Audrey Carlan

After failing to read it straight through, I skimmed around this book, which is really the first three novellas in a serial, and I'm sorry, but it's a no from me.
I read some of Carlan's Calendar Girl books because they were over the top and sexy. I had some issues with the way sex work was portrayed and with the hero, but overall it was a good enough series that I was willing to give International Guy a shot.

In the first ten pages of the book, though, you could win douchebro bingo. I hated show more the main character. He's the stereotypical dude who thinks he's God's gift to women and he and his two buddies have started a business to LITERALLY FIX WOMEN. I was hoping they'd get their egos shot a bit, but no.
"I never minded helping out, especially since he'd knock me a bit of spending money that I'd blow on one skirt or another."
"'Too bad you wasted all that time. I banged Melissa within the first two weeks of class. Had her as one of my top five repeats all sophomore year.'
Bo's gaze slashes to mine. 'Shit! That's why she never let me in there? Girl was one of the only women to ever seem disinterested. Hurt my confidence.'"

These three men, who are supposed to be helping women, are shitty to women. I don't like being in their heads, reading about them, etc. Carlan tells us over and over how they understand women and how hot they are and mostly I wanted to slap them.
This review is based on an advanced copy I received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Full disclosure - I quite obviously didn't finish the book/three books. show less

Woah! This is book, more like a novella than a novel on its own but...



I don't know about you, but when I picked this up, I was looking for something quick to pass the time and I found something that I never wanted to put down. Yes, it was a quick read, but I fell in love with Mia and this journey of self exploration that she's on for the next year that will change the way she looks at everything. And hey, who doesn't want to screw the hot sexy millionaire with a heart of gold?

January is the show more story of Mia and Wes. I have a feeling that Wes is going to be the story of Mia's year, from what I was reading between the lines. The dynamic between these two is off the charts - you can feel every word, and that's something that I like in an erotic romance. I read part of this book whilst working - please don't ask me how I learned to school my face and reactions to some of the dirtiest sentences, I really have no idea why that I can read with a straight face and yet something simple and sweetly romantic kills me and reduces me to squealing jelly! This book doesn't skimp on the development of both Mia and Wes' characters, even though their time together is short.

Mia is a headstrong, tough survivor. She wasn't a victim of what life had thrown in her path, she became the hero, spending little time thinking of how life had conspired to break her down when she going to have the chance to spend a glorious month in the company of a gorgeous man. Wes sounded like a dream from the start, born to money but also someone who was making money for himself. Someone who was incredibly close to their family (similar in a way to Mia) but who also had that idyllic relationship with his parents where there is mutual love and respect. There may be mutual love, but I don't think Mia's dad totally respects her - and I definitely don't think her mother's love or respect was well shown.

There's such a deep connection between them that Mia shares everything with her client. I don't know about you, but I think that sets him up to be an important person in her life and her future, don't you? Not only did they form a deep bond, but the sex was hot. This whole book was HOTTTT! There's a market for quick, sensual, erotic romances with a real love story and damn it yes I will be in line to read a good romance no matter what!!!!!

The writing wasn't juvenile, it was adult and yet I thought that I was speaking with my own best friend while reading it. It hit the 20-30 age range it was hoping for. I guess I've read way too much smut fiction to have me blushing at the words used. We're straight forward and well written smut fiends nowadays, and this story earns an A from me! This one is definitely worth your time, I can't wait to see how Mia's year as an escort plays out!!!! show less

