Unexpected Tour Stop! ~ Crystal's Many Reviewers

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Karly Eriksson’s past brims with painful secrets better left forgotten. Determined to make a better life for herself and her little sister, Karly has her eyes on the future, but misfortune greets her at every turn.

When Karly’s best friend invites her to underground Felony Bar, Karly looks forward to a night free from the complications of her past and a chance to forget her problems. Instead, she finds an unexpected attraction for Randy Mackenzie, head of security. Randy is dangerous and intense with a body made for sin. Everything about him screams bad boy, from his tattoos to the wicked scar on his neck, and that’s the last thing she needs in her life.

Randy lives his life in the shadows, but he yearns for the light. Karly, with her bright smile and effusive personality, is like a ray of sunshine, illuminating the darkness of his world. Still reeling from an unforeseen breakup, Randy has his emotions on lockdown, unwilling to show how badly he’s hurt. When he drives Karly home after a night of revelry at Felony, he doesn’t intend to sleep with her, but they have more in common than they know, starting with their broken hearts.

After one kiss, Randy and Karly are willing to forget their problems for a night of passion and lust that can never be repeated.

Unexpected is a novella and Book 1.5 in the Felony Romance series. It is intended to be read as a part of the series and as a prequel to Vindicated (Book 2), releasing in December 2014.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23489365-unexpected

If you read Intoxicated before reading Unexpected prepare to be a bit confused. When I signed up to review this book there was no information regarding Vindicated, and as the blurb made it clear that this book surrounded the scene from book one in which Karly accompanies Ally to Felony, I began reading it expecting it to be about that night and whether or not Karly and Randy started seeing one another afterwards. As such, I spent the first half of the novella confused about the timeline. Why? Because there was absolutely nothing in Intoxicated that indicated that Karly and Randy knew one another prior to that night at Felony. But the first half of Unexpected reveals that they were acquainted – not friends, but they knew one another through Karly’s brother Mitch.

I feel it important to note that my confusion about the sequence of events did not prevent me from enjoying the story, it merely kept me slightly off kilter until the two books converged. At that point, all bets were off because the remainder of the book is about the night that Karly and Randy spent together. And let me assure you that I now understand exactly why Karly told Ally that “It was the best sex I’ve ever had times one hundred.” There is certainly something to be said for a 6’6” man and door sex … YOWZA! While their backstory and the ways in which their lives overlapped was quite interesting to read, I had hoped to find out what happened after that night. Although I am slightly disappointed that Unexpected ends the morning after, I am pleased to know that Karly and Randy are getting a full-length novel in Vindicated and can only hope that the fiery red-head stereotype comes into play because I suspect these two are going to be explosive if they ever get together. Despite what seems to be a litany of complaints, I enjoyed Unexpected and am appreciative that Ms. Mann did give her fans a stimulating play-by-play from that night.

I will begin by saying I have not read any of the other books in the Felony Romance series or from this author but I found this novella interesting enough to make me want to read more. It is a quick read due to the smoothness in writing and leaves you with a sense of hope for the two characters both battling their own demons in life.

Karly Eriksson it working as a waitress in a bar, going to school and trying to prove that she can care for her little sister who she left in her abusive home. Her brother Mitch, who is a cop, has his own burdens in life and refuses to help little sister Emma, so Karly, is left to figure out a plan on her own. She is also trying to recover from a broken heart after breaking off a relationship a few months prior to a man she thought she loved, but found out she was lied to and betrayed.

One night she meets Randy Mackenzie and her world is about to turn in a different direction. Randy has his own demons to slay, namely the memory of his ex-wife and his child that she took from him. He works at a different bar but does some side jobs that could be questionable. When he sees Karly he remembers her from the past because of her brother and mutual friends, but he will get to meet the real Karly in this novella.

Both are lovable characters once you get to see their vulnerabilities and dreams. The author did a great job with the passion and desires. I think this is one of the few times I have to agree that putting out a novella really did peak my interest in a series that I knew nothing about. Karly and Randy alone are enough for me to want to know more about the whole story just by their personality and the great chemistry they have together.