Turn It Up

Apr 04, 2012 Dina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, contemporary-romance, erotica-romantica, netgalley

I decided to read this book for two reasons: (1) I liked the premise - how often do you see a romance book where the hero withholds sex to convince the heroine about his good intentions towards her? - and (2) I loved, loved, loved Sweet as Sin, my introduction to Ms. Kelley's work.

So, did it live up to my expectations? I'm glad to say it did, even though it didn't reach the 5-star rating. :)

Dr. Sebastian "Bastian" Talbot and radio host Charlie (that's her name, not a nickname) Pierce have been b...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Sophia (FV) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Rating: A-

Originally reviewed at Fiction Vixen.

I don’t often read books twice. There are so many books available for reading, who has the time to go back for seconds? But I am a fan of Inez Kelley’s books and so when I got this book months ago, I read it immediately. Knowing I wouldn’t be posting a review for quite some time I procrastinated as I have a tendency to do sometimes. Then, later when I sat down to write a review I realized I was going to need some refreshing. So I grabbed my Kindle w...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Carisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: g-contemp, hero-type-performer, t-friends-to-lovers, t-funny-witty, t-hero-in-pursuit, 5-stars-romance

Great, original dialog, original plot, loved the way the relationship was developed, great hero.
HERO is a Performer, currently working as an ER doctor, who discovered recently he has fallen in love with his best friend, a woman so afraid of commitment that he knows that if she learns about his feelings he will lose her. But now that she knows, he's determined to keep her.
CONTENT/SCENES: few/hot
GENRE/TONE: contemporary/witty
LENGTH: 224 pages

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Nov 27, 2011 Brie C. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

Inez Kelley’s books are among some of the best books I have read this year. The first one I read was Sweet as Sin and finding that book was the reader’s equivalent of love at first sight. After that, I have read and enjoyed almost everything she has written so when I saw this book on NetGalley I was very happy; in fact, I was so excited that I bought the book about five minutes before NetGalley approved me because I couldn’t wait.

Turn It Up is a frie...more Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

Inez Kelley’s books are among some of the best books I have read this year. The first one I read was Sweet as Sin and finding that book was the reader’s equivalent of love at first sight. After that, I have read and enjoyed almost everything she has written so when I saw this book on NetGalley I was very happy; in fact, I was so excited that I bought the book about five minutes before NetGalley approved me because I couldn’t wait.

Turn It Up is a friends-to-lovers story. Bastian and Charlie have been best friends for years, they have been there for one another during good times and bad times and have the easy camaraderie and trust that only comes after years of being together. They also work together as cohost of a radio show about sex.

Bastian has loved Charlie for a long time and when he finally breaks and proposes to Charlie -who is afraid of commitment- she understandably freaks out. She tells him that she will have sex with him but won’t marry him, so during one of their shows he issues a challenge: she will marry him before he sleeps with him, if he caves she won’t have to marry him.

This book was lighter in tone than Sweet as Sin but it also deals with some serious issues like insecurity, unhappiness, betrayal, what happens when love is not enough, infertility and even addiction. The book is closer to a romantic comedy than a drama but there’s a great balance between lightness and seriousness to appeal to everybody. The book is also sexy as hell. It has a lot of banter between the leads and Inez did a fantastic job at portraying friendship and true love. You know the protagonist really love, respect and care for each other and it’s impossible not to root for them, specially Bastian who is the heart of the book.

Inez has given us a to-die-for hero, no questions about it. This guy is almost perfect on a sweet, honest and vulnerable kind of way. Here we have a guy who recovered from his wife leaving him because of his sterility, who recovered from the almost crippling discovery of not being able to be a father, who had to deal with his brother OD’ing almost immediately after losing his mother, and he just kept going with good heart and will to live with a positive outtake on life. He was the best friend you could ask for and the best lover you could get. He does some of the most romantic things for Charlie, and I don’t mean great dates or touching gestures (although there were plenty of those as well), I mean real selfless acts of love.

Charlie, on the other hand, was a bit annoying. She had so many issues and insecurities that half-way though the book I was exasperated and ready to get in there and slap her out of it. The only thing that kept her from being a complete pain in the ass was that it was so obvious that she loved Sebastian that her insecurities more than annoying were painful to watch. My problem was that she wasn’t really traumatized, I don’t think that it was truly justified why she felt so undeserving and scared, maybe her character needed more development or more background. On her good moments (when she wasn’t worrying or jumping to some stupid conclusions) she was a great female lead, because she was funny, caring and best of all, confident about her sexuality. You will need to be patient with her but in the end she does come to her senses and you will want her to get her HEA.

Bastian’s brother, Caz, is the secondary character that steals the show. I adored him, I don’t know how Inez managed to create two magnificent heroes, and I say he is a hero because he does have a bit of a love story going on that is heartbreaking. I liked him so much that after reading the free short story about him I was actually disappointed that we wouldn't get a whole book.

The sex part of the story was really fun to read. The banter, the sexual tips, the teasing, everything was a blast. This book was really sexy and I even took some notes. As I said this book has a little bit of everything, drama, comedy, hot sex, it will appeal to any romance fan and is a great contemporary novel. Kelley is a wonderful author and if you haven’t read her books before I think you are missing out big time.(less)

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Dec 14, 2012 Zoe Pope (The Book Lovers) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dr Bastian Talbot has been in love with his best friend Charlie Pierce for the past year. Heating up the airwaves together with their flirty yet sexual banter as Dr. Hot and the Honeypot they have as much chemistry off air as they do on air but now Bastian wants more. He wants Charlie not just in his bed, but forever.

