Review: Pretty good story :)
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 12, 2014
3.5-4 starsThis was a pretty good story. I really liked both Mandi and Jaz and liked their story. While I've already read a book by this author (The Cupcake Cowboy), I haven't read the first 2 books in the series. Although this story started rather abruptly, I don't think reading the first 2 book really would have made much of a difference except maybe to have us already familiar with the characters so this worked well enough as a stand alone story.Mandi is a custom jewelry maker that works nights as a waitress in order to make some extra money while her jewelry business takes off. She recently moved to the area and got the job at a club owned by her friend Jackie, who she's known since college. Mandi is single and has been crushing on Jackie's foster brother, Jaz, for the last 6 months. She's too shy to approach him though, figuring he'd never be interested in her.Jaz is a business owner, a tattoo artist and a drummer. He didn't grow up having a good life and made a stupid decision that put him in jail young. He did his time and has made sure to live crime free since then. Jaz's artistic talents started him on tattooing and eventually he ended up part owner in a couple of businesses (a tattoo shop being one of them) and then starting a garage band with his 2 friends (the heroes from books #1 & 2). Jaz frequent's Jackie's club and is waited on by Mandi frequently. He's been interested in her since he first saw her but wasn't sure if she'd be interested in an ex-con.The story starts rather abruptly with Jaz asking Jackie if they're set. Apparently it's Mandi's 40th birthday and Jackie set up Jaz as Mandi's birthday present for the next 24 hours. It comes out pretty quickly that Jackie knew both of them had a thing for the other so she sets this up as a way to get them together. Mandi has just gotten off her shift as a waitress and is in the changing room. Jaz goes back and surprises her and gets a little surprise himself. It ends up, as part of her uniform, Jackie had Mandi wearing a wig and contacts so this whole time, Jaz has been thinking (and fantasizing) about her with black hair and blue eyes and he finds out she's actually a blonde with green eyes. This doesn't bother Jaz though, if anything it just makes him want her even more. Mandi has been a bit shy around Jaz before this but once she finds out he's her birthday present she gets a bit more adventurous and willing to have some fun.The story takes place over the space of 24 hours and it's not an insta-love. They're not proclaiming their undying love by the end and I was happy about that. Mandi and Jaz spend the night and the next day having lots of sex and getting to know each other. They already had been crushing on each other and as they spend more time together, they both realize that want much more than just a day. They have a lot in common and the time spent together just shows them how well they mesh. There were some really sweet moments in addition to many sexy ones. I particularly liked the special birthday tattoo Jaz gives Mandi. The story ends with Jaz and Mandi agreeing to start in a relationship together and see where they can go. I'd say it's a HFN heading towards a HEA.This was a pretty enjoyable read. It was short and sexy but also sweet with bits of romance that made it more than just an erotic read. I really liked both Jaz and Mandi and was happy with the way things worked out for them. I'll probably go back and read the first 2 books in this series eventually. I'd recommend this story for anyone looking for a short, sexy and sweet read. ;)