Sourcebooks Casablanca | November 3, 2015 | Contemporary Romance
Beauty and the Brit, book 2
★★★★1/2
SOURCE: PUBLISHER
Monica Campbell may have a history as a wild child, but she's changed her ways. She's respectable, responsible-and, most importantly, she's sworn off bad boys. That is, until Callum Hughes roars back into her life with his sexy British accent and killer smile.
Cal remembers every steamy moment he shared with Monica, but he barely recognizes the straight-laced woman she's become. Determined to lure Monica into letting go of her inhibitions, Cal will use every trick he knows to fire her blood and tempt her body...reminding her just how good it can feel to be bad-and his.
{ about terri l. austin } .
As a girl, Terri L. Austin thought she’d outgrow dreaming up stories and creating imaginary friends. Instead, she’s made a career of it. Now she writes steamy contemporary romance and mysteries. She met her own Prince Charming and together they live in Independence, Missouri.{ a word from monica } .
My name is Monica Campbell and I’m a reformed wild child. Growing up in Vegas, trouble was easy to find and hard to resist. But these days, I’m a responsible job-holding, tax-paying, tooth-flossing citizen. I don’t dance on tables or sneak off to dive bars. I even had that unfortunate tattoo permanently removed. I’ve changed my ways for good. Most importantly, I’ve sworn off bad boys. I’ve had my fair share of them, believe me, and men who look liketrouble usually are. Now I only date serious men with life goals and steady paychecks.But then Calum Hughes roared into town with his hot British accent and even hotter body. We shared a moment five years ago, a moment I’ve never gotten over. So what’s a girl to do? I’ve tried to steer clear of him, but he’s …amazing. Wait, did I say amazing? I meant persistent. The man won’t leave me alone. Why does he have to be so charming? I can’t quite figure him out, and trust me, I don’t want to. I’m on the wagon where bad boys are concerned, and that especially includes Cal.
As long as I stay out of his orbit, I can focus on my work and not his lopsided grin or his rock hard abs. But he doesn’t play fair. The more I try to avoid him, the more he comes around, asking me to go play and tempting me to return to my wild child ways. That’s not going to happen, do you hear me? I’m over men like Cal. Been there. Done that. And I had that fugly tat to prove it. I’m not reverting back to bad habits.
Yet every time he kisses me or speaks with that deep, scratchy voice, I want to lose myself in him. He makes me miss the uninhibited side of myself. I thought I’d closed that chapter of my life for real this time, but Cal…, maybe I could let a little bit of my wild side poke through. That wouldn’t be so bad, right? After all, it’s not like Cal’s sticking around for good. He never stays in one place for long. He’s a professional drifter.
The question is, can I give in just a tiny bit, and still keep my heart intact? They say there’s a first time for everything.
Monica’s Tips for Releasing Your Inner Wild Child
(Without Getting Arrested)
1. Wear sexy lingerie. You never know when that bad boy might decide to peek under your blouse, and you do not want to be caught in white cotton.
2. Know when to give into temptation. Sometimes, when a man looks that delicious, you can sin all night and make a fresh start in the morning. Kind of like a diet. A sex diet.
3. Drive your man’s car as fast as possible—he won’t like it. Don’t let this dissuade you. After all, it’s not your Mustang on the line, now is it?
4. Get over that fear of public sex. You don’t have to be a complete exhibitionist, but the thrill of almost getting caught adds to the fun.
5. Go ahead and dance on the table. Wild Child motto: no regrets!
6. Be careful with your heart. When you start having feelings, it gets real. So don’t, I repeat, don’t fall in love, no matter how tempting he is. Trust me on this one.
{ review } .
First off...
I really love that cover.
It was what drew me to the book initially. He's really pretty ;)
Anywho. The book. The words between the covers...
Five years ago, Monica and Cal met -- but during a time in Monica's life where she was the wild child, the one who hadn't a care in the world. Her father remarrying was a sore spot that she wasn't afraid to show off -- which likely added in her wild-child, acting out ways. When bad boy Cal ends up at the wedding, her eye is drawn to him -- and later, if it weren't for her sister putting a stop to it, she would have done more than kiss him in the garden.
He's back now -- but she's changed, and damned if that doesn't bother him.
What I loved the most about Cal was that while he noted and appreciated that Monica had grown up in the past five years, he wanted the girl with the wild abandon, the crazy hair, the fitted clothing. He liked the new Monica... he just wanted to see her merge with the old one.
These two were fun to read about. Monica was trying to be grown up and took on projects that painted her in a more positive light, but at the core of her was that wild child -- the one that her mother had accepted but she, herself, was having a hard time allowing out.
This was a well-written read, with fun times and sexy ones, too. I loved Monica and Cal's relationship, just as I loved all of the Allie and Trevor (Brynn too!) scenes. I didn't read Allie and Trevor's story, but their love seems like it was a fun adventure, too.
An additional note -- I appreciated that while the author didn't put a huge emphasis on Monica's distaste for Karen throughout the story, she did make a note that Monica grew to accept her over the years. The story wasn't about Monica's relationship with her stepmom, but equally, as it held such importance at the beginning, I was happy to see it touched upon and not forgotten about.
I really love that cover.
It was what drew me to the book initially. He's really pretty ;)
Anywho. The book. The words between the covers...
Five years ago, Monica and Cal met -- but during a time in Monica's life where she was the wild child, the one who hadn't a care in the world. Her father remarrying was a sore spot that she wasn't afraid to show off -- which likely added in her wild-child, acting out ways. When bad boy Cal ends up at the wedding, her eye is drawn to him -- and later, if it weren't for her sister putting a stop to it, she would have done more than kiss him in the garden.
He's back now -- but she's changed, and damned if that doesn't bother him.
What I loved the most about Cal was that while he noted and appreciated that Monica had grown up in the past five years, he wanted the girl with the wild abandon, the crazy hair, the fitted clothing. He liked the new Monica... he just wanted to see her merge with the old one.
These two were fun to read about. Monica was trying to be grown up and took on projects that painted her in a more positive light, but at the core of her was that wild child -- the one that her mother had accepted but she, herself, was having a hard time allowing out.
This was a well-written read, with fun times and sexy ones, too. I loved Monica and Cal's relationship, just as I loved all of the Allie and Trevor (Brynn too!) scenes. I didn't read Allie and Trevor's story, but their love seems like it was a fun adventure, too.
An additional note -- I appreciated that while the author didn't put a huge emphasis on Monica's distaste for Karen throughout the story, she did make a note that Monica grew to accept her over the years. The story wasn't about Monica's relationship with her stepmom, but equally, as it held such importance at the beginning, I was happy to see it touched upon and not forgotten about.
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