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Jackson: Girls' Night Out #1
Looking for Trouble
A good reason to be bad…
Librarian Sophie Heyer has walked the straight and narrow her entire life to make up for her mother's mistakes. But in tiny Jackson Hole, Wyoming, juicy gossip doesn't just fade away. Falling hard for the sexiest biker who's ever ridden into town would undo everything she's worked for. And to add insult to injury, the alluring stranger is none other than Alex Bishop—the son of the man Sophie's mother abandoned her family for. He may be temptation on wheels, but Sophie's not looking for trouble!
Maybe Sophie's buttoned-up facade fools some, but Alex knows a naughty smile when he sees one. Despite their parents' checkered pasts, he's willing to take some risks to find out the truth about the town librarian. He figures a little fling might be just the ticket to get his mind off his own family drama. But what he finds underneath Sophie's prim demeanor might change his world in ways he never expected.
Librarian Sophie Heyer has walked the straight and narrow her entire life to make up for her mother's mistakes. But in tiny Jackson Hole, Wyoming, juicy gossip doesn't just fade away. Falling hard for the sexiest biker who's ever ridden into town would undo everything she's worked for. And to add insult to injury, the alluring stranger is none other than Alex Bishop—the son of the man Sophie's mother abandoned her family for. He may be temptation on wheels, but Sophie's not looking for trouble!
Maybe Sophie's buttoned-up facade fools some, but Alex knows a naughty smile when he sees one. Despite their parents' checkered pasts, he's willing to take some risks to find out the truth about the town librarian. He figures a little fling might be just the ticket to get his mind off his own family drama. But what he finds underneath Sophie's prim demeanor might change his world in ways he never expected.
384 pages, ebook
First published July 4, 2014
100 people are currently reading
3026 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Dahl
65 books1,999 followersI have my mother to thank for my passion for writing. My mom is an avid reader of popular fiction, and I began reading highly inappropriate books around the age of eleven, I think. (Thanks, Mom, for always leaving those delicious books strewn about!)
To Tempt a Scotsman, a Golden Heart winning historical, was my first published book. Here I am signing the cover! A Rake's Guide to Pleasure (which was excerpted at the back of Scotsman) is my second.
Due to my all-around goofiness, my agent suggested I also try my hand at a contemporary romantic comedy. Boy, is my agent smart! I had a great time writing Talk Me Down, the story of a young woman who goes back to her small hometown in Colorado and causes a huge stir with her secretive career and her burgeoning relationship with the chief of police. Not only did I have a great time writing it, but Tara Parsons at HQN liked it too! So if you like cold weather, hot sex and dirty jokes, be sure to check out Talk Me Down (out in January 2009).
Speaking of cold weather, my family and I live in a beautiful ski town in
Utah. No, I don't ski. I prefer to sit inside with a hot toddy and a good
book while the snow falls. It's especially beautiful to watch when from the inside!
I have a wonderful husband and children, and the house is kind of crowded, what with the dukes, Scotsmen, police chiefs, and naughty ladies running around, but my family is very understanding about my imaginary friends. Good thing, since they refuse to leave!
To Tempt a Scotsman, a Golden Heart winning historical, was my first published book. Here I am signing the cover! A Rake's Guide to Pleasure (which was excerpted at the back of Scotsman) is my second.
Due to my all-around goofiness, my agent suggested I also try my hand at a contemporary romantic comedy. Boy, is my agent smart! I had a great time writing Talk Me Down, the story of a young woman who goes back to her small hometown in Colorado and causes a huge stir with her secretive career and her burgeoning relationship with the chief of police. Not only did I have a great time writing it, but Tara Parsons at HQN liked it too! So if you like cold weather, hot sex and dirty jokes, be sure to check out Talk Me Down (out in January 2009).
Speaking of cold weather, my family and I live in a beautiful ski town in
Utah. No, I don't ski. I prefer to sit inside with a hot toddy and a good
book while the snow falls. It's especially beautiful to watch when from the inside!
I have a wonderful husband and children, and the house is kind of crowded, what with the dukes, Scotsmen, police chiefs, and naughty ladies running around, but my family is very understanding about my imaginary friends. Good thing, since they refuse to leave!
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September 24, 2015
WARNING: SEX DISCUSSED IN THIS REVIEW. IF THAT SQUICKS YOU OUT, TURN BACK NOW!
"I like your tattoos."
His head drew back a little in surprise. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. Can I see this one?" She gestured toward his left arm.
He helpfully pulled his sleeve up to his shoulder.
"Wow," she breathed.
Sophie wanted to reach out and touch, despite that she knew there'd be no texture.
THE SEX:
Okay, I am apologizing in advance for the low rating. It's not Victoria Dahl's fault, it's my fault. Nothing against Dahl, she's a fine writer.
My main problem with this book is that Sophie and Alex have a D/s relationship. Now, that's totally fine. Everything is very consensual and they only do this in bed - it's not like he's trying to control her real life or anything. But I'm just not into this. I'm not into being hurt during sex, called a whore, "used" as a "personal fuck toy" etc. etc. etc. etc.
I read romance novels for two basic reasons:
1.) To read a love story with a guaranteed happy ending. Two people fall in love, sweetness, they help each other heal or something, sweet sweet things are happening, love, romance, etc.
2.) To read exciting sex scenes between two people who love each other.
While Dahl obviously has number 1 down pat, it's number 2 that's tripping me up.
If the sex in a romance novel isn't exciting to me, I just get down on the whole book. Because anyone who reads romance novels knows, the sex and the sexual dynamic between the two MCs colors the whole book. If the hero is patient and kind and does sweet sweet things in bed, I have little hearts in my eyes. But, as is the case here, the hero is more like "On your knees, bitch!" in the bedroom (even if this is what the heroine ABSOLUTELY loves and wants) I am just like :( Because obviously I like romance books best which showcase the kind of sex I like best.
Hence my apology to Ms. Dahl. If you are a reader who gets excited by a man hurting you in the bedroom and calling you a cum-rag, this could be the best book you've ever read. Alex is certainly sweet and patient with Sophie in all other areas of her life (barring fights they have to have for plot's sake). And he perfectly epitomizes the way I think a relationship like this should go. He does whatever painful or humiliating stuff Sophie wants in the bedroom, but then they snuggle and order pizza. I mean, this isn't at all skeevy or disrespectful or non-consensual. It's completely on the up-and-up. (As far as I can tell, I'm vanilla).
But I just can't with this, for obvious reasons. This kind of sex is just a huge turn-off for me, and therefore the book (which has plenty of sex scenes) is not a happy one for me. Now, this is definitely a romance and not an erotica - the book is not just a pathetic excuse for sex scenes. There's a huge, well-crafted and intricate story here and it's a good one.
THE STORY
Sophie is a little redhead librarian and everyone thinks she is sweet and innocent. But her '40s outfits and '40s hairstyles hide sexy '40s lingerie and a deep desire to be fucked hard and "used like a whore." This only gets expressed about twice a year because she only will have sex with strangers whom she knows for sure she'll never see again (in this case mostly tourists and skiers).
Her urge to (what she calls) "be bad" is even worse because her mother ran off with another woman's husband when Sophie was five, and the whole town calls her mother a slut. Sophie's extra-scared of having the small town see her the same way as her "loose" mother. So she keeps herself tamped down.
"It's not safe, she countered, but even she could hear the breathless approval in her voice. It wasn't safe and she wanted it that way. God. Her body was shameless, and her dangerous heart even worse.
She really wants to leave town, travel, and see the world, but hasn't worked up the courage to do so.
Alex comes back to town unwillingly. He took off as soon as he turned 18 and he never looked back. But now there's going to be a big memorial to his father (the man Sophie's mother ran off with) and he has to grit his teeth and bear it for a few days. Luckily he spots a sexy librarian with a naughty streak who can keep his mind off things.
But when Alex discovers that Sophie is the daughter of the "homewrecker" who ran off with his dad, can these two lovers ever find peace together?
...
Dahl does a great job with this story. It's emotional, the characters are fleshed out, you understand everyone's motivations and fears, and she tackles things like family dynamics very well. It's fascinating and also emotional, which are two great keystones of a romance. If only the sex wasn't so scary, I'd be giving this a much higher rating.
How's the sex, Carmen?
See above.
...
Tl;dr - If the sex were more to my liking, this would probably get a three from me. As it stands,
ONE ROMANCE STAR, ONE REAL STAR
"I like your tattoos."
His head drew back a little in surprise. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. Can I see this one?" She gestured toward his left arm.
He helpfully pulled his sleeve up to his shoulder.
"Wow," she breathed.
Sophie wanted to reach out and touch, despite that she knew there'd be no texture.
THE SEX:
Okay, I am apologizing in advance for the low rating. It's not Victoria Dahl's fault, it's my fault. Nothing against Dahl, she's a fine writer.
My main problem with this book is that Sophie and Alex have a D/s relationship. Now, that's totally fine. Everything is very consensual and they only do this in bed - it's not like he's trying to control her real life or anything. But I'm just not into this. I'm not into being hurt during sex, called a whore, "used" as a "personal fuck toy" etc. etc. etc. etc.
I read romance novels for two basic reasons:
1.) To read a love story with a guaranteed happy ending. Two people fall in love, sweetness, they help each other heal or something, sweet sweet things are happening, love, romance, etc.
2.) To read exciting sex scenes between two people who love each other.
While Dahl obviously has number 1 down pat, it's number 2 that's tripping me up.
If the sex in a romance novel isn't exciting to me, I just get down on the whole book. Because anyone who reads romance novels knows, the sex and the sexual dynamic between the two MCs colors the whole book. If the hero is patient and kind and does sweet sweet things in bed, I have little hearts in my eyes. But, as is the case here, the hero is more like "On your knees, bitch!" in the bedroom (even if this is what the heroine ABSOLUTELY loves and wants) I am just like :( Because obviously I like romance books best which showcase the kind of sex I like best.
Hence my apology to Ms. Dahl. If you are a reader who gets excited by a man hurting you in the bedroom and calling you a cum-rag, this could be the best book you've ever read. Alex is certainly sweet and patient with Sophie in all other areas of her life (barring fights they have to have for plot's sake). And he perfectly epitomizes the way I think a relationship like this should go. He does whatever painful or humiliating stuff Sophie wants in the bedroom, but then they snuggle and order pizza. I mean, this isn't at all skeevy or disrespectful or non-consensual. It's completely on the up-and-up. (As far as I can tell, I'm vanilla).
But I just can't with this, for obvious reasons. This kind of sex is just a huge turn-off for me, and therefore the book (which has plenty of sex scenes) is not a happy one for me. Now, this is definitely a romance and not an erotica - the book is not just a pathetic excuse for sex scenes. There's a huge, well-crafted and intricate story here and it's a good one.
THE STORY
Sophie is a little redhead librarian and everyone thinks she is sweet and innocent. But her '40s outfits and '40s hairstyles hide sexy '40s lingerie and a deep desire to be fucked hard and "used like a whore." This only gets expressed about twice a year because she only will have sex with strangers whom she knows for sure she'll never see again (in this case mostly tourists and skiers).
Her urge to (what she calls) "be bad" is even worse because her mother ran off with another woman's husband when Sophie was five, and the whole town calls her mother a slut. Sophie's extra-scared of having the small town see her the same way as her "loose" mother. So she keeps herself tamped down.
"It's not safe, she countered, but even she could hear the breathless approval in her voice. It wasn't safe and she wanted it that way. God. Her body was shameless, and her dangerous heart even worse.
She really wants to leave town, travel, and see the world, but hasn't worked up the courage to do so.
Alex comes back to town unwillingly. He took off as soon as he turned 18 and he never looked back. But now there's going to be a big memorial to his father (the man Sophie's mother ran off with) and he has to grit his teeth and bear it for a few days. Luckily he spots a sexy librarian with a naughty streak who can keep his mind off things.
But when Alex discovers that Sophie is the daughter of the "homewrecker" who ran off with his dad, can these two lovers ever find peace together?
...
Dahl does a great job with this story. It's emotional, the characters are fleshed out, you understand everyone's motivations and fears, and she tackles things like family dynamics very well. It's fascinating and also emotional, which are two great keystones of a romance. If only the sex wasn't so scary, I'd be giving this a much higher rating.
How's the sex, Carmen?
See above.
...
Tl;dr - If the sex were more to my liking, this would probably get a three from me. As it stands,
ONE ROMANCE STAR, ONE REAL STAR
August 10, 2016
4 Stars
Sophie Heyer is a good girl with a dirty little secret. She may be the prim and proper little librarian in a small town, but underneath the modest clothes hides a bad girl that can't wait to get out.
But being the daughter of the woman that was the center of the town's scandal 25 years ago is not easy. Especially not when she looks exactly like her. After all, when your mother leaves her husband and 2 young children to run off with a married men, the rumor's won't be good. So Sophie tries her best to go against her mother's image. She's a good girl. She walks the straight line, and she's not looking to deviate from that...especially not for a bad boy.
Alex Bishop is a bad boy. Covered in tattoos, riding a motorcycle and not staying in any place too long is what he's about. He tried a relationship one, but let's face it, with his constant travel for work and everything else, he's not cut out for them. But he's not opposed to a little fun between the sheets. Especially when a certain little redhead catches his eye.
He's been away from the little town for years, and he's not happy to be back. He may not know who Sophie is...but Sophie certainly knows who he is. He just so happens to be the son of the married man her mother ran away with all those years ago. The son of the woman that hates Sophie and everything she reminds her for. Too bad that doesn't stop the scorching hot chemistry they have between them. Sophie may try to be good, but Alex makes her want to be oh so bad.
If you've never read a Victoria Dahl book, you're definitely missing out. I love her sexy combination of romance, humor, scorching sex, and endearing characters, and this book was no exception.
I really enjoyed this book. I'm not a fan of mousy heroines, so I was so happy to see that Sophie was hiding her true personality behind her demure mask. And Alex? Did I mention tattoos, a motorcycle and a dirty mouth? What else do you need? How bout a great story on top of everything?
Looking for Trouble was a great start to what looks to be a very promising series and I can't wait to see what else Miss Dahl has in store with the next books. I do wish that we did an epilogue or a little bit more from that ending, but it was still satisfying and fitting to the story. A very solid 4 star read.
Fans of sexy contemporary romance will really enjoy this one.
ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
If she were timid, he wasn't sure he'd ever have noticed her. If she'd hidden behind her glasses and sweater, his eyes would have skipped right over her, letting her red hair and brown eyes blend into the crowd. But she wasn't hiding, she was...waiting. And Alex was perfectly willing to step up to the plate.
Sophie Heyer is a good girl with a dirty little secret. She may be the prim and proper little librarian in a small town, but underneath the modest clothes hides a bad girl that can't wait to get out.
But being the daughter of the woman that was the center of the town's scandal 25 years ago is not easy. Especially not when she looks exactly like her. After all, when your mother leaves her husband and 2 young children to run off with a married men, the rumor's won't be good. So Sophie tries her best to go against her mother's image. She's a good girl. She walks the straight line, and she's not looking to deviate from that...especially not for a bad boy.
Alex Bishop is a bad boy. Covered in tattoos, riding a motorcycle and not staying in any place too long is what he's about. He tried a relationship one, but let's face it, with his constant travel for work and everything else, he's not cut out for them. But he's not opposed to a little fun between the sheets. Especially when a certain little redhead catches his eye.
He's been away from the little town for years, and he's not happy to be back. He may not know who Sophie is...but Sophie certainly knows who he is. He just so happens to be the son of the married man her mother ran away with all those years ago. The son of the woman that hates Sophie and everything she reminds her for. Too bad that doesn't stop the scorching hot chemistry they have between them. Sophie may try to be good, but Alex makes her want to be oh so bad.
If you've never read a Victoria Dahl book, you're definitely missing out. I love her sexy combination of romance, humor, scorching sex, and endearing characters, and this book was no exception.
Alex groaned. "I had to crawl to the shower. Are you trying to prove your superiority? I give. Uncle."
Sophie laughed. "What'd you come out here for?"
"I don't remember," he said. She felt him growing hard against her. "Jesus, you're a witch. The kind that can raise the dead."
"Maybe you're ore of a man than you thought."
He groaned again. "I'll punish you for that later."
"Promise?"
"No. I probably won't have the strength."
I really enjoyed this book. I'm not a fan of mousy heroines, so I was so happy to see that Sophie was hiding her true personality behind her demure mask. And Alex? Did I mention tattoos, a motorcycle and a dirty mouth? What else do you need? How bout a great story on top of everything?
Looking for Trouble was a great start to what looks to be a very promising series and I can't wait to see what else Miss Dahl has in store with the next books. I do wish that we did an epilogue or a little bit more from that ending, but it was still satisfying and fitting to the story. A very solid 4 star read.
Fans of sexy contemporary romance will really enjoy this one.
ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
January 26, 2015
Good story (the H/h are connected through a strange set of circumstances--, good writing, but wasn't totally in love with the loner hero (Alex), who found it way too easy to leave his family (his older brother--Shane, from Too Hot to Handle; and mentally unstable mother) behind when the going got tough. I guess this makes him all too real, but I guess I like my romance heroes a little more...heroic? Anyway, he did start to change his ways towards the end of the book, so I'll give him points for that.
Alex...
The heroine (Sophie, who previously appeared in Fanning the Flames) was interesting, leading a sort of double life--good girl/prim librarian to the public, naughty girl at heart. When her naughty side came out with the hero...steamy. I do wish she had been a little less selfless and stood up for what she wanted, but when the author revealed why she acted that way, it did bring a tear to my eyes.
A good (and often steamy) read that was hard to put down, even though I didn't always agree with the actions of the H/h. 4 stars
*ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
Alex...
