Are you ready to meet the neighbors?
Neighbors by Stylo Fantome is NOW AVAILABLE & FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!
ONLY $0.99
**limited time only**
Blurb
Things a good neighbor can do for you:
1. Give you a cup of sugar
2. Let you borrow his lawnmower
3. Water your plants while you're on vacation
4. Make your eyes roll back in your head with his tongue
Katya Tocci has never paid much attention to who lives next door - her career always kept her too busy. She's a good girl, working her way to becoming the most sought after cake designer in all of San Francisco.
But even a good girl's gotta cut loose once in a while, right? So one fake dating profile later, and she's ready to tarnish her squeaky clean image. Little does she know, her fun time is closer to home than she ever imagined.
Throw in a neighbor who wants to corrupt her, and another who just wants to own her, and her entire world is flipped upside down.
Who knew neighbors could be so helpful?
Excerpt
It was no joke.
Liam had been waiting in the lobby for her at nine o'clock, sharp. Liam Edenhoff – “but everyone calls me Eden” – he'd introduced himself again to her before guiding her out to a taxi he'd had waiting.
She felt a little nauseous. She'd chugged down another half bottle of wine, and some crème de menthe, before heading downstairs to meet him. She'd almost talked herself out of going, but she'd made the mistake of telling her roommate Tori about the whole fiasco. Apparently, Katya owed it to women everywhere (and Tori in particular) to explore this opportunity to its fullest. She'd all but been shoved out the apartment, the door slammed and locked in her face.
“Nervous?” Liam Eden-whatever-his-name-was asked her as the cab slowed to a crawl.
“Nope,” Katya's voice sounded overly loud.
“Liar. Tonight is gonna be an interesting night, angel cake.”
“Stop calling me that.”
“What's your last name?”
“None of your business.”
“Okay then – when the gang bang starts, I'll tell them to call you Katya X.”
She couldn't stop the blush from happening that time. Liam burst out laughing, then soothed the sting by grabbing her hand.
Even when they got out of the cab, he didn't let go of her. Normally, she would've been uncomfortable with a stranger assuming such a familiarity with her, but this time, she was thankful for it. She held onto him tightly as they walked down a crowded street. Then they turned into an alley, and his gang bang joke didn't seem so funny. He led her to a plain door, above which a simple, small, neon sign spelled out “The Garden”. Outside were several small groups of people, chatting and smoking. Some of them called out greetings to him, all of them using his nickname, but a large and scary looking bouncer addressed him very properly.
“Hey, Mr. Edenhoff, wasn't expecting you in tonight. Any problems?”
“Nope, just bringing a friend to show her the place, let her see what I do for a living.”
All the blood was quickly rushing from Katya's limbs, pooling somewhere in her stomach. None of this was a joke. He really did own the place, that much was obvious.
As Liam led her through the door, though, Katya actually felt a surge of confidence. She was still nervous, still more than a little scared, but she was okay with it. Liam seemed like a nice guy, he wasn't going to take her into some dark room and insert foreign objects into her orifices. She could leave whenever she wanted to, whenever it got too uncomfortable. Everything was fine, and for once, she was doing something exciting. She'd have something interesting to talk about at work the next day.
Finally.
Review
RATING:
Well, well, well...
It occurred to me after reading this that despite owning several of Stylo's books, I've only read one other before this. Interestingly enough, it was enough for me to gravitate towards Stylo's works because even with just one book, I find that I like her writing style and the way she likes to twist things. Also, with other Goodreads friends enamored with some of her alphahole (alpha a$$hole:D) H's, I'd say, that's more than enough reason.
There are things that gave me conflicting feelings, but I'll point it out now that ultimately, I know for a fact that I would want to read the rest of this duet. Here's why:
First, I'm not a fan of this trope where there's more than 2 people involved. If I paid better attention to the blurb, I probably would have hesitated. But seeing this is Stylo, I want to know where she's gonna take these characters.
Second, and probably the part that gave me the most conflict, I didn't really agree with most of the characters' actions nor did I buy some of their feelings and thoughts. But I have to give credit because I feel like individually, Stylo actually gave me strong protagonists (and I kinda use that term loosely). From Katya's perspective, I suppose you can consider this her sexual awakening. I've come close to judging her a few times but to do so felt like slut-shaming her so I didn't want to go there. She did take risks. In the end though, I get where she's coming from, somewhat. To be that lost, I get the need to learn one's self better. Did I fully buy it? Hmmm...
Liam, the first spoke in the wheel, is funny, sweet and very easy-going. It's hard not to fall for him. He had the right personality to bring out the fun, risque side of Katya. Now, Wulfric, the second spoke in the wheel, you get your classic alpha H; your take-charge kinda' fella, closed off and fighting off feelings to hide his vulnerability, arrogant and rude but you get a peek of a softer side. It's hard not to want to be the woman to crack his veneer. But to put these 2 in the context of the relationship, neither one felt worthy.
Which bring me to my third point, the dynamics among these 3, while uneven, totally makes sense in my head. I laughed even when I was scratching my head. I bought the heat even when I'm confused and not buying the attraction fully. I started rooting for one even when I don't understand the attraction. And as much as I didn't want to root for the other, I felt like I should.
And finally, the fourth point. In the beginning especially, I couldn't make sense of what's happening. Then I thought I had some inkling as to where the conflict is gonna come from and whatever is lurking underneath. But then, I got too distracted seeing how things are playing out that I forgot my theories so by the end, the last 10% had my head spinning. And for Stylo to end it the way she did, I'm actually intrigued. I want to see how she would redeem these characters. I mean, that is, if she would... I'm not so sure anymore... How will you, Stylo? How?!?!
GAH!!!
And for that, I shall eagerly await... *thrums fingers*
About the Author:
Crazy woman from a remote location in Alaska (where the need for a creative mind is a necessity!), I have been writing since ... forever? Yeah, that sounds about right. I have been told that I remind people of Lucille Ball - I also see shades of Jennifer Saunders, and Denis Leary. So basically, I laugh a lot, I'm clumsy a lot, and I say the F-word A LOT.
I like dogs more than I like most people, and I don't trust anyone who doesn't drink. No, I do not live in an igloo, and no, the sun does not set for six months out of the year, there's your Alaska lesson for the day. I have mermaid hair - both a curse and a blessing - and most of the time I talk so fast, even I can't understand me.
Yeah. I think that about sums me up.
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~Leftie
(And I own a copy as well)
