Taming Nick

Perception #3

by Shandi Boyes

I don't just have the package: looks, stamina, and a smile that makes girls weak at the knees, I am the package. My name is Nicholas Holt—or “The Player” to those who know me best. I'm the man your mother warned you about. The self-described playboy with no intentions to settle down. I party hard, play hard, and the wall around my heart is the hardest of them all. But like all good tales, a story can't unfold without the gut-twisting hairpins we call life.

A pretty blonde with dazzling blue eyes was one terrifying dip I never saw coming. Against screaming protests, she forced my cart off the tracks. Her name is Jenni—or “The Player Slayer” as I refer to her.

With a killer smile, and an ability to deflect my wooing charm, will she have what it takes to bring this player to his knees? Or will lies, deception, and a deranged stalker cause one too many kinks in the craziest ride of all—the ride of love?

Although this is book four in the Perception Series, it can be read as a standalone! It's recommended for those over the age of eighteen.
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For TWs please visit the author's website.

Genres: Romance

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2019

About the author

Shandi Boyes is a USA Today Bestselling Author who was an avid reader for many years before she discovered the love of writing in February 2016. Her first penned novel 'Perception of Life’ is a new adult rockstar romance that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat until the very last word.

In September 2016, her focus shifted to hot alpha men in steamy contemporary reads that sizzle off the pages. Shandi’s novel ‘Enigma of Life’ is an award-winning story on an FBI agent and the subject she was assigned to investigate. Her men are swoon-worthy, devoted, and alpha; and her heroines are strong-willed, determined, and loveable. You should start her stories first thing in the morning, or you may not sleep.

You will laugh and you will cry, but Shandi's characters will stay with you for a lifetime!

Join my newsletter: subscribepage.com/authorshandi

SERIES ORDER:
Perception of Life (Noah and Emily #1)
Reality of Life (conclusion of Noah's story #2)
Fight of Life (Jacob's story - standalone #3)
Player of Life (Nick & Jenny - standalone #4)
Beats of Life (Slater's story - standalone #5)

Enigma:

Enigma of Life (Isaac #1) - ** FREE **
Unraveling an Enigma (Isaac #2)
Enigma: The Mystery Unmasked (Isaac #3)
Enigma: The Final Chapter (conclusion of Isaac's story #4)
Beneath the Secrets (Hugo #1)
Beneath the Sheets (Hugo #2)
Spy Thy Neighbor (Hunter's Story)
The Opposite Effect
I Married a Mob Boss
Second Shot

Bound:

Chains
Links
Bound
Restrained

Russian Mob Chronicles:

Nikolai: A Mafia Prince Romance
Nikolai: Taking Back What's Mine
Nikolai: What's Left of Me

You will laugh and you will cry, but my characters will stay with you forever!

I love writing and reading. They are both my passion. My genre is generally set to new adult and contemporary, with a few twists thrown in.

Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Author-Shand...

Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01D8C13WU

Enjoy reading!

Reviews

[Yvette89 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nick is a player. Everyone knows it and he makes no excuses. Jenny has already been played so she knows Nick is not good for her. He is persistent and she is resistant. Everyone warns her away. She sees a side of Nick that he rarely shows anyone else. The more she seethe more she wants. The chemistry is off the charts. When they finally get together other forces keep trying to pull them apart. A story of angst and drama that ends in a HEA. Good character growth and lovable characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[CS · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars


Nick was a total player and unlikeable with rules he followed as he used women like tissue paper. His exploits were as distasteful as his internal dialogue and reasoning when it came to women. The opening scene as he was caught cheating with Slater’s fiancée was kind of sickening.
Jenni was the woman who stood above all the others as Nick broke his rules for her and only her. His past came up to haunt him again and again and the consequences of his horrible mistreatments of women bring danger to Jenni and their baby.
While I liked the way his love for her transformed him, I felt for Jenni as she had to put up a lot because of his past actions.
A bit of drama with his exes, but it all turned out at the end. I enjoyed the multiple POVs. Megan’s POV was a nice touch in getting into her twisted mind.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book quite a bit. There were some things that were handled well, but others that make no sense.