The heroine (Sophie, who previously appeared in Fanning the Flames) was interesting, leading a sort of double life--good girl/prim librarian to the public, naughty girl at heart. When her naughty side came out with the hero...steamy. I do wish she had been a little less selfless and stood up for what she wanted, but when the author revealed why she acted that way, it did bring a tear to my eyes.
A good (and often steamy) read that was hard to put down, even though I didn't always agree with the actions of the H/h. 4 stars
*ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
January 3, 2015
Quick summary
Sophie Heyer has had to live with the shame of her mother's ill-fated tryst since she was five-years old. She leads a double life, a nice, conservative librarian on the outside and a naughty girl underneath. When she meets biker Alex Bishop, he takes her for a ride on the wild side and she gives as good as she gets.
The conflict
See, Alex is the son of the man Sophie's mother ran off with years ago. And, Alex's mother never misses an opportunity to confront Sophie in public as she's the spitting image of her mother. Neither Alex or Sophie wants whatever it is between them made public for obvious reasons. And, he's only home (for the first time in years) for a few days.
What I enjoyed
Both of these characters are refreshing. Sophie loves how her nice girl looks masks her wild side. She's proud of the contradiction she presents and Alex appreciates everything about her. He's deliberately rough around the edges though he's highly educated with an exciting career. I loved how they were comfortable in their skin even though they couldn't have been more inept in how they managed relationships...except theirs!
The bottom line
This is an extremely interesting story with two very interesting people at the center. Their romance is erotic, exciting and different. The contrasts are cleverly presented with some very inventive scenes. The family issues just add more texture to Sophie and Alex, individually and as a couple. The ending is just perfect. I'm loving this series.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
Sophie Heyer has had to live with the shame of her mother's ill-fated tryst since she was five-years old. She leads a double life, a nice, conservative librarian on the outside and a naughty girl underneath. When she meets biker Alex Bishop, he takes her for a ride on the wild side and she gives as good as she gets.
The conflict
See, Alex is the son of the man Sophie's mother ran off with years ago. And, Alex's mother never misses an opportunity to confront Sophie in public as she's the spitting image of her mother. Neither Alex or Sophie wants whatever it is between them made public for obvious reasons. And, he's only home (for the first time in years) for a few days.
What I enjoyed
Both of these characters are refreshing. Sophie loves how her nice girl looks masks her wild side. She's proud of the contradiction she presents and Alex appreciates everything about her. He's deliberately rough around the edges though he's highly educated with an exciting career. I loved how they were comfortable in their skin even though they couldn't have been more inept in how they managed relationships...except theirs!
The bottom line
This is an extremely interesting story with two very interesting people at the center. Their romance is erotic, exciting and different. The contrasts are cleverly presented with some very inventive scenes. The family issues just add more texture to Sophie and Alex, individually and as a couple. The ending is just perfect. I'm loving this series.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
October 15, 2019
[Updated and removed spoiler tag] I’ve been stewing about this book for weeks, trying to distill my thoughts — and emotional emotions — into coherent, logical analysis. Which is pretty ironic, considering…..
I am really disappointed with the author, and with Harlequin. The basic story is quintessential Dahl — misunderstood tattooed bad boy biker and misunderstood secretly sexy librarian kept apart by second-generation small town rumors. Yeah, it’s got Dahl’s trademark wicked chemistry and smoking-hot sexytimes.
But it also has a seriously offensive portrayal of mental illness. Take a wild guess which character is mentally ill. That’s right — the villain. The hero’s mother. She’s obsessive. She’s paranoid. She’s a stalker.
And guess what? She’s a whack-job because she’s bitter about being dumped by her husband twenty years earlier. Everyone in town knows that. Duh.
Yes, the hero and his brother know she’s a whack-job. But do they do anything about it? Of course not. Because that would eliminate the lazy-ass villainy that passes for conflict. They know their mother is supposed to be on meds. They know she has a therapist. But instead of caring enough about their obviously distressed mother to you know, actually get involved, the hero and his brother shrug off her self-destructive and increasingly erratic behavior. Why should they bother? It’s so much easier story-wise to send the therapist on a Very Convenient Extended Vacation (with no on-call backup, of course) and give the misunderstood bad boys a tragic past and embarrassing parent to angst about.
But wait — there’s more!
The resolution. Ugh. Not just UGH. More like the ARE YOU SERIOUS??? OH FFS kind of WTFery. Please note the triple ugh use of italic, bold AND allcaps.
It’s just a vitamin deficiency. Yes, really. You know – like a real medical problem.
>>INSERT CAPSLOCK OF RAGE AND RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION HERE<<
A short hospital say for some Vitamin B injections and the Evil Psychotic Villainess is cured. She writes an apologetic letter to the editor of the local newspaper — yes, really — and all is forgiven.
Because — duh — someone with mental illness needs to apologize. And be forgiven.
I need to go now. The Xanax is calling. And fuck you if you think I need to apologize for it.
I am really disappointed with the author, and with Harlequin. The basic story is quintessential Dahl — misunderstood tattooed bad boy biker and misunderstood secretly sexy librarian kept apart by second-generation small town rumors. Yeah, it’s got Dahl’s trademark wicked chemistry and smoking-hot sexytimes.
But it also has a seriously offensive portrayal of mental illness. Take a wild guess which character is mentally ill. That’s right — the villain. The hero’s mother. She’s obsessive. She’s paranoid. She’s a stalker.
And guess what? She’s a whack-job because she’s bitter about being dumped by her husband twenty years earlier. Everyone in town knows that. Duh.
Yes, the hero and his brother know she’s a whack-job. But do they do anything about it? Of course not. Because that would eliminate the lazy-ass villainy that passes for conflict. They know their mother is supposed to be on meds. They know she has a therapist. But instead of caring enough about their obviously distressed mother to you know, actually get involved, the hero and his brother shrug off her self-destructive and increasingly erratic behavior. Why should they bother? It’s so much easier story-wise to send the therapist on a Very Convenient Extended Vacation (with no on-call backup, of course) and give the misunderstood bad boys a tragic past and embarrassing parent to angst about.
But wait — there’s more!
The resolution. Ugh. Not just UGH. More like the ARE YOU SERIOUS??? OH FFS kind of WTFery. Please note the triple ugh use of italic, bold AND allcaps.
It’s just a vitamin deficiency. Yes, really. You know – like a real medical problem.
>>INSERT CAPSLOCK OF RAGE AND RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION HERE<<
A short hospital say for some Vitamin B injections and the Evil Psychotic Villainess is cured. She writes an apologetic letter to the editor of the local newspaper — yes, really — and all is forgiven.
Because — duh — someone with mental illness needs to apologize. And be forgiven.
I need to go now. The Xanax is calling. And fuck you if you think I need to apologize for it.
Read
March 4, 2014I loved this book. I loved it because the heroine was trying to be good and wanted to be bad, and because the hero was hot and dirty in all the very best ways.
Also tattoos. And a bike. And a kitten.
I want to go read it again.
Also tattoos. And a bike. And a kitten.
I want to go read it again.
August 2, 2014
Rating 3.25 stars
When you read a Victoria Dahl steam is something you are guaranteed and this book delivers on that front. The heroine Sophie is 30, a librarian, devoted daughter and sister but what she also is, is someone who hides beneath her proper clothes trying to make up for the sins of her mother, who ran away when Sophie was 5. But as it turns out her mom died in a tragic accident along with the hero's Alex's father.
Alex left town the moment he hit 18, he couldn't take his mother's brand of crazy and became a tattooed, bike loving engineer but sixteen years later he is back, since his father's remains have been discovered. He doesn't intend to stay one moment sooner than required.
He and Sophie hit it off, but because of their family's past and Sophie's need to keep her life private they keep it on the down low but well shit happens. I really liked the way Sophie was portrayed, she was outwardly perfect but inside she was still that scared 5 year old and it took Alex shining a light on those issues for her to confront her fears.
Now, Alex he was was a runner, he just walked away everytime and I did like how he faced those issues to some degree as well. The romance and the end kind of disappointed me but overall a decent read.
When you read a Victoria Dahl steam is something you are guaranteed and this book delivers on that front. The heroine Sophie is 30, a librarian, devoted daughter and sister but what she also is, is someone who hides beneath her proper clothes trying to make up for the sins of her mother, who ran away when Sophie was 5. But as it turns out her mom died in a tragic accident along with the hero's Alex's father.
Alex left town the moment he hit 18, he couldn't take his mother's brand of crazy and became a tattooed, bike loving engineer but sixteen years later he is back, since his father's remains have been discovered. He doesn't intend to stay one moment sooner than required.
He and Sophie hit it off, but because of their family's past and Sophie's need to keep her life private they keep it on the down low but well shit happens. I really liked the way Sophie was portrayed, she was outwardly perfect but inside she was still that scared 5 year old and it took Alex shining a light on those issues for her to confront her fears.
