Arm Candy

Hot City Nights #3

by Patricia Ryan

David Waite, a wealthy British fundraiser in New York City, knows exactly how to please a woman, but he’s had enough of social climbers and users. His solution? “Arm candy,” a beautiful woman to accompany him as his regular date. She’s to serve as a dazzling accessory, not a prostitute or call girl, with no strings attached, either emotional or sexual. Then he sees Nora, and he finds himself overwhelmed with a craving for sweets…

Nora Armstrong is a wholesome, virginal beauty fresh from the Midwest. Her cousin asks her to go out with David Waite as a favor to advance his event planning business. She can’t say no, any more than she can say no when David asks for a second date, and a third… According to “arm candy” rules, she should be safe… until David decides to break the rules. Suddenly Nora realizes it’s a risky business, being this smoking hot Brit’s faux girlfriend… and falling in love.

Arm Candy is part of the Hot City Nights series of steamy romances with urban settings, but it can be read independently of the rest of the series. It is a full-length, professionally edited novel with no cliffhanger!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Amazon, Contemporary Romance, Smut, Ebooks, New Adult

171 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2000

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Patricia Burford Ryan (born August 9, 1954 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States) is an American writer of romance novels as Patricia Ryan, mystery novels as P.B. Ryan and erotica novels as Louisa Burton. She is the twin sister of the romance writer Pamela Burford.

She won a Golden Heart award in 1994 in the category "short contemporary series" and a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her book Silken Threads also won a RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers of America, for "Best Long Historical Romance" of 2000.

Reviews

[Ally.Always.Reads]

I don't know how I'm feeling about this.. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nora Armstrong has just arrived in New York and is looking to start her own jewelry-making business. She's staying with her cousin, Harlan, who she has no idea is gay until she meets his live-in boyfriend. Harlan picks her up and greets her with the idea that he's volunteered her as arm candy to an aristocratic British man named David Waite in exchange for what he hopes is David's business for Harlan's event-planning enterprise. David is a fundraiser with many wealthy clients. David is cold and aloof, determined to keep Nora at arm's length. Nora is forced by Harlan to pretend to be a glamorous model. Nora begins to fall for David and hates living a lie.

There were parts of this book that I loved - the conversations between Nora and David, David's friend Alec's mother, Harlan and his boyfriend, and the romantic proposal at the end. Unfortunately what spoiled it for me were the scenes that made me feel uneasy. When a woman says "no", it doesn't mean try harder to subdue her and rip her clothes off. Sorry, that's not romance, it's rape. If the aim was to portray that this ultra-civilized man had a darker, more animal-like side, it could have been handled in a different way. Having him try to force himself on a virgin was distasteful, especially given what happened to her when she ran from him. Could the poor girl have had a shittier evening? I wish those scenes had been left out.

[Coco.V]

FREE on Amazon today (9/28/2017)!

[Laura Barfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second Patricia Ryan book I've read and there were just too many similarities between the 2 storylines for me which I found distracted me from the flow of this book.
Naïve heroine still a virgin in her twenties - check;
Older much more sexually experienced man - check;
He's a smoker, she's not and he gives up during the course of the book - check;
Both parties are determined not to fall in love - her with him specifically and him with anyone at all ever due to past bad relationship(s) - check;
Within a short space of time they've fallen madly in love and will be together forever - check
(Okay so that last one's the basic premise of every romance novel)
I felt the storyline pushed the boundaries of how people would actually behave, particularly with regard to the 2 incidents that occur on 1 night and the heroine's reaction to said events. I was amazed Nora got over it as quickly as she did with apparently no lasting psychological damage or feelings of ill-will at all towards David!
Don't get me wrong I enjoy Ms. Ryan's writing style and she can definitely write a love scene but was hoping for something more original rather than what felt like a rehash of work she'd already released but with a few of the details changed.

[Rae Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora and David are opposites if I ever saw any.
Nora hails from Ohio and is staying with her cousin Harlen, the name is awesome though. She is running a wonderful small jewelry making business although it is not getting much traction. David is a lawyer who works with so many high end clients. So when David is looking for a woman that he can take to a function, one with no strings and no expectations. Harlen know the right girl!
He basically begs for Nora to go with David weaving lies for her to tell him so she would seem more the part, Like she was a model. Of course Nora wanted to help her cousin so she agreed. She didn't expect to fall in love with David and for her to fall in love with her.

