Nom de Plume Rating: ★★★★★
Reading Time: 5 minutes
*FTC Disclaimer: I received a copy of Down and Dirty from AJ Nuest in exchange for an honest review. I have in no way been influenced by the author and/or publisher’s generosity. You can’t fake these stars, baby!
Summary:
Every move she makes . . .
Tanner Jones is on a mission. One with more at stake than simply proving she’s worthy of heading up the revenge-for-hire company of Dirty Deeds. The last thing she needs is a babysitter, especially when it comes to the overbearing, broody Detective Ben Archer. Not while she’s busy getting up close and personal with Casper Addison, the third—and hottest—member of the original Dirty Deeds team. He’s promised to help her take down Chicago’s biggest gun runner. That is, if Ben doesn’t succeed in taking her down first.
He’ll be watching her . . .
The minute Tanner Jones starts warming up to Casper Addison, the sexy minx becomes Ben’s top priority. And not just because Ben can’t bear the thought of the stubborn beauty cozying up with a dangerous viper whose story has more holes than the scars riddling Ben’s body. But as soon as the savvy detective discovers the damning evidence, he’s kidnapped. And once Tanner comes to his rescue, Ben has all the proof he needs that Tanner’s the one woman who can help him destroy the monster who haunts his past—and the only woman for him.
First Line: “Visualizing a ball of fire in front her opponent’s face, Tanner batted at the flames with each aggressive jab of her fist.”
Review:
Nom de Payback is back!
Just for the record: Ben Archer is mine.
This man is perfectly wounded. I bawled my face off before Ben’s story was even introduced! AJ Nuest sets the tension early—I knew the heartbreak was coming—and even though she gave me a million reasons to turn away, I couldn’t. I wanted to swan dive into that pool of hurt. And when NDP wants something, she gets it.
I latched on to Ben like a greedy parasite. I sank into his story until my eardrums popped from his hydrostatic pressure.
I. LOVED. EVERY. SECOND.
Down and Dirty is the third standalone novel in the A Like Story Series, and I have to say…it’s my favorite. I didn’t think anyone could compare to Detective Riordan from Dirty Deeds (A Likely Story, 1) but err meer guurd AJ knows how to sculpt an impeccable romance.
…the second she’d read the heartache in his eyes, she’d known the repeated loss of those he’d loved had turned him into the distant, irritable man he’d become.
Le sigh.
Oh right!! The plot!
Tanner is a BALLER. All of AJ Nuest’s heroines are strong-willed, know what they want and work hard to get it. I became Tanner. I walked in her footsteps as she tried to prove her worth in the world of revenge.
Ben Ben the dreamy steamboat is eventually compelled to ride all over our ambitious Tanner, but he’s not the only man in the mix…
Jealous? A sputter left his lips. Hardly. He couldn’t be jealous of something he’d decided a long time ago he’d be better off without, and he wasn’t about to sit here at zero dark thirty and lay out the reasons why in a bunch of stupid texts.
Tanner seems to be cozying up to this “other man,” but she has to make a choice—she doesn’t know it at the time—and both of these men have serious risks. I say she should just choose the other guy so I can keep Ben to myself. In a world of revenge, you never know when a girl might lose her head…
I’ll keep my fingers crossed. 😉
But then Ben gets kidnapped and Tanner freaking has to save him!
AJ Nuest, only you can make role reversal so spicy. The rake in distress. I loved that Ben was kidnapped! Heck, I should have thought of it myself! Not only is Tanner conflicted by her emotions, but a duty. Tanner absolutely mixes business with pleasure and it not only puts her heart at risk but Ben’s…and I don’t want Ben to suffer any more than he already has!
Tanner and Ben begin their journey with hate. They can’t even speak to each other, let alone work together. But they slowly begin to understand one another.
For the first time since the day they’d met, they were actually communicating without being stuck in the midst of an all-out war. No, not face-to-face, but at least they were having a conversation.
What’s the nerdy detective equivalent to sexting? Radio-ing? #Naughty
Ok…this particular scene is nothing like that (LOLZ), but I totally envisioned this while reading! There was one plot in front of me, and then a separate one projected on my mind—two different movie reels playing simultaneously, inevitably merging together at the end.
Again. Only AJ Nuest.
This is a game of reverse baseball: three strikes, you’re IN. Down and Dirty (A Likely Story, 3) is addictive and downright phenomenal.
🔹 AMAZON 🔹
OMG I didn’t know there was going to be a third one so soon! I can’t wait!
LOL Erika! There is actually a fourth book in the series brewing in the back of my brain. Two sub-characters from the series who want their own book and will not SHUT UP! I’m gonna have to purge them onto the page or they’ll never go away. Sigh…
I’m gonna steal ndp’s word…staaaaaaahp! lolol! I am just about to start reading Dirty Little Secrets and I’m so excited that this third one will be coming in a few days! it’s perfect timing.
LOL! I think she’s got us all saying that. Staaaaaph! If you want Down & Dirty, you should go get it now. Pre-Order is $0.99 and after it releases 11/21, the price goes back up to $2.99. Just sayin… Save yourself the $2.
OMG, I do believe this is the first time ever a review made me cry. Happy tears of joy, joy, joy! NDP, you are amazing. Holy crap, how does a person even BEGIN to thank you for this. My dear friend. You are leagues and leagues beyond awesome. Unbelievable. Thank you. xoxoxoxoxo
I loved Dirty Deeds! I can’t wait to read this one.
Samantha! Thank you soooooooo much! I gotta say, I loved WRITING Dirty Deeds. But Tanner and Ben. Ugh. There is just something about these two that is…I don’t even know. Crushing and beautiful and sexy and gritty all rolled into one. LOL I’m with NDP. I think D&D might be my fave of the series so far. xo
Well now I have to read it! I can’t believe I’m talking to AJ Nuest.
Pffth. I can’t believe I’m talking to the fabulous Samantha Kelly! LOL Without awesome readers like you, I wouldn’t get to do what I do! xoxo
I am new to AJ Nuest but this series looks really good. I also want to read A Million Reasons!
Hello! Hello! And thank you sooooo much for stopping by the review! A Million Reasons. That book… Every time I think of Dibs and Tessa I chuckle with evil glee from behind my laptop. LOL It’s a goodie. Lots of laughs. xo
yay! i’m new to ndp, but this site is awesome! there’s so much to read! i’m excited to try all of these books out. i’m a big nora roberts fan and i saw some of her books here, too. i really want to read the dirty deed books after having read the reviews for the 1-3!
You’ve been missing out then 😉 welcome to the fun!
LOL Agreed, Samantha! Nnnnnn Deeeee Peeeeee… She’s the awesomest with cherry on top. I even pimped her out at the beginning of Down & Dirty. Told EVERYONE to go check her out on the interwebz. xo
Hi Danielle!!! NDP writes the BEST. REVIEWS. EVERRRRRRR! #truth No one holds a candle to her awesomeness. I’m so glad you checked out the reviews for the other books! Thank you! That’s huge for me. I mean it! xoxo
I totally agree! NDP 4eva 😍
Hi AJ! I’m new to your books! I can’t wait to read! I think I’m going to read this first and then Dirty Deeds. Or maybe Rowena or DIBS. Haha
Hi Emily!!! Thank you so much for the comment and for stopping by. DIBS, Ben or Caedmon… Argh, that’s a reaaaaaallly tough choice. I’m not sure I can choose! I love them all! LOL You must let me know what you start with, okay? xo
It’s not wrong to love more than one man…I’m going to hell…
DIBS is my favorite so far!
Lauraine!!! So glad to see you here again, lovely! How are you? DIBS is a hard guy to beat, that’s for sure… xoxo
I’m on a long vacation so I’ve been reading a lot! I didn’t win this giveaway, so I ended up buying the book 😛 I’m about 30 % through now and I think NDP will have to fight me for Ben!