Now, Alex he was was a runner, he just walked away everytime and I did like how he faced those issues to some degree as well. The romance and the end kind of disappointed me but overall a decent read.
October 25, 2018
Dnf
It was an ok story, with typical CR's characters. A male lead lives only for himself, and a heroine for everyone else. But the MCs sexual preferences was a turn off for me, with the male mc bossing the heroine around, being rough, calling her a whore and using her like a sex toy. Of course, she enjoyed and asked for it, because she is a bad girl under the nice girl facade *eye roll*. I can't believe this was written by the same author who wrote Jane Doe.
It was an ok story, with typical CR's characters. A male lead lives only for himself, and a heroine for everyone else. But the MCs sexual preferences was a turn off for me, with the male mc bossing the heroine around, being rough, calling her a whore and using her like a sex toy. Of course, she enjoyed and asked for it, because she is a bad girl under the nice girl facade *eye roll*. I can't believe this was written by the same author who wrote Jane Doe.
August 6, 2014
Victoria Dahl has produced another winner with the first installment in her Jackson Girl’s Night Out Series!
Sophie Heyer has lived most of her life surrounded by the shame of her mother’s choice to skip town with a married man, abandoning her husband and small children. Determined to prove she’s different as well as ensuring this small town has nothing more to add to their gossipy tales, this local librarian dresses modestly and lives life quietly. Nothing flashy or trashy for her! She’s the dependable good daughter, good sister, good girl, always seeing to the needs of others while keeping her wants and desires off the radar.
That is until bad boy, sex on a stick, Alex Bishop rides into town on the seat of a Bike, oozing sexual charm. He’s hot, inked, and gorgeous. The instant sexual attraction is combustible making it hard to resist this delectable morsel. But he’s the son of the man her mother skipped town with so keeping her distance is a must.
Complete opposite of Sophie, Alex doesn’t give a hoot what people think or say about him. He walked away from this small town years earlier, only returning now for a brief stay out of obligation and duty. Others may only see Sophie as the good girl, but Alex recognizes the bad girl hiding behind her prim and proper persona. And what better way to endure this visit than unwrapping and enjoying this neat little package.
Whew….and boy do the pages burn with the unwrapping! Once again Victoria Dahl has given readers a well written story smothered in her trademark heat! Alex and Sophie’s journey may have begun between the sheets or against the wall, but as the story progresses, revealing each layer of two damaged, complex characters, a heartwarming, sensual love story unfolds making this a great read and one of Dahl’s best!
ARC courtesy of Harlequin via Netgalley
Sophie Heyer has lived most of her life surrounded by the shame of her mother’s choice to skip town with a married man, abandoning her husband and small children. Determined to prove she’s different as well as ensuring this small town has nothing more to add to their gossipy tales, this local librarian dresses modestly and lives life quietly. Nothing flashy or trashy for her! She’s the dependable good daughter, good sister, good girl, always seeing to the needs of others while keeping her wants and desires off the radar.
That is until bad boy, sex on a stick, Alex Bishop rides into town on the seat of a Bike, oozing sexual charm. He’s hot, inked, and gorgeous. The instant sexual attraction is combustible making it hard to resist this delectable morsel. But he’s the son of the man her mother skipped town with so keeping her distance is a must.
Complete opposite of Sophie, Alex doesn’t give a hoot what people think or say about him. He walked away from this small town years earlier, only returning now for a brief stay out of obligation and duty. Others may only see Sophie as the good girl, but Alex recognizes the bad girl hiding behind her prim and proper persona. And what better way to endure this visit than unwrapping and enjoying this neat little package.
Whew….and boy do the pages burn with the unwrapping! Once again Victoria Dahl has given readers a well written story smothered in her trademark heat! Alex and Sophie’s journey may have begun between the sheets or against the wall, but as the story progresses, revealing each layer of two damaged, complex characters, a heartwarming, sensual love story unfolds making this a great read and one of Dahl’s best!
ARC courtesy of Harlequin via Netgalley
August 27, 2014
3.5 stars
This is a sneaky little book; it lures you in with hot sexy chemistry and scenes between the leads and then half way through, sucker punches you with emotional upheaval brought on by unanswerable family sacrifice and dynamic questions.
Sophie has lived in the smaller town of Jackson her whole life, despite scrapbooks filled with pictures from cut up postcards of traveling destinations. Her mother left years ago abandoning a young Sophie, her stepfather, younger brother, and creating a town scandal due to the issue of her companion being a male and also married. The scandal had mostly died down as the years went on but with the new discovery of Sophie's mother and Wyatt Bishop's (the married man) bodies in a rusted vehicle lodged in a canyon not far out of town, the gossip starts again. The news of this also brings back Alex Bishop, son of Wyatt and advocate of runaway from your problems. While Sophie grasped on stronger to her stepfather, thinking if he needed her he would always love her, Alex pushed away his brother and mother as his mother grew increasingly more erratic in behavior. When Sophie and Alex meet, their chemistry is off the charts but when they have to start dealing with the fallout of their past and present actions, you really start to get to the heart of them.
This is a story of no easy answers. Should Alex have stayed and helped his brother deal with his unstable mother? Alex holds anger and resentment in his heart, thinking his mother was the adult and should have taken care of the children instead of the other way around. Was he wrong, was he selfish for leaving to go and lead his own life? Sophie holds fear and shame in heart, thinking her stepfather wouldn't want or love her if she didn't take care of him or her brother and that she has to hide her sexual nature or the town will think her a slut and homewrecker like her mother. Was Sophie wrong for overly taking care of her family; is it wrong that she likes sex rough? There are no easy answers to these questions and I love that this book doesn't try to answer or justify anyone's behavior but simply show these characters dealing with the aftermath of their decisions and actions.
Victoria Dahl's writing creates characters and situations with such a real feel, you will suddenly find yourself with tears in your eyes or a bursting heart. There were no lulls and even though this isn't an action book, the characters with their interactions kept the story moving along. I loved the prequel to this, Fanning the Flames, and discussed how I thought the main female character's life and emotions would hit home for a lot of women, this book with it's what are you willing or should you give up for your family question will also, I think, affect a lot of people. This book is funny, it's sexy, deep, emotional, very real, and most importantly it delivers. I can't wait to see what Dahl has in store for my emotions in the next book in the series.
This is a sneaky little book; it lures you in with hot sexy chemistry and scenes between the leads and then half way through, sucker punches you with emotional upheaval brought on by unanswerable family sacrifice and dynamic questions.
Sophie has lived in the smaller town of Jackson her whole life, despite scrapbooks filled with pictures from cut up postcards of traveling destinations. Her mother left years ago abandoning a young Sophie, her stepfather, younger brother, and creating a town scandal due to the issue of her companion being a male and also married. The scandal had mostly died down as the years went on but with the new discovery of Sophie's mother and Wyatt Bishop's (the married man) bodies in a rusted vehicle lodged in a canyon not far out of town, the gossip starts again. The news of this also brings back Alex Bishop, son of Wyatt and advocate of runaway from your problems. While Sophie grasped on stronger to her stepfather, thinking if he needed her he would always love her, Alex pushed away his brother and mother as his mother grew increasingly more erratic in behavior. When Sophie and Alex meet, their chemistry is off the charts but when they have to start dealing with the fallout of their past and present actions, you really start to get to the heart of them.
This is a story of no easy answers. Should Alex have stayed and helped his brother deal with his unstable mother? Alex holds anger and resentment in his heart, thinking his mother was the adult and should have taken care of the children instead of the other way around. Was he wrong, was he selfish for leaving to go and lead his own life? Sophie holds fear and shame in heart, thinking her stepfather wouldn't want or love her if she didn't take care of him or her brother and that she has to hide her sexual nature or the town will think her a slut and homewrecker like her mother. Was Sophie wrong for overly taking care of her family; is it wrong that she likes sex rough? There are no easy answers to these questions and I love that this book doesn't try to answer or justify anyone's behavior but simply show these characters dealing with the aftermath of their decisions and actions.
Victoria Dahl's writing creates characters and situations with such a real feel, you will suddenly find yourself with tears in your eyes or a bursting heart. There were no lulls and even though this isn't an action book, the characters with their interactions kept the story moving along. I loved the prequel to this, Fanning the Flames, and discussed how I thought the main female character's life and emotions would hit home for a lot of women, this book with it's what are you willing or should you give up for your family question will also, I think, affect a lot of people. This book is funny, it's sexy, deep, emotional, very real, and most importantly it delivers. I can't wait to see what Dahl has in store for my emotions in the next book in the series.
July 15, 2014
From Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
The first thing I'm going to say about this book is that it was hot and smutty.I really enjoyed reading it , I almost cried a few times and I felt the characters anguish .The best things about the book were the hero and the heroine , he wasn't overbearing and she wasn't a blushing virgin . I hate reading too many books about shy blushing heroines.She was naughty and she knew it.
I had a few problems with it.
