made a promise to her brother he wouldn’t lay a hand on her, but twelve years has passed and her brother is dead and she is determined to live her life, shake things up, and take some risks and she knows just the man she wants to help her fulfill those dreams. Crazy For You was a flat out fabulous and sexy contemporary romance.
On a bet from her friends on girls night Emma Rush has to take a chance and ask Ryan Blake for a ride on his Harley and while it was a bit difficult for her to do, she can’t deny the absolute rush of not only riding behind him, but having her arms around him. While Ryan is adamant about keeping Emma in the friendzone where he deems she must stay due to a promise he made her brother, watching her meet up and date other men is driving him crazy. Crazy enough that they agree to have a fling, but remain friends only with each passing day their feelings grow and their lives become more entwined with their friends and his newly discovered brother. Add in her plans to move away for a landscape design degree and there was plenty of conflict to make this book really interesting, but not so much it was depressing.
I enjoyed watching Emma and Ryan move from friends to lovers, but what I enjoyed most was the fact they both really did enjoy a lot of the same things. They had a love of the outdoors, of adventure, and the friends they’d molded into family. I appreciated that they both admired each other for their accomplishments and were quick to point out how much they accomplished without any real help from anyone. They had a common bond in losing loved ones and I felt that made their connection that much stronger. I feel like this series has such an ensemble cast, but the couple and their relationship always stands out, the secondary characters just add to an already excellent story.
Crazy For You is a completely engaging and flirty romance and I found it impossible to put down.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
I enjoyed being back in the town of Haven, North Carolina and spending more like with this group of friends who are more like family. Crazy For You is a friends to lovers story with a bit of a twist, her big brother who died serving in the military was best friends with the object of her desire and he made a promise to her brother he wouldn’t lay a hand on her, but twelve years has passed and her brother is dead and she is determined to live her life, shake things up, and take some risks and she knows just the man she wants to help her fulfill those dreams. Crazy For You was a flat out fabulous and sexy contemporary romance.
On a bet from her friends on girls night Emma Rush has to take a chance and ask Ryan Blake for a ride on his Harley and while it was a bit difficult for her to do, she can’t deny the absolute rush of not only riding behind him, but having her arms around him. While Ryan is adamant about keeping Emma in the friendzone where he deems she must stay due to a promise he made her brother, watching her meet up and date other men is driving him crazy. Crazy enough that they agree to have a fling, but remain friends only with each passing day their feelings grow and their lives become more entwined with their friends and his newly discovered brother. Add in her plans to move away for a landscape design degree and there was plenty of conflict to make this book really interesting, but not so much it was depressing.
I enjoyed watching Emma and Ryan move from friends to lovers, but what I enjoyed most was the fact they both really did enjoy a lot of the same things. They had a love of the outdoors, of adventure, and the friends they’d molded into family. I appreciated that they both admired each other for their accomplishments and were quick to point out how much they accomplished without any real help from anyone. They had a common bond in losing loved ones and I felt that made their connection that much stronger. I feel like this series has such an ensemble cast, but the couple and their relationship always stands out, the secondary characters just add to an already excellent story.
Crazy For You is a completely engaging and flirty romance and I found it impossible to put down.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
March 4, 2017
3.5 stars
I had really enjoyed the previous book in this series, so I was pretty excited to get to this one.
I liked Emma and Ryan. They're both good people with a bit of a dark and dramatic background. It was fun to see them relax together and try new things. And of course their chemistry was fantastic.
I am a huge fan of the bff's sibling plot line and this one didn't disappoint. There seemed to be a lot more people than I remembered and I did have a bit of a hard time keep track of who was who.
Overall, the conflict was minimal and the epilogue was perfect. I can't wait to read the next book.
**Huge thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**
I had really enjoyed the previous book in this series, so I was pretty excited to get to this one.
I liked Emma and Ryan. They're both good people with a bit of a dark and dramatic background. It was fun to see them relax together and try new things. And of course their chemistry was fantastic.
I am a huge fan of the bff's sibling plot line and this one didn't disappoint. There seemed to be a lot more people than I remembered and I did have a bit of a hard time keep track of who was who.
Overall, the conflict was minimal and the epilogue was perfect. I can't wait to read the next book.
**Huge thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**
April 1, 2017
4.5 stars
Crazy for You by Rachel Lacey was a well written and very entertaining read, and I loved it!
Emma and Ryan's story captured my heart, they were both beautiful, relatable and entertaining characters that I easily connected with. I was thoroughly entertained all throughout the book.
I loved watching their relationship move from friends to lovers. They made me smile, they made me laugh and they made me swoon.
And the chemistry was off the charts!!
And...
Overall, Crazy for You is a heartwarming read with characters that will take you on a emotional ride while they get to their happily everafter.
Crazy for You is the second book in the Risking It All series, each book has been a joy to read and I highly recommend them.
Looking forward to Can't Forget You which comes out October 31st 2017.
*Purchase Links*
Amazon -> https://www.amazon.com/Crazy-You-Risk...
B&N -> http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crazy...
*Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.*
Crazy for You by Rachel Lacey was a well written and very entertaining read, and I loved it!
Emma and Ryan's story captured my heart, they were both beautiful, relatable and entertaining characters that I easily connected with. I was thoroughly entertained all throughout the book.
I loved watching their relationship move from friends to lovers. They made me smile, they made me laugh and they made me swoon.
And the chemistry was off the charts!!
And...
Overall, Crazy for You is a heartwarming read with characters that will take you on a emotional ride while they get to their happily everafter.
Crazy for You is the second book in the Risking It All series, each book has been a joy to read and I highly recommend them.
Looking forward to Can't Forget You which comes out October 31st 2017.
*Purchase Links*
Amazon -> https://www.amazon.com/Crazy-You-Risk...
B&N -> http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crazy...
*Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.*
March 31, 2017
3.5 “Motorcycles & Flowers” Stars
ARC via NetGalley.
Thank you, Forever!
In Crazy For You, Rachel Lacey brings you another sweet, small town romance packed with tons of chemistry.
The second title in the Risking It All series that follows three friends who started a new business called Off-The-Grid Adventures and the love of their lives focuses on Ryan and Emma.
