Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Stinger

Now, I’ve already read this story before so, I was very familiar with Grace and Carson, and I was so excited to see that this book got a new makeover which encapsulated the vibe and setting of the story. Grace Hamilton and Carson Stinger met at a moment in their lives when they were both in their twenties attending conventions for their respective careers. At the time, Grace was a law student attending a law convention for lawyers whereas Carson was attending the Adult Entertainment industry one since, he was an adult performer. Two completely different people and yet, despite their rocky start they couldn’t deny the chemistry between each other and opening up to one another about their deepest fears and secrets. This story had second chance romance, complete opposites, passionate romance, little bit of action/danger, and the beautiful writing style that always captures my attention by Mia Sheridan.

Reading this a second time around had me falling in love with both Grace and Carson all over again. I loved the conversations between Grace and Carson and I especially loved seeing how they truly brought each other happiness. Plus, I wasn’t complaining with the amount of sexual tension building since they moment they met! Talk about turning the heat up because, Carson definitely delivered on all the promises he made to Grace on that fateful Vegas weekend trip. Grace was so use to maintaining control in all aspects of her life so, when being with Carson, she was able to release the control and allow him to take charge which was both freeing and exciting for her. Carson the ever so charming handsome man was use to others appreciating his good looks and moves when it came to the adult entertainment industry so, when being with Grace it was the first time in a very long time that he felt a true connection to someone as well as feeling like Grace saw beyond the facade he usually portrayed as an adult entertainer.

I’m not going to lie, I loved the premise of a law student and an adult entertainer being the main romance of this story, especially since I’m pretty sure I had never read a storyline like Grace and Carson’s. Grace and Carson came from two different worlds, one which Grace prided herself on always working hard towards her education and eventually becoming a lawyer. While Carson found a somewhat big following as an adult entertainer, you could tell based on his recent successes, he wasn’t all that enthusiastic about his job, it was just a means to make a living. When Grace and Carson spent that weekend together in Vegas, it changed them in that they not only found happiness together, but experienced a significant connection that they would always remember, even years down the line when they eventually met again.

Again, for this being my second go around reading this book, I was LOVING IT! Mmmmm I love Carson, he was the MAN! He gave it his all, but also had this vulnerability to him that was explored throughout the story. Plus, Grace was such a sweet character whose determination and drive in becoming a lawyer as well as how she always sought to help her family was inspiring. So many fantastic aspects to this story that I was falling in love with all over again, and it made me feel nostalgic from when I first read it last year. Something about the raw passion and strong connection that Grace and Carson had was so beautiful and intriguing to me even already knowing how the story went, I was eating it all up!

The story not only covered the time from when Grace and Carson met in Las Vegas, but also five years later as well. During the five years they were apart, a lot had changed in both Grace and Carson’s lives. From Grace changing her law focus and becoming a prosecutor to Carson becoming a Navy Seal, and then going into private security for his friends casino/hotel in Las Vegas. Even with the years that had passed, both Grace and Carson never forgot about one another so, when they reunited all those feelings came rushing back full force and it was just like it once was, except for the fact that Grace was engaged to another man. One of the many intriguing aspects to Grace and Carson’s romance was the fact that their weekend together changed their lives significantly and seeing them in the place they were in was great, but also heartwarming to see them reunite again. With the added tension and desire still mixed in, it was a lot of Grace and Carson trying to navigate the new life they were in, but also deep down wishing they could be together.

I always love reading any book by Mia Sheridan, and with this story it once again stole my heart and had me intrigued all the way through. Grace and Carson started off on two completely different paths, and yet, found themselves sharing a special bond over the course of a weekend that would later stay with them for the following years. Not only was it great seeing Grace and Carson find their way back to each other, but also inspiring to see what they did in their time apart. The way back to each other also had its own share of challenges, but being back together Grace and Carson found the rhythm they once had. This book had its fair share of spice that was sexy, steamy, and passionate. Carson knew what he was doing, but on a more intimate level, his love story with Grace showed him that he was meant for more than just what he originally started off doing as well as changed the direction in which he approached sex as a whole. There was a lot of growth over the course of the story from Grace and Carson going after what they set out to do, and I admired that about them. Overall, I loved every second of this story even with the angst and sadness in some parts, it was a beautiful love story. I loved the way Grace and Carson got their happy ending and of course, the epilogue further cemented the absolute joy and abundance of happiness that Grace and Carson had together, love those two so much!

Content Warnings

lololovesthings's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

3 stars.

Mia Sheridan has been hit or miss for me, and "Stinger" falls somewhere in the middle of the pack. My main complaint is that this book is far too long and pretty dang repetitive. I enjoyed the character development that main characters Grace and Carson both exhibit, but their self-improvement and self-discovery does happen very quickly and seems far too hefty for a single weekend together. Once Grace and Carson part after their whirlwind Las Vegas weekend together, they both change in ways that were influenced by the other. Years later, will they get their second chance? I like Mia Sheridan's banter and (most of her) spice (but I wish she'd stop saying "core" so dang much!!!), but something in her writing style leaves a lot left to be desired. It's a little...pedestrian, perhaps? It's like her stories are supposed to be substantive with these big grand reveals, but almost always wind up feeling very basic, and in this case, kind of cringey. Maybe I just didn't resonated with the story and these characters. It all felt a little too implausible for me. It starts off really strong, and I really enjoyed the first portion of the story, but Sheridan keeps adding one scenario after scenario that left me with raised eyebrows. I also hated how judgmental Grace was about Carson being an adult film star early on in the story. She is happy to reap the benefits of his profession, but shames him about it multiple times in the process. Not very progressive if you ask me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mia Sheridan, and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated in any way for my review.

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nickypizarro's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I pride myself on being able to predict how books and movies are going to play out. Boy was I wrong time and time again while reading this one. Each page brought an unexpected layer to the story, making this book stand out for me. Grace is described as the girl with a plan while Carson is the more carefree character but one weekend changes all of that for them. While I wasn't the biggest fan of the judgment on his early career choice, I know this is common. Overall I liked how both Carson and Grace grew up separately over time before realizing they should be together. The weekend was a huge catalyst in both of their lives. Sometimes it really is the right person, wrong time. The way Mia used this book to also shed light on a huge issue like human trafficking is admirable. I really hope there are some Carson's out there in this world trying to fight that battle just as passionately as he is alongside his team.

3/5 Spice Level
TWs are mild to moderate.

While I received an ARC of this book, my thoughts are all my own.

Content Warnings

bribreez's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

*POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD! & LOOK UP TRIGGER WARNING

Whether Grace Hamilton wanted to admit it or not, she had always strived for perfection. Being the dutiful, responsible daughter, making sure she got the highest grades in school, attending the best school for her dreams of becoming a lawyer. Everything that Grace did had been meticulously planned out in her mind, and she always needed to maintain control of everything in life because, she wanted to ensure everything went according to her plan. Carson Stinger on the other hand was the kind of guy who flew by the belt of his pants, just going with the flow, and very laid back. Carson was aware of how he looked and used it to his ability, especially considering his line of work in the adult entertainment industry. Grace and Carson were complete opposites, and yet one day while both were in Las Vegas for different conferences gave them the opportunity to meet.

I liked the differences between Grace and Carson. Something about opposites attract is one of those tropes I enjoy because, you get to not only see the differences between the characters, but also how they affect one another. For Carson, since he was so laid back he was able to show Grace how to let loose, have fun, and in some ways see that there was more to life than just planning out her life. Not to mention, Carson had offered to “teach” Grace a few things in the pleasure department so that way she would be prepared in the future for her future boyfriend/ husband. For Grace, she was able to give Carson a renewed sense of joy that he hadn’t felt in such a long time. In the short time that Grace and Carson met, they formed a connection that was equal parts steamy, fun, and deep.

Grace had her reasoning behind why she was so dead set on maintaining stability in her life. After the loss of her brother due to him getting sick from Cancer, Grace had then taken on the role of making sure she didn’t cause any trouble, and tried to alleviate any stress for her Dad when she was younger. A lot of that from a young age changed Grace’s outlook on life, and it made sense why she wanted to control every aspect of her life. Being with Carson, Grace was able to enjoy herself and even relax in terms of her responsibilities. In addition, Grace was able to experience true pleasure and passion with Carson. While Grace wasn’t inexperienced when it came to intimacy, her time with Carson showed her all that she was missing out on, feeling the truth depths of passion, steamy, breathless kisses, and overall learning to enjoy herself both in her body and mind.

Carson was someone that I was curious about from the beginning. Considering Carson’s line of work, I wondered why he was still in the adult entertainment industry if he wasn’t fully happy in it to begin with. As the story progressed, Carson opened up about himself and the reasoning to which led to him being an adult entertainer. Hearing what Carson thought about Grace, how happy he felt around her was so sweet and uplifting especially since he hadn’t felt that kind of connection with someone ever. I really liked how Grace and Carson brought open parts of themselves they didn’t know they were capable of. Carson may have initially judged Grace as someone to be “high and mighty”, but in the time they spent together, Carson realized that Grace wasn’t like that.

The chemistry between Grace and Carson was passionate, steamy, and endearing. For Carson, being around Grace made him feel more significant, like he was more than just a man with his good looks and body. Carson was well aware of his good looks and for the longest time, just went along with it, but after meeting Grace, he felt like he had more to offer than just his physical attributes. I felt bad when I read the parts of how fans of Carson treated him like he was a “piece of meat”, he was so much more than that, and not to mention just because he worked in the adult entertainment industry didn’t mean that others had an automatic right to his body, that wasn’t fair. Grace was attentive, kind, and loving towards Carson in a way he had never experienced. All in all, seeing Grace and Carson together was lovely and I loved seeing Carson felt a genuine love and respect form between him and Grace.

Once again, Mia Sheridan knows how to not only write a captivating story, but also turns a seemingly straightforward plot, and puts a twist on it. At first, I just thought this was going to be a story about how Grace explored her sexuality with Carson, and Carson got to turn Grace from just the “perfect” girl into embracing her inner desires. This story was so much more than that, with the story separated into the three parts of the Scorpion as mentioned before the story started, it highlighted the different phases in the overall story between Grace and Carson. Carson and Grace not only fell in love with each other over the short time they spent together that weekend in Las Vegas, but it was a significant turning point for Carson, and made him reevaluate his life. Towards the middle half of the book was when the gears started to shift and I saw that this wasn’t your typical “boy meets girl” romance story. I really liked seeing the change in direction that Carson took with what he wanted to do in life, and of course I couldn’t help but feel a little sappy that Carson just wanted to be a better man for Grace.

This story also ended up spanning over a couple of years, further illustrating the changes in both Carson and Grace’s lives. Carson becoming a Navy SEAL was unexpected, but also admirable, he changed his life course, and it seemed like it benefited him, he had structure, made some new friends, and pushed himself beyond limits he didn’t know he was capable of. I really admired Carson’s change, but also seeing him in a new light made me appreciate him more. I wasn’t expecting the level of danger and mystery that was later revealed in the story, but it added more depth to the plot, and of course provided Grace and Carson to be reunited. Seeing Grace and Carson back together after so many years apart was heartwarming yet also had a layer of sadness to it considering that Grace was engaged to another man *sad face for Carson. Regardless of the circumstances that brought them back into each other’s lives, there was still hope for Grace and Carson.

Wow, simply wow. This story wasn’t unexpected in the best way possible. Grace and Carson’s story was truly unique and took me by surprise at what I had initially thought this story would be about. The story spanned over the course of five years, and between the time Grace and Carson first met to being reunited years later was so beautiful and loving. There were some obstacles in the way before they fully got back together, but once they found their way back into each other’s lives, it was a done deal. The chemistry, romance, and deep connection between Grace and Carson was great. I liked the mystery and finding out exactly what Carson had been up to following his leave from the Navy. This story had the added level of danger, and with that had mentioned some heavy topics so please check trigger warnings for this book. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and with the way the story ended it tied everything up perfectly and of course the epilogue further illustrated the heartwarming ending that Grace and Carson got together, awww so happy!

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