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Turn It On (Turner Twins #1)

by Vivian Arend (Goodreads Author)

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 508 ratings · 40 reviews

Inheriting her grandmother’s home is a dream come true for web designer Maxine Turner. She’s looking forward to a little freedom from the constant demands of her beloved, crazy mob of a family. When vandals expose just how vulnerable she is living alone, she seeks help.

Ryan Claymore’s well-thought-out life was wrenched out from under him when responsibility for his special...more

Kindle Edition, 332 pages

Published January 19th 2010 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (first published December 17th 2009)

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Jun 20, 2012 UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook-own-need-to-read, 2012-reads, series-turner-twins, first-in-series, author-vivian-arend, first-read-of-an-author, anal-play-or-sex, romantic-very-hot, mystery, ex-military, left-military-to-care-for-brother, 3-5-stars

Turn it On is the first book of the Turner Twins, and since there are only two siblings, I’m assuming there will only be two books. That said, the Turner family is such a riot of cousins, aunts, uncles… that this could easily turn out to be an open ended series!

I had really no set notion about what to expect when I began this book, but I was expecting something more heavy on the suspense end of the romantic suspense spectrum. That said, even though this turned out to be a much more emotional rea...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Kris (KindleRomance) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 Stars - If you're going to read both books in the series, read Turn It Up first since that story takes place before this one.
Enjoyable steamy read with likable enough characters. Just not enough emotional pull for me to love it. The suspense angle was annoying since I didn't like her reaction to it. She kept blowing it off like it was no big deal.

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Jul 09, 2010 MaggieReadsRom rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books, arcs, contemporary

TURN IT ON was my first unsolicited and non-win ARC request and I'm pretty proud of that. When Vivian Arend asked if I was interested in reviewing her upcoming new contemporary release I jumped at the chance. First because it was a contemporary romance, a genre, which holds a dear place in my reading heart and second because I had Vivian Arend on my radar for a while but an earlier opportunity to sample her work hadn't occurred yet.

TURN IT ON is the story of Maxine Turner and Ryan Claymore. Ryan...more TURN IT ON was my first unsolicited and non-win ARC request and I'm pretty proud of that. When Vivian Arend asked if I was interested in reviewing her upcoming new contemporary release I jumped at the chance. First because it was a contemporary romance, a genre, which holds a dear place in my reading heart and second because I had Vivian Arend on my radar for a while but an earlier opportunity to sample her work hadn't occurred yet.

TURN IT ON is the story of Maxine Turner and Ryan Claymore. Ryan used to be in the army but family circumstances forced him to retire his commission and start a security installation firm. Maxine runs a PR and advertising/web design business with her twin brother and she has just inherited her grandma's old home. But strange things are happening at the place and when her and Ryan's paths cross professionally because Ryan hires Turner Networking Team, she decides to use his expertise and hire him in turn to install a security system in the old house. From the start sparks fly between them that have nothing to do with the jobs they're doing for each other but their respective familial responsibilities are threatening the budding feelings.

Ryan is truly a good guy, he may seem a bit gruff but that's just the outside. He is caring, loyal and very romantic. He left the army to take care of his handicapped half-brother who was gravely injured in a car accident that killed his mother. I was impressed by Ryan's care and love for his brother and the way he tried to adjust his life so he'd be and remain able to do so. The portrayal of Carl and his disability was beautifully written and touched my emotions deeply.

Maxine is a charming, vibrant, independent young woman. She has a good life, working and enjoying it, though she sometimes wishes her family would realize that she is a grown-up woman capable of living her life as she wishes to. Despite her confident demeanor she has a kind of sweet shyness over her. Not the innocent kind but just enough to let her inhibitions and a little bit of inexperience shine through. Ryan is the one who helps her overcome this with his sexual confidence and straightforwardness.

I loved Ryan and Maxine. The chemistry between them was hot and immediate. The sex scenes were sexy and alluring. Ryan has a romantic heart but he's also pretty intense, sexually. He goes for what he wants. He doesn't embellish and is pretty explicit about how he wants things. I love that in a hero.