We got to see a little bit of them in the first book, and I remember saying I was super excited to read their story because it featured one of my favorite romance tropes, the “brother’s BFF” or “BFF’s sister”.
Ryan and Emma go way back, since Ryan was best friends with Emma’s brother. Before he went to war, Emma’s brother asked Ryan to take care of Emma, and made him promise to not go after her, which made sense at the time because Ryan was a “bad boy”. But that was many years ago, and since her brother never came back from the war, Ryan could never let go of that promise. The trouble is Emma isn’t the innocent girl he wanted to protect back then. She’s grown up and looking for trouble.
Tired of being the good girl who goes for safe guys, Emma is looking to shake things up. In fact, she’s looking to act upon her long-time crush on her brother’s BFF. Ryan is sexy and used to be trouble, but now he’s kind of a reformed bad boy who still intrigues her. After her friends dare her to have some fun, Emma flirts with Ryan and things escalate from there.
The story is really, really low on drama. The main thing keeping them apart is Ryan’s hesitation to hook up with someone he wasn’t supposed to touch, but since Emma is willing to give the whole “friends with benefits” a try, we don’t spend a lot of that on Ryan’s hesitation. They quickly move into more-than-friends territory, which means we spend most of the book seeing those two fall in love. They’re adorable together and their chemistry is just as hot as I’ve come to expect from this author. Rachel Lacey knows how to write cute, but hot romances, that’s for sure. Her sexy scenes never disappoint. Add a motorcycle and a tattooed, former bad boy love interest in the mix and you have all the fire you’re looking for.
Despite being a “good girl”, Emma brings a lot of fire on her own. She’s curious about how different her life could be if she turns just a little bad, and that reflects in all her sexy scenes with Ryan.
For those who read the first book, we also get to see Gabby and Ethan again. Mark and Jess (the spa lady) also make an appearance, and I’m guessing their love story will be more drama-heavy than this one.
I’d recommend this book (this series, in fact) to readers who want to enjoy a sweet romance with likable characters, low drama and a fair amount of sexy scenes.
March 27, 2017
Full disclosure ~ I was first drawn to this book just because of the title. It made me reminiscent ( yes, I found myself humming Madonna's song) and it took me to a happy place. So, I wasn't too surprised when this story took me to a happy place. It's a wonderful combination of the friends to lovers, brothers best friend/best friends little sister, and the reformed bad boy tropes. The central characters, Emma and Ryan, have a long history and a strong connection, with some new found feelings to contend with. The push and pull between them is delectable and made me positively giddy.
Emma Rush, alone save Ryan and her new circle of friends, is at a bit of a crossroads. She's after shaking things up and is looking for a bad boy to help her achieve her goal. She's dating via Tinder which does nothing but irk Ryan. Watching these two move from old family friends to a lot more is a lot of fun. The story is well paced with Emma and Ryan getting under each others skin and begin to forge something neither are looking for. They face the standard challenges and a few unique ones brought about by old expectations and new goals.
Crazy For You was my introduction to Rachel Laceys' books and I simply loved it and happily consider myself a new fan. The circle of friends in Haven; Gabby & Ethan, Mandy, and Jessica add so much to the as the ladies wreak havoc and challenge the men. Lacey writing is smooth and the dialogue makes the characters come to life. Emma and Ryan's story really gave me the warm fuzzies - a definite 5 star read and one I'd recommend.
Emma Rush, alone save Ryan and her new circle of friends, is at a bit of a crossroads. She's after shaking things up and is looking for a bad boy to help her achieve her goal. She's dating via Tinder which does nothing but irk Ryan. Watching these two move from old family friends to a lot more is a lot of fun. The story is well paced with Emma and Ryan getting under each others skin and begin to forge something neither are looking for. They face the standard challenges and a few unique ones brought about by old expectations and new goals.
Crazy For You was my introduction to Rachel Laceys' books and I simply loved it and happily consider myself a new fan. The circle of friends in Haven; Gabby & Ethan, Mandy, and Jessica add so much to the as the ladies wreak havoc and challenge the men. Lacey writing is smooth and the dialogue makes the characters come to life. Emma and Ryan's story really gave me the warm fuzzies - a definite 5 star read and one I'd recommend.
November 27, 2018
3.5 stars
This one worked better for me than the first book because the characters clicked and had a previous friendship/connection. I also liked heroine had a strong female support system, was confident about her sexuality and just took no shit at all. She is totally fine with a friends with benefits situation with the H and is focused on her future goals. Obviously these two never thought that things might become deep between them. Not too shabby!
This one worked better for me than the first book because the characters clicked and had a previous friendship/connection. I also liked heroine had a strong female support system, was confident about her sexuality and just took no shit at all. She is totally fine with a friends with benefits situation with the H and is focused on her future goals. Obviously these two never thought that things might become deep between them. Not too shabby!
April 6, 2017
When Emma Rush runs into an ex it reminds her that she had a plan in place to lose her good girl and find her wild side. Deciding to enlist local bad boy, Ryan Blake in her new outlook is a bit harder than she expected especially since the crush she once had for him is still in full bloom.
Ryan made a promise to Emma's brother when he enlisted to protect her and there is a line in doing so he can't cross. However, the more time he spends with Emma the more irresistible she becomes.
Wonderful read. I like this series a lot, I think the charm of it is that you feel like you are a part of their everyday life. Emma is delightful and I felt for Ryan because he has a reputation tat has lingered and it is not who he is. Can't wait for whats next.
Ryan made a promise to Emma's brother when he enlisted to protect her and there is a line in doing so he can't cross. However, the more time he spends with Emma the more irresistible she becomes.
Wonderful read. I like this series a lot, I think the charm of it is that you feel like you are a part of their everyday life. Emma is delightful and I felt for Ryan because he has a reputation tat has lingered and it is not who he is. Can't wait for whats next.
March 29, 2017
The best friend brother's sister is always off-limits (worse if he's dead), according to some unspoken bro-code. It's an iron-clad promise as well, seeing as a huge number of romance books are built on this premise. 'Crazy for You' explores this very dynamic and it's a tricky one in my opinion, because I think every story would have to (inevitably) deal with why the switch flipped and what exactly makes this relationship worth more than the promise not to cross the forbidden line.
