New Release Review and Giveaway! ASK ME NICELY by Amy Andrews

She craves what only he can give her. But he’s not giving in without a fight…

 

Veterinarian Sal Kennedy’s lost her mojo and is desperate to get it back. In fact, as the anniversary of the tragedy that destroyed her life looms large, she’ll do anything to erase the painful memories, including overdoing the tequila and making a pass at the most annoyingly inappropriate man on the planet. Fellow veterinarian Doyle Jackson is her flatmate and her employee and therefore strictly off-limits. Unfortunately, Doyle knows how to bring the goods and make her mojo sit up and beg.

 

Doyle is only too happy to oblige Sal in her hour of need, but then she demands more, and she’s perfectly happy playing dirty to get it. He wants more, too—more than just sex, that is, and it’s something Sal’s not willing to give. But Doyle is in this for the long haul now, and he’s prepared to fight even dirtier to get what he wants. Even if that means they both keep losing all their clothes in the process…

 

Review:

I read No More Mr. Nice Guy last fall and really enjoyed both it and Sal’s character, I didn’t remember the info we’d been given in it about Sal’s background before I picked this one up, though–too much time had passed. It was pretty much a case of Another Amy Andrews Brazen book with the veterinarians? Yes, please! Gimme! ;)It works fine as a standalone. You absolutely don’t need to have read book one to appreciate it, and though Sal’s brother Mack and best friend Josie come up in conversation, there’s only a single, very short but important phone conversation with Mack toward the end that (fortunately!) helps Sal get her butt in gear.

It can be hard to write a character dealing with grief in a convincing way, and even harder to manage to get them through their grief without resulting to easy gimmicks (my least favorite–getting over a dead significant other because the truth about them is discovered at long last–ugh), but Ms. Andrews does an excellent job here. At the beginning of the novel, Josie is mentally–and medicinally, with the help of tequila–bracing herself for the anniversary of her loss. She hasn’t allowed herself to get close to anyone in almost six years, not in the way she used to, and has used sex as a coping mechanism and sleep aid, avoiding real relationships at all costs.

Though the temporary vet who’s taken her brother’s place is tempting…but absolutely off-limits. He wants a date (the horror!) and to get to know her (the nerve!) and refuses to be nothing more than a physical release. Darn that Doyle. The battle of wills the two resort to was so much fun to read–especially and the clothes became skimpier and then came off entirely as the two retreated to their shared apartment each night, each trying to tempt the other into seeing things their way.

Wowza.

Oh, and I will never be able to look at cotton candy, AKA fairy floss, the same way again. Not that that’s a problem, exactly. 😉

Sal’s kept her emotions shut up for almost six years, and it isn’t until the last part of the book that they really make themselves known. Though I enjoyed the rest of the story, Ms. Andrews really pulled out all the stops for one heck of an ending.

Big, burly guys holding kittens, training puppies, (ahem)eatingfairy floss…really, it’s all too much. Give me more, please! 😉

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A-

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest opinion.