Family plays a big role in TURN IT ON. Both on Ryan's side and on Maxine's. With Ryan it's the responsibility for Carl and the fact that Carl is the only family he has left. With Maxine it's quite the opposite. She has a huge family and all the members of it make demands on her and it's hard for her not to let them run her life. For a story of that isn't overly long there were many secondary characters, some just walk-ons but others playing their part in either the romance or the plot. Of the secondary characters Carl, Maxwell and his wife Natasha were the ones who captured my attention and interest the most. As the back cover copy indicates there’s a small suspense plot threaded through the romance. It was a little bit predictable and guessing who the perpetrator was, was easy but as the plot wasn’t the focus of the book, that didn't bother me much.

My first encounter with Vivian Arend's work was a very nice one. TURN IT ON is a very sweet and moving contemporary romance in which emotional moments alternate with hot and sexy ones. The instant chemistry didn't only occur between Maxine and Ryan but also between Vivian Arend’s writing and me. I was pulled into the story from the get-go and was captivated by the smooth, easy and seductive writing style and story.

TURN IT ON is about taking chances, living life and enjoying special things and moments in it. It's the kind of contemporary romance I love to read. The romance is captivating and emotional, the characters are easy to relate to and the physical attraction is hot. Vivian Arend's writing style is one I am very partial to after reading TURN IT ON and I've already gotten myself some more of her work while waiting for the book on Maxwell, the other Turner twin.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10(less)

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May 31, 2012 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Story Rating 4 Stars
Characters Rating 5 Stars
Romance Rating 4 Stars
Heat Level 5 Stars
Overall Rating 4 Stars

WOW, this was a HOT one and I really enjoyed it. I really liked the Characters in this book too. The story was good and kept me wanting to read more. I'm very happy that I read this book and look forwards to Turn It Up in the near future.

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Jul 20, 2012 Jetches (My Not So Vacant Shelf) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Although I’m coming to realize that books from this genre just might not be for me I found that so far this one was a little more entertaining than some of the others I have read. Other than just the adult moments in this book there was quite a bit of story line, which I liked. Basically Maxine is receiving some harassing phone calls and then vandalism and Ryan believes she is in dangers. Of course the majority of this story is all about…well the adult stuff…I was happy to see a story line and o...more

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Dec 24, 2011 Cecile rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I also received the book from the author for an honest review. So, let's go!

For those of you that know me... and those that don't this is my little statement about short books.... I do not judge short stories on the rush of their relationships, because they are just that - short stories. So, yes the relationships always could have been drawn out more, yea it seems like they fall in love to fast and of course the story could have been made longer... but it is a short story. So with that said.......more I also received the book from the author for an honest review. So, let's go!

For those of you that know me... and those that don't this is my little statement about short books.... I do not judge short stories on the rush of their relationships, because they are just that - short stories. So, yes the relationships always could have been drawn out more, yea it seems like they fall in love to fast and of course the story could have been made longer... but it is a short story. So with that said.... here is my review.

Omg, this book is delicious! Ms. Vivian did a great job at making me fall in love with her characters... As always! This is a great story of how a little determination could go a long way. Max kinda reminds me of "The Train Who Could," lmbo! But remember, you also have to factor in love. It is a power tool. I mean seriously, would you let something as precious as the one you know is yours, slip through your fingers just because of what people thought? How long do you think you could swear off love, men and relationships? That was Natasha's plan. Really, who needs a man who wants to totally devote himself to her, to love her for all she is worth, to defend her and honor her to no end, who wants nothing more than her happiness before his own?

**Ohh yeah, I see you shaking your head. Agreeing with me. I know... I mean, really. Hell, I was signing up for my own Max while reading this**

Natasha was on edge of 35 with a realization of not wanting to be hurt by another hurtful relationship, Tasha wants a family. The unconventional way... she wants a baby with no father in the picture. I mean, who needs a man who eventually will not like what he has at home and go after another woman ~ right?? Tasha thought she was not meant for love ~ of any kind. Hell, not even from her own mother. So what did she have to offer to a man? But what she kept at bay was a hot, young man who wanted her attention more than any other man in her life.... Max. But something held her back from truly coming out the closet about her feelings for this man... Was it his age? Was it that he belonged to a family that kinda took her in? Or was it simply the fact that she felt she could not give him what he would want ~ love...

Okay, so Max is young... I would dare to say really young, but come on. Who would not want a 24 yr old *stud of a man* wanting her? Max might be young, but he was smarter than most 24 yr olds, with his own company and enough money in the bank to not have to care to much about where his next meal came from. But what Max wanted in life was not the conventional thing... He wanted Natasha... someone almost ten years his senior. But the thing is, he has been wanting her since he was barely legal. And one night, when the God's gifted him with the opportunity of a lifetime, does he allow it to slip through his fingers or does he take the freaking bull by the horns and ride for the best ride of his life? Hell, this is a simple answer...