Divorcee Bastian became friends with Charlie when he was married. She’s been with him through his divorce and his medical revelation but a year ago his feelings changed for Charlie....more Dr Bastian Talbot has been in love with his best friend Charlie Pierce for the past year. Heating up the airwaves together with their flirty yet sexual banter as Dr. Hot and the Honeypot they have as much chemistry off air as they do on air but now Bastian wants more. He wants Charlie not just in his bed, but forever.

Divorcee Bastian became friends with Charlie when he was married. She’s been with him through his divorce and his medical revelation but a year ago his feelings changed for Charlie. They have always been open and honest with one another, and now Charlie has pressured him into spilling this secret, he has Charlie shocked to the core.

Charlie doesn’t do commitments. It’s down to how many times she had moved when she was a child and so she doesn’t believe in forevers. Sure she’s had x-rated dreams about Bastian, but he was only just a friend. Now he’s admitted his love for her and he’s impulsively proposed, she’s willing to have sex with him but no way is she going to marry him.

Problem is…he won’t have sex with her until she accepts his proposal.
So what are they to do? Well they both ask their listeners for their advice on how they can try and get the other to give in. So will it be Wed or Bed? The race is well and truly on…

I loved both Bastian and Charlie. They have been best friends for so many years and there of course, is this undenying chemistry between them but to take it further? It’s a no go as they both wouldn’t want to spoil what they have together. Being Bastian’s best friend seems to be the only commitment that Charlie can perpetrate to seeing as it’s not something she does well and now that Bastian has admitted him feelings…Its turned her all upside down.

Bastian had gone through a divorce a few years ago due to his wife wanting children and him not being able to. It caused a rift between them and Charlie was the one to be there every step of the way. As a reader, you really want to see how much friends are there for one another through hardships, and this one friendship was great to be able to read about. The banter, both on air and off air had me blushing and laughing. There is so much sexual chemistry between them that it floods the pages whenever they are together. Now that Bastian has proposed and told Charlie is true feelings, everything seems to heat up 100% more and they both try to outdo each other with the sexual innuendos to see who gives in first.

Charlie wants to believe in a forever, but it just isn’t something she can. Moving around a lot, she just wanted a mail box in the garden, wanted to know her neighbours and the name of the mailman. When the last house they moved into became her home, she just didn’t believe it was forever and moved out when she was 16 years old, perhaps to create her own forever? You can see she is in love with Bastian but doesn’t want to admit it – hence being afraid he would leave her after a few years and that forever really wouldn’t exist. As much as she is a cocky and extravert character, she’s still a woman who is afraid of showing her feelings at the end of the day, until Bastian shows her everything she missed growing up, showing her is truly loves her and wants her forever. Bit by bit he seems to be breaking her down.

Although they do go through some challenges to get to their happy ever after, this had to happen before they were fully ready to commit to one another. It was a story about changes of feelings, best friends becoming lovers, breaking down emotional barriers and showing one another that forever truly can be real, when you find the right person to spend forever with.

I really loved reading this book. It was more than just sex; there was an in-depth storyline above that with both characters and supporting characters going through their own problems, before coming out at the other side. I would definitely recommend this book and of course, the banter is priceless!
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Jan 18, 2012 KatiD rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-review-ish

I'm always drawn to the best friends to lovers trope because that's what Scott & I did. In Turn It Up, Inez Kelley gives us a compelling, deeply sympathetic hero and a heroine I had a much harder time warming up to, but an overall sweet love story.

Bastian Talbot is in a quandary. In the last year or so, his feelings for his best friend, Charlie Pierce have evolved from friendship to serious lusty love. The fact that Charlie and Bastien do a radio talk show about sex only seems to exacerbate...more I'm always drawn to the best friends to lovers trope because that's what Scott & I did. In Turn It Up, Inez Kelley gives us a compelling, deeply sympathetic hero and a heroine I had a much harder time warming up to, but an overall sweet love story.

Bastian Talbot is in a quandary. In the last year or so, his feelings for his best friend, Charlie Pierce have evolved from friendship to serious lusty love. The fact that Charlie and Bastien do a radio talk show about sex only seems to exacerbate the situation. They have serious chemistry on air and off, and their on air flirting can be pretty hot and heavy. Bastian wants to confess his feelings for Charlie, but he's afraid of her reaction. She's a bit of a flibberty-jibbet and she absolutely doesn't do commitment. Bastien wants more than sex from Charlie, he wants forever.

Charlie is aghast when Bastian confesses his feelings for her. I mean, sure, she's had a fantasy or two about Bastian, but she would never, EVER risk their friendship by taking it to the next level. When Bastian tells her he doesn't just love her, but he wants to marry her, she's infuriated and terrified. She doesn't want to lose him, but she knows that this confession changes everything for them. She just wants him to sleep with her, so they can get it out of their system and then move on. Sure, she knows it will change things, but since she doesn't do commitment, she figures, at least they'll have acted on it, and then they can try to figure out how their friendship will go from there. Of course, Bastian has a different idea. He will not agree to have sex with Charlie until she agrees to marry him. This sets up a back and forth of unconsummated sexual encounters and emotional one-ups-manship.

