Maggie’s scars are visible to everyone. Mine are hidden deep inside. We are both too damaged to love… Or so we thought.
The fire at Maggie’s workplace leaves scars on her skin that make her feel undesirable.
Jett shows her she’s beautiful, but his scars run much deeper than hers.
What starts out as a silly matchmaking game turns into the most pivotal moment of their lives as these two broken souls collide in ways they never imagined.
Will Maggie and Jett help each other heal or are some wounds beyond repair? Find out now in Man of the Month Club: January.
The Hot Shots of Romance Quickies are scorching short stories featuring sexy heroes, curvy heroines, seductive insta-love, sizzling bedroom scenes, and satisfying happily-ever-after endings. Start anywhere. Binge-read them all. Grab January now and enjoy a perfectly-portioned taste of steamy romance to satisfy your craving.
Here is a Top 10 list from Ann about her likes, dislikes, and oddities:
1. I despise whipped cream. There, I admitted it in writing. Let the ridiculing begin. 2. Even though I have lived as far south as Key Largo, Florida and as far north as Maine, I landed in the middle. 3. If I don't make a conscious effort not to, I will drink nothing but tea morning, noon and night. Hot tea, sweet tea, green tea––I love it all. 4. There doesn't seem to be much in life that is better than coming home to a couple of big dogs who are overjoyed to see me. My other family members usually show significantly less enthusiasm about my return. 5. Singing in my bestest, loudest voice does not make my family put on their happy faces. This includes the big, loving dogs referenced above. 6. Yes, I am aware that bestest is not a word. 7. Dorothy was right. There's no place like home. 8. All of the numerous bottles in my shower must be lined up with their labels facing out. It makes me feel a little like Julia Roberts' mean husband from the movie 'Sleeping with the Enemy,' but I can't seem to control this particular quirk. 9. I love, love, love finding a great bargain. 10. Did I mention that I hate whipped cream? It makes my stomach churn to look at it, touch it, smell it, or even think about it. Great––now I'm thinking about it. Ick!
** Ann would LOVE to send you a free novella ~ Aloha, Baby! Visit annomasta.com to let her know where to send it.
4.5 stars - Maggie and Jett definitely had their work cut out for them. Maggie has some serious self-image issues following some disfigurement from a fire at her former employer's. Jett has his own scars but they are the result of decades of emotional abuse. Together, they are broken but well matched.
I liked the forward approach Jett took but he was also able to read the room and adjust accordingly. It was also nice to see Maggie give back at the burn unit, visiting those in similar situations. It was a sweet way to cap off a rough road that had heat and heart.
This is a continuation of the His First Time series, picking up right where "His First Time: Gabe" left off. Now, if you haven't read that series yet... Do. Not. Fear. Enjoying those stories isn't a prerequisite to enjoying this story. If you have read the earlier series, you will see glimpses of many of those characters (i.e. Ciara, Evie, Adam, etc).
I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced reader copy of this book.
Maggie is working to regain her life after she was involved in an accidental fire which has left her scarred and with pretty much xero confidence in herself. All she has right now is her life which most of the time she is living locked away from the world in her apartment but when Ciara asks her to a book club she hasn’t the heart to say no. A busy bar is really the last place that she wants to go fearing the staring and judgement she thinks that she will see in the eyes around her. What she isn’t expecting was this all to be a set up and for her friends to have found her a date. One look at Jett and he is everything that she has ever wanted but surely a man like him wouldn’t want the shell of the person she had once been? Can she trust her heart or should she give up on any chance of finding love?
Jett wasn’t ready for his cousin to set him up on yet another date just to see if her app worked when he knew that it wouldn’t. He was where he wanted to be in life and had just moved in to his dream house so the last thing he needed was setting up with a woman but family was family and as Phoebe had been the only member of his family to treat him with love how could he turn her down and that is how he found himself at the bar, only things were about to change for him in a way that he never thought would. One look at Maggie and he knows that there is nothing that he won’t do to keep her in his life. That night he never expected to find his true love now he needs to convince Maggie that what he sees is nothing but beauty but will she feel the same when she learns his deep dark secret?
I was so pleased when I saw that this book was about Maggie after reading about her in a previous book, I was hoping she would get her own happy ever after. Jett and Maggie had chemistry from the start and both believed that they were unlovable, watching them discover that they were anything but was a perfect way to start the series. Highly recommended 4* read.
I picked this series because the covers are really cute and needed a short, palate cleanser, between the darker reads. But I'm definitely not very impressed with the first novella.
It's insta everything, on his part at least, which is fine, I'm a fan o insta-lust/love sometimes. What bothered me is the way he was referring to his cousin's friends as 'bimbos', except for the FMC. I get it, she is special, beautiful etc. etc. but don't de-consider the other women like that! Gha, why do authors do this to highlight how special the FMC is? This could be done with more tact, it's enough to say that he considers her the most beautiful woman bla bla bla but that's it.
