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Something New #3
The Name of the Game
Some people follow the rules. . .
A professor of forensic anthropology, James Donovan is the reasonable sibling among the passionate, impulsive Donovans. But there's nothing reasonable about his reaction to baker Gracie Roberts. She's all wild curls and mouth-watering curves, as deliciously tempting as the sugary treats she's famous for--and twice as irritating. But before long, James decides that getting a taste of her is one indulgence he can't pass up. . .
Some people play to win. . .
Independent, smart, and sexy, Gracie's year-long dry spell has her itching for a man. Responsible, health-obsessed James? Not in a million years! She needs a guy who knows how to let loose! But when James sets out to show her just how satisfying a disciplined man can be when pleasure is at stake, she learns just how sweet--and spicy--he really is.
Have James and Gracie found the recipe for love?
A professor of forensic anthropology, James Donovan is the reasonable sibling among the passionate, impulsive Donovans. But there's nothing reasonable about his reaction to baker Gracie Roberts. She's all wild curls and mouth-watering curves, as deliciously tempting as the sugary treats she's famous for--and twice as irritating. But before long, James decides that getting a taste of her is one indulgence he can't pass up. . .
Some people play to win. . .
Independent, smart, and sexy, Gracie's year-long dry spell has her itching for a man. Responsible, health-obsessed James? Not in a million years! She needs a guy who knows how to let loose! But when James sets out to show her just how satisfying a disciplined man can be when pleasure is at stake, she learns just how sweet--and spicy--he really is.
Have James and Gracie found the recipe for love?
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 29, 2015
120 people are currently reading
1723 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Dawson
21 books607 followersJennifer Dawson is the author of the popular Something New series, spicy, small town romance released with Kensington, and pens the dark and edgy contemporary romance series Undone.
Jennifer Dawson grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and graduated from DePaul University with a degree in psychology. She met her husband at the public library while they were studying. To this day she still maintains she was NOT checking him out. Now, over twenty years later, they’re married and living in a suburb right outside of Chicago with two awesome kids and a crazy dog.
Despite going through a light FM, poem writing phase in high school, Jennifer never grew up wanting to be a writer (she had more practical aspirations of being an international super spy). Then one day, suffering from boredom and disgruntled with a book she’d been reading, she decided to put pen to paper. The rest, as they say, is history.
These days Jennifer can be found sitting behind her computer, writing her next novel, chasing after her kids, keeping an ever watchful eye on her ever growing to-do list, and NOT checking out her husband.
Sign up for monthly Newsletter for exclusive insider peeks, new release information and more. https://www.jenniferdawsonauthor.com/...
Jennifer Dawson grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and graduated from DePaul University with a degree in psychology. She met her husband at the public library while they were studying. To this day she still maintains she was NOT checking him out. Now, over twenty years later, they’re married and living in a suburb right outside of Chicago with two awesome kids and a crazy dog.
Despite going through a light FM, poem writing phase in high school, Jennifer never grew up wanting to be a writer (she had more practical aspirations of being an international super spy). Then one day, suffering from boredom and disgruntled with a book she’d been reading, she decided to put pen to paper. The rest, as they say, is history.
These days Jennifer can be found sitting behind her computer, writing her next novel, chasing after her kids, keeping an ever watchful eye on her ever growing to-do list, and NOT checking out her husband.
Sign up for monthly Newsletter for exclusive insider peeks, new release information and more. https://www.jenniferdawsonauthor.com/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
September 29, 2015
When I know that I am reading a good book? Once while reading I think already how and when I can read the rest of the parts. Excellent team of family and friends who stick together and fall in love... and for that hate to love story. That's what I love the most.
"I like order. And calm. You're chaos and fire."
About the plot: James seems to be the most responsible of the siblings. He is a professor and leading a very orderly life. On the other hand Gracie is a sweet, warm and lovely women, but not when it comes to him. She bait him at every opportunity. James is withdrawn and although feels a big chemistry to her, believed that no matter how incredible chemistry between them is, in any other way they are absolutely incompatible. He is a control freak. She is one big sexy chaos. They both believe that they have nothing in common.
They push and back, constantly arguing what drives their friends and family to madness. When he decided to be nice, it irritates her to insanity. When she wanted peace, the only thing he felt is anxiety. But when they stopped fighting, spend some time together and really looked at each other... pure magic. They sparked.
“Baby girl, the way you squeezed my cock when you came is the only compliment I need.”
Turns out that in fact they do not know anything about themselves. And their attraction is so powerful, like nothing they've ever experienced before. Sex was meant to solve a problem, but only caused that they do not know at all what to do next.
“What does not liking Cheetos have to do with judging you?”
“I’m just saying this is why we’re not compatible.”
“Still not getting it. Are you such a huge fan you require your dates to eat a bag before you go out?”
Final thoughts: This is a contemporary romance, but in this old school way. Adults heroes who do not shun from errors and uncertainties in life. The tension between them is amazing. There is a lot of fun and great moments. Although I have to admit that they not only each other driving to frustration at times, but reader also. At certain points could be more action. But such scenes as they role play in hot scenes, really reward a lot. It was an absolute pleasure to read it and I'm already thinking about reading the previous and waiting for the next one.
***Quick Review:***
Series: The third in a the Something New series. Can be read as stand alone.
Grade/Tag Tabs: Contemporary Romance.
Release Date: September 29th 2015.
Main characters: James Donovan, thirty-four, professor of forensic anthropology. He is responsible, leads a healthy lifestyle, likes control and have everything organized. Gracie Roberts, thirty-three, baker. She is very likeable, sexy, desired by everyone women.
Secondary characters: A lot of family and friends. About them are the other parts. They are strong and holding firmly together, like to have fun and take care of each other.
Steamy: Oh yes! A few hot scenes.
Sensitive topic:
Love triangle:
Cheating:
Cliffhanger:
HEA:
Next in the series? Yes!!