Overall, this is an entertaining book. Ms. Kelley is a very witty writer and her humor and dialogue are engaging and funny to read. What I had a harder time with was Charlie. I got that she wasn't ready to take her friendship with Bastian to the next level. But I never understood nor related to her thinking behind, "We'll just fuck and move on." Why would she think that that idea would work? I never understood why she acted the way she did, which lead to a ton of frustration for me, and *of course* made me immediately think she was unworthy of Bastian, who worked really hard at wooing her, and really wanted a life with her. The book has a really interesting dynamic between Bastian and his brother Caz, who is a recovering addict. Their relationship shed a lot of light on Bastian's character and made him all the more compelling to me. It was Charlie that I couldn't relate to, and Charlie is why I'm giving this book a lower grade.

Inez Kelley is one of my favorite contemporary erotic authors, so I wish this one worked better for me. I've read mostly very positive reviews of this book, so I'd imagine it will work for most readers.While Turn It Up is an entertaining book that I think many readers will enjoy, full of laughter and sexual tension, it's unlikeable heroine may turn some readers off, as it did me.

Final grade: C+(less)

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Dec 27, 2011 Sayjil rated it 3 of 5 stars

Bastian is a divorced doctor who is sterile and is in love with his best friend –Charlie. Charlie is a radio station host with a bad past. The two of them host the let’s talk about sex with Dr. Hot and Honeypot radio show three nights a week. Bastian confesses his love for Charlie and asks her to marry him but Charlie refuses saying that the ‘forever’ place doesn’t exist and she’s not the right person especially since Bastian wants white picket fence. Charlie was brought up with a mom that was ‘...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Marlene rated it 5 of 5 stars

Turn it Up by Inez Kelley is a story about two people who have been best friends for a very long time. Their friendship is the most important relationship that either of these two people have in their lives, and neither of them wants to jeopardize it. But risking it all might bring something even better than friendship.

To their radio listeners, Dr. Bastian Talbot and Charlie Pierce are Dr. Hot and the Honeypot. Charlie is "Honeypot", one-part unlicensed sex therapist, one-part adventuress, one-p...more Turn it Up by Inez Kelley is a story about two people who have been best friends for a very long time. Their friendship is the most important relationship that either of these two people have in their lives, and neither of them wants to jeopardize it. But risking it all might bring something even better than friendship.

To their radio listeners, Dr. Bastian Talbot and Charlie Pierce are Dr. Hot and the Honeypot. Charlie is "Honeypot", one-part unlicensed sex therapist, one-part adventuress, one-part sex kitten, and all goddess. Bastian is a real-life M.D.--he's there to provide medical advice when callers ask questions about pregnancy, STDs, and other real-life consequences of sexual activity. But mostly, they banter with each other, and sometimes the flirting gets pretty steamy.

But they've always been all talk, and no action. For most of the years they've known each other, Bastian has been married, and he took it seriously, even when his marriage went wrong. Charlie values Bastian's friendship way more than fulfilling any (and every) fantasy she has about him. She definitely does sex, and lots of it, but she doesn't do commitment. Bastian does commitment. He's been single for over a year, and he's decided exactly what commitment he wants to make. He wants Charlie. Not just for a night, or even a few months. He wants forever. And Charlie doesn't do forever. Ever.

Bastian wants marriage. Charlie wants sex. They end up challenging each other, not just figuratively, but literally. On the air. They declare a contest: Wed or Bed. As the ratings for their radio show skyrocket, they find their way towards a relationship that is more than just friendship, in spite of the baggage they both carry.

Watching these two people negotiate a way towards each other was well worth reading this book. This story was built on friendship, and on two very clever people who talked their way into a relationship. I enjoyed reading the conversations between Bastian and Charlie. I wish I could listen to their radio show. I bet it would be hilarious!(less)

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Oct 10, 2011 Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, netgalley, arc, non-series-stand-alone-novels

Sexy and Substantial Story
Late night radio shock jock Charlie Pierce, known publicly as sex queen radio personality Honeypot, has been best friends with Dr. Bastien Talbot for years. She trusts him implicitly and loves him in a way that is safe and comfortable within the boundaries of their friendship. The nights he joins her on air for their thrice weekly Dr. Hot and the Honeypot show, discussing sundry sexual issues and answering sex questions from callers, are her favorite nights at work.

He's...more

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Sep 06, 2011 Lillie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley, carina, ebook, for-review, i-own, nook-books, received-from-author, review-copy

My Review:
What I really liked about TURN IT UP was the banter between "Dr. Hot" and the "Honeypot". On air the two had a great chemistry, and they bounced off of each other really well. Not only did this serve to make their outside relationship believable (in the context of how close they were, as radio co-hosts as well as real-life friends), but the dialog had the dual purpose of advancing the plot AND establishing the construct of the relationship of Kelley's two key characters.

I've read sever...more

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Aug 20, 2011 Dinjolina rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Previous Inez Kelley fans

Shelves: arc, book-from-fav-author, chick-lit, evil-previous-wife, fun-fun-funny, hero-overly-angsty, hot-hot-hot, lite-romace, moron-hero, romantic-suspense, superb-heroine

I feel the need to turn up the volume and listen to
King of my castle!

