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Off #2

Off Limits

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“There is a vulnerability there, hovering just below the surface. And I want to pick at it until I expose it. Then I want to kiss it."

Two years ago, Emily Burnham had an epiphany about the shallowness of her life. And she made it her mission to become a different person…a better woman. Out from under the controlling thumb of her mother, Emily is tasting the real world for the first time. And she likes it.

Nixon Caldwell has served his time in the Marine Corps, surviving two brutal tours in Afghanistan. He is back home, surrounded by what he likes best…isolation. It's certainly the best way to avoid confrontation of the consuming guilt that is weighing him down.

When an accident brings Emily and Nix together, he soon learns he is not the master of his own fate. Struggling with his own pain, Nix tries to guard himself against Emily’s charms. He wants her in his bed, but he doesn’t want her in his heart.

Having grabbed life by the horns, Emily wants it all. But is she willing to accept just the small part of himself that Nix is offering? Can she reach the part of his soul that he has deemed to be Off Limits?

224 pages, ebook

First published April 14, 2013

606 people are currently reading
6896 people want to read

About the author

Sawyer Bennett

174 books14.4k followers
New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 851 reviews
Profile Image for Jamie.
1,045 reviews966 followers
May 21, 2013
LOVE LOVE LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
One Of My Favorite Books This Year!

This book was so f'king great!!! I simply couldn't put it down.. started it this morning and finished this afternoon.

Nix is a war veteran dealing with PTSD.. He's 2 years outside of service and he's come a long way.. a very long way. But he still has his demons eating him up from the inside. He's a war hero that thinks he failed. His walls are up and he won't let anybody in.. until Emily.....

Emily is Ryan's sister from Off Sides. She's a trust fund baby that's finally had enough with being a brat..the past 3 years she's remade herself into the person she wants to be.. She's got a huge heart and doesn't believe on giving up.. EVER. She's not scared of Nix. She wants to know everything about him, but she has a way of knowing when not to push him. She chips away at his walls little by little day by day...

They start off thinking they will be fuck buddies with no strings.. but their chemistry is off the charts hot and eventually Emily manages to get past the barriers that Nix has up. He just can't decide if he's willing to let her in.


I absolutely loved the way Sawyer handled Nix's PTSD..she made it real and didn't sugar coat it. It brought tears to my eyes what Nix was dealing with. As Hot and sexy and sweet as this story was, I never forgot what Nix was going through... she handled this side of the story so beautifully. My heart clenched over and over and over...

I would definitely recommend this book to pretty much everyone.. Sure, its a love story and the sex is smoking hot.. but this book goes a little deeper than that and Sawyer turned a simple love story into something so much more..

READ IT, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!

Profile Image for Mo.
1,402 reviews2 followers
August 7, 2013
4.5 Stars.
Really liked the first one so was fairly certain I was going to like this one too. Did I like it? I LOVED IT.

Nix, our tortured hero, home from the Marines, trying to live his life with guilt and regrets.

Emily, little Miss Perky, trust fund girl, trying to live her life independently, a changed person from the girl we met in the first book. And changed for the better.

They meet, he is angry, she is confused, they get together as she works for him. There is an attraction but they do not act on it straight away. He feels he is not good enough for her. I mean he lives in friggin’ Hoboken – never been there but the name sort of conjures up a less than desirable place to live. It is definitely not The Hampton, a place Emily would be at home in – or used to be at home in.
Please - NO OFFENCE to any reader who has any ties to Hoboken.

Nix has it all, the longish hair, the tattoos, the bike, the jeans, the muscles, the tattoos – did I mention tattoos already?

Great to catch up with Danny and Ryan from Book One.

Definitely recommend this one.

It’s no use. I’m never going to find a Band-Aid so what’s a former Marine to do? I’m going to MacGyver the hell out of it, that’s what.

Wonder how many of you guys remember MacGyver, the original, not the re-runs!

He is the exact opposite of any man I have ever thought of dating and my mother would consider him the Anti-Christ on just his dark looks.


