Honey packs everything she owns and heads to NYC to jumpstart her art career. Her cheating boyfriend is history, and she finally acknowledges the truth of her mother's Careers are forever and happily ever after isn't in their DNA. All she needs is a job and a place to live. What she doesn't need is a taciturn, sexy, ballbuster but she's woman enough to know the difference between need and want. Isn't she? Jake's childhood was marred by tragedy and his future hijacked to a promise born of guilt. His failure drove him to a career as a SEAL and a security expert. But it's not enough. Now he'll give up his freedom in reparation for the life he lost. Honey may be the last sweet stop on the road to a joyless future. If it's what they both want, where's the harm in a no-strings affair?
Honey, yes that’s her real name, has just moved from a small town where she grew up to New York City. She’s an artist and knows in order to make it big, you have to first make it in NYC. But upon her first arrival, she gets an unsavory roommate who tries to jump her bones then kicks her out when she refuses. She’s lost all her belongings and is couch surfing at her friend’s teeny studio apartment. Three chance meetings with Jake changes all that. Now he’s offering her an apartment in his home along with a one-month love affair. She’s wary of men, go figure, but she agrees. What starts out as a fling turns into more. Can Honey commit to leaving Jake’s life when their time is up, or will she risk it all for love?
I’m a big fan of city romances. There’s something magical about New York City and in Their No-Strings Affair, Charlotte O’Shay brings NYC to life. It’s like the big city is a major character in this romance and we get to fall in love with NYC as well as the couple.
The characters are simply marvelous. At first glance, Jake and Honey are opposites. She’s the artist and he’s the ex-SEAL turned security CEO. He’s tall and she’s a little pixie. Yet the more they get to know each other during their affair, the more they realize how alike they really are. Jake sees life through her eyes and is better for it. They’ve both gone through heartache and tragedy yet sharing their feelings helps bring closure.
Their No-Strings Affair has its fair share of hot love scenes but it’s not the point of the story. This is a story about living in the moment and falling in love when it’s not wanted or convenient. With plenty of heart-wrenching moments, Their No-Strings Affair is a must-read. Highly recommend!
Favorite Character/Quote: Honey. Everything about her from her snarky attitude to her artistic view to her naivety to the way she can talk herself out of any situation, I love it all. She’s an everyday reader’s heroine, dealing with one crisis after another with aplomb.
Without a doubt, an author that readers will go back to again and again for an escape from their normal life and into a world of romance and red-hot passion.
**An ARC of this book was provided for an honest review**
There’s nothing better than a romantic meet-cute that puts a smirk on your face and makes your toes curl. The beauty of this novel is we essentially get three distinct meet-cute moments rolled into one relationship, and each scenario is just as smirk inducing as the next. Honey and Jake’s first meeting concludes rather quickly, but Jake can’t deny a moment of attraction to the little spitfire who wasn’t afraid to stand up and push back against his intimidating stature. As it would turn out, fate had more in store for these two. They’re drawn together rather serendipitously two more times, and it’s delightful how after each of these meetings they assume they’ll never see the other again. You can’t help but love the subsequent moments of shock, mixed with delight, when they reconnect again and again. Eventually they both determine enough is enough, and they decide to give into this attraction simmering between them. However, even though their affair might not have any strings attached, it does have a time limit.
We’ve all come across romances where the lead couple mutually decides to engage a no-strings-attached sexual relationship. No expectations, no heavy emotions, just sex. Aaaaand we all know that those never work out in romance novel land. An additional feature to this trope though that provides a bit of a twist to what we’re used to is the fact that Honey and Jake’s time together has an ending. They’re not just planning on jumping into bed with each other until things get boring between the sheets. Nope, they designate a time period together of one month. At the end of that month they’ll both go their separate ways. Honey will have an all important and time consuming internship beginning when that month is over, and Jake will be moving to Italy. This looming deadline results in both Honey and Jake wanting to take full advantage of all the time they have together.
Now, a very small and cynical part of me wondered if the time limit to their relationship may have resulted in their emotional connection being put into hyper-drive. I even questioned if things may have eventually fizzled out between them had they not had this looming one month deadline hanging over their heads. However, something that squandered these musings was the fact that Jake and Honey truly did seem to have a connection that went beyond the physical. It wasn’t just sex. For either of them. This was particularly evident during a scene when they cooked dinner together, as they realize they’re both opening up to each other in a way they’ve never done with another person before. It seems like such a simple activity, making dinner, and yet it highlighted a level of intimacy to their relationship where they were both happy to simply be in each other’s presence, chatting, cooking away, and with their clothes on no less.
Based on how the story began with our characters coming together so many times in some rather comedic circumstances, I initially assumed this was going to be a rather light-hearted tale. I should have known that this series has a tendency to pack in some emotional punches, and this third novel proves no exception!
Where to begin? The very inauspicious first meeting? Almost immediately followed by a very tense scene where you know it can’t turn out well but somehow it does? This terrific NYC story is fast paced with great characters both up front in the main characters Jake and Honey but also in the people in both of their backstories which make them likable and incredibly interesting. The premise of a “no strings affair” is very real in NYC today but you can tell there is something deeper between Jake and Honey and you are dying for one of them to finally say how they really feel. I cannot say much more without spoiling it but let’s say that they make the most of the “affair” part and it really works! The passion and heat come right off the page. I highly recommend the third installment of the City of Dreams series. Ms. O’Shay has gotten better with each installment. Great story, great characters and riveting flow that makes for a fun read.
Every time I read one of O’Shay’s books I say “this is my favorite one”...and then I read the next one. So for today THIS is my favorite, and I can’t lie, I wish there were more to read already. The backstories, the build up, the intense sexual tension, and even the darker moments, amounted to two well developed characters who had truly believable chemistry. I stayed up late into the night finishing this one and then I couldn’t fall asleep!
Waiting on pins and needles for the next one...and until then, maybe bring Jake & Honey back for a sequel in the meantime?
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lots to love in this time-limit romance that strikes just the right balance between angst and humor. Both Honey, the smart-mouthed pixie heroine, and Jake, the dark, brooding security tycoon (and ex-Navy Seal to boot) hero come from mightily messed-up families. Jake lost his brother in a childhood drowning accident for which he blames himself, as children often do. Trouble is, his snooty Italian aristocrat mama blames him too, and has extracted a promise that he’ll come to Italy at Christmas and marry the bride she’s chosen, thus fulfilling his promise to maintain his family’s prestige. So huge is the burden of guilt her carries that he agrees, hoping this will cure him of the nightmares that haunt him.
Honey—full name Honeysuckle Hill, thanks to her hippie-dippy mom—is a ceramics artist aiming for a big-city career in NYC. She’s hampered by two factors: her impulsivity, which leads her to lose all her belongings and end up living in her car, and her messed up family. Her mama, also a real piece of work, dumped her with an uninvolved step-dad while she went off to pursue a career as an international journalist. Honey ends up as a mother stand-in for her twin brothers, now teens.
All this backstory explains why Jake and Honey decide a month-long temporary affair is just the ticket. They’re wildly attracted to each other. He has extra room in his large home (which he’s about to sell when he moves back to Italy), and she can help him with his security business while his assistant’s away on family business. He doesn’t believe in love, and she doesn’t believe love can last.
It turns out she’s just the sharp blade needed to pry open his defenses and make him take a good, hard look at his messed-up assumptions about life and love—and vice versa. The sex scenes are delish, and the ending oh-so-satisfying. I appreciate that O’Shay didn’t magically solve all the problems with a wave of her author wand—just enough to break down those stubborn walls between Jake and Honey.
So, I am officially a Charlotte O'Shay STAN. Didn't think it was possible, but this book has somehow surpassed the first two books of the City of Dreams series and is now my new favorite. The book release came at the perfect time, right before my trip to the beach. I had to close the book on multiple occasions during my travels because I didn't trust myself to save it for the hours I would be spending under my umbrella on the beach (I'm Irish, okay.)
Honey is excited by the prospect of living in NYC and potentially having the opportunity to fulfill her career in the arts. That excitement doesn't come without the constant struggle of trying to keep her head above the water financially, not to mention having to maintain her cool art chick persona by purchasing at least 1 vintage designer good to wear. While in the throes of financial struggles and roommate drama, she just happens to run into (on multiple occasions) the most gorgeous man she's ever seen. Talk about bad timing. Jake and Honey's love story starts hot and fast, but quickly turns into something that neither of them wants to admit is "real". Their deep connection is rooted in their desire to get away from demons controlling their pasts. Jake can't help but realize that Honey is definitely making his life sweeter.
This is the first book of the series where I felt like I could REALLY relate to the characters. I felt like I was listening to a story of a friend of a friend from college. Completely realistic and captivating modern NYC love story. Might have to pick it up again at the end of the Summer for another definition of August heat.
The opening scene sets the stage for a heart-twisting romance between a small town girl newly arrived in New York and an Italian security expert with mama problems. After a disastrous meeting, that involved smashed dishes and more, career-focused Honey and over-protective Jake hit all the wrong buttons, but can't fight their attraction in this fun and sexy light-hearted romance. A great read.
Loved this third book in Ms. OShay’s series. She writes so well and her stories have always been hard to put down. In this book, you will really want to Jake and Honey to get together. I love her female characters as they are face real problems and survive them
Their No-Strings Affair by Charlotte O'Shay, is a beautifully written novel. I felt the connection between the two main characters almost immediately, and their evolving love affair was amazingly romantic, fun, and compassionate. This is the third book from the author's City of Dreams series and it can be enjoyed as a standalone.
The city that never sleeps is the new home to educated artist Honeysuckle Hill, after escaping from her cheating boyfriend, and the small town in upstate New York that never accepted her. Honey creates beauty within her ceramic pieces and she knows she will be successful once she is able to get her career going once again. Honey may be short in stature, but her exuberance for success both personally and professionally is heartfelt.
Former navy SEAL Jake Ricco, has built up quite a successful security firm in New York City. His heart of gold is coupled with good looks and a bit of cockiness. He is on the cusp of surrendering his life and relocating back to Italy, in order to fulfill a guilt-ridden promise he made to his uncaring mother years ago. He becomes a new man with Honey by his side, and as a result, their agreed to month-long affair has become so much more.
I really enjoyed this story. To begin with, the cover perfectly depicts the wonder that NYC evokes. The characters are well-developed and easy to get to know. Honey and Jake are quite passionate and their sexy times are hot. This well-conceived romance should definitely be added to your TBR list.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Charlotte O’Shays’ newest book THEIR NO-STRINGS AFFAIR, is a fun and sexy tale of two people who don’t want to get involved but are destined to be together.
Honey Hill just wants to live in NYC, work in an art galley, and promote her work as a potter. A string of lousy events occurs when she moves to the big city and she finds herself homeless and jobless. When a waiting gig turns to disaster, she’s seriously reconsidering her options about staying.
Honey is scary smart, focused, independent, and doesn’t take anyone’s crap, so of course the guy she meets is the kind who wants to protect her from the all the bad things in the world, and in turn, drives her crazy…with want.
Jake Ricco has a secret and when the force that is Honey Hill barrels into his life, he doesn’t want to get involved with her because he knows that secret will ultimately hurt her – the last thing he wants to do.
But, since these two deserve to be together for so many reason, resisting that urge to step away from her proves too hard to do.
This book hit all the points I look for in a fun and sexy romance: great characters, a love you can route for, snappy dialogue, steamy love scenes, and a heroine and hero who, despite obstacles, find their way to their own HEA.
5 well deserved stars from me. thanks to WILD ROSE PRESS and NEtgalley for allowing me a sneak peek in exchange for an honest opinion of the work.
My favorite of Book in the city of dreams series! A wonderful ( and my personal favorite) addition to the City of Dreams series. The dynamic between Honey & Jake keep the pages turning at a rapid pace. Jakes rugged exterior and soft interior make him the perfect leading man. The only negative about this book was that it ended. I was so wrapped up in Honey and jakes love story that I wanted it to keep going! The nostalgic Christmas magic only the setting of NYC can conjure was the icing on the cake. Cannot wait for the next book from Charlotte Oshay.
Sassy, spunky, and plagued with bad decisions, Honey moves to New York to escape heartache and humiliation. Large and in charge, Jake can’t stay away from the little pixie with an attitude. Jake feels obligated to protect her but he doesn’t understand why at first. Can he keep his hands off her or will he take a chance to see if she’s as sweet as her name suggests.
This was a fun read, I really enjoyed the characters and the depth of their backgrounds. Definitely will see what else this author has released.
Charlotte O’Shay has done it again! This third book in the City of Dreams series is probably my favorite. Honey and Jake’s vibrancy and vulnerabilities complement each other and kept me swiping the pages on my phone. I finished this story in only two days, because I didn’t want to put it down. I also enjoyed the enchanting images of New York City at Christmas! The city itself plays like a character, in which Honey and Jake discover each other amidst a bonding love of NYC.
Fast-paced romance with great characters that have had troubled pasts and fate who kept throwing them together on three different occasions. The buildup, the character's dedication, their chemistry, the ending I couldn't ask for anything better.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received Their No-Strings Affiar for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I had not read any books by this author (Charlotte O'Shay) in the past, but have to say I will definitely put her on my "must read" list from now on. I really enjoyed this book-- though at first just based on the main female's name I wasn't sure if I would like it. It was a very good read.
She is leaving to do what she wants knowing a happy ending is not for her family. He knows he is broken from everything so a fling. They will start a fling and what could be so easy. Will it be so easy? Could it become more? See if it stays a fling
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Honey and Jake make an admirably bright, resourceful and likable couple but the magic in this book is really due to a threesome: Let's call it "Honey, Jake... and Manhattan" because New York City is the place that makes their fondest dreams (and nastiest nightmares) come true 24/7. Highly recommended for a sizzling romantic read!
The book is a good romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. The story is an enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this story of love in New York City. The author brings both the characters and the city to life with her words. Will Honey and Jake be able to stick to their pact of a no-strings affair?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.