I will give the next book a chance and see from there if I will continue with the series. These are novella length and very easy to read, plus grabbed most of this series' books as freebies on Amazon, there's that as a +.
Our scars show that we have lived through something difficult and come out on the other side of it. We are flawed, but we are better, stronger people for it.”
Cute little short read, rated it 2.5 stars.
Baggie and Jett both have scars they are both trying to hide, maggie’s scars are in the outside of her body and Jett’s scars are on the inside. They both confined in each other with their stories and slowly start to trust each other and catch feelings.
Jett defo falls first, but I like how he’s able to bring Maggie’s walks down and to also make her feel beautiful inside and out.
Spice I’ll give a one rating, it was very lightly, I would have liked more, but I think cause the story it worked out fine. I defo will be reading all the books in this series.
Maggie and Jett wouldn’t have been the match that I would have first picked for them, but the dynamic between these two is really powerful. I liked how Ann contrasted how Maggie deals with her outward scars and Jett his non-visible ones. I found this book to be a bit heart-wrenching, but such a romantic read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I've read a lot of books written by Ann Omasta; she has done a great job at writing a good short story; she is one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
4 Stars ⭐️ Such a cute little Novella! It was super quick I think it was about 83 pages on my kindle! Jett and Maggie were adorable! Definitely had some spice! I’m excited to read these once a month to help with my reading goals!
The premise sounded sweet; Maggie is a survivor from a fire and has scars on her body. She believes because of her "hideousness", she is destine to be alone and unloved. And yet Jett, our hero, sees a "natural beauty" about her that isn't "artificial" (i.e. "she's not like other girls") and more or less falls instantly in love with her at first sight. Oh, and the two of them are set up by her friends on a blind date.
I'm not sure this is the kind of story that can be done properly as a "quickie". I feel there was some trauma to be explored from Maggie's accident, and it would take a great deal of time for her to emotionally and psychologically heal from that trauma (at least she wasn't miraculously "healed" after one night with Jett's "magical dick", but it was close to it). Oh, and the so-called "conflict" that the authors throw in is your typical eye-roll worthy cliche of "I saw you hugging someone else so that must mean you're two-timing me"--ugh, please, TALK TO EACH OTHER!
Also, I'm not 100% sure what this had to do with January...did I miss that? That's pretty bad. Anyway, the potential for a better story was there, and if put in the right hands and given the right amount of time, could have been executed so much better than...well, what we got.
As I'm writing this review, I was planning on going through the entire Man of the Month Club series, although I must confess, I am starting to have second thoughts...we shall see.
Oh, and this was an audio book read by one of the authors, who I am sad to say, sounded rather "robotic" (I honestly thought a bot was reading the book to me). Maybe it would have been better had I read it as an e-book rather than listen to it. 1.5-2 stars
This read seemed really abrupt and rather cheesy. I couldn't really relate to the characters at all, and they weren't likable to me.
Maggie had absolutely no personality beyond her self-consciousness about her scars. She came across as really shallow and only concerned about how others saw her because of her burn scars. I absolutely understand that there's trauma from something like that happening, but it felt like the author based Maggie's entire personality on that trauma and nothing else.
I wanted to rate this higher because I loved how Maggie and Jett were helping those in the burn unit and keeping them company, but I just didn't feel like there was much to keep me invested here. The author also liked to use a lot of big, complicated words when simpler words would've done the trick just fine. It made the writing overly flowery in places.
I found this book for free on Amazon via Freebooksy; this is my honest review -Not so sizzling as advertised, unprotected open door scene (s). Can't remember if more than one. -It's sad, it's not really funny in any way, forced in many ways, mixed signals, weird stuff, Jett wears his feelings on his sleeves but Maggie couldn't care less. -Everyone talks in a screechy tone like it's a natural voice. For me that made it to the top of not liking the book. -Confused: if a fire at work is responsible for the many scars Maggie wears, how come they didn't pay for cosmetic treatments?
They may both be scarred but they are a perfect match to help heal each other
Man of the Month Club: January is the first book in this new series with the A Hot Shot of Romance Quickie group. The story is about Maggie and Jett. These are two people who are scarred, she on the outside and he on the inside. They end up being matched by a new app in the most unexpected way, and not that either of them were looking for it. We were first introduced to Maggie in His First Time: Gabe as she is the young woman who was trapped inside the Squared Donut Shop when a bus ran through the front of the shop and a fire was started. As a result of that Maggie was burned and now does not like the way she looks, thinking she is a monster. Jett has scars on his heart and soul from his childhood which saw both his twin brother and mother die during childbirth. His father was never able to get over the lose of his wife and other son and as a result turned his anger onto Jeff, blaming him for it. When Jett first sees Maggie, even before he knows they have been matched by his cousin Phoebe's new dating app he thinks she is stunning. Then when it turns out she is to be his date he is elated but realizes quickly that there is something wrong. As Maggie tries to leave quickly Jett is determined to get her to go on a date with him and ends up being successful. They find something in each other that is both a recognition and understanding of their scars and then a healing of them. These two are so well matched that it was a great read. I am looking forward to reading the the next match by Phoebe's app to see who it will be.
After being burned by the fire from the donut shop Maggie is very shy because of her burns. Her friend tells her it a book club meeting so she goes. Once there she realizes it's really not a book club !eating but a,might for the girls to hang out. Maggie is ready to leave when Jett shows up and wants to know Maggie better. She hides her burns but does go with him. Jett sees she's not comfortable in crow.d's so he take.s her to his boat. They have a great time together. Jett wants to continue seeing her but Maggie is trying her hardest to get away and hide so Jett doesn't see her scars. He makes an excuse for her to stay so he can see her again. She helps him out. After talking about his scars, she sees he has scars but on the inside not like hers on the outside. They stay together and start volunteering at the burn unit to help give encouraging words.Maggie thought she'd never find love but does.. Jett was always put down his life so he thought he never deserved love but found it with Maggie.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Maggie was scarred by a freak accident that started a fire at her workplace. She preferred to avoid other people now, ashamed of the scars over her body and face. To her horror, she finds that she was added to a matchmaking app by her friend Ciara for Phoebe’s beta test. She was paired with Phoebe's cousin, Jett, who also hadn’t wanted to be included in the app profiles.
But when Jett enters the bar where the ladies have gathered for the matchmaking test and sees Maggie in person, his attraction was definitely not faked! She is “real”, natural, and not a made-up princess like the rest of the women. Scarring or not, she is the loveliest woman he has ever laid eyes on. Can he convince her, though, that he is seriously interested in her? Could both of them begin to heal if they can take a chance on trusting each other?
Poor Maggie was burned during a recent fire at the place where she worked and now she feels uncomfortable in public due to her scars. She just knows that no man will ever want to be with her. Some people's scars are deeply embedded internally like Jett's. He knows from past experience that once a lady gets to know the real him that she won't want to continue being with him. However these two are matched together thru the newly created dating app that Jett's cousin, Phoebe has designed. Read to see if these two damaged souls can find a future together. I can't wait until the next Man of the Month. This is going to be a fun series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Maggie, a serious burn survivor, is convinced that she's hideous. Her best friend sets her up on a new dating app, which matches her to Jett. She can't imagine that he'd really be interested in her, but plays along. He feels broken as well, afraid that she'll leave when she finds out his truth. This is my first read from this author, and it's a really nice story, short but quite heartwarming. Maggie and Jett are two broken souls, but they understand the other's pain as they're drawn to each other. I'm looking forward to the rest of this monthly series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Man of the Month Club: January (A Hot Shot of Romance Quickie) by Ann Omasta. Who doesn’t like a quickie! This story is a real treat featuring mild drama, humor, great characters that complete each other perfectly and just the right mix of heat and steam. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An exciting instalove page turner! It is well written, engaging, entertaining, fast pace, emotionally deep, and steamy. The characters are amazing together; the chemistry between them is instant and sizzling! Very enjoyable and definitely recommended!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
this was fine - i don’t really feel positive or negative about it. I think the struggles that the characters had would have been better if made into a bit longer of a novella or a full novel. It tries to have a good story of healing from scars - inside and out, but I just don’t feel like the story has enough time to blossom.
It’s instalove for sure, and overall is a sweet, quick palate cleanser.
I received an ARC from the author thru Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my review. Neither Jett nor Maggie wanted anything to do with dating but agree anyway. They are both damaged in different ways but cannot deny their attraction. This is a short story of how Jett and Maggie find love when they least expect it in their lives. It is sweet, emotional and a great start to the Man of The Month Club series
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Maggie is scarred on the outside and Jett is scarred also. Their friend entered them into a dating app beta test. They are matched and when Jett shows up he is instantly attracted to Maggie. Can two scarred people trust and start a relationship. I loved this book and I loved the fact that Maggie was not a perfect ten. This is a short but warm and wonderful story. I cannot wait for the rest of the year.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Maggie has scars all over her body and face from a fire that occurred at her her workplace. She avoids people and dating because of them. She is added to a matchmaking app as part of a beta test and to her horror she finds out that she is matched up with her friend’s cousin. Jett sees her and is attracted to her even with her scars that she is so worried about. Can he get her to believe that his attraction is real and give them a chance?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.