I think what really stood out here - amidst the rather predictable storyline - is how the unrequited feelings aren't emphasised, or at least, writ large on Emma's part. Rachel Lacey makes it clear that it's still a crush or a torch that Emma really had, though it wasn't full-blown pining for years that would have make this relationship terribly unequal, or at least, place a protagonist at a point where there is a mountain of emotional catching up to do. I liked that Emma didn't delude herself that her hooking up with Ryan was going to be anything more than what they made it out to be and how many of her decisions were ultimately still made on her own terms. In fact, that she held out a little more on him without confessing her feelings made her more of a shining example than many heroines who become a snivelling mess when things don't work out.
There's of course, the pre-requisite stupid moment when someone does the push-pull move intended to break things up because of fear, but here, it's resolved very quickly - pushing us into a conclusion and HEA so quick I wondered if things were going too soon for them. Still, it's mostly an angst-free read, albeit with some games played and there's a setup for the next couple in question that's making me rather curious already.
I think what really stood out here - amidst the rather predictable storyline - is how the unrequited feelings aren't emphasised, or at least, writ large on Emma's part. Rachel Lacey makes it clear that it's still a crush or a torch that Emma really had, though it wasn't full-blown pining for years that would have make this relationship terribly unequal, or at least, place a protagonist at a point where there is a mountain of emotional catching up to do. I liked that Emma didn't delude herself that her hooking up with Ryan was going to be anything more than what they made it out to be and how many of her decisions were ultimately still made on her own terms. In fact, that she held out a little more on him without confessing her feelings made her more of a shining example than many heroines who become a snivelling mess when things don't work out.
There's of course, the pre-requisite stupid moment when someone does the push-pull move intended to break things up because of fear, but here, it's resolved very quickly - pushing us into a conclusion and HEA so quick I wondered if things were going too soon for them. Still, it's mostly an angst-free read, albeit with some games played and there's a setup for the next couple in question that's making me rather curious already.
April 5, 2017
***ARC Provided via NetGalley and Tasty Book Tours***
4.5 Stars
This book was good. And it was really hot. I admit, at the beginning, I was not sure I believed in the idea of Emma and Ryan as a couple, they were friends, and there were reasons.
The more I got into it, the more it really worked for me. I loved the idea that while Ryan was trying to be good, Emma wanted him to be bad, because she had always been so good, and so perfect. The balance that they each wanted the thing from the other that was kind of who they are at their core really worked for me, and really made them a compelling couple.
I loved the exploration of dreams, and of how they can change, how life happens and the things you think you want evolve into the things life gives you...and then you realize it was what you wanted all along. Or, if it wasn't, that things have changed enough that the dream you had years ago and the life you want now are different.
When this is rolled up into a romance, you forget that you weren't sure about the Ryan and Emma at the beginning, and you are fully on board. I love how, at the end, they were able to figure out a way to be together while still being the people they were when they met and started their fling.
I recommend this book.
***This and other reviews featured on our blog “Booked All Night” http://bookedallnightblog.com/ and here: https://www.facebook.com/BookedAllNight/***
4.5 Stars
This book was good. And it was really hot. I admit, at the beginning, I was not sure I believed in the idea of Emma and Ryan as a couple, they were friends, and there were reasons.
The more I got into it, the more it really worked for me. I loved the idea that while Ryan was trying to be good, Emma wanted him to be bad, because she had always been so good, and so perfect. The balance that they each wanted the thing from the other that was kind of who they are at their core really worked for me, and really made them a compelling couple.
I loved the exploration of dreams, and of how they can change, how life happens and the things you think you want evolve into the things life gives you...and then you realize it was what you wanted all along. Or, if it wasn't, that things have changed enough that the dream you had years ago and the life you want now are different.
When this is rolled up into a romance, you forget that you weren't sure about the Ryan and Emma at the beginning, and you are fully on board. I love how, at the end, they were able to figure out a way to be together while still being the people they were when they met and started their fling.
I recommend this book.
***This and other reviews featured on our blog “Booked All Night” http://bookedallnightblog.com/ and here: https://www.facebook.com/BookedAllNight/***
December 13, 2017
I thought I knew what I was getting into with this story, but it wound up with several twists in it! I loved Emma and Ryan's chemistry, but hated Ryan's insistence that he shouldn't get involved with Emma because of his promises to her brother. I also didn't care for how Emma kept thinking that she needed to have a walk on the wild side to gain confidence. Seemed like she had plenty of confidence to me! All things considered, this was a quick and engaging read, and I can't wait for the next book in the series!
March 30, 2017
Favorite Quotes:
Look, last night started as a dare, but it turned out to be really fun – other than that one part we’ll never speak of again.
Emma was staring at him like he was a lollipop and she needed a sugar fix.
You really have no business being so sexy… It’s just not fair to the female species.
You’ve always felt like a part of my family, in a totally non-incestuous kind of way.
My Review:
Emma had recently been dumped for being unexciting, and by the most boring man she had ever dated, epic fail. Determined to shed her “goody-two-shoes” image, she takes a dare from her friends to put herself out there and consider a fling with a “bad boy.” Ryan looked like a bad boy but wasn’t. He had the tats, motorcycle, and the troubled kid in foster care reputation, but he was now a thirty-year-old adult and a business owner, and he worked hard and took his responsibilities seriously. Ten years ago, Ryan had promised Emma’s now deceased brother that he wouldn’t touch her, not knowing that Emma had been infatuated with him since she was a pre-teen. Ryan did women, lots of women, but he didn’t date or do relationships. Yet somehow he didn’t like the idea of Emma looking at internet dating profiles. They had been friends for many years; he hoped they could be friends with benefits.
I enjoyed the first book in this series and adored this story from start to finish. I adored this couple as well as this entire group of vibrant and quirky characters. I like the comfort and ease of their camaraderie and the supportiveness of their relationships. Ms. Lacey’s writing was thoughtful, insightful, amusing, and deliciously steamy. Red poppies have just become my favorite flower. I am already anxiously awaiting the next installment which promises to be Mark’s story, as I have been intrigued by his character from the beginning – Ms. Lacey’s clever and wily writing has taunted me throughout the past two books by providing only the barest of snippets as to his background.
http://booksandbindings.com/book-revi...
Look, last night started as a dare, but it turned out to be really fun – other than that one part we’ll never speak of again.
