Today I'm bringing you two books from the Night series by Sidda Lee Tate. The First Night and Hijacked are both steamy reads and deal with friends who find love at an unexpected time and place. Learn more about these books through excerpts and my reviews of each, as well as visiting the other blogs hosting this tour. Make sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win copies of these books!
Can the last place she needs to be become the first night of her forever?
She planned to meet her coworkers for drinks and be home in a few hours. Getting drunk and staying out all night was not an option. Not for Kayla Dobbs. Going to a bar was already pushing her limits. Between her full-time job and night classes, there was no time to spare for a social life, and certainly no time for a relationship. But when she meets Gannon, the sexy bartender whose hypnotic eyes seem to follow her every move, she wishes things could be different.
Although Kayla doesn't recognize him, Gannon knows exactly who she is—she was the one girl in high school he'd always wanted but had been afraid to pursue. He's changed a lot since high school though, and maybe now he has a chance at making that dream come true.
As she breaks free from her self-induced lifestyle of studying and work, Kayla realizes that no matter how concrete her life plan is, sometimes it only takes one night, one person, to alter it forever.
EXCERPT:
Music blared from the band, pounding in Kayla's ears and masking the nervous hammering in her chest. She tossed the apprehension from her head. The bartender was watching her again, and she was glad. After all, it had been a long time since anyone held her interest and he…well, he seemed to be matching her awareness. She was determined to talk to him, and with liquid courage having her back, she was in rare form. Feeling tenacious and certain, she licked her lips to make them shine and walked toward the faintly familiar man.
The closer she got to the bar, the more the courage escaped her. Never in her life had she approached a man she was attracted to. "Just go to the bar and order a drink," she said quietly to herself. "He won't bite."
Kayla grinned, took a deep breath, and settled on a bar stool. She didn't have to wait. The bartender met her as she sat. His gaze held hers for a second longer than she was comfortable with, and her breath hitched in her throat. She moved her stare to the shelves of bottles behind him. Without her asking, he placed a shot of tequila in front of her. She slowly traced the rim with her index finger, trying to think of something clever to say when he sat another shot on the worn mahogany bar top. "Thanks, but I can't handle two more. I'd like to be able to walk out of here."
He held the extra glass up to her eye level, leaning toward her, his eyes burning into hers. "This one is for me. I'd like you to be able to walk out of here too. Let's have a toast."
People around the bar repeatedly shouted out their orders, but the bartender didn't seem to hear them, or if he did, he didn't acknowledge them. Two other guys serving drinks took up the slack.
Kayla picked up the small glass of liquid meant for her and slowly batted her lashes. "A toast to what, exactly?"
She couldn't help but notice the black scribe tattoo on the inside of his upper arm and wondered what it said, but didn't allow her eyes to dwell as they followed his arm to his shoulder and to his neck. She imagined her tongue trailing across his skin and quickly flushed.
He smiled, and his eyes sparkled as he clinked his glass to hers. "To four-inch, platinum heels and jeans that make an ass like yours trigger heart attacks for all that may lay their eyes upon it."
Kayla laughed out loud. He had to be joking, how cheesy. "Well, I wouldn't say it has such an extreme effect on everyone. Does a line like that work on every female?" She licked her hand where he'd showed her earlier and grabbed the salt shaker.
He leaned in closer, inches from her, his gaze intense. "I couldn't be more serious. I've always—"
"Gannon!" one of the other bartenders interrupted. "We've got a fight!"
His eyes narrowed, and irritation spread across his face. He glanced at the anxious announcer behind him and back to Kayla. "Give me a few minutes?"
She watched him jump across the bar and disappear into the crowd. Shivers went across her skin as she noticed the muscles in his arms flex when he lifted himself over the counter. Forgetting about the salt, she tossed the shot back and helped herself to the one he'd left on the bar. As an afterthought, she bit into the lime. His name is Gannon.
The closer she got to the bar, the more the courage escaped her. Never in her life had she approached a man she was attracted to. "Just go to the bar and order a drink," she said quietly to herself. "He won't bite."
Kayla grinned, took a deep breath, and settled on a bar stool. She didn't have to wait. The bartender met her as she sat. His gaze held hers for a second longer than she was comfortable with, and her breath hitched in her throat. She moved her stare to the shelves of bottles behind him. Without her asking, he placed a shot of tequila in front of her. She slowly traced the rim with her index finger, trying to think of something clever to say when he sat another shot on the worn mahogany bar top. "Thanks, but I can't handle two more. I'd like to be able to walk out of here."
He held the extra glass up to her eye level, leaning toward her, his eyes burning into hers. "This one is for me. I'd like you to be able to walk out of here too. Let's have a toast."
