BOOK REVIEW ~ NO FLOWERS REQUIRED BY CARI QUINN

Blurb from Goodreads

Release date: August 23, 2012

Title: No Flowers Required  (Book Two, Love Required)

Author: Cari Quinn

Copy of eBook purchased by reviewer

Flower shop owner Alexa Conroy had it all before the recession hit and her customers fled to cheaper shopping grounds. Desperate to make ends meet, she sells her dream home and moves into the rundown apartments above her shop. When she spots six feet of sexy distraction—complete with muscles, piercings, and tattoos—ripping up flooring, Alexa knows the karmic windfall she’s due just landed on her doorstep.

And the attraction’s definitely not one-sided.

Dillon James, reluctant heir to the corporation about to foreclose on Alexa’s shop, is not about to jeopardize their scorching chemistry by admitting he’s not the building’s handyman. But with only weeks until her business goes under and his identity is revealed, Dillon must find a way to convince Alexa cooperation isn’t a dirty word, help her save the shop from his brother’s greed, and persuade her that he’s not the enemy...or risk losing the only woman who’s seen the real him.        

This was my first time reading Cari Quinn, and let me just say now--it will NOT be my last. This book grabbed me by my hoohah almost instantly and did not let go the entire time. I swear, I love it when you hit the gold mine with a fantastic read that leaves you breathless, panting, and wanting more.

Dillon James has the ultimate UNGH factor: tatts, shaved head, piercings, and sexy, mouth-watering tatts...OH...I already mentioned those, my bad. It was like Cari peeked inside my pervy mind and found the kind of man that literally makes weep with joy. I fell for him, HARD. He has such a quick wit, charming smile, and loves to work with his hands. He is not just the outer package, although after my lady party imploded and slowly recovered, I fell for his softer side as well.

Let me back up the hormonal express a bit--I do tend to get carried away when one such as Dillon has literally swept me off my feet.

Dillon James and his brother Cory, will both inherit their family's business, Value Hardware. A fact that Dillon has struggled to accept and come to terms with for quite a while. In fact, the once close relationship he had with his brother is now strained, although he still loves his family deeply.

Dillon sees things so differently than his sibling. Where Cory is all about the bottom line and the almighty dollar, Dillon likes to think about how things will effect the environment. And how he can make a difference for those all around, not just make the biggest bang for the biggest buck. He also has been making the necessary repairs to the aging apartments in the building owned by him and his brother.

Alexa Conroy is experiencing the worst day of her life. Not only has she had to sell her dream home, she now has to live in the crappy apartment above her flower shop. To top off the shitty day of her shitty sundae, the sink doesn't work and she's now a soaking mess in her Christian Louboutin's and a very sexy handyman has her flustered feeling and very turned on.

All of her anger is placed at the feet of the Value Hardware and its owner. The flower shop she now runs after the previous owner's death is drowning in a sea of red--debts that seem to never end and customers that never seem to come. Her life as she once knew it is O.V.E.R. But she refuses to give up the good fight.

And the sexy handyman? Oh, she knows that somehow he can make her forget all her money problems...what harm can a little fling do a gal, right?

Dillon is taken by the drenched little vixen and doesn't correct her when she assumes she is the handyman for the apartment. And later, when Alexa expresses her extreme dislike for all things related to his family's business, he decides to keep his identity a secret. He doesn't want to lose the chance for hooking up with this very interesting, very sexy woman. And later, he finds himself wanting to give her that extra boost of confidence she needs to make her business not only survive--but thrive.

What follows is a great read that although you know what's gonna happen...you so enjoy the ride to its completion. In fact, I am now dying for Cory's story. That man soooo has it coming, I'm telling you. And I wanna front seat.

Dillon and Alexa's chemistry is off-the-charts explosive and what makes it work for me is the emotions that Cari packs with the sex. If you just write about the mechanical aspects of sex, it somehow falls flat and it feels off. But Cari does a superb job of not only setting your girly bits on fire, she also makes your heart soar with the emotions that she pens with it. Let me give you an example of Cari's uber talented way with words:

He'd become her canvas and her fingers were her paintbrush. She sketched every ridge of muscle, every line of bone. And then the column of his cock,wedged tight into his jeans. She touched him with confidence and skill, the kind that would soon have him driving his hands into her hair and pushing her to her knees if she didn't stop.

Need more?

He pumped two fingers into her and sucked on the side of her neck, dimly realizing he would mark her skin. Some petty, elemental part of him wanted to brand her. For this fleeting moment, he could call her his. And he could make sure she saw him on her when she looked in the mirror tomorrow, no matter what she told herself about what they'd been to each other.

Her pleasure seeped into his skin, torturing him more than the divots of driving rain he shielded her from.

Sigh....can you now see what I love this man?


I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED this book and now I must go back and read the first of this series, No Dress Required.

Oh, Cari, love--you have acquired a new fan.