Review: Nothing better...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 24, 2012
My review from GuiltyPleasuresbookreviews.comI'm wondering when Erin Nicholas sat down to write Just For Fun if she said to herself, "I'm going to write the best damn book of my career."  I'm not saying her other books aren't good, because they are and I've enjoyed every one but this book is over the top, stay up until 3 a.m., cherry on the top of a pecan caramel fudge sundae good!  Now you'll know I'm invested in these characters and this series because you've read all my other reviews BUT I think even if all you've read is Erin's freebie short, Just The Way I Like It, you'd still finish this book and say "wow"!  Me, I finished it and I wanted to watch Pretty Woman and go back and re-read Lori Foster's entire library and then re-read this book!  Now you're thinking, "what the heck, did she fall and hit her head?"  The answer is no and you'll understand shortly. ;)Since the first book in this series I have been enamored with Doug (Dooley) Miller.  I can't tell you why exactly but he's always kind of fascinated me.  Maybe it's because he seems so laid back, so nonchalant about life in general but when his friends need him he always gives out very sage advice.  That right there makes you think, there is way more to this guy than he's letting on.  Boy, was I right!  Dooley (sorry but I just can't call him Doug) is part of the ace paramedic team that includes Sam, Mac, and Kevin.  They are more than a team, they are this strange little family who you just can't help wanting to be a part of.  We also find out that Dooley is a big brother, a devoted uncle, and takes care of his Dad who had a stroke 11 years ago.  On top of that he volunteers at the Bradford Center for Youth and helps take care of a group of  older women who the crew met a few years back on a call.  Oh yeah, and he READS romance books by none other than Lori Foster.  Seriously, how can you not be in love with this guy already??Morgan (Sugar) James never thought she'd see Doug again.  Of course she didn't even know his real name so that fact that she tracks him down after a 4  hour tryst is beyond her reasonable thinking.  Morgan works for a very large and expensive group of hotels.  She's what Dooley refers to as high maintenance.  She likes nice things, she works hard for them but money is important to her.  Thing is she equates money with security because of her somewhat unconventional childhood.  She is dedicated and driven but she lacks spontaneity, something she doesn't have a problem with when Dooley is around.Morgan asks Dooley to accompany her on a business trip to Chicago because their attraction, heat, steam, whatever you want to call it is so damn hot that she knows he'll keep her away from her smarmy ex-boyfriend who steals all of her good ideas.  Dooley agrees but then tells his friends he's not going to go.  His best friend Kevin knows exactly why he says he can't go and immediately arranges it so that he can.  I need to say a little bit about Kevin; whoever ends up with this guy is one lucky girl.  I've always liked and admired his character, but the way he goes above and beyond in this book to see Dooley happy makes him a hero in my heart.  The guy is just awesome!The whole time  Morgan and Dooley are in Chicago they are telling themselves and each other that their arrangement is "just for fun" but it becomes evident quite quickly that what they are experiencing is a lot more than fun.  What I absolutely love is Dooley calling his friends from Chicago and them giving him all sort of funny, interesting, and sarcastic advice and comparing his arrangement with Morgan to the movie, Pretty Woman.  Absolutely laugh out loud funny moments in this book.These two have an unconventional relationship which makes their story even more enjoyable.  There is a lot of wooing that goes on and it's hilarious, sweet, and very hot.  Dooley's family and friends play a huge part in this book and it wouldn't be the same without them.  They are the most amazing group of people you could even hope to meet and have in your life.  Both Dooley and Morgan have to change their thinking and let go of some of their past fears.  They struggle with the change, boy do they struggle, but it is fun and interesting to watch the way they each get to where they need to be to make things work between the two of them.  This book is very much about give and take in relationships and letting go of expectations no matter how important you think they are.The amazing cast of characters, the superior writing that makes you feel you are part of the action, and an ending that proves with compromise all things are possible makes Just For Fun one of my top five books of this year. With this book, Erin Nicholas firmly establishes herself as one of the most exciting writers to watch.  ** Oh, and Erin I hope you know that after this book I'm expecting a really great story for Kevin because he is an awesome guy and super friend and don't think I'm not already wondering what you have in store for Jay, because I am!