These two have freaking chemistry like a rocket scientist. I understood Tasha's hesitancy to get involved with men after being hurt the way she was in the past... But the past is the past. So with that, Natasha formulates a plan to start her future! But little did she know what a few, few, few drinks would do... You know what they say, "Loose tongues sinks ships," lmbo... Well, her ship had not even left port yet, and someone was already on board with her plan. When Max found out what Tasha wanted, he was all but ready to help her out! What would you lose to have what you truly wanted? How far would you go to make that someone see what was right in front of them? How far would you go to let someone know they freaking rock your world? Well... If you are brave enough, why don't you Turn It Up and tune in to Max and Natasha's story!

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Jun 30, 2011 Sandy M rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, erotic

I’ve never been a fan of older women/younger men storylines. However, Ms. Arend may change my mind about them, after reading this touching story.

Natasha is thirty-four, has a couple of failed relationships behind her, has decided she doesn’t need a man to be happy, and is making plans to have a baby all by her lonesome before she turns thirty-five. She’s turned down Max’s overtures over the years, feeling their age difference - he’s twenty-four - is to much of a hurdle for a relationship to work...more I’ve never been a fan of older women/younger men storylines. However, Ms. Arend may change my mind about them, after reading this touching story.

Natasha is thirty-four, has a couple of failed relationships behind her, has decided she doesn’t need a man to be happy, and is making plans to have a baby all by her lonesome before she turns thirty-five. She’s turned down Max’s overtures over the years, feeling their age difference - he’s twenty-four - is to much of a hurdle for a relationship to work. Max, however, feels differently. He’s been in love with Tasha for so long, asking her out the first time when he was seventeen, so he’s bided his time, knowing the opportunity he’s waited for will finally show itself. Max gets lucky when Natasha and her friends tie a big one while celebrating and he does the honors of driving them all home.

In her drunken haze, Tasha lets it slip about her baby plans,and Max runs with his newly-inspired idea. I did enjoy his unique take on a marriage proposal. It’s Tasha he has to convince. She’s mortified he knows about her plans and tries to talk him out of his idea about marriage, but to no avail. The man won’t let her be, going all logical on her with that genius brain of his. He ultimately wins and she agrees to marry Max, with some conditions, of course. Max has other ideas along that line, but that can wait for now. He’s about to have all his dreams come true.

Because of her past, Tasha does try to keep their relationship on a “friendly” basis, and Max goes along with that for now, deciding he has to romance her and seduce her into the life he wants with her. In the meantime, she’s also worried about how his family will take their sudden about-face concerning each other. All but one, her best friend and Max’s cousin, are happy for them. Lila gives Tasha every argument that she’s given herself since Max proposed and there’s no talking to Lila about the issue with her spewing disgust and anger. She’s hurtful and unmovable in her position about their May-December relationship. Tasha hates losing her friend, but she now has a chance at the life she’s wanted for a while, so she leaves the poison behind, along with her broken heart.

I think it’s the fact that Max is highly intelligent, went through high school by the age of fourteen and college by the age of seventeen and then immediately living on his own, has a highly successful technology business, he’s not the typical twenty-four year old that gives me the belief in him and this story. He knows his mind and knows how to be patient and make things work for himself. That maturity goes hand in hand with maturity in the bedroom. Max gives as well as he receives and Tasha blossoms beautifully in the light of his love. They also work together to make everything ready for the baby’s arrival, and I like the scenes when Max shows Tasha how serious he is about becoming a father, not only in word but in deed, and when he caresses her belly with love in his eyes, the reader ends up with a lump in the throat just as each of them does.

I’m also usually not a fan of a heroine stringing out her fears until the very last minute before she realizes her love has grown and has to tell the hero before it’s too late, but Ms. Arend even does that quite well here. It works in the long run and I didn’t find myself becoming irritated like I normally do. And Tasha does wait a tad too long before all hell breaks loose!

All in all, this is a very enjoyable story, more than the “I want to have a baby before I’m too old” business. I am a little confused that the first book in the series, Max’s twin Maxy’s story, seems to take place before this book, just by reading its blurb. Only thing I can imagine is perhaps parts of both stories take place at the same time. Guess I’ll have to find out and read Turn It On soon!