I didn't come across any grammatic errors or typos that jumped out at me, so that was nice.

The story takes place all along the same time as Saving Noah, which was expected, but it wasn't so entwined that there is a lot of repeat information like what was seen in book 2. Just enough to keep the story moving along, but apart enough to make this its own story, rather than piggybacking off of Noah and Emily's story.

The biggest thing that caught my attention that took me out of the story as I tried to figure things out is the mention of Hawke at the very end. Who the heck is this person? I have no recollection of who they are, but according to the author this person is a close part of the family. If this is a character that will be introduced later, did nobody realize that readers have no clue who this is right now?
Also, reading another review, I also agreed with one of their concerns. We are still trying to figure out who Jacob’s dad hooked up with and brought to wedding (from book 2). It came across as so mysterious, but nothing was really explained and nothing went further into it.

I am looking forward to continuing this series.
I would read this book again, and I would recommend it to others in the future.

[lf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will he give up his "player" ways for the beautiful Player Slayer

Shandi Boyes did a really good job of writing a wonderful book. Nick is a character that could have come off an really unlikeable but instead I found myself liking him despite what a player/man-whore his is. He reminds me of the Grinch in that he has a heart but it is just two sizes to small. That is until he meets the woman that helps it grow - Jenni. Jenni is sweet but she is not going to fall for Nick's easy charm and panty melting talents, as she has been played once to often before. Instead she tries to keep her distance and her defenses up against him. They may have a lot of chemistry between them but it is going to take some serious work. It doesn't happen in an instant or even overnight but it takes time for these two and there are a lot of bumps along the way but it is so worth it in the end.

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are all my own.

[Oma Iep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taming Nick...
Nick the prick, the self-proclaimed 'player' who has no compunction on moving in on his bandmates missus. Who loves you and leaves you, and has an ego the size of a house. The one who draws us in, despite knowing what he is like. Or at least, we think we know what he's like.
Jenni, down to earth, has her head on right and a firm grip on reality. Who has already been hurt once by a 'player' and recognizes Nick for what he is.
A simple straight forward boy meets girl story, one would think.
But this story is full of twists. Jenni's life is not what it seems, Nick turns out to be the one with strong emotional feelings. To top it all off, Nick also has a psycho stalker.
This story is so much more than 'bad boy meets the good girl' and the twists and surprises make this another great read in this series.
Although the third in a series, it can be read as a stand-alone.

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG THIS COUPLE!!!! MADE MY HEART HURT BUT ITS OH SO GOOD!!
Wow sometimes when you meet the one you just know, but if you are a player then you stupidly fight it or get scared
Jenni had already had a bad experience with a player and knows she should stay away but her body doesn't listen. She is attracted to bad boys and Nick is pushing all her buttons. But miscommunications and lets throw in a stalker and they have to fight for what they want.
This is a brilliant read. The twist and turns just keep coming. It was great to see some old faces and I cant wait to read more from this series. I love Shandi style of writing. She just drags us into the storyline and keeps us hooked. A fantastic read!!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lacinda Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. It is a longer book but so worth the read. I love books that are written like this, yes this is a long book but it doesnt drag. It flows really well and i love how time progresses. I think the span of the book covers 2.5yrs. It makes it feel so much more relatable than books that only cover 6m or so for the main story (alot of epilogues can go years into the future so im not counting that in the span of the main part of the story). Real life doesnt normal work that way, not that it cant but it generally doesnt. And it showed real stuggle and overcoming real life obstacles. Its just a great story and im sure you'll love it too if you decide to read it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in the Perception series. Meet Nichola Holt aka The Player. He sees himself as the perfect package for women with a brick wall around his heart to protect him against feelings. Meet Jenni, she has decided no more playboys for her. She does not want a broken heart again. However, she has captured Nick's attention and she may just be the one to knock down his brick wall. But can he get passed hers? Just life there is always challenges that come up, can Nick and Jenni successfully navigate.them and find a HEA? Enjoy this well.written story that introduces you to great characters with a realistic story line. Check out this series. Enjoy!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Addicted 2 📖 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started to like this book and was looking forward to reading Nick and Jenni’s story.

