Review: Dirty Thoughts by Megan Erickson
Dirty Thoughts (Mechanics of Love #1)
by: Megan Erickson
Publication Date: June 16, 2015
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 304 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Some things are sexier the second time around.
Cal Payton has gruff and grumbly down to an art...all the better for keeping people away. And it usually works. Until Jenna MacMillan-his biggest mistake---walks into Payton and Sons mechanic shop all grown up, looking like sunshine, and inspiring more than a few dirty thoughts.
Jenna was sure she was long over the boy she'd once loved with reckless abandon, but one look at the steel-eyed Cal Payton has her falling apart all over again. Ten years may have passed, but the pull is stronger than ever... and this Cal is all man.
Cal may have no intention of letting Jenna in, but she's always been his light, and it's getting harder to stay all alone in the dark. When a surprise from the past changes everything, Cal and Jenna must decide if their connection should be left alone or if it's exactly what they need for the future of their dreams.
Cal Payton has gruff and grumbly down to an art...all the better for keeping people away. And it usually works. Until Jenna MacMillan-his biggest mistake---walks into Payton and Sons mechanic shop all grown up, looking like sunshine, and inspiring more than a few dirty thoughts.
Jenna was sure she was long over the boy she'd once loved with reckless abandon, but one look at the steel-eyed Cal Payton has her falling apart all over again. Ten years may have passed, but the pull is stronger than ever... and this Cal is all man.
Cal may have no intention of letting Jenna in, but she's always been his light, and it's getting harder to stay all alone in the dark. When a surprise from the past changes everything, Cal and Jenna must decide if their connection should be left alone or if it's exactly what they need for the future of their dreams.
Max Payton was my favorite Bowler University boy, so I was beyond excited that Megan was doing a spin-off series with his brothers. We briefly met Cal and Brent in Max's book, Make it Right, as well as their father, Jack. If you haven't read Max's book, don't worry. Dirty Thoughts will reintroduce you to these characters and give you a feel for why the Payton brothers are the way they are.
This book was so much fun. Not only was the romance sweet and steamy, but the humor and banter was so well done. I loved Cal's interactions with Brent. Their bickering and their banter was so great. It really gave you a good idea as to how different these two men are, but also of how much they respect and care for one another.
Cal and Jenna also have some great banter and there is an intensity to them that I just adored. I think part of it is Cal's gruffness. He comes across as so stoic and hard at times, but I love that he is a sweetheart underneath the gruff exterior! He cracked me up every time he started thinking about his 'fucking feelings'. Haha! Jenna and Cal were high school sweethearts, so there is already a lot of history between them when they meet up again. The chemistry is definitely still sizzling between them, but Cal is pretty set in his bachelor ways. He wants to be on his own and do what he loves- working on motorcycles. Cal has had a lot of responsibility on his shoulders for a long time, being the eldest Payton and the one who took care of his brothers when his father didn't. He knows Jenna wants a family, and he just doesn't think he can be the one to give that to her.
It killed me when he pushed her away because you can see how much he doesn't want to. A surprising addition ends up bringing the two closer than ever, and it warmed my heart to see them interact in the exact capacity Cal didn't want. Cal definitely doesn't get his act together on his own. Thankfully, he has a lot of people who care about him and his happiness- as well as people who aren't afraid to tell him he's being an idiot for shutting out the one woman he never truly got over.
I was so glad Jenna's family didn't end up playing as big of a role in their relationship as I thought it might. It wasn't the usual 'oh she's too good for me, so I'm going to push her away' bit. That's not to say that Cal doesn't think it at times, but it's not the driving force keeping them apart.
We got a great cast of secondary characters, and I have to say- Jack Payton really surprised the heck out of me. He ended up taking a liking to a new character that is introduced and it was really sweet and surprising. He DOES have a heart after all!
I'm really looking forward to Brent's book next. I loved his goofy self and I'm excited to meet the woman who will catch his interest... and hold on to it.
Overall, this was a complete win for me. I am a huge fan of Megan's writing and I love the romances she writes. She does a great job developing her secondary characters and I always find myself completely attached to them all before the book ends. Dirty Thoughts is one of those books you'll fly through and then lament because it's over.
20 comments
I'm glad you ended up loving this, Jess. I loved Cal so much and you're so right about Megan and her characters. She somehow makes you fall in love with everyone!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for Brent's book.
Lovely review! :)
Yes! I loved Cal too! He was amazing.
DeleteOoo I didn't realise this was in the same universe as the make it count books. I need to read those soon! I'm all about second chance romances right now so this is a winner for me anyway but your review has me super excited for this now!
ReplyDeleteYES! I love that she did a spin-off! It made me so happy! I think you'll like it Dani!
DeleteI so cannot wait to read this one! I adore the cover and it just sounds so damn good! GAHHH must read soon! Great review!
ReplyDeleteYESSSSS. Read it! LOL. You'll love Cal and his grumpiness!
DeleteYay! I am so glad to see that you loved this one, too! I am happy that her family wasn't an issue either! :D
ReplyDeleteYes! I was a little worried it would be the whole, 'oh I'm not good enough for you bc of your family' bit, so I was glad it wasn't.
DeleteThis book looks soo cute. I am so adding it to my TBR right now.
ReplyDeleteOh I loved it Quinn! It was adorable! I think you'd like it!
DeleteI've seen this book around a lot lately, and people seem to just love it. I have to add it to my TBR-list now, it does sound great.
ReplyDeleteGreat review and glad you enjoyed this book!
Thanks Aseel! I honestly haven't seen a bad review about this one! Megan writes such great books!
DeleteLoooooved this book! Definitely one of my favorite adult contemporary romance novels of the year. Megan Erickson is a master with writing romance! Bring on Dirty Talk! I'm glad you enjoyed this novel, Jess :)
ReplyDeleteFabulous review!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
YAY! This is great to hear! I'm so glad you liked it too Alyssa! I can't wait for Brent's book either!
DeleteLovely review, Jess! This is definitely my second favorite Megan Erickson book (I still have a soft spot for Changing His Game). Adored Cal's gruffness and Jenna's persistence. I can't WAIT for Brent's book!
ReplyDeleteAww. I think this might be my favorite? I don't know. I did love Max's book! Changing His Game was great too, though!
DeleteI loved this one, I need book two like yesterday!
ReplyDeleteMe toooooo!
DeleteI just love Megan and her characters! This book was great. I can't wait for the next one!
ReplyDeleteSame! I can't wait to see Brent do all the work with Ivy! Haha!
DeleteLeave me some comment love! And I will get around to commenting back!
My blog is an award-free blog, however, as I just do not have the time to follow-up.