Emma was staring at him like he was a lollipop and she needed a sugar fix.
You really have no business being so sexy… It’s just not fair to the female species.
You’ve always felt like a part of my family, in a totally non-incestuous kind of way.
My Review:
Emma had recently been dumped for being unexciting, and by the most boring man she had ever dated, epic fail. Determined to shed her “goody-two-shoes” image, she takes a dare from her friends to put herself out there and consider a fling with a “bad boy.” Ryan looked like a bad boy but wasn’t. He had the tats, motorcycle, and the troubled kid in foster care reputation, but he was now a thirty-year-old adult and a business owner, and he worked hard and took his responsibilities seriously. Ten years ago, Ryan had promised Emma’s now deceased brother that he wouldn’t touch her, not knowing that Emma had been infatuated with him since she was a pre-teen. Ryan did women, lots of women, but he didn’t date or do relationships. Yet somehow he didn’t like the idea of Emma looking at internet dating profiles. They had been friends for many years; he hoped they could be friends with benefits.
I enjoyed the first book in this series and adored this story from start to finish. I adored this couple as well as this entire group of vibrant and quirky characters. I like the comfort and ease of their camaraderie and the supportiveness of their relationships. Ms. Lacey’s writing was thoughtful, insightful, amusing, and deliciously steamy. Red poppies have just become my favorite flower. I am already anxiously awaiting the next installment which promises to be Mark’s story, as I have been intrigued by his character from the beginning – Ms. Lacey’s clever and wily writing has taunted me throughout the past two books by providing only the barest of snippets as to his background.
http://booksandbindings.com/book-revi...
April 1, 2017
Reviewed @ Confessions From Romaholics
Review copy kindly provided by the author via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
Crazy for You is a fun sibling’s best friend romance with some heart.. Emma has always had a crush on Ryan the resident hottie of their small town . Ever since she can remember she had an interest but he saw her as Derek’s little dorky sister. You get the general gist of the story.
Now they grown adults but they are still firmly in the friend zone even though Emma has plenty of ideas of what she like to do with him. And they aren’t fit for this good girl image.
Well Emma decided to risk it all and take a walk on the dark side. She tired of being the good girl and wants to see what it like to be naughty. And who no better then Ryan but he doesn’t want exactly anything to do with it. He isn’t the man for Emma especially with his screwed past and the fact is he promised Derek her brother that he wouldn’t cross boundaries.
He would look after her and be there for her as a friend and surrogate brother, but Emma got Ryan thinking of anything but that. ..
Especially now that he is all that is left, there no chance right ?
I love a cliché romance but there was so much more to this story . Both shared common back stories and so it was obvious this book wasn’t going to be straight forward as I thought . They both longed for what they lost and it was cute seeing this two realise what they had in front of them . They both saw each other is purely as friends before so I loved watching them explore the new side to their relationship. It was fun and exciting time for them I loved that the author took her time exploring this new side. As a romance like this should be considering they were trying to find their place in the world exactly.
Crazy for You was everything I expect when I picked up this book and started reading. Whilst I was new to the series, I didn’t find myself missing a beat and immediately falling in love with the setting and characters. Whilst fun and sweet there was plenty of sexy moments that was the perfect balance given the characters. I enjoyed my visit to Haven and I love the author’s storytelling.
For more of my reviews, visit Confessions From Romaholics And drop by the blog's Facebook page
Review copy kindly provided by the author via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
Crazy for You is a fun sibling’s best friend romance with some heart.. Emma has always had a crush on Ryan the resident hottie of their small town . Ever since she can remember she had an interest but he saw her as Derek’s little dorky sister. You get the general gist of the story.
Now they grown adults but they are still firmly in the friend zone even though Emma has plenty of ideas of what she like to do with him. And they aren’t fit for this good girl image.
Well Emma decided to risk it all and take a walk on the dark side. She tired of being the good girl and wants to see what it like to be naughty. And who no better then Ryan but he doesn’t want exactly anything to do with it. He isn’t the man for Emma especially with his screwed past and the fact is he promised Derek her brother that he wouldn’t cross boundaries.
He would look after her and be there for her as a friend and surrogate brother, but Emma got Ryan thinking of anything but that. ..
Especially now that he is all that is left, there no chance right ?
I love a cliché romance but there was so much more to this story . Both shared common back stories and so it was obvious this book wasn’t going to be straight forward as I thought . They both longed for what they lost and it was cute seeing this two realise what they had in front of them . They both saw each other is purely as friends before so I loved watching them explore the new side to their relationship. It was fun and exciting time for them I loved that the author took her time exploring this new side. As a romance like this should be considering they were trying to find their place in the world exactly.
Crazy for You was everything I expect when I picked up this book and started reading. Whilst I was new to the series, I didn’t find myself missing a beat and immediately falling in love with the setting and characters. Whilst fun and sweet there was plenty of sexy moments that was the perfect balance given the characters. I enjoyed my visit to Haven and I love the author’s storytelling.
For more of my reviews, visit Confessions From Romaholics And drop by the blog's Facebook page
March 29, 2017
Big brothers cause more problems than you could ever imagine, even now, when you’re all grown up and that crush you have on your brother’s best friend kicks into overdrive. And that’s just where Emma is stuck. For years, she’s known Ryan: she even chased behind him and her brother Derek, and knows that there’s more to Ryan than the bad boy he shows the town. The up for anything boy has morphed into a tattooed, motorcycle riding man, breaking hearts and receiving ‘those’ looks from the town. But, when Derek doesn’t return from his tour in Afghanistan, the friendship that he and Emma have built starts to put Ryan in an awkward position. See, he promised Derek to look out for, and protect Emma, even from herself.
But Emma is tired of her life being one day following the next, with no excitement, chances or even change. And, Ryan is looking really, no, scratch that, deliciously good. But something is holding them both back: might taking that chance actually ruin the friendship, the BEST friendship that they have? Oh Emma is willing to take that chance, but can she convince Ryan that he actually deserves and wants it too?
