Wednesday, February 26, 2014

REVIEW and GIVEAWAY: SOME LIKE IT WILD by M. LEIGHTON

Some Like It Wild (The Wild Ones, #2)Series: The Wild Ones #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: 3/4/14

Format: eARC
Pages: 384
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 stars


First was The Wild Ones. Now, the next book in M. Leighton's Wild Ones series...

How far will a good girl go for the bad boy she loves?

Laney Holt is a preacher’s daughter. A good girl. Her only goal was to get married, have babies, and live happily ever after, just like her parents. Only that didn’t happen. The two people closest to her betrayed her, and Laney’s dreams came crashing down. Now she’s left with an empty space she doesn’t know how to fill. Until she meets Jake Theopolis, a daredevil with a death wish who has heartbreaker written all over him.

Jake has no interest in thinking beyond the here and now. All he wants out of life is the next rush, the next “feel-good” thing to keep his mind off the pain of his past. His latest rush? Showing Laney there’s more to life than being a good girl—and that going bad can be so much fun. Her only concern now is how she can ever hope to satisfy the wild side of a boy like Jake. She’s looking forward to trying. And so is Jake.

 

The Wild Ones was such a terrific novel, and my favorite book of M. Leighton's to date. When I learned Wild Child was about Rusty and Jenna, I wondered whom the remaining books in the series would be about. But then I met Jenna's brother Jake, and read the prologue of Some Like It Wild, and became excited again. Some Like It Wild is a good girl-meets-bad boy love story, told with Leighton's signature passionate style.
 
The story begins four years in the past, when Jake has a brief but memorable encounter with naïve preacher's daughter, Laney Holt. Fast forward to the present, and Laney is much the same, with the exception of having her heart broken by her soon to be-fiancé and her best friend. Laney is tasked with helping assess Jake's inherited property, but the interactions soon veer to the personal side. Laney wants to spread her wings, not live her life in such a limited capacity. Jake wants to reconnect with the beautiful young woman who tasted like peaches. *smirks*
 
Jake Theopolis is this book's bad boy, but as it turns out, he's a really good guy. What makes Jake bad? Nothing at all, actually. You know that old(-ish) song from Tim McGraw "Real Good Man" (I may be a real bad boy, but baby I'm a real good man...)? That song kind of fits Jake to a T. Jake is a hard-working man intent on saving his family's orchard from his greedy aunt. He likes to have a good time, and thus far has not found a woman who's made him want more than the physical. It quickly becomes obvious that Jake finds himself unlovable. At first I was thinking, "Oh no, another one of those guys.", and throughout much of the story, that angle wasn't explained. What happened to make Jake so adverse to loving anyone? Thankfully, that question was answered, and I found it to be very sad and very understandable. Poor Jake.
 
Laney is the good girl, but she's not an annoyingly perfect heroine. She's good, but she's not exactly an angel. I liked seeing her embrace a more carefree style, and enjoy being young and beautiful, with a hot man who's bound to set her body on fire. Having said that, at the beginning, her inability to talk to her parents about what went wrong with her fiancé confused me. And I did not even begin to understand the WTF-ery that was going on with her best friend and that jerk and why she was even giving them the time of day. But apparently Laney's a better person than I could ever be because I would have set those two assfaces world's on fire. In the end, she was a sweet girl and I enjoyed experiencing her journey.
 
Some Like It Wild was also a very, very steamy story. I know, I know, you're shocked. M. Leighton does have a talent for writing very juicy romance, and I have to say, Jake and Laney took whole-hearted advantage of that. I did feel at times that their love revolved more around the physical than getting to truly know each other. I think that may be because a lot of the emotional connection happened off the page. But yeah, I really, really liked the physical. A lot.
 
I really liked Some Like It Wild. It was sexy, it was fun and in the end, Laney and Jake's love story got to me. The very end definitely appealed to the romantic in me. We do get a teeny tiny glimpse into the next story's hero; there's also a sneak peek into book three. I gotta say, that one should be verrrry interesting!
 
** I want to note that in the eARC I read, Some Like It Wild ends at the 66% mark. But do not freak out, the story is definitely complete. The rest contained the Wild Child novella, and the sample of There's Wild, Then There's You.**
 
 
Favorite Quotes:
 
  Jake throws back his head and laughs heartily. "Oh, God! That's perfect! The preacher's daughter!"  
  It seems like he's making fun of me, and I bristle. "And why is that perfect?" I ask sharply.
  Jake lowers his head and looks me square in the eye. "Because I've got a thing for forbidden fruit, Laney Holt. Consider yourself warned."


  "Come on, Laney. You can do this. Trust me."
  "Trust you? You're obviously insane. Why should I trust you?"
  It seems an inordinately long amount of time passes before he replies. And, even then, I have to strain to hear his low voice.
  Because trusting everyone else has gotten you nowhere. Take a chance for once in your life. Take a chance on me."


 
The Wild Ones Series
The Wild Ones (The Wild Ones, #1)  Wild Child (The Wild Ones, #1.5)  Some Like It Wild (The Wild Ones, #2)  There's Wild, Then There's You (The Wild Ones, #3)
(covers lead to GoodReads page)


My Reviews:
The Wild Ones  |  Wild Child



Purchase Links
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble




GIVEAWAY
I have one copy of Some Like It Wild to give away, courtesy of the publisher.
Must be 18+ years of age; US only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


About the author
M. LeightonM. Leighton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Wild Ones and The Bad Boys romance trilogies. She is a native of Ohio, relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she lets her mind wander to romantic settings with sexy Southern guys much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.


 
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33 comments:

  1. Oh I've been meaning to pick up a book by Leighton in forever, but this book sounds like the perfect one to jump into. I can totally understand your frustrations with Laney giving the time of day to her ex and best friend, but I suppose it shows, just how much of a decent character that she is. I'm all ready to swoon over this book! Gorgeous review as always! :)

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  2. when I was younger was very wild a little too much so,lol.Nobody could really guess unless I told them.Looked innocent,lol.Put these on my TBR look really good thank you

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  3. Hahaha I love how you mentioned the book ended at 66% because I did the same thing when I got there-- I was like what is the rest of the ebook? Love this review and you nailed both Jake and Laney and how they are the bad boy/good girl but not really. I am sooooo ready for Jet's book! Great review!

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  4. I've taken a walk on the wild side a few times.

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  5. I've forgotten so much of this world, but I know I liked the 1st book. I think I did read the 2nd book with Jenna and Rusty, but forgot all about it. I have to get back into it because this is def one of my fave series by Leighton. Jake and Laney sound like fun characters. Great review!

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  6. I'm so intrigued by Jake. Jenna and Rusty's story is forever one of my favorites and I wonder if Jenna's brother's story lives up to that. "Laney is the good girl, but she's not an annoyingly perfect heroine." OH THANK GOODNESS!!! I can't wait to get my hands on this and I'm glad you enjoyed:) Ps. I hate when that happens, and especially so early--the 66% mark O.o

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  7. Only once and all I got was a nose ring :)

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  8. I kinda did when I joined the Navy. I had led a very sheltered existence up to that point and I kinda went a little crazy my first year:)

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  9. Maybe once or twice. Nothing too bad though! (:

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  10. I have definitely taken a walk on the wild side...oh, the things I got up to in college! ;)

    It seems as though Ms. Leighton did it again, Andrea! Some Like It Wild sounds like a great story with some great steamy. :) I love that you compared Jake to a Tim McGraw song!! Fabulous review, hon!

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  11. I have never taken a walk on the wild side. I love her books, and this one sounds so good. Thanks for having the giveaway.

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  12. I have taken many walk on the wild side in my twenties.... but am a good girl now... :) Thanks for the awesome post and fabulous giveaway! I love M. Leighton!

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  13. One of these days I will finish this series

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  14. Yes it was a nice rebound vacation fling that was fun well it lasted!!

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  15. It's really sad but I just don't have a wild bone in my body. Never been to a bar or a dance club. Maybe that's why reading is so appealing, takes you out of your comfort zone.

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  16. Yes, in my younger days. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  17. I have (insert mischievous grin)!!

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  18. NO, butI would have loved to have taken a walk on the wild side, but I've been married since I was 16.

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  19. I have not although if you consider going to school away from home being wild and crazy then probably not. I do want to be wild and crazy one day though...just to experience it

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  20. Haha yes I have but that's not really a story to share! lol

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  21. I might need to listen to that song. (I'm not a country girl so don't kill me that I don't know it). I'm so excited to read this. Love Michelle.

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  22. no ;( But that's why I read so much!!! LOL... thanks for sharing!

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  23. Ahhhh! I really want to start this series already! So many people love it! And I love Michelle's writing so I know I will love this one too! And I love that you reference that Tim song! That definitely gives me an idea of Jake!

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  24. Ive mellowed out as ive gotten older but i was no stranger to the wild side in my teens and early twenties!

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  25. I got book 1 and 1.5 thanks to your reviews Andrea :D I cannot wait for this one! So so excited!
    I don't think I have ever taken a walk on the wild side lol I live too cautiously.

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  26. Yes I was pretty wild before I met my husband, but don't tell him because I always cheekily tell him he is my first and only. ;)

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  27. Excellent Review Andrea! You have a real gift with words and your reviews are always my favorite! I'm reading, Some Like it Wild this week, and am really excited! I agree with you that M. Leighton has a passionate signature style, and I love reading her books! I can't wait to read about Jake, "the bad boy, but good man!" He sounds yummy! I'm glad that even though Laney was "good," she was not portrayed as "perfect." This story sounds very steamy, and I can tell I'm going to love it, based off of your review.

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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  28. Wonderful review Andrea. I love all of M. Leighton's book. My tour stop is next week.

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  29. Ohh these books look good, first time that i've come across them... will for sure look into adding these to my collection.

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  30. A couple of times in my teens.

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  31. I really liked Jake's story too. I hope it gains some more attention. :)

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