While drinking cosmopolitans, Gwendolyn Kidd meets the man of her dreams. Then she takes him home. Then she wakes up alone. But her fear that she lost her dream man turns into a relationship with a mystery man when, night after night in the dead of night, he comes back for more. Hoping it will blossom into something real, she lets him.
But she doesn’t even know his name.
Gwen’s struggling with the decision to end their crazy non-relationship when her sister-from-hell, Ginger’s best friend pays a visit and warns Gwen that if she and her sister don't get smart, they'll both get d-e-a-d, dead. Gwen has no clue what’s going on but she’s used to Ginger’s antics and decides to lay the problem on her sister’s biker boyfriend's doorstep. Bad choice. She hits the Denver Underground radar with a big, loud ping.
This means Gwen’s Mystery Man, Cabe “Hawk” Delgado has to step in to keep her safe. But when Hawk gets a dose of Gwen in the daylight, he makes the decision that he finally wants real with Gwen. However when Gwen gets a dose of badass, bossy, straight-talker Hawk in the daylight, she decides she’s done.
Thus begins the head-to-head of the Commando vs. Cosmo Girl as Hawk woos Gwen in his own unique way, Gwen survives firebombs, drive-bys, kidnappings, hot pursuits by biker hotties and gorgeous police detectives and discovers the heartbreaking reason why Hawk kept her at arm’s length.
And as all this happens, Gwen finds that her sister’s troubles are serious trouble and she must decide who to keep alive: her sister-from-hell or the man of her dreams.
--Also in my musings to build this post I found this is a new cover when the paperback is released in August! Yay for our favorite authors being published for everyone to discover!
Where to Find Mystery Man
Where to Find Kristen Ashley
***5 Stars***
I'm seriously beginning to think that Kristen Ashley can do no wrong. I've read every single Rock Chick book that she's released and because I wasn't ready to let them go, Courtney suggested Mystery Man. It was the perfect remedy for the loss (of the Rock Chicks) I was experiencing.
1) The writing. Kristen Ashley writes with such warmth and humor. I have giggled with every single one of her books. This one was no exception. Gwen's thoughts and her dialogue evoke such interesting reactions from her friends and family and the way that Kristen Ashley phrases this is just so dang funny. I suspect that writing humorously can be a challenge when writing for a large audience, but she does such a great job of it. She also takes care to write the characters and setting with such nice detail that I find myself easily visualizing everything she was writing.
2) The story. I was a smidge skeptical when I read the synopsis because I just couldn't wrap my mind around how Gwen could sleep with a man for a year and half and not know his name. It seemed a little creepy. By the 2nd page I bought it--hook, line, and sinker. As the story continues, more pressing issues like kidnapping, drive by shootings, fire bombings, rescues, family issues, etc. become way more important than the whole sleeping with him and not knowing his name. Now, who in the heck would think those words would ever be typed out? Certainly not me, but trust me on this-the way Kristen Ashley presents it, it's not nearly as sketchy as it could've been.
3) Gwen. She owns 13 LBD's, so of course I love her. I kinda want to have all of the clothes and shoes in her closet. She also loves cookie dough and apparently cannot pack on the lbs. Um, wow??!!. In addition to those two things, she is doing the job I've recently dreamed of doing--editing for authors. I want her life. Now. If all of this isn't awesomeness, she also has a great sense of humor, great friends, a great family (minus the crazy sister), and a great imagination--she's known for 'living in her head'. Despite the hardships of having a seriously messed up biological mom and sister, and an ugly divorce in her past her life is pretty much together. Except for the whole relationship thing. She happens to have 3 deliciously hunky guys actively interested in her. The one for her, though, is Hawk.
4) Hawk. The reason for his nickname is badass. I won't ruin it, but I thought it was kind of hot. This guy is an alpha male...like one step down from caveman...but, on him, it's so appealing. As his storyline is revealed I loved him, hated him, loved to hate him, and by the epilogue was swooning over him. I feel like I cannot say too much or I will spoil all of the good stuff...so...here's what I can say: he's tough, yet vulnerable; tender, yet a hard ass; reserved, has a great family, and has some fairly deep secrets that have closed him off for almost a decade. And, just wait until the epilogue. O.M.Gosh. He's just so ... I have no words. Just read it!
I am so grateful that Courtney recommended this to me; it was perfect. I enjoyed it so much. If you've read Kristen Ashley's Rock Chick series and are looking for something similar, read this. I promise you, you will not be disappointed.
***5 Stars***
Yes, girlfriend, Kristen Ashley is seriously one of my new favorite authors. I am sad that it took me so long to find her, but glad at the same time because there are so many books out already that I can devour! And yes, we haven't posted our giant Rock Chick series review yet because I am taking my time not finishing them because I am simply not ready to let those characters go, or I guess let go of experiencing it for the first time. Which brings us to the Dream Man series! I thought this would be the perfect go to so we could still be experiencing Kristen Ashley but I don't have to say goodbye, and let me just say shee-it, they are fantastic!
P.S. There are several scenes that involve people we know and love from Rock Chick like Lee, Hank, Vance, and best of all Shirleen!
1) The Writing. Is. Wonderful. Kristen brings in romance, steam, laughs, suspense, and more laughs. She pays special attention to detail, but doesn't make it wordy that would drag down the story and make it boring. I especially enjoy all these girls love of fashion even in the light of danger and chaos!
2) The story. I texted Shelley like a mad woman when I read that Gwen had been letting this random guy visit her at night after meeting him once at a bar. Hold the phone, KA...what! An original idea, to say the least, but the practical part of me was still wondering where this chick's common sense was. When you meet Hawk, you figure that one out, but still she was dang lucky that he was a nice guy and not a serial killer! I also liked (and have confirmed this in book 2 and 3) that this series for KA has moved more toward a family driven dynamic and that has been fantastic!!
3) Gwen. I loved Gwen. She shares my love and appreciation for cookie dough, so she is definitely okay in my book. She brings the fashion in this one with her love of LBD's that Shelley mentioned and Jimmy Choo's, and had me cracking up because only she would worry about this in a dangerous situation. Out of all of KA's heroines, I think Gwen is the most glamorous if you will, and she was fun. Her family, yes even including Ginger, was hysterical and real. I always am a sucker for good nicknames and MM doesn't disappoint with her calling Hawk and the guys commandos. The real kicker was even when she realized she wasn't going to get Hawk shaken off, she still tried to be closed off because of her past experiences. It made me sad for her that her ex was such a jerk and made her doubt a good man when she finds one. I was a little jealous of her for all of the attention of the male variety that she was getting not including Hawk!
4) HAWK. Hawk is one of my absolute favorite heros from Kristen Ashley to date. About the time that he decides that he wants more with Gwen, she decides she is done, so he has to work a little harder to get her to see his side of things. He had me swooning all over the place by saying things like "For a year & a half, I missed out. Yep, I was missing out." Obviously for the sake of propriety that is the censored version, but having a smoking hot alpha commando decide that you are worth all of his attention and regrets that he waited so long makes my heart melt. And Shelley is right....their journey isn't an easy one. There are lots of ups and downs here, and like I said before family is the heart of this series, so don't be surprised if you shed a tear during this emotional rollercoaster. Hawk has secrets he's buried that made him Hawk and I found he is finding himself as much as Gwen learning to be herself.
*curtsy* I am so glad that we went ahead and started this series! Right now I am having the dilemma that there is only one book in it out...but don't know how much longer I can hold out to finish both!
Excellent review. I am ashamed to admit that I have never read a Kristen Ashley book (shocking considering how many books from this genre I have read). Mystery Man has actually been on my list of books to buy and after reading this review and some other rock chick reviews I feel I MUST read one of her books immediately! Which book out of all Kristen Ashely books you have read do you think I should start with?
ReplyDeleteI would definitely start with Rock Chick! & thanks!
ReplyDeleteI concur! Start with the Rock Chick series...so darn good!
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