Ok, so the tease/sex scenes were ridiculously hot. Like I had to fan myself hot. I honestly don't know why she didn't tell him before that she was the jewelry maker instead of dragging it out. I mean models have other hobbies too.
Definetly a good read, and I didn't even realize it was the last in the series, will go back and read the others.

[DawnMarie Carpintero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice and cute

3 stars

This book had fizzle power for me even though it started off dizzy and fast. The characters really didn't do anything but talk a lot and rarely made this story POP worthy.
The sex was good.
I liked Nora but at the same time didn't.
The story felt like old meets new but didn't quite get there.
Hotness with sex at times.

Happy Sexy Reading

[Lia · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a quick read. It’s a five for me for the genre—excellent pacing, fun characters, a hearty dash of cliche. Just what the doctor ordered.

[Suzy (readaholicmom) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was alright for me, nothing out of the ordinary.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the characters but the book was short and I had hoped that there could have been more scenes with them getting to know each other instead of them interacting with their invented personas. The part that I did not like was the attempted date rape scene, followed in the next chapter by the attempted rape scene by different people which basically got passed over with some hugs, kisses and tears and were never referred to again. I would think if I went out with someone and almost got assaulted twice in one night by three different men that I would need some time to deal with it before I went back to the first assailant (male lead) but that was not how the author dealt with the situation. Also interesting was the fact that the 2 leads indulged in some advanced "heavy petting" without actually having sex for weeks (even though the lead male had not had sex in months) was really strains the reader's willing suspension of disbelief. Despite the issues mentioned above I continued reading and was rewarded with a nice resolution and happily ever after for all concerned. I would recommend this book with the following caveat, be ready for not a lot of detail of the lead characters together outside their interactions at social events, but it is fun overall and a nice romance

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

There are a few good bits, but overall it falls fairly flat.

[Mayu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Podría haber sido una bonita novela, pero no, fue mala y decepcionante, una lectura sin gracia.

[Mills · Rating 1 out of 5]

Are you fucking kidding me? Seriously?

There's so much bullshit herein, I barely know where to start.

- What kind of moron doesn't notice that her stereotypically camp cousin and his "friend" are gay?

- Who has the nerve to call cats vicious for hunting? You live on a farm. You eat meat. Raising animals to the slaughter is so much kinder, is it?

- Control fantasies absolutely 100% have to be talked about before enacting them. How else will you know that it's consensual? If David is " the last man on earth who would take a woman against her will", why isn't he concerned about establishing consent?

- If that wasn't bad enough, why the fuck is the heroine placating him? How horrific of her to hit someone she thought was trying to rape her! Obviously she should have known he just wanted to play rough. FOR FUCK'S SAKE.

- Can we also not gloss over an attempted gang rape as not that bad because the victim got away? Some guy pinned you down in the park but you're over it in a few days because no penetration happened. Really? Or is this just intended to make the "hero" getting all confused about consent seem ok? Is this seriously RAPE AS A PLOT DEVICE?

- "I'm much stronger than you... I could force you, if I were so inclined. Deep down inside, you think I'm capable of taking you against your will" The solution to someone not trusting you to restrain yourself is not tying them up. That's not showing them your restraint. All it is doing is making it impossible for them to stop you should their lack of trust be deserved.

- The pull out method is not reliable. Grown adults should have heard of the morning after pill/plan b. And you absolutely should not marry someone just because you knocked them up. What decade century are we living in again?

- Love for someone you don't know isn't love, it's lust. I don't care to see it labelled as love to validate the whole losing virginity thing. Virginity does not equate to value and a couple of months' worth of lust is not a good reason to marry someone.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Waite, tired of dealing with Manhattan Social Climbers, decides to call in a favor from an event planner vying for his attention. David needs some “arm candy” for a fundraiser and Harlan (event planner) says he has the perfect woman for the job: his cousin, Nora.



Nora left behind her small town in the Midwest for the Big Apple. She has a talent for jewelry making and she’s determined to be successful. After spending hours on a train and beyond exhausted, she discovers what her cousin has arranged for her. She only agrees because it’s to help her cousin and his career … but the more “dates” she goes on with David, the more she cares for him. Even when sexual misunderstandings erupt between them and she gets attacked in Central Park, she can’t deny her feelings for David. Will she come clean and confess everything or will he forever keep her at arms length?