For quiet times disappear …
They was is not in the sky …
Don’t let your ears refuse to hear …









Profile Image for Melody Cox.
1,502 reviews175 followers
September 21, 2022
The first and second book of this series are the two best!

This is a story of Nixon Caldwell a tortured ex-marine who lives with an unseen injury from his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. He is eaten alive by guilt and has been battling PTSD. A loner, he refuses to let anyone into his life except for his brother and father. Anger is his middle name and
he treats people badly to keep them away from him.

And then there is Emily Burnham, trust fund baby and recovering spoiled rotten, opinionated, and judgmental socialite whose mother rules her life (or tries to but is now failing since Em has seen the light) from how she walks, talks, dresses, acts, and even who she associates with all for her father's political career. Mrs. Burnham has consistently used both Ryan, her brother from book one, and Emily to help further her husband's career with their eyes on the White House. They are viewed as the 'perfect family' and Emily, like her brother, wants her own life and control over her own decisions. Ryan has already defected from his family in favor of love. Is Emily next?

How they met - Emily was leaving Linc's apartment (Nix's brother and Ryan's NHL teammate) after an interview for one of her classes. As she begins to back her car up something goes crunch and she discovers she has badly damaged a man's motorcycle. He is spitting-fire mad and she goes to work for him to help pay off her debt for the repair of his bike. Her family is very wealthy but she has been cut off from funds since she didn't choose the career path her mother was determined she take.

Emily and Nix, wow what a couple! I loved them together almost as much as Ryan and Danny. I highly recommend this book and although it is considered a standalone, reading the series in order enhances each book.

Don't miss the double epilogue!
Profile Image for Auntee.
1,354 reviews1,467 followers
June 29, 2015
Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!

I don't know why this one touched me so deeply (I had a good cry near the end) but it did. I guess it was the characters--I just fell in love with them!

This one was about former Marine Nixon "Nix" Caldwell, 26, and college student Emily Burnham, 20. Emily was in a previous book in this series (Off Sides, which I have not read--yet!) but it's not essential that you read that one first.

So, a little about Emily...she's a beautiful NYC college student (a junior, I believe), the daughter of a congressman who is thinking about running for President. Emily comes from a socially prominent/rich family, and is expected to do what her parents (especially her mother) demand. How to dress, how to act, who to socialize with, what to major in...all must be approved by Mother. And it is starting to suffocate Emily. Em used to adore her life as a socialite, but lately she just wishes she could be a normal college student and fade into obscurity if she so desires. Emily is trying to make a change in her life--she doesn't like how she has acted in the past and is trying to be a better person and to live her life on her own terms. For one thing, she wants to be a sports journalist, not a doctor or lawyer as mom expects. For one of her college journalism courses, she will be interviewing NY Rangers goalie Lincoln Caldwell (who just happens to be a teammate of her brother Ryan Burnham (Off Sides). After she interviews Linc she gets distracted while driving, has a minor accident, and backs into our hero (Nix Caldwell, Linc's brother--but Em doesn't know that yet) on his motorcycle. Nix is okay, but damaged to his motorcycle is extensive--$10,000. Em has had many accidents/tickets, so she doesn't want her insurance to handle it. And she can't draw on her trust fund just yet...how can she pay Nix the money she owes?

Emily...
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Against his better judgment, Nix proposes that Emily work for him as an administrative assistant. Nix is a successful metal worker/artist but lousy at keeping his books/paperwork organized. So maybe Em can work for him to pay off her debt.

About Nix: He's 6'5", gorgeous...and a surly, closed off s.o.b. Content to be alone and isolated, just working with metals and restoring motorcycles. Doesn't want a relationship. Doesn't really want to associate with people. Doesn't like to talk to people. Has been seeing a psychiatrist/therapist for over two years because he is suffering from not only a traumatic brain injury he received on a mission in Afghanistan, but also is suffering from PTSD and anger issues. And some unresolved feelings of guilt about what happened in Afghanistan. To help him cope with his feelings he has a therapy dog, a friendly golden retriever named Harley. (Loved Harley!)