Like this song, the book had a fast beat. It was fun and a page turner.
The heroine had spunk and I kind of wanted to be her.
The hero was a cutie, and really who would not want to have a life with him?
The only thing I did have a problem with was his wife.
If he had the heroine there all this time, as a friend, from turning her down on her sex offer when 3 week married to kissing her hard when his marriage was crumbling, I kind of...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I want to thank The Fiction Vixen for turning me on to this book. I found out about Turn It Up via a review that I found on The Fiction Vixen blog. FV gave the book an A- but I had to give this one 5/5. There was only one small part of the story that I was lukewarm on but it wasn't enough to detract from the rating.

Charlie has been "Honeypot" on her radio show - Honeypot and Dr. Love - for as long as she can remember. The best part of the scenario is that she gets to do the show with her BFF Bas...more I want to thank The Fiction Vixen for turning me on to this book. I found out about Turn It Up via a review that I found on The Fiction Vixen blog. FV gave the book an A- but I had to give this one 5/5. There was only one small part of the story that I was lukewarm on but it wasn't enough to detract from the rating.

Charlie has been "Honeypot" on her radio show - Honeypot and Dr. Love - for as long as she can remember. The best part of the scenario is that she gets to do the show with her BFF Bastian. Then Bastian goes and changes up the very foundation of their relationship by telling her that he wants to be more than just her friend...That he's IN love with her and actually wants to marry her. This is the part where Charlie freaks out. The real "fun and games" begin when Bastian announces on the air to all their listeners that he wants to marry her but Charlie takes it in stride and issues the challenge that she thinks they'll end up sleeping together before they ever even think about getting married. Thus beginning the battle of the sexes.

I LOVED this story. Once I downloaded it onto my Nook and opened it up I didn't put it down until I was done reading it. Turn It Up is one of those books that sucks you in and doesn't let go. The only part of the book that I was lukewarm on was "the kiss," you'll have to read Turn It Up in order to find out what I'm talking about. One of my favorite aspects of the story was all of the sexual innuendos that were sent flying left and right by all parties. I spent a good portion of my reading time giggling because of it. I thought that it was really sweet and enduring that Bastian wanted to get married and build a life with Charlie and show her that he's not like every other guy in her past. All while Charlie is doing her dangdest to get in his pants and find out what kind of lover he really is.

There were a couple of times I thought that Charlie was a little over the top but then you learn about her past and it all makes sense. I viewed Bastian as the rock that keeps her sane, even with the battle of the sexes raging on. The secondary characters I thought were fabulous. I hope that Bastian's little brother get's his own story soon.(less)

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Jul 25, 2011 Jane Litte rated it 3 of 5 stars

B-

Plus - Dr. Hot and the HoneyPot on air radio dialogue was snappy, funny and steamy.
Plus - The story celebrates the bad girl.
Plus - The sexual tension in the book as the two friends dance around the bedroom is hotter than many explicit love scenes.

Minus - Sebastian and Charlie had been best friends for 6 years, including several years during which Sebastian was married to another woman. He would often find his way to Charlie's place to shoot the shit. It doesn't matter that these two professed...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Iva rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, contemporary, comedy, romance, too-hot

When a book keeps you awake until 4 am to finish it, you know you have to give it no less than 5 stars.
I didn't expect this to be so good. Oh sure, the blurb sounded great, it had some comedy and it was erotic romance. But 5 stars for a novella required a lot to impress. It turned out to be very good. Maybe I'm giving it too much credit but when I really think about it I don't see anything big I dislike. It was sweet and it was steamy hot. It was funny but also really emotional which surprised m...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Zury rated it 5 of 5 stars

I Love how this author gives us (her readers) the dialog that we so much crave. There are so many authors that go pages and pages giving you snapshots of a character’s mind, but very little dialog. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy picking inside the character’s head, but there is no better way to learn about a person that by talking to them and Kelly’s characters can talk!

Loved all the references to Autism and even the time she spent giving her reader facts and statistics. Usually, these types of thi...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Beth Snyder rated it 4 of 5 stars

Turn it Up by Inez Kelley was such a refreshing read. It was relaxed, it was fun, and the “hero” (Dr. Sebastian) was much different than any other man I have read about in a romance.

The story is about Sebastian and Charlie who have been long-time friends. Charlie invites Sebastian onto her radio show where they talk all about sex. She invited him to provide medical advice, but they ended up getting into some very steamy flirting, which their listeners adored. They began hosting the show “Dr. Ho...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-august-release, netgalley, romance-general

http://obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Turn It Up was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Carina Press.

I absolutely loved Sweet as Sin by Inez Kelley so I was excited to read her newest Contemporary Romance, Turn It Up.

Charlie (female) and Bastian have been best friends for over 6 years and also host a talk-back radio show together - Let's Talk about Sex with Dr. Hot and The Honeypot.

Bastian is the first person who has ever remained a constant in Charlie’s life, he is...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Danielle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, review

Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick

From beginning to end, I loved this book. Once I started reading it I found it hard to put it down. I just kept turning the pages curious to see how things were going to end up. I loved Charlie and Bastian and from the very first page I was rooting for them.

Bastian and Charlie are the best of friends, they do everything together. Unbeknownst to Charlie, Bastian has been secretly in love with her for the past year. When on a camping trip Bastia...more Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick

From beginning to end, I loved this book. Once I started reading it I found it hard to put it down. I just kept turning the pages curious to see how things were going to end up. I loved Charlie and Bastian and from the very first page I was rooting for them.