HOWEVER-
1. it was a bit predictable
2. People in Jenni’s life who played important roles in the first half of the book all of a sudden just vanished with no further mention. 🤔
3. Really? That’s what happens to Megan? She’s mentally unstable!! WTF
4. Who the hell is Hawke??
5. I’m still trying to figure out who Jacob’s dad hooked up with and brought to wedding(that’s from book 2)🥴
6. It’s cool that the author intertwined the characters and a bit of the storylines within all 3 books.
BUT- if that’s to be done, she really needs to keep track of the details and what she writes book to book.

Finally - the ending was a bit cheesy🤷🏻‍♀️

[Jean Dewsbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perception book 3 Taming Nick is an outstanding and beautifully written heartwarming emotional story about a known player man whore Nicolas Holt. The Rock band Rise Up maybe hitting the music charts. But it's what's going on behind the scenes that have you captivated by their struggles and enjoying the lives of the band. Jenni knows she needs to keep her guard up around Nick she knows he is a player and can't risk her heart again being shattered by another player. Nick's older brother Issac makes it clear to his brother Nick that he is always there for him. The stalker the past the present and the future.Its wonderful to read about the other couples.

[Christine St. Pierre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

The two stories before this did not prepare me for the twists and turns between Nick and Jenni! The pacing was great and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.



Spoiler:


The only issue I had was the description of misoprostol. This is a drug that can be used for early abortions as well as for early miscarriages that have failed to complete. However, it is in no way illegal and certainly isn’t only found on the black market in Brazil. I don’t expect most medical terms, procedures and the like to be accurate in books but this was blatantly wrong. I also found it odd that it was described as being used by “minority groups” in New York.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure that I even know where to begin writing a review for this because it is truly an awesome experience.
The author did such a great job developing the characters, that I feel like I really know them, and not just the major two characters, but the minor ones too.

I loved everything about it - the characters, the plot, the emotion, the writing, and the ability that the author had to tell me a story that had me wanting this book to go on and on.

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taming Nick was an alluring and deviously addictive read. Delving into Nick of Perception, the story is sultry and a bit of a chase. I truly enjoy how the characters overlap within this series, as well as, characters from other series the author has written. The writing is excellent and pulls you into the story and strongly encourages you to read from start to finish in one sitting so you don't miss anything. It's truly magnetic. I secretly loved Nick's character and the growth he goes through throughout the story. Couldn't put this book down.

[Sara Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exceptionally-written standalone fourth book Perception Series, is a great book. It is a much longer book than a lot of series books than I have read lately, but so worth the read.This amazing story is a long book but does not feel like it and flows really well and time passes quickly.This book is relatable due to the time it covers. This story shows a couples's struggles and them overcoming those. a must read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series,! So we all know some of the Nick and Jenni’s story from Noah’s book but there was so much more to read, really enjoyed reading their story and how it all came about making sense of what we read in Noah’s book, got to say it was a great read, even tying in Issac’s later book (I read them out of order duh! Loved Issac’s story too 😉😊) but back to this one, cannot wait for the next book, Slater, really need to here his story and then hopefully Marcus who we don’t really know at all yet?

I received a free copy of this book voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playboy

Going out with the girls is the best we had to wait though to come to this club as I wasn't old enough the other two girls l s had fake ones I couldn't as both my parents are lawyers. we go straight to the dance floor then the others go to get. Us a drink th r n o feel like the sheep at the slaughter house until somebody says hey baby and wraps his arms around me Nick I have so many ladies varound me I'm the king then a red flash catches my eye I blow out a breath all my dreams a blonde redhead and brunette mm

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this as much as the others if not more.
Nick is a player but has a heart he doesn't know how to show.
He is easy to fall in love with as Jenni finds out as soon as she meets him.
Having met his type before and felt the sting of being played, Jenni tries to keep a distance.
With everyone against them and a twisted stalker this is a book to good to put down.
You just can't wait to see if they get their HEA or not and what happens when a crazy stalker enters the mix.