For who I would recommend? If you like well organized books, with a large group of family and friends and enemies to love story.
***
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter. Thank you!
"I like order. And calm. You're chaos and fire."
About the plot: James seems to be the most responsible of the siblings. He is a professor and leading a very orderly life. On the other hand Gracie is a sweet, warm and lovely women, but not when it comes to him. She bait him at every opportunity. James is withdrawn and although feels a big chemistry to her, believed that no matter how incredible chemistry between them is, in any other way they are absolutely incompatible. He is a control freak. She is one big sexy chaos. They both believe that they have nothing in common.
They push and back, constantly arguing what drives their friends and family to madness. When he decided to be nice, it irritates her to insanity. When she wanted peace, the only thing he felt is anxiety. But when they stopped fighting, spend some time together and really looked at each other... pure magic. They sparked.
“Baby girl, the way you squeezed my cock when you came is the only compliment I need.”
Turns out that in fact they do not know anything about themselves. And their attraction is so powerful, like nothing they've ever experienced before. Sex was meant to solve a problem, but only caused that they do not know at all what to do next.
“What does not liking Cheetos have to do with judging you?”
“I’m just saying this is why we’re not compatible.”
“Still not getting it. Are you such a huge fan you require your dates to eat a bag before you go out?”
Final thoughts: This is a contemporary romance, but in this old school way. Adults heroes who do not shun from errors and uncertainties in life. The tension between them is amazing. There is a lot of fun and great moments. Although I have to admit that they not only each other driving to frustration at times, but reader also. At certain points could be more action. But such scenes as they role play in hot scenes, really reward a lot. It was an absolute pleasure to read it and I'm already thinking about reading the previous and waiting for the next one.
***Quick Review:***
Series: The third in a the Something New series. Can be read as stand alone.
Grade/Tag Tabs: Contemporary Romance.
Release Date: September 29th 2015.
Main characters: James Donovan, thirty-four, professor of forensic anthropology. He is responsible, leads a healthy lifestyle, likes control and have everything organized. Gracie Roberts, thirty-three, baker. She is very likeable, sexy, desired by everyone women.
Secondary characters: A lot of family and friends. About them are the other parts. They are strong and holding firmly together, like to have fun and take care of each other.
Steamy: Oh yes! A few hot scenes.
Sensitive topic:
Love triangle:
Cheating:
Cliffhanger:
HEA:
Next in the series? Yes!!
For who I would recommend? If you like well organized books, with a large group of family and friends and enemies to love story.
***
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter. Thank you!
August 31, 2015
4 Professor Stars
I've found a new author to follow. Jennifer Dawson did a fantastic job in The Name of the Game. It seems I have a knack lately though of picking books to read in the middle of a series. Luckily this one can be read as a stand alone, however, it makes me want to pick up books one and two in this series to catch up with the group.
I am a sucker for hate/love relationships and that's exactly the type of relationship that James and Gracie have. They are total opposites, yet they have this magnetic attraction toward one another that can't be ignored.
Gracie's best friend is also James' sister, so they always seems to be around one another, but they fight constantly. This is where reading the first two books would have possibly shed some light on if they always fought and when it started.
They don't seem to have much in common besides their friends/family. James is a health conscious professor of forensic anthropology who lives in Chicago. Gracie is a baker in a small town outside of Chicago called Revival. They are thrown together in the beginning of this story because some of their friends are getting married. Gracie also made the cake.
Gracie likes to push James' buttons, antagonize him, but when she finally admits to herself that what she's really feeling towards him is attraction, things change. The sexual tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Finally when she can't take it anymore, She finds herself on James' doorstep and propositions him for sex. She's sure that once she has mediocre sex with him, she'll be able to get on with her life and that they can even be friends.
The only problem is that James turns her down. James is more of a gentleman than she realizes. He is attracted to her too, but doesn't just want to have sex with her so that they can get each other out of their systems. However, after they share one kiss, they both know things have just become more complicated than either of them thought things could.
They decide to share a weekend together and get to know one another. I loved how easily she connected with James' thirteen year old cousin, Declan. They played Xbox games, ate the best hot dogs in Chicago and watched Dr. Who. When Declan wasn't around they flirted and got sloppy drunk, opening up to each other. Then when they finally had sex, OMG, it was so hot my iPad was steaming up.
Thank goodness for James' best friend Jane, and her partner Anne. They helped clue James in on women a few times, helping him fix some mistakes. James and Gracie both decided to not tell their family and friends that they were hooking up because they both felt it would be awkward whenever their fling ended. They were so different from one another. They couldn't possibly make this work. Or could they?
I really enjoyed this book. It was told in dual POVs, which I love. My only complaint would be that the dual POVs weren't clearly identified. It could have just been the copy I received, but the paragraphs in James' POV rolled right into Gracie's and vice versa. It caught me off guard in the beginning and I had to re-read some paragraphs because I thought I'd somehow missed something. I eventually got used to the formatting. This book was so exciting, steamy, and fun to read. I'm really looking forward to reading Sam, Evan, and Harmony's stories.
If you love the hate/love sexual tension books then I encourage you to read this story.
ARC provided by NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.
I've found a new author to follow. Jennifer Dawson did a fantastic job in The Name of the Game. It seems I have a knack lately though of picking books to read in the middle of a series. Luckily this one can be read as a stand alone, however, it makes me want to pick up books one and two in this series to catch up with the group.
I am a sucker for hate/love relationships and that's exactly the type of relationship that James and Gracie have. They are total opposites, yet they have this magnetic attraction toward one another that can't be ignored.
Gracie's best friend is also James' sister, so they always seems to be around one another, but they fight constantly. This is where reading the first two books would have possibly shed some light on if they always fought and when it started.