Bastian and Charlie are the best of friends, they do everything together. Unbeknownst to Charlie, Bastian has been secretly in love with her for the past year. When on a camping trip Bastian lets his feelings for Charlie be known and he proposes. Charlie freaks out. Charlie isn't the type of woman to settle down and she is terrified of losing her best friend. Yes, she's had fantasies about being with Bastian but marriage? She doesn't want to mess up the great relationship they both already have but she reluctantly decides to give Bastian a chance.

Bastian will do anything in his power to convince Charlie that he is sincere with his feelings and that no matter what she can trust him and his intentions. For Bastian it isn't just a physical attraction that propels him to Charlie, she's his everything and in order to prove to her how much he truly loves her he makes a promise to not sleep with her until she agrees to become his wife. When Bastian makes his proclamation Charlie vows that she will be able to make him crack, and that he will indeed have sex with her. Thus begins a battle of wills between the two and it's actually quite funny at times to see the lengths these two go to to win their bet.

It was interesting to see how everything would play itself out. Both love each other so deeply and neither wants to lose the other. I enjoyed seeing the many different ways Bastian tries to show Charlie how much she means to him and just how much he truly loved her. And with Charlie, I loved being able to see how much she loved Bastian and is so afraid to let herself be loved by someone else. Your heart aches for her, because she is just so afraid of being loved. She puts out this tough girl persona but deep down she just wants to be loved forever.

I seriously loved these two and I loved how things ended up. There was just so much chemistry between them both and even though there wasn't a lot of sex going on between them oh my goodness were there sparks. I found myself fanning myself quite a few times because it got so heated between them both.

Turn It Up was my first book from author Inez Kelley and it definitely won't be my last. This book is definitely going on my keeper shelf and I will be on the lookout for more from this author.

**ARC copy provided by NetGalley**(less)

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Aug 01, 2011 Marquetta (LoveToReadForFun) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Bastian and Charlie have been best friends for years. Charlie was there for Bastian when his marriage was falling apart. They also co-host a radio show as Dr. Hot and they Honeypot. Over the years, Bastian's feelings for Charlie have grown into more than just love as a friend. He wants the HEA and he wants it with Charlie. Charlie doesn't believe in love and the white picket fence. Her friendship with Bastian is the most normal relationship she has ever had and she doesn't want to ruin it by thr...more Bastian and Charlie have been best friends for years. Charlie was there for Bastian when his marriage was falling apart. They also co-host a radio show as Dr. Hot and they Honeypot. Over the years, Bastian's feelings for Charlie have grown into more than just love as a friend. He wants the HEA and he wants it with Charlie. Charlie doesn't believe in love and the white picket fence. Her friendship with Bastian is the most normal relationship she has ever had and she doesn't want to ruin it by throwing sex and love into the mix. Bastian is determined to win Charlie's heart and show her that forever is possible. But Charlie doesn't believe in forever and feels that by giving in to Bastian's demands, she will be losing herself and her best friend in the process.

I loved the premise of Turn It Up. It's rare in a romance where they hero is the one experiencing unrequited love. Bastian is a traditional kind of guy. He loves marriage and the idea of being connected with someone forever. His first marriage didn't work but he has not given up on the idea of happy ever after. Once Bastian lets the cat out of the bag and tells Charlie how he feels, he's not afraid to put everything out there.

I really liked the dynamic of Bastian and Charlie's relationship. Bastian is a great, supportive friend to Charlie and even when the relationship changed, he continued to have Charlie's back. Their sexual banter on their radio show emphasized the great chemistry that they had with each other.

I enjoyed reading Turn It Up but I had a problem with Charlie throughout the entire book. I could not warm up to her at all and felt that Bastian deserved better. Many of her actions were hypocritical and childish. I felt that there wasn't any growth in Charlie's character until the very end and by then I had stopped caring. Charlie displayed a lot of bravado and confidence in her sexuality but she had no self-esteem. And her lack of self-esteem was on full display towards the end of the book. Charlie's notion that she wasn't good enough for Bastian irked me. Bastian constantly proves that she was more than good enough and Charlie turns a blind eye to it. Not once did Bastian display any hesitancy in being with Charlie or that the fact that she was a sex talk show radio host bothered him. Heck, he worked with her and his co-workers at the hospital were aware of it. I didn't see any growth in Charlie as the story progressed. If anything, it felt like she regressed at times.

I felt that the emotional aspect of Bastian and Charlie's relationship was one-sided. Bastian constantly showed Charlie that he wanted more than just a physical relationship and how much he truly loved her. Charlie would be awed by Bastian's display of kindness and love and then would undermine whatever headway Bastian had made by wanting to get physical. This was a constant push and pull throughout the book. Bastian would display his heart and Charlie would step on it.

Turn It Up is a good story about what happens when you fall in love with your best friend. Bastian and Charlie definitely had great chemistry. I loved their sexual banter as Dr. Hot and Honeypot. And when Charlie was trying to convince Bastian to come over to the dark side and give in to her sexually, it was hot! Despite my issues with Charlie and her lack of emotional growth, I still recommend this read if you are a fan of Inez Kelley.