I’m a sucker for a small-town girl trying to make it in the big city romance and Arm Candy delivers that and more. Midwest Nora is the complete opposite of Brit David and yet brings out the best and worst in him. She challenges him in ways he’s never been challenged. He thinks her innocence is just an act but when he discovers it isn’t, she brings out his protective nature.



If I had to describe Arm Candy in one word, it would be: seductive. David and Nora lit my e-reader on fire with their attraction and secret trysts. The author weaves a tale of romance, lust, innocence and secret desires while giving an unexpected depth to the characters.



This was my first book by Patricia Ryan but let me tell you, it’s only the beginning. She’s a talented writer and I can’t wait to dive into another one of her books.



My Rating: 5 stars


This review first appeared: https://princessofthelight.wordpress.com

[Claudia Blanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am going to begin with what I did not like about Arm Candy. I did not like that the main female character took too much of the responsibility for what went wrong at the end. She was not responsible, at least not entirely, so that kind of made me mad, even if it worked out at the end.

That said, everything else in Arm Candy was perfect. I loved the side characters – while I can not say too much about each of them, as they seem to have their own stories to tell – were superbly created and showcased. They made the best possible backdrop for a heartwarming story, that contained everything I hope for in a contemporary romance. Yes, the ending kind of ticked me off, and that is why it is not getting a 5-star rating, but overall the plot was expertly constructed, the chemistry between the two main characters real, and deep, and the setting interesting enough to keep me entertained.

I have never read a book by Patricia Ryan before this (not that I remember), but I surely will remember her after this encounter. Because Arm Candy is the third installation of the series, and I had not read the other two beforehand, I can certify that this book is a complete stand-alone, and in no need of prior knowledge of the other books. But, now that I know how good this Author is, I am surely going to read the rest of the series. Whether you choose to start with the first book or Arm Candy, I have a feeling, you will enjoy this hot read.

Heat Level

3.5 out of 5. Warning – this book is not clean, but it is not erotica either.

For more steamy (and some not so steamy) book reviews, visit my book blog at htt://withinthepagesofabook.com

[MELODY · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Patricia Ryan read. I will start by saying it is third in her Hot City Nights series. But, reads as a standalone. I liked it alot.

In this installment - we meet Nora - fresh off the train from a small Ohio town. She is going to live her dream of creating unique jewelry. She isn't going it alone though - she is lucky to have a cousin who is an event planner already in the Big Apple. Upon arriving and I do mean in the cab as soon as she arrives - Harlan implores her to pretend that she is a model and go on a date with a client who is need of some "Arm Candy". Against her better judgement she agrees.

Enter David, an eligible brit, come philanthropist, disillusioned by the women he has been dating, feeling they are only really interested in him for his contacts so that they can build their client list. Bang Pop - they meet they rub each other the wrong way or perhaps the right way.

Ms. Ryan's story lines are forward moving, her sexy scenes are not road blocks and well thought out. All in all a very good read. I highly recommend the book for anyone looking for a contemporary romance with a bit of spice.

[Chanel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I was not too thrilled with after the first chapter, and almost didn't go on to chapter 2. I am glad I did, as I ended up liking this book, as the plot has a few twist and turns, I was not expecting. The main character, David, is a worldly British businessman with a knack for fundraising, and he not quite like other million leads. He seems like he is from another time, especially when it comes to his sexual likes. David smokes, which I found to be very unusual, as smoking is a nasty habit, that it is usually saved for a sleazy character in a book, not the leading man. (though there is a scene, when David comes across as a big time sleaze.)The leading lady is a virgin, which is just doesn't try to hide from David. Leeza is likable, because she is so real, which only makes her current situation as David's "Arm Candy" very uncomfortable, and her cousin's role in the whole situation only complicates it for all. Add in an old busybody, a mini sub-plot between another couple, and you have pretty good read.

[Pontiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

What starts out as Nora doing a favour for her cousin, Harley, by being arm candy for David for a fundraiser, becomes an ongoing series of push/pulls and confusion in their "relationship".