It felt that I had started reading from middle of the book , there were people and things that I should have known but I didn't. I kept thinking this book can't be the first in the series. But I clearly remembered that it was the first book in the series .Long story short after finishing the book I checked Goodreads and yes I was both right and wrong. It is book #1 in the series but there is a #0.5 book and the whole series is spin-off of another series by Victoria Dahl.
The other problem was the ending , the whole book went in a moderate pace and then all of a sudden **bang bang** and everything was finished , they were in love and all the bad things and their doubts evaporated and THE END! An epilogue or at least one more chapter was necessary to make it a smooth ending.
I have read 7 books by Victoria Dahl and enjoyed most of them and this one wasn't an exception.
The first thing I'm going to say about this book is that it was hot and smutty.I really enjoyed reading it , I almost cried a few times and I felt the characters anguish .The best things about the book were the hero and the heroine , he wasn't overbearing and she wasn't a blushing virgin . I hate reading too many books about shy blushing heroines.She was naughty and she knew it.
I had a few problems with it.
It felt that I had started reading from middle of the book , there were people and things that I should have known but I didn't. I kept thinking this book can't be the first in the series. But I clearly remembered that it was the first book in the series .Long story short after finishing the book I checked Goodreads and yes I was both right and wrong. It is book #1 in the series but there is a #0.5 book and the whole series is spin-off of another series by Victoria Dahl.
The other problem was the ending , the whole book went in a moderate pace and then all of a sudden **bang bang** and everything was finished , they were in love and all the bad things and their doubts evaporated and THE END! An epilogue or at least one more chapter was necessary to make it a smooth ending.
I have read 7 books by Victoria Dahl and enjoyed most of them and this one wasn't an exception.
July 8, 2016
I feel it's important to point out that this novel follows the plot of another Dahl novel (Too Hot to Handle) and while you could probably read this without it, you'll be missing part of the story.
So far this is one of my favourite books by Dahl. In general all of her characters have issues and that was the case here too. Both Alex and Sophie have been shaped by their past, or in this case, the scandal in their past. (Alex's dad ran away with Sophie's mom)
However they both dealt with their situation in their own way. Alex by leaving his family behind and Sophie by never ever leaving (because she doesn't want to repeat her mom's mistakes)
The romance is interesting. As usual there's no insta-love but lots and lots of insta lust. And their relationship makes sense. The pacing is good and while there's some drama it didn't feel excessive to me.
So far this is one of my favourite books by Dahl. In general all of her characters have issues and that was the case here too. Both Alex and Sophie have been shaped by their past, or in this case, the scandal in their past. (Alex's dad ran away with Sophie's mom)
However they both dealt with their situation in their own way. Alex by leaving his family behind and Sophie by never ever leaving (because she doesn't want to repeat her mom's mistakes)
The romance is interesting. As usual there's no insta-love but lots and lots of insta lust. And their relationship makes sense. The pacing is good and while there's some drama it didn't feel excessive to me.
January 26, 2015
3-3 ½ stars – Contemporary/Small Town Romance
I liked this, but I hated the hero’s bitter, crazed mother and the way she and others in the town treated the heroine. I spent way too much of the book frustrated that the heroine didn’t stand up for herself, and the hero didn’t really defend her honor to my satisfaction, either. At least there was some super steamy, fun, sexy times between the H/h to keep my interest.
I liked this, but I hated the hero’s bitter, crazed mother and the way she and others in the town treated the heroine. I spent way too much of the book frustrated that the heroine didn’t stand up for herself, and the hero didn’t really defend her honor to my satisfaction, either. At least there was some super steamy, fun, sexy times between the H/h to keep my interest.
June 1, 2015
Easy reading, good writing, high steam level.
When Alex rolls into town to attend his father's memorial service, he finds himself wrapped up in a fling that nearly defines 'forbidden love'. As Alex and Sophie tear through their clothing (and secrets) and hide from everyone, they figure out the trouble they cause is just the sort they need.
I made a comment (joking) while reading that the title should have been "Looking for Closure"...and that's partly true. This is truly a story about two people who are closing the door on the monster of their pasts.
A really good beginning, slowing toward the middle, their story picked back up with some upper echelon drama toward the end. Heavy on the feels - I was sobbing at one point because I felt for Sophie so damn much.
My issues with the story are personal. I'm not sure Alex really redeemed himself in my head. I feel like I get where he was coming from, but still thought he handled everything so poorly. And Rose's character was extreme - even with the explanation.
In a way, I didn't see how Sophie and Alex could have their HEA, but Dahl really got down to the nitty gritty and worked it out - with everyone - fathers, brothers, mothers...everyone.
When Alex rolls into town to attend his father's memorial service, he finds himself wrapped up in a fling that nearly defines 'forbidden love'. As Alex and Sophie tear through their clothing (and secrets) and hide from everyone, they figure out the trouble they cause is just the sort they need.
I made a comment (joking) while reading that the title should have been "Looking for Closure"...and that's partly true. This is truly a story about two people who are closing the door on the monster of their pasts.
A really good beginning, slowing toward the middle, their story picked back up with some upper echelon drama toward the end. Heavy on the feels - I was sobbing at one point because I felt for Sophie so damn much.
My issues with the story are personal. I'm not sure Alex really redeemed himself in my head. I feel like I get where he was coming from, but still thought he handled everything so poorly. And Rose's character was extreme - even with the explanation.
In a way, I didn't see how Sophie and Alex could have their HEA, but Dahl really got down to the nitty gritty and worked it out - with everyone - fathers, brothers, mothers...everyone.
January 16, 2015
3.5/5; 4 stars; B+
If you are in the mood for a contemporary romance that isn't too angsty but has likeable characters with an interesting history, you might like this. The two main characters each have some baggage from childhood that is weirdly interconnected. When they meet as adults they have to untangle those issues before they can really get anywhere. I liked it and will keep an eye out for the next one in this series.
If you are in the mood for a contemporary romance that isn't too angsty but has likeable characters with an interesting history, you might like this. The two main characters each have some baggage from childhood that is weirdly interconnected. When they meet as adults they have to untangle those issues before they can really get anywhere. I liked it and will keep an eye out for the next one in this series.
June 27, 2014
This was a great start to Victoria Dahl's new "Jackson Girl's Night Out" series.
I loved the complexity of the characters, and it had a really good story-line.
I'll post a full review closer to release date.
I loved the complexity of the characters, and it had a really good story-line.
I'll post a full review closer to release date.
February 15, 2025
Ok, there's a lot of slut shaming in this book, specifically from the hero's mother. And the book is aware of what it's doing and rightfully calls out her behavior. I've read some of this author's work and wanted to try more and I really enjoyed this book. It had heat, great chemistry between the leads, a very engrossing plot, a small town setting, family drama, and excellent character development, all without relying on an abundance of tropes. In short, it was everything I've been missing lately in my contemporary romances.
Content Notes: slut shaming, dead parents, complicated grief, toxic parental relationship
Content Notes: slut shaming, dead parents, complicated grief, toxic parental relationship
August 27, 2018
Biker + librarian = YES.
June 5, 2014
3 - 3.5 Stars!
I liked this book!
Small town, lots' of drama.
Sophie and Ale's family have a tangled history.
When her mom and his dad ran away together 25 years ago the town was alive with rumors and scandal then finding their 25 year old remains 24 years later on the outskirts of town created a bit of talk around the town. Not like Alex Bishop would know, he's been gone for 16 years. Returning home wasn't on his list of things to-do but his brother Shaun all but forces him too. Back home to his crazy mother who can't let the past go after all these years.
What he doesn't expect is to run into the town "whore" as his mother likes to call her, same red hair and looks just like her "whore mother" Sophie. Even more surprising the two have an intense chemistry. Keeping their love affair a secret is what's best. He's leaving after his father's dedication ceremony and she rather not have his mother harass her and spread even more lies about her.
Neither of them can face reality when the truth comes out, and not so quietly either …
----
This book was really good! I just got confused quite a bit while reading it.
1. How old is Sophies best friend Lauren? We know Sophie is 29, I was assuming her best friend was too, she's dating a firefighter and Isabella (the other friend) sounds young as well. Well that all turned upside-down at about 90% of the book when Lauren mentions she's loves her son to pieces but he's in college now .. I had to read it like 3 times to make sure I was reading it right. I mean theres nothing wrong with having older friends, but I never would've gotten she was like 25+ years Sophies senior. Its never mentioned until the book is basically over that she has a son in college.
2. I'm confused why Sophie likes it rough? The way they portray it there should be a reason, but you never learn the motives behind it, or why she likes to be called a whore so much ….
4. The settings switched around a lot without any indication. The end she was on his motorcycle and they were talking as they continue talking it says they were in the airport. I'm not sure if they teleported there (which would be awesome) but I noticed that happened a lot they'd start a conversation and while they were talking end up somewhere completely different, It was a bit confusing.
Overall i liked the book! I'd have rated it a bit higher if I didn't get lost so much but it was still pretty good!
I liked this book!