From one strength to another, Lacey has built this series to give us realistic portrayals of situations (and people) that could be our friends, ourselves or even in the house down the street. And these two are no exception: while nohing dramatically new and different happens, they are just so well-suited, and super cute with a chemistry that is palpable and that balance that comes from knowing one another for years, that only hiccups occasionally when they start to think of one another in another way, a more adult and sexy way. And even as they both think they know what’s best, and what they really want in the beginning, the transformation as they grow to adjust those expectations and desires is adorable, and feels quite natural. With Ryan clinging to his “bad boy” image, not sure he should, can or would deserve the “good girl’ that is Emma, we see that he’s not realy so bad, and she’s quite the adventuress when she puts her mind to it. Those little frustrations that came from thinking too much were few, and fortunately they had plenty of “go with it times’ that seriously heated up the pages. Completely adorable, these two were easy to understand and cheer for, and fit perfectly into the series.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
This review was originally posted on I am, Indeed
But Emma is tired of her life being one day following the next, with no excitement, chances or even change. And, Ryan is looking really, no, scratch that, deliciously good. But something is holding them both back: might taking that chance actually ruin the friendship, the BEST friendship that they have? Oh Emma is willing to take that chance, but can she convince Ryan that he actually deserves and wants it too?
From one strength to another, Lacey has built this series to give us realistic portrayals of situations (and people) that could be our friends, ourselves or even in the house down the street. And these two are no exception: while nohing dramatically new and different happens, they are just so well-suited, and super cute with a chemistry that is palpable and that balance that comes from knowing one another for years, that only hiccups occasionally when they start to think of one another in another way, a more adult and sexy way. And even as they both think they know what’s best, and what they really want in the beginning, the transformation as they grow to adjust those expectations and desires is adorable, and feels quite natural. With Ryan clinging to his “bad boy” image, not sure he should, can or would deserve the “good girl’ that is Emma, we see that he’s not realy so bad, and she’s quite the adventuress when she puts her mind to it. Those little frustrations that came from thinking too much were few, and fortunately they had plenty of “go with it times’ that seriously heated up the pages. Completely adorable, these two were easy to understand and cheer for, and fit perfectly into the series.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
This review was originally posted on I am, Indeed
April 3, 2017
CRAZY FOR YOU is my favorite story in this series so far! There is a very cozy feeling to this series with the small town setting and the close knit group of friends. This book encompasses all that by bringing a friends to lovers trope and mixing it with a best friends sister. Ryan is known as a bad boy. His best friend, and Emma's brother, died years ago while serving in the military and Ryan has never felt comfortable looking at Emma in any way as a woman. Her teenage crush on him, however, pushes her to take a bet from her friends to live on the wild side for a bit before moving away from town. Ryan just fits that bill.I love friends to lovers stories and you could tell there was a great connection between Emma and Ryan from the very beginning. They've grown up around each other and care for each other deeply. Seeing their feelings change, allowing for their physical attraction to come into play was a lot of fun.
While their romance is growing, both characters are also dealing with changes in their personal lives. Ryan finding his brother and Emma figuring out what she wants out of her career and where she wants her life to take her. Ryan is the more stable and comfortable with where he's at in life and she still has to get to that point.
The setting and friendships are such a crucial part of this story, and that's one of my favorite things. You really feel the connection between this group and the situations they face seem realistic and relevant.
Sweet, fun and adorable. This book was a breeze to read and had the right amount of teasing for the next novel. I cannot wait for it!
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
March 31, 2017
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog:
https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....
Crazy for you is such a fun book to read. It is book #2 of the, A Ricking It All series. If you haven't yet read the novella and book that comes before this one you should give them both a try. Well worth the read.
I really loved both Emma & Ryan. We all (including the other characters) knew they were meant to be together. If only Ryan would get with the program. The man needed a knock upside the head more then once.
Even with Ryan being bull headed you knew where this story was going. I'm glad he was able to finally reconnect with his brother, he deserved that. Ryan might have grown up a little rough around the edges, but inside where it counts, he was a good guy.
I'm also glad that Emma got her dream and Ryan too. I bet your now wondering what that dream is. You know what you'll have to do to find out.
Both Emma and Ryan might have a lot to work though, but I will say that I enjoyed reading about it. Crazy for You will keep you reading from the first page till the last. For all of us that have read the first two books you'll enjoy visiting with some of those characters.
I really love this series and at times while reading it I thought about putting my book down and climb a wall, then I realized that I'd rather see what was going to happen to next to Emma & Ryan. Ha!
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....
Crazy for you is such a fun book to read. It is book #2 of the, A Ricking It All series. If you haven't yet read the novella and book that comes before this one you should give them both a try. Well worth the read.
I really loved both Emma & Ryan. We all (including the other characters) knew they were meant to be together. If only Ryan would get with the program. The man needed a knock upside the head more then once.
Even with Ryan being bull headed you knew where this story was going. I'm glad he was able to finally reconnect with his brother, he deserved that. Ryan might have grown up a little rough around the edges, but inside where it counts, he was a good guy.
I'm also glad that Emma got her dream and Ryan too. I bet your now wondering what that dream is. You know what you'll have to do to find out.
Both Emma and Ryan might have a lot to work though, but I will say that I enjoyed reading about it. Crazy for You will keep you reading from the first page till the last. For all of us that have read the first two books you'll enjoy visiting with some of those characters.
I really love this series and at times while reading it I thought about putting my book down and climb a wall, then I realized that I'd rather see what was going to happen to next to Emma & Ryan. Ha!
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
April 1, 2017
Run to You got me started with this series and I was excited to get to Crazy For You. Ryan’s bad boy, tattoos, and motorcycle made him the wrong guy for good girl Emma. But this good girl had decided to go a little wild. She wants Ryan to show her how to let go and have a good time. Life ends sometimes on a dare, but for Emma life only opened up for her and showed her what she was missing when she was dared to do the unimaginable for her good girl persona.
Good girl, Emma, and bad boy, Ryan, cliché I know, makes for an entertaining read in love, honor, respect, friendship. Emma and Ryan both need to learn to live outside the shell they have both been in. It takes the other to move them in to action. Living life can be that much sweeter when you decide to open-up and live for yourself.
I think some more details could have taken this one over the top for me. I loved being back in Haven. It was great seeing the small-town vibe was still alive and kicking. The build of their rekindled friendship and lovers’ relationship was just what the other needed to live again.
