Title: Strings Attached
Author: Riley Hart
Publisher: Amazon/Self
Genre: Romance
Heat: 3 hearts
Rating: 4 hearts
Synopsis via GoodReads:
I spent college worrying about responsibilities and earning my teaching degree, so before graduation and moving to Atlanta with my best friend, Ross, I figure I deserve a little fun. I’ve never been with an older man, but the guy at the bar grabs my attention and doesn’t let go…for multiple rounds, all night long.
The next day, when Ross introduces me to his dad, the last thing I expect is for him to be my hookup from the night before, in town from Atlanta for his son’s graduation.
The best thing would be to pretend it never happened, which is easier said than done. The more I talk to Harrison, the more I like him. We enjoy teasing each other, spending time together, and despite how successful he is, we both know what it’s like to have nothing. Neither of us wants a relationship, so when Harrison suggests a no-strings-attached fling, it’s perfect.
But between bills, worrying about Mom, and wondering how I thought I had what it takes to be a good teacher, Harrison’s always there, even when it’s hard for me to accept help.
Falling for Harrison wasn’t part of the agreement.
I don’t know how to trust, there’s a seventeen-year age difference, and he’s my best friend’s dad.
No strings attached has never been so difficult, because I’m pretty sure I want to be tied to Harrison for good.
Review: Riley Hart and I have a somewhat rocky relationship. Some of her books I have loved. Some? meh. not so much. This one is more in the love category. While I think this would be so uncomfortable in real life, in this book it was both sweet and spicy.
Imagine going to dinner with your friend and meeting his dad only to find out that it was the dude you had the best sex of your life with the night before? Yikes. Talk about awkward?
Zander got on my nerves a little here and there. I respected him for not taking the easy way out sometimes, but also, he needed to learn to both ask for and accept help when it was offered. It takes him quite a while to learn that. He is quite the old soul in this book, while Harrison is more the free spirit having decided that it was his time to focus on what he wants after raising his son on his own.
“Stop pretending you’re older than you are. I do it, but that doesn’t mean you can.”
“I never thought I was old until I had sex on your futon.”
I wish I had my own Harrison. Having come from a place in life very similar to Zander’s, he understands the need to do things on your own. He worked his way up from a porter at a dealership to owning several of them. That said, he didn’t forget that he had help a long the way and genuinely enjoys helping others. He is such a kind and patient man in this story.
“There aren’t any rules on how to do this; how we’re supposed to be. We all just do our best to get by. For me, that’s being open, putting things out there. You keep things close to your chest.” I stepped up to him, cupped his cheek, brush my thumb against his skin. “I like who you are. Do I want to figure out every one of your mysteries? Do I want you to trust me? Yes, I do, but I won’t push you and I won’t ask you to change.”
These two find that they have trouble staying away from each other and the no-strings they tried so hard to maintain suddenly begin to form. The last quarter or so just made me smile. I totally had the warm and fuzzies. I loved Harrison. He’s such a solid presence for Zander, giving all of himself to him because he doesn’t know how not to. He knew that things may not work in his favor, but he fell anyway.
“I want strings damn it! And I know I shouldn’t.”
and
“I’d gotten used to how he sometimes pulled away when I tried to hold him, only to plaster himself to me in his sleep. The way he sometimes flailed, his long legs over me or kicking me, like his body couldn’t find peace until it did, in my arms.”
Honestly? I didn’t expect much from this one for some reason, but it was better than I expected. There were a couple spots in the middle that I put it down and read something else for a bit and then came back to this one. So, perhaps there were some slower parts here and there. But after the first half, you begin to see things change between them and grow. In the last quarter of the book, they finally begin admitting to themselves that they are in over their heads and have fallen in love against their better judgment. I found myself reading the ending with a total grin on my face and was glad that I hung on to finish the book.
If you are like me and have a love/hate relationship with Riley Hart, I think maybe you’ll like this one.
Purchase Link | Amazon
This title is also part of the Kindle Unlimited library.