Nix...
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So Em comes to work for Nix, and slowly but surely, Nix finds that he likes her company. She gets him. She doesn't push him to reveal things about himself. But he finds her intriguing, beautiful, and easy to talk to, and he starts to look forward to seeing her. And he opens up a little to her and they become friends. He finds himself feeling protective of her, especially when she reveals that an ex-boyfriend is stalking her. They have a mutual physical attraction, but what can he offer this beautiful socialite? He can't do a 'relationship'--he doesn't want to risk caring for another person, but maybe she'd consent to some no-strings sex?

Ah yes, we've seen this plot device before, and we know how it will work out. But who cares! This was so well done, and the characters were so developed and complete, that I felt that I knew them. I just adored Emily and Nix together. I wanted them to work! It's kind of rare for me to like the heroine as much as I like the hero, but I loved Emily! She was just what Nix needed, and I loved how she was making an effort to become a better person. (She must've been a real piece of work in the previous book...) I loved how Nix found his walls crumbling down around Emily. I loved how he stared to feel again. I love how he recognized that she brightened his world. I loved the romance that was blooming between them, and how it wasn't all about the sex (although that was verrry hot!). These two fit together like a couple of missing puzzle pieces! The only hurdle they had to get past was something that Nix struggled with for years--his guilt over what happened in Afghanistan. And if Nix couldn't resolve that, there would be no future for him and Em. This is where the crying jag started for me...

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So people, you have to try this book. If you like a scarred hero dealing with emotional issues, this is the book for you. If you like a plucky heroine who is trying to improve herself, this is the book for you. If you like a hero and heroine who not only have tons of sexual chemistry but really get each other, then this is the book for you. And if you like a good cry with your HEA (OMG, the tattoo scene!), then this is definitely the book for you. Hey, this was definitely the book for me, and I'm happy to recommend it. 5 big stars
Profile Image for Michelle.
2,082 reviews893 followers
August 9, 2015
Emily has decided to turn over a new leaf after seeing the love that her brother found and just how empty her life was. When a fender bender puts her in the debt of the bruiting Nix Caldwell, former solider – she is finding that her new outlook on life has much better scenery.

Nix may have returned home from the war and back home to his family, but he really hasn’t returned as himself. Unable to cope with the guilt of what he went through, he seems to take it out on everyone around him. But once Emily gets under his skin, he is finding it’s harder to hold on to all the pain that has kept him from feeling anything beyond grief. But Nix isn’t quite ready to expose his past and when Emily oversteps, he pushes back. Hard.

I was not overly excited for Emily’s story. I honestly went into this read with the hopes of getting more Danny & Ryan, but in the end I think Nix and Emily might just be my favorite couple from this series. Emily had so many chances to revert back to the girl she was, but she didn’t – she stuck to her guns even when push came to shove.

I absolutely adored Nix. I loved that he thought about fighting what he felt towards Emily, but never really could go through with it. I loved seeing him give into it. And although some pain had to be felt for everything to come out, there was never a doubt about the way this story was going to end.

I love a good ex-military hero, and Nix was everything and more. There was just something about these two that I couldn’t get enough of. The dynamic, the way they met – the way they began their relationship and then the way they ultimately fell.

Another stellar job well done by Sawyer Bennett!
Profile Image for Lyndy Ann ♫.
672 reviews
August 22, 2014
WOW what can I say about Off Limits. A great story started nice and slow before the hot stuff which I liked, loved Emily and Nix the changes they went through in their relationship. Can't wait for book 3 in this series. :-)
Profile Image for Syndi.
3,657 reviews1,036 followers
September 15, 2018
This book reminds me so much/ similar to bella andre, kendall ryan books. Minimum angst, insta love and that smooth story telling. There is not much character development. Minimum conflict from outside and just focus on the main characters.

