As a reader who loves bad boys, I've definitely found one in Ash who's very rough around the edges but still has women drawn to him. Keep reading to get a tantalizing taste of this unconventional hero of Into the Fire by E.L. Todd and its tale of opposites attracting, along with my impressions of it, and then add it to your bookshelf. Learn even more about this first book in the Gorgeous Entourage series by visiting the other sites hosting this tour. In honor of this series starter make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $50 Amazon GC too!
Ash
Despite everything I've done for my parents, I'll never be good enough for them. Instead of seeing a man to be proud of, they just see an embarrassment. I served four tours in Afghanistan but that doesn't mean anything to them. They only see the ink, the party life, and my short stint in jail.
And nothing else.
When they were in trouble, I handed over my life savings. I didn't think twice about it because they're my family, my blood. They raised me to be my own man and gave me everything I needed. It didn't matter that it was every penny I had. It didn't matter that the money was set aside for my future.
My dreams.
Because they needed me.
But now they refuse to pay me back until I become the man they think I should be.
Alessandra
I have an unusual professional.
I escort men, acting as their date to family functions or work parties. It's my job to act deeply in love with my client. And I always nail it.
But it's not what you think.
I'm not a prostitute.
I'm not a call girl.
I'm an actress.
Get it right.
There are strict rules when it comes to my profession. There is no touching, kissing, or anything but hand-holding. Those who choose not to comply will get a swift kick in the nuts.
But all this goes to hell when Ash walks into my life.
EXCERPT:
I sat up then ran my hands up his chest. "You want to know a secret?"
“Always."
“You’re the sexiest man I’ve ever seen."
“Well, that’s not a secret, sweetheart."
“Ugh, you’re so cocky but you’re still hot."
“I know."
My hands went to his jeans and I unbuttoned them then pulled down the zipper.
Ash watched me with dark eyes.
I got his jeans off then saw his long definition in his boxers. It was thick and moved all the way down to his thigh. “Wow…"
“I get that a lot."
I pressed my lips to this tip through the material and gave him a gentle kiss.
Ash’s eyes widened and he released a deep moan. “Whoa…sweetheart."
I grabbed his boxers and tugged them down.
He gripped the top and kept them up. “As horny and flattered as I am, not tonight."
I pouted my lips. “Why the hell not?"
“Because I’m not going to take advantage of you."
“Take advantage?” I asked. “I’m giving it to you."
“Even so, last week you told me no. I know you’re only saying yes now because you’re drunk. That’s not how I do things."
I growled. “Come on, don’t be such a pussy."
He chuckled. “Excellent way to get into a man’s pants."
I growled again.
“I’ll tell you what.” He kneeled at the foot of the bed with his torso between my legs. “If you still want to when you wake up in the morning, I’ll rock you so hard your bed will break. How about that?"
“But I want it now…” My hands moved down his chest.
“I’m sorry.” One hand moved through my hair. “Take it as a compliment."
“You’re rejecting me. How is that a compliment?"
“I’m rejecting you because I care about you. I want to know you want me, not just because you had too much to drink. And I don’t want to be something you regret.” He tucked my hair behind my ear. “Even drunk, you can understand that, right?"
I nodded.
“Good.” He stood up then pulled his t-shirt off.
Oh my lord.
Ash was a solid slab of muscle. Prominent lines of muscle divided the different areas of his body. His torso was flanked with power and strength, and the muscle of his ribs looked like lines of sand in the desert. His stomach contained an eight pack, full of grooves and valleys. And his chest was wide and expansive. Both of my hands couldn’t take up half the area. “I usually sleep in the nude but I’ll sleep in my boxers tonight."
“I want you to be comfortable…don’t mind me."
He chuckled then pulled the covers back. “Come on. Get into bed."
“With you?” Seriously?
“What does it look like?"
“Are you trying to torture me?"
That stupid grin was on his face. “Change and let’s go to bed."
I eyed his t-shirt on the floor then snatched it. I pulled it over my dress then removed my dress from underneath.
