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Come Again #3
Hook Up: A Second Chance Romance
*A blast from the past can play hell on your heart.*
“Spend the night with me, Crystal.”
One college hook-up with Ryan Anderson ripped Crystal LaRusso’s emotions wide open and hot-wired her to the world around her. After gaining control of her new abilities, she rebuilt her life and started a business as a sensual psychic. She’s bold, fearless and, admittedly, a little freaky. Black leather, exotic makeup, and a sexual preference for women keep the world at a necessary distance, distance she can’t maintain when Ryan reappears in her life.
Crystal has a lot of explaining to do. The chemistry between them is just as potent as it was ten years ago, so why does she keep running away? One night won’t be enough time to satisfy his curiosity about her, but it might take the edge off. At the very least, he can ask her why she broke his heart – and this time he’s not leaving without an answer.
“Spend the night with me, Crystal.”
One college hook-up with Ryan Anderson ripped Crystal LaRusso’s emotions wide open and hot-wired her to the world around her. After gaining control of her new abilities, she rebuilt her life and started a business as a sensual psychic. She’s bold, fearless and, admittedly, a little freaky. Black leather, exotic makeup, and a sexual preference for women keep the world at a necessary distance, distance she can’t maintain when Ryan reappears in her life.
Crystal has a lot of explaining to do. The chemistry between them is just as potent as it was ten years ago, so why does she keep running away? One night won’t be enough time to satisfy his curiosity about her, but it might take the edge off. At the very least, he can ask her why she broke his heart – and this time he’s not leaving without an answer.
166 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2012
10 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 5, 2016
This was another fun story.
October 24, 2012
This is a hard review for me to write because I was disappointed with this book for reasons that aren't quite clear to me. If I come upon an epiphany later, I'll update my review. Maybe my expectations were just too high for this one; I absolutely loved the first two books in this series and was particularly anxious for this one to release. Unfortunately, I just didn't connect to the characters or story line in this book like I did in the previous books. I was particularly eager for Crystal's story because I liked her character as she appeared in the previous books.
Crystal is a sensual psychic and works at a sex shop. She embraces a hard, leather-and-chains wardrobe and an attitude to match in an effort to hide her insecurities. Likewise, she turns to lesbian relationships to avoid her confusing emotional baggage with heterosexual relationships.
At the dress rehearsal for her friend and former lover's wedding, she is unwittingly reunited with the first man she had sex with and the only man she ever truly felt connected to, one she feels made her weak by awakening her psychic abilities and abandoned her - Ryan.
Ryan Anderson is a financial/marketing guru who helps people save and build their businesses. He is haunted by a college one-night stand that meant more to him than any relationship he's had since. Believing that the encounter meant nothing to Crystal, he has spent years as a bachelor trying to find someone else with whom he has the same spark.
Crystal and Ryan are both overwhelmed by the powerful chemistry they share. Both think they can get it out of their systems by indulging in another one-night-stand. Crystal is attracted to Ryan and worries that if she reconnects with him emotionally, he'll abandon her and leave her shattered. Ryan can't figure out if Crystal is just a sexual adventure or if she cares about him. They hook up and it is fireworks on a grand scale. The encounter leaves Crystal feeling vulnerable, so she pushes Ryan away, and it leaves Ryan wanting more.
Ryan decides to pursue Crystal relentlessly in an effort to break her down and have her admit her true feelings. Their relationship develops tenuously - with her on the defensive and him on the offensive. Just when Crystal gives into her feelings for Ryan, he threatens to leave in an effort to make her announce those feelings. His plan backfires and she realizes that he is trying to manipulate her; she leaves, heartbroken. Ultimately, Crystal realizes that she pushed Ryan away and Ryan stays and gets a tattoo in an effort to demonstrate his devotion to sticking it out.
So, I guess my biggest complaint is that the relationship seems underdeveloped and the pace too forced. They have a complex relationship built on little with major obstacles to overcome and yet there is little actual communication between the two and the resolution of their issues seemed forced. I never felt truly invested in the outcome or the characters individually, like I did in the rest of the series. Furthermore, and possibly because I didn't connect to the characters, the sex scenes were hot but nothing special for me.
Crystal is a sensual psychic and works at a sex shop. She embraces a hard, leather-and-chains wardrobe and an attitude to match in an effort to hide her insecurities. Likewise, she turns to lesbian relationships to avoid her confusing emotional baggage with heterosexual relationships.
At the dress rehearsal for her friend and former lover's wedding, she is unwittingly reunited with the first man she had sex with and the only man she ever truly felt connected to, one she feels made her weak by awakening her psychic abilities and abandoned her - Ryan.
Ryan Anderson is a financial/marketing guru who helps people save and build their businesses. He is haunted by a college one-night stand that meant more to him than any relationship he's had since. Believing that the encounter meant nothing to Crystal, he has spent years as a bachelor trying to find someone else with whom he has the same spark.
Crystal and Ryan are both overwhelmed by the powerful chemistry they share. Both think they can get it out of their systems by indulging in another one-night-stand. Crystal is attracted to Ryan and worries that if she reconnects with him emotionally, he'll abandon her and leave her shattered. Ryan can't figure out if Crystal is just a sexual adventure or if she cares about him. They hook up and it is fireworks on a grand scale. The encounter leaves Crystal feeling vulnerable, so she pushes Ryan away, and it leaves Ryan wanting more.
Ryan decides to pursue Crystal relentlessly in an effort to break her down and have her admit her true feelings. Their relationship develops tenuously - with her on the defensive and him on the offensive. Just when Crystal gives into her feelings for Ryan, he threatens to leave in an effort to make her announce those feelings. His plan backfires and she realizes that he is trying to manipulate her; she leaves, heartbroken. Ultimately, Crystal realizes that she pushed Ryan away and Ryan stays and gets a tattoo in an effort to demonstrate his devotion to sticking it out.
