Title: Tonic
Author: Staci Hart
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Release Date: October 13, 2016
Blurb
Joel Anderson doesn’t take anything seriously.
Not his relationships, which have been few and far between since his brutal divorce. Not the drama of working in a tattoo parlor, which seems to be around every corner. When things get him down, he smiles and cracks a joke. But he’s not the kind of man you cross, or you’ll find yourself at the wrong end of his fists.
Annika Belousov takes everything seriously.
Like her job as a reality television producer, given that she typically has something to prove. Or her love life, which is defined by a series of requirements — affluent, ambitious, accomplished, to name a few. Definitely her family, who worked their whole lives to afford her every opportunity, a sacrifice she doesn’t take lightly. When she’s tapped to produce a reality show at Joel’s shop, she doesn’t think twice, just goes in for the kill, as if there were any other way.
The second Annika walks into Joel’s shop, he makes it his mission to crack her open, but she’s not having it. He’s all wrong — too crass, too hairy, too un-serious. But it doesn’t take her long to find out there’s more to him than smirks and tattoos. And what she finds could put her career and his heart on the line.
Not that Joel cares. Because for the first time in a long time, he’s found his tonic.
ADD TO GOODREADS
☆☆☆☆4.0 "Zvezda Moya" STARS!!!☆☆☆☆
“My star. She is moonlight, starlight, the light in the dark. She is my hope. She is what I leave behind.” I found myself unable to speak. “But she burns hot. It is not always easy. I know this. But her light is good and true. Her light is worth getting burned to hold."
Tonic is one of those books I am so excited to read. With the buzz going on about a Bestie Release, I am curious as to how it will turn out and at the same time interested as to what the book is all about. And with that COVER! Count me in!!!
When A Love Letter to Whiskey was angsty filled, Tonic is a light hearted, romantic comedy read. So Yes, it's a PERFECTbestie release since these two books just complemented each other well.
It follows the story of Joel, The Hairy Fucking Guy and Annika, the Ice queen. Two opposite poles yet complemented each other so much that just screams EXPLOSIVE!!! Started of as a reality tV show, these two just had an undeniable chemistry and an off the charts attraction. It is evident first with Joel with his insta-lust to Annika. Joel, the hairy fucking guy, that was sooo damn alpha, sexy yet funny and caring I have been swooning and lusting for him. And the fact that he's sooo much older than Annika?Hoot!!Another plus points that just got me sizzling to the bones. But, in as much as I love Joel, I do not think it's his show. Annika is the center of attraction. She STOLE it and she OWNED it with confidence, FRIGID BITCH be damn!
The woman at her side was tall and blond, with skin like a porcelain dish brimming with cream. Wide-set, big eyes with icy irises assessed me coolly, dark lashes long. Her nose was pert, just a button, though her lips were wide, just like her eyes. She looked like a doll, a cold, beautiful doll that belonged on a shelf where no man should touch her.~Joel
Joel and I made no sense. He was charming and annoying and bossy and hairy and all wrong. He was everything I wasn’t. He was everything I’d tried to avoid in my life. He was the opposite of what I needed, of what fit into my plan. And that was exactly why I had to put him out of my mind, put him into a safe, lock it up, and throw away the key. But even though my mind tightened up the reins, my heart whispered the assent, too soft for my mind to notice.~Annika
More often than not, it was usually the hero that me betting on the book. But Staci just portrayed Annika's character briliantly. She's a strong woman and knows what she wants and she's perfect for Joel. They are two opposites, but you damn well know that OPPOSITE ATTRACTS and their's is more than that. These two burned each other. Every single hot scenes is scorching. It got me fanning. Even the push and pull that usually annoys me, heightened my excitement and just made me even more interested in the story. In fact it feels even so real and made me rooting for them more.
Snow was cold, fire was hot, and I couldn’t walk away from Annika like I’d promised her I would. The facts were as black and white as math, with no room for debate. I wondered fleetingly if we would ruin each other. If my fire would melt her ice until it evaporated. If her ice would snuff my fire out of existence.
And just like any other story, conflict really will arise. As for Annika, it was choosing between her career she worked so hard for or the man she has fallen for. For Joel, it was the trust he'd given that was broken. Betrayals and lies that destroyed everything. It had me gutted. That moment when you thought everything's gonna be fine but turned out messier instead of ironed out. And how Annika handled it, made me love her even more. How they played it is annoying and frustrating but man does it feel so real.
To sum up, the book is really good. I may have issues with the consistency of the pacing but that never stopped me from reading the book. I enjoyed it. It is page turner that had me giggling, laughing, swooning and even crying. Staci's writing is brilliant and her use of words is excellent.
A must read!
They say opposites attract and those words have never been more true about Joel and Annika. A tatted up cocky hero that knows what he wants and a ice queen herione that prides herself in putting fear into the male population. But when these two get together, it's about to be an entire set of new rules.
Joel Anderson has worked hard for the past seventeen years making his tattoo shop into a successful business. He loves his job, seeing a client's expression on their face the moment he finishes a work of art on their skin, is something he would never get tired of looking at.
Being approached to have his own reality show along with his workers, Joel agrees to enter the world of the unknown and along with that comes the uptight executive producer who he's determined to break her shell.
" I then decided two things
One: My new mission in life was to make her laugh.
Two: I'd crack her open if it was the last thing I did.
Can Joel and Annika build something real together? Or will they ruin each other in the proccess?
Annika is a woman that doesn't take crap from anyone. She's learned early on the business she's in that weakness is not allowed and after years of perfecting her craft, she's now one of the most respectful woman in her line of work. Now an executive producer for Joel's show, she's determined to get her job done and not fall for him. But Joel has other plans and you know what? So does Annika.
"Three steps and I was in his arms.
Two heartbeats and I looked into his eyes
One breath and I kissed him.
I have to say I really liked the reality tv show set up. It added a certain element to the story and Joel was a hero you couldn't help but fall in love with and everything he did.
What's a reality show without some form of drama right?
Buuuuuut...... this is where it got complicated for me. Although I really did enjoy part of it, I felt like certain scenes moved too slow for me and I wanted more to happen. That being said, I think if you enjoy a different setting and love a sweet alpha, then this one is for you.
Purchase Links
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Author Bio
Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life: a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can't forget that. She's also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She's been a wife, even though she's certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She's also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she's been drinking whiskey. Her favorite word starts with f and ends with k.
From roots in Houston, to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's sleeping, cleaning, or designing graphics.
From roots in Houston, to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's sleeping, cleaning, or designing graphics.
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