REVIEW: Turn It Up by Inez Kelley

 

Author: Inez Kelley

Pages: ebook - 85,000 words

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Carina Press

AMAZON: Turn It Up

Turn It Up was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Carina Press

Synopsis (Goodreads)

Dr. Bastian Talbot and self-proclaimed sex goddess Charlie Pierce heat up the air waves with their flirty banter as radio hosts Dr. Hot and the Honeypot. Off the air, they're best friends…but Bastian wants to be so much more. He wants Charlie—in bed, and forever.

Problem is, Charlie doesn't do commitment. Sure, she's had X-rated fantasies of Bastian, but he was always just a friend—until he impulsively proposes and unleashes the lust they've been denying for years. Charlie's willing to explore where their wild chemistry leads, but she won't marry him. And he won't have sex with her until she accepts his proposal, despite her seductive schemes.

What are Dr. Hot and the Honeypot to do? Ask their listeners for advice on how to tame a sex kitten and turn a perfect gentleman into a shameless lover. The Race to Wed or Bed is on…who will turn up on top?

REVIEW: 3.5 out of 5

Turn It Up was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Carina Press.

I absolutely loved Sweet as Sin by Inez Kelley so I was excited to read her newest Contemporary Romance, Turn It Up.

Charlie (female) and Bastian have been best friends for over 6 years and also host a talk-back radio show together - Let's Talk about Sex with Dr. Hot and The Honeypot.

Bastian is the first person who has ever remained a constant in Charlie’s life, he is everything to her and supports her with all decisions she makes from relationships to her career, but things change when they take a camping trip together and Bastian professes his love for her. Things certainly don’t go as expected with his declaration and Charlie instantaneously assumes he has ulterior motives – Sex.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Charlie, she had a tough childhood which hardened her emotionally but at times she was stubborn, hypocritical and obnoxious and I felt Bastian deserved more than what she gave. I did feel sorry for her in the sense that all she seemed to want was love, affection and to belong but nothing and no-one seemed to be able to promise her this so when Bastian offers her marriage she feels he has ruined their friendship.

I absolutely loved Bastian! The demise of his marriage and him being sterile left him feeling less of a man; he has longed for family and a child and feels a true sense of belonging with Charlie despite his own problems – he does everything for her but she is reluctant to budge.

A bet ensues between them, a race to Wed or Bed; she won't marry him and he won't have sex with her until she accepts his proposal.

I loved the banter between Charlie and Bastian when they were on air as Honeypot and Doc – it flowed naturally and you can tell Ms Kelley really did her research; the dialogue between them would have to be the best part of the book, I loved it.

What I didn’t like: There was a lot of repetition and constant self-doubt, too much for my liking that I found myself at times skimming.

Overall, a good story that kept me engaged and wanting to know what will happen next. I was silently urging Charlie to take a leap of faith with Bastian and am pleased by the ending/HEA.

I'll be looking for the next book by this wonderful author. 

   

 Bastian - Charlie

(Images borrowed from Ms Kelley's website - http://inezkelley.com)