Cari Quinn

Nikki can’t believe that her boss is skipping out on his own party. She also can’t believe that his identical twin brother is trying to pass off as him. She’d know the difference between the two of them anywhere; for one, there is only one brother who sets her heart racing. When Patrick starts flirting with her in the guise of his brother East, Nikki finds it impossible to resist. When the clock turns midnight, she finds herself involved in an up-close and personal situation with the show more man who has sets her heart racing. A quickie in the basement leaves its mark on both of them, but will anything come of it once the sun rises.

A year later, and it’s time for the next Halloween party. Nikki hasn't seen Patrick much over the last year and when they have crossed paths, he hasn't said anything about their time together. Thinking he's forgotten, and unable to do the same, she vows to guarantee that this year she'll be wearing an outfit that he won't be able to resist. Truth is Patrick doesn't know what to do about his brother’s sexy secretary. He can't forget their encounter either, but is convinced that she has mistaken him for his brother. When East asks him to pretend to be him again this year, he can't help but gain a sense of degas vou. Will he 'fess his true identity this year, in the hopes of starting something with the woman that he can't seem to get out of his mind?

Wow, for such a short read I really enjoyed this novella. If you like side of romance with your sex, then this is the read for you! Nikki is a great character. She knows what she wants and she goes out to get it. Completely comfortable with her sexuality, she sets out to seduce Patrick to get a second taste of him whilst also reminding him of what he could have been having for the last year. Patrick is actually quite a self-conscious man. He is convinced that Nikki thought he was East (his brother) and that she doesn't actually want him. He spends the year trying to run into Nikki when he can, but not saying anything when he does. I loved the contrast between the exterior brash man and the internal vulnerable man. When he put the costume on, he becomes more confident and takes what he wants. I loved the whole package...seriously hot hunk of man flesh :)

I can't say anymore without spoiling the whole thing, but I will say that this spicy little number is just the right size to wet your appetite. Buy and enjoy! :) show less

Reviewed at http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/a-nix-contemporary-review-tes...

Ever since they moved to a different city, the relationship between Aidan and Layla has changed. Together for four years, they used to have be both friends and lovers but now they barely touch. Now most of Layla’s orgasms are courtesy of the sex toys he frequently buys her, furtive bringing herself pleasure whilst he sleeps next to her.

When Aidan discovers her masturbating to a picture of the show more latest model she wants to sign for the erotic modelling agency for which she works, it sets off a chain events that changes their relationship for ever. He encourages her to invite Sawyer into their bed but he doesn’t want to be involved, he just wants to watch. He can’t give her what she needs anymore, a secret causing him to push away the woman he loves. He rolls the dice, takes the risk and hopes that his plan won't backfire and push her into the arms of another man.

Sawyer and Layla hit it off straight away and it takes very little convincing to get him into their bed. The chemistry is combustible, the affection very real; in the interest of keeping his secrets, could Aidan have sowed the seeds that will kill the one thing he is trying to save? When things become worse between Aidan and Layla, will she turn to Sawyer to give her the affection she craves? And will Sawyer settle to being a third forever? Or will he push for more?

It you read nothing else from this review, read this paragraph. This book is outstanding. It played with my emotions, tore strips off my heart and left me reeling. I didn’t expect this book to hook me the way that it did and didn’t predict the way the plot turns would leave me ignoring life in general to keep reading right up until the end. The ending is not what I expected either. I had an idea of where it was going, but found that idea changing with each and every chapter. I can’t say this book made me happy but it certainly made me feel something. It isn’t a easy, chick-lit romance that you devour in a week with a smile on your face through every page. It’s an angsty, emotional, intense read with flawed characters making decisions because of flawed reasoning and suffering greatly because of it. I will reread this book once I get over the way it made me feel the first time round.

These characters can’t stop hurting each other. Aidan is hiding a secret which is putting a wedge between him and Layla. Their relationship is on the verge of collapse, their love for each other the only thing keeping them from admitting the truth to themselves. By suggesting they bring Sawyer into his bed, Aidan thinks he is doing something that will save them, allowing them to stay together with Sawyer filling the gaps he can’t plug himself. Instead, he unintentionally hurts them all.