People around the bar repeatedly shouted out their orders, but the bartender didn't seem to hear them, or if he did, he didn't acknowledge them. Two other guys serving drinks took up the slack.
Kayla picked up the small glass of liquid meant for her and slowly batted her lashes. "A toast to what, exactly?"
She couldn't help but notice the black scribe tattoo on the inside of his upper arm and wondered what it said, but didn't allow her eyes to dwell as they followed his arm to his shoulder and to his neck. She imagined her tongue trailing across his skin and quickly flushed.
He smiled, and his eyes sparkled as he clinked his glass to hers. "To four-inch, platinum heels and jeans that make an ass like yours trigger heart attacks for all that may lay their eyes upon it."
Kayla laughed out loud. He had to be joking, how cheesy. "Well, I wouldn't say it has such an extreme effect on everyone. Does a line like that work on every female?" She licked her hand where he'd showed her earlier and grabbed the salt shaker.
He leaned in closer, inches from her, his gaze intense. "I couldn't be more serious. I've always—"
"Gannon!" one of the other bartenders interrupted. "We've got a fight!"
His eyes narrowed, and irritation spread across his face. He glanced at the anxious announcer behind him and back to Kayla. "Give me a few minutes?"
She watched him jump across the bar and disappear into the crowd. Shivers went across her skin as she noticed the muscles in his arms flex when he lifted himself over the counter. Forgetting about the salt, she tossed the shot back and helped herself to the one he'd left on the bar. As an afterthought, she bit into the lime. His name is Gannon.
BUY LINKS: AMAZON | BN
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Kayla's life lately has been only about work and school until the night she decides to let loose at a bar with her friend Sharon. After numerous tequila shots her inhibitions lower and she gets closer to doing something she might regret in the morning. Luckily bartender Gannon has had his eye on her since she walked in and appoints himself her guardian. What follows is a steamy morning after which leads to awkwardness on the part of Gannon who has a past with Kayla that he doesn't want to admit to yet and that she has yet to figure out. Their romance slowly evolves from friends to more emotional lovers in a sweet yet sexy storyline.
Kayla's always been the nice girl, even in high school, so it's hard for her to cut loose. Once she does though she finds herself immensely attracted to the sexy bartender whose caring eyes seem familiar. Gannon was a nerd in high school and often made fun of by everyone but Kayla. They formed a connection from that moment which has resumed now as adults. After many years of being with women he doesn't care about the feelings Kayla engenders in him frighten him and have him reacting to her proclamations badly which makes for a rocky road to a HEA.
This was a fast read with likable characters in a heartwarming yet super steamy storyline. The sexual interludes were nicely spaced throughout the story so as not to impede character development. The introduction of Sharon, the heroine in the next story, added an extra sense of wildness and she became the catalyst for Gannon's grand gesture that helped the protagonists reach their HEA. This was an entertaining start to a sexy series of short reads that are a decadent delight and have me looking forward to more.
My rating for this is a B.
*I received this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Will an unexpected encounter leave Sharon's heart hijacked?
When Sharon Blake meets Kyle Phillips her first instinct is to simply seek the pleasure she's certain he can give her. But surprisingly, she feels a strong connection with him, something she's never experienced before, and that conflicts with everything she's always believed—sex is sex and nothing more.
The last woman Kyle trusted with his heart betrayed him, and he has no interest in getting involved with anyone. There's only one problem—now that he's met Sharon, he craves her touch, her laughter, the look in her eyes when he pulls her near.
Kyle and Sharon soon realize that being apart isn't an option. Someone else, though, has different plans for Kyle, and Sharon is left questioning everything he's told her. Kyle tries to explain, to make things right again, but Sharon doesn't know if she can trust him, and her instinct is to walk away now before her heart is bruised even further.
EXCERPT:
The small blonde waitress placed a third beer on the table in front of him. Her breasts were at eye level, nipples looking tight as stones poked at the thin material of her top. The first time Kyle saw her behind the bar he knew she would be hard to forget. Lucky for him, she was his server.
"Two-fifty," she said, smiling. "Are you gonna drink those?" She pointed to the full bottles in front of him.
"Waiting for some friends. Check back with me in a few minutes." He handed her a five dollar bill. "Keep the change."
"Thanks." Her chest swelled, perfect mounds inches from his face. The light blue v-neck, lace top she wore was held up by thin straps. It was cut low, giving him a peek at what lie beneath. As she turned and sauntered to the bar, he couldn't help but stare.
She propped her elbows on the countertop and leaned over. Her round butt in the air had him practically salivating, and no matter how hard he tried, his eyes would only divert for a second before finding their way back to her.
He watched as the bartender handed her a shot and she tossed it back. As if she sensed him gawking, the waitress turned her head, propping her chin on her shoulder, and grinned.
