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Wilinski's #3
Driving Her Wild
Winning is good. Succumbing is even better…
Evasion
Recently retired pro MMA fighter Steph Healy is through
having rough-and-tumble romps with sexy blue-collar dudes.
Unfortunately, Wilinski’s Fight Academy has hired an
electrician with a body built to make a gal weep. And avoiding
some full-body contact is taking all of Steph’s self-control.
Grapple
Carpenter-turned-electrician Patrick Doherty is damn good
with his hands. Sure, he’s not what Steph is looking for—yet.
But he’s about to prove that she has seriously underestimated
her opponent.…
Submission
The moment Patrick has her deliciously pinned, Steph
knows she’s in deep, deep trouble. Because this seemingly
mild carpenter has the mastery to give her exactly what
she needs…and this is one takedown she’s willing to
take lying down!
Evasion
Recently retired pro MMA fighter Steph Healy is through
having rough-and-tumble romps with sexy blue-collar dudes.
Unfortunately, Wilinski’s Fight Academy has hired an
electrician with a body built to make a gal weep. And avoiding
some full-body contact is taking all of Steph’s self-control.
Grapple
Carpenter-turned-electrician Patrick Doherty is damn good
with his hands. Sure, he’s not what Steph is looking for—yet.
But he’s about to prove that she has seriously underestimated
her opponent.…
Submission
The moment Patrick has her deliciously pinned, Steph
knows she’s in deep, deep trouble. Because this seemingly
mild carpenter has the mastery to give her exactly what
she needs…and this is one takedown she’s willing to
take lying down!
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 22, 2013
16 people are currently reading
399 people want to read
About the author
Meg Maguire
31 books270 followersSince she began writing in 2008, Meg Maguire has published nearly forty romances and erotic novels with a variety of publishers, sometimes under the pen names Cara McKenna and C.M. McKenna. Her stories have been acclaimed for their smart, modern voice and defiance of convention. She was a 2015 RITA Award finalist, a 2014 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award winner, a 2012 and 2011 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award nominee, and a 2010 Golden Heart Award finalist. She lives with her husband and baby son in the Pacific Northwest, though she’ll always be a Boston girl at heart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
November 17, 2013
Why aren't more readers chasing after Meg Maguire's (a/k/a Cara Mckenna) books? The books are funny, witty, sexy and real. Her books make me feel happy and I have a hard time not gulping them down. I feel as if Meg is writing for me. As if we met, she asked what I wanted in a book and shook my list and made it better, added in things she knew I wanted or would love in a book. I do tend to prefer books written under her other pen name of Cara McKenna, but the Maguire books are fun as well. This book is the third in the Wilinksi series. The first book was okay -- it was fun, but just okay. The second book hit it right for me and this book, the third -- improves on the first two. Readers need to read more of Meg Maguire/Cara Mckenna.
Romance novels aren't really my thing but then I do enjoy certain romance novels. I am not looking for the perfect sweet romance or the unattainable Adonis of a man with wealth coming together for an explosion of passion, marriage and a baby. I like romances that are real, have some struggle, some working out to do and involve real people who make real life type decisions. Romance outside of the typical romance box -- that is what gets me. Some authors do this really well, Cara McKenna, Suzanne Brockmann, Megan Hart, Ellen O'Connell, Karina Halle, Jordan Castillo Price, Tiffanie DeBartolo, Diana Gabaldon. Each of those authors write really different types of books, but they never fail to write intensely character driven novels; characters who make bad choices or who have less than perfect lives. This is what I want to read and more of it please.
Driving Her Wild centers on a female fighter, Steph, who is retiring and trying to move on to a more stable life. Steph grew up poor and working class. Her brothers are working class, the men she fought on the circuit are working class and she wants to move on. Steph is convinced that her failing in relationships has been to go for the type of men she grew up around and knows well -- working class guys, but the problem is those are the type of men she clicks with:
But Steph is convinced that if she is going to move on to stability in life and not struggle day to day, she needs to go for a white collar professional guy:
Driving Her Wild is not a complex analysis of social economic structure but it is nice to see some struggles going on. The guy that catches Steph's eye and heart is fighting his way out of debt. Is it superficial for Steph to be so focused on money and social strata? Driving Her Wild pokes at these issues in a way that I found really satisfying. But it is still a book written for escape and entertainment and the book will entertain. There is witty sexy banter that Maguire is so good at, there are sexy steamy scenes,
Meg Maguire needs more exposure; if you read this book, let me know what you think. And make sure your ebook is fully charged before you dive in, this is a book that you don't want to lose a charge during the middle of certain scenes -- frustrating!
To read this review and more like it check out Badass Book Reviews
Romance novels aren't really my thing but then I do enjoy certain romance novels. I am not looking for the perfect sweet romance or the unattainable Adonis of a man with wealth coming together for an explosion of passion, marriage and a baby. I like romances that are real, have some struggle, some working out to do and involve real people who make real life type decisions. Romance outside of the typical romance box -- that is what gets me. Some authors do this really well, Cara McKenna, Suzanne Brockmann, Megan Hart, Ellen O'Connell, Karina Halle, Jordan Castillo Price, Tiffanie DeBartolo, Diana Gabaldon. Each of those authors write really different types of books, but they never fail to write intensely character driven novels; characters who make bad choices or who have less than perfect lives. This is what I want to read and more of it please.
Driving Her Wild centers on a female fighter, Steph, who is retiring and trying to move on to a more stable life. Steph grew up poor and working class. Her brothers are working class, the men she fought on the circuit are working class and she wants to move on. Steph is convinced that her failing in relationships has been to go for the type of men she grew up around and knows well -- working class guys, but the problem is those are the type of men she clicks with:
"I just can't resist a man with capable hands and steel-toed boots."
"Damn, she knew that sex, too. Knew the exciting weight of a fun, fearless, sexy guy like Patrick tumbling across tangled covers with her. She knew that sex, punctuated with smiles and swears and dares and laughter. With playful, whapping pillows and the sort of deep resonant orgasms that only came when you felt free and happy with a guy, partners in that awesome silliness."
But Steph is convinced that if she is going to move on to stability in life and not struggle day to day, she needs to go for a white collar professional guy:
"I don't want to be poor."
Driving Her Wild is not a complex analysis of social economic structure but it is nice to see some struggles going on. The guy that catches Steph's eye and heart is fighting his way out of debt. Is it superficial for Steph to be so focused on money and social strata? Driving Her Wild pokes at these issues in a way that I found really satisfying. But it is still a book written for escape and entertainment and the book will entertain. There is witty sexy banter that Maguire is so good at, there are sexy steamy scenes,
"She could hear his excitement in the pitch of his breath and the rumble of his low, soft moans. Those sounds fit his body, that deep baritone echoing through his frame."
Meg Maguire needs more exposure; if you read this book, let me know what you think. And make sure your ebook is fully charged before you dive in, this is a book that you don't want to lose a charge during the middle of certain scenes -- frustrating!
To read this review and more like it check out Badass Book Reviews
October 15, 2013
This book was certainly very different and I would rate it 3.25 stars. The heroine was an ex-MMA fighter and the alpha in the relationship which I found unusual. She has just retired and is about to turn 30 and wants a family and a guy that is miles apart from the one's she met on the road, so she signs up for Spark (the dating service of the heroine from the first book).
The hero Patrick is working as an electrician (a very inept one) at the gym she has started work at and was a very, sweet clumsy guy who was insecure because of his divorce and so willing to put himself on the line even when the heroine made it very clear that she wanted someone financially stable and not him.
The heroine didn't work for me many times, she seemed kind of like a user to me though she was upfront about the fact that it was just physical and not something that could work in the long run. This book ends on a HFN and not a HEA, with both of them agreeing to give them a shot.
The hero Patrick is working as an electrician (a very inept one) at the gym she has started work at and was a very, sweet clumsy guy who was insecure because of his divorce and so willing to put himself on the line even when the heroine made it very clear that she wanted someone financially stable and not him.
The heroine didn't work for me many times, she seemed kind of like a user to me though she was upfront about the fact that it was just physical and not something that could work in the long run. This book ends on a HFN and not a HEA, with both of them agreeing to give them a shot.
September 4, 2013
I'm all over romance novels and novelists who take romance outside of the heart-shaped box. Romances that aren't whirlwinds where the MCs rush to the alter before the final page. Romances where a monogamous commitment, a let's-go-steady ring is the gold star. It frees the writer up to really focus on issues of modern day relationships.
In Driving Her Wild, Steph is an ex-cage fighter who hangs up her gloves because her biological clock starts ticking. She signs up for Jenna Wilinksi's dating service in an effort to find a romantic, working professional, domesticated partner. Unfortunately, she keeps bumping into and winding up underneath broke ass, hot ass, sweet ass Patrick. Patrick, a recent divorcee who's fallen on hard times thanks to the economy but busts his ass doing whatever menial jobs he can find, wants to be partnered up with "someone he could take turns being the strong one with." Guh! And he's really digging Steph.
Patrick sucks at dating -not so much because he's broke- because he wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn't play games. He likes Steph and he tells her so. Immediately and repeatedly. Steph fights her feelings for this down on his luck dude. And its obvious why. She's a modern woman who brings home the bacon, fries it up, and slaughters any pig who gets in her face. She's an alpha woman looking for a guy who's at the head of the alphabet like her. The guys she finds at the top of their game just don't do it for her like Patrick does. Other than the financial issues he's perfect for her. In the middle of the book she gives an inch and for the rest of the work we readers watch as they negotiate a relationship to both their liking.
It was like a Dr. Phil or Iyanla Vanzant self-help book for the literary minded! Educational and satisfying. Except...
Dominance is a strong sub-genre in the romance category. Steph, who could financially and physically overpower most men in her life, craved a man to dominate her in the bedroom. It makes sense.
"Take me to bed, Patrick." Take me. Own me. Boss me. She held too much power over this man. She'd be happy to surrender some, shed it alongside their clothing.
I get that. The problem? Patrick was not a dominate man. He's a pleaser -which was lovely. But Steph's brain and her inner monologue insisted that he was a Dom. It made me feel like she was fooling herself and it took me out of the story during these passages. If not for that, this would have been a 5 star read.
ARC provided by Netgalley.
In Driving Her Wild, Steph is an ex-cage fighter who hangs up her gloves because her biological clock starts ticking. She signs up for Jenna Wilinksi's dating service in an effort to find a romantic, working professional, domesticated partner. Unfortunately, she keeps bumping into and winding up underneath broke ass, hot ass, sweet ass Patrick. Patrick, a recent divorcee who's fallen on hard times thanks to the economy but busts his ass doing whatever menial jobs he can find, wants to be partnered up with "someone he could take turns being the strong one with." Guh! And he's really digging Steph.
Patrick sucks at dating -not so much because he's broke- because he wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn't play games. He likes Steph and he tells her so. Immediately and repeatedly. Steph fights her feelings for this down on his luck dude. And its obvious why. She's a modern woman who brings home the bacon, fries it up, and slaughters any pig who gets in her face. She's an alpha woman looking for a guy who's at the head of the alphabet like her. The guys she finds at the top of their game just don't do it for her like Patrick does. Other than the financial issues he's perfect for her. In the middle of the book she gives an inch and for the rest of the work we readers watch as they negotiate a relationship to both their liking.
It was like a Dr. Phil or Iyanla Vanzant self-help book for the literary minded! Educational and satisfying. Except...
Dominance is a strong sub-genre in the romance category. Steph, who could financially and physically overpower most men in her life, craved a man to dominate her in the bedroom. It makes sense.
"Take me to bed, Patrick." Take me. Own me. Boss me. She held too much power over this man. She'd be happy to surrender some, shed it alongside their clothing.
I get that. The problem? Patrick was not a dominate man. He's a pleaser -which was lovely. But Steph's brain and her inner monologue insisted that he was a Dom. It made me feel like she was fooling herself and it took me out of the story during these passages. If not for that, this would have been a 5 star read.
ARC provided by Netgalley.
September 5, 2019
I never got into category romances specifically, but holy wow I am realizing I should have been reading the Blaze Line (and I guess it is no longer). I picked this up based on a JenReadsRomance rec and I'm so happy. Meg Maguire is also Cara McKenna (who I've been meaning to read) and this is just an absolutely delightful, sexy, and fun romance between an ex-pro MMA fighter and the big, sexy, clutzy carpenter who is just absolutely bowled over by her prickly charm.
It is so rare to find a blue collar romance and this one is extraordinary. Both Steph and Patrick struggle financially due not to their lack of hard work, but because of the economy and the nature of their work. Patrick having to explain to Steph he couldn't afford fancy dates was so real, and so lovely to see depicted. Steph aspiring to date a man who could take care of her was, while a bit cold-hearted, also very real. I loved how these two came together, and how the book ended on a HFN.
PLUS THE CHEMISTRY. Wow. Off the charts sexy.
It is so rare to find a blue collar romance and this one is extraordinary. Both Steph and Patrick struggle financially due not to their lack of hard work, but because of the economy and the nature of their work. Patrick having to explain to Steph he couldn't afford fancy dates was so real, and so lovely to see depicted. Steph aspiring to date a man who could take care of her was, while a bit cold-hearted, also very real. I loved how these two came together, and how the book ended on a HFN.
PLUS THE CHEMISTRY. Wow. Off the charts sexy.
July 2, 2015
3.5 Stars.
Sadly, I didn't really like this one.. I LOVED the previous one (Taking Him Down) but here I just felt it wasn't "special" enough. The characters too plain.
On the last book Rich mentions there is a new person to be joining the boxing club - Steph. She signed up to be an instructor after deciding to end her boxing carrier. Steph will be 30 soon, she has being boxing for years and she feels her age is catching up with her - she needs to start thinking about settling down - find someone that doesn't struggle with his income (she had enough financial problems growing up and as a female boxer she didn't earn a lot..) someone who isn't like all the other guys she used to date..
She joins Spark and really hopes she could find someone with all the things she is interested in.. but after a few dates she realizes there is no real attraction there even if the guys meet all her other standards. I totally get it. She is a boxer, a physical person, someone who comes from a quite poor environment growing up, had a lot of hunks around her (other boxers like herself) - what the hell would she find in common with a geek doctor or a banker?! It's so un-realistic in my eyes it's no wonder she is overly attracted to Patrick - the new electrician working on the club. She has too many clumsy encounters with him that leads to great attraction but also to the realization he is not what she is looking for - he is so similar to the guys she used to date - and besides that he had a lot of financial problems due to his recent divorce.
Patrick is sweet, he really is. He is SO into Steph that he is willing to do almost anything to get her, including accepting a convenient relationship which will probably amount to nothing (but hey there's sex included so... ;)) In my eyes there is something very un-sexy about a pushy "stalkery" kind of guy. Someone who is SO into you that he keeps hanging around like an eager puppy. So sadly that ended my attraction to him..
In the end of course Steph finds herself with him after receiving a good advice about why she should give him a chance but actually that advice won't change neither of their financial problems (nothing short of a miracle would..) - it's more of - he's worth it with his problems. I guess it's a good moral to a story but in a romance story I would prefer something a little more. More what I don't know. As I said in the beginning the both of them are so plain. They don't have real layers or something that draws me into liking them or just wanting to know how they conquer their own difficulties.
An issue I had that felt "personal' to me is her rivalry with her cousin. I don't want to spoiler what happens there but it was obvious to me from the start that something will. I could really relate to Steph and her revulsion from her cousin and exactly because of that I felt the way things resulted were a little weak. I wouldn't "buy it" myself and I see no reason for Steph to..
I'm a litter older than Steph, my biological clock is still mute and I hope it will stay that way forever ;) I don't like reading about women who feel obliged to change their lives NOW so they could find a guy to marry RIGHT THIS SECOND and start a family in the VERY NEAR future. It just seems wrong to me. So maybe a lot of my problem with this book is the fact I can't buy the (fictional) biological pressure some women experience that pushes them to obsess about a house with a white fence, husband and kids..
I really enjoy reading Meg Maguire. Her writing is fun, fluent and easy to read. I liked that we had a little more of Mercer, Rich, Jenna and Lindsey. It's nice to see how things changed from the first book and things are good for both businesses. I wonder if there is going to be another book in the series (I could wildly guess who it will be about :)) and even though this one was a little miss for me I would surely read it!
Sadly, I didn't really like this one.. I LOVED the previous one (Taking Him Down) but here I just felt it wasn't "special" enough. The characters too plain.
On the last book Rich mentions there is a new person to be joining the boxing club - Steph. She signed up to be an instructor after deciding to end her boxing carrier. Steph will be 30 soon, she has being boxing for years and she feels her age is catching up with her - she needs to start thinking about settling down - find someone that doesn't struggle with his income (she had enough financial problems growing up and as a female boxer she didn't earn a lot..) someone who isn't like all the other guys she used to date..
She joins Spark and really hopes she could find someone with all the things she is interested in.. but after a few dates she realizes there is no real attraction there even if the guys meet all her other standards. I totally get it. She is a boxer, a physical person, someone who comes from a quite poor environment growing up, had a lot of hunks around her (other boxers like herself) - what the hell would she find in common with a geek doctor or a banker?! It's so un-realistic in my eyes it's no wonder she is overly attracted to Patrick - the new electrician working on the club. She has too many clumsy encounters with him that leads to great attraction but also to the realization he is not what she is looking for - he is so similar to the guys she used to date - and besides that he had a lot of financial problems due to his recent divorce.
Patrick is sweet, he really is. He is SO into Steph that he is willing to do almost anything to get her, including accepting a convenient relationship which will probably amount to nothing (but hey there's sex included so... ;)) In my eyes there is something very un-sexy about a pushy "stalkery" kind of guy. Someone who is SO into you that he keeps hanging around like an eager puppy. So sadly that ended my attraction to him..
In the end of course Steph finds herself with him after receiving a good advice about why she should give him a chance but actually that advice won't change neither of their financial problems (nothing short of a miracle would..) - it's more of - he's worth it with his problems. I guess it's a good moral to a story but in a romance story I would prefer something a little more. More what I don't know. As I said in the beginning the both of them are so plain. They don't have real layers or something that draws me into liking them or just wanting to know how they conquer their own difficulties.
An issue I had that felt "personal' to me is her rivalry with her cousin. I don't want to spoiler what happens there but it was obvious to me from the start that something will. I could really relate to Steph and her revulsion from her cousin and exactly because of that I felt the way things resulted were a little weak. I wouldn't "buy it" myself and I see no reason for Steph to..
I'm a litter older than Steph, my biological clock is still mute and I hope it will stay that way forever ;) I don't like reading about women who feel obliged to change their lives NOW so they could find a guy to marry RIGHT THIS SECOND and start a family in the VERY NEAR future. It just seems wrong to me. So maybe a lot of my problem with this book is the fact I can't buy the (fictional) biological pressure some women experience that pushes them to obsess about a house with a white fence, husband and kids..
I really enjoy reading Meg Maguire. Her writing is fun, fluent and easy to read. I liked that we had a little more of Mercer, Rich, Jenna and Lindsey. It's nice to see how things changed from the first book and things are good for both businesses. I wonder if there is going to be another book in the series (I could wildly guess who it will be about :)) and even though this one was a little miss for me I would surely read it!
September 7, 2013
Driving Her Wild is Meg Maguire's third book set at the Wilinski's Fight Academy a MMA training gym in Boston for Harlequin's Blaze line.
In this book, Stephanie Healy recently retired from the fighting circuit has come to Wilisnski's Fight Academy as their new jujitsu trainer.
After years on the road and sick of short-term relationships Steph is looking for man who is marriage material. She wants a man different from the men she had dated all her life. She wants someone sophisticated, successful and certainly no one like Patrick Doherty, a divorced debt-ridden carpenter making ends meet as non-quite competent electrician, who is too earnest, clueless and Irish for Steph.
What I liked about this book:
In this series all the men have struggled with their working class identities and whether they are good enough for their love interests. They have only a little money in their bank accounts, taken two many blows physical and metaphysical but they have big dreams. I love that this equally true of Stephanie and Patrick in this book.
I loved watching Steph struggle with her inadvisable attraction to Patrick, and Patrick enthusiastic admiration of her. I loved how Steph's brothers and father immediately loved Patrick much to Steph's frustration. And I enjoyed checking in with Jenna, Mercer, Lindsay and Rich from the previous books, Making Him Sweat and Taking Him Down without them taking over the book.
This is not angsty book, Steph and Patrick are good people, a little down on their luck, the obstacles they face are not life-threatening, but the emotions, tenderness and frustration they feel are genuine.
I normally would have never picked up a bo0k series set in MMA gym. I haven't seen a MMA fight in my life, but when I realized that Meg Maguire is Cara McKenna, writer of some my favorite recent reads: "Unbound" and before that "After Hours" I took the chance and enjoyed these lighter, less angsty but not less emotional reads.
Publication date October 22, 2013 Digital ARC provided for free by publisher via NetGalley.
review originally published:
http://winterfell.blogs.com/immersedr...
In this book, Stephanie Healy recently retired from the fighting circuit has come to Wilisnski's Fight Academy as their new jujitsu trainer.
After years on the road and sick of short-term relationships Steph is looking for man who is marriage material. She wants a man different from the men she had dated all her life. She wants someone sophisticated, successful and certainly no one like Patrick Doherty, a divorced debt-ridden carpenter making ends meet as non-quite competent electrician, who is too earnest, clueless and Irish for Steph.
What I liked about this book:
In this series all the men have struggled with their working class identities and whether they are good enough for their love interests. They have only a little money in their bank accounts, taken two many blows physical and metaphysical but they have big dreams. I love that this equally true of Stephanie and Patrick in this book.
I loved watching Steph struggle with her inadvisable attraction to Patrick, and Patrick enthusiastic admiration of her. I loved how Steph's brothers and father immediately loved Patrick much to Steph's frustration. And I enjoyed checking in with Jenna, Mercer, Lindsay and Rich from the previous books, Making Him Sweat and Taking Him Down without them taking over the book.
This is not angsty book, Steph and Patrick are good people, a little down on their luck, the obstacles they face are not life-threatening, but the emotions, tenderness and frustration they feel are genuine.
I normally would have never picked up a bo0k series set in MMA gym. I haven't seen a MMA fight in my life, but when I realized that Meg Maguire is Cara McKenna, writer of some my favorite recent reads: "Unbound" and before that "After Hours" I took the chance and enjoyed these lighter, less angsty but not less emotional reads.
Publication date October 22, 2013 Digital ARC provided for free by publisher via NetGalley.
review originally published:
http://winterfell.blogs.com/immersedr...
April 16, 2013
I received this book as an ARC from Net Galley
You can also see this review on www.chillreviews.blogspot.com
Steph Healy is done with the life of a MMA fighter. She wants to settle down and find a good, stable guy, get married and have kids. She wants to move past the guys she usually dates, blue collar guy, they are good guys but they aren't stable and she needs that. Since she's working at Wilinski's fight academy and there is Spark above it run by Mercer's fiance Jenna,why not sign up and find a decent stable guy. Steph watched her parents struggle for money and she doesn't want that life.
Patrick is a regular guy, just trying to make ends meet. His life has been turned upside down by a divorce he didn't see coming. Now he's working as an electrician when all he want to do is restore old houses (the woodwork) to their former glory. He lives in one of those houses and he's barely hanging on, thus the electrician work. The sad thing is this, he royally SUCKS as an electrician. When he sees Steph he's instantly attracted to her but she turns him down at every advance.
The more that Steph and Patrick are thrown together the harder it becomes for Steph to resist Patrick, and believe me she tries hard to resist him.
I really enjoyed Steph and Patrick's story. I went into it expecting not to because I really had no connection to Steph. She hadn't been mentioned too much in the other books, but Meg Maguire makes up for it with the story. You learn all about Steph and what makes her tick.
I've enjoyed reading these books because it feels like a story that could really happen. It feels like if I went to Boston there'd be a real Wilinski's. Mercer would be there training the young guys and Rich would be there training. Jenna and Lindsey upstairs running Spark and now I get to add Steph and Patrick to the mix.
If you haven't picked up these set of books you should!! You have plenty of time to get caught up with the books before this one comes out. I really hope there are more stories to come from Wilinski's. I know I want a ring side seat!
You can also see this review on www.chillreviews.blogspot.com
Steph Healy is done with the life of a MMA fighter. She wants to settle down and find a good, stable guy, get married and have kids. She wants to move past the guys she usually dates, blue collar guy, they are good guys but they aren't stable and she needs that. Since she's working at Wilinski's fight academy and there is Spark above it run by Mercer's fiance Jenna,why not sign up and find a decent stable guy. Steph watched her parents struggle for money and she doesn't want that life.
Patrick is a regular guy, just trying to make ends meet. His life has been turned upside down by a divorce he didn't see coming. Now he's working as an electrician when all he want to do is restore old houses (the woodwork) to their former glory. He lives in one of those houses and he's barely hanging on, thus the electrician work. The sad thing is this, he royally SUCKS as an electrician. When he sees Steph he's instantly attracted to her but she turns him down at every advance.
The more that Steph and Patrick are thrown together the harder it becomes for Steph to resist Patrick, and believe me she tries hard to resist him.
I really enjoyed Steph and Patrick's story. I went into it expecting not to because I really had no connection to Steph. She hadn't been mentioned too much in the other books, but Meg Maguire makes up for it with the story. You learn all about Steph and what makes her tick.
I've enjoyed reading these books because it feels like a story that could really happen. It feels like if I went to Boston there'd be a real Wilinski's. Mercer would be there training the young guys and Rich would be there training. Jenna and Lindsey upstairs running Spark and now I get to add Steph and Patrick to the mix.
If you haven't picked up these set of books you should!! You have plenty of time to get caught up with the books before this one comes out. I really hope there are more stories to come from Wilinski's. I know I want a ring side seat!
October 10, 2013
3.5 stars
I loved this series so far and was really looking forward to this book but I just could not connect with the heroine. She was constantly changing her mind. One moment she wanted an affair with Patrick, the next one she was strictly against it. I wanted to yell at her to make up her mind! I felt sorry for Patrick because I think Steph saw in him this dominant man that he just wasn't. Maybe I'm not getting the message of this book properly but for me Steph pushed him into this dominant role without him even realizing it. It was mentioned several times throughout the book that men don't mind being used 'for sex only' but it still made me sad to see Patrick only being used for that when it was obvious he wanted more. Wasn't a fan of that.
That being said I loved that Patrick was a carpenter/electrician and Steph a trainer at this gym and that we got to see the previous two couples. And the sex scenes were hot. Pretty adventurous for the Blaze line.
I loved this series so far and was really looking forward to this book but I just could not connect with the heroine. She was constantly changing her mind. One moment she wanted an affair with Patrick, the next one she was strictly against it. I wanted to yell at her to make up her mind! I felt sorry for Patrick because I think Steph saw in him this dominant man that he just wasn't. Maybe I'm not getting the message of this book properly but for me Steph pushed him into this dominant role without him even realizing it. It was mentioned several times throughout the book that men don't mind being used 'for sex only' but it still made me sad to see Patrick only being used for that when it was obvious he wanted more. Wasn't a fan of that.
That being said I loved that Patrick was a carpenter/electrician and Steph a trainer at this gym and that we got to see the previous two couples. And the sex scenes were hot. Pretty adventurous for the Blaze line.
March 9, 2019
high -- very high -- 3s
kick mckenna delivers again -- very believable, distinctly drawn characters whose differences beautifully complement each other's. this stuff is funny, well paced, and VERY lovingly developed, and it pays off in a credible way with a happily-ever-after that leaves me feeling wistful and wanting to know more -- but in the BEST way wanting-to-know-more, because kick has written a solid ending, and it's not like i feel like she's left loose ends. i just don't want to leave her fictional universe by the time i've read the last page.
high praise.
she so wonderful.
kick mckenna delivers again -- very believable, distinctly drawn characters whose differences beautifully complement each other's. this stuff is funny, well paced, and VERY lovingly developed, and it pays off in a credible way with a happily-ever-after that leaves me feeling wistful and wanting to know more -- but in the BEST way wanting-to-know-more, because kick has written a solid ending, and it's not like i feel like she's left loose ends. i just don't want to leave her fictional universe by the time i've read the last page.
high praise.
she so wonderful.
October 18, 2025
I haven't read a Harlequin romance in probably 10 years or more. This popped up in my feed and I didn’t recognize the author, but I love a good blue-collar romance, so I decided to try it out. It was an easy, quick read. I liked that it was a regular guy that didn't suddenly land on a pile of money for there to be an HEA. Patrick was a little too one-dimensional for my taste. He's a nice guy, a sweet guy, an adorable guy...I get it, but i needed more because he came off more as a caricature of a perfect guy rather than a real human.
I also found it hard to believe a hot guy like Patrick has trouble finding a woman. Finding a good relationship, sure, but getting laid? Highly doubtful. Especially considering he wasn't exactly the shy, bashful type. Even brokies can get laid if they're hot enough LOL.
I was trying to look up when this was written because it had a dated feel to it, and imagine my surprise when I found out this author goes by Cara McKenna as well! She wrote one of my all-time favorite MMCs (Kelly Roback in After Hours).
I also found it hard to believe a hot guy like Patrick has trouble finding a woman. Finding a good relationship, sure, but getting laid? Highly doubtful. Especially considering he wasn't exactly the shy, bashful type. Even brokies can get laid if they're hot enough LOL.
I was trying to look up when this was written because it had a dated feel to it, and imagine my surprise when I found out this author goes by Cara McKenna as well! She wrote one of my all-time favorite MMCs (Kelly Roback in After Hours).
June 20, 2023
Omg Patrick was such a himbo I loved him!
August 24, 2013
For this review and more visit my blog
I have a new book boyfriend and his name is Patrick. I did not expect to come across my new beau in a Harlequin blaze book but I did. He was just so damn perfect and was one of the stand out aspects of this book. Everything else was great as well. I have read the first book in this series so I knew that Meg Maguire could write but this far surpassed Making him Sweat and the reason for that was Patrick.
I hate to go on about him but he really was amazing. I found him really realistic, he wasn’t some Adonis leather pant wearing stud and he wasn’t some multi-millionaire bored sex manic. He was a normal guy with money problems and low self-esteem. He was vulnerable and hurt but he kept a brave face and was determined to defeat the odds. He was adorable and incredibly sweet.
The other main character is Steph an ex MMA fighter. I love the role reversal in this, loved that she was strong and powerful yet still managed to be feminine. There were times when she annoyed me slightly, she wanted to find a man but she wanted him to have money, she wanted security. This got on my nerves for several reasons. Firstly it’s really shallow. Secondly she should go out and make her own money. Thirdly she had fifty grand in the bank which (baring an amazing bit of Lotto luck) is about 50 times the amount of money I will ever have in my life. And finally because this hurts Patricks feelings and that isn’t cool with me. When she meets the klutzy Patrick there is a ton of chemistry between them and more attraction than she has ever felt in her life. But she tells him she is not interested in him because he is not financially secure enough for her. Frankly that is a kick in the nuts and just a horrible thing to say especially when the guy is so sweet and trying so hard to fix his situation.
Thankfully she gets out of this behaviour fairly early on and despite her attempts not to she falls in love with him (impossible not to in my opinion). The romance was adorable it was sweet and sexy and relatively realistic. There was a ton of chemistry between them and the sex scenes were fantastic.
I have read two Meg Maguire books now and loved both of them. She is creeping up my favourite authors list and I cannot wait to get stuck in to more of her writing…especially if there are more male characters like Patrick.
The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
September 20, 2013
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Winning is good. Succumbing is even better…
Evasion
Recently retired pro MMA fighter Steph Healy is through having rough-and-tumble romps with sexy blue-collar dudes. Unfortunately, Wilinski's Fight Academy has hired an electrician with a body built to make a gal weep. And avoiding some full-body contact is taking all of Steph's self-control.
Grapple
Carpenter-turned-electrician Patrick Doherty is damn good with his hands. Sure, he's not what Steph is looking for—yet. But he's about to prove that she has seriously underestimated her opponent….
Submission
The moment Patrick has her deliciously pinned, Steph knows she's in deep, deep trouble. Because this seemingly mild carpenter has the mastery to give her exactly what she needs…and this is one takedown she's willing to take lying down.
MY REVIEW:
So anyone who knows me, knows I’m a huge Meg Maguire fan, and I became her fan with the first book in this series. I gotta say she’s hit the ball out of the park with these guys, the idea, and the lovely lady behind what is driving the fictional story.
I love that new characters are getting introduced here, and more so, that they aren’t your average run-of-the-mill type of creation. They are different, flawed, not perfect, and that is what makes this series so great. I also love how the author manages to give you updates to how the rest of the team is doing as well.
The writing flowed smoothly, and the Patrick was absolutely adorable.
My problem with the book and reason for giving it 4 stars, instead of five? Steph. She was almost unlikeable. I know I just got done preaching that characters are great flawed, but she almost went over the line with it. She was a bit confusing, too, with jumping back and forth with her emotions.
In any event, the comedy of this book will have you laughing out loud at times, the love will have you smiling, and the heat will have you shivering. It was a great book with a bit of the normal erotic content toned down, but the love was still blazing!
Four out of five stars for a great job!
Winning is good. Succumbing is even better…
Evasion
Recently retired pro MMA fighter Steph Healy is through having rough-and-tumble romps with sexy blue-collar dudes. Unfortunately, Wilinski's Fight Academy has hired an electrician with a body built to make a gal weep. And avoiding some full-body contact is taking all of Steph's self-control.
Grapple
Carpenter-turned-electrician Patrick Doherty is damn good with his hands. Sure, he's not what Steph is looking for—yet. But he's about to prove that she has seriously underestimated her opponent….
Submission
The moment Patrick has her deliciously pinned, Steph knows she's in deep, deep trouble. Because this seemingly mild carpenter has the mastery to give her exactly what she needs…and this is one takedown she's willing to take lying down.
MY REVIEW:
So anyone who knows me, knows I’m a huge Meg Maguire fan, and I became her fan with the first book in this series. I gotta say she’s hit the ball out of the park with these guys, the idea, and the lovely lady behind what is driving the fictional story.
I love that new characters are getting introduced here, and more so, that they aren’t your average run-of-the-mill type of creation. They are different, flawed, not perfect, and that is what makes this series so great. I also love how the author manages to give you updates to how the rest of the team is doing as well.
The writing flowed smoothly, and the Patrick was absolutely adorable.
My problem with the book and reason for giving it 4 stars, instead of five? Steph. She was almost unlikeable. I know I just got done preaching that characters are great flawed, but she almost went over the line with it. She was a bit confusing, too, with jumping back and forth with her emotions.
In any event, the comedy of this book will have you laughing out loud at times, the love will have you smiling, and the heat will have you shivering. It was a great book with a bit of the normal erotic content toned down, but the love was still blazing!
Four out of five stars for a great job!
October 20, 2013
Driving Her Wild is actually the third book in a series centered around a Mixed Martial Arts studio and a matchmaking agency (that combination alone makes you curious). This time around the story centers around Steph, a recently retired MMA fighter who now yearns for stability both financial and relationship wise. Tired of the constant moving around while pursuing her passion, she wants to settle down and start a family. She knows for a fact that she needs someone more financially settled than any of her old boyfriends ever were. Patrick, on the other hand, was a down on his luck carpenter. With the economic downturn, he needed to learn another trade to keep afloat and pay off the mortgage on his house. Divorced and unsure, his alarmingly good lucks and open honesty hasn't given him any luck dating wise. He longs for a partner, someone to share everything with but he knows that his not so rosy finance isn't the stuff most women want. When Steph and Patrick meet there wasn't any spark, in fact there was mishap after mishap mostly Patrick's fault with Steph suffering from it. Steph knows for a fact that Patrick isn't what she was looking for and Patrick knows it's nearly impossible for Steph to want to even date him. And yet, they can't seem to keep their hands off each other. Driving Her Wild, isn't your typical romance. In fact it doesn't even start out looking like one. But it is definitely a love story found in the real world. Because let's face it, Steph had valid issues when considering finances in looking for The One. Most marriages end up in divorce because of money problems. The plot conflict was dealt with skillfully, something attributable to Meg Maguire's talents. How the relationship developed, how in the end they both realized what a long lasting relationship was all about, was seamlessly introduced that contributed to the flowing pace of the story. Some readers might say its like a self-help book about relationships but in truth Driving Her Wild is about real life romance with real people.
*The ARC for this book was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review*
*The ARC for this book was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review*
February 9, 2016
I loved almost every second of this book right up till the very end. The heroine was actually a real person this time not a whiny placeholder. The hero was the sweetest damn thing treated her like a princess. The sex scenes were way hotter. Less plot driven more romance driven but since these two were amazing together it totally worked. I had a moment of distaste for the heroine thinking her shallow/a gold digger but her reasoning was explained and her desire for stability was totally valid. The hero was dreamy totally understanding but still going out of his way for her. The older wiser brother bit (who somehow managed to become a social worker without a bachelor's which is basically imposible as far as i know) was a nice read and actually gave us the catalyst the couple in the last book was lacking. Basically every issue i had in the last book was fixed and everything i liked in that one was better. Right up to the end...that...fucking...ending. Someone needs to teach this woman how to write a HEA...because this ain't it. I want to see the couple once they've worked everything out and end on their happy life...this was oh we're gonna jump into the deep end and give this a real shot...cut to black shit doesn't do it for me. It's messy...closer to a cliffhanger than and ending...what the fuck happens to them after this decision? DO they live HEA...do they have some ups and downs...do they crash and burn? The world will probably never know because it appears to be the last of the series. It's a shitty thing to do to your readers and I am not amused -_-
Bottom line: if you want an amazing book that melts your heart but has a royal let down of an ending check this one out....otherwise i'd skip it
Bottom line: if you want an amazing book that melts your heart but has a royal let down of an ending check this one out....otherwise i'd skip it
July 30, 2015
**3.5 stars**
The characters Driving Her Wild really won me over. Steph was a woman who thought she knew what she wanted, but wasn't stubborn to cling to that when she realized she was falling for a guy who didn't fit the type she had in her head. Patrick, on the other hand, was hot but so, so kind. The way he acted just melted me. (I've never been attracted to assholes.)
I loved how mature this people were. She told him to his face why he couldn't date him and he understood it. He didn't give up though but slowly, kept destroying her walls she erected.
Like Steph, I grew up poor and swore to myself that I wouldn't live like that as an adult, so I really understood where she was coming from. It's not about being a gold digger who wants a rich man to take care of her but more about not feeling helpless, like she felt as a child. Unlike Steph though, I decided that I should be the one responsible for my own financial stability and didn't put that burden on the man I married.
The narration was really uneven. Her male voices weren't very good and the dialogue was wooden and stilted. But when the narrator was in the character's heads, the narration flowed more naturally. I don't know what's the deal.
I didn't mind the HFN ending - sometimes they just feel more natural and this was one of those times. But they felt so good together that I know they will make it.
I really need to read more books by this author.
The characters Driving Her Wild really won me over. Steph was a woman who thought she knew what she wanted, but wasn't stubborn to cling to that when she realized she was falling for a guy who didn't fit the type she had in her head. Patrick, on the other hand, was hot but so, so kind. The way he acted just melted me. (I've never been attracted to assholes.)
I loved how mature this people were. She told him to his face why he couldn't date him and he understood it. He didn't give up though but slowly, kept destroying her walls she erected.
Like Steph, I grew up poor and swore to myself that I wouldn't live like that as an adult, so I really understood where she was coming from. It's not about being a gold digger who wants a rich man to take care of her but more about not feeling helpless, like she felt as a child. Unlike Steph though, I decided that I should be the one responsible for my own financial stability and didn't put that burden on the man I married.
The narration was really uneven. Her male voices weren't very good and the dialogue was wooden and stilted. But when the narrator was in the character's heads, the narration flowed more naturally. I don't know what's the deal.
I didn't mind the HFN ending - sometimes they just feel more natural and this was one of those times. But they felt so good together that I know they will make it.
I really need to read more books by this author.
November 13, 2013
Tried and true romance tropes are always great fun - but it's also terrific to come across an author willing to change things up, and that is, exactly, what Meg Maguire did to perfection in Driving Her Wild. The lovers are unique (as far as I've encountered). Heroine Steph Healy is a retired MMA fighter. And her hero is a poor carpenter who's moonlighting as an electrician to try and make ends meet. But moonlight is pretty much all he has to work by when he blows the power in the building where he is working and Steph is trying - unsuccessfully - to get cleaned up and showered in anticipation of a blind date (because her love life needs recharging too!). Trapped and pissed, she nevertheless succumbs to Patrick's innate charm and the charisma sparks heat that she simply can't forget. It's a true guy-meets-gal story that delightfully follows a love that cannot be denied - one that proves that what a girl's mind thinks is smart may not be what her heart wants. Lovely, light-hearted but with wonderful warmth and sizzling sexy interludes, this is most assuredly a tale that makes you feel good.
February 2, 2014
3 stars for others / 2.5 stars for me, personally. Because while it didn't resonate with me, it was well written and engaging, and I've no doubt that others will love it.
This book is tough to shelve! While not a bad book, I can't put it on my 'Satisfying Book' shelf, because I found the characters' flaws too superficial, their fears too shallow yet somehow painful, the ending rushed and somewhat unsettling. Neither can I shelve it on my 'Sexy Beta Hero' shelf, because the hero was written as an eager puppy, with no other flaws than slavish devotion, misplaced loyalty and a dangerously blind work ethic. It made me sad for him. I nearly created a 'Too Good Too Be True' shelf, just for him, but he wasn't really worth the effort. The heroine is an ex-fighter now martial arts instructor with a few body-consciousness issues and a desire to nest.
Wow, super deep, huh?
I also suspect that they aren't compatible for the long haul.
So really, though I would probably not reread, I'll be fair to the book and round up for other readers.
This book is tough to shelve! While not a bad book, I can't put it on my 'Satisfying Book' shelf, because I found the characters' flaws too superficial, their fears too shallow yet somehow painful, the ending rushed and somewhat unsettling. Neither can I shelve it on my 'Sexy Beta Hero' shelf, because the hero was written as an eager puppy, with no other flaws than slavish devotion, misplaced loyalty and a dangerously blind work ethic. It made me sad for him. I nearly created a 'Too Good Too Be True' shelf, just for him, but he wasn't really worth the effort. The heroine is an ex-fighter now martial arts instructor with a few body-consciousness issues and a desire to nest.
Wow, super deep, huh?
I also suspect that they aren't compatible for the long haul.
So really, though I would probably not reread, I'll be fair to the book and round up for other readers.
October 20, 2013
Well, count me in as a Meg Maguire advocate. The next thing I will do is seek out books one and two in this series, because I am wrapped up from just this one book! The characters in this book were so completely fleshed out; flawed but a lot of growth happens during the story arc. Ms. Maguire has created a beautiful setting, a world I wouldn't mind living in, populated by quirky, likeable characters I would like as friends and family. This book had it all; a sense of humor, a great deal of passion, a satisfying romance, a little bit of kink, and a really well plotted, evenly paced story.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2014
It's a Meg Maguire book, so of course I loved it. Patrick was a wonderfully endearing hero, total beta and 100% adorable. Steph was tough and direct, but I liked that she ignored her common sense and went after Patrick anyway. The rift between these two wasn't created by any kind of overwhelming drama, but a much more realistic wedge: finances. I really liked that.
Thoroughly enjoyable read like all the others in this series (I suggest reading them in order, but it's definitely not necessary)
Thoroughly enjoyable read like all the others in this series (I suggest reading them in order, but it's definitely not necessary)
October 22, 2013
ARC Review: Driving Her Wild by Meg Maguire
Rating = 3.5/5
Caliber SEAL: FAVORABLE READ!
Final Verdict: With a bite of sexy, Meg Maguire delivers a beta hero that you’d adore!
Review goes live at 00:00 hours MVT, October 23, 2013!
Rating = 3.5/5
Caliber SEAL: FAVORABLE READ!
Final Verdict: With a bite of sexy, Meg Maguire delivers a beta hero that you’d adore!
Review goes live at 00:00 hours MVT, October 23, 2013!
June 30, 2014
I seriously loved Patrick.What's not to like.Who cares if he isn't a millionaire?I could not wait until Stephanie figured that out.The chemistry between these two is great.I love her background that she used to be a mma fighter.I liked the ending.Usually books end with an epilogue of the couple getting married and having children.In this book they were just getting started.It was a nice change
December 18, 2025
One of my most memorable reads of 2025, and best of a great three-book series. Meg Maguire is another pen name of Cara McKenna, who doesn't write anymore, and this was a really, really great exploration of being working class and the expectations we sometimes set for ourselves that don't actually pan out, because we end up putting ourselves into a box.
August 17, 2013
This was way better than the boring book #2.
I absolutely loved the ever clutsy Patrick. He has actually injured Steph numerous times due to his agitation towards her. Hilarious, really.
Funny guy Patrick, 4stars.
I absolutely loved the ever clutsy Patrick. He has actually injured Steph numerous times due to his agitation towards her. Hilarious, really.
Funny guy Patrick, 4stars.
June 30, 2014
Loved this one too. :)
May 11, 2022
Esta es una de esas novelas perfectas para romper los esquemas de aquellos que piensan que la romántica va de princesas y millonarios. Steph Healy ha triunfado en el minoritario deporte de las artes marciales mixtas. Ahora busca estabilidad. Quiere un hombre con ingresos sólidos, elegante, de esos que saben llevar un traje y elegir un vino. O sea, todo lo opuesto a Patrick Doherty, carpintero reconvertido en un no muy exitoso electricista. Buena gente, pero simple: lo que ves es lo que hay, y encima tiene una hipoteca que le amarga la vida. Creo que en ninguna otra novela he visto más claro la inseguridad económica y cómo te carcome eso de no saber cómo vas a salir adelante. Lo cual no quita que tengas un sexo estupendo.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog, donde acabo preguntándome por qué intento cosas nuevas, cuando aún no he terminado de leerme todas las historias de autoras que sé que conmigo, van a funcionar sin esfuerzo alguno.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog, donde acabo preguntándome por qué intento cosas nuevas, cuando aún no he terminado de leerme todas las historias de autoras que sé que conmigo, van a funcionar sin esfuerzo alguno.
September 18, 2017
I wasn't wild about Steph's reasons for not resisting Patrick. After all, she chose a career that didn't bring in much money, so why should she expect a man to bring in the bulk of the income and make up for her lack thereof? But I love Meg Maguire's writing, I loved Patrick, and I did like Steph, despite what I thought was poor judgement in her dating aspirations. In the end, I really enjoyed this.
December 4, 2017
The book started out with Patrick seeming like sort of a creepy idiot but Meg Maguire really turned it around! I really liked the honesty and maturity in the second half. Steph is a great character.
I have to say that I also really liked Steph making her peace with .
I have to say that I also really liked Steph making her peace with .
July 17, 2017
Loved Patrick! So sweet & sexy!
March 28, 2019
Ends in HFN, but I have hope they’ll last.
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