Joy Ride (Big Rock #5)

Lauren Blakely has done it again. She has crafted a book so fun, so flirty, so sexy, and so absolutely perfect that it I *had* to devour it in just one sitting. Buckle up tight, readers, and prepare to go on one hell of an amazing ride with Max and Henley.

Max, oh my Max. He is such a deliciously sexy hero. There is a little extra fierceness to him that I really, truly enjoyed. I loved watching him fight his attraction to Henley so hard-only to lose the battle so spectacularly. He’s intensely passionate about his work and about his life in general. He works hard, he plays hard and watching him try to balance that with having feelings for Henley had me on the edge of my seat. Seeing this “guy’s guy” maneuver his way through the twists and turns of falling in love? Priceless.

Henley Rose is positively perfect. She’s tough, yet sweet. Strong, but vulnerable at the same time. I appreciated how she hustled to make her own name for herself in a business that is clearly male dominated. I loved that she could go toe to toe with Max and hold her own-I love seeing strong female characters and nobody writes strong and sweet heroines like this author can. The way we get to see what Henley is thinking is unique and fun as well.

The tension between Max and Henley had been idling for years while they were apart, humming below the surface, just waiting for one of them to finally hit the gas and go for it. Their playful banter, their game of innuendo had me torn between wanting them to finally be together and drawing out the tension even more. I must say that their first kiss was quite possibly the hottest, sexiest first kiss I’ve read….and the rest of their sexy times live up to that first kiss.

The pace of this book is perfect. The writing is sharp, witty and at times perfectly dirty. There was a really fun twist in this book that had me laughing as well-but I’ll let you figure that out when you read it. However, what this author does so incredibly well here (and in all of her books) is showcase the realness of a relationship. It’s not all sex, all the time-not even in the honeymoon stage of the relationship. It’s taking the time to take care of the person you love-whether that means spending time soaking in a claw foot tub or taking dance lessons together. It’s making mistakes and learning from them and choosing to move past things instead of dwelling on them.

This is a standalone book but it does have moments where other characters from previous books make an appearance. I personally love, love, love when the author does this. (You definitely don’t need to have read the other books to understand who these characters are or anything…but I do recommend them all) Seeing Chase and Josie again made perfect sense since Chase is Max’s brother but I was delighted to see other favorites as well-Nick, Harper, Natalie, Wyatt and Charlotte and Spencer. I couldn’t have wiped the smile off my face when they reappeared if I wanted to-and I really, really didn’t want to. This also gives us an opportunity to meet some future feature characters as well which is great.

Joy Ride is an absolutely perfectly crafted book. Max Summers and Henley Rose are royalty in the custom car business but it’s Lauren Blakely who is the Queen of hot, sexy, funny and flirty writers. This book proves again why she’s a one click author for me. If I could rate this book higher than 5 stars I absolutely would.

“Life is short. Savor it now.”

I was hooked on Max from the first paragraph of the prologue. He had me at guilty pleasure…or rather, not feeling guilty about pleasure. My kind of man. But then again, what Lauren Blakely man has not been my kind of man??? I don’t think there’s been one I haven’t completely fallen for, but I’m not sure it’s happened quite this fast!

Max has been living and enjoying his life one one-night stand at a time, until Henley Rose Marlow comes tap, tap, tapping on her stiletto heels back into his life. She’s the one who got away, or rather, she’s the one he let get away five years ago when he fired her, before he was ever even able to reconcile his feelings for her. And now that she’s back in town old feelings, long held grudges, and devilish temptations all come roaring back to the surface. She’s working for the enemy now and Max can’t let his desire for her cloud his judgement. But when they’re thrown together to work on a project, all his rules get thrown right out the window.

Chock-full of the witty banter, fun, and sexiness I’ve come to love and expect from a Lauren Blakely book, Joy Ride was a complete joy to read!

Just when I think Lauren Blakely couldn’t give us another man to fall for she proves everyone wrong.
Max Summers is just that man. King of Custom Cars in the city. The man everyone turns too when they want the job done. But when it comes to woman Max doesn’t do more than a night but when you probably let the right one go years ago circumstances might just be want you need.
Henley Marlowe a fantastic custom car builder in her own right but she still is annoyed about what happened all those years ago but when a project brings you together can you let the past be just that and can you see into a future that just might work out for everyone.
The chemistry between Max & Henley is Absolutely Fantastic on every level, personal, emotional and even in business but can they make all of them come together. You definitely want to take that ride with them and it just might bring you the joy that it brings the two of them.
If you are looking for a book that will leave you with a smile on your face and another Blakely Boy to add to your ladder than don’t hesitate to one click Joy Ride.

Joy Ride continues the sensational interwoven series – that is not a series – by the fabulous Lauren Blakely.

Told predominately in male perspective, Joy Ride, showcases Max Summers, brother to Chase from Full Package. Max is at the top of his game, a highly sort after custom car mechanic and relationship free. When a career opportunity of a life-time forces Max to confront the ghost of apprentice’s past and the only woman to have truly gotten under Max’s skin.

Henley is an amazing character, a force to be reckoned with in a male dominated career; Henley’s passion for custom cars matches Max’s. Only five years ago Max fired her from his garage due to one silly but costly mistake. Max and Henley did not part of the best of terms and the underlying attraction between them added to the friction. In fact, the mutual attraction can be blamed for the distraction leading to the rift in their working relationship.

Working together gives them a chance to bury the hatchet and put the past behind them. While any relationship between Max and Henley is no longer taboo there is still the issue of their careers coming between them, essentially they are competitors in the same arena. Even though it is obvious from the start that Max and Henley have different specialities. Having to keep certain aspects of their careers hidden creates an air of distrust between Max and Henley that is difficult to overcome due to their past.

While the story is told from Max’s perspective it is Henley who really stands out within the plot. I completely adored how Henley embraced her feminine side outside of her job. It would be so easy to fall into the masculine role assigned to certain careers. Henley is a complete smart-ass and can banter with the best of them. The way in which Max and Henley needled and pocked at each other acted as an aphrodisiac to their already simmering pheromones.

The way in which the plot played out swept you along with Max and Henley, it wasn’t forced with only the minimum amount of angst but when the chips are down Max really came through in the sweetest of ways.

Who else wants a Callimico Monkey?

Max used to be Henley’s boss so when they are forced to work together on a TV show, sparks fly. Turns out these two are majorly attracted to each other and secretly in love with each other too. Beautiful story that becomes extremely hot!! Well worth reading.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member