ARC BOOK REVIEW
Release Date-8/5/18

So this was essentially a very well written good read and though in my opinion, you can definitely read this as a standalone; I do think that on a whole you would probably get more from this if you read the whole series from the start.
For me, this was my first experience with this particular author and it was a mostly positive endeavour.
There were just a few minor irritants, that were mainly just personal preferences and I will explain further later.
So as I show more said earlier this was a really good read.
It contained very relatable characters that were extremely easy to bond with.
A great supporting cast.
Was told from duel pov, which is my absolute favourite and just works for me.
It also managed to read as a stand-alone without the information overload that some series seem to convey in an effort to make it such.
I was easily caught up in the narrative here and ultimately most importantly equally invested in the eventual outcome.
Now for my minuses; I'm not a big fan of a certain popular romance trope used here and I wasn't aware initially that "Intimate Intuition" featured this particular trope at its very centre.
Obviously, not the author's fault: so really should be commended on the engrossing read this is as I still enjoyed this heaps and usually this trope is like a red flag to a bull for me and turns me right off.
I also wasn't a big fan of some of the dialogue used here.
I'm not sure in real life if this way of talking and slang is what is most often used.
having zero exposure to this culture I'm commenting blind here people
But, I just wasn't a big fan of the whole baby-mama etc talk, wasn't my bag at all.
I also felt the first half of this story was overly featured on the whole moving forward thing and I would maybe have liked more focus on Dara and Silas again just my personal preference.
So despite my personal aversion to the trope used here I still found this a great fascinating read.
I was quite intrigued with the whole aura reading, yoga and meditation angle.
Never having any exposure to this type of experience I found it rather compelling and fascinating reading.
Not sure I'm an actual convert yet but it definitely added an extra dimension and unique flavour to the whole entire story.
And I should also mention this was a very emotional read with plenty of personal growth but also red-hot scenes of intimate connection for both Dara and Silas.
Surprisingly this was a lot more action-filled than I was expecting.
But I was on the fence a bit to whether this was actually necessary or added much to the book.
Got to say know "Intimate Intuition" has one of my favourite ever epilogues as its finale.
Really adored that.
So swings and roundabouts folks.
This was at its centre a great read, but I still had some slight reservations that managed to pull it down a bit for me.
I am still happy to recommend this especially if you're looking for a romance that's packed with emotional baggage but also still has a willingness for personal growth.
Thank You to the Author for providing me with an ARC of "Intimate Intuition (Lotus House #6)" of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com show less

ARC BOOK REVIEW
Release Date-8/5/18

So this was essentially a very well written good read and though in my opinion, you can definitely read this as a standalone; I do think that on a whole you would probably get more from this if you read the whole series from the start.
For me, this was my first experience with this particular author and it was a mostly positive endeavour.
There were just a few minor irritants, that were mainly just personal preferences and I will explain further later.
So as I show more said earlier this was a really good read.
It contained very relatable characters that were extremely easy to bond with.
A great supporting cast.
Was told from duel pov, which is my absolute favourite and just works for me.
It also managed to read as a stand-alone without the information overload that some series seem to convey in an effort to make it such.
I was easily caught up in the narrative here and ultimately most importantly equally invested in the eventual outcome.
Now for my minuses; I'm not a big fan of a certain popular romance trope used here and I wasn't aware initially that "Intimate Intuition" featured this particular trope at its very centre.
Obviously, not the author's fault: so really should be commended on the engrossing read this is as I still enjoyed this heaps and usually this trope is like a red flag to a bull for me and turns me right off.
I also wasn't a big fan of some of the dialogue used here.
I'm not sure in real life if this way of talking and slang is what is most often used.
having zero exposure to this culture I'm commenting blind here people
But, I just wasn't a big fan of the whole baby-mama etc talk, wasn't my bag at all.
I also felt the first half of this story was overly featured on the whole moving forward thing and I would maybe have liked more focus on Dara and Silas again just my personal preference.
So despite my personal aversion to the trope used here I still found this a great fascinating read.
I was quite intrigued with the whole aura reading, yoga and meditation angle.
Never having any exposure to this type of experience I found it rather compelling and fascinating reading.
Not sure I'm an actual convert yet but it definitely added an extra dimension and unique flavour to the whole entire story.
And I should also mention this was a very emotional read with plenty of personal growth but also red-hot scenes of intimate connection for both Dara and Silas.
Surprisingly this was a lot more action-filled than I was expecting.
But I was on the fence a bit to whether this was actually necessary or added much to the book.
Got to say know "Intimate Intuition" has one of my favourite ever epilogues as its finale.
Really adored that.
So swings and roundabouts folks.
This was at its centre a great read, but I still had some slight reservations that managed to pull it down a bit for me.
I am still happy to recommend this especially if you're looking for a romance that's packed with emotional baggage but also still has a willingness for personal growth.
Thank You to the Author for providing me with an ARC of "Intimate Intuition (Lotus House #6)" of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com show less