The first 50%, i almost shelfed it under DNF. But then here and there, i enjoy the push and pull, the banter between emily and nix. I feel nix character can be darker. But well... i just have to take what i have to take.

I enjoy it at the end. And gobes this book 4 stars. I love the nix's scroll. Mind blowing.
Profile Image for Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile.
2,234 reviews507 followers
February 17, 2021
Spoilers ahead

I didn't review this when I first read it because the latter half left me conflicted. The H wasn't just grumpy or moody, he was an asshole to the h for much of the book! I really didn't like him! The h made matters worse for me because she was like a lustful puppy behind him! However in the later part of the book we learn he'd sustained a traumatic injury that had affected his personality. Maybe it took to long for that to thrown out, it just felt like that justified his actions but by then I already did not like him.

Just wasn't my cuppa.
Profile Image for Heroesinbooks.
1,156 reviews345 followers
December 24, 2017
4 Heart wrenching and addictive stars

The second in a series following Off Sides . This story is about the unlikely relationship between Emily (Ryan`s sister in the first book) and Nixon, an ex- marine who is the brother of Ryan`s hockey team mate,Linc. Emily is a reformed character,a better person and a budding journalist. Nix is dark,withdrawn and gorgeous. Can they really make something of their attraction to each other? Or is Nix past too dark? I really enjoyed this book. Recommend.
Profile Image for Heidi.
949 reviews2 followers
August 4, 2013
Nix is quiet, menacing and sexy.

He's got baggage and struggling. A former member of the Marine Corps having served two tours in Afghanistan will do things to a man's mind.




Along comes Emily. Not liking the person she was, decides to make some changes in her life. She stood up to her parents and her stalker ex-boyfriend. "She's tough as nails" Beautiful, intriguing and unfortunately makes Nix feel out of control. A feeling he very definitely hates.



The chemistry between Nix and Emily begins to build and it is thoroughly enjoyable to read. There is enough "Down and dirty" and "Oh, we're compatible. Your working parts and mine were in perfect alignment just a few seconds ago." to keep this book moving along nicely.

I felt the book dealt with the issues that Nix was coming to terms with, in a sensitive way. There was a moment in the book when you get that horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach, knowing what is about to happen.

Can Emily show Nix the path to his own salvation and finally be strong enough to face his demons.

The second book in the Off Series by Sawyer Bennett, I enjoyed this one much more than the first. It flowed really well had steam, emotion, heart ache and so much more.

Five stars for me!


Profile Image for Aly.
27 reviews38 followers
April 17, 2013
I received a beta copy of this fabulous book. I absolutely love this book! I loved the first installment so I always hope the second can live up to it, and it definitely was able to! This is an absolute must read! If you liked Off Sides then read this because Danny and Ryan make some appearances! Nix and Emily's story is very beautiful and by the end you'll love them as much as you loved Ryan and Danny! Off course you still want to punch Ryan and Emily's mom in the face for the first half of the book but you grow to be okay with her thankfully for their dad! Which I loved him by the way! I really enjoyed this book and hope when it comes out all of you do too! Love ya Sawyer! It was amazing but when isn't one of your books?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Dali.
2,076 reviews590 followers
August 21, 2022
Off limits is a standalone contemporary romance by Sawyer Bennett, told from both points of view with a happy ending.
Tropes:
✔️ ex-armed forces
✔️ hero has an adorable service dog
✔️ grumpy - sunshine
✔️ tortured hero

Nixon Caldwell is a reticent, surly ex-marine with misplaced guilt. Emily Burnham is the daughter of a congressman who recently realized she wanted an independent life away from her mother’s purview.

In an inadvertent twist of fate, Emily ends up working for Nix. To say the two bump heads because of their very different grumpy/sunshine nature is an understatement. He prefers to be alone; she wants to ‘carpe diem.’ But what’s undeniable is the attraction between them. “Can she reach the part of his soul that he has deemed to be Off Limits?”