See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com (less)

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Feb 21, 2011 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-out-do-yourself, 211-books-in-2011, february-2011, read-in-2011

This was a good contemporary romance. There wasn't a lot of conflict - either internal or external - just two people getting to know each other and falling love. It was a sweet, sexy slide, too.

Ryan was sweet and attentive. Their early dates and the way he wanted to take care of Max was cute. Max's independence was important to him and he didn't try to take that away from. The result was she felt cherished. Max wasn't sure about getting involved with Ryan, especially after the way her ex treated...more

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Feb 17, 2011 Lori rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: february-2011, contemporary, read-in-2011

I really liked almost everything in this book. I loved the Turner family - the whole crazy lot of them. I loved Maxine and Ryan. Maxine is a sweet, innocent woman in a family full of craziness. She moves out on her own into her grandmother's old house and strange things begin to happen.

Enter Ryan, who was consulting with her on a website, and then became her security consultant. Ryan was a military guy who quit to take care of his younger brother, who suffered a brain injury in the car accident...more I really liked almost everything in this book. I loved the Turner family - the whole crazy lot of them. I loved Maxine and Ryan. Maxine is a sweet, innocent woman in a family full of craziness. She moves out on her own into her grandmother's old house and strange things begin to happen.

Enter Ryan, who was consulting with her on a website, and then became her security consultant. Ryan was a military guy who quit to take care of his younger brother, who suffered a brain injury in the car accident that took his mother's life.

I loved the dynamics between Maxine and Ryan, and was happy to see her grow more independent, even as Ryan tried to protect her but realized he had to let her make some mistakes on her own.

They were hot together, and their love and attraction were lovely to witness.

I really liked the part that their families played in the book - Ryan's commitment to a brother he never really knew but now feels responsible for, along with his growing feelings of love for his half-brother. And Maxy, who adores her twin brother, and loves her big crazy family. Watching Max take Carl under her wing, and choose to love him for who he was made me sniffle. And Ryan, who tried so hard not to put his burdens on her, realized that she could handle it.

They grew together and I really like that.

What I didn't care for so much, even though it fit a bit with her personality, was Max burying her head in the sand at all the strange goings on. After a while, it's time to stop blaming kids for the malicious vandalism and start realizing that it's aimed at you, and you need to be careful. But it took several incidents before she was willing to consider something else might be going on. It fit with her naivete and innate trust of people, but smacked of TSTL. Thankfully, she never really heaved herself over the line, because she never really put herself in a position of danger, but still. Get a clue, girl!

Aside from that one issue, I really really loved the book. I don't understand why this one comes first in the duo, because it takes place a year or so after book 2. However, because I read this one first, it fdidn't detract from this story at all.

(I know this is a rambling review, and I really, really need to stop writing reviews late at night for obvious reasons. Hopefully, you get the picture, LOL)(less)

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Aug 29, 2010 Mrs. Missive rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Okay...I knock off points whenever an author uses the word "Turgid" to describe a penis. Really...he was turgid? Ugh.

But okay the first 20-30% of this book was really...meh. It was readable, and the sex scenes (turgid penis aside) were good. The thing that bothered me, was I didn't feel I knew the characters well enough to understand why they were attracted to each other. They met for a business meeting, which afterwards I don't believe we hear mention of them working again, and blammo! They nee...more

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Mar 25, 2010 Deb rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Vivian Arend is as brilliant as her stories. Turn it On is not exception. It’s a story with a lot of heart; along with some amazing sizzling scenes.
Ryan and Max’s story is full of heart, and mystery. Maxine, has some trouble ahead, not with just someone scarying her, but with what Ryan makes her feel. Oh the things Ryan can do with his mouth, would make the strongest of women crumble. Add a crazy family like the Turners and you get one interesting story.
Ryan, is someone that wants much more then...more

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Feb 07, 2010 Booklover1335 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who likes contemporary romance with a lot of heat

Shelves: 2010

I really loved this novella, it was just what I was craving…a great straightforward contemporary romance, just a man and a woman and their story of love.

Max is from a large and protective family who is learning to spread her wings, assert her independence, and discovering that learning to say “no” to her family allows her the freedom to find herself. Ryan, on the other hand hasn’t had the best experience with his family growing up, and has been happy living life as a military man…at least before...more I really loved this novella, it was just what I was craving…a great straightforward contemporary romance, just a man and a woman and their story of love.