“That’s pretty impressive."
His shirt reached past my thighs and made me feel smaller than I already was. I crawled up the bed then lay in the sheets beside him. “Your shirt smells good."
“It’s my natural scent so I’m not surprised.” He turned on his side and faced me. Then he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close to him. “For what it’s worth, I’m going to be hard all night."
“We can fix that…"
He chuckled. “I would love to—in the morning."
“I thought you were a dick?"
“I am."
“Then why are you being so sensitive right now?"
“I’m a dick because I sleep around and tell women they aren’t getting shit from me. But I’m not an ass. I don’t lie and act like I’m something I’m not. No woman ever has to wonder where our relationship is going. And I don’t take advantage of women. A little buzzed is fine, but totally drunk like this isn’t right. And I don’t need to get a girl drunk to get her into bed. Besides, I’m your friend. What kind of friend would I be if I totally used you when you were most vulnerable? That shit is fucked up."
Now I felt like an idiot. I put myself out there and got rejected—coldly.
“Hey.” His voice came out gentle. “Saying no wasn’t easy. You know how attracted I am to you. I sincerely hope you still want it in the morning. Because my morning wood is going to be bigger than usual.” He leaned in and gave me a gentle kiss on the lips. His mouth was soft and delicate. Even though the touch was innocent, it somehow made me melt. “Good night, sweetheart."
“Good night.”
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
The friends to lovers theme is a favorite of mine and this new release from Ms. Todd puts a unique spin on that with its unapologetic hero and classy heroine that's his complete opposite. Their journey towards HEA may start out under the guise of business, but by story's end it's all about pleasure as their crackling first meeting leads to unrelenting sexual tension and increasingly scorching encounters. It all adds up to a fast-paced tale with fun and flirty banter and full of steamy encounters that charmed me along with making me blush.
Ash is an unconventional hero, but a hero nonetheless after serving three tours in Afghanistan. All he wants is to live his life as he sees fit which means getting back the money he lent his folks to start his own tattoo parlor. With their disappointment in him though they're hoping to change him by promising to return his money once he gets a girlfriend. Not wanting to get entangled in a relationship he knows he's incapable of has him hiring an escort that seems to be his opposite in many ways but ends up being his perfect match. Ash is a complex character that doesn't always say or do the right thing. He's a sexy guy and he knows it as his arrogance knows no bounds, but beneath that cocky exterior lies a man with a kind and loyal heart who helps the woman left betrayed by love regain her self-confidence. He's honest and upfront in his dealings with women, never leading them on and in their time together makes them the center of attention. He's all man but there are moments where he acts like a boy through his words, his belches, and his obsession with his new friends-with-benefits's body parts. He's an unlikely hero but I found myself drawn to him and charmed by him and his different layers slowly revealed. I enjoyed the subtle transformation love had on him and his halfhearted attempt at stopping the impact his relationship with Alessandra had on him too. He may be rough around the edges but whenever he was on the scene he put a smile on my face.
Alessandra's a woman of class that made a choice to strip for a few months, when fate left her with a large medical debt, that had her boyfriend calling her a slut and walking away. It shattered her image of herself, left her doubting, with her self-confidence at an all-time low. It's left her doubting men in particular and adamant in the boundaries she sets up in her job as escort. There's to be only hand holding and waist touching in exchange for playing the perfect girlfriend. Meeting Ash though has her throwing all her rules away as he's not one for living a life of boundaries. On the surface he looks and acts like someone she'd never be with but the more time they spend together the more she discovers about him. For so long she's been worried about what others think, she's lived a life wound up tight, but being with Ash is freeing. Being with him boosts her confidence in her body and her self-worth and unleashes her inner sex kitten through their numerous erotic encounters. Being with him made her more fun with a propensity to live her life without fear of judgement and hers was an entertaining journey from the first page to the last.
