Wicked Winter Saturdays 3/16: Down For The Count by Christine Bell

Baby, it's cold outside! Time to snuggle up with a mug of hot chocolate (or a glass of wine!) and fall into a steamy, sexy book.

Wicked Winter Saturdays is a weekly post we created to share our love of "Adult" books with our fellow readers. If you don't care for steamy books or you are under 18, you may not want to continue reading the review below.

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Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Reviews

Sim-Sational-Books. 

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Series: Dare Me #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled (Brazen)

Publication Date: October 1st 2012

Format: PDF submitted for review by publisher

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis:

When Lacey Garrity finds her groom in flagrante delicto in the reception hall closet with her bridesmaid, she's saved by her best friend’s older brother—childhood tormentor, crush, and boxing bad boy Galen Thomas. Galen’s solution is both exciting and dangerous. What better way to forget the mess of her life than go on her honeymoon with a hot guy who can’t promise anything beyond today?

…or TKO?

Galen had been counting on Lacey's wedding to put her out of reach—and out of his mind—once and for all, but their steamy Puerto Rican escape is testing all his boundaries. Now that Lacey’s embracing her inner bad girl, Galen is tempted to throw in the towel and claim her for himself. But with the biggest fight of his career on the line and an important business merger threatening to derail Lacey’s resolve, their romance might be down for the count before it even begins.

I love books like this. With a hot hunk of man you fall in love with and a good romance to back it all up. Down For The Count starts with Lacey walking in on her new husband banging one of her best friends at their wedding reception. Not only is she stunned but she is pissed off at her friend whom she trusted. Lacey isn't really upset about Marty (Soon to be EX Husband) because she didn't really love him to begin with. Not wanting to face a room full of people and the humiliation that follows she turns to Galen her closest friends brother and childhood crush to get her away from there. They end up back at his family lake front cabin where they play a drinking game to get her mind off of everything. What starts out as innocent fun turns into a dare with them both winding up in her honeymoon suite in Puerto Rico. When Lacey wakes up the day after the drinking she comes to her senses enough to realize she made a mistake and needs to get back and handle all of the wedding day disasters. Galen convinces her to take some time and relax and enjoy herself for once and they spend a day on the beach soaking up the sun. When Lacey has a bathing suit mishap that causes Galen to rethink not touching his sister's best friend the heat gets turned up another notch on the dial! These two had amazing chemistry that left me breathless in some scenes. My God I think I needed a boat oar to get around my apartment this shit was so hot! Galen shows Lacey the better side of pleasure she has missed out on her whole life choosing mediocre lovers and she can't get enough. There are some hilarious moments that happen when they meet another couple at dinner who mistake them for "Swingers". As Lacey and Galen get closer while there, someone shows up to bring her back to the real world and pops their romantic bubble. They both part ways and get back to their respective careers but are they too hard headed to take a chance on love?

I really loved this book! I was  drawn in by the first chapter and hooked throughout by the steamy romance between the two main characters Lacey and Galen. Lacey was the uptight, workaholic, control freak and Galen was the carefree, hot as sin boxer with a heart of gold. Watching him slowly break down her defenses while they were in this beautiful tropic location was fantastic! I have always been a sucker for a story about childhood friends to lovers situations and this one really played my heartstrings. Lacey has been in love with Galen since she was little and Galen always had a thing for her but kept his distance because she was younger than him. There were a few moments from his POV that took a brief look back at his younger days hanging around with Lacey that shows the reader just how he felt about her. I enjoyed being given that small glimpse because at first you think Galen wasn't really into her when he was a young man. With him always calling her "Squirt" throughout her life you get the feeling that he only looks at her as his sister's best friend but when they become something more to each other the nickname becomes a sweet term of endearment that made me swoon for Galen so hard!

Lacey was a very insecure character. She couldn't understand why someone as hot as Galen would want her because she felt like a plain Jane, especially after her dumbass husband banged her friend. How could any woman feel special about herself after that? It doesn't help that her mother is a raging bitch who controls every aspect of Lacey's life and has never really liked Galen or his sister Cathrine or "Cat" as she prefers to be called. I loved watching Galen slowly break down her controlling defenses and how he helped her relax a little. Seeing how Lacey grew up with her rigid mother you really fall in love with her best friend Cat who has always been a lifeline for her. She has also gotten Lacey into some trouble a time or two which is the reason why Lacey's mother can't stand her. Which brings me to my next point...CAT!! She gets her own book and I couldn't be more thrilled! This funny redhead is a spitfire and with only small glimpses of her in this book you just want more of her. She was funny and snarky and just down right FUN! I can't wait to see what shenanigans she brings to the table in her story.

Down For The Count was downright fun, flirty and sexy! It was such a romantic story filled with serious heat and sweet endearing moments that will have you saying "Aww" and "DAYUM!" so grab a fresh pack of panties (TRUST) and get to reading!!

Oh my God. I kneed him in the wiener. And oh my

frigging God, it was like stone. pg 45

His name was a litany on her lips and her body

tensed, straining against him. She was close. God, she

was so fucking close. And his cock was loaded for bear

and he was a suck, fuck, or jerk away from the point of

no return. pg 102 

“I wish you could see what I see. My cock slipping

in and out of those sweet pink folds.” His husky voice

grounded her, and she pushed back against him, taking

him deeper in a counter thrust. “Damn it, Lacey, I can’t

hold back if you do that.”

“Don’t hold back. Please, don’t hold back,” she

pleaded. pg 186

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Christine Bell is a romance author and also writes erotic romance as Chloe Cole. She and her handsome hubby currently reside in Pennsylvania with a four-pack of teenage boys. If she gets time off from her duties as maid, chef, chauffeur, or therapist, she can be found reading just about anything she can get her hands on, from Young Adult novels to books on poker theory. She doesn’t like root beer, clowns or bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but lurrves chocolate, going to the movies, the New York Giants and playing Texas Hold ‘Em. Writing is her passion, but if she had to pick another occupation, she would be a pirate…or, like, a ninja maybe. She loves writing steamy romance stories, but also hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with a rusty spoon. Christine loves to hear from readers, so please contact her through her website, www.christine-bell.com