I loved Emily and Nix. She’s trying to redefine herself as a strong, independent woman and I admired her for it. Nix has a battered and bruised soul, and I loved how he slowly opened up to Emily, slowly showed her his vulnerable and eventually fought to make himself whole for him… for her… for them.

This was a very emotional story I loved listening to.

★ Hero: 👤👤👤👤👤
★ Heroine: 👤👤👤👤👤
★ Plot: 📚📚📚📚
★ Romance: 💕💕💕💕
★ Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
★ Performance: 👤👤👤👤👤
★ Overall Rating: 4.6

★ I listened to this audiobook via Audible. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title.
See all my book edits on Instagram
Profile Image for Tzelina.
506 reviews130 followers
June 28, 2018
4.5 🌟 🌟🌟🌟 !! I really loved it !!
Profile Image for Lu Bielefeld .
4,304 reviews629 followers
October 27, 2018
4 stars
==========
Nix takes a deep breath. "I'm not relationship material, Emily. I just don't have it in me to care about someone like that. You cannot expect anything like that from me."

Well, FUCK YOU EMILY! I don't need this shit and I don't need you. Now GET OUT and don't ever contact me again!"
Profile Image for Brandie.
716 reviews260 followers
May 1, 2013
First I have to thank the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I loved it!

4.5 Stars

Emily Burnham is determined to make changes in her life and shed the image from her past - the rich and spoiled daughter of a politician who's controlled by her mother. She's away at college pursuing her dreams and doing things she's never done before - and loving every minute. She's such a strong character that I adored her from the beginning and admired her for the courage to start her own life.

Then an accident will have her literally running into Nix Caldwell. Nix is a former Marine, who's extremely closed off from everyone but his dad and brother. He's suffered some traumatic injuries when serving in Afghanistan and is living with a horrible guilt regarding one of his best friends. Because of this - he refuses to have relationships with anyone and comes off as an asshole.

Making personal connections is easy. Losing them is what's hard. It's easier to avoid.

Until he meets Emily. She just may be that one person who can break down his carefully constructed walls and get him to feel something again. But when she pushes him a little too far - will he be able to get past his issues and finally allow himself to be in love?

This book was a wonderful love story in every sense. You have the tough and sassy heroine. The sexy, baddass hero with issues. I love books where it's the guy who fights his attraction instead of the girl - something about those storylines just does it for me. And the chemistry these two had was awesome. The first time Nix gives into his desire for Emily is an unforgettable scene! But the suspense of whether he'll get his act together kept me wanting more. I ADORED Nix - he was possessive, protective, sweet - everything about him (even his bad attitude) screamed HOT.

An example of how sweet he is...
"I've never brought flowers to a woman before, Emily. I'm having a lot of 'firsts' with you." ahhhh...swoon!

The epilogue was wonderful, and I'm excited that there will be another book about his brother, Linc! I also LOVE the names Nix and Linc. Two of the coolest male names I've read in a book because it was different.

A wonderful steamy romance I really enjoyed!
Profile Image for Sammy ⭐️.
935 reviews35 followers
May 28, 2013
4.5

Emily Burnham decided 2 years ago that it was time to get out from under her mother's control after watching her brother Ryan Choose the love of his life Danny (from off Sides book 1)over what his mother wanted for him. Being a trust fund baby with a father thinking of running for the white house this proves difficult.

Nix is an ex-marine with bags of Guilt, regret and suffering from PTSD over a road side bombing that took his best friend legs, this courses him to be closed off and prefers to keep himself to himself, and doesn't do relationships.

Nix and Emily meet after she backs her car into him and his custom made Motorcycle. Due to a few car incident Emily doesn't want to go through her insurance so she asks Nix if she can cover the damage by paying it off monthly instead Nix agrees that Emily can come and do his account at his small custom metal business to work off the debt. This is where their Romance blossoms.

I really did love this book and the supporting characters were also great Fil was fantastic she would have done anything for Emily.

Can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Jac K.
2,500 reviews463 followers
February 5, 2023
Much better than book 1

The first book in the series was very mushy, insta love, over the top and not very relatable. This book follows Nix a tortured war vet battling his demons, and Emily a former spoiled biatch trying to change her ways.

First, Emily has done a complete personality makeover from the last book. She was actually very like able, compassionate, and I appreciated her go with the flow attitude. It was a nice change to not have a whiny female lead.

Nix was a self proclaimed asshole, but he was a pretty nice asshole :) and I very much loved his character. His struggle was believable and relatable. We also get several awesome quotes sprinkled throughout.

My one complaint, and it’s a minor one, but I get really tired of authors overdoing the foreshadowing of a development. The hints should be tiny so we can have our aha moment.
Profile Image for Kizzy.
1,054 reviews35 followers
March 28, 2013
I beta read a copy of this book and it was amazing!! loved it :)Let me say that if you loved Off Sides, you will love Off Limits. Granted this is Emily's story, but we do see a little of Ryan and Danny in this one as well.

Emily is an amazing character and you see her maturity here from the last book. Not giving away spoilers, but Nix (oh my lol)..I was drawn in from the beginning and all I will say is you will not be disappointed!! Put it on your TBR list and enjoy!!

Sawyer, thanks so much again!
Profile Image for .Lili. .
1,275 reviews275 followers
August 7, 2013
I'll keep it short and sweet. I would definitely recommend this book. I enjoyed the first book in the series- liked this one even more. The book got better as it progressed. If you're in the mood for a quick, emotional, steamy read with great characters then this one's for you! Looking forward to the next book in the series. 4 stars! :)
Profile Image for Big Joe  Rossi.
1,776 reviews50 followers
June 8, 2017
Truly loved Off Limits by Sawyer Bennett. The story centers around Emily Burnham and Nixon Caldwell.

When Emily literally and figuratively runs into Nix she becomes his 'indentured servant'. She is trying to be a better her after seeing her shallow past for it was. He is a war hero still facing the demons brought home from the Middle East.

They both fight the attraction for different reasons and when they finally get out of their own ways outside forces come into play that threaten everything. Her family, his war past, exs. We see Emily fight to be a better her and Nix fighting the demons of war and loss.
Profile Image for Dina.
1,221 reviews54 followers
December 3, 2014
DNF..

It just didn't grab my attention.. I might re-visit later, though..

But for now..

description

Sorry *blushing*
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews116 followers
Want to read
March 2, 2019
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/2/2019)! 🎁

Blurb:
“There is a vulnerability there, hovering just below the surface. And I want to pick at it until I expose it. Then I want to kiss it."

Two years ago, Emily Burnham, had an epiphany about the shallowness of her life. And she made it her mission to become a different person…a better woman. Out from under the controlling thumb of her mother, Emily is tasting the real world for the first time. And she likes it.

Nixon Caldwell has served his time in the Marine Corps, surviving two brutal tours in Afghanistan. He is back home, surrounded by what he likes best…isolation. It's certainly the best way to avoid confrontation of the consuming guilt that is weighing him down.

When an accident brings Emily and Nix together, he soon learns he is not the master of his own fate. Struggling with his own pain, Nix tries to guard himself against Emily’s charms. He wants her in his bed, but he doesn’t want her in his heart.

Having grabbed life by the horns, Emily wants it all. But is she willing to accept just the small part of himself that Nix is offering? Can she reach the part of his soul that he has deemed to be Off Limits?
Profile Image for TJ.
3,246 reviews258 followers
March 28, 2019
3.5/5.0
I liked this one, just didn't love it. Mainly because of the "only sex" plot device. The minute it is employed in a romance novel, the entire plot is set and known. Emotions always get involved, people are always hurt, figure it out and happy ending. That isn't even a spoiler because there isn't any other way it can go and still be a romance.

I did love the character of Emily (in spite of the above annoyance.) I had a harder time with Nix but tried to understand his personality. The military aspect was interesting - even educational but I still had trouble with his rudeness even when he didn't have to be. AND, the ending was a bit of a disappointment. Yes, it was happy but leaving it at "someday" rather than the real thing left the relationship dangling a bit... at least for me.

So why is it still rated a 3.5? Because even with those problems, this author can still write a really good story!
Profile Image for ❀ Crystal ✿ -  PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS .
2,532 reviews307 followers
April 15, 2013
*Copy Received from Author for Review*
Let’s just say when I read Off Sides a few months ago it was an Amazon Freebie that I was thoroughly impressed by. I loved it. Off Limits was just as wonderful if not better. And to ward off any confusion, this book takes place a few years after the end of Off Sides and features Ryan’s sister Emily. (Don’t worry Danny and Ryan still make a few appearances.) Though, the covers may be similar this book has barely anything to do with hockey and is vastly different in its own right, but Nix is more than enough to handle so the missing sports element is replaced with an angsty, war veteran in need of a strong woman.

“I may love all things related to sports but I have no desire to ever date an athlete.” – Emily

Emily has come a far way from being the stuck up socialite we met in Off Sides. She is no longer under the thumb of her controlling mother and is instead enrolled at Colombia working on a degree in her secretive major. Secretive because her mother demands she either choose law or medicine as her focus because of her father’s potential run for president. When the time comes to stand up to her mother and even her father, Emily does not hesitate. Granted, she fears losing access to her trust fund but as a woman not used to living frugally or even worrying about expenses, no one can blame her.

“I’m just… weirdly attracted to him, that’s all. He’s like the forbidden fruit.” – Emily

As most of us know, when we’re stuck in a pickle life tends to get a bit more interesting… Living an under the radar life like Emily, she manages to find herself in a calamity with Nix. After interviewing his hockey star brother, Emily accidentally runs into and over Nix and his motorcycle. Nix has some anger issues and blows a gasket. The two come to an agreement that Emily will work for his as a secretary of sorts filing and sorting his business documents until the debt is paid off.

Obviously the sexual tension is off the charts with these two. There may be an instant attraction but there is no way an insta-love connection. Both of them are as confused about their feelings as each other and when they decide to take it a bit further no one wants or expects love to become a factor. Nix is still dealing with a tremendous amount of guilt and pain from his time in Afghanistan two years ago. Emily is like a buffer for him and works as a calming balm for his soul just like his service dog, who is a sweetie by the way… Emily, though her situation is different, is dealing with her own life dramas as well including a crazy spoiled ex who won’t take no for an answer.

The road to love between these two was refreshing to witness. The story line was not too predictable and Nix gets his act together when the time is right. And I loved the description of his work and studio. He made such amazing pieces from motorcycles to sculptures all hand crafted that clearly help keep his mind focused and money in his pocket. Both Nix and Emily are so real. After serving, Nix does not feel he fits in anywhere else because his job skills are a bit on the unconventional side. He does not realize how amazing the work he does now is, especially because it’s something he wants to do and not everyone can have their dream job.

“He’s wallowed in so much guilt and misery for so long, I think the idea that he could actually be a true hero is too much of a foreign concept to him.” – Emily

My only disappointment was the drama with her ex Todd. It felt like there was some buildup to something good. And then, wham! It turns into nothing. Not even Nix gets his moment of pummeling someone. It just felt out of place and made me wonder why this added element of suspense was added if for no other reason than space and drama.

I’m a sucker for an epilogue and just the fact that this book had one made me happy (even if it made me sad to be at the end). Nix worked through his issues, and though he’ll never be fully over his wartime experience, Emily helped him face reality and now he also has his best friend back and a ginormous weight lifted off his shoulders. Perhaps this is why the real Nix, the one with a romantic side comes through in the end without having to second guess his every thought and word.
OK, so HOLY ever Loving HE#L, Nix’s tattoos are sick!!! It was pure genius to include the entire thing at the end but I honestly could not believe how much writing was involved. His tattoo is massive and until I saw all the writing it never occurred to me how much space it must cover.

Things I loved
Emily singing the True Blood theme song, LOL moment!!
Emily making friends at the biker bar!!

Overall
Everyone who read Off Sides should definitely read Off Limits. And even if you haven’t read it, I would recommend this book. Off Limits has everything from a motorcycle driving bad boy to a smart mouth journalism student with controlling parents. The two don’t seem to mesh on the outside but the road to happiness for the two was very enjoyable to witness and I hope there is more in store for these characters. I have a feeling Nix’s brother Linc, may be up next..!!!
Profile Image for Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms.
2,799 reviews344 followers
December 21, 2019
I love this series so much! Off Limits shared how much Emily has grown since her brother Ryan's book. It also shared how strong she is - both mentally and physically, and I absolutely loved her.
Nix, of course, made the story even better - with his grouchy, secret self, he made a little bit of a mystery with Emily - even if it was clear that he was very attracted to her.
Profile Image for Lexy.
1,093 reviews34 followers
October 15, 2020
I thought that this book was good
Profile Image for Kristiej.
1,509 reviews99 followers
July 25, 2014
I am so taken with this author and her books. One of the recent ones I read I only graded a 2 as I didn’t like the heroine one little bit, but over all I’m most impressed and quite happy to have found Sawyer Bennett.

I seem to be reading this series backwards so for anyone wondering if the series needs to be read in order, no it doesn’t.
This is the story of Nixon or Nix Caldwell and Emily Burnham. Emily is a trust fund child. She comes from wealth and privilege. Several years before the story starts, she realized that she had been a person she didn’t like and has made a concentrated effort to become a better person. I’ll be honest and say early into the story I wasn’t sure how it was going to go as she is given a choice, bow to pressure and go out with a former boyfriend who has become stalkerish or losing her trust fund and she went with the stalker ex route. I was a bit worried that would ruin her for me and I even put the book down for a couple of days thinking I would be disappointed. But since I have had good luck with this author, I went back to it and it’s a good thing I did. Emily is young, still in college and to buck a lifetime of behavior would be kind of difficult to do all at once and she has come a long way. And I did like her ever so much.

She and Nix meet when she almost runs him down and does some real damage to his motorcycle. They both orbit around some of the same people. Emily is the sister of Ryan Burnham, who’s story Off Sides, I haven’t read yet but is the first in the series and Nix is the brother of Linc Caldwell, the hero of Off the Record, which I have read and enjoyed. Ryan and Linc are both on the same NHL hockey team. Although they are kind of in the same circle up until the motorcycle accident they hadn’t met. Nix is, well, a jerk to Emily and she is less than impressed. She’s willing to pay him for the damage she did but it turns out that she doesn’t have enough of her monthly allotted amount so he comes up with the idea of having her work it off. He owns his own custom motorcycle/metal art business and he is terrible at the administrative end of it. He decides to take that in lieu of.

Nix is a real Oscar the Grouch kind of her and if done well, one of my favourite kind. And I think Ms. Bennett did him just about perfect. He’s a returning veteran and he is suffering from PTSD, a Traumatic Brain Injury, physical scars and a whole boatload of guilt. Because of all these factors, he figures there in no chance that he can have any kind of relationship, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t do one nighters. And he is hot for Emily. Emily, for her part, is hot for Nix, but his running hot and cold and being a jerk and a nice guy have her very confused. But lust and growing love have her agreeing to his offer – strings free sex.

Of course this is a romance and it never really works that way in a romance. Nix begins trusting and opening up to Emily about his ghosts and rather than reject him, she gives him unconditional support.

And while Emily is a younger heroine than I’m used to in a contemporary romance, I ended up liking her a lot. The characters from the other books make appearances but I don’t think it’s need to read the first one in order to enjoy this one – since I didn’t and I did.

I really enjoyed this one along with most of the other books by this author I’ve read and I ended up getting the box set of all the books in this serie
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