C
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Jul 25, 2011 Becca rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-s, books-read-in-2011, contemporary-romance, netgalley, romance

Dr. Hot and Honeypot are two talk show hosts who have a show about sex and sexual content. In real life they are Bastian and Charlie two best friends who have been in each others lives for over six years. For Charlie Bastian is the first constant in her life. As a kid she was constantly moving around and people were leaving or she was doing the leaving, Bastian is her first real best friend and the first person she's ever really let get close to her. To Bastian Charlie is everything she is his b...more Dr. Hot and Honeypot are two talk show hosts who have a show about sex and sexual content. In real life they are Bastian and Charlie two best friends who have been in each others lives for over six years. For Charlie Bastian is the first constant in her life. As a kid she was constantly moving around and people were leaving or she was doing the leaving, Bastian is her first real best friend and the first person she's ever really let get close to her. To Bastian Charlie is everything she is his best friend and has stuck by him through his toughest times but Bastian wants more.

When Bastian tells Charlie he wants to be more she thinks he's gone and ruined everything. Assuming he just wants her for sex Charlie decides she will sleep with him and then leave so that she has the control. But Bastian doesn't want one night he wants forever and to prove that he won't sleep with Charlie until she has agreed to be with him forever. They each take their bets to the airwaves. Charlie thinks that she will win and get Bastian to sleep with her, and Bastian believes that he will win getting her to say yes to marriage.

At first I really liked the concept of this book, it sounded fun and intriguing and it was both of those things. The one thing that I didn't like was Charlie. I found her to be hypocritical and just obnoxious at times. I loved Bastian and I thought he deserved better than Charlie. She was constantly changing her mind about things and she had many double standards she could do what she wanted with her body but when Bastian made a decision about his body she felt betrayed like she should have been able to make the decision for him. Charlie was just constantly looking for reasons and causes as to why marriage wouldn't work she would look at other people and compare their failed marriage to what her and Bastian would be like even though the two couples were nothing alike. This book had a fun concept and was light hearted at times but showed depth in the characters and their evolutions to who they were in the present day in the book. (less)

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Aug 03, 2011 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, review, read-in-2011

review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2011/08/03/...

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: Out now
How I got this book: NetGalley

I’ve been a big Inez Kelley fan for awhile now, and when she first started talking about Turn It Up with the sexy doctor and his best friend doing a sex advice radio show… I was all over that.

Charlie has been Honeypot on the radio for as long as she can remember, and loves doing her Sex Talk show with her BFF Bastian. But when Bastian changes the founda...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Elisha rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-ish-stuff, piss-off-list

I actually hated Charlie 90% of the time. The other 10% is because she's funny on air and she usually has good comebacks. But I still didn't like her most of the time.

She somewhat came off as selfish. She worries about getting herself hurt by losing control and all that shit that she forgets or doesn't realize she's also hurting Bastien. Honestly, I didn't want her to end up with him. I didn't think she was worth it. Bastien could've had another girl and be happier with her. But he was too in lo...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Tammie (certified bed reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance

Emotional, funny, heartbreaking, sexy, and sweetly romantic. That's how I felt while reading Turn It Up! The best feeling I can get when I finish a book is knowing parts of it will stay with me forever -- I don't think I'll ever look at canned peach halves the same way ever again, lol!

Charlie and Bastion are best friends; have been for six years. The ER doctor and late-night radio disc jockey met and the unlikely pair clicked. They share everything together -- even a three times a week radio tal...more Emotional, funny, heartbreaking, sexy, and sweetly romantic. That's how I felt while reading Turn It Up! The best feeling I can get when I finish a book is knowing parts of it will stay with me forever -- I don't think I'll ever look at canned peach halves the same way ever again, lol!

Charlie and Bastion are best friends; have been for six years. The ER doctor and late-night radio disc jockey met and the unlikely pair clicked. They share everything together -- even a three times a week radio talk show called "Let's Talk About Sex". Dr. Hot and Honeypot spice up the airwaves with Bastion's knowledge of medical information and Charlie's sexpert insight.

I was hooked straight from the beginning as the pair lounge around a campfire; flirting, teasing, discussing all kinds of things as best friends are known to do. The conversation turns to secrets of which Charlie assures Bastion that she keeps nothing from him. She's frightened by the flash of guilt that crosses Bastion's face! She knows he's hiding something from her, insists that he share, and when he finally does it sends poor Charlie into a panic: Bastion admits that he's in love with her. Not only does he love her, he wants her as his wife! I know what you're thinking: the hero declares his love from the beginning!? Yes!

It's not all a fairytale after that. Charlie has a very complicated relationship with love and sex. She developed her bombshell looks (she's described as being a Betty Boop) at an early age. Since then, men have wanted one thing from her--her body, never her heart. To protect herself, she uses sex as a weapon. To Charlie, Bastion's declaration of love puts him in the same category as every other man who's wanted to use her. She's fearful of losing their friendship. It saddened me how such a confident woman had such a low opinion of herself.

The hardest part of this book for me was understanding why Charlie couldn't see the difference between Bastion and other men from her past. She trusted Bastion, loved him, believed in him, but she just couldn't make the connection between how he felt for her as a friend growing deeper and fuller in an intimate relationship.