Max is from a large and protective family who is learning to spread her wings, assert her independence, and discovering that learning to say “no” to her family allows her the freedom to find herself. Ryan, on the other hand hasn’t had the best experience with his family growing up, and has been happy living life as a military man…at least before he discovered he had a brother that needed him, and is now having to learn all about being part of a family along with the obligations and commitments that go with it.

Max and Ryan have great chemistry from the moment they meet. One of the things that I loved about their story is that there was a real progression to their relationship. Even though they were immediately attracted to each other the reader gets to experience how their relationship progresses from mere attraction to a lasting type of love. Max meets her brother, Ryan meets her family and friends....my point here is: They get to know each other as they fall in love. Discovering why and how the characters fall in love with each other as it happens to them is one of the reasons why I love reading romance.

The only criticism I have for this story is that at one point Max considers ending her relationship with Ryan because he has become to overprotective and overbearing after a series of increasing malicious threats and vandalism to her car and property. But this deliberation occurs immediately following a party with Ryan and her friends, where they were all having a good time. End of the chapter. Then at the beginning of the very next chapter she’s thinking of breaking it off. And while it wasn’t completely unexpected that her character would rebel against Ryan’s increasing protectiveness, I mean he’s an ex-military man, who run’s a security consulting firm, and who has come to have strong feelings for Max. She’s trying out freedom for the first time. It’s only natural that he would feel the way he does, and for her to feel the way she does. It was such an abrupt shift…from party, to possible breakup without a transition that I had to stop and turn back a page just to make sure that I hadn’t missed something. I wish that there would have been at least one scene where Max either expressed her thoughts internally about Ryan’s increasingly overbearing and overprotective nature as he reacts to the danger surrounding her, or a scene wear Ryan completely overreacted to something that happened, prompting Max to consider ending their love affair. That being said, other than this one drawback I thought Turn It On was pretty close to perfection.

Turn it On by Vivian Arend is the perfect short story if you are looking for a quick, yet tremendously satisfying romance fix. Her stories are guaranteed to be red hot and steamy romances that have emotion, sigh-worthy moments that in fact may leave you breathless, and characters that you’ll grow to love. Despite its short length it doesn’t feel like a novella, but a full length novel because of the evolution of Maxine and Ryan’s love story. It’s amazing to me that she can work such magic in so few words. It’s a little gem that I loved, and worth every single penny. I can’t wait to see what she will have in store for us in the 2nd book in the Turner Twins series.(less)

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Feb 25, 2011 Mar rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fun, sexy-hot, read. Had to fan my face on several occasions. Strong, alpha male & cute, loving, independent female with very good chemistry. Some of my favorite quotes:

"What if I told you I'm not hungry for dinner?" That's right girl, get your man.

"Sometimes we're going to get dirty and rough and raw. You need to be ready for it. You need to be ready for me." Hello Mr. Durty!

"But it's all making love. The kisses, the touches. All our senses involved at the same time, including hearing. I lo...more

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May 29, 2012 Darcy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, e-book, romance

I found myself really liking both Max and Ryan in this one. Max with her big family, who she lets run all over her and her sweet innocence and Ryan, for his changing his life in a heartbeat to help a brother he never really knew about. I liked that Max was trying to pull away from her family, to find her own place in the world and that she didn’t hide from her attraction from Ryan. I was also glad that Ryan didn’t hide from his attraction either and that he realized that with Max he needed patie...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Catherinen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary

I picked this book up because I had read a positive review of the second book in the series, and I'm one of those people who has to read series in order, so... went for this one first. Alas, I did not find it to be an incentive to move on to the second book.

Max Turner and Ryan Claymore meet when Max checks him out as a potential contractor to install a security system in her home, which has been recently subject to vandalism. Instant attraction of the too-distracted-to-pay-attention-to-what-I'm...more

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Dec 12, 2010 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance

The romance was believable, sweet and sexy. Max and Ryan both seemed like fabulous people with realistic flaws. I enjoyed the interactions with Maxine's extended family (who are named Maxwell, Maxilla, etc.) and watching Ryan care for his half brother. On the negative side, the whole who is trying to drive Maxine out of her home? storyline has such a hit-you-over-the-head obvious answer that even though I know the characters aren't shown everything that the reader is shown, it's hard not to thin...more