Small town, lots' of drama.
Sophie and Ale's family have a tangled history.
When her mom and his dad ran away together 25 years ago the town was alive with rumors and scandal then finding their 25 year old remains 24 years later on the outskirts of town created a bit of talk around the town. Not like Alex Bishop would know, he's been gone for 16 years. Returning home wasn't on his list of things to-do but his brother Shaun all but forces him too. Back home to his crazy mother who can't let the past go after all these years.
What he doesn't expect is to run into the town "whore" as his mother likes to call her, same red hair and looks just like her "whore mother" Sophie. Even more surprising the two have an intense chemistry. Keeping their love affair a secret is what's best. He's leaving after his father's dedication ceremony and she rather not have his mother harass her and spread even more lies about her.
Neither of them can face reality when the truth comes out, and not so quietly either …
----
This book was really good! I just got confused quite a bit while reading it.
1. How old is Sophies best friend Lauren? We know Sophie is 29, I was assuming her best friend was too, she's dating a firefighter and Isabella (the other friend) sounds young as well. Well that all turned upside-down at about 90% of the book when Lauren mentions she's loves her son to pieces but he's in college now .. I had to read it like 3 times to make sure I was reading it right. I mean theres nothing wrong with having older friends, but I never would've gotten she was like 25+ years Sophies senior. Its never mentioned until the book is basically over that she has a son in college.
2. I'm confused why Sophie likes it rough? The way they portray it there should be a reason, but you never learn the motives behind it, or why she likes to be called a whore so much ….
4. The settings switched around a lot without any indication. The end she was on his motorcycle and they were talking as they continue talking it says they were in the airport. I'm not sure if they teleported there (which would be awesome) but I noticed that happened a lot they'd start a conversation and while they were talking end up somewhere completely different, It was a bit confusing.
Overall i liked the book! I'd have rated it a bit higher if I didn't get lost so much but it was still pretty good!
June 17, 2014
Ok....stinkin LOVED Alex Bishop...Oh Momma!! Yes...my ladies who love a bad-boy biker...you will want to meet ALEX BISHOP!! I just like saying his name!! and Sophie was friggin awesome, and if these two were more stinkin cute and HOTT with a capital "H" and Two "T's"....Oh Momma!!
Yes, the sex is unbelievably hot, and you will need a cold shower after, BUT, they were just so "perfect" for each other, these two unexpected lovers...it was just so sweet and Dahl captured the essence of these two people who became more "themselves" with each other. I believe that is what love truly is...being with someone who makes you a better person.
I love the "scandal" and the emotions they were both feeling having to deal with the new repercussions from the "discovery" of their parents bodies...My poor Sophie...her story and all the things she kept inside was heart breaking.
I just LOVED this book, and the series is so far SO MUCH FUN...but with a Victoria Dahl Romance...you can ALWAYS expect a whole lotta fun!!
Yes, the sex is unbelievably hot, and you will need a cold shower after, BUT, they were just so "perfect" for each other, these two unexpected lovers...it was just so sweet and Dahl captured the essence of these two people who became more "themselves" with each other. I believe that is what love truly is...being with someone who makes you a better person.
I love the "scandal" and the emotions they were both feeling having to deal with the new repercussions from the "discovery" of their parents bodies...My poor Sophie...her story and all the things she kept inside was heart breaking.
I just LOVED this book, and the series is so far SO MUCH FUN...but with a Victoria Dahl Romance...you can ALWAYS expect a whole lotta fun!!
August 8, 2014
So.. I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. Ultimately, I found the characters flat. Because they were flat, their motivations came across as weak, which meant the romance was mostly built on sexual attraction/compatibility and nothing else.
As a librarian, I am certainly sensitive to the stereotypes. I really preferred the Sophie in the novella Fanning the Flames - innocent exterior hiding a smutty sense of humor and a well-honed sense of self-worth. A lot of that was undone in this book, and instead I just got someone obsessed with 1950s clothes and self-repression.
Additionally, I really did not appreciate the almost magical way Alex "just knew" that the Sophie was into the kinkier end of the spectrum. Yes, certainly, there are intuitions and clues that empathetic, smart sexual partners can pick up on and work with. But yeah, you also have to talk about consent too. And a better book would have made those very necessary conversations super goddamn sexy too.
As a librarian, I am certainly sensitive to the stereotypes. I really preferred the Sophie in the novella Fanning the Flames - innocent exterior hiding a smutty sense of humor and a well-honed sense of self-worth. A lot of that was undone in this book, and instead I just got someone obsessed with 1950s clothes and self-repression.
Additionally, I really did not appreciate the almost magical way Alex "just knew" that the Sophie was into the kinkier end of the spectrum. Yes, certainly, there are intuitions and clues that empathetic, smart sexual partners can pick up on and work with. But yeah, you also have to talk about consent too. And a better book would have made those very necessary conversations super goddamn sexy too.
July 1, 2015
I can't decide who I loved more, Alex or Sophie. Actually, I think I love Victoria Dahl best, for her fun, honest, realistic, sex-positive small town romances. She gets small towns. She gets people. She makes a safe space for women to have exciting but safe sexual adventures. And this is why I'm working through her backlist so slowly, because I want to savor that. <3
Thanks, Dahl. <3
Thanks, Dahl. <3
August 3, 2014
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read
February 8, 2015Finally lost my Victoria Dahl virginity! :) Really enjoyed this one.
July 29, 2014
When I recently read the novella that kicks off this new series, I really hoped I’d enjoy the first full length book as much as I enjoyed the previous story. And hooray, I did! This book has a sexy hero, a sexy heroine and just the right amount of conflict.
Twenty-Five years ago, Sophie’s mother and Alex’s dad ran away together, only to disappear and never be heard from again. Later it was discovered they died in an accident, but the betrayal and the abandonment on both sides was very hard to deal with. In present day, Sophie has stuck around her hometown, helping her aging father take care of the business side of his ranch. A librarian, she often drives to her dad’s house to help him with his books, as her lazy brother sleeps the day away. The scandal of her mother running away has always clouded Sophie and her family, but she does her best to try to live her own life and keep a good reputation. All of this changes though when Alex roars into town on his motorcycle.
Alex (shaved head, tons of tattoos, motorcylce…come to mama) left his broken family the first chance he got. His mother has never gotten over his father leaving and even in present day still holds on to those memories. Alex put himself through college becoming a groundwater engineer, making sure oil companies are complying with regulations. He travels all over the world for his job, and likes it that way. He hasn’t seen his mother or brother for a very long time. But when his mother decides to have a funeral service for his father (yes 25 years after he left) his brother convinces him to come back home for a few days to attend. He grudgingly comes back. And it’s then when he meets Sophie. At first he doesn’t know Sophie is the daughter of the woman who ran off with his father. But his mother, who viciously hates Sophie soon clues him in. Cue the drama. But Alex doesn’t scare off easily, and with the sexy Sophie around, it’s hard for him to pack up and get back to his life.
You know what I liked best about this book? How many people judge Sophie for the mistakes of her mother (especially Alex’s mom) yet, Alex doesn’t. Yay Alex! He is grumpy, and mad because he is forced to spend time with his family, but when he learns that Sophie’s mom is the one that ran away with his dad, he doesn’t blame her. Even with his ill mother ranting and raving every second she can. This has a big impact on Sophie. She consciously tries to have a clean reputation, always attempting to be modest and polite. But her real personality is bigger and more adventuresome. Alex falls for Sophie because she has so much to offer than what people see. She is funny, confident, flirty…she has big dreams but the weight of her aging father and useless brother on her hands. She is loyal to her family and a hard worker. And damn sexy. I really enjoyed her.
Alex – oh Alex. Big. Tattooed. Harder edge. The first time he takes Sophie on his motorcycle
Alex kept his eyes straight on the road, but all this concentration was focused on one small place. He took a deep breath and let it out, then slowly spread his fingers out on her thigh, edging an inch under the hem of her skirt.
She didn’t tense. She didn’t stiffen against him or clear her throat or nudge him with her clasped hands.
Alex slowed around another curve, then, as he straightened the bike out again, he slipped his hand a centimeter higher on her thigh. Then another.
His fingertips tingled from the intensity, the anticipation. And finally, he felt it. The smooth seam at the top of the stocking, The slightest rise of the edge. Then..bare skin. Bare hot skin. She was wearing stockings. And a garter belt. Holy shit. Something feral inside him roused itself.
Lauren from the previous novella, Fanning the Flames made me laugh the hardest in this book when she drops by Sophie’s house with some cinnamon rolls, unaware that Alex is there (or even who Alex is):
Alex had turned off the shower.
Lauren froze. Her eyes flew toward the far wall. The shower door squeaked.
“Anyway!” Sophie sang, as if that would distract her friend. Strangely, her ploy didn’t work.