Thankfully, Bastion knows how Charlie thinks. He realizes she uses sex to hide from love. So begins a battle of wills; Bastion refusing to sleep with Charlie until she says, "Yes." and Charlie trying to get Bastion in bed to prove he doesn't need to spout words of love to have her. The heat climbs as Bastion uses their radio show to get idea on how to persuade Charlie to marry him! The race "To Bed or Wed" commences and the things these two are willing to do to win will alternately make you laugh/moan/cry! Bastion woos Charlie. Charlie turns up the sex-kitten routine. I couldn't decide which one I wanted to win! Their on-air banter throughout the book were some of the best moments

I really fell in love with Bastion. Inez Kelley created a hero with plenty of flaws, but you just know he's perfect for Charlie. His love for her glowed on every page. At one point in the book, Bastion chooses Charlie over a dream he thought he'd never have. I cried when he told her, my heart breaking for him and loving him more with every self-sacrificing word he spoke.

Charlie's reaction to that moment is what kept this from being a five-star read for me. By that time, I'd learned to understand her tough outer-shell, gotten to learn the deep love she feels for Bastion. Her strength was commendable. Then Bastion makes a grand gesture, clearly with her in mind, and she does a really stupid thing. I can't tell you or else I'd ruin the moment, but suffice it to say I wanted to clobber her! It was hypocritical of her to feel that way and the following chapter ratcheted-up my annoyance. Had Charlie been the one to rectify things after that, I maybe could have given it five-stars, but she wasn't. Again, it was Bastion who made the effort and her sudden epiphany had me hollering, "Hallelujah! It's about friggin' time!"

I wouldn't be doing this review justice if I didn't mention Caz (Bastion's brother). He is the biggest surprise in the whole book! Caz is a tattooed rock star who struggled with staying clean and sober. As his story unfolded throughout the book, I was dying to learn more! I needed to find out who Maggie and Grace were. As soon as I finished Turn It Up, I checked to see if Caz has a book of his own (please Lord let there be a book!) I was thrilled to find that not only does Caz get his HEA, his short story is a freebie: Wishing for Grace. Be sure you grab it from Ms. Kelley's website!(less)

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Sep 06, 2011 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Full review posted at http://happilyeverafter-reads.blogspo...

“There aren’t words to tell you how much I love you, so I’m trying to show you.”

Doctor Bastian Talbot and Charlie Pierce have been best friends and sex advice radio show co-hosts for over half a decade when Bastian realizes he’s ready to act on the feelings he’s had for Charlie for some time, and take their friendship from platonic to married. Charlie, always one to use her sexuality to protect her heart, believes that crossing the li...more Full review posted at http://happilyeverafter-reads.blogspo...

“There aren’t words to tell you how much I love you, so I’m trying to show you.”

Doctor Bastian Talbot and Charlie Pierce have been best friends and sex advice radio show co-hosts for over half a decade when Bastian realizes he’s ready to act on the feelings he’s had for Charlie for some time, and take their friendship from platonic to married. Charlie, always one to use her sexuality to protect her heart, believes that crossing the line from friends to lovers will mean the death of their friendship altogether. Pissed off at him for changing the course of their lives, and believing his confession has permanently altered their friendship anyway, Charlie decides that she is more than willing to have sex with Bastian, but refuses to give him her heart.

As much as Bastian would love to take her to bed, he only wants it if she’ll agree to marry him. During the course of their radio show “Let’s Talk about Sex with Doctor Hot and Honeypot” one night, a bet begins: can Dr. Hot get Honey to marry him before they go all the way? Or will Honey’s persuasive sexuality drive him to forget the idea of marriage vows for one quick orgasm?

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. Charlie’s character is a tough, spunky woman who owns her sexuality and makes no excuses for it. A childhood spent living out of suit cases with a mother who loved her, but went from man to man, city to city, and never put down stable roots for her daughter, left Charlie jaded on the idea of permanence—especially in romantic relationships.

I loved Bastian, and I found myself thinking about him long after I was done reading the book. Simply put, he’s a nice guy, and I don’t think nice heroes get the credit they deserve. While many women are drawn to the “bad” boys, I’ve always been partial of the good ones. And Bastian’s character has been through some stuff that might leave other men pissed off at fate, and steered toward anything but being a "nice guy". He carries a lot of self-resentment on his shoulders for something that caused him to question his masculinity and ultimately ended his marriage several years before. I really felt for him, and his past leads to a lot of the angst in the story.

Of course, it’s not all angst. Turn It Up was a really fun read. I enjoyed watching Charlie use her sexual wiles to break Bastian down and try to make him cave to losing the bet over and over again.

And Bastian, wanting her more than he's ever wanted anyone, but only if she gives him her heart along with it, spends the entire book showing her how much she deserves to be treated like she’s the most precious and important thing in the world to him.

The scenes in the radio station were also really entertaining and reminded me of my high school years, staying up late at night listening to Adam Corolla and Doctor Drew host Love Lines. I wouldn't be surprised if Inez Kelley was a Love Lines fan too.

Overall, I found Turn It Up to be a satisfying contemporary romance read with emotional peaks and comedic highs. This was my first Inez Kelley book, after having always heard great things about her writing; I’m convinced I’ll want to read more from her.(less)

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Jul 31, 2011 Maldivianbookreviewer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: inez-kelley, arcs, contemporary-romance, friends-to-lovers, divorced-hero, commitment-phobic-heroine, ambitious-heroine, annoying-heroine, brooding-hero, brooding-heroine, endearing-hero, explosive-passion, fabulous-cover, favorite-alpha-heroes, haunted-by-the-past-hero, haunted-by-the-past-heroine, hero-in-love-with-heroine, hot-as-sin-hero, hottest-first-kiss, hottest-sex-scenes-ever, not-your-average-heroine, not-yet-released, office-romance, opposites-attract, sizzling-sexual-tension, tattoed-hero, undeserving-heroine, unforgettable-hero

Turn It Up by Inez Kelley set to release on the 1st of August 2011 is a contemporary romance that teases the senses, that had me up till the wee hours of the morning on a work night, unable to wrench myself away from a story that held my undivided attention as self-professed sex expert Charlie Ann Pierce finally finds in Dr. Sabastian William Talbot, her best friend, a man worth giving the key that unlocks the iron armored suit that has guarded her heart all her life.