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a superb storyline that grabs you right from the start keeping you engrossed and on edge throughout the whole book!Great characters that will keep your interest extremely well.The chemistry, sweetness, and twists in plot kept things interesting.Add in drama and steamy passion and you have a good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taming Nick is the 3rd Perception book. I have enjoyed the whole series so far so when I first was annoyed with Nick I stuck with it and found it to be an enjoyable and entertaining read. The story is emotional and quite heartwarming. Nick is a player, and doesn’t have a lot of redeemable qualities when we first meet him. A member of the rock band Rise Up their fame is doing well but each player has his own story to tell. This story is about Nick and Jenni.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story!!

Once again this talented author has blown me away with Nick and Jenni's story which is an emotional rollercoaster ride from beginning to end. This is a beautifully written flawless story which had me intrigued and hooked throughout this additive page turner and I cannot wait to read more in this phenomenal series. I highly recommend this author's work for all readers.

[Vicki Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this phenomenal book! Taming Nick is the third book in Shandi Boyes’ Perception series. It tells the story of Nicolas (AKA The Player) and Jenni (AKA The Player Slayer) who brings him to his knees. I highly recommend this well written book which has a realistic plot, great characters, drama, stalking, emotional ups and downs, unexpected twists, and lots of sizzling chemistry.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Deidre Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad that I finally read this book. I read Issac's story first and while things were not really confusing it definitely explained in more detail about what happened with Megan to some point. Also, different bits and pieces like when they were at Noah's place and Nick came storming out. And what Jenni was going through, with her mother demanding her to get an abortion. I am happy I went along for their ride. Everything is lining up quiet nicely. Keep it going!

[R M · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
Wow. Rockstars. Players and good girls. Some “mob” influence. Stalker. Babies.
This book has it all.
Well written for a rock star book.
Nick is the ultimate player. One and done. Hit it and quit it. Until Jenni. He fights it. She fights it, although not as much.
Ultimately, they are a couple. He gets a crazy stalker. Stalker decides to target Jenni, since with Jenni out of the way, Nick will be hers.
It’s a wild ride.

[Tayra Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicolas Holt. The Rock band Rise Up maybe hitting the music charts. But it's what's going on behind the scenes that have you captivated by their struggles and enjoying the lives of the band. Jenni knows she needs to keep her guard up around Nick she knows he is a player and can't risk her heart again, i liked it.

[Ellen Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story.
This is the 3rd book in this set & loved it. This story about Nick had me hooked again from the start but I didn't really like Nick at the beginning but as it carried on & with Jenny I saw a different side to him that I grew to love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shifty Bugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book it was great, the story was well written and the characters are interesting. Nicholas is known as the Player. Jenni is mesmerizing the bad boy the Players. I could not put the book down, .
Thank you for allowing me to review your book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series that keeps you guessing

In a non spoiler review all I can say is Shandi pens stories you don't see coming. The series is so perfectly interwoven while unpredictable and unique. You think you have an idea from a prior book where things will go for another couple, but she shakes things up in unexpected ways. But always with a HEA!

[Layla Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't say I liked it that much. It's not at the calibre that some of her other best-selling stories are. It's a cat and mouse chase, but written like a Wattpad story, which is not Boyes level anymore.

Compared to Nikolai or Dimitri, the love story in this is not as explosive, and the plot is very predictable.

[Pam Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love/hated this book. The communication in this book sucked. Shandi left it up to us to figure out Melody was loopy and deadly. If I hadn’t read the Enigma series I wouldn’t have known. I also don’t like the we knew more about Melody thru the enigma series then Nick’s book. All though some parts sucked, it was a good book.

[Anne Young-Cronister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh boy! This is the 3rd installment of the new Perception Series and it was wonderful!! Nick is Isaac’s younger brother and boy is he something.
He gets into the band Rise Up due to his talent but that’s because Noah the lead singer saw that special something in him. His band mates Slater and Marcus, not so much for his personality! Then he meets Jenni, Emily’s best friend. Emily being Noah’s other half. Everyone warns Jenni how
much Nick is a player. But as they say, the heart wants what it wants! Enjoy all the big feels in this book! There is such a wave of them, you will be pulled deeper and deeper into their lives.