Good girl, Emma, and bad boy, Ryan, cliché I know, makes for an entertaining read in love, honor, respect, friendship. Emma and Ryan both need to learn to live outside the shell they have both been in. It takes the other to move them in to action. Living life can be that much sweeter when you decide to open-up and live for yourself.
I think some more details could have taken this one over the top for me. I loved being back in Haven. It was great seeing the small-town vibe was still alive and kicking. The build of their rekindled friendship and lovers’ relationship was just what the other needed to live again.
April 1, 2017
This was a nice story in that Emma is tired of good girl life and is wanting a bad boy in her life for a change. The one she wants is Ryan and he made a promise to her brother before he left for the military to look after her and since her brother never made it home, he feels that even after four years that is what he still must do. Emma and her friends have decided that Ryan is just the bad boy for her. Tattoos, leather jacket, motor cycle and does not smile all the time. The plan is for him to see it as well. When he gets tired of her bringing in dates to the bar he works at he agrees to go out with her because in his mind she will be leaving for college soon, after saving money, and is now waiting on a letter from the college. Their time together is full of passion, with some hot scenes and she gets a tattoo as well. You get to find out about his past, and hers. A younger half-brother of his comes into town wanting to get to know him and that story is part of the overall story. Though at times I thought that this book was predictable the ending had a few twists that I was not expecting, and the epilogue really helped to tie everything together. Good characters and overall a good book. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
March 11, 2017
Wow, this book is H-O-T. Well the chemistry between Emma and Ryan is hot. It was building and building that if Emma did not make a more on Ryan soon I was going to (well in my head). It sure did not take Emma long to turn from the good, boring girl to the wild woman. Before Ryan; Emma was so boring that she was dumped (ouch). Ryan did hold up his end of the deal with Emma's late brother to watch over her. Although, I have to admit that if it was not for Ryan, Emma probably would have still been the good girl. Not that there is anything wrong with good girls as I am one. No matter where Ryan or Emma were, they could heat up a room.
The other characters in this book were good. They did not have as strong of roles but they sure were not in the story for just fillers. The last third of the story is when things really got real. This is also when I saw the more emotional side of Ryan. Calling all romance fans, you have to check this book out.
The other characters in this book were good. They did not have as strong of roles but they sure were not in the story for just fillers. The last third of the story is when things really got real. This is also when I saw the more emotional side of Ryan. Calling all romance fans, you have to check this book out.
October 6, 2019
OMG .... excessive #feels people *sigh*
Honestly you guys, there wasn't anything in this story that stood out but at the same time, everything did. It's your typical best-friend's little sister trope. Written a million times before. But Rachel Lacey's style just made it fresh and happy. Your heart will definitely sing with this one. The story was so romantic and the progression in Emma and Ryan's relationship was real and tangible. When I was reading, I felt like I was in the story and they were a part of my life. The town and the people that Rachel Lacey has created with this series gets better and better with each book. This is only book two in this series, but something tells me there are going to be quite a few to come! :)
Emma has had feelings stronger than friendship for Ryan forever. Life happens and circumstances come about that they decide to scratch that itch finally with a friends with benefits deal. (Because that always works well ... bwahahahahah)
This was really a simple, easy, romantic journey of two people meant to be. There's really nothing not to like about the book lol
Copy provided for blog tour review
Honestly you guys, there wasn't anything in this story that stood out but at the same time, everything did. It's your typical best-friend's little sister trope. Written a million times before. But Rachel Lacey's style just made it fresh and happy. Your heart will definitely sing with this one. The story was so romantic and the progression in Emma and Ryan's relationship was real and tangible. When I was reading, I felt like I was in the story and they were a part of my life. The town and the people that Rachel Lacey has created with this series gets better and better with each book. This is only book two in this series, but something tells me there are going to be quite a few to come! :)
Emma has had feelings stronger than friendship for Ryan forever. Life happens and circumstances come about that they decide to scratch that itch finally with a friends with benefits deal. (Because that always works well ... bwahahahahah)
This was really a simple, easy, romantic journey of two people meant to be. There's really nothing not to like about the book lol
Copy provided for blog tour review
February 22, 2017
This contemporary romance is the second book in the Risking It All series. While I did read and enjoy the first book, this one can stand on its own. Having read a lot of romances with the best friend's little sister theme, I was glad that Rachel Lacey didn't excessively dwell on that theme. Often in cases where the best friend has died, authors can make too much of the little sister being off limits. Fortunately in this case, Ryan doesn't dwell too much on this. Of course, he does think that he isn't good enough for Emma but since they go into their relationship thinking it has a time limit, it works. The idea of a time limit, however, does not work. This was a fun contemporary romance with very likeable characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
August 15, 2017
Crazy for You ... thought I would just break into first couple of chapters ... well ... hard to put down as I have just flipped to Chapter 17 .... a page turner folks .... Emma and Ryan casually living their lives ... take off on their life-climb ...... but have a feeling and wondering about the landing .... could be a bit crazy ... maybe rocky ... Off-the-Grid ... & what is going on with Mark ??? something serious ???
Heartache, past turmoil carried into the future ... fresh starts, hope, fun... and hard work on a daily basis. camaraderie."
I had to force myself not to leak any spoilers !!!
Totally enjoyed this book ... & well deserving of a 5star rating !
Heartache, past turmoil carried into the future ... fresh starts, hope, fun... and hard work on a daily basis. camaraderie."
I had to force myself not to leak any spoilers !!!
Totally enjoyed this book ... & well deserving of a 5star rating !
March 28, 2017
When Emma's brother Derek passed away she lost the last relative she had. Derek made his best friend Ryan promise he would keep an eye on his sister, which means Emma is off-limits. Emma's schoolgirl crush on Ryan hasn't gone away after more than a decade, but he doesn't appear to be interested in her. Emma doesn't know that he's keeping his distance because of his promise to Derek. Ryan fancies her and wants nothing more than to get to know her better. They're friends, but he would love for them to give in to their attraction.
Ryan is a player, he rides a motorcycle and he has several tattoos. Emma is a nice girl and only dates clean-cut guys. However, she thinks she's ready for a change. They might be different on the outside, but they have a lot in common. Spending more time together as friends wouldn't harm anyone and that is what Ryan decides to do. That way he can keep her near, but they won't be able to make a mistake. Will Emma be able to use this extra time to convince Ryan to take a chance on her?