Layla feels rejected and unloved by the man she is to marry, so she allows herself to be pushed towards Sawyer. Yes, she is attracted to him, but she would be happy to just fantasize. Once he’s in her bed he shows her what a relationship should be like, but there is the constant shadow of Aidan in the corner to make her torture herself over her feelings and keep her unhappy. Sawyer loves being around her, but isn’t too happy being their third. Aidan creeps him out, but he is willing to put up with him as long as he gets to be close to Layla. Every time they are together, he forgets, for a little while, that she isn’t someone else’s girl and that this isn’t a temporary arrangement. Every time they are apart, it all floods back and then he hurts all over again. Mean while Aidan has to watch another man worm his way into the affections of the one woman who he adores and he can blame no one but himself.

I couldn’t decide what I wanted to happen with this book. At points, I wanted Sawyer and Layla to run off together (I loved them together), in others I wanted a happy ménage and in others I just wanted them all to go their separate ways and find relationships that didn’t cause them pain and pleasure in equal amounts. The only thing I never wanted was Layla and Aidan to go it alone. I did not like Aidan. His inability to deal with his secrets caused the emotional pain of three people and I couldn’t help see him as an emotionally selfish man. Yes, I felt sympathy for him but this was overshadowed by the anger I had at his complete disregard for anyone else but himself. He was the master puppeteer of this twisted triangle and I wanted him to bugger off. On reflection, I should also lump some of the blame at the feet of the other two characters for letting their emotions rule and allowing themselves to be treated like they didn’t matter as individuals. As you can tell, this book caused some angst in me, never mind the characters.

This review is turning into a thought dump so I’m going to leave it there. This book was filled with emotional angst, troubled character and a story line which kept me biting my nails throughout. It was a smoking hot, heart wrenching tale of two people trying to cling onto a relationship for all the wrong reasons and the repercussions of a spur of the moment decision that changed their lives forever. show less

Loved the enemies to lovers trope. Both funny and very sexy.

No Flowers Required was my first Cari Quinn read, and it won't be my last. This story was so engaging, full of heart and humor that flowed from page to page. If you're looking for a very romantic story about enemies to lovers, a hidden identity, a prickly heroine and a sensitive hero, then the story of Alexa Conroy and Dillon James is definitely for you. This book can be read as a standalone.

Alexa was definitely a fighter and she show more was determined to keep her shop going even when she felt like she was fighting a losing battle of overdue bills, losing staff and dwindling customers. Her tenacity was one of the things I loved about her, but she was also trying to keep the store going in memory of deceased her friend and mentor who had left it to her in the first place. That showed she had a big heart. A reviewer mentioned Alexa's utter lack of business sense as one of the pitfalls of her character, I both agree and disagree. She was a floral designer to begin with. It wasn't that much of a surprise that she had no real clue how to run a business. Was she a fool for not recognizing that people in an economic downturn didn't want to loosen their belts for some exotic plants, yes. I agree that she was incredibly stubborn to ask for help, but at least she accepted it. I saw it as a part of her character arc that she had to come to realize that she didn't have to steamroll everyone out her way. It also lent credibility to her budding feelings for Dillon, her willingness to open herself up and let someone in, only to set her up for the fall.

Dillon James was damn near perfect. What I loved about him was his compassionate and quiet nature. Despite coming from a family that had it made, he preferred to get down and dirty, use his hands for manual labor and give back to the community. The exact opposite of his pencil pushing brother, Cory. Dillon's green thumb, volunteer charity work and skills as an artist showed the softer side of his tough guy exterior with his hot, inked body and piercings. His character arc was also well executed in that he went from being uncertain or reluctant in his role as a partner in the family business to discovering who he was and what was really important to him. I give the hero a lot of credit for being the one to tell her instead of her finding out some other way. Another plus point for him for not allowing Alexa to distract him with sex to fulfill her own (selfish) needs.

Dillon and Alexa had amazing chemistry together. I thoroughly enjoyed their witty banter and that the sex wasn't the only thing moving their relationship forward. They communicated and became friends. His encouragement helped to boost her self-confidence, though I am still non the wiser as to why it was so battered to begin with. Dillon was surprisingly a hopeless romantic at heart. The sex scenes were all incredibly hot! My favorite one had to be the game of "Hide and Go Seek the Hidden Tattoos". The author wrote the scenes with a sensuality that made the scenes more than just an outlet carnal lust. The ending was absolutely perfect for the pair, and I rejoiced in the fact that the author brought them full circle. I can't wait to read Cory's story, and I hope to see glimpses of this couple in the next book as well. I need to know they actually made it.