Having being best of friends...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Anastasia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, 2012, netgalley, romance

Charlie and Bastian, aka Honeypot and Dr. Hot, are sex-pert radio hosts whose show covers any and everything under the sun regarding relationships and sex. Off-air, Charlie is a bombshell who's open and upfront with her sexuality, while Bastian is a good-boy doctor. The two have been friends for years and Bastian has been secretly in love with Charlie for almost just as long. When Bastian finally admits his feelings to Charlie, Charlie's intrigued by the thought of sex with Bastian but she refus...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Tlani Knuth rated it 4 of 5 stars

A super fun, sexy read, Bastian and Charlie are just funny together the fast smart mouthed comebacks the back and forth stirring it all just made for a laughable funny book . Inez Kelly nailed the characters relationships and back stories . The banter between "Dr. Hot" and the "Honeypot" was great On air the two had a great chemistry, and they bounced off of each other making for one hell of a sexy lough out load radio show . What at first sounds like another 'In love with the best friend story'...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Mandi Schreiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary

Favorite Quote: “Did you just have an orgasm?”

Charlie’s pink tongue darted over her lips, whisking away the trace of white. A satisfied moan caressed the night. “Better…a s’morgasm.” She bit into the s’more and delight softened her face.

My favorite quote happens to be the very first lines of the book, and I knew we were off to a very good start.

Dr. Bastian Talbot and Charlie Pierce have been best friends for six years. Charlie was there for Bastian when he went through a divorce recently. Bastia...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Heather in FL rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-i-own-it, elements-erotic-smut, elements-romance, mix-m-f, z-from-carina-press

I'm a sucker for friends to lovers and a great HEA. If you like that, you'll like this.

For some quick background, Charlie and Bastian have been best friends for years. They met after Bastian was married, but he didn't realize he loved her until several years after his divorce. They became really great friends after he stopped by work one night (still married), just chatting to her about work. She offered him sex, and he refused, saying he really just needed a friend to chat with. She realized t...more I'm a sucker for friends to lovers and a great HEA. If you like that, you'll like this.

For some quick background, Charlie and Bastian have been best friends for years. They met after Bastian was married, but he didn't realize he loved her until several years after his divorce. They became really great friends after he stopped by work one night (still married), just chatting to her about work. She offered him sex, and he refused, saying he really just needed a friend to chat with. She realized then that he was something special, but she'd have never put the word "love" to it at that point. She did have fantasies about him, though. Hmmmm..... :-)

The story starts out with them at a campground chatting about stuff. He knows he loves her, but he's trying to keep it a secret. When she realizes he has one secret he won't tell her, she kind of guilts him into telling her. After all, they've always shared everything, even things they never shared with other people. With his admission, she believes he's like every other man in her life, just wanting her for her body and sex and then he'll be gone, and she's devastated. She can't imagine Bastian not in her life, but sex for her never leads to forever, so she sees it as the biggest betrayal. She comes on to him VERY strong, but Bastian knows her... he knows she's using sex to insulate her feelings, so he stops her (at a great detriment to himself, lol). And proposes. She doesn't take him seriously. He sets out to prove he doesn't want her for sex by saying no sex until she accepts his marriage proposal. She thinks he's joking. Charlie has a sex radio show, and she invites Bastian to join her for a medical point of view, so they do the show together three times a week. One night soon after the camping trip, Bastian surprises her and proposes again on the air. So now everybody knows. (Though many think it's a radio gimmick.)

So now the race is set. Who will give in first? They are both extremely strong-willed people. Charlie has her reasons (really good ones from a girl point of view) for no marriage. Bastian has his reasons (fairly good, considering how he knows Charlie thinks) for insisting on marriage. So it's really a battle of wills.

Bastian, as his brother likes to say (snidely), is a saint. How he resisted so many times? He definitely had his eye on the prize. Charlie has really good reasons to try to protect herself. And wow, she was so devious! They are so great together. Bastian's "prom night" was such a beautiful gesture!

There is really not a whole lot of sex in this book. TONS of sexual tension, and lots of great story, but little actual sex. Lots of humor, too. Doc and the Honeypot sure had some great banter! Oh, and when the guy in the ER nailed him in the nads, I was pretty sure where at least part of the story was going. Yay for crazy dudes! Lol!(less)

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Aug 04, 2011 Jess (Gone with the Words) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, read-2011, multiple-narrators, adult, contemp

Read this review on my blog! --> Turn It Up by Inez Kelley

I loved the originality of this love story. The fact that Bastian and Charlie have been best friends for years when we meet them was quite refreshing. I really enjoyed when they would talk about stories from their past - the funny ones and the heartbreaking ones - that included each other. I adored Bastian! I wanted to marry him from page one! He had such a good, kind heart.

Another thing I really loved was the relationship between Bas...more

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