Leaving the bar, she walked straight over to him, taking a seat in the chair next to his as though it were hers all along. "Why are you watching me?" she asked matter-of-factly, which made him cough in surprise. Was it that obvious? "You ordered at the bar first, right?"
"I…um," he stuttered and gave up on an explanation.
She smiled again, most likely at catching him off guard. He decided drinking the beer in front of him wouldn't be a bad idea and grabbed one of the bottles, chugged half, and sat it down. He eyed her with curiosity and pressed his sweating palms against his jeans.
Say something! "How long have you been here?"
She arched her left eyebrow. "You mean as in, tonight?"
"Working here, as in days, weeks, months, years."
"A few weeks." She crossed one leg over the other, hiking the already short, black skirt up her thigh, exposing more of her silky skin. Her eyes narrowed. "I'm on my break."
"And you chose to spend it with me?"
She shrugged her right shoulder and picked up a pack of cigarettes from the table he hadn't noticed her put there when she sat. She lit one, the flame from the lighter making it possible for him to notice her eyes had a green tint to them. "Your table is empty."
He playfully scoffed, amused at her excuse. There were at least six unoccupied tables in the room. "When does the band start?"
She looked down at her watch. Silver with rhinestones, it fit loose like a bracelet. "In about an hour. They start at ten. What's your name?"
He drank another quarter of the beer. "Kyle Phillips. You?"
"Sharon Blake." She reached up and pulled her long hair from the back of her neck and let it fall. "Is this your first time here? I've never seen you around. Are you from Pineville?"
Kyle cleared his throat. She was making observations, asking questions. He'd been divorced for three months, but this was his first time at a bar since meeting his ex-wife nine years ago, and he wasn't certain if he should explain his situation—a fresh divorcé. He decided to go with direct answers. "I live about three miles outside of town. And no, I don't get out much."
"Huh." She tugged on the cigarette and then snuffed the rest of it out in an ashtray at the center of the table. "I'm trying to quit."
"Six years smoke free for me. It was one of the hardest things I've done."
She eyed him carefully. "Are you meeting someone?"
"A friend. He should be here any time." Kyle peeled his gaze from her and scanned the growing crowd through the dimly lit room, suddenly hoping his friend didn't show for a while. He gulped more beer. "How long are you on break?"
"I've got a few minutes." Her eyes moved over him and he wondered how evident it was that he wanted to taste her skin. "Why do you ask?"
"I thought I might get you something to drink. But then, if you work here—"
"My drinks are free." She laughed and reached for his stash of untouched beer. "Do you mind?" The waitress…Sharon…didn't wait for an answer before popping the top and taking a sip. "Kyle Phillips, I need your help."
BUY LINKS: AMAZON | BN
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Hijacked is a story that is intensely sexual where the relationship between the protagonists is highly sexualized. From their first meeting where they create some steam in the back of a bar they can't keep their hands off each other in a rich boy/poor girl story.
Sharon enjoys playing the field as she doesn't believe in love after watching her mom struggle as a single parent. She's the ultimate party girl who's been known to take part in orgies and isn't ashamed to admit it. The moment she sees Kyle though she feels a deeper connection and tells him more about herself than she's ever done before. The sex is off the charts between them too and sets him apart from the other lovers she's been with. Just as she starts to admit her true feelings for him though she flies off the handle in a shrewish way refusing to listen to the truth after seeing him talking to another woman. It's as if she's purposefully sabotaging things by not being willing to listen to his side of the story. Sharon was a character that rubbed me wrong from the start with her vampy ways, irresponsibility, and tendency to fly off the handle. We rarely saw her interacting with Kyle in any other way than sexual which made their relationship seem superficial.
Kyle is still recovering from his divorce after his wife cheated on him. He's always been seen in terms of his wealth so it's refreshing that Sharon doesn't know or care anything about it. He just sees a woman who he can get wild with and who's freed him from his past. He woos her through sex and through pampering but just when he thinks he has her his ex causes problems once again. Kyle is the perfect dream man as he can give Sharon everything she desires. He can entertain her in and out of the bedroom and they're a good match.
This story is full of one sexual encounter after another which overwhelms the story at times but definitely makes for a sweat-worthy read between two compatible characters. While the bulk of the story rolls along in a sexually satisfying haze we're left with a rushed ending that while happy is a bit disappointing. Overall this is a good compliment to the previous installment even with its flaws and I'm left looking forward to the next installment in this sexy contemporary series.
My rating for this is a C
*I received this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Sidda Lee Tate has spent most of her life creating stories. Writing is one of her great loves. Whether her words make readers cry, laugh, or down-right hot, she is proud to take people on a journey with her characters. Sidda lives in a small town in Arkansas with her husband and son.
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Two thorough and thoughtful reviews. Thank you, Jody.
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