Nora tells David she's a model because that's what suits being arm candy, but her cousin convinces her to keep up the lie as things continue between them, when Nora wants to fess up.

Finally, after they realize and confess their love, she tells him the truth, and he's so hurt, he won't let her explain. With some prodding, he comes to his senses, and they are reunited.

I love Nora, and Beryl is a cool, spunky character that tries to keep everyone in track with what they should be doing.

This is well written, a bit too scary at times for my liking, but overall, a great read.

[Eri | Encrucijadas cotidianas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dos personas dispuestas a cumplir sus objetivos sin entregar su corazón.
David está cansado que las mujeres lo utilicen por lo que está decidido a contratar una acompañante para los eventos y así evitar el asedio al que se siente sometido... pero luego de un problema con su acompañante más reciente necesita que alguien le solucione el problema y es aquí donde entra Nora en el juego, aunque no desea saber nada del tema, lo hace para ayudar a su primo... pero todo pasa a mayores, los malentendidos y los sentimientos se mezclan en esta historia dándonos unas paginas super entretenidas de romance.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. It kept me riveted the whole time, the characters were well drawn, there were hold your breath moments, moments to make you gasp, moments to make you laugh and moments to make you cry. What more can you ask for? The main characters, Nora and David, are well developed by the author to make the reader want to take a vested interest in their outcome. The secondary characters are also well developed, to just props as happens in so many books. I freaking love Beryl!! Highly recommend.

[doris · Rating 3 out of 5]

millionaire

too much cleche gitl like boy then boy like girl boy was hurt by being use too many books written like this not really a good plot or storyline i read it just to prove to myself same old same old just diff character with diff names i feel the writer at least in this bk just wanted to write something to make some money i feel she could of tap deeper in her creative mode and really write as she was meant to write i was bored but a way to pass the time hoping for more

[Ay Oh Be · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't call this a good book but it was definitely entertaining and a fun book. I laughed my way through the first chapter and rolled my eyes at the many cliches, but it was enjoyable (maybe not in the way it was meant to be).
I did end up liking the characters even if they were unbelievably pretty and overly described, but they fit together well and I liked their chemistry.
I might not recommend this book but I did enjoy it from start to finish.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was OK, but truthfully I found the writing a bit stuffy. In part that was to convey the character, particularly David, who is a rather uptight English man. But then again he's not. He dropped out of Oxford and travelled the world. A rejection of that lifestyle of being rich and gilded from real life. It just felt like someone had turned on the "make it sound" British and rather overdone it. I say this as a Brit myself.

Nora was sweet with a ninja ability to protect herself.

[patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time.....

This is the first time reading anything from Patricia Ryan, and I loved it. This story line was so convincing I found myself getting mad at David and wanting to fight for Nora. I can truly say that Ms Ryan has a way of writing that you become a part of the story. Job well done!

[Ilene G> · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sn okay book.

Nora is in New York to sell her jewelry creations. She goes to a fundraiser with David to help her cousin. I like Nora. She wants to have her own business and us very creative. At times, I disliked David. He was cold and sometimes a jerk. I can not accept how Nora got over a trauma she went through so quickly. It is a quick read.

[donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tortured Man & the Virgin

Would you agree to help a family member by pretending to be a model? Could you be arm candy to a cold man? What would you do when you fall in love with him? Read Nora & David's story to see what happens!

[Edie Semchee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series that I have read and I thought it was great. The love story was adorable and the characters were described in detail so it was easy to picture who the author was portraying.

[Anne Turnley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sexy

I would have preferred a more mature heroine but, Nora is pretty mature for 22. While David is in his thirties and mature in many ways, not so much in relationships. Of course they eventually muddle through.

[Keri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good

I was surprised I enjoyed this book since it's contemporary romance and my favorites are Regency romances. The characters were pretty good but the hero was kind of a jerk.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was SO WELL WRITTEN. The story flowed seamlessly. Thankfully, I can't recall a single instance of having to hear either character prattle on about the other's scent 🙄. Bonus points for being the first book I've ever read to include words like mellifluous and use them correctly.

[Jeri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only Arm Candy or is it more

This book was absolutely adorable. So sweet and funny. Not only did I love the main characters but the other characters were just as wonderful. The HEA so flipping romantic.