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Martinis After Dark
A woman on the run and a player on the rocks have no business falling in love …
After CPA Lee O’Brien uncovers evidence of money laundering at her job, her apartment is ransacked and she’s forced into hiding. When she tries to rent an apartment under an assumed name, she learns it comes with a job -- and a boss she can’t afford to fall for.
Tattooed, sexy bar owner Dylon Knightly has a big heart but no head for business. He knows the curvy, redheaded Irish beauty with the dry wit is in some kind of trouble, but he won’t turn her away … and can’t help wanting more.
The heat between them burns through their efforts to keep a professional distance. When Lee’s trouble comes looking for her, everything she holds most dear is threatened -- including the life of the charming bartender who captured her heart. But even if they survive, will they be able to overcome the secrets between them?
After CPA Lee O’Brien uncovers evidence of money laundering at her job, her apartment is ransacked and she’s forced into hiding. When she tries to rent an apartment under an assumed name, she learns it comes with a job -- and a boss she can’t afford to fall for.
Tattooed, sexy bar owner Dylon Knightly has a big heart but no head for business. He knows the curvy, redheaded Irish beauty with the dry wit is in some kind of trouble, but he won’t turn her away … and can’t help wanting more.
The heat between them burns through their efforts to keep a professional distance. When Lee’s trouble comes looking for her, everything she holds most dear is threatened -- including the life of the charming bartender who captured her heart. But even if they survive, will they be able to overcome the secrets between them?
305 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2016
58 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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November 28, 2016
**I received an advanced review copy and chose to review it**
(spoiler-free review)
4.5 Sexy Stars
Martinis After Dark is a spin-off of Gina Drayer's Modern Girl's Guide to Kink. In Kink we met Dylon Knightly, the owner of Bernadette's, a fun, retro bar. In Martinis, we get to know Dylon and he's just as hot and sexy as I expected him to be! Tattooed and pierced, he commands the bar and has no shortage of wanting women willing to go home with him for the night. Lee O'Brien is hiding out from her old boss/ex-boyfriend. She's the main witness in a court case against him. She comes to Bernadette's looking to rent an apartment above the bar and winds up not only with a place to stay but with a new job as a waitress under the name of Lee Taylor. She holds many secrets which Dylon is determined to uncover. Sexual tension ensues, sparks fly and these two wind up burning up the sheets in a super sexy and steamy love story. The build up for Dylon and Lee is well done and when they finally do come together, it is perfectly executed.
Martinis is not only hot and sexy but it's also emotional and funny. The character of Lee has a great wit about her and her sarcastic, humorous side really comes through in Drayer's writing. There is the underlying element of danger and suspense throughout the book and at the culmination of the story line, I couldn't stop turning the pages. It really hooked me and I needed to know what would happen which resulted in a VERY late bedtime for me! Drayer kept me interested and invested in the story throughout the entire book and wrote an ending that is both happy and satisfying!
(spoiler-free review)
4.5 Sexy Stars
Martinis After Dark is a spin-off of Gina Drayer's Modern Girl's Guide to Kink. In Kink we met Dylon Knightly, the owner of Bernadette's, a fun, retro bar. In Martinis, we get to know Dylon and he's just as hot and sexy as I expected him to be! Tattooed and pierced, he commands the bar and has no shortage of wanting women willing to go home with him for the night. Lee O'Brien is hiding out from her old boss/ex-boyfriend. She's the main witness in a court case against him. She comes to Bernadette's looking to rent an apartment above the bar and winds up not only with a place to stay but with a new job as a waitress under the name of Lee Taylor. She holds many secrets which Dylon is determined to uncover. Sexual tension ensues, sparks fly and these two wind up burning up the sheets in a super sexy and steamy love story. The build up for Dylon and Lee is well done and when they finally do come together, it is perfectly executed.
Martinis is not only hot and sexy but it's also emotional and funny. The character of Lee has a great wit about her and her sarcastic, humorous side really comes through in Drayer's writing. There is the underlying element of danger and suspense throughout the book and at the culmination of the story line, I couldn't stop turning the pages. It really hooked me and I needed to know what would happen which resulted in a VERY late bedtime for me! Drayer kept me interested and invested in the story throughout the entire book and wrote an ending that is both happy and satisfying!
September 19, 2018
Exciting and sexy book!
I loved the whole premise of this book. Lee trying to do the right thing and needing to make a fresh start. Dylon who was fine with his free and easy, no commitment life. It was a great story about how they found their way. I recommend it!
I loved the whole premise of this book. Lee trying to do the right thing and needing to make a fresh start. Dylon who was fine with his free and easy, no commitment life. It was a great story about how they found their way. I recommend it!
September 30, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It had my favorite things romance and suspense. Lee and Dylon make a great couple. I loved reading about them falling in love.
November 6, 2018
Great read!!!
I really enjoyed this book. Well written & this is the first book by this author I have read. Will be reading more of her books. Thanks l
I really enjoyed this book. Well written & this is the first book by this author I have read. Will be reading more of her books. Thanks l
August 24, 2017
Just, wow!
Okay, disclaimer to start, I was given an ARC to read, but I like to support my favorite authors so I also bought a copy! Also disclaimer, I do consider Gina a friend, but that does not change my review.