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Feb 28, 2011 Barbara ~*Lindt Ninja*~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, sexy-stuff, series, arc, brown-covers, lady-bits-on-fire, thank-you-sir-ill-have-a-sequel

Maxine "Max" Turner decided she needed a security system installed in her huge family home when vandals broke in and the new client for her brother's company and her web design services is an expert in the field. Forget sparks - what was a flicker when they first met turned into fireworks by the time she and Ryan finished going over the security needs at her house later. Neither one plays any games - they start dating immediately, knowing starting an affair is going to happen soon. Their relatio...more Maxine "Max" Turner decided she needed a security system installed in her huge family home when vandals broke in and the new client for her brother's company and her web design services is an expert in the field. Forget sparks - what was a flicker when they first met turned into fireworks by the time she and Ryan finished going over the security needs at her house later. Neither one plays any games - they start dating immediately, knowing starting an affair is going to happen soon. Their relationship is complicated by her huge family intruding (something similar happens in Turn it Up - it's funny), his responsibility to his handicapped brother and the ongoing vandalism at her house.

This isn't a story with a really intricate suspense plot or one with a huge, dark and evil secret (like a dead wife!) that you know will threaten to tear the couple apart. This is mostly a story about the happy developing relationship between Max and Ryan and the smaller, irritating and sometimes sad stuff that keeps happening to them that they have to deal with to keep themselves together. I really found the resolution to the vandalism issue a little annoying. Not because the plot itself was poorly done, but because I just thought it would be something more interesting. There's a little flip from Turn it Up - Tasha was twelve years older than Max Junior there and here, Ryan is roughly the same amount older than Max.

I'm going to digress for a minute here. I've said that Lauren Dane is one of my favorite authors when it comes to writing women and Arend is one of my favorites when it comes to writing men. They're not all the same - the ages, personalities and ah, bedroom activities, are all different, but they all have a certain something in common that's harder to pin down. They always have good hearts, are decent men who treat people with respect and who not only know when they're messing up, but admit it pretty quickly and do something about it. I'm not any kind of writer, so I don't know what it takes to do all of that, I just know that when I pick up one of Arend's books, I'm not going to get an asshole alpha hero who'll deliberately say something nasty to the heroine to get her to go away for her own good or who'll ever be less than a decent guy when he gets sexually involved with her.

Back to this story. I think my pockets are getting full of the guys I want to keep from the last several Arend books I've read now that I've added Ryan to them. He was a bundle of everything interesting - contrasted with Max's innocence, his experience everywhere was exciting, from picking places to eat, to the bedroom. His grief over his brother's accident and even his frustration about whether there'd be any sort of place for him in a life with Max really emphasized how much more mature he was than her (not sure if that was the idea, but it took me there). He tended to go a little overly-alpha on Max about the vandalism thing, but then she was a little too ditzy about it, so I balanced out the points there.

Since I read Turn it Up first, I already knew Max was ultra-sheltered by her enormous family and had also been treated pretty badly by her stinker of an ex-boyfriend. How badly was revealed eventually when she and Ryan were together and it was just achingly sad. The way she eventually bloomed around him was sweet and I liked that she kept a little of her sort of gawky innocence even to the end of the story. Max is one of those people that everyone in the family takes advantage of - last minute babysitter, bringing an extra casserole to the party - you know the one. While she wants to stop her family always dropping in on her, she's a natural nurturer and this causes one bit of miscommunication between her and Ryan and a brief, nearly head-bangingly stupid moment. Her stubborn and sort of wide-eyed idiocy on the vandalism issue gave her a few more moments, but thankfully there were only a few of them.

I always seem to leave the sexy moment commentary to the end (sort of like dessert!). Ryan, being the alpha god that he is, brings it. He has to take it slow with Max because she's been really messed up by the moron she dated before him, but it makes for some painfully hot scenes. I personally can't believe I'm saying this, but I had one complaint - I sort of felt like Ryan was holding back. I have no idea why, but I thought he might get a little more..dirty. How..dirty of me.

My Summary: I'm a little bummed that Arend didn't manage to dig up a hidden Turner triplet somewhere, I liked this duo of books so much. Ryan and Max's relationship is sexy and complicated and full of family issues that made it fun to read. I wish it had been given a longer format (it was category rather than novel) because I think there were things that were rushed at the end and I'd have loved another chapter or two to see how a couple of issues worked out for Max and Ryan.

