Two people with pasts full of loss find a haven in each other’s arms in this romance full of charm and a bit of danger. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Maybe Don’t Wanna by Lani Lynn Vale, along with my impressions of this captivating romance, then add this second installment in the Simple Man series to your bookshelf!
Peter Parker Penn.
Unlike the superhero his mother named him after, Parker is no good guy.
In fact, if there's a picture in the dictionary under anti-hero, it's his.
Parker's spent his life trying to get back on the right side of the tracks, but each step he takes forward, he takes two more steps back.
To save one, he hurts others. To make this good, he turns that bad.
For appearances' sake, he plays the part. He does what people expect him to do-mostly. And at the end of each day, he goes back to his lonely apartment and wishes he was a different person. One who could fix the things he's broken.
Then Kayla Nash forces her way into his life, and the world as he knows it is irrevocably changed.
Everything he thinks he has right is wrong. And everything he thinks is wrong is oh, so right.
One thing leads to another, and suddenly he's growing a conscience, and trying to prove to her that he's as bad as everybody says he is.
Yet she won't listen.
She's convinced that she can save him.
Little does she know, Parker isn't worth saving, and never will be.
FIND AT GOODREADS here.
BUY LINKS: AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (UK) | AMAZON (AU) | AMAZON (CA) | BN | KOBO | iBOOKS
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
It’s a rollercoaster ride of various emotions from the first page to the last when two people with painful pasts find a bit of peace and acceptance in each other’s arms. They may start out as friends but it’s clear their destined for more courtesy of their crackling first meeting and charming daily interactions as next door neighbors. Add in a bit of suspense and it’s clear that they’re a formidable couple standing strong against adversity that had me cheering.
Peter Parker Penn was a hellion when he was young. Drawn into the world of gangs he was forced into a tragic choice that changed his life irrevocably. Joining the military was supposed to make his life better but it left even more bloodshed in its wake and feelings of guilt that he carries yet today. The loss of his nephew nearly broke him but he finally found a purpose to his life which ultimately leads him to the small town of Hostel, Texas and a vivacious younger woman. She’s a woman who finally breaches the walls he’s kept around his heart in a sweet and sexy romance that made me smile and blush. Peter’s an engaging hero whose life is cluttered with deeds both good and bad. He doesn’t sugarcoat his past, he owns up to it, and has tried to make amends. He has a good heart, is protective of those he claims as family and friends (of which there are few), and I found myself charmed by his imperfections. Being around Kayla brought out a carefree side to him, a side unburdened by his past, and I fell for him all the more as he wormed his way into Kayla’s heart and mine. He’s also one sexy beast with a talent for dirty talk and a body that left me parched. He’s a brawny man with lumberjack looks but his heart is kind and I thoroughly enjoyed watching him fall in love with Kayla.
Kayla Nash lost her father in war when she was young and all she has left of him are memories. She’s never been completely alone though as his brothers in arms and the men of the Dixie Wardens MC have been like family to her. Her best friend Janie, along with Janie’s father James, took Kayla in and it’s made for a tight bond full of laugh out loud interactions. Janie was the star of the previous book in this series and with this book she’s a strong support to Kayla, pushing her to go after what she wants and unwaveringly supporting her through all her ups and downs. Kayla’s a bit lost as to what she wants to be when she grows up. She’s flitted from job to job with nothing feeling just right. Her recent stint working alongside a detective is definitely not right for her as the horrors left behind by a serial killer have left her with nightmares. There’s one bright spot though and it’s her meeting the quiet but compelling Parker. Their connection starts out fun and flirty but as next door neighbors they quickly grow closer. He helps her deal with her nightmares, gives her a sounding board to unload all her thoughts and fears to, and it strengthens their bond as the story moves forward. She too gives him the acceptance and forgiveness that he’s always longed for and it takes a weight off of both of them. Just as their romance goes to the next level, danger comes calling with her nightmares becoming a reality and his past making a return appearance that had my pulse pounding until the very end. Kayla’s a delightful heroine! She’s quite a bit younger than Parker, but her painful past definitely made her wise beyond her years. She’s a bubbly heroine, longs for knowledge with her inquisitive mind, and it made for lots of witty banter and infectious joy whenever she expressed her thoughts. She made me smile and I enjoyed seeing Parker smile when he was with her as his tragic past earned him a joyous HEA.
This was a quick read with bits of emotional angst due to this duo’s painful past, but when it came to their connection they never fought it. They moved from friends to lovers smoothly and gave in wholeheartedly to the sexual tension noticeable from the very start. Some readers might have issues with their age difference, but I never felt that he was too old for her. He was a sexy man in the prime of his life and she needed someone steady to balance out her entertaining flightiness. I enjoyed them together. Their connection was combustible, they were able to easily open up to each other, and were a strong support to each other. Their interludes were erotically-charged and burned up my tablet but were nicely balanced with sweet interludes too. The flow of the story wasn’t as smooth as I liked though, courtesy of the serial killer storyline, which felt unnecessary and wouldn’t be missed if it were removed. There’s plenty to enjoy as readers watch the healing power of love bring Parker and Kayla together. Family and friends were also important to this story and added many fun and heartwarming interludes that made me feel like family too. Ms. Vale has crafted another satisfying older man/younger woman romance with this book and I’m greatly anticipating the next installment in this series.