Lauren’s gaze began to stutter over different parts of the room. The man’s T-shirt crumpled on the couch? Check. The empty beer bottles next to the sink? Check. The bedroom door opening to reveal a big, naked, tattooed beast of a man wearing nothing but a white towel around his waist? Oh, fuck yes, that was probably a big check mark, too.
“Oh, shit,” Lauren murmured. “I guess that’s better than a cinnamon roll.”
As this series is titled Girlfriend’s Night Out, Dahl gives us good girlfriend time and relationships. I also like the way it ends. There is the I love you exchange, but their entire future isn’t mapped out. This is really only the very beginning of their relationship and some might want a little more conclusion but I thought it the story well.
I had a lot of fun reading this one. Excited for more in this series.
Rating: B
Twenty-Five years ago, Sophie’s mother and Alex’s dad ran away together, only to disappear and never be heard from again. Later it was discovered they died in an accident, but the betrayal and the abandonment on both sides was very hard to deal with. In present day, Sophie has stuck around her hometown, helping her aging father take care of the business side of his ranch. A librarian, she often drives to her dad’s house to help him with his books, as her lazy brother sleeps the day away. The scandal of her mother running away has always clouded Sophie and her family, but she does her best to try to live her own life and keep a good reputation. All of this changes though when Alex roars into town on his motorcycle.
Alex (shaved head, tons of tattoos, motorcylce…come to mama) left his broken family the first chance he got. His mother has never gotten over his father leaving and even in present day still holds on to those memories. Alex put himself through college becoming a groundwater engineer, making sure oil companies are complying with regulations. He travels all over the world for his job, and likes it that way. He hasn’t seen his mother or brother for a very long time. But when his mother decides to have a funeral service for his father (yes 25 years after he left) his brother convinces him to come back home for a few days to attend. He grudgingly comes back. And it’s then when he meets Sophie. At first he doesn’t know Sophie is the daughter of the woman who ran off with his father. But his mother, who viciously hates Sophie soon clues him in. Cue the drama. But Alex doesn’t scare off easily, and with the sexy Sophie around, it’s hard for him to pack up and get back to his life.
You know what I liked best about this book? How many people judge Sophie for the mistakes of her mother (especially Alex’s mom) yet, Alex doesn’t. Yay Alex! He is grumpy, and mad because he is forced to spend time with his family, but when he learns that Sophie’s mom is the one that ran away with his dad, he doesn’t blame her. Even with his ill mother ranting and raving every second she can. This has a big impact on Sophie. She consciously tries to have a clean reputation, always attempting to be modest and polite. But her real personality is bigger and more adventuresome. Alex falls for Sophie because she has so much to offer than what people see. She is funny, confident, flirty…she has big dreams but the weight of her aging father and useless brother on her hands. She is loyal to her family and a hard worker. And damn sexy. I really enjoyed her.
Alex – oh Alex. Big. Tattooed. Harder edge. The first time he takes Sophie on his motorcycle
Alex kept his eyes straight on the road, but all this concentration was focused on one small place. He took a deep breath and let it out, then slowly spread his fingers out on her thigh, edging an inch under the hem of her skirt.
She didn’t tense. She didn’t stiffen against him or clear her throat or nudge him with her clasped hands.
Alex slowed around another curve, then, as he straightened the bike out again, he slipped his hand a centimeter higher on her thigh. Then another.
His fingertips tingled from the intensity, the anticipation. And finally, he felt it. The smooth seam at the top of the stocking, The slightest rise of the edge. Then..bare skin. Bare hot skin. She was wearing stockings. And a garter belt. Holy shit. Something feral inside him roused itself.
Lauren from the previous novella, Fanning the Flames made me laugh the hardest in this book when she drops by Sophie’s house with some cinnamon rolls, unaware that Alex is there (or even who Alex is):
Alex had turned off the shower.
Lauren froze. Her eyes flew toward the far wall. The shower door squeaked.
“Anyway!” Sophie sang, as if that would distract her friend. Strangely, her ploy didn’t work.
Lauren’s gaze began to stutter over different parts of the room. The man’s T-shirt crumpled on the couch? Check. The empty beer bottles next to the sink? Check. The bedroom door opening to reveal a big, naked, tattooed beast of a man wearing nothing but a white towel around his waist? Oh, fuck yes, that was probably a big check mark, too.
“Oh, shit,” Lauren murmured. “I guess that’s better than a cinnamon roll.”
As this series is titled Girlfriend’s Night Out, Dahl gives us good girlfriend time and relationships. I also like the way it ends. There is the I love you exchange, but their entire future isn’t mapped out. This is really only the very beginning of their relationship and some might want a little more conclusion but I thought it the story well.
I had a lot of fun reading this one. Excited for more in this series.
Rating: B
September 1, 2025
This was alternately really hot and really heavy, so, obviously a perfect lil treat 4 me
August 18, 2014
Victoria Dahl is a new-to-me author. So, basically, I am not familiar with her kind of romance. I genuinely think that the “romance” is the weakest part of this story for me. In addition, it leans heavily more on the smutty and erotic kind of romance, which has never been a favorite of mine. I’m sure that readers who are fans of Victoria Dahl’s stories could enjoy this more than I. Maybe I am just not her target market.
Let me start with the good things first. The family drama is actually quite captivating, if you take it like a huge soap-opera kind of plot that is! I know that the drama is quite heavy and CRAZY, but somehow, I just can’t stop myself from reading it. I can’t turn my eyes from my Kindle as it unravels.
See, twenty five years ago, Alex’s father ran away with Sophie’s mom, and years later, Alex’s older brother found out that they both were actually dead because of an accident. Ever since her husband went missing, Alex’s mother was going downhill. She is said to be better, but the fact that Sophie grows up looking like her mother, makes Alex’s mother adamant to ruin Sophie’s life. She is horrible to her, calling her names, practically bullying her. It is completely one insane drama, but like I said, I just can’t stop reading it. It is a wreck but one that somehow makes me keep turning the pages to see what other mad things will happen (oh, and they do happen!)
Another thing that I love is Sophie’s relationship with her father. I love Sophie’s father –yes, he has been hurt because of the scandal as well, but he stays positive for his children. I love those moments of the two of them together, and Sophie’s father encouraging his daughter to reach her dreams. He’s really such a good guy.
Now, the things that I didn’t like…
First , I’m NOT buying Alex and Sophie’s romance. Lust, maybe, because they seem to connect only through sex, sex and sex. But outside of that, I find it hard to believe. On top of that, I totally don’t understand Sophie’s need to be a bad girl, or her need for rough sex, or even being called “whore” during sex. Why is that? For someone who is trying so hard NOT to be reminded of her mother, it’s totally out of character for Sophie. Nope, don’t understand.
Second , while I slightly understand that Alex is fed up with his mother and prefers to stay away, I find that his anger towards his older brother, Shane, who chose to stay home and take care of their mother, to be, well, ANNOYING. I’m sorry, Alex, but there is clearly something mentally WRONG with your mother and your way to deal with it is to blame her AND thinking that Shane betrays you? What is WRONG with you, Alex??! Then, instead of apologizing to Shane, Alex actually says “We were scared, and I reacted with anger and frustration, and you tried to fix it with hope. Neither of us was wrong. I’m sorry it took me so long to forgive you.” Well, excuse me, if I was Shane, I would say this “F*ck you Alex, for being all mighty, where were you when I was busy taking care of OUR mom? I’m only a year older than you are, you ungrateful brother.” Yep, that is what I will say to Alex. Shane is just way too patient.
Third , Alex’s mother’s mental health seems to be glossed over in quick explanation. It feels like the author is trying to make readers sympathize for the mother’s bitchiness and her spiraling down the black hole of depression and insanity. I don’t like it – it’s too much of an easy way out.
And fourth , the ending … man, what kind of ending is that? I can take HFN, but this feels totally rushed, without even a real promise of HFN. I mean, I like my HFN to have better closure as well.
Oh, and I also feel like this is not a start of a series but more like, a middle one? Like there are things that happened before Chapter 1 that I don’t know about. I only later found out that there’s a short story that precedes this one, so that might be the reason.
So, it’s pretty good and fast-paced for a contemporary romance, the mad drama sure kept me intrigued. However, at the same time, it is not completely satisfying for my personal reading experience.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Let me start with the good things first. The family drama is actually quite captivating, if you take it like a huge soap-opera kind of plot that is! I know that the drama is quite heavy and CRAZY, but somehow, I just can’t stop myself from reading it. I can’t turn my eyes from my Kindle as it unravels.
See, twenty five years ago, Alex’s father ran away with Sophie’s mom, and years later, Alex’s older brother found out that they both were actually dead because of an accident. Ever since her husband went missing, Alex’s mother was going downhill. She is said to be better, but the fact that Sophie grows up looking like her mother, makes Alex’s mother adamant to ruin Sophie’s life. She is horrible to her, calling her names, practically bullying her. It is completely one insane drama, but like I said, I just can’t stop reading it. It is a wreck but one that somehow makes me keep turning the pages to see what other mad things will happen (oh, and they do happen!)
