Review: Maggie Wells - February Fling

February Fling

Series: Hot Nights in St. Blaise, Book #2

Published: January 29th, 2013

Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press (Imprint: Sapphire Nights)

Format: eBook

Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance

Length: Novella, 23,600 words

Available at: Amazon | B&N | ARe | Smashwords | TMP Bookstore

Blurb

Having a tough enough time reestablishing her credibility in the wake of the calendar’s success, Sharon Malloy refuses to jeopardize her career for a fling with an inappropriate man. No matter how badly she aches to be flung.

The sexy Finance Administrator may be fresh off the world’s most amicable divorce, but she’d long passed the age of giving in to reckless impulses. The problem is, when Chad Holgren touches her, it doesn’t feel reckless. It just feels right.

Sharon’s determination to play it cool only fuels Chad’s fire. Determined to prove he has what it takes to make her happy, he puts her through her paces time and again, stretching the boundaries of their relationship and hanging on tight when Cupid’s arrow catches them both with their pants down.

My Review

In Jumping Mr. January, we met Beth when she pitched the idea of a fundraising calendar featuring the Men and Women of St. Blaise Regional Medical Center. Meet Sharon Malloy, Chief Financial Officer, 42 years old, single, athlete and Miss February. Sharon hurt her ankle on the job. Before she can go back to work, he must complete mandatory physical therapy. Enter Chad Holgren, her 27 year old stud of a physical therapist. He has lusted after Sharon for a while, but he’s never found the courage to speak to her. When she becomes his newest patient, he can’t wait to get her under his hands. For therapy, of course … of course. She thinks if he wants her, she’ll indulge him and herself for however long their fling will last, only she doesn’t know that Chad is determined to make it something permanent. Will he convince her that age is after all just a number?

Sharon was a great character in this story. I probably liked her so much because her age bracket is closer to mine, so her insecurities were realistic. Sharon has been an athlete since childhood. Tall and well-built, she has kept herself in excellent shape. But apparently being a gorgeous Amazon wasn’t enough to keep her ex husband around. A fifteen year, childless marriage ended without a fanfare. But with the help of the meddling photographer, Macy, things are starting to look up in the romance department.

I loved Chad because he was so much more than just a hot, young stud. There were many sides to him that made him such a lovable character. Clearly he had his own kind of insecurities around Sharon, but I liked the effort he put into trying to seem appealing to her. Silly man, if he only knew!

Hell, he’d even watched CNN in a desperate attempt to catch up on world events. He thought it might help if he could come up with topics that might make him seem a little older, more sophisticated, more than the gym rat most women thought he was.

Even at the risk of making a complete fool out of himself, he was honest with Sharon every step of the way. Anyone who knows me that lack of communication between the main characters is one of my peeves. It’s not difficult. So you might get hurt, but at least you’ll know where you stand.

I thought I really liked the first book, but after reading this one, Ms Wells has me hook, line and sinker. I adore her sense of humor which is once again present, lending her characters depth and believability, thus making them quite lovable. I mean, just read my favorite lines below and tell me they weren’t adorable together. I’m also beginning to really like the photographer, Macy Beck. She seems to be very sneaky at playing cupid. The love scenes were so much hotter than the first book, but it wouldn’t be a Maggie Wells story if the first sexual encounter didn’t have a few mishaps. That scene was pretty funny.

Overall, this story had a great plot, it was well written and well told. The conflict was presented and subsequently chipped away without being over dramatic or frustrating. The MCs faced their fears together, and learned to take their relationship one step at a time. But most importantly, they realized it only mattered what they thought, and nobody else. A couple of errors made it past the editing stage, but nothing that hindered the story. Well done Miss Wells, and I can’t wait for March Madness!

Favorite Lines

“How old are you?”

His eyebrows shot up as he pulled back. “I’m twenty-seven. Why?”

She winced. “Twenty-seven.” She closed her eyes and let her head fall back against the cabinet with a thunk. “I have bras older than you.”

“What else do you do besides basketball?”

“Do you count?”

“I’ll give you a free one-month gym membership if you do that thing where you try to crush my pelvis with your Wonder Woman thighs again.”

“That was an accident.”

“That was one of the best moments of my life.”

“If that’s the way your skin looks after one night, imagine what a weekend could do.”

“Those crow’s feet could be completely gone by next Thursday,” Macy chimed in helpfully.

4.5 rounded up to 5.

Find Maggie Wells online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

Disclaimer: I received a review copy from the author. A review in exchange was not promised. The views and opinions expressed in this review are my own, and in no way represent the views or opinions of the publisher/distributor.

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