They don't seem to have much in common besides their friends/family. James is a health conscious professor of forensic anthropology who lives in Chicago. Gracie is a baker in a small town outside of Chicago called Revival. They are thrown together in the beginning of this story because some of their friends are getting married. Gracie also made the cake.
Gracie likes to push James' buttons, antagonize him, but when she finally admits to herself that what she's really feeling towards him is attraction, things change. The sexual tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Finally when she can't take it anymore, She finds herself on James' doorstep and propositions him for sex. She's sure that once she has mediocre sex with him, she'll be able to get on with her life and that they can even be friends.
The only problem is that James turns her down. James is more of a gentleman than she realizes. He is attracted to her too, but doesn't just want to have sex with her so that they can get each other out of their systems. However, after they share one kiss, they both know things have just become more complicated than either of them thought things could.
They decide to share a weekend together and get to know one another. I loved how easily she connected with James' thirteen year old cousin, Declan. They played Xbox games, ate the best hot dogs in Chicago and watched Dr. Who. When Declan wasn't around they flirted and got sloppy drunk, opening up to each other. Then when they finally had sex, OMG, it was so hot my iPad was steaming up.
Thank goodness for James' best friend Jane, and her partner Anne. They helped clue James in on women a few times, helping him fix some mistakes. James and Gracie both decided to not tell their family and friends that they were hooking up because they both felt it would be awkward whenever their fling ended. They were so different from one another. They couldn't possibly make this work. Or could they?
I really enjoyed this book. It was told in dual POVs, which I love. My only complaint would be that the dual POVs weren't clearly identified. It could have just been the copy I received, but the paragraphs in James' POV rolled right into Gracie's and vice versa. It caught me off guard in the beginning and I had to re-read some paragraphs because I thought I'd somehow missed something. I eventually got used to the formatting. This book was so exciting, steamy, and fun to read. I'm really looking forward to reading Sam, Evan, and Harmony's stories.
If you love the hate/love sexual tension books then I encourage you to read this story.
ARC provided by NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2015
- Excellent take on an old tale : The opposites attract trope is a tried and true formula and the professor and the bombshell is something I’ve read plenty of times. Gracie is a small town baker who is in Chicago for her best friend’s engagement festivities and she’s thrown together with James Donovan, the nerdy stuffed shirt Donovan brother. But neither fits precisely in their predetermined roles, and the fun starts when they stop fighting it and start dealing with their attraction.
What separates the best from the rest is the execution and I think Ms. Dawson has done this extremely well. The characters are drawn well, the banter is fun and James and Gracie’s relationship plays out in a believable manner.
- Part of series yet stands alone : This is the third book in the series, which I didn’t know going into this. I was curious about the romances for Cecelia/Shane and Maddie/Mitch, but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of this story whatsoever.
- Smoking hot chemistry : I thought James and Gracie had phenomenal chemistry and the anticipation to their first love scene was compelling. Best yet, it was chemistry that translated outside of the bedroom. They have excellent scenes where you see them get past their preconceived notions.
- My quibbles : I wasn’t really expecting the better living through sexual domination moment, and the little games they play with each other were fun, but the big emotional breakthrough was missing a little bit. Also, I have to admit that James calling Gracie “baby girl” seemed a bit off for his professor persona.
A pleasant surprise, I really enjoyed this well executed take on an old trope. I’m looking forward to reading more from Ms. Dawson and more about the Donovans.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**
June 16, 2018
Coffee dates with The Name of the Game
First Date: Right away, I like the tension between James Donovan and Gracie Roberts. These two will be spending a lot more time in each other’s company thanks to the upcoming marriage of Gracie’s best friend Cecilia and James’ brother Shane. The banter is delicious and had me giggling from the onset. She is a baker and he is a health nut, but underneath it all there is this bubbling sexual tension that had me craving more.
Second date: They soon begin to realize that their issues stem from attraction and the games begin. Gracie tries to take control of the situation and Dawson had me laughing, sighing and falling head over heels for James. From his sexy professor attitude to his Doctor Who t-shirts, the man is a geeky god. I can just see him with his glasses and disheveled hair. He over analyses everything and I loved watching him fall. Time spent with the Dawson family as they celebrate the engagement of Celica and Shane added some nice touches. I enjoyed updates from earlier characters and we even meet new ones. James’ friends were hilarious and the conversations he had with them had me grinning. I loved all the talk about cupcakes, browncoats, and time lords!
Third date: Heat, some role-playing and fantasy fulfilling added just the right amount of heat. Dawson has a thing for realistic Dom/sub relationships and we catch a glimpse here. We see some growing pains, and a few mistakes that lead to relationship turbulence but it was not overdone and kept me flipping the pages. Both Gracie and James are strong characters, and I loved the depth Dawson brought to them. We witness character growth as we learn more about James and see Gracie realize a few important things about herself. I didn't want my dates to end.
Copy provided by publisher, This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
First Date: Right away, I like the tension between James Donovan and Gracie Roberts. These two will be spending a lot more time in each other’s company thanks to the upcoming marriage of Gracie’s best friend Cecilia and James’ brother Shane. The banter is delicious and had me giggling from the onset. She is a baker and he is a health nut, but underneath it all there is this bubbling sexual tension that had me craving more.
Second date: They soon begin to realize that their issues stem from attraction and the games begin. Gracie tries to take control of the situation and Dawson had me laughing, sighing and falling head over heels for James. From his sexy professor attitude to his Doctor Who t-shirts, the man is a geeky god. I can just see him with his glasses and disheveled hair. He over analyses everything and I loved watching him fall. Time spent with the Dawson family as they celebrate the engagement of Celica and Shane added some nice touches. I enjoyed updates from earlier characters and we even meet new ones. James’ friends were hilarious and the conversations he had with them had me grinning. I loved all the talk about cupcakes, browncoats, and time lords!
Third date: Heat, some role-playing and fantasy fulfilling added just the right amount of heat. Dawson has a thing for realistic Dom/sub relationships and we catch a glimpse here. We see some growing pains, and a few mistakes that lead to relationship turbulence but it was not overdone and kept me flipping the pages. Both Gracie and James are strong characters, and I loved the depth Dawson brought to them. We witness character growth as we learn more about James and see Gracie realize a few important things about herself. I didn't want my dates to end.
Copy provided by publisher, This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
October 28, 2015
Can every romance novel feature nerdy uptight male characters , please? 2015 seems to be the year for these nerdy, but very very sexy male characters and I seriously can't get enough of them. I was introduced to Jennifer Dawson and her amazing stories when I first read The Winner Takes It All. The book was funny, had a chemistry-laden antagonistic romance and had characters that I loved. I have to say though that I was really really looking forward to reading The Name of the Game because I loved the glimpses that I saw of James and Gracie in the previous book. This book was everything that I expected and so much more!
For a romance novel to work its charms on me, I need the book to have characters that I can relate to and enjoy. Jennifer Dawson is good at doing that. The protagonist, Gracie, was someone I had grown to love in the previous book. I loved how supportive she was of her friends and she could be very funny too. In The Name of the Game, we get to see more of how she is on the inside and I think I liked her even more than I thought I would. She was a self-less woman who did everything for the good of others. She was the kind of person who got along with everyone because she was so nice, except with Jame of course. I loved how friendly she was and she certainly was capable of bringing an air of happiness to the pages. Besides her amicable personality, Gracie was also a character who was passionate about her dream job - baker. The scenes of her baking shed so much light on her love for the job and were also successful in making me hungry. She was one feisty and determined girl and I loved that she was willing to sweat and overcome any obstacle to achieve her dreams.
While Gracie was more outgoing and social, James was the opposite with his uptight and more quiet personality with him being a professor of anthropology. He was a hoot though and I loved watching Gracie push his buttons. Even though he was uptight with Gracie, it was clear that behind his demeanor lay a sexy and passionate man who knew how to woo a woman. Also, dirty talker alert! I was surprised by how alpha James was in the bedroom, but it was fun to see the contrast in his personality. James had also suffered from body image issues when he was younger and I thought it was interesting to see a male insight on body insecurities in a romance novel. It's usually the other way around, but I was glad to see Jennifer Dawson tackle it in The Name of the Game.
The romance between Gracie and James was, as expected, red-hot! I don't know about you guys but antagonistic romances are always so fun for me. The Name of the Game is probably one of my favorite antagonistic romances. I loved their bickering and bantering and I loved watching their relationship morph into intense attraction for each other and then eventually, into a sweet and playful romance that had the romantic in me squealing out of joy. Their relationship was also drama-free for the most part and while I thought the minor setback to their relationship could have been avoided with some communication, it didn't bother me as much as it didn't take up a good chunk of the book.
Romance readers, this fun, sexy and romantic companion series is one that I highly recommend. I think these are the perfect books to read in between heavier reads. They will make you smile, laugh and most importantly, swoon.
September 30, 2015
E-ARC received thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley.
The Name of the Game has been one of my most anticipated sequels ever since I finished The Winner Takes it All. I'm a sucker for antagonistic romance (if you could call it that way?) and I knew James and Gracie's book was gonna be THE BOMB
and I'm glad that I wasn't wrong!
right, the major reason why I'm straight up in love with this book is the characters.
YOU GUYS, I can't properly express how much I adore both James and Gracie. We only see James as this uptight professor in previous books; it's nice to get another side of James in this story. I love that he's a geek (I have new appreciation for Doctor Who now *insert smirk emoji*), and that he cares about his cousin, and I also love his friendship with Anne and Jane. Gracie is too easy to love. I adore her bubbly personality and her passion for baking. I love her relationship with her brother, and Charlie too.
James and Gracie together? SO. HOT. OMG CALL THE FIRE BRIGADE! It's always the quiet ones...
*sighs*
*daydreams*
honestly, I'm a little bit stingy when it comes to rating romance novels; I usually don't give them higher than a 4 no matter how perfect they are, but this one just had me hooked from start to finish and I love EVERYTHING about it, hence the solid 5 stars. I've probably read it 3-4 times after I finished it the first time because I couldn't get enough of James and Gracie ok
Anyway, I'm almost afraid for Evan and Penelope's book now; how is Jennifer Dawson gonna top this awesomeness?
I guess we'll find out!
(no pressure tho)
The Name of the Game has been one of my most anticipated sequels ever since I finished The Winner Takes it All. I'm a sucker for antagonistic romance (if you could call it that way?) and I knew James and Gracie's book was gonna be THE BOMB
and I'm glad that I wasn't wrong!
right, the major reason why I'm straight up in love with this book is the characters.
YOU GUYS, I can't properly express how much I adore both James and Gracie. We only see James as this uptight professor in previous books; it's nice to get another side of James in this story. I love that he's a geek (I have new appreciation for Doctor Who now *insert smirk emoji*), and that he cares about his cousin, and I also love his friendship with Anne and Jane. Gracie is too easy to love. I adore her bubbly personality and her passion for baking. I love her relationship with her brother, and Charlie too.
James and Gracie together? SO. HOT. OMG CALL THE FIRE BRIGADE! It's always the quiet ones...
*sighs*
*daydreams*
honestly, I'm a little bit stingy when it comes to rating romance novels; I usually don't give them higher than a 4 no matter how perfect they are, but this one just had me hooked from start to finish and I love EVERYTHING about it, hence the solid 5 stars. I've probably read it 3-4 times after I finished it the first time because I couldn't get enough of James and Gracie ok
Anyway, I'm almost afraid for Evan and Penelope's book now; how is Jennifer Dawson gonna top this awesomeness?
I guess we'll find out!
(no pressure tho)
July 25, 2016
DNF...