Another thing that I love is Sophie’s relationship with her father. I love Sophie’s father –yes, he has been hurt because of the scandal as well, but he stays positive for his children. I love those moments of the two of them together, and Sophie’s father encouraging his daughter to reach her dreams. He’s really such a good guy.
Now, the things that I didn’t like…
First , I’m NOT buying Alex and Sophie’s romance. Lust, maybe, because they seem to connect only through sex, sex and sex. But outside of that, I find it hard to believe. On top of that, I totally don’t understand Sophie’s need to be a bad girl, or her need for rough sex, or even being called “whore” during sex. Why is that? For someone who is trying so hard NOT to be reminded of her mother, it’s totally out of character for Sophie. Nope, don’t understand.
Second , while I slightly understand that Alex is fed up with his mother and prefers to stay away, I find that his anger towards his older brother, Shane, who chose to stay home and take care of their mother, to be, well, ANNOYING. I’m sorry, Alex, but there is clearly something mentally WRONG with your mother and your way to deal with it is to blame her AND thinking that Shane betrays you? What is WRONG with you, Alex??! Then, instead of apologizing to Shane, Alex actually says “We were scared, and I reacted with anger and frustration, and you tried to fix it with hope. Neither of us was wrong. I’m sorry it took me so long to forgive you.” Well, excuse me, if I was Shane, I would say this “F*ck you Alex, for being all mighty, where were you when I was busy taking care of OUR mom? I’m only a year older than you are, you ungrateful brother.” Yep, that is what I will say to Alex. Shane is just way too patient.
Third , Alex’s mother’s mental health seems to be glossed over in quick explanation. It feels like the author is trying to make readers sympathize for the mother’s bitchiness and her spiraling down the black hole of depression and insanity. I don’t like it – it’s too much of an easy way out.
And fourth , the ending … man, what kind of ending is that? I can take HFN, but this feels totally rushed, without even a real promise of HFN. I mean, I like my HFN to have better closure as well.
Oh, and I also feel like this is not a start of a series but more like, a middle one? Like there are things that happened before Chapter 1 that I don’t know about. I only later found out that there’s a short story that precedes this one, so that might be the reason.
So, it’s pretty good and fast-paced for a contemporary romance, the mad drama sure kept me intrigued. However, at the same time, it is not completely satisfying for my personal reading experience.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
August 22, 2014
I want Victoria Dahl to write ALL the books from now on!
The Characters
Sophie Heyer I absolutely LOVED Sophie! Despite tragedy and ridicule growing up she became such a strong woman. She had her issues but who doesn't, right? I really loved her naughty librarian vibe and she is now my career role model.
Alex Bishop In the book Lauren (from Fanning the Flames) has this to say about Alex "Oh, my God. If I didn’t have a hot firefighter waiting at home, I’d knock you out and assume your identity." This pretty much sums him up. This big burly biker with a shaved head and tattoos will make you want to beat a chick down just to step into her shoes and go home to him. He may be gruff and kinda scary looking but he is so sweet.
I'm so happy she and Alex found each other. The are so combustible in bed but so good for each other in life.
The Story
Shared tragedy brings our couple together in this book. The untimely death of Alex's father and Sophie's mother is discovered in Too Hot to Handle bringing Alex back home for a memorial service. Mayhem ensues. I won't go into the details but man, what a story. The highlights: crazy mother, crazy brother, an unflappable step father, makes the reader ugly cry confessions, wild sex and a truly sweet love story. I dug every minute of it.
Random Thoughts
Did I mention I want Victoria to write all the books? For my page by page-ish revelations click the link below.
Read With Me: Looking for Trouble
The Characters
Sophie Heyer I absolutely LOVED Sophie! Despite tragedy and ridicule growing up she became such a strong woman. She had her issues but who doesn't, right? I really loved her naughty librarian vibe and she is now my career role model.
Alex Bishop In the book Lauren (from Fanning the Flames) has this to say about Alex "Oh, my God. If I didn’t have a hot firefighter waiting at home, I’d knock you out and assume your identity." This pretty much sums him up. This big burly biker with a shaved head and tattoos will make you want to beat a chick down just to step into her shoes and go home to him. He may be gruff and kinda scary looking but he is so sweet.
I'm so happy she and Alex found each other. The are so combustible in bed but so good for each other in life.
The Story
Shared tragedy brings our couple together in this book. The untimely death of Alex's father and Sophie's mother is discovered in Too Hot to Handle bringing Alex back home for a memorial service. Mayhem ensues. I won't go into the details but man, what a story. The highlights: crazy mother, crazy brother, an unflappable step father, makes the reader ugly cry confessions, wild sex and a truly sweet love story. I dug every minute of it.
Random Thoughts
Did I mention I want Victoria to write all the books? For my page by page-ish revelations click the link below.
Read With Me: Looking for Trouble
June 17, 2014
Things I love about Victoria Dahl:
1. She never writes the same heroine twice. They're reserved, or the life of the party, or intellectual, or walled off, or emotionally generous. Or a bunch of those things mixed together. They feel like actual people, rather than just another iteration of a perfectly imperfect romance novel heroine.
2. Victoria Dahl is unfailingly sex-positive. And I don't mean this in a "wow you read trashy romance novels for the juicy parts" way. I mean that her characters have active sex lives, ask for what they want in bed, and refuse to be shamed for consenting adult relationships. Even in the spiciest romance novels, characters are sometimes judged for that. There's the whorish ex-girlfriend who had too many exes and he should have known she was bad news. There's the best friend who sleeps around and can't find any happiness until she settles down. Not forever happiness, mind you, any happiness. Victoria Dahl never does this.
3. She writes great friendships. This is something that's often lacking in books in general, for me. Or maybe I'm just not finding them, but still. Victoria Dahl's friendships feel like my friendships. A bunch of girls who are nice and normal, like to get together and drink wine, occasionally talk dirty, are supportive of each other, and sometimes tell each other the hard truths. They're not perfect, but they always care.
And Looking for Trouble has all of those things. I swear, it's like it was written for me specifically. It has my favorite type of hero (super tall, shaved bald, beardy, tattooed, etc.). It has a naughty librarian heroine with a good-girl image. It has a kitten! My favorite things. I raced through it, and can't wait for the rest of the series.
1. She never writes the same heroine twice. They're reserved, or the life of the party, or intellectual, or walled off, or emotionally generous. Or a bunch of those things mixed together. They feel like actual people, rather than just another iteration of a perfectly imperfect romance novel heroine.
2. Victoria Dahl is unfailingly sex-positive. And I don't mean this in a "wow you read trashy romance novels for the juicy parts" way. I mean that her characters have active sex lives, ask for what they want in bed, and refuse to be shamed for consenting adult relationships. Even in the spiciest romance novels, characters are sometimes judged for that. There's the whorish ex-girlfriend who had too many exes and he should have known she was bad news. There's the best friend who sleeps around and can't find any happiness until she settles down. Not forever happiness, mind you, any happiness. Victoria Dahl never does this.
3. She writes great friendships. This is something that's often lacking in books in general, for me. Or maybe I'm just not finding them, but still. Victoria Dahl's friendships feel like my friendships. A bunch of girls who are nice and normal, like to get together and drink wine, occasionally talk dirty, are supportive of each other, and sometimes tell each other the hard truths. They're not perfect, but they always care.
And Looking for Trouble has all of those things. I swear, it's like it was written for me specifically. It has my favorite type of hero (super tall, shaved bald, beardy, tattooed, etc.). It has a naughty librarian heroine with a good-girl image. It has a kitten! My favorite things. I raced through it, and can't wait for the rest of the series.
August 6, 2014
I wasn't sure if i was going to like this one but it quickly picked up and drew me in. You have this big but old scandal that just won't die. Sophie's mom and Alex's dad ran away together years ago. They both disappeared but it took a while to figure out the two disappearances were related. Alex's brother found the bodies in the middle of no where in a deep crevice in the camper their dad owned. That finally broke the story on what officially happened to them. Now Sophie is trying to live in her small hometown but Alex's mother won't let her be. This is a case of accusing the daughter of being just like the mother for no reason. Alex has been gone for years. Soon as he was able he took off and left Jackson Hole and his mother who took him and his brother on impromtu trips to places she thought her husband supposedly could be when they thought he'd only been missing. This went on for years after he disappeared and Alex fed up with it and his older brother for supporting their mother's crazy ideas. Now he's back for a short time to attend a memorial service for his dad he wants no part of. Things heat up though when Alex meets Sophie and figures out she is not as button up and staid as she is trying to appear. She rocks the sexy librarian look and Alex is a shaved headed, tattoo covered motorcycle hottie! Alex doesn't blame Sophie for what her mother did and knows that his dad would have to share any blame. He brings out the adventurous side she's been trying to hide publicly for years. Amazingly fun book to read. The girlfriends of Sophie cracked me up. True friends! I was cheering for Alex and Sophie to find their way in all the mess. Great start to a new series.
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