Reviewer: Tracy The Girl He Needs by Kristi Rose
Series: No Strings Attached #1
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: July 5th 2016
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Series Rating:
The safe choice can be the riskiest of all…
Ever since her beloved older brother disappeared after an accident, Josie Woodmere’s been on a mission to find him—and maybe herself—along the way. That’s meant leaving her pampered, parent-approved life behind. Two years, four moves, and a body piercing later, she’s finally got a lead on her brother’s whereabouts, and she’s headed to Florida. She didn’t plan to ditch her sputtering car and accept a ride from Brinn McRae. But she didn’t plan to be attracted to a straight-laced guy like him either, much less land in his hometown, Daytona Beach…
A self-made man with a tough past, Brinn is a workaholic who allows very little room for pleasure—until he meets Josie. Their powerful chemistry is a distraction neither wants, yet neither can resist. Hoping they can burn it off, Brinn agrees to a no-strings arrangement. But they can only hide their deepening feelings for so long—until a disaster strikes, exposing truths that threaten to ruin everything…
Now, not only will Josie have to contend with the troubling secret her brother has finally revealed—she’ll have to convince Brinn she’s more than a rich girl playing at being free. This time, she’s playing for keeps.
Josie was raised with money and expected to do what her parents wanted her to do – which was to become a lawyer. She made it through law school but never took the bar. Her brother Will got into an auto accident and the day after he was released he left home. Josie decided one day that she couldn’t conform to her parents’ cookie cutter life and left. Since that time she’s been moving from place to place trying to find Will. She gets info that he’s living in Florida so packs her bags, walks out on her job at a motel and heads to Florida. Her car promptly breaks down. She gets lucky in that two brothers, Vann and Brinn, that were staying at the motel she worked at recognize her and stop on the side of the road to give her a ride.
Once in Daytona she quickly gets a job as a bartender in a local pub and befriends the owner’s daughter, Jayne. She also runs into Brinn again which she loves as she finds him incredibly attractive. Josie decides she needs a second job and coincidentally ends up at the flight school where Brinn teaches. The pair can’t seem to deny each other and soon Josie comes up with a plan – a no strings attached relationship that lasts until it’s time for her to move on. Brinn quickly agrees. The problem with no strings attached relationship is that inevitably one of the participants gets attached – or in this case both of them. Josie and Brinn try to keep things on a sexual level but they become friends as well and soon you can see the feelings growing between the two of them.
While Josie’s confused about her relationship with Brinn she’s found her brother but he seems to keep pushing her away. She hurt and confused and just wants the boy that was her best friend back. Will eventually tells Josie some hard truths about himself that are life-changing and Josie’s not sure she’ll be welcome in his life. Josie starts thinking of staying in one place and putting down some roots but between her changing relationship with Brinn and the revelation from Will Josie’s not sure she’ll be welcome to stay by either man.
This was a sweet book that still had a fair amount of angst. I really liked Josie. I was kind of put off by her after the first page and read how she’d been treating people for the past couple of years, I must admit. Soon after that, however, I started to understand her a little better. She was a good person and had just been a bit messed up for the past two years trying to find herself and her brother. Brinn (who I really liked as well) was good for her. Yes, she made him look at life a little differently as he seemed like such a stuffed shirt, but he did wonderful things for her as well. Their relationship was pretty easy-going and sex filled (which was hot) but it also had a tranquil quality to it that was a bit unexpected. They found peace with the other person and I loved how the author portrayed that.
The situation with Will was heartbreaking. I felt so bad for everyone involved and hoped that things worked out for the two of them. I can’t tell you more about Will’s problems as it would give too much away but suffice it to say that it’s a very common issue.
Overall it was a good book and left me quite satisfied at the end with the conclusion. I was quite happy with how Brinn and Josie worked things out and how they were getting on with their lives.
Rating: 4 out of 5