Review: Take Me – Olivia Cunning

She is one woman he should never touch…

Sole Regret’s enigmatic vocalist, Jacob “Shade” Silverton, is a consummate womanizer, but even he knows better than to get involved with one special woman from his past. Mixing friendship and pleasure can only lead to a broken heart, and he’s suffered enough heartache to swear off relationships for a lifetime.

He is one man she has always desired…

Amanda Lange knows all about Shade’s naughty reputation, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to dive into the gorgeous rock star’s arms and into his bed. She convinces herself that one night of passion won’t complicate their friendship, but can she convince him of that?

They’re both playing with fire.

Neither of them realized how far one kiss would take them. As the flames of their passion ignite with the intensity of an inferno, will either of them escape the experience without being burned or will both be branded fool enough to take a chance on a relationship that was marked for ruin before it even began?

Series:  One Night with Sole Regret #3
Release Date:  October 26, 2012
Publisher:  Olivia Cunning
Source:  Amazon, via my own wallet
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Reviewer’s Thoughts:

After reading Tempt Me, I was feeling like I was missing something with the band members of Sole Regret.  Adam’s story and his relationship with his drug counselor never sat quite right with me and the animosity between Shade and Adam was obviously deep routed, but we never found out what it was.  Thankfully, Olivia Cunning gave us Shade’s story.  It redeemed Adam’s story, in my opinion, and gave me faith in the series.

Jacob “Shade” Silverton uses women and sex as a way to ‘scratch an itch’ and act out his part as a rock star, but that’s not who Shade is.  He’s a man that has regrets, which include not finishing high school, failing in his marriage and not being there for his small daughter.  He finds the only time he can truly be himself is around his family, which includes his ex sister-in-law, Amanda.  He’s always been attracted to her, but he vows to keep himself in check because he doesn’t want to ruin the relationship that they have.  But Shade doesn’t know, is that Amanda has always had a ‘thing’ for him.  When they are giving the opportunity to that things further, will it be for one night or will it lead to more?

I loved Shade.  He seemed like such an ass in the first two books, but we find out in his story he has his reasons.  His Sole Regret persona was not at all like who he truly is:  a man who loves his daughter, hates how his ex-wife makes him feel and wishes he could find someone who he could just be himself with.  He was scared to take things with Amanda to a sexual level because he didn’t want to lose the camaraderie they have.   And when Shade finally has to make the decision about how to leave things with Amanda, it wasn’t with a rushed profession of feelings and promises for the future it was instead building on the foundation of friendship.  That made me love Shade. 

I like Amanda.  She was witty, down to earth and while thinking she was just ordinary, didn’t let that get her down.  My only issue with Amanda was 1.  admitting she had a thing for her little sister’s ex-husband and 2.  actually sleeping with him.  Isn’t there a rule or something for that?  Besides that, she was a great match for Shade.  She knew him outside of his stage persona and could make him laugh.  I loved the scene with them in the kitchen singing Katrina and the Wave.  Amanda brought out a side to Shade that I’m sure he didn’t even know he had.  In the end, I think she will make him a better man and a better father.

An enjoyable, if all too short read.  I look forward to the next Sole Regret entry.