Ash is an unconventional hero, but a hero nonetheless after serving three tours in Afghanistan. All he wants is to live his life as he sees fit which means getting back the money he lent his folks to start his own tattoo parlor. With their disappointment in him though they're hoping to change him by promising to return his money once he gets a girlfriend. Not wanting to get entangled in a relationship he knows he's incapable of has him hiring an escort that seems to be his opposite in many ways but ends up being his perfect match. Ash is a complex character that doesn't always say or do the right thing. He's a sexy guy and he knows it as his arrogance knows no bounds, but beneath that cocky exterior lies a man with a kind and loyal heart who helps the woman left betrayed by love regain her self-confidence. He's honest and upfront in his dealings with women, never leading them on and in their time together makes them the center of attention. He's all man but there are moments where he acts like a boy through his words, his belches, and his obsession with his new friends-with-benefits's body parts. He's an unlikely hero but I found myself drawn to him and charmed by him and his different layers slowly revealed. I enjoyed the subtle transformation love had on him and his halfhearted attempt at stopping the impact his relationship with Alessandra had on him too. He may be rough around the edges but whenever he was on the scene he put a smile on my face.
Alessandra's a woman of class that made a choice to strip for a few months, when fate left her with a large medical debt, that had her boyfriend calling her a slut and walking away. It shattered her image of herself, left her doubting, with her self-confidence at an all-time low. It's left her doubting men in particular and adamant in the boundaries she sets up in her job as escort. There's to be only hand holding and waist touching in exchange for playing the perfect girlfriend. Meeting Ash though has her throwing all her rules away as he's not one for living a life of boundaries. On the surface he looks and acts like someone she'd never be with but the more time they spend together the more she discovers about him. For so long she's been worried about what others think, she's lived a life wound up tight, but being with Ash is freeing. Being with him boosts her confidence in her body and her self-worth and unleashes her inner sex kitten through their numerous erotic encounters. Being with him made her more fun with a propensity to live her life without fear of judgement and hers was an entertaining journey from the first page to the last.
This was a fast-paced and memorable story from its immensely unique hero to its steamy and carefree romance. The heroine was likable, easy to relate to, with a journey of empowerment that was cheer-inducing. The banter between these two strong-willed leads was fun, flirty, and teeming with sexual tension as Ash was the king of dirty talk. For me, it was Ash that made this story! He was arrogant and cocky, and had every right to be as he was super sexy, but he was loyal with a big heart who would never lie which is what marks the quintessential hero. Others might be put off by his talk and attitude but it drew me to him. The only part of the story that dimmed my enjoyment was Ash's parents and their manipulations that felt forced as their disappointment in him never made sense. Readers who enjoy erotic romances will get exactly that too as Ash and Alessandra's relationship evolves very quickly and intensifies rapidly through numerous, almost too numerous, scorching encounters. These encounters though aren't all about sex as Ash slowly finds out what love means through the looks and quiet moments intertwined with these steamy encounters. From start to finish this is an intense romance with a carefree vibe that charmed me and has me adding Ash to my ever-growing list of book boyfriends. On a whole, it's a sexy story full of unrelenting verbal foreplay that I definitely recommend.
My rating for this is a B+
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Amazon Bestselling author, E. L. Todd, was raised in sunny California where she still lives today, claiming it’s the best place in the country. Easily hypothermic and hateful of the cold, she prefers to be warm all year round. She attended California State University, Stanislaus and received her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, but still pursued her dream to be a writer. She’s written several novels and many series’, and her imagination can’t seem to stop. She tries to find the good in people and she exploits that in her writing, proving that people can make mistakes and rise above their past. Her hobbies include sunbathing, swimming, eating at Surf Taco in San Diego, reading, and learning everything she can about hippopotamuses’, her favorite creature. Her greatest dream is to make people forget about the harshness of reality and dive into a good story with lovable people. When fans tell her they love her work, it gives her the greatest sense of accomplishment.
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Great review. Thank you for hosting INTO THE FIRE today!
ReplyDeleteCrystal, Tasty Book Tours