Tonic by Staci Hart Review
5 Smooches
Synopsis
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, to 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.
Review
Staci Hart never ceases to surprise me and Tonic was just that; fresh new and surprising I loved every moment of it.
‘Something about her made me feel reckless, more reckless than usual. ‘
I was lucky enough to read an early copy of Tonic and from the start I knew that Joel and Annika were going to be something else. Polar opposites in every way and yet somehow together they just worked. Typically, characters like Annika’s are not my favorite. She was cold, stern and serious and still somehow Staci made sure we saw her softness and made it impossible not to fall in love with her. Then there is Joel, older, bearded and tattooed with a fun outlook on life you cannot help but be drawn into him. They brought out the worst in each other and the best in each other. They had an intense fire between then which melted her ice façade and only served to make him sexier than he was before. I loved them.
‘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.’
Staci did a phenomenal job of building Joel and Annika’s relationship, friendship and chemistry. I was on edge waiting for it to all come to the surface. But no fear, there is an epically sexy and amazing first kiss. So much sexual tension was in the air in the build up to them finally kissing that when it finally happens and the sexual tension dams break there is a flood of desire that finally comes to the surface. I was in awe of that kiss. It was what all first kisses should be.
‘And then I did the unthinkable. I pushed my brain down the trash chute, let go of that doorknob, and spun around.
Three steps and I was in his arms.
Two heartbeats and I looked into his eyes.
One breath and I kissed him.’
Tonic is a deviously sexy standalone with characters you’ll that takes place in a tattoo shop and really who doesn’t love a tattoo shop. I highly recommend this sexy and fun book (with a good dash of drama) to all readers. I loved it and know you will too.
~miranda