Crazy for You is an amazing romantic story about two people who have been through a lot. Emma and Ryan both lost their parents at an early age and Emma's brother passed away as well. Ryan still has a brother, but he hasn't seen him since he was little. They know what it's like to grieve and to lose everything, but they're determined to make the best of their lives, which is something I greatly admired about their characters. Emma is a sweetheart and she deserves to be with a good guy. Ryan thinks he's too much of a bad boy for her, but he's actually really kind and attentive. Ryan has never had a relationship and is determined to remain friends with Emma and nothing more, but there's so much chemistry between them that he can't stay away. I couldn't wait to find out where that would lead and read their story in one sitting. Emma and Ryan have a deep and meaningful history and there are plenty of sparks, so they'd be an ideal couple. I loved reading about both of them, they're wonderful together and it was fascinating to see them take baby steps in the right direction.
Rachel Lacey writes about a lovely small town called Haven. It's a place I immediately enjoyed reading about and her detailed and warm descriptions make it come to life very well. Crazy for You is a book about both love and friendship. Emma used to be lonely, but there are plenty of people who care about her now and that put a smile on my face. Her group of friends is close and I loved reading about every single one of them. I'm a big fan of reading stories about friends who are falling in love and Crazy for You is a great one. It's multilayered, vibrant and endearing.
Ryan is a player, he rides a motorcycle and he has several tattoos. Emma is a nice girl and only dates clean-cut guys. However, she thinks she's ready for a change. They might be different on the outside, but they have a lot in common. Spending more time together as friends wouldn't harm anyone and that is what Ryan decides to do. That way he can keep her near, but they won't be able to make a mistake. Will Emma be able to use this extra time to convince Ryan to take a chance on her?
Crazy for You is an amazing romantic story about two people who have been through a lot. Emma and Ryan both lost their parents at an early age and Emma's brother passed away as well. Ryan still has a brother, but he hasn't seen him since he was little. They know what it's like to grieve and to lose everything, but they're determined to make the best of their lives, which is something I greatly admired about their characters. Emma is a sweetheart and she deserves to be with a good guy. Ryan thinks he's too much of a bad boy for her, but he's actually really kind and attentive. Ryan has never had a relationship and is determined to remain friends with Emma and nothing more, but there's so much chemistry between them that he can't stay away. I couldn't wait to find out where that would lead and read their story in one sitting. Emma and Ryan have a deep and meaningful history and there are plenty of sparks, so they'd be an ideal couple. I loved reading about both of them, they're wonderful together and it was fascinating to see them take baby steps in the right direction.
Rachel Lacey writes about a lovely small town called Haven. It's a place I immediately enjoyed reading about and her detailed and warm descriptions make it come to life very well. Crazy for You is a book about both love and friendship. Emma used to be lonely, but there are plenty of people who care about her now and that put a smile on my face. Her group of friends is close and I loved reading about every single one of them. I'm a big fan of reading stories about friends who are falling in love and Crazy for You is a great one. It's multilayered, vibrant and endearing.
March 27, 2017
Originally posted on Daydreaming Books.
* I received an eARC of this book from the publisher for the blog tour hosted by Tasty Book Tours via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Gosh! Crazy for You was so freaking good. I didn't expect to enjoy it this much but I fell in love with this book and the characters. Everything felt so real and I might have even shed a tear or two.
Emma and Ryan had been friends since their childhood and Emma had always harboured a crush on Ryan but she had never acted upon it. When her friends dare her to do something dangerous and bad, she takes on this opportunity with Ryan. But when feelings come in the way, it's up to Ryan and Emma to decide what they really want.
I enjoyed this story soo goddamn much! I have to say, although the plot was predictable it still felt a whole new story... if you get what I mean. There was so much to love in this book, the friendship and the romance took me in for a ride and it all started with that one dare.
When Emma decides to spice up her life and her friends dare her and she makes a deal with the devil, aka Ryan. Ryan has never been the one to settle down and he didn't even dare to look at Emma any other way after he promised her brother who was his best friend as well, that he would never take advantage of her. But he decides to give in when Emma manages to persuade him. I loved the relationship between them, they had already been friends for years and the author made a really good job because it certainly felt like they knew each other so well. Their relationship felt so natural (in the best way possible) and I absolutely loved the chemistry between them.
This book also focused on a great deal on friendship which I fell in love with. Emma and Gabby were just bff goals! I seriously adored those two sooo much. And on the other hand, we had Ryan, Ethan, and Mark who were practically more like family than friends. Trent provided another interesting aspect in the story though I would have loved to see some more brotherly bonding between the two.
Overall, Crazy for You was a great read. I loved how the plot was executed and the characters were layered. The romance between Emma and Ryan was everything!! I loved those two so much. The writing was smooth and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book. We got a glimpse of Jessica and Mark in this book and I can't wait to read their story next!!
Recommend it?
Yes.
* I received an eARC of this book from the publisher for the blog tour hosted by Tasty Book Tours via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Gosh! Crazy for You was so freaking good. I didn't expect to enjoy it this much but I fell in love with this book and the characters. Everything felt so real and I might have even shed a tear or two.
Emma and Ryan had been friends since their childhood and Emma had always harboured a crush on Ryan but she had never acted upon it. When her friends dare her to do something dangerous and bad, she takes on this opportunity with Ryan. But when feelings come in the way, it's up to Ryan and Emma to decide what they really want.
I enjoyed this story soo goddamn much! I have to say, although the plot was predictable it still felt a whole new story... if you get what I mean. There was so much to love in this book, the friendship and the romance took me in for a ride and it all started with that one dare.
When Emma decides to spice up her life and her friends dare her and she makes a deal with the devil, aka Ryan. Ryan has never been the one to settle down and he didn't even dare to look at Emma any other way after he promised her brother who was his best friend as well, that he would never take advantage of her. But he decides to give in when Emma manages to persuade him. I loved the relationship between them, they had already been friends for years and the author made a really good job because it certainly felt like they knew each other so well. Their relationship felt so natural (in the best way possible) and I absolutely loved the chemistry between them.