Rating: 4.5 rounded up to 5

Disclaimer: I received a review copy from the author for the purpose of an honest review. show less

Vincent is an office man by day and a Romance writer by night. His reputation is that of a complete man-slut, but the reality is there is only one woman who currently holds his attention. He frequents the local gas-station almost every night to clock eyes on the object of his affections; Kiki Wyatt. He’s tried almost everything to get her attention; he flirts, he looks his best, he buys ridiculous amount of condoms….nothing seems to faze her! When writers block leaves him staring at his show more computer screen for nights on end, he can only conclude that his sexual dry spell is leaving him bereft of inspiration. Can he finally convince the feisty cashier to let him have his wicked way with her?

Kiki hates her job at the Gas and Gulp. The only highlight is the brief glimpse of the handsome Vincent on her shifts. The man is gorgeous, but unfortunately he falls directly into the look but don’t touch category. His reputation precedes him and Kiki is not about to get involved with a womanizer again, no matter how much he makes her heart race. Holding out to the pheromones the man is exuding is hard, especially when he keeps throwing his sexual prowess at her. Can she keep on resisting in the face of such overwhelming temptation?

When an armed man tries to hold up the gas station on the night of Kiki’s shift, the two of them find themselves thrust together in unbelievable circumstances. Jumping in front of Kiki, Vincent manages to get himself shot and also get himself a better platform for his hunt; he now has her gratitude. When guilt forces her into helping the injured Vincent continue writing his books, her resistance starts to waver. Spending all day, every day in his apartment writing sex scenes together creates a sexual tension that affects them both. With both of them trying desperately cling onto their “single” status, what ridiculous solution will they come up with to try douse the flames of passion between them?

I was approached to review this book because I’d confessed that I love Geeky heroes. I didn’t get many Geeky vibes from Vincent but boy was he hot. An office boy by day, he writes romances under a fake female pseudonym by night. He is massively attracted to Kiki but, because this is a Romance and there has to be a “but”, he doesn’t want a relationship and feels if he could add her to his collection of notches on his bedpost, he’d be able to get her out of his system. Then the gunman appears and it seems like he will be soon getting his wish as a very grateful/guilty Kiki agrees to spend all day every day with him, helping to finish his book. I do love men in denial; Kiki has been under his skin for a while, there is no way that a one-night stand would be enough to cleanse him of his fears. Once she agrees to some mattress dancing, and his condition of no strings, he starts to engage in lots and lots of sexy times with her. The thing is, he didn’t see the fatal flaw in his plan. Yes, if they were only having sex, he would have no difficulties in keeping it purely down and dirty. But it wasn’t just sex. They were talking, writing scenes together and generally getting to know one another along the way. I loved how grumpy he got when some emotion emerged that proved he was starting to feel more for Kiki than he wanted to. I also loved how Kiki just wouldn't put up with it. He wanted nothing but sex, but how can he maintain a sex only deal with a woman who starts to know, and accept, all his dreams, hopes and fears?

Kiki was pretty awesome. She was one of those deluded heroines who think that they don’t need a man because they are all git’s after a bad experience with an ex. My first clue that this was a delusion was when she is spotted reading one of Vincent’s romance novels. Women who read romance believe in love! My next was her reaction to Vincent. Yes, she started to sleep with him to scratch an itch, but it becomes more than that. As they work together, she starts to see the man behind the sexy glasses and suave attitude. She gives herself to him whole-heartedly, withholding nothing from him. Her mouth may still reiterate that there is nothing between them but sex, but the way she conducts herself shows that it is only the conscious part of her holds this view. The problem is that her emotional scars run deep (Nico the slimy ex made sure of that), so when the brain starts to realize what the heart is up to, there is a high probability she will run. I loved the scenes between them where they were talking about the past; they were so touching to read. But will they ever stand a fighting chance at getting their HEA with so much baggage standing between them?

I loved this book. I loved the drama, I loved the characters and I loved the explosive chemistry between them both. It was more of a contemporary romance than the rest of her backlist, but this was probably because of the length of the tale stretched out the storyline, making it seem like it was less erotic than previous short stories (in reality, it wasn’t). It had a dreamy reluctant hero, a feisty heroine, good side characters and lots and lots of steamy sex. If I had one complaint it would be about Vincent’s reaction to the subplot involving his Grandmother which made him seem a little petulant and a little bit less attractive. Overall, a recommended read show less