So, I guess my biggest complaint is that the relationship seems underdeveloped and the pace too forced. They have a complex relationship built on little with major obstacles to overcome and yet there is little actual communication between the two and the resolution of their issues seemed forced. I never felt truly invested in the outcome or the characters individually, like I did in the rest of the series. Furthermore, and possibly because I didn't connect to the characters, the sex scenes were hot but nothing special for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2012
Slick's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
4 Stars
I’ve enjoyed the Come Again series by Miranda Baker because in each book a character undergoes a sexual metamorphosis of sorts. In this book a college hook up that both parties have never forgotten are reunited at their friend’s wedding.
This is such an interesting story; Crystal LaRusso is a sexual empath. She’s used her gift to help many people but when reunited with a one night stand from ten years ago, she finds herself unable to separate her feelings from those of her clients. When Ryan Anderson sees Crystal again it becomes evident that the chemistry they felt years ago is still there and burning hotter than ever.
For such a short story this book packed a punch. Ryan’s pursuit of Crystal is epic and the fact that he wouldn’t let her retreat is endearing. Crystal holds so much guilt inside for what happened after her initial hook up with Ryan that I wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to get past it. I give Ryan a lot of credit for understanding and working to get past that episode. I also love that the couples from the first two books played an important role in helping these two work things out. I also can’t forget about Bonita, Crystal’s friend and boss who’s been there for Crystal though tough times.
Come Again is an engaging story and I found it hard to put down. These characters just grabbed me and took hold. With each story in this series I find myself enthralled with this interesting but varied group of friends and I’m already wondering what Miranda has in store for Bonita and her long lost love.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
4 Stars
I’ve enjoyed the Come Again series by Miranda Baker because in each book a character undergoes a sexual metamorphosis of sorts. In this book a college hook up that both parties have never forgotten are reunited at their friend’s wedding.
This is such an interesting story; Crystal LaRusso is a sexual empath. She’s used her gift to help many people but when reunited with a one night stand from ten years ago, she finds herself unable to separate her feelings from those of her clients. When Ryan Anderson sees Crystal again it becomes evident that the chemistry they felt years ago is still there and burning hotter than ever.
For such a short story this book packed a punch. Ryan’s pursuit of Crystal is epic and the fact that he wouldn’t let her retreat is endearing. Crystal holds so much guilt inside for what happened after her initial hook up with Ryan that I wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to get past it. I give Ryan a lot of credit for understanding and working to get past that episode. I also love that the couples from the first two books played an important role in helping these two work things out. I also can’t forget about Bonita, Crystal’s friend and boss who’s been there for Crystal though tough times.
Come Again is an engaging story and I found it hard to put down. These characters just grabbed me and took hold. With each story in this series I find myself enthralled with this interesting but varied group of friends and I’m already wondering what Miranda has in store for Bonita and her long lost love.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
February 19, 2014
I have read the whole Come Again's serie. The Hook Up book was different and unique, not to say it was unrealistic, but this is fiction, so... Like the others books this one was also super hot, Crystal meets, at her friends' wedding, her first hook up, Ryan. Both can still feel the pull between them, and Ryan is not going to leave Norton again, like he did ten years ago, without figure out what is this feeling they have for each other.
One the other hand, Crystal hides herself from the world behind her exotic lifestyle and her known preference for only dating women. But the only person whom she can not hide from, is back to her life. The story is good but I felt a little tired of Crystal's insecurities and her incapacity of revealing her fears and feelings to Ryan. It wasn't the right behavior from a person which personality is described as bold an fearless.
It was good but far from the best.
One the other hand, Crystal hides herself from the world behind her exotic lifestyle and her known preference for only dating women. But the only person whom she can not hide from, is back to her life. The story is good but I felt a little tired of Crystal's insecurities and her incapacity of revealing her fears and feelings to Ryan. It wasn't the right behavior from a person which personality is described as bold an fearless.
It was good but far from the best.
February 17, 2013
This is a quirky series - sexual psychics, really ?! And I like the quirkiness, partly because I love the idea of someone with the talent help you see and find what you need and want. I found myself frustrated by the heroine's unwillingness to explain to the hero why she felt she couldn't have a relationship with him. It was a little too much of the angsty "I can't. I must. I want to. I can't." That part aside, I loved the hero's willingness to accept all of the heroine. I loved how the heroine learned and understood more about herself. I hope there will be more in this series.
April 12, 2013
One college hook-up with Ryan Anderson ripped Crystal LaRusso’s emotions wide open and hot-wired her to the world around her. After gaining control of her new abilities, she rebuilt her life and started a business as a sensual psychic. She’s bold, fearless and, admittedly, a little freaky. Black leather, exotic makeup and a reputation for only dating women keeps the world at a necessary distance—distance she can’t maintain when Ryan reappears in her life.
November 1, 2012
This is the first time I've read a novel like this and to be truthful I feel like I was on crack. It was all kinds of horrible for me, no offense to the other reviews/raters of this novel. I though it was okay in certain parts and SURE, we did in fact receive a happy ending but I just couldn't like it enough, it made me have a 'blank' type feeling.
January 22, 2014
not as good as solo play but still hot enough for me to keep in touch with the series. i felt there should have been a dream/nightmare flashback to the college frat house orgy somewhere in the mix toward the end.
March 26, 2014
Book #3 of one my favourite series. Love the characters, strong women, alpha males and smokin' hot sex...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews