Bad boy Sam + Good girl Ivy + Stray puppy = Damaged hearts learning to love again
After her last relationship bombed, Ivy Stephens is doing her best to put her life back together. She's enjoying her job, her apartment-and the cute little puppy she's seen hanging around. When she goes looking for him, she finds the stray in the arms of a big, burly, devastatingly handsome man.
Sam Hamilton is lonelier than he's ever been after his best friend's engagement. To give himself a sense of purpose, he takes in a puppy that keeps showing up around the garage where he works. The puppy has another suitor though-one who happens to be blond and beautiful.
Important:: Marie Harte is NOT active on GoodReads, so to contact her, please use her website at marieharte.com.
Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.
Copy received from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
★Book Basics★
Genre: - Cont. Romance Series: - 3rd in the series Love triangle? - Cheating? - HEA? - Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes Rating - 4 stars
★Review★
Usually, I do not like to start in the middle of a series with an author I have never read before, but I really liked the look of this one so grabbed it regardless.
And I was so glad I did!
I really enjoyed this book. The hero was great and I fell so in love with him. His tendencies for hoarding, his background, his friendship with his garage buddies, how he just fell so in love with the heroine. He was a little different from the usual romance hero and was so lovely to read.
I really liked the heroine too and her determination to make it.
Overall it was a great love story, and while it can be read as a stand alone, I was really happy there were 2 books in the series before this I could catch up on, then was really really happy that there is a whole other series before this that is sort of connected!
Man, I’ve been totally loving this series! ZERO TO SIXTY is the third book in the Body Shop Bad Boys series by Marie Harte. It features a bad boy in Sam Hamilton and a nice girl in Ivy Stephens. Now this book feels slightly different to the other books in the series because it has a softer touch to it. Ivy is a more of a reserved character and I think that affects the book a lot. She is also a sucker for a cute puppy and this puppy is what essentially brings them together.
As more and more of his buddies are finding love, Sam feels a little bit left out. He’s spending a lot more time with other people and that includes Ivy. Their romance is a slow burn, but it does heat up pretty quickly as you can expect since the heroes in this series are all smoking hot.
If you’re not reading this series or Marie Harte in general, what’s wrong with you!? Harte to me is one of those authors who I think pulls off realistic relationships but still manages to make them fun and sexy. I was smiling all throughout reading this novel and I’m sure you will too! I don’t want to say this book is my favorite in the series because I really do enjoy them all but this is my favorite so far. It mixes sweet and sexy in a delicious way. I’m already dying for the next one!
Zero to Sixty was a sexy book! I haven't read any book other books in this series, but I am definitely interested in going back and reading the previous books! This book can definitely be read as a standalone, but I do think reading this book as a standalone will just make you want to go back and read the other books.
The plot of this book was fun and romantic. It was hard not to love a bad boy and a stray dog! I was pleasantly surprised with how well paced the book was. Romance novels typically drag near the middle of the book, but this book did a good job at holding my attention.
The romance was cheesy and rushed at times, but it was full of steam! When the couple met for the first time, I thought they were both too trusting of each other considering they were strangers. There were moments that were a bit ridiculous between Ivy and Sam, like being turned on just by shaking hands, but there were also some really sweet scenes. I thought Ivy and Sam made a cute couple and their sexy scenes were HOT!
The main thing that stood out to me about the romance in this book was the focus on consent. Sam really stressed the fact that he would not touch Ivy unless he had full consent from her. I thought it was fantastic that the author put such a huge focus on that. Kudos to the author!
Sam looked like a tough bad boy, but he was actually a soft teddy bear underneath that rough exterior. I felt bad for him and really sympathized with him, especially when parts of his past were revealed.It was easy to see why Ivy fell for him.
Ivy was a sweet and caring woman. I had an easy time connecting to her and rooting for her. The only thing that bothered me about Ivy's character was that I was told so many times how "good" she was. I would have preferred to see more of her being a good person through her actions instead of constantly being told how good she was.
Overall, this was a sexy and entertaining novel! I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fun and romantic novel.
3.5 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *
Although I think this is the best of the series yet, I feel that this might be the case of too much of a good thing. Marie Harte does a good job giving to us straight, contemporary romance featuring bad boys with a heart of gold. But this book is saturated - it is too over the top, too much testosterone, too much sweet, and too many misunderstandings. Good poolside reading for the upcoming summer.
Hi, mom! (waves) I'm about to write a review of this romance novel, so you might want to stop reading at this point. Just go ahead and "like" it, then click out of it...
Has she left?
Mom, really, you don't need to read this review. Please!
...
Whew. She's gone.
So, here we are. I've read several of Marie Harte's other books (the McCauley brothers series) and I must say that she's one of the better romantic fiction writers out there. I mean, her characters are realistic and funny, and there's actually a plot beyond the romance. And yeah, the sex scenes --
MOM! I told you to get out! I need to write about s-e-x, and you're not going to want to read that...
Okay, so where was I? That's right, the sex scenes - they are h-o-t. Maybe not the most realistic (I did find myself trying to picture the gymnastics Ivy and Sam must have undertaken in one scene, and finally gave up because nobody is quadruple-jointed), but definitely steamy. But more importantly, these characters feel like real people. Both came from messed-up families, but grew past the betrayals. Both are insecure and struggle to communicate, but they do when it matters. Both have friends who love them, and both have the capacity to grow and love. Overall, this was an entertaining story, and I now need to go back and read the first two in this series.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway! Opinions herein are my own. My mom did not influence my review, other than to remind me to use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
4 Stars, 3 Flames Ivy has been through relationships before and she is in no hurry to find another man. Unless you're talking about Cookie; a stray dog that has been coming around her massage therapy business that she co-owns. And maybe Sam Hamilton. The sexy mechanic that has been taking care of Scruffy aka Cookie for months. He is all sorts of bad boy that just does it for her libido. As she gets to know him more and more, she finds out there is more to Sam Hamilton than meets the eye.
I was so excited when I heard that Sam was getting the next book. My heart hurt for him as his layers started to slowly fall away. Especially in book 2, Foley's story. He is all sorts of sexy bad boy that every girl wants. Even Ivy. However, I think that she could have let her feisty show more. She has a wild fire that spoke to Sam but it was the sweetness he was drawn too. She was a perfect combination for him but she did not see him until he opened up.
The Body Shop Bad Boys have grown on me and with every book I fall more in love. I really liked Zero to Sixty as Sam seemed more down to earth and approachable. Despite his permanent scowl, who has a delicious growl to his voice, and overall has a presence that demands to be noticed- he wasn't a womanizer or a full-time player. Some of the writing took awhile to get used to but it did not take away from the overall story.
Miss Harte, you did amazing with Sam and Ivy please keep up with our sexy bad boys and I cannot wait for the next one!
I was gifted a copy of this novel from the JeepDiva in exchange for an honest review.
I was really intrigued by this. I liked Sam in the earlier books and I was looking forward to his story.
Unfortunately, as I got to know him, I was not really all that fond of him. I liked Ivy, and I enjoyed the scenes with them together, but I was really not that fond of Sam, which was disappointing.
I was never really able to engage with the story as a whole, as there were a lot of parts of it that was focused on Sam.
The writing was strong, and the characters stayed true throughout the book, and I think my dislike of Sam was something that was just me. It happens, and I was a little sad as I liked the other books, but this one was a miss for me.
I recommend the other books in the series, and while I did not really like this, I am not able to really say I don't recommend it.
Favorite Quote: “Give her hell, Sam Hamilton. And try to look less serial killer and more solid citizen. Smile, why don’t you?” He forced a smile at her. Willie blinked. “Eh, maybe not.”
Sam Hamilton has been feeling about lonely since his best friend found his soulmate. When he meets Ivy Stephens, a young lady who is interested in adopting one of the strays he helps to rehome, Sam falls hard and fast. But Sam has some serious baggage in his life. Baggage that will do anything to make sure Sam’s attention stays firmly on them. As Sam and Ivy grow closer, Sam is worried Ivy may be too nice to fit into his life. But Ivy soon proves to Sam and everyone else that being nice doesn’t mean she can’t get down and dirty when she needs to.
Zero to Sixty is the third installment in Marie Harte’s sexy and humorous Body Shop Bad Boys. This series spins off her McCauley brothers series with its focus lasered on the Webster Garage and the four gorgeous, sexy, commitment-phobic mechanics who work there. There is some character/storyline crossover but it’s mild and not invasive. Each book can be read as a standalone though previous romance storylines carry over.
Harte introduces Ivy Stephens to Sam Hamilton with a bit of a meet cute. Ivy is out searching for a stray puppy (Cookie) she has been taking care of on and off. Sam is also out looking for Cookie. They run into one another and Sam agrees to keep Cookie at his home until Ivy can talk to her landlord about having a pet. Sam decides the best way to get to know this gorgeous woman better is to vet her for Cookie’s sake through a few “dates.”
“Ah, just so we’re clear, we don’t give dogs away to just anyone who wants them.”
“Okay.”
“I mean, puppies are popular. We’d have no problem getting him a good home. A friend of mine was asking about this little guy just the other week.” She frowned. “I have a good home.”
“We’ll see.”
[…]
“If you’re not busy tomorrow night, we can grab a beer or something. Talk about plans for Cookie.”
I reviewed the first two books in the series- Test Drive and Road Assistance-and thoroughly enjoyed. Harte does a wonderful job of individualizing the characters and storyline so you don’t feel as if you’re reading the same romantic set up with just different names. This installment felt softer and less conflicted than the first two. The same engaging narrative, sexually enhanced romance and endearingly characters are present but Harte chooses to leave the dramatics by the curb and gently walk this couple to their HEA.
Sam is the best friend and roommate of Foley Sangers (the hero of Road Assistance). Also a mechanic at Webster’s Garage, Sam was pretty much raised by Foley’s mom, Eleanor, his own mother an abusive addict. Single, gorgeous, and ripped, Sam is honest to a fault and a total gentleman despite what his size and mannerisms suggest. A bit of a loner, Sam’s relationships with the opposite sex consists mainly of hook ups. The most important things in Sam’s life are Foley, Foley’s mom, and his job.
Ivy is a massage therapist who stays to herself. Intelligent, good looking, and a genuinely nice person, Ivy is also a bit of a loner as her family has all but abandoned her for reasons unknown and her last serious boyfriend used her to get through school then dumped her. Ivy doesn’t carry a chip on her shoulder like Sam does. She is content with herself and her life.
Harte takes Sam and Ivy’s relationship slow, allowing them the time to get to know one another using an appealing mixture of trepidation and awkwardness. Opposite attraction romances are the best and Harte does this one with justice. Fantastic dialogue, dry humorous wit, and a layered storyline allows readers to see beneath the surface and experience first hand the emotional issues they are dealing with. Ivy has pretty much laid her demons to rest but Sam is still struggling with his childhood, his time in prison, and general feelings of unworthiness. Ivy sees Sam and accepts him as he is because she understands the root of his pain. She is someone he has unknowingly been searching for. I love the humor she uses to help defuse his guilt and shame.
“So there you have it. You’re dating an ex-con.”
“Can I ask you something personal?”
“Yeah.”
“Is it true every prisoner makes license plates? Did you wear black and white striped uniforms? Have a ball chained to your ankle? Break up rocks with an Acme pickaxe?”
“You watch way too much TV.”
The sexual role reversal in here is interesting and works with the overall tone of story. Ivy is the one who not only sets the parameters of their relationship but also initiates the initial sexual aspect. She instinctively understands that Sam has some confusion between intimacy and sex and gives him all the power as she sets out to seduce him.
“You said I can touch you, right?”
“Yeah, don’t stop. Just keep petting me, baby.” He blinked at her once, then shut his eyes and groaned. “I’m gonna sit…right…here.” He shook, then sat unmoving, breathing hard.
“God, you’re gorgeous.” She stroked him from his chest to his belly button, never having been so close to perfection before. Then, because she figured the poor man had suffered enough, and her underwear would never be salvaged if she kept stringing this out, she unsnapped his jeans.
He started, his eyes remaining closed.
“You still okay?”
He swallowed. “Yeah.”
Barely a whisper, but he’d given consent.
Of course, no Harte book would be complete without the antics of the rambunctious Webster mechanics and various other characters from this series. They all step in, unasked, to help Sam deal with these new feelings of his and to explain why Rays wasn’t the right choice for a first date. Harte introduces a few new characters whose personalities fit right in with this bunch and I hope we see more of them in the future.
Zero to Sixty is a lightweight romance contemporary brimming laughter, love, and family. Perfect escapism for the romance lover in all of us. Looking forward to book four, Collision Course, which is Lou’s story. *fist pump* Release date is 10/27/2017.
This is another book I read months and months ago now and while I’m sketchy on details, I know I loved it, specially Sam Hamilton, the hero. He’s one of my favourite kind of heroes, a gruff teddy bear type who is shy around women but when he falls for one, he’s totally wrecked for her. And when the hero also falls for a cute little puppy – well, I’m all over it.
Sam and Ivy, our heroine meet and begin to bond over puppy. Sam is kind of feeling lost. His coworkers who are also his best buddies are starting for find their one and only’s and Sam is missing the way things used to be. But when he meets Ivy, he begins to find a love of his own. Since it was so long ago that I read this, I can’t remember that many details but I know that this is my favourite one of this series.
I liked both Sam and Ivy and thought that they both deserved happiness. But I'm not sure that two screwed up people really should be together. I started to roll my eyes by the end when they kept questioning if they were lovable. We need one person in the relationship to anchor the other and they were both flailing at one point. I'm glad they ended up getting it together but man there was a lot of self doubt and talking to get there.
If you remove that, the story was cute and sexy and seriously funny at times. I thought it was a great addition to the world that Marie Harte was building over there in Seattle. I'm really interested to see what happens with Lou next!
Sam Hamilton is a bit of a loner but he is loyal to a fault to those that he has become close to. When a puppy that he was helping keep safe disappears, Sam finds that he has ventured to Ivy Stephens home and she has basically adopted him. Sam is the bad boy, the man from the wrong side of the tracks while Ivy is the beauty, sweet and everything good. Can opposites attract?
I wanted to like this but I had a hard time connecting to both characters. Had some wonderful moments but overall thought it had more angst then I was expecting.
Easy on the eyes, tough on the heart and detrimental to the hormones. Marie Harte is an author after my own heart. There is nothing more toxic to the hormonal chemistry than a man with a puppy (except maybe a single dad). The fact that Sam was a bad boy raised the hot level tenfold. More bark than bite, Ms. Harte made it hard for me to decide who I loved more Sam and his wounded bear act or the matchmaking puppy with the hidden agenda. Zero to Sixty is a savory romance that blends humor, heart and heat to delivery a top of the charts performance. It's love at first sight.
Sam is so sweet with his words, "he nodded, grabbed her by the arm, then dragged her to the door. “Exactly. Now unless you want to be effed up against the back of the door, condom or no condom, I think you’d better get your fine *** in the car.” I loved this book, Sam kept me well entertained.
FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN E-ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER THROUGH NET GALLEY. I VOLUNTARILY OFFER MY HONEST REVIEW OF THE BOOK, THOUGH IT IS NOT EXPECTED OF ME! RECEIPT OF THIS BOOK IN THIS MANNER DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR THE CONTENT OF MY REVIEW!
I've been reading this author for a while now, and while most of her books have been great reads for me, something just felt off about this one.
Sam was a good character, but so much about him didn't add up! Why all the rage and underground fighting? Why was he so taciturn? What made him get into fostering and rescuing pets? Why not abandon his mom, even with his guilt that "this is my mom" evoked? We got little dribs and drabs of this, but not enough to satisfy me.
Also, the underground fighting ring was a missed opportunity for me. We get it mentioned, see one fight, then the cops raid it and shut it down and it is never mentioned again! I could see so much potential for plot threads and twists there!
I felt that Ivy was a bit of a doormat overall, with moments of standing up for herself and what she believed in. She also felt a bit too mousy to be a good fit for Sam and his demons. I did enjoy the fact that she worked at Bodyworks, as that is another series of the author's that she's just tied into this universe, and the series responsible for my introduction to the author in the first place.
The book's issues not withstanding, it was an entertaining and interesting read overall, and fit well into the series and universe as a whole.
Sam Hamilton is a mechanic with a rocky past and though he looks and sometimes acts like an alpha bad boy he’s definitely a sweet teddy bear deep down. Sam helps Willie, an elderly and hilarious woman, save stray animals and when a little puppy doesn’t seem to want to stay in once place it leads Sam to Ivy Stephens door. Ivy is a massage therapist who has just gotten out of a rocky relationship. Though the two are attracted to one another Ivy isn’t willing to get into another relationship. Then the two decide to “split custody” of the stray pup and things begin to heat up.
I didn’t much care for Ivy’s character and I think that’s been the strongest factor in my 3 star rating. The writing is good however, the pace just isn’t there. Especially when scenes from previous characters are thrown in, this is the first book in the series that I’ve read and I think that had a read previous books this wouldn’t have been so confusing. My favorite part of this book was Willie, each scene that has her in it had me cracking up – she definitely makes this a story worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
I wasn't too sure about this one when I started it as Sam wasn't a favorite of mine, he was just a little too much for me. So color me surprised when I ended up loving Sam. I loved how open and honest he was with Ivy, sometimes a bit too much. It was funny to see Ivy react at first, she wasn't sure what to think, but quickly realized she would know where she always stood with Sam. These two were cute together, as Ivy told Sam, they both were messed up with crazy families, but to each other they were perfect. I loved how Ivy fought for Sam, that Sam saw and heard, he needed to know he was loved and important to one person.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads, so here is my review.
Sam Hamilton is a bad boy or that is what he appears to be to the outside world. But his best friend Foley and Foley's Mom are his family and have been there for him for most of 10 years. While Sam's birth mother Louise only causes him pain, Sam fights to take the anger and pain away. Ivy Stephens is a good girl that has had her share of bad boyfriends. She put her way through massage therapy school and is part owner in a business. Still her family doesn't care that she even exist. When Sam and Ivy meet looking for a stray puppy, the sparks fly between them. While Ivy is cautious about rushing into a relationship, Sam wants more of what he has never had before and he wants it with Ivy. They spend time together with Cookie the puppy and it just makes them want to be together even more. Can Ivy date Sam without rushing in too fast? Will Sam let Louise ruin what is beginning with Ivy? Will Foley and his Mom approve of Ivy dating Sam? What happens when Ivy learns about Sam's past? This is the third book in this series and I am loving it and can't wait for the next one. It is about Sam and Foley's mechanic buddy Lou and the only woman that hasn't swooned at Lou's feet.
I love Sam but I may just have to draw the line he doesn't like Buckaroo Banzai, that's a breaking point for me. LOL!
Zero to Sixty book three of Marie Harte's Body Shop Bad Boys series. Mmmm, there is something about big strong silent bearded men. Sam, I knew he was going to steal my heart, he is such a lonely soul even with the love and support from his best friend, Foley, and Foley's mom not to mention the friendships he has forged at Webster's Garage especially now since Foley has found his one and only. Sam has a secret he's been keeping from everyone, he helps rescue strays and find them homes when one dog gets away and finds himself outside a massage studio and gets himself adopted by a woman Sam finds irresistible. Sam uses the dog as an excuse to meet Ivy. Ivy has had it with relationships she's concentrating on her business now but after she meets Sam as much as she wants to convince herself otherwise she's got it bad.
Sam is the bad boy with the soft side and Ivy is the good girl but these opposites have more in common then you may think they both love animals and cheesy sci-fi movies. They both are very shy and reserved around people until they get to know them better. Sam had a difficult childhood and still deals with his manipulative mother, as a result Sam has never felt that he deserves anything good. Ivy shows him he deserves a happy life and so much more without his hateful mother to bring him down.
Overall, this has to be my favorite of the series so far. I feel like I have more in common with these two then the other so far.
Sam is a true gentle giant. Ivy is the luckiest girl by far. I was surprised by how funny, Zero to Sixty, was. Sam seems like such a serious man, but has a funny side too. And boy watch out, when Ivy finds her backbone, I definitely wouldn't want to be on her bad side.
Bad boy Sam + Good girl Ivy + Stray puppy = Damaged hearts learning to love again
After her last relationship bombed, Ivy Stephens is doing her best to put her life back together. She's enjoying her job, her apartment-and the cute little puppy she's seen hanging around. When she goes looking for him, she finds the stray in the arms of a big, burly, devastatingly handsome man.
Sam Hamilton is lonelier than he's ever been after his best friend's engagement. To give himself a sense of purpose, he takes in a puppy that keeps showing up around the garage where he works. The puppy has another suitor though-one who happens to be blond and beautiful.
••••••••••
REVIEW: ZERO TO SIXTY is the third installment in Marie Harte’s contemporary, adult BODY SHOP BAD BOYS erotic, romance series focusing on the men and woman who work at Webster’s Garage. This is mechanic Sam Hamilton, and massage therapist Ivy Stephens’s story line. ZERO TO SIXTY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. BODY SHOP BAD BOYS is a spin off from Harte’s McCauley Brothers series but you do not have to have read the original series to follow the current time line. A number of the characters cross-over between the two series.
Told from several third person perspectives including Sam and Ivy, ZERO TO SIXTY follows the building relationship between bad boy mechanic Sam Hamilton and massage therapist Ivy Stephens. Sam has a bit of a soft spot where orphaned animals are involved but the disappearance of a stray puppy finds our hero face to face with Ivy Stephens, a woman who hopes to keep the puppy for her own. What ensues is the slow building relationship between Sam and Ivy, and Sam’s struggle to keep secret his past.
Sam Hamilton grew up in an abusive home to a single mother who all but ignored the son she should have loved but Sam found love and acceptance with his best friend Foley and his mother Eileen Sanders- a woman who took in the broken Sam as though he were one of her own. But Sam’s life has never been easy and when the demons begin to push, he is a man looking to fight his way out of the abyss. Ivy is an independent woman whose own family history is heartbreaking and emotional. She is a woman determined to show Sam that he is worthy of love including the love she offers.
The relationship between Sam and Ivy is slow to develop. Sam is afraid to overwhelm Ivy if he moves too fast. Throughout most of the storyline our couple ‘play’ around one another without taking the next step in their growing love. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense.
There are a large number of secondary and supporting characters including several from Harte’s McCauley Brothers series. Foley and Cyn (Roadside Assistance #2) Johnny and Lara ( Test Drive #1) as well as Mike and Delilah (What To Do With a Bad Boy) whose own relationship enters the next phase. There are plenty of lighthearted moments when the friends get together to tease one another about the lives and their loves.
The world building continues to look at family and friendship, betrayal, romance and love. The strength of the friendships throughout both of the series is emotional and tight. Everyone protects one another’s backs; no one is left alone.
ZERO TO SIXTY is an emotional story line about one man’s struggle to climb out of the depths of poverty and abuse; and one woman’s battle to prove that he is worthy of affection and love. The premise is realistic and moving; the characters are spirited and inspiring; the romance is seduction and emotional.
Ramblings: Johnny dubbed Sam “McSteroid” (in Test Drive ) and I wanted to know two things: why was he given that moniker, and what is the origin of Sam’s deep-seated anger.
Summary: Sam Hamilton is a behemoth who gives everyone pause. He’s an imposing figure at six-foot-four, with tattoos, and a chip on his shoulder larger than The Grand Canyon. Sam generally unwinds by having a few drinks with the guys, or fighting in illegal matches where the rule is- there are none. He never turns away from a fight and much rather start them. For him, everyday is like the one before. Until he meets a massage therapist, named Ivy, and a stray pup in dire need of both love and shelter.
Review: Zero to Sixty is the third installment in the Body Shop Bad Boys series written by author Marie Harte. Every novel centers around a certain couple and this story is Sam and Ivy’s. Sam is an ex-con and one of several smokin’ hot mechanics who work at Webster’s Garage.
It seemed to me that book three included more comic relief than its predecessors. Probably to offset the hero’s ongoing battle with anger and his need to outrun his past. Continuing with the humor, the story also includes a crabby cursing granny with a very naughty and very active night life. You get me? Willie was a hoot! Then, we have Lou. When rations of vanity were passed around-he went back for seconds and thirds. The ending scene with Lou made me laugh. And I smiled, too. Wouldn’t mind a spin-off series of his sisters.
Zero to Sixty is unquestionably my favorite! It shows that not everyone’s childhood is ideal and, for some, it’s harrowing. Yet, love reaches us in the darkest of places. A beautifully poignant story that’ll connect you to the characters with its realistic fiction. I’m going to add it onto my goodreads reread shelf.
Stear Clear: If you only read clean romances with happy themes.
You’ll like this story if you: #1 Read spicy contemporary romances and/or erotic romance novels #2 Love the damaged hero trope #3 Are a pet lover esp. of stray dogs, but you must like #1 #4 Enjoy (emotionally) scarred heroes who find love #5 Want to know what Lou sees when he looks at a microwave 😂
Content: For mature readers. This novel contains explicit adult language and love scenes. (TW): violent physical altercations, and a backstory telling of emotional, verbal, physical abuse and a sexual assault.
Disclosure: I received a paperback version of Zero to Sixty via a newsletter giveaway. The author did not request a review. I posted one of my own volition with my honest thoughts/ramblings.
I have been following Marie Harte's Body Shop Bad Boys series quite sincerely. That is why I was looking forward to reading Zero to Sixty which is Sam Hamilton's book. I like the tone of this series. It focuses on hard working men and their bonds of friendship and family. Overall, Zero to Sixty was a good read but it definitely did not blow me away or anything. It was enjoyable enough for me.
Okay, so let's start with Sam. Sam Hamilton is best friends with Foley Sanders who was the hero of the previous book, Roadside Assistance. Now that Foley is completely head over heels in love with his girlfriend Cynthia, Sam has been feeling left out. It doesn't help that he has a horribly abusive mother who always brings forth all of Sam's insecurities about people who love him leaving him. I liked Sam as a person. He had issues to deal with but he was a good guy.
Then we have Ivy. Ivy is a massage therapist. She is a good girl through and through. Ivy likes working and is quite happy with her life. Except for the part where she gets lonely at times. I really liked Ivy. She was open with Sam about her feelings. The way Sam and Ivy meet was really cute.
Zero to Sixty is a classic example of opposites attract. Sam is very much rough around the edges who doesn't think very highly of himself. Whereas Ivy is the more sorted one. But Ivy does have her own issues and insecurities to deal with. Ivy and Sam start off unsure about each other but they do get comfortable soon. I liked the way the romance progressed.
Marie Harte's writing is easy and engaging so it was easy to follow along Sam and Ivy's journey. I can't say that there was anything new or unique about either of them though. We also get to meet the remaining gang and it is always fun to catch up with everybody. We get hints of Lou in this book so I am very much excited for his book next. This was a good read.
*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.
Love the bad boys? This series is for you. This third book features Sam. Sam is kind of a jerk and quite insecure with his relationships. Why? Because he knows what it is like to be tossed aside and unwanted no matter what you do. This story broke my heart a little. We learn about Sam in a previous book as he sabotage's his best friend's relationship. To learn more about the backstory, reading this series in order would help. It is still fine to read this book as a standalone. There is enough information to bring a reader up to speed.
From a character perspective, Sam is an anti-hero. Or maybe he is a boy who was beat down too early and often that he is now like the puppies he rescues. He is afraid of building relationships and has severe trust issues. There are many parallels between Sam and the rescue dogs he saves. It is a bit of a tear jerker, especially when Sam is just like a puppy being adopted by Ivy Stephens.
Ivy is a great character. She is affection yet tentative. She too has been burned and knows what it feels like not measuring up. She is the perfect love interest for Sam. Their interactions are awkward and hilarious. It is sweet how they try hard and sometimes embarrass themselves. Still, the chemistry between them is hawt. It is a Ms. Harte story so it is a given for sweaty bed bouncing goodness. This story could just be a hook up, but it is much more. It is a self-actualization journey for Sam. He finally realizes who he is and how he is worthy. In addition, he learns to finally trust the bonds he's build over the years. And that it is okay to make new ones and let destructive ones go. This erotic romance will send a reader into orbit with pleasure and also break their hearts with Sam's neglected past. This book is recommended for hopeless romantics who love their happily ever afters.
Yes! I've been waiting for Sam's story since book #1 and it didn't disappoint! I loved the first two books but this series is definitely going from strength to strength. Each book tops the one before but they're all good. They're well written and are fun and lighthearted, even when dealing with the more serious back stories.
Sam caught my attention immediately in book one. I was drawn to him and just knew he'd have a good story to tell. There's more to the brooding fighter, who rarely cracks a smile, than meets the eye.
What I really loved about this series - but this book in particular - is the camaraderie between the men. It's perfectly depicted.
Having finished this book, I am now thoroughly intrigued by the elusive florist and just what her story might be and of course Lou.
This is a great read that you're sure to enjoy as much as I did.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. I've never read anything by Marie Harte and it was the third book in the series. That can always be tricky, but it wasn't really an issue with this one. I'd say it can be read as a standalone tho since I enjoyed this one and the characters from the previous books seem super fun I'd say go ahead and read books 1 and 2.
Sam turns out to be a giant, big hearted teddy bear that just looks scary. Ivy is super cool and despite his and her past is willing to take him on. One thing Im not sure I enjoyed was he shaved off his beard! I mean seriously.. doesn't the author know beards = panty droppers? The book I'm currently reading also has our hero shaving his beard and I dont know what is going on! It saddens me. :(