OPENING UP (INK AND CHROME #1)

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lauren Dane delivers Book #1 in her Ink & Chrome erotic romance series.

The men of the Twisted Steel custom motorcycle shop are great with their hands... and they're not afraid to get dirty.

PJ is exactly the kind of woman Twisted Steel owner Asa Barrons doesn't need. The last thing he wants to do is mix business with pleasure, and PJ has some of the best custom detailing he's ever seen. But the chemistry between them won't be denied, and soon he's introducing her to a whole new world in the bedroom, pushing her far beyond anything she's ever experienced. PJ finds she can't get enough, but how far is too far before he consumes her completely?

Release Date : June 16, 2015

Ink and Chrome book #1

Grand Central Publishing

Review copy provided by the publisher

Nikki’s Review:

Hot damn! this book was…I’m struggling for a word that will describe it. I’m going to go with, super duper freaking awesome! It has everything that I’ve come to expect and love from a Lauren Dane book. Alpha males that are so hot they make my heart beat faster, and feisty,  smart heroines who are anything but pushovers! A solid plot that makes you want to pull an all-nighter. But let's not forget the sexy times. Sigh, the sexy times are drool worthy. 

Asa Barrons is a co-owner of Twisted Steele. He is everything you imagine a rough around the edges but oh so sexy, car restoration guy to be. He’s tatted up, beard, and multiple piercings. One of said piercings is hidden in his boxer briefs…start googling those images to spark your excitement, I did! He’s loyal to a fault to those he holds close to his heart. His family and friends are as important as breathing to Asa. He’s not quite ready to be knocked to his knees by the sassy mouthed PJ. She barrels into his life, all funky hair colors, tattoos, and smokin’ pin up girl looks. She’s everything that Asa wants. Their chemistry is off the charts! The banter and flirting between them is both funny and sizzling. Asa is all growly and possessive, uber hot alpha, but he can’t seem to get past the fact that PJ is 10 years his junior. While he’s pulling her towards him, he’s pushing her away just as fast. She’s having none of that. PJ knows what she wants, and she wants Asa. Having grown up around classic cars, and everything that entails, she knows that they share more than scorching sheet yoga in common. Tired of living in her families shadow, her fathers constant disapproval, she branches out of the family car tire business to pursue her dream of making cars look magnificent with her drawings and expert color mixing. PJ doesn’t make it easy for Asa to overlook her, she’s had enough of that from her father. She makes that poor boy pant every time he locks eyes with her. He’s stubborn, but like all smart men, he eventually drops to his knees. 

I loved these two together. If there is such a thing as soulmates, then they are it. He’s strong, but so is she. He takes care of her, not because he has to, but because she gives him the chance to do it. PJ’s father treats her likes she doesn’t exist, but instead of giving up and crying about it, she pushes harder for her dream. She knocks down walls and makes things happen. I admire Asa’s ability to love with his whole heart. Even though he’s been let down by people in his past, it just makes him love harder. Can you get any better than a hero who has a heart meant to love and care so intensely? I think not. Asa stands by PJ’s side while she treads the murky waters of dealing with family BS. I swooned each and every time he gave her his support. But what I really loved was that he didn’t coddle her. Instead he stood with her. I could literally feel the respect these two had for each other. Their relationship was the perfect recipe for friendship and lovers. Now don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all kittens and rainbows. They had arguments, they had anger-fuelled reactions. These elements made their relationship real, gave it validation. 

Let’s get to the good stuff eh? Holy hot lovin’! No one writes sex scenes like Lauren Dane. There’s some light BDSM elements, nothing over the top, but it sure made for a wild ride. Sometimes I felt like there could have been a bit more detail about some of the things they were experimenting with. A couple of times it eluded to the fact that they tried something new, but we didn’t get to see it. It was in passing when they were moving onto something different. I prefer the full frontal, give it all to me kind of thing! All in all, I was panting each time Asa and PJ came together. Their need for each other and their chemistry flew off of the page. I felt it over and over and over again! Yup, I’m thinking of said chemistry right now.

The supporting characters are likeable, even Mick who I wanted to punch in the throat when he first came onto the page. I love how Lauren Dane sets up the secondary characters with story arcs in books before their own. It helps build anticipation for their story, though I always anticipate a new release from this author! Opening Up is solid start to what promises to be an awesome new series! Every time I start a new series by this author, I think it can’t get any better than the last…I was wrong. In true Lauren Dane fashion, she pulls you in from the first page and keeps you there until the end. My husband knows that when a new book comes out from her, it’s pizza or cereal for dinner!