Have you read the Modern Girl's Guide series? If not, you totally should, but even if you haven't, it's okay. This is sort of a sequel series. Sort of. Remember Cash and Kim from Modern Girl's Guide to Kink? Remember the bar Cash would hang out in with his friend Dylon? Remember where Lily successfully sent Cash and Kim home together? Remember getting tired of me asking you questions? Haha! Seriously, though. Cash and Kim make a few appearances in this book (and might provide a few pointed "go get 'ems") and it's delightful!
Our starring couple, though, is a scared witness in a huge case with potential ties to the mob and the super sexy bartender/owner of Bernadette's who has this thing about honesty. Lee Taylor O'Brien finds her way into Bernadette's while looking for a safe place to rent and hide until the trial is over, but she also ends up with a job at the bar using the name Lee Taylor (ooh, she lied!!), which will keep her from using up all of her savings, thankfully. Dylon Knightly likes strays and, in spite of being a "no strings attached" playboy, finds himself really caring for the girl who will share as little as possible about herself.
I'm not a huge fan of crime novels or of romance novels, which makes me loving this book as much as I did a huge mystery in and of itself! Haha! However, I place the blame firmly on the way Gina writes her characters - they truly come to life, as do the settings. This book is more serious in tone than the MGG books, but it doesn't take away anything from the enjoyment of the romance because it really just adds extra depth.
The bar is a huge part of the book as a setting and almost it's own character. Dylon loves the bar for a variety of reasons and he's given it an awesome retro look right down to how the employees dress. That vibe permeates most of the book and, with the addition of the potential mob problems, it really brings to mind some of the old school detective novels I used to read. This book is, for me, so much better than those. You can feel the tension (sexual and otherwise), Lee's fear for her life, and Dylon's frustration at not being let in.
I would love to go into detail about every single thing in this book, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Trust me, it's more than worth the few dollars from Amazon. If you're disappointed, I bet Dylon will eat his hat! ;-) And if you like this book, you should read everything from Gina Drayer like I do! Even if she never sent me another ARC again, she is on my auto-buy list! Also, I heard from a little bird that she's going to have lots and lots of books coming out in 2017! I CANNOT WAIT!!!!! She is single-handedly changing my opinion about romance books and crime/mystery books. (Check out Lotus Petals for a paranormal mystery with some romance thrown in.)
Okay, disclaimer to start, I was given an ARC to read, but I like to support my favorite authors so I also bought a copy! Also disclaimer, I do consider Gina a friend, but that does not change my review.
Have you read the Modern Girl's Guide series? If not, you totally should, but even if you haven't, it's okay. This is sort of a sequel series. Sort of. Remember Cash and Kim from Modern Girl's Guide to Kink? Remember the bar Cash would hang out in with his friend Dylon? Remember where Lily successfully sent Cash and Kim home together? Remember getting tired of me asking you questions? Haha! Seriously, though. Cash and Kim make a few appearances in this book (and might provide a few pointed "go get 'ems") and it's delightful!
Our starring couple, though, is a scared witness in a huge case with potential ties to the mob and the super sexy bartender/owner of Bernadette's who has this thing about honesty. Lee Taylor O'Brien finds her way into Bernadette's while looking for a safe place to rent and hide until the trial is over, but she also ends up with a job at the bar using the name Lee Taylor (ooh, she lied!!), which will keep her from using up all of her savings, thankfully. Dylon Knightly likes strays and, in spite of being a "no strings attached" playboy, finds himself really caring for the girl who will share as little as possible about herself.
I'm not a huge fan of crime novels or of romance novels, which makes me loving this book as much as I did a huge mystery in and of itself! Haha! However, I place the blame firmly on the way Gina writes her characters - they truly come to life, as do the settings. This book is more serious in tone than the MGG books, but it doesn't take away anything from the enjoyment of the romance because it really just adds extra depth.
The bar is a huge part of the book as a setting and almost it's own character. Dylon loves the bar for a variety of reasons and he's given it an awesome retro look right down to how the employees dress. That vibe permeates most of the book and, with the addition of the potential mob problems, it really brings to mind some of the old school detective novels I used to read. This book is, for me, so much better than those. You can feel the tension (sexual and otherwise), Lee's fear for her life, and Dylon's frustration at not being let in.
I would love to go into detail about every single thing in this book, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Trust me, it's more than worth the few dollars from Amazon. If you're disappointed, I bet Dylon will eat his hat! ;-) And if you like this book, you should read everything from Gina Drayer like I do! Even if she never sent me another ARC again, she is on my auto-buy list! Also, I heard from a little bird that she's going to have lots and lots of books coming out in 2017! I CANNOT WAIT!!!!! She is single-handedly changing my opinion about romance books and crime/mystery books. (Check out Lotus Petals for a paranormal mystery with some romance thrown in.)
November 29, 2016
Gina Drayer Doesn't Disappoint in her New Romantic Suspense Series. Uptown, College Educated Chic on the run meets rough around the edges, tattooed and pierced bar owner in this new romantic suspense thriller. If you have read Gina Drayer's Modern Girls Guide to... series then you may recognize a few characters in this new series from the MGG to Kink book #4. I loved Gina's turn at a romantic suspense genre as much as I loved her romantic comedy genre. The story flowed smoothly and had me intrigued throughout. I look forward to additional books in this series. I received an advanced copy of this book for review purposes
November 30, 2016
Dylon and Lee were ok characters. Everything resolved pretty quickly. The connection between the two was ok. I thought they both made mistakes especially Lee. I really enjoyed the plot. I just wanted a little more from the MCs.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews