~Blog Tour with Review~Tonic by Staci Hart

Tonic by Staci Hart Release Date: October 13^th Genre: Contemporary Romance

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, 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.

Excerpt:

“Let me see it.”

“What?” I blustered, caught off guard. “Stand up and turn around. I want to see it.” I was too surprised and caught up in the moment to refuse, so I stood and turned, laying my palms on the armrests as I faced the back of the chair.

One hand rested on my hip.

My heart stopped as I wondered what the hell I’d gotten myself into. I glanced over my shoulder, my gaze bouncing between his face —turned down too much to read —and his reflection in the speckled, antique mirror, which I couldn’t see much of either. His free hand moved to the waistband of my tailored pants, and his fingers hooked and tugged, pulling the band down low. His thumb ran over where I knew the tattoo was, and I felt his breath. Every place where we connected spoke to me of ownership. “You got this done here? In New York?” His voice was rough. Mine wasn’t much better. “Yeah. In Brooklyn.” “Let me cover it up for you. Give you something you’re proud of. Your skin …” He paused, and I wished I could see his face, read his mind. “This shouldn’t be here, not on you. Let me … I want to …” He had moved closer, his hand on my hip pulling me back into him slightly enough for me to not have noticed that the backs of my thighs were touching his, my back arched just enough, his breath hot. And then, he disappeared. I stood, finding my hands were trembling, wondering where I was and how I’d gotten there. The shop was mostly empty —no one had seen, not that it would have looked like much from the outside. But from where I stood, I felt every single deliberate move like a telegraph, telling me exactly what he wanted to do without him having to finish the sentence. His back was to me when I turned around, his face down —I couldn’t see it in the mirror over his cabinet of ink and needles as he dug around in the drawers, seemingly for nothing in particular. “Let me know if you want me to draw something up.” “Okay, I will.” I paused, not knowing what else to say, feeling like I should say something. But there was nothing that I could say. “Well, have a good night, Joel. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He nodded, glancing at me in the mirror. “See you, Annika.” I tried not to bolt out of the shop, but once outside, I admit it —I took off. I hauled up the stairs and into the office to grab my bag, grateful that Laney was already gone, and I texted my driver, asking him to pick me up a few blocks away so I could walk, put some distance between me and Joel, get the energy out of my body, through my legs and feet, into the pavement.

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Buy Links:

Amazon US / Amazon UK

FREE on Kindle Unlimited

About the Author:

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, 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.

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 reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.

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Tonic by Staci Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don’t think I’ve ever read any of this authors other books and after reading this I am wondering why the heck I haven’t. This author really knows how to write a story that just pulls you right in. I found myself addicted to reading the story of Joel and Annika, it was so, so good! The author really gives us an original storyline here. The way in which the story is written, in how perfect it is executed lets the reader know that the author really put her heart and soul into it. I love books that make you feel and this book does just that, the good, the bad, the happy, the sad, all of the emotions flowed from the pages.

Joel and Annika were like each other’s yin and yang. They were complete opposites and yet at the same time were perfect for one another. From the get go the sexual tension that quickly develops between Joel and Annika is off the charts, you’ll feel it as if you were one of the characters. They had great and intense chemistry and passion, there was lots of sexiness sprinkled throughout this book!

What can I say about Joel other than that I love him! Joel is this sexy/sweet yet alpha who knows what he wants, and that is Annika. I also enjoyed Annika’s character, she was a strong, independent woman who thought she knew what she wanted, until Joel comes along.

I don’t like spoilers so I am not going to give any of the storyline away. I will say that this was an addicting read, the story ended in a way that warmed my heart. Five stars all the way!


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