Another CR book built on sex and attraction without solid plot and characterization.
I tried to pass over the fact that there were a lot of sex thoughts and physical attraction at the beginning of the book.
But I couldn't ignore that heroine sounds very cheap as if she hooks up every attractive man and it's perfectly normal and logical thing to do. Even she thought using same method on hero but she gave up after some consideration.
Anyway, I don't want to waste my time writing many complaints about it.
I just hoped that maybe I have found a hidden good CR book but I was not that lucky.
Another CR book built on sex and attraction without solid plot and characterization.
I tried to pass over the fact that there were a lot of sex thoughts and physical attraction at the beginning of the book.
But I couldn't ignore that heroine sounds very cheap as if she hooks up every attractive man and it's perfectly normal and logical thing to do. Even she thought using same method on hero but she gave up after some consideration.
Anyway, I don't want to waste my time writing many complaints about it.
I just hoped that maybe I have found a hidden good CR book but I was not that lucky.
life-is-too-short
January 12, 2019I've tried twice. I just ain't got time for this. 9%
October 29, 2015
I haven't had this much fun with a contemporary romance in a long time!
A straitlaced health nut and professor of forensic anthropology, James Donovan is the exact opposite of Gracie Roberts, a baker of sweet confections, curvy, and full of sass. These two are like oil and water or Belle and the Beast because they don't mix well together and really do not like each other. However, for the sake of their friends and family, they attempt to put their animosity to rest. Once they have taken the high road, they can't seem to find a happy or even comfortable way to get along, which makes the glaring sexual tension between them even more palpable. So, what should they do about it?
This story was a real charmer, intelligent, but zany and fun with some tender and sweet moments capping off this steamy love/hate- opposites attract love story.
This review is the copyrighted property of Night Owl Reviews. To read the full review- click on this link: https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
A straitlaced health nut and professor of forensic anthropology, James Donovan is the exact opposite of Gracie Roberts, a baker of sweet confections, curvy, and full of sass. These two are like oil and water or Belle and the Beast because they don't mix well together and really do not like each other. However, for the sake of their friends and family, they attempt to put their animosity to rest. Once they have taken the high road, they can't seem to find a happy or even comfortable way to get along, which makes the glaring sexual tension between them even more palpable. So, what should they do about it?
This story was a real charmer, intelligent, but zany and fun with some tender and sweet moments capping off this steamy love/hate- opposites attract love story.
This review is the copyrighted property of Night Owl Reviews. To read the full review- click on this link: https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
November 9, 2015
Jennifer Dawson has fast become one of my favorite contemporary authors. She knows exactly how to write a story that not only makes you swoon but has characters with depth and a truer than life quality to them.
I've thoroughly enjoyed the previous two installments in this series, but I'd been particularly excited for this book because Jennifer has been dropping little hints about these two characters and the unspoken tension between them forever, so I was immensely pleased when I got to read this.
And lo and behold this book was actually hotter and swoonier than the previous book with Cecilia and Shane *gasp* I adored the premise of this already but the romance in this made my heart flutter and flail over Gracie and James. Their chemistry was tangible and all too real and I adore them.
Gracie is the cutest person ever, and I love her so much. She's a baker, and as someone who enjoys baking and pastries, her job was the most fun to read about. She's been a true joy to read about in the past books as well, with her warm and cozy personality which is as sweet as the stuff she makes.
James is more of an enigma, with his quiet but stern countenance. He is a professor of the rather fascinating field of forensic anthropology, and reserved compared to his brothers. It was illuminating to see beyond his facade into what made him become the person he is, and the way Gracie softens him once they got under each other's skin was wonderful.
Obviously the romance played a central part of this book, and it was oh so magical. Every interaction between them was perfect, building such a charming relationship that one could not help but envy, something Jennifer seems to excel at.
Besides the romance, there is the delightful supporting cast of characters that surrounds the main pair, including of course, the pairs from the previous books. I love the warm and tight-knit bonds that connect the characters and the genuine love that emanates from them. Not to mention, siblings always have the most fun exchanges and there was a healthy dose of that in this book.
I'm most definitely looking forward to the next book, where we get to find out more about Penelope and Evan, who have piqued my interest in the little snippet that was included in this.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the E-ARC.
I've thoroughly enjoyed the previous two installments in this series, but I'd been particularly excited for this book because Jennifer has been dropping little hints about these two characters and the unspoken tension between them forever, so I was immensely pleased when I got to read this.
And lo and behold this book was actually hotter and swoonier than the previous book with Cecilia and Shane *gasp* I adored the premise of this already but the romance in this made my heart flutter and flail over Gracie and James. Their chemistry was tangible and all too real and I adore them.
Gracie is the cutest person ever, and I love her so much. She's a baker, and as someone who enjoys baking and pastries, her job was the most fun to read about. She's been a true joy to read about in the past books as well, with her warm and cozy personality which is as sweet as the stuff she makes.
James is more of an enigma, with his quiet but stern countenance. He is a professor of the rather fascinating field of forensic anthropology, and reserved compared to his brothers. It was illuminating to see beyond his facade into what made him become the person he is, and the way Gracie softens him once they got under each other's skin was wonderful.
Obviously the romance played a central part of this book, and it was oh so magical. Every interaction between them was perfect, building such a charming relationship that one could not help but envy, something Jennifer seems to excel at.
Besides the romance, there is the delightful supporting cast of characters that surrounds the main pair, including of course, the pairs from the previous books. I love the warm and tight-knit bonds that connect the characters and the genuine love that emanates from them. Not to mention, siblings always have the most fun exchanges and there was a healthy dose of that in this book.
I'm most definitely looking forward to the next book, where we get to find out more about Penelope and Evan, who have piqued my interest in the little snippet that was included in this.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the E-ARC.
December 4, 2015
Oh wow, this was really good! This was even better than the previous book. A perfect weekend read for me—light, romantic, and VERY HOT. More importantly, no stupid condom talks. LOL!
October 31, 2016
5 I-loved-this-book-so-much stars
“I like order. And calm. You’re chaos and fire.”
I’ve been waiting for Gracie and James’ book since reading the previous book, and I was not disappointed.
For the past year Gracie and James have been antagonising each other. They can’t be in the same room without fighting or disagreeing. Gracie is a baker, believes anything can be fixed with sugar. She’s wild and likes to have fun. James is a professor of forensic anthropology, he likes control, discipline and order. He believes in eating healthy, and that sugar is bad for you.
Damn, did these two light sparks off each other. I found it hilarious how they couldn’t help bickering, and were totally clueless on why they couldn’t get along. The chemistry between them was INTENSE, and by the time they finally decided to do something about it, I thought I would spontaneously combust.
Gracie thought because James was uptight and staid, that he would be a dud in the bedroom. Oh was I glad that he proved her wrong. Yes, the Professor did like his control, but when it came to the bedroom that control lead to scorching foreplay. I really love how Jennifer Dawson writes sexy scenes. They are so HOT!
He smiled, flicking his gaze over her. “Well, you were right about one thing. I do like to fuck in the missionary position.”
“That doesn’t surprise me, Professor.” She kept her tone light, but it wasn’t the truth; everything about him surprised her.
A slow chuckle. “I think you’ll like it.”
“Why do you think that?”
“You’ll feel possessed, taken.” His fingers squeezed her hips. “And how long has it been since you’ve felt that?”
And damn, this Professor was HOT. I absolutely loved how beneath his geeky appearance, and his awesome t-shirts, he was damn sexy. Most men only wanted Gracie for her Marilyn Monroe appearance, but James wanted and needed Gracie because of Gracie. And I really enjoyed how Gracie brought out the caveman in James.
Some primal part of him needed to brand her in some way. “You’re mine, Gracie. And all that comes with it. You belong to me. Understood?”
The romance between Gracie and James was MAGNIFICENT. Yes, the sex was hot, but I loved how perfect they actually were for each other, especially since both of them thought that they weren’t. James was so clueless about Gracie and was confused many times regarding how to act around her. I found him so adorable. And James' grovelling scene at the end - THE BEST GROVELLING EVER!! Honestly, this book has one of the most romantic and funny endings ever!
“What do I have to do, Gracie? You make me so crazy. Since the day we met, you have been a pain in my ass.” He raked his fingers through his hair, making it stand up on end, giving him a deranged, wild look. “Do you understand how difficult you are, woman?”
And there were some wonderful secondary characters. James’ best friend Jane was hilarious, and her partner Anne had me laughing out loud many times.
“Ha!” James scoffed. “You’ve never seen her around me. She hates me.”
“See,” Anne said, pointing at him. “This is why I’m gay. Men are so dense.”
James cocked a brow. “Me? I’m why you’re gay?”
She wrinkled her cute little nose. “Well, that and I’m not a big fan of the cock.”
I absolutely LOVED this book! It met all my requirements - amazing main and secondary characters; sexy, hot and intense romance and many hilarious moments. Since this is the second book that I’ve read and loved from this author, Jennifer Dawson will be going on my auto-buy list. I can't recommend this book enough. READ IT!!!
February 26, 2016
AHH I really loved this one! James is easily my favourite Donovan brother and his chemistry with Gracie is so hot. And this book was probably the best one of the series thus far.
This series has quickly become one of my fav contemporary romances, Jennifer Dawson writes the perfect balance between sweet, swoony and smutty. I'm looking forward to the next one!
This series has quickly become one of my fav contemporary romances, Jennifer Dawson writes the perfect balance between sweet, swoony and smutty. I'm looking forward to the next one!
September 27, 2021
This gave me the romance I was craving. It has all the angst and mutual pinning I needed.
October 2, 2015
Okay series bait/friends of friends romance between a nerdy professor who has a dirty streak and Marilyn Monroe look alike baker h. Slow paced, a few chapters could have been edited out. Both characters irritated me a bit, H was too passive, h was a bit of a drama queen at times. However I enjoyed the sex scenes they were a huge plus and super hot!! They evolve from a weekend fling to something longer and fall in love. h has intimacy issues that make her run but they figure it out and there is a HEA. I liked the second half better than the first. 3.5 stars.
Safety: Safe romance
Safety: Safe romance
August 16, 2015
I received an eARC of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Actual Rating 4.5 Stars
Brilliantly done! It had me up the whole night and I couldn't be happier about it! Already have the first two books downloaded, so I am going to go read them now!
Full detailed review will be up closer to the release date!
Actual Rating 4.5 Stars
Brilliantly done! It had me up the whole night and I couldn't be happier about it! Already have the first two books downloaded, so I am going to go read them now!
Full detailed review will be up closer to the release date!
March 6, 2016
3.75 stars
September 25, 2015
I liked Jennifer Dawson's writing when I read Crave, and knew I'd read her work again. Reading this book has put her on my favorite author list! Holy smokes, this woman can write some hot stuff!!!
Professor James Donovan, health nut and control freak guy that he is, doesn't exactly get along with the sexy baker Gracie Roberts. The two of them are forced to spend time together because they have mutual family and friends. The more time they spend together, the more they pick at one another. Every one sees what's going on except Gracie. Finally, it clicks that she has the hots for him so she suggests they have sex and get it out of their system so they can be cordial to one another. No way on earth does she think it will be good, much less that she'd want more.
Oh, but how wrong was Gracie? The professor was sexy, dominant, and made me melt into a puddle. There were a couple of times that he said and did some things that showed exactly how clueless he was about women. Totally forgivable when you know his background, and truly, I thought him finding a storefront for her was sweet and showed he wanted to be with her.
There were several laugh out loud moments, a bit of awwww how sweet moments, a lot of fan yourself it's hot moments, and all along I was flapping my hands and smacking the table cause I was excited about what was going on on the page :) Yes, this is book 3 in the series. No, I haven't read the first ones yet, but I wasn't lost a bit so don't think you can't jump in here and read it. YOU CAN! I'll be going back to read about Maddie and Mitch and Cecelia and Shane and I'll be waiting impatiently for Evan's story.
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
Professor James Donovan, health nut and control freak guy that he is, doesn't exactly get along with the sexy baker Gracie Roberts. The two of them are forced to spend time together because they have mutual family and friends. The more time they spend together, the more they pick at one another. Every one sees what's going on except Gracie. Finally, it clicks that she has the hots for him so she suggests they have sex and get it out of their system so they can be cordial to one another. No way on earth does she think it will be good, much less that she'd want more.
Oh, but how wrong was Gracie? The professor was sexy, dominant, and made me melt into a puddle. There were a couple of times that he said and did some things that showed exactly how clueless he was about women. Totally forgivable when you know his background, and truly, I thought him finding a storefront for her was sweet and showed he wanted to be with her.
There were several laugh out loud moments, a bit of awwww how sweet moments, a lot of fan yourself it's hot moments, and all along I was flapping my hands and smacking the table cause I was excited about what was going on on the page :) Yes, this is book 3 in the series. No, I haven't read the first ones yet, but I wasn't lost a bit so don't think you can't jump in here and read it. YOU CAN! I'll be going back to read about Maddie and Mitch and Cecelia and Shane and I'll be waiting impatiently for Evan's story.
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
October 12, 2015
3.5 stars
I jumped into this book knowing it's part of an ongoing series, written by a new-to-me author, just because of the promising combo of straight and narrow professor and exuberant baker. That there were bound to be some personal issues already occurred to me, but I didn't thought it would be quite a bit SOME. :D
That James's siblings and their spouses took up quite a lot of the early chapters were one. Added to that were James and Gracie's friends, family and exes; all these too many "familiar" characters to the series but I knew zilt about had me grappling a bit. I could trudge along fine though, considering. It was a plus that I found James and Grace's animosity entertaining. Of course, as the universe except the two already figured out, behind all those bickering was a mutual attraction.
The way their association developed from hostility to rather polite understanding then progressing to affair was nicely done. Too smutty for taste, but still fine. What rather threw me were the role-playing and dom/sub vibe as the story went on. Perhaps for those familiar with Ms. Dawson's style, the rather kinky turn was more than okay; for me though, it kinda not.
I also felt, for all the title James had - professor of forensic anthropology - there was little on the story contributing to this fact. There were mentions of Jane Doe cases, publications and tenure, but not so much. Pity that, considering this story had had quite long pages.
Other than that though, I liked the characters, hardheaded, lack of perceptions, whatever. Gracie was a whirlwind and James the eye of the storm. Yes, there were times I want to smack their heads over *drumrolls* misunderstanding and bad communications, but the James Donovan's drunk scene? Priceless. Well, a tad over the top drama, but I LOVED IT! *grins*
The camaraderie and close-knitted kinship these two had with their family and friends were heartwarming. I especially loved Jane and Anne with their rather ribald pushing. Not to forget, the many mentions of cakes and other baked goods. Those certainly helped my reading enjoyment!
Note:
ARC was kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review.
I jumped into this book knowing it's part of an ongoing series, written by a new-to-me author, just because of the promising combo of straight and narrow professor and exuberant baker. That there were bound to be some personal issues already occurred to me, but I didn't thought it would be quite a bit SOME. :D
That James's siblings and their spouses took up quite a lot of the early chapters were one. Added to that were James and Gracie's friends, family and exes; all these too many "familiar" characters to the series but I knew zilt about had me grappling a bit. I could trudge along fine though, considering. It was a plus that I found James and Grace's animosity entertaining. Of course, as the universe except the two already figured out, behind all those bickering was a mutual attraction.
The way their association developed from hostility to rather polite understanding then progressing to affair was nicely done. Too smutty for taste, but still fine. What rather threw me were the role-playing and dom/sub vibe as the story went on. Perhaps for those familiar with Ms. Dawson's style, the rather kinky turn was more than okay; for me though, it kinda not.
I also felt, for all the title James had - professor of forensic anthropology - there was little on the story contributing to this fact. There were mentions of Jane Doe cases, publications and tenure, but not so much. Pity that, considering this story had had quite long pages.
Other than that though, I liked the characters, hardheaded, lack of perceptions, whatever. Gracie was a whirlwind and James the eye of the storm. Yes, there were times I want to smack their heads over *drumrolls* misunderstanding and bad communications, but the James Donovan's drunk scene? Priceless. Well, a tad over the top drama, but I LOVED IT! *grins*
The camaraderie and close-knitted kinship these two had with their family and friends were heartwarming. I especially loved Jane and Anne with their rather ribald pushing. Not to forget, the many mentions of cakes and other baked goods. Those certainly helped my reading enjoyment!
Note:
ARC was kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review.
August 6, 2015
Dawson writes another cute contemporary romance that will have you laughing and will keep you coming back for more.
Even though this is a third book in a spectacular series by Dawson you don't need to read the first two books to enjoy James and Gracie.
From the beginning of the book James and Gracie have this hate/love relationship. They are constantly arguing over the littlest things. Because they have such a close group of friends and Gracie's best friend happens to be James's sister they can't avoid one another which makes the bickering more fun and entertaining.
Gracie is a self taught baker and lives by her own rules. She is a blond bombshell and described basically like a Monroe lookalike. James on the other hand is a serious professor who loves eating healthy and working out.
I didn't read the second book but I did read the first one in the series and I loved it. I was happy to reconnect with the characters. Dawson has a way of writing fantastic characters that complement each other. Gracie and James might be different as day and night but one thing they have in common is outrageous sexual chemistry.
This story contains role playing which I was actually surprised. I loved the funny banter, the professors dirty talk and the happily ever after these two embarked on.
It really was a fun flirty read that I loved! Even when these two were "playing nice" and not bickering at one another the story never became dull or boring.
This book was a game changer and I can't wait for more! I highly recommend this book if you like an alpha professor and a curvy woman who speaks her mind. Hopefully there will be more books in this series!
Even though this is a third book in a spectacular series by Dawson you don't need to read the first two books to enjoy James and Gracie.
From the beginning of the book James and Gracie have this hate/love relationship. They are constantly arguing over the littlest things. Because they have such a close group of friends and Gracie's best friend happens to be James's sister they can't avoid one another which makes the bickering more fun and entertaining.
Gracie is a self taught baker and lives by her own rules. She is a blond bombshell and described basically like a Monroe lookalike. James on the other hand is a serious professor who loves eating healthy and working out.
I didn't read the second book but I did read the first one in the series and I loved it. I was happy to reconnect with the characters. Dawson has a way of writing fantastic characters that complement each other. Gracie and James might be different as day and night but one thing they have in common is outrageous sexual chemistry.
This story contains role playing which I was actually surprised. I loved the funny banter, the professors dirty talk and the happily ever after these two embarked on.
It really was a fun flirty read that I loved! Even when these two were "playing nice" and not bickering at one another the story never became dull or boring.
This book was a game changer and I can't wait for more! I highly recommend this book if you like an alpha professor and a curvy woman who speaks her mind. Hopefully there will be more books in this series!
September 4, 2015
First of all: I loved the previous book "The winner takes it all" - and not only the main couple but also all the tension between James and Gracie. I knew there was quite a story here to tell and I could not wait to see what will happen between them ... and I was right. James is great - but unfortunately Gracie not so much.
the storyline and the development was real fun to watch and I liked how the relationship between them developed. Nevertheless, Gracie made it a bit hard for me to really like her. I obviously had trouble to understand her behaviour - which was sometimes totally unnecessary. I expected her to be more fun.
but James balanced that quite nicely ... and brought a lot of spark into the book.
all in all, another good addition in this series and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book
Disclaimer: an ARC was provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
the storyline and the development was real fun to watch and I liked how the relationship between them developed. Nevertheless, Gracie made it a bit hard for me to really like her. I obviously had trouble to understand her behaviour - which was sometimes totally unnecessary. I expected her to be more fun.
but James balanced that quite nicely ... and brought a lot of spark into the book.
all in all, another good addition in this series and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book
Disclaimer: an ARC was provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
April 23, 2017
I am certain The Name of the Game has killed me. I adored every second of it and I'm sure if there were to be two thousand more books of the same I will definitely read anything. Jennifer Dawson came out with the big guns in her newest Something New novel. She gave us all, from sexy tension to undeniable love. I am pleased to say she captured my heart with Gracie and James as well as she did with all her previous Something New characters. I am excited to say, though, that I need quickly Evan and Penelope's book!
This book gave me happiness and such a good time. I never stopped reading and I'm totally going to say I did in fact start this book today and end it today. I couldn't be stopped, the storyline kept me going and the relationship between Gracie and James was love at first read for me. You will definitely will want this hate/love couple in your life, guys, so I recommend you all read this amazing book when it hits release day!
*Full review soon*
This book gave me happiness and such a good time. I never stopped reading and I'm totally going to say I did in fact start this book today and end it today. I couldn't be stopped, the storyline kept me going and the relationship between Gracie and James was love at first read for me. You will definitely will want this hate/love couple in your life, guys, so I recommend you all read this amazing book when it hits release day!
*Full review soon*
July 2, 2017
I kept reading to find out how the hero and heroine got their HEA, but I skimmed a lot of this book to get there. There were a lot of elements I liked but, overall, this book didn't work for me. The pacing was too slow; the relationship between James and Gracie was built up over the previous books (if I understand correctly) yet I felt like we were starting right at the beginning. I also felt like there was a lot more telling than showing; there was also A LOT of James and Gracie thinking about one another but not really interacting for the first third of this book. I also didn't really buy into their behaviour at different times. So, yes, I finished, but I didn't really feel any connection to the story or the characters.
July 31, 2015
Gracie is one of those people that doesn't hold back, “why can’t you be a normal guy? I’m offering you sex. Can’t you just take it and quit talking about it?” James may have a stick up his butt almost 75% of the time the other 25% he's a dominant, dirty talking, alpha male, “baby girl, the way you squeezed my ***k when you came is the only compliment I need.” I loved James, "vexing woman. He dragged a hand through his hair. “Fine. I can’t live without effing the hell out of you again. Is that better?” I liked this book I enjoyed seeing James come undone.
August 15, 2016
Okay So I think James and Gracie's book book is my favourite!! The whole opposites attract thing fits in perfectly for the couple. They're chemistry was so intense! They were cute and hot together. What I really liked about this one was the fact that their we had months with James and Gracie as a couple. I really liked reading the progression of their relationship.
I really love the whole crew! And I'm hoping we get a story for Sam and even Charlie.
I really love the whole crew! And I'm hoping we get a story for Sam and even Charlie.
December 1, 2015
Can people stop it with the bubbly but insecure blonde baker thing?? There's no fucking way a college professor would be interested in this woman's conversation for a minute!!
And no, usually cupcake business from your living room in a small village in Illinois do not allow you to support yourself...
And no, usually cupcake business from your living room in a small village in Illinois do not allow you to support yourself...
March 30, 2016
Ok I love this entire series but JAMES AND GRACIE ARE MY FAV.
June 27, 2016
The heroine's annoyingly stupid. She doesn't make any sense at all. She doesn't even try.
January 18, 2022
I absolutely adored it!!!!....loved the chemistry b/w the main characters.
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