This book also focused on a great deal on friendship which I fell in love with. Emma and Gabby were just bff goals! I seriously adored those two sooo much. And on the other hand, we had Ryan, Ethan, and Mark who were practically more like family than friends. Trent provided another interesting aspect in the story though I would have loved to see some more brotherly bonding between the two.
Overall, Crazy for You was a great read. I loved how the plot was executed and the characters were layered. The romance between Emma and Ryan was everything!! I loved those two so much. The writing was smooth and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book. We got a glimpse of Jessica and Mark in this book and I can't wait to read their story next!!
Recommend it?
Yes.
March 28, 2017
Received in exchange for a honest review.
Love Ryan. He is protective and kind. He changed from his teen self. He also takes his promise to his best friend seriously. It takes him time and almost losing the girl he loves to see that the promise to protect his sister can be morphed into love that protects as well.
Emma is the little sister of Ryan’s best friend Derek. Derek is a fallen soldier and before he left Ryan promised to watch over Emma. Now Emma is grown and about to leave town. She is following a dream of going to college and never look back. Before she goes though she decides to see if Ryan likes her as she likes him. She decides to walk on the wild side. For Ryan he has always stayed away from Emma because of a promise and because he thought she deserved better them him.
These two were wonderful. Ryan was overprotective and sweet. He also was more grounded and becoming more of an adult. He and his friends started a business and were making a success at it. He tried hard not to act on his attraction for Emma but when she makes it her goal to get him it works. And we are entertained with some fun and sexy times. I hated watching ryan with his half brothers parents and how they made him feel. So wrong of them Ryan wasn’t what they thought he was and they judged him on his reaction when his mom died and he was eleven. He was reacting to the death and being without a parent. they took it as him not being saved because he was like his mom and walked away. they even went as far as to keep his half brother from his life. So when his half brother finds him it is bitter sweet and he is just as loving and protective of him as he is of Emma. He also tries to keep him from going down the path he did. but he realizes with Emma’s help that his brother needs to learn on his own and follow his heart. But this is it seems almost too late not sure yet.
With Emma he helps her open up and try things. He helps her escape and view the world differently. He supports and encourages her. He loves her and wants her to follow her goals and to do this he does something incredibly sweet and stupid. I hated to see them both be stubborn and in pain for they were perfect for each other. He opens her up and she helps him calm more and find peace with himself. She helps him see he is good enough and can love her and live up to his promise to her brother.
The story is sweet and endearing, sexy and entertaining. The characters are fun and flirty but also sexy and wonderful. I love how Emma sees that her goals and dreams have changed but she can still achieve all she wanted in the past and now without losing herself or love. a great nicely paced romance
Love Ryan. He is protective and kind. He changed from his teen self. He also takes his promise to his best friend seriously. It takes him time and almost losing the girl he loves to see that the promise to protect his sister can be morphed into love that protects as well.
Emma is the little sister of Ryan’s best friend Derek. Derek is a fallen soldier and before he left Ryan promised to watch over Emma. Now Emma is grown and about to leave town. She is following a dream of going to college and never look back. Before she goes though she decides to see if Ryan likes her as she likes him. She decides to walk on the wild side. For Ryan he has always stayed away from Emma because of a promise and because he thought she deserved better them him.
These two were wonderful. Ryan was overprotective and sweet. He also was more grounded and becoming more of an adult. He and his friends started a business and were making a success at it. He tried hard not to act on his attraction for Emma but when she makes it her goal to get him it works. And we are entertained with some fun and sexy times. I hated watching ryan with his half brothers parents and how they made him feel. So wrong of them Ryan wasn’t what they thought he was and they judged him on his reaction when his mom died and he was eleven. He was reacting to the death and being without a parent. they took it as him not being saved because he was like his mom and walked away. they even went as far as to keep his half brother from his life. So when his half brother finds him it is bitter sweet and he is just as loving and protective of him as he is of Emma. He also tries to keep him from going down the path he did. but he realizes with Emma’s help that his brother needs to learn on his own and follow his heart. But this is it seems almost too late not sure yet.
With Emma he helps her open up and try things. He helps her escape and view the world differently. He supports and encourages her. He loves her and wants her to follow her goals and to do this he does something incredibly sweet and stupid. I hated to see them both be stubborn and in pain for they were perfect for each other. He opens her up and she helps him calm more and find peace with himself. She helps him see he is good enough and can love her and live up to his promise to her brother.
The story is sweet and endearing, sexy and entertaining. The characters are fun and flirty but also sexy and wonderful. I love how Emma sees that her goals and dreams have changed but she can still achieve all she wanted in the past and now without losing herself or love. a great nicely paced romance
April 13, 2017
This book is about trying new things and taking a fresh start in life, it's about hope and turning your life around after being dealt such a bad hand in the first place, it's about the beauty of friendship, it's about crossing things off your list, things you always dreamed of doing or only read about, it's about a woman who doesn't want to be a goody-two-shoes anymore and wants to experiment something different and a hero who finally found himself after a crap start in life.
What I liked :
-The name of the bar (The Drunken Bear) where the hero is a part-time bartender
-The rock climbing lessons
-Emma's reaction/delight at being on a bike
-That Ryan bring the heroine at places she used to beg him and her brother to let her go with them when they were teenager
-The hero's honesty
-The sparks and fire between them, even when they decide to keep things friendly at first
-The epilogue and that it doesn't go according to plan and totally took me by surprise
What I didn't like :
-The hero saying yo (and too many times)
- The whole deal with Ryan's stepbrother and his parents (the idea was great but the execution was disappointing)
We get a glimpse of Mark's history and story to come and I can't wait to read it !
What I liked :
-The name of the bar (The Drunken Bear) where the hero is a part-time bartender
-The rock climbing lessons
-Emma's reaction/delight at being on a bike
-That Ryan bring the heroine at places she used to beg him and her brother to let her go with them when they were teenager
-The hero's honesty
-The sparks and fire between them, even when they decide to keep things friendly at first
-The epilogue and that it doesn't go according to plan and totally took me by surprise
What I didn't like :
-The hero saying yo (and too many times)
- The whole deal with Ryan's stepbrother and his parents (the idea was great but the execution was disappointing)
We get a glimpse of Mark's history and story to come and I can't wait to read it !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews