Sammy’s review of Hit The Spot (Dirty Deeds, Book 2) by J. Daniels
Contemporary New Adult published by Forever 06 Dec 16
It’s no secret that I loved Four Letter Word, the first book in the Dirty Deeds series. I was bugging Sandy and Sybil so I could get my sticky little fingers on it. If anyone knows these two fierce ladies, then you would know they climbed high mountains and swam across seas so that I would have it. I love those Duckies hard. While I loved the first book, I had some issues with the second. I don’t mean I didn’t like it, I was just not in love like the first book.
If you read the first book you know things are picking up between Tori and Jamie. They are playing an intense game of cat and mouse. You, the reader, are well aware they have real feelings for each other. You also know that Tori is a little gun shy and Jamie has both guns blazing right at her. Jamie has sex with whomever he wants and Tori knows this. Tori also knows that he’s extremely hot, an award-winning surfer, with the cockiness and arrogance to back his shit up. Up until this point she’s been messing with his orders when he comes into her bar for lunch. She tries to dissuade him by telling him she hates his guts. And calls him loser to Jamie calling Tori Legs. Foreplay.
I’m really intrigued by both characters. I love Tori, I love her friendships, the fact she owns her own home, her maturity for 24 years old. I seriously think she’s kick-ass. Jamie is interesting because he just goes for what he wants – he has laser focus and he wants Tori. There is no mistaking his intentions. Jamie drops by Tori’s place of work and they kinda get into it. This freaks out Tori and they have words. Tori takes off to her car parked in the lot of Whitecaps and, unbeknownst to Tori, Jamie is standing behind her car. She accidentally taps him with her car as she’s pulling out. His response had my eyebrows disappearing into my hairline.
“Stay the fuck away from me.” Jamie growled, holding his hands up and slowly retreating. “You crazy-ass bitch. Do not fuckin’ come any closer.”
I flinched halting my steps. “What? Did you just call me a bitch?”
“Yeah, bitch, I did. You heard me,” he spat, brushing himself off. “You ran me over. What the fuck is wrong with you?
“I… what?” I blinked rapidly. “I didn’t do it on purpose!” I shrieked, appalled by his accusation. “I didn’t see you! I thought you left!”
This is 8% in and I was not feeling Jamie’s freak-out. I especially didn’t like the bitch comment or the crazy added before it. This left a bad taste in my mouth. I continued reading and Jamie seems to redeem himself with his filthy mouth, pierced dick, and under all that bluster is a very sweet man. A 28-year-old man, not an 18-year-old kid. I love many parts of this book. I love when Jamie shows his sweet side, and he does have one. I really thought there would be no more stupid shit from his mouth…
Tori confuses me the most. In the first book she was a pretty tough chick. In this book she’s gun shy from being lied to for six months by her ex-married-with-a-child boyfriend. I guess that would make me hit the breaks for a little bit. I just feel she has all these things going on in her life and so much confusion and angst regarding Jamie, she never once reaches out to her best friend Syd. It doesn’t ring true.
Jamie and Tori spend the rest of the book falling in love. And it’s really sweet and sexy and sometimes downright filthy. Those sweet moments when he would do wonderful things for her dad are just swoon worthy. He has a huge heart and when he loves, he loves with his whole heart. Tori isn’t ready to admit to her feelings, so this is a tug of war throughout the book. Finally they are both on the same page and they are claiming each other to their family and friends and now Tori has turned into the green-eyed monster. She jumps to conclusions that are wrong. The angst is enough to choke the joy right out of the reading experience. With about 5% to go, Tori flips out because Jamie didn’t mention her in an interview with a surfing magazine. This made no sense at all. They’re living together, she knows exactly how he feels, he does that by showing her and telling her, and she goes off the rails to green-eyed monster land. Then he does his ugly flip-out with his horrible name calling and I thought, “Oh, there you are, Dick.” Then nine days later Brian shows up at Tori’s door to ask her to fix things with Jamie. Finally Syd shows up at the end and they use Syd’s Sunday dinner night to get Tori and Jamie to kiss and make up.
I really love this author’s voice. I like big chunks of this book and I dislike small chunks. Too much angst, just for angst sake. Jamie isn’t perfect and that’s fine by me, but I am left thinking he has an anger issue with the way he would snap at Tori – it was dark and nasty and disrespectful. Tori, whom I thought was so tough, turns out to be shy and non-confrontational. I would like to think they have a chance if they both grow up and stop sweating the small stuff. I am seriously looking forward to Stitch’s book! Even though this book can stand on its own, I personally feel you need to start with Four Letter Word. You won’t be disappointed. If you like a lot of wangsty angsty, this book should be high on your list. Because even with all the eye-rolls J. Daniels is an excellent writer.
Grade:B-
Summary:
Is this love or just a game?
Tori Rivera thinks Jamie McCade is rude, arrogant, and worst of all . . . the sexiest man she’s ever laid eyes on. His reputation as a player is almost as legendary as his surfing skills. No matter how her body heats up when he’s around, she’s determined not to be another meaningless hookup.
Jamie McCade always gets what he wants. The sickest wave. The hottest women. And Tori, with her long legs and smart mouth, is definitely the hottest one. He knows Tori wants him—hell, most women do—but she won’t admit it. After months of chasing and one unforgettable kiss, it’s time for Jamie to raise the stakes.
Jamie promises that soon Tori won’t just want him in her bed, she’ll be begging for it—and he might be right. Somehow he’s found the spot in her heart that makes her open up like never before. But with all she knows about his past, can she really trust what’s happening between them? Is Jamie playing for keeps or just playing to win?
This book can be read as a stand-alone.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
