Simon Says (SBC Fighters, Book 2) [Mass Market Paperback]

Lori Foster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 2008

Sexy ex-fighter Simon Evans has the perfect life-until he catches his girlfriend cheating. To work off his rage, he goes back into the ring full-force. But a gutsy and gorgeous P.I. is about to send him reeling with a secret about his family-and one about her heart.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Dakota Dream has been hired by her stepfather, Barnaby, to find Simon Evans, an extreme fighter preparing for a comeback fight with Dean Havoc Conor (introduced in Causing Havoc, 2007), and arrange a meeting. Barnaby claims to be Simon's long-missing birth father. When Dakota shows up at the gym, Simon is instantly attracted to her but rejects her request to see Barnaby. Dakota is desperate because Barnaby is threatening to burn her mother's last letters to her unless she produces Simon. As things heat up between Dakota and Simon, she keeps secrets and he feels betrayed. Foster shapes a fun sequel, thanks to Dakota, an interesting character with a big heart, good head, and checkered past. The second in the series reads reasonably well as a stand-alone, although this sort of plot about lying has been done to death in romances, and there are some flaws. Foster fans, however, will deem all glitches irrelevant. Chelton, Mary K.

About the Author

Lori Foster is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of many contemporary romances.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; mass market edition (February 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425216586
• ISBN-13: 978-0425216583
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lori Foster first published with Harlequin in January 1996. Since those early days, Lori has routinely had 6 to 10 releases a year. Lori is a Waldenbooks, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly and New York Times bestselling author and is published through Berkley/ Jove, Kensington, St. Martins, Harlequin and Silhouette.

In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times 'Career Achievement Award' for Series Romantic Fantasy.

In 2002, Lori's book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon.

In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second 'Bestselling Original Contemporary' romance for Waldenbooks.

In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the 'Bestselling Original Contemporary' romance for the BGI group.

In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times 'Career Achievement Award' for Contemporary Romance.

In 2006, Jude's Law was the "Bestselling Romantic Comedy" romance title for the BGI group.

In 2007, Lori launched a new "urban fantasy" series under the name L. L. Foster. See more on her "dark side" at www.llfoster.com

In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon's Top Ten Editor's picks in Romance.

In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on the New York Times bestseller list.

In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance, L.L. Foster, was named Amazon's Number 1 Editors' Pick in Romance.

Lori visits daily with readers as part of the 'Running With Quills' blog at www.runningwithquills.com and at her busy message board featured on her website www.LoriFoster.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Her Best................, July 10, 2007

By 

Kelly "Reviewer for The Sinfully Sensuous" (Littleton, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Simon Says (SBC Fighters, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

I am a huge Lori Foster fan, but this was not the best book of this series.

It was well written as always, and Simon is incredible, but I did not find Dakota likeable. I realize good characters have a past and baggage, but with Dakota it was almost too much and she had a chip on her shoulder the size of Texas. She was purposely rude, unfriendly, and combative the majority of the time, and I found myself not caring about her - hoping Simon would find someone else. She was physically strong and had knowledge of the SBC, but no other redeeming qualities.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing sequel, January 29, 2008

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Simon Says (SBC Fighters, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

Dakota Dream (you read that name right) can only get access to the letters her estranged mother wrote prior to her death if she reunites her evil stepfather with his biological son. But she soon discovers that introducing Barnaby and Simon will not be easy. Simon is an SBC trainer just getting over the betrayal of long time love Bonnie sleeping with another, and decides to re-ignite his career and starts training to return to the ring. When Dakota walks into his gym and gives him advice, he wants to send her packing, particularly when he learns that she's there for. He can live the rest of his life without ever meeting bio-dad. But an attraction between the two develops and his jealousy is piqued when she manages to attract just about every male within a 10-mile radius, including a cruel ex-husband.

I wanted to like this story, particularly since I liked its predecessor. But this one is all over the place. It's as if Foster wrote two different characters and merged them for Dakota. She just didn't make any sense from chapter to chapter, and I had a hard time figuring out why she was such a babe magnet considering she was slovenly most of the time, and just too young and immature for the hero. And I was tired of being hit over the head just how attractive Simon was. One aspect I liked is that Dean from "Havoc" plays a role in the novel, not just a walk on for the sake of linking the two novels. Just take it for what it is - a palate cleanser for the next SBC story, but a step above the "Law" series.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart Tugging & Suspenseful, April 10, 2007

By 

Cryna Palmiere "bluebroom" (Calgary, Alberta) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Simon Says (SBC Fighters, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

Simon Says is Lori Foster's latest release. What a heart tugging, suspenseful story it is, and a terrific read illustrating Lori's style of writing that we have all come to love and showing that family counts.

Simon Alexander Evans, a renowned trainer of SBC fighters, who's fight name had been Sublime decides to make a comeback into the fighting ring, after breaking up with his girlfriend of five years who had cheated on him. Trust, honesty and loyalty were the things that were important to Simon and she had failed them. Surprisingly he's able to walk away without a backward glance because he found that his heart had never been involved. Yeah he had planned to marry her one day, but the time was never right balking at the idea of tying himself down legally, emotionally and officially. Nope that was not for him, or so he thought.

Dakota Dream has had a life of hard knocks, some of them coming courtesy of her ex-husband. She has made mistakes, regrettable ones, and hates to be manipulated by her step-father who has always been trouble for her. When Barney demands her to bring his son to him, one that she never knew existed, Dakota has no alternative but to set out to do just that, hoping that finally she can put her past behind her. Naturally there are incidents and things that her step-father uses to manipulate Dakota to come around to his way of thinking guaranteed to keep her in-line. Dakota is determined to be successful, thankful for her skills honed working at her part-time volunteer job of locating missing people.

When Dakota arrives at the gym that Dean (Havoc) owns and operates in Harmony, Simon's attention is drawn to her from the very beginning. Dakota keeps him off balance, with her audacity to give pointers to the other fighters. He cannot figure out why, out of all the women in the country, he is drawn to Dakota. She stirs his blood like no one else has been able to do. Sparks fly, when Simon finds out the reason behind Dakota's appearance in Harmony, but above all the sexual tensions run hotter and higher and he has to have her. Simon finds her ballsy, smart, kind, caring and hot, but he can ill afford a distraction like her to his training for a comeback and yet he can't help himself. Dakota is stunned at the effect that Simon has on her and how hot he makes her. Simon experiences feelings he has never had before, anger, jealousy, lust for just Dakota no matter and something else, but what is it? When he finds out that she has not been totally honest with him can he overcome it?

How this story unfolds, just shows Lori's strength of pulling the reader in at the beginning and holding their attention to the last page. Mixing in an ex-husband, and the jilted girlfriend determined to win Simon back, there are many twists and turns on the trip to see how it all resolves. All blend together to make a suspenseful, hot read. We meet friends from Causing Havoc and also new ones. It shows how fighters ban together to protect one of their own when they are threatened, their love of family and what really matters. In the meantime, can Simon win the title fight and the belt back? Can Dakota put her past behind her? And after all is said and done is there a chance of Simon and Dakota working out the kinks in their relationship? So many questions penned in a wonderful story and resolved with a sigh ending that is Lori's strength. SIMON SAYS is a book not to be missed, and even if you haven't read Causing Havoc, this book is well worth picking up, I highly recommend it, and can't wait to hear more from the SBC fighters.