My Rating: B+

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May 26, 2012 Tia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book back in 2009 but haven't reviewed it until now. I didn't really love this story but after reading book two, I totally get this one a bit more and the relationship Maxy strove for. The second novel in the series really shows you more about this one. I think it would be better to read the second book in the series and then this one myself. Anyways, this definitely provided me with understand the story and characters more.

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Jan 29, 2010 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, e-book, erotic-romance, yawozzzza-has-the-kink-factor, steamy, smokin-hotness, 2010-reads

The first quarter of this book was kinda blah to me, it got better as time went on. There were some really hot scenes! My favorite part off the whole this was the ending of course it was a HEA, but they didn't do the whole break up move away I can't get through life with out you blah blah story to finally realize they were meant to be with it ending a half of a page later. 4 Stars ;)

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Feb 18, 2011 Amy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2read2

This short story lacked sizzle for me. Character development was good but the overall chemistry between the couple fell flat and there were a lot of moments in the story where as the reader I questioned "really"? Are we really expected to over look that and be okay with the holes within the plot? The vandal that continued to reek havoc on the heroine's home was predictable. I'm hoping I will enjoy the next book, Turn it Up more.

2.5/5 stars

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Jan 25, 2011 Guilty Pleasures rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: misc-ebooks, favorites, top-of-the-top-favorites

for some reason I put off reading this book. I love Vivian Arend's Six Pack Ranch and can't figure out why I didn't snatch this one up.

I am so glad I did. I absolutely fell in love with Max and Ryan. I pre-ordered Turn It Up today. It's going to be weird reading it since it's a pre-quel and I am obsessively anal about reading books in order. But I REALLY, REALLY want to know what happend with Junior and Tasha on that SWING =)

D

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Sep 07, 2010 Judith rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A very good read from an author with a proven track record of fine writing. However, like all her work, IMHO, it is never long enough. I would like to see this author spring forth into a major fictional work that makes a major impact on the fiction loving public. She has the moxy and the ability. Go for it, girl!

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Sep 02, 2010 Sassafrass rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-smut-group-read

I really liked this book. I didn't love it, but I did really like it. I didn't like what was going on with Maxine's house and how it was resolved, but I really did like the chemistry between Max and Ryan. I wish we got a little more from them outside of the bedroom (what happened to Max's part in their business relationship...that was totally dropped). But, ultimately, I was able to still enjoy the story.

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Mar 24, 2012 Marran rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-content

This could have been so good...and just wasn´t..I didnt feel anything for the characters they just felt flat and uh...uninteresting..I didnt care what happend at all....

And she was actually kind of stupid not understandigt the vandalism wasn´t just a child prank..duh one time a prank 10 times something else...

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Jan 20, 2013 gremlin rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was an enjoyable and hot contemporary romance with some minor romantic suspense elements.

Maxine and Ryan are instantly attracted to each other, and fall right in to a relationship. Both have family issues, and he's able to help her her some space, while she shows him what family looks like as he hasn't had much until now.

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Sep 21, 2010 Jamie DeBree rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another fun and fabulous read from Vivian Arend...I don't want to give anything away, but I'll just say it's fast-paced, the suspense is artfully woven and the sex is totally hot. I am anxiously waiting for the second Turner Twins novel!

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Jun 21, 2012 Mandy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: vivian-arend

I loved this one. A sweet and sexy love story with a great HEA. Ryan will be on my list of favorite guys now. Nice mix of Alpha, sex, tenderness etc.

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Mar 14, 2011 Cc rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, 2011

NOTE: This book should be read after Turn it Up (Turner Twins 2) as it contains spoilers. Publication wise they are #1 & #2 but not story wise. Read Turn It Up first.

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Oct 01, 2010 Laura YA indie princess rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

i really loved this book it had me reading till the end vivian arend is fast becoming my fav author for this type of book :0)

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Apr 15, 2012 Landy Jimenez rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Even thought this says is book 1, this story happens after the story of book 2.

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About Vivian Arend

Vivian Arend in one word: Adventurous. In a sentence: Willing to try just about anything once. That wide-eyed attitude has taken her around North America, through parts of Europe, and into Central and South America, often with no running water.

Her optimistic outlook also meant that when challenged to write a book, she gave it a shot, and discovered creating worlds to play in was nearly as addictiv...more

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Rocky Mountain Heat (Six Pack Ranch, #1)

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Turn It On (Turner Twins #1)

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