Peter Parker Penn was a hellion when he was young. Drawn into the world of gangs he was forced into a tragic choice that changed his life irrevocably. Joining the military was supposed to make his life better but it left even more bloodshed in its wake and feelings of guilt that he carries yet today. The loss of his nephew nearly broke him but he finally found a purpose to his life which ultimately leads him to the small town of Hostel, Texas and a vivacious younger woman. She’s a woman who finally breaches the walls he’s kept around his heart in a sweet and sexy romance that made me smile and blush. Peter’s an engaging hero whose life is cluttered with deeds both good and bad. He doesn’t sugarcoat his past, he owns up to it, and has tried to make amends. He has a good heart, is protective of those he claims as family and friends (of which there are few), and I found myself charmed by his imperfections. Being around Kayla brought out a carefree side to him, a side unburdened by his past, and I fell for him all the more as he wormed his way into Kayla’s heart and mine. He’s also one sexy beast with a talent for dirty talk and a body that left me parched. He’s a brawny man with lumberjack looks but his heart is kind and I thoroughly enjoyed watching him fall in love with Kayla.
Kayla Nash lost her father in war when she was young and all she has left of him are memories. She’s never been completely alone though as his brothers in arms and the men of the Dixie Wardens MC have been like family to her. Her best friend Janie, along with Janie’s father James, took Kayla in and it’s made for a tight bond full of laugh out loud interactions. Janie was the star of the previous book in this series and with this book she’s a strong support to Kayla, pushing her to go after what she wants and unwaveringly supporting her through all her ups and downs. Kayla’s a bit lost as to what she wants to be when she grows up. She’s flitted from job to job with nothing feeling just right. Her recent stint working alongside a detective is definitely not right for her as the horrors left behind by a serial killer have left her with nightmares. There’s one bright spot though and it’s her meeting the quiet but compelling Parker. Their connection starts out fun and flirty but as next door neighbors they quickly grow closer. He helps her deal with her nightmares, gives her a sounding board to unload all her thoughts and fears to, and it strengthens their bond as the story moves forward. She too gives him the acceptance and forgiveness that he’s always longed for and it takes a weight off of both of them. Just as their romance goes to the next level, danger comes calling with her nightmares becoming a reality and his past making a return appearance that had my pulse pounding until the very end. Kayla’s a delightful heroine! She’s quite a bit younger than Parker, but her painful past definitely made her wise beyond her years. She’s a bubbly heroine, longs for knowledge with her inquisitive mind, and it made for lots of witty banter and infectious joy whenever she expressed her thoughts. She made me smile and I enjoyed seeing Parker smile when he was with her as his tragic past earned him a joyous HEA.
This was a quick read with bits of emotional angst due to this duo’s painful past, but when it came to their connection they never fought it. They moved from friends to lovers smoothly and gave in wholeheartedly to the sexual tension noticeable from the very start. Some readers might have issues with their age difference, but I never felt that he was too old for her. He was a sexy man in the prime of his life and she needed someone steady to balance out her entertaining flightiness. I enjoyed them together. Their connection was combustible, they were able to easily open up to each other, and were a strong support to each other. Their interludes were erotically-charged and burned up my tablet but were nicely balanced with sweet interludes too. The flow of the story wasn’t as smooth as I liked though, courtesy of the serial killer storyline, which felt unnecessary and wouldn’t be missed if it were removed. There’s plenty to enjoy as readers watch the healing power of love bring Parker and Kayla together. Family and friends were also important to this story and added many fun and heartwarming interludes that made me feel like family too. Ms. Vale has crafted another satisfying older man/younger woman romance with this book and I’m greatly anticipating the next installment in this series.
My rating for this book is a B+
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
READ THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SIMPLE MAN SERIES...
She’s in a white dress that dances around her ankles, and her hair tumbles in a long sheet of curls down her back. A veil covers her beautiful eyes, and she smiles directly at him. Janie is everything Rafe’s ever imagined she would be on her wedding day.
Breathtaking. Gorgeous. Perfect.
The moment he sees her walking down the aisle towards him, he knows that she’s the one.
Then she passes him, making her way to the man she’s to marry.
A man that wasn’t him.
A man that he knows with one hundred percent certainty isn’t good enough for her.
It seems that her father isn’t the only one who’s having a hard time giving her away. Rafe only wishes he knew why.
Everything about Janie sparks protective instincts he doesn’t feel for anyone, not even his own fiance.
What he feels for the bride, however, isn’t merely a simple attraction. He knows that something is there just beneath the surface…if only he could reach it.
It has to be something huge, too, otherwise he wouldn’t be drinking whiskey straight from the flask in a church pew and wondering how many years he would do in prison if he shot the groom in front of about a hundred witnesses—half of those being cops.
He was good…but not that good.
A near-death experience cost Rafe almost six months of his memory, but right now he can’t help but feel like a huge mistake is being made on both of their parts. One that’s going to cost him everything.
Then she says I do.
Then she says I do.
FIND AT GOODREADS here.
BUY LINKS: AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (UK) | AMAZON (AU) | AMAZON (CA) | BN | KOBO | iBOOKS
AUTHOR INFO:
Lani Lynn Vale is a USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens. When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.
Lani is married with three children, and lives in the Great State of Texas.
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