Risking It

What starts as a mix-message- misunderstood one night stand leads Jane's quirky friend to outline a road trip for Jane which becomes high jacked by said misunderstood one night stand named Aiden. Jane and Aiden had a cute chemistry that they hid well as they quietly shared similar interests. Aiden can't exactly come out and say how he truly feels, thinks or his vast knowledge of the same classics that librarian Jane love without losing his man card- he thinks. Their road trip was very interesting as the sites they came across not only get the two of them completely entranced with their surroundings but also captured my interest to possibly visit this sites as well.

Aiden sees something with Jane if only he can convince her he is more than a playboy. Jane wants to enjoy a few hours of passion with a playboy but just can't separate her emotions for her sex drive. These two working it out is sexy and fun. Great read.

Risking It is the second delightful romantic comedy in the Stolen Moments series written by author Angela Quarles. I really liked this couple. Thanks to NetGalley and Season Publishing for the advance copy.

“Risking It’ is the sequel to “Earning It” and the second installment in the Stolen Moments series by Angela Quarles. So far, the series focuses on two members of an Irish Hurling team based in Sarasota, FL. And, while it could work as a standalone story, I strongly recommend reading them in order since the same people and events are referenced in both works and they go in chronological order. I found the series because I seriously adore Angela Quarles and am always eager to read her latest books. So, imagine my delight when I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review – THANK YOU! I can honestly say I flippin loved it!

This story focuses on Aiden and Jane. They had a one-night stand during the events of “Earning It” and are still feeling the repercussions when this story begins a few weeks later. So much so, that they’re each trying to work the other one out of their systems and move on, but fate has another plan. (Doesn’t it always!?!) They end up taking a road trip through Florida, punctuated by visits to roadside attractions that range from the wacky to the bizarre. All while coming to terms with their attraction. And, oh, how they come to terms.

I particularly enjoyed how they came to terms at the gazebo of confessions. That entire scene was spot on, for me. It really showcases how this story, and really Aiden and Jane themselves, have a joy and humor that were just FUN for the reader. They are constantly playing the good kind of games, making jokes, having word play, and making literary references that I enjoyed more than I probably should. Which, again, means Angela Quarles gets a giant hat tip for her writing style. She has a unique voice that I just adore. Considering the long-novella-esque length, I felt that the reader gets a lot of character development for Aiden and Jane, as well as the secondary characters. We really learned what made them tick, with lots of introspection and thinking about their feelings for the other person. So, the reader was shown by their actions AND told by their introspection what they felt for each other. Meaning that by the end, you are really rooting for them to find their Happily Ever After.

The story also heavily features the sport Irish Hurling and, after watching a few youtube videos, I am a huge fan. It is a mash up of field hockey, lacrosse, volleyball, rugby and pretty much every other contact sport you can think of. This sport, much like Angela Quarles writing style, is guaranteed to take you on a fun adventure. So, go give this series, and this book in particular, a read. You’re going to love it!

4.5 - "You're a talker, aren't you..?" Stars!

Risking It is the second book in Angela Quarles Stolen Moments series, I haven’t read its predecessor, and it can absolutely be read as a standalone.

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And what a treat my first read by this author was, I read Risking It in one sitting, which wasn’t a massive struggle because it was a short read, but it grabbed me from the beginning and I just couldn’t put Jane and Aiden’s book down.

This is a fun interlude with a player. Nothing more…

Road-Trip, that trope in itself is usually a pre-cursor to a good story-line, but Jane and Aiden have past form, in that they spent one night together in the week previous, but rather than getting their naked on, they spent the night watching films and cuddling up. Something, which although not his usual night time endeavour with a woman, leaves Aiden thinking that maybe there is life outside of casual hook-ups. Only problem being Jane pretty much cuts him off at the nuts the following morning and he is none the wiser as to why.

I’m not the outgoing va-va-voom type.

A comedy of errors and mishaps, eventually leads this couple to sharing a car on a road trip to Atlanta, and stopping at some pretty weird and wonderful sights on the way, as they travel you learn more about the both of them (great dual POV), and also Jane’s reasons why for not giving Aiden the time of day the morning after their film fest.

He’s so gorgeous but also so vulnerable, and I don’t know what to do with that…

This point for me was the only weak part of the story to be honest, considering Jane is a grown woman and not an inexperienced college student, but by the time it came to light I was so invested in seeing how things turned out between them I let it slide, it didn’t hurt that Aiden was an absolute sweetheart either!

I’m going to have a hard time letting him go. But I have to… This is just a fling.

I cannot wait for more from this series, I will definitely be looking to read the first book Earning It at some point, as well. This is an author I will certainly be looking to read a lot more from in the future.

"We’re going to have a lot of adventures together…"

Jane is an introvert in the truest sense of the word. Being around people - even her best friend - tires her out, and her idea of the perfect vacation is spending the day in bed reading. So when her best friend challenges her to a crazy roadside attraction road trip to get over a one-night stand, she agrees reluctantly, expecting that she’ll hurry through her daily itinerary and then spend the rest of the day reading in her hotel room. Until that one night stand misses his flight and ends up hitching a ride with her...

I loved Jane and Aiden together. I especially liked how Aiden respected Jane's introversion. I’ve read too many books where introverted characters are, basically, forced to interact as if they are extroverted people, which somehow magically “fixes” them. While this may hold true for some people, the thought of that gives this introverted person hives! As Aiden says,

“I’m tempted to coax her, but I have a hunch she needs to break through on her own, like those nature documentaries that show hatching babies and how they have to push through the shell on their own to gain the necessary strength to survive outside it.”

Aiden and Jane both have had past relationship issues that color their initial interactions, but as they check off their road trip attractions (Giant Potty Chair! Weird dinosaur statues!), their own attraction begins to break through. And, hoo boy, it’s hot!

My biggest complaint is that it's short - 254 pages according to my e-reader. This is the second book in the series, but it worked fine as a stand-alone for me.

Overall - this is a fun, sexy, quick read. I’ll definitely be looking up more books by this author!

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

WOW! I love a great romantic comedy, and this fabulous book certainly fit that category!
Jane has a “thing” for Aiden, and has for a while. Then that night happened, the night they were going to finally…. they fell asleep watching TV. Jane realizes, Aiden is never going to feel for her, the way she feels for him. Her friend forces her to take a road trip, visiting places that will make her get over Aiden. Starting at his bar, where she will burn……. Stop, no spoilers. But, how is she supposed to get over Aiden, when he sweet talks her into giving him a ride.
I LOVED watching Jane and Aiden fall for each other. Stop, by stop during their journey, they both realize that what they thought about what happened that night, may not be what actually happened.
Risking It, is the second book in Ms. Quarles Stolen Moments series. Each book can be read as a stand-a-lone.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It kept me hooked until the very last word. Thank heavens for vacations, because I could not put it down.
I was gifted with a copy of this wonderful book by the publisher, via NetGalley for my honest review. In my opinion, if you like a good rom/com, this book is definitely for you.
Thank you for reading my review.