Just For Kicks (Mass Market Paperback)

by Susan Andersen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The good old "opposites attracts" gambit is the basis for this winning round of Vegas romance, the follow-up to Andersen's bestseller Skintight. Carly Jacobsen is a Vegas showgirl who loves three things—her friends, her dogs and her single life. Security guard Wolfgang Jones, who works at the casino where she dances, is a man with a serious plan: a top-notch security job, a wife and a cookie-cutter home. Living in neighboring condos, the only thing the two have in common is a shared wall and a profound dislike of one another. He thinks she's irresponsible and immature, she thinks he's judgmental and a jerk. When you deal in the red-hot chemistry between them, however, the odds change significantly. Deft characters, smart dialogue, laugh-out loud moments and sizzling sexual tension (you might want to read Chapter 15 twice) make this hard to put down. The only questionable bet is Carly's mystery suitor, a twist that does nothing for the story. Lovers of romance, passion and laughs should go all in for this one. (Aug.)
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Review
"Andersen deserves to go to the head of the class for this emotionally charged romance." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Skintight

"Bright, smart, sexy, thoroughly entertaining." -- Jayne Ann Krentz

"Guaranteed snap, sizzle and sass!" -- Carly Phillips, New York Times bestselling author

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778323153
• ISBN-13: 978-0778323150
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #81,913 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vegas showgirl has a real kick!, August 17, 2006

By	Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Vegas showgirl Carly is having trouble getting her pup Rufus to behave and her sexy neighbor's patience has just about run out. To add insult to injury, neighbor Wolfgang Jones is second in command in security at the casino she works for, forcing them to coexist in a truce-like atmosphere. Wolf's future plans don't include getting involved with a sexy showgirl with legs up to here, but when his nephew Nik is suddenly thrust on his doorstep, and strikes up a friendship with Carly and her motley crew of pets, Wolf realizes there's more to her than what meets the eye.

With Wolf and the rest of the friends and neighbors, Nik has finally found what he has missed most of his life - a sense of family. Nik knows that the only way to put an end to the nomadic existence he's been forced to contend with thanks to his flighty mother is to get Uncle Wolf to settle down, and what better candidate than Carly. As he schemes to get the two together, they quickly become willing pawns and enter into a sex for convenience relationship. Of course, despite their efforts, they both fall for each other, and everyone (but the two of them) seems to know how they feel about each. Meanwhile, Nik himself is falling for a cheerleader, giving further reason to stay put in Sin City. But the job Wolf has worked his while life for is suddenly on the table.

In a suspenseful twist that harkens back to Andersen's romantic suspense roots, Carly starts receiving anonymous gifts that suddenly turn threatening. Wolf enlists her as bait to set a trap to catch her would-be paramour. Knowing that their no-strings affair is about to end, Carly tries to distance herself from him, but is a boring corporate job in middle America what he really wants?

"Just for Kicks," a follow up to "Skintight," includes many of the original characters in the condo complex who add plenty of comic relief, though Carly's constant use of the term "toots" is grating. Carly and Wolf really burn up the pages (chapter 15!!), while Nik is the heart and soul of the story.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Summer Romance, August 1, 2006

By	loonigrrl (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Just for Kicks is a light summer romance that succeeds in being fun and funny. Our heroine, Carly, can't stand her animal-hating, driven, uptight neighbor who just happens to be second in charge of security in the same casino where she works. Wolfgang has no patience for the seemingly flaky, flighty showgirl and her overly loud cats and dogs.

Although very attracted to the other, Carly and Wolf get a boost in the romance department from Wolf's matchmaking nephew, Nik. Nik has been moving from town to town his whole life and struggles with feelings of abandonment and acceptance until he moves in with Wolf. He attempts to set our hero and heroine up so that Wolf will have a reason to stay put rather than move away to his dream job. Carly and Wolf are fun characters with good chemistry and funny moments. I smiled, I laughed out loud, and I reread a couple of the steamy scenes. Overall, a fun and quick read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Worth the Purchase" Contemporary with great Male charactrers!, August 6, 2006

By	C. Farley "seafaire" (Bakersfield, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This author writes on the verge of the dreaded "chick lit" genre
but keeps her books a little smarter and more developed. Here the gals, as usual, pretty much have it together. Interesting jobs, good friendships--all written up in the day-to-day worklife of a Las Vegas dancer/showgirl. The twist that makes this one a goodie is that two men enter our female leads life
who don't have it together. One, our male lead, is a strict, career oriented Casino security expert and an unsuspecting Uncle
to a smart, talented teen boy essentially kicked to the curb by his overwhelmed mother. Watching the change and development of these two guys as they enter into the lives/hearts of our solid female lead is wonderful and rings completely true. Stuff happens, usually with a reason and change is hard but the rewards make the hard stuff worthwhile. Well done, with just a little silly stuff inserted to give a some plot tension. Enjoy!