Victoria Ashley

Strung was an adorably sweet brother's-best-friend novel. I enjoyed the characters, the romance, and the angst. It was insta-lust for Teagan and Micah, but their desire was forbidden by Alexander, Teagan's big brother and Micah's best friend. Watching then fight their desire was wonderful because you knew they would break. It was just a matter of who would break first. And while I love the protective older brother trope, I had the pushy best (girl) friend trope.

I've noticed it in many show more romance novels that the FMC tends to have a bff that is pushy, almost to the point of toxicity and sometimes well beyond. My BFF would tell me the hard truths I didn't want to hear, but she would never try to push me to do anything, no matter what. I hate that this is how FBFF's are often portrayed. I also hate when children (especially adult children) cave to their overbearing parents' whims. And I know that it happens and why; I just hate seeing it in novels.

Other than my personal pet peeves, I very much enjoyed the story. It was sweet but sexy, angsty, but not to the point of over-kill. The spice was mild but good. The narrators brought it all to life; I felt with them. Well done; I will check out more from the author. show less

This was a fun quick no-stress read. It was filled with dirty talk and sexy scenes, but they weren't over the top explicit.

The guys living in the "Alpha House" make bank being "pay-for-play" actors on the wildly popular Alpha Chat website that take online calls that for prices starting at $500 for 15 minutes. They will show off and "manhandle" their pretty packages while talking dirty and taking direction from often unseen and unheard lady clients sitting at their own computers at home. show more

Lynx is the owner/developer of the exploding website and is also the most popular actor with a months long wait-list. He is just trying to figure it out as he goes along...All the women want Lynx. He delivers the goods with a hefty package and no shortage on the ego. He knows just what the ladies want and manages to deliver on a daily basis.

Rebel is an early twenties hottie with the body for sin and a personality and face of an angel dealing with computer work fatigue and a sex slump...

Lynx purchased Club Royal as a tax write-off and no one there knows that he owns and runs Alpha Chat. One night he is in the office when Rebel is brought in to hand off an application for a bartending gig to supplement her freelance graphic design business. Lynx takes one look at Rebel and he is a goner. He spends the rest of the night working with her while not so secretly lusting over her. Rebel feels the same, but they both keep each other in the dark, trying to be professional.

When Rebel's roommate signs her up to get a call from "Lynx" on Alpha Chat (poor rebel has been in a sexual slump and her roommate knows just what she needs to become inspired again), Rebel is shocked and pleasantly surprised to see that the most popular Alpha Chat man is none other than her super-sexy boss.

While she manages to get through the call unknown (they have usernames and not ID's, and she turned off the camera and typed her responses), what she doesn't know is Lynx is actually fantasizing about the hot new bartender at Club Royal...what Lynx doesn't know is that the object of his fantasy is the one who is on the other side of the screen.

A mishap with the computer "out's" Rebel but she doesn't realize that her boss has seen her during the quick flash that the camera was on. He saw her, and now he wants her. A coveted party invite to the Alpha House's Glow in the Dark party brings Rebel and Lynx together.

Rebel only goes to the party when her roommate orders her and naively hopes that the "dark" will hide her true identity from her boss...she still hopes he has no clue that she is the same woman who he just hired. Well, he knows and has no qualms about going after Rebel with everything in his extensive seduction arsenal.

The banter between the Alpha Chat guys...the banter between Rebel and her roommate are both raunchy, and laugh-out-loud funny. The chemistry between Lynx and Rebel is scorching. No worries about sexual harassment of any of the "pesky" real world problems associated with possibly sleeping with the boss. The biggest concern was whether or not it would pan out beyond a couple of weeks.

The book reads like a true "New Adult" in that the mannerisms and vernacular are truly for those who are in their early twenties. No billionaires flying helicopters and living in high rise condos. No sexy office banter in a Fortune 500 company.

We have a house full of guys running around in various states of undress, a young woman trying to learn how to work for a man who just can't seem to go an hour without trying to taunt and tease her into bed-breaking romp in the sack- not that she wants it to stop.....motorcycles, tattoos and tequila shots replace Audi's, bespoke suits, and dark backstories. There is no BDSM in this book, and the only contract being signed is the one year guarantee Lynx offers to Rebel to ease her fears of sleeping with the boss......no cheating and a HFN ending.... Right now at Amazon for 99 cents. show less

4.5 stars

In not sure what to say about this book other than it left me with so many emotions. I loved Kota. She was such a strong female. I loved that she held her own in a man dominated world. Easton. Sweet lord. What a predicament he was in. I loved him all along but when the song Mercy was introduced in the story(helped that I knew the words and could envision the passion and meaning of them) that he really stole my heart.

I really would love to see more stories from the side characters show more like Roman and Hope. show less

I'd say 3.5-4* I hate the reuse of words and phrases - so them getting all internal dialog kind of annoyed me - but the story was fun (well not really, it was supposed to be emotional) - I don't think I've read any "fighting" focused books, especially this type, so the story was original - Honestly I can't wait to read the next story - hopefully less internal struggling (annoying) and more action and fun