The first time I met Jax Blackwood things went a little sideways.
In my defense, I didn’t know he was Jax Blackwood—who expects a legendary rock star to be shopping for groceries? More importantly, a blizzard was coming and he was about to grab the last carton of mint-chocolate chip.
Still, I might have walked away, but then he smugly dared me to try and take the coveted ice cream. So I kissed him. And distracted that mint-chip right out of his hands.
Okay, it was a dirty move, but desperate times and all that. Besides, I never expected he’d be my new neighbor.
An annoying neighbor who takes great pleasure in reminding me that I owe him ice cream but would happily accept more kisses as payment. An irresistible neighbor who keeps me up while playing guitar naked–spectacularly naked–in his living room.
Clearly, avoidance is key. Except nothing about Jax is easy to ignore—not the way he makes me laugh, or that his particular brand of darkness matches mine, or how one look from him melts me faster than butter under a hot sun.
Neither of us believes in love or forever. Yet we’re quickly becoming each other’s addiction. But we could be more. We could be everything.
All we have to do is trust enough to fall.
5 Stars!Review by Lisa Kane
It's been a while since this author has released a new book, but the wait was so worth it! I adored this story!
Stella grabs a few things at the grocery store before a blizzard is expected to hit New York City. She goes to grab the last package of Oreos when it seems someone else seems to have a cookie craving. He's gorgeous but just not quick enough to get that package.
Not to worry, my little Double Stuf delights, I'll find you a good home.
Feeling triumphant, she wanders over to the freezer section. Ah uh...only one carton left of mint chocolate chip ice cream. She better move fast. But it seems gorgeous guy has his eye on the same carton and in a flash it's in his hand! Hey a girl's gotta do what she's gotta do...we're talking snow storm here. Desperate times and all that.
Rising on my toes, I move in for the kill.
And kiss him.
I've been poleaxed. By a kiss.
Stella makes like a tree and leaves. Quickly. With the carton of gold in her hands. Leaving behind one confused as hell rock star behind. Turns out gorgeous guy is Jax Blackwood, the lead singer and guitarist for Kill John, recently best known for his attempt at suicide. Since then, he's just been drifting. The band hasn't been the same, his friendship with Killian James his bandmate and best friend still wears a band aid covering over the scars. Killian still can't cope with finding Jax after he overdosed. He's out of the country with his girl Libby. (read Idol-their story is great!)
Stella is a jack of all trades. One of her gigs is a pet sitter. She gets a call who's a friend of a friend, asking her to pet sit for a not to be named famous personality who is out of the country. Since Stella is soon to be homeless (her rent controlled apartment is going condo) getting to stay at a posh penthouse is a dream come true. Until her neighbor turns out to be Jax.
"Oh, that guilt must be eating you up, Button. (he thinks she's cute as a button, hence the nick name) I bet there was a veritable telltale ice cream heart beating in your freezer all week."
The writing in this story is hilarious and engaging. Strangers become friends...who maybe become something more. But Jax has serious issues and Stella's life has been one of abandonment. Not exactly the best combo one could imagine.
I always manage to disappoint the people I care about, and I don't want to be yet another person in Stella's life who fails her.
Expect to laugh to yourself like a silly fool most of this book. But don't be surprised when you feel gut wrenching pain at Jax's struggles with depression. This guy is trying so hard to hold himself together but sometimes it's going to take more than glue and good intentions.
But I can't be the only person in the ring. And it doesn't matter, because he's already gone.
Cue the wet eyes right now.
"I cannot chase you," I say woodenly. God, the pain keeps growing. The hurt. "I've chased down people who were supposed to love me all my life. I can't do it anymore."
The writing in this book just slays me!
This is not a short story-this book has depth and length and is so damn good. Be prepared to devout the time needed to really appreciate the greatness of this book.
"You're part of me Stella."
AMAZON | APPLE BOOKS | B&N
The air between us shifts. I’m filled with a strange giddiness, wanting to laugh for the fun of it, but I’m also too warm, my limbs oddly heavy as if simple movements might be too much for me.
His tone turns soft and cajoling, teasing the truth out of me. “Are you going to tell me what you do?” When I say nothing, the corners of his eyes crinkle. “I see. You’re going to torture me a bit.”
The warm, fuzzy feeling grows as I shrug. “Torture feels apropos in this scenario.”
He hums again, taking another step toward me. “What makes you think I won’t like being tortured by you?”
The heat of his body and the scent of his skin makes my head light and my pulse pound. How did it get to this point where the highlight of my day is flirting with Jax Blackwood? Despite the thrill, I know I’m in over my head. I haven’t gone out on a date in months because I form attachments, I get emotional, and then I hurt when they inevitably leave. And this man will leave. He is as bright and fleeting as a camera flash. I’ll be left with the image of him seared into my memory and nothing more.
I tell myself all of this, the voice in my head as stern as possible. But it doesn’t make me back away. It doesn’t stop my body from somehow straining toward his without even moving. Because it might be stupid of me, but I want to feel something that isn’t planned. Something, for however briefly, that’s real.
He’s too attuned to me not to notice. John’s lids lower as his attention slides down my body before easing back up to my face. Slowly, he rests his forearm on the wall beside my head. “Tell me, Stella,” he murmurs.
“No,” I whisper back, flirting, even though I shouldn’t.
His biceps bunch as he leans in, a smile dancing on his lips. “Tell.”
My breasts graze his chest, and I feel it in my toes.
“You’re crowding me.” I hate how breathy I sound.
“Can’t help it.” His voice is a rumble, the heat of his breath playing over my skin. He ducks his head, drawing close until our lips nearly brush, and when he speaks again, his tone is almost conversational, except for the husky quality that touches deep within my core. “You smell like strawberries. Fucking delicious.”
My lids flutter, and I swallow hard. “Ordinarily, I’d call you out on that cliché but since I’ve been eating strawberries, you aren’t exactly wrong.”
His chuckle is slow and easy, as he eases back and his gaze slowly travels over my face. “Were they sweet, Stella Button?”
He’s looking at my mouth like he might try to find out. My lips tremble in response, and John tracks the movement, his breathing getting deeper, faster. “You have two freckles on your lips. One on the top lip and one on the bottom corner.”
Those damn freckles. They were the bane of my adolescence. I hid them with lipstick and silently cursed whenever someone mentioned them.
Freckles don’t have any feelings, but I swear it’s as if he’s touching them.
“You’re just noticing this?” I try to make it sound like a joke, but it comes out weak and thready.
His own lips quirk. “Oh, I noticed. It’s distracting as hell. They’re like two little dots of butter toffee. Makes me want to lick them, get a taste.”
Oh, God. Lick them, please. I can almost feel it. I want to feel it.
No. Bad Stella. Behave.
John’s lips part a fraction like he just might take that taste.
“Back off,” I whisper. And yet somehow my traitorous hands find their way to his sides, running over the waistband of his jeans, holding him there.
John makes a sound deep in his throat and tilts his hips, pressing them against mine. A distinctly thick bulge nudges my belly. Both of us lose a breath, and then he’s closer, his cheek touching my temple. “You’ll have to let me go first.”
My thumbs slide under the edge of his shirt and find smooth, taut skin. A tremor goes through his body. I try to think, search for what the hell we’ve been talking about.
His lips brush the crest of my cheek as he murmurs against my skin. “Tell me what you do, Stella. You know you want to.”
My smile feels illicit. Somehow the action is directly tied to all my happy parts, making them draw hot and tight. “I don’t think I do.”
Another hum. “Liar. You’re dying to.”
Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment