ARC Review: What Maxi Needs by Calista Fox

What Maxi Needs is the second book in the Leave Your Shoes On series from Calista Fox. Each book is a standalone story, but the characters are interconnected. Just like the first in this series, Maxi's story is short and sexy. While I enjoyed this book though, I didn't love it as much as I did Lola's book. It was still good, but the first is my favorite of the series so far. 

With Lola's new campaign underway, Staci promotes Maxi to head of operations. Now that it is her job to turn the company around, Maxi sets out to make the changes that will get the company back on track. But what she doesn't expect is that Staci has hired another person to help her, the sexy Aussie Ryan. Ryan has a PhD and is used to working with numbers, and at first Maxi has no idea what to do with him. But the chemistry between them is instant, and they find themselves drawn to one another the more they work together. But can they turn the company around and find out what is going on between them?

While I liked Ryan and Maxi together, I had a tough time relating to either of them. Ryan is a sexy nerd, and he was a bit awkward. Maxi is strong and sassy, but she has had a terrible time when it comes to love in the past. Coming off a bad break-up himself, Ryan is able to relate to her and understand her issues when it comes to romance. That being said, he also was pretty oblivious to things at times, and I had a hard time believing some of his naivete. There was one scene in particular that he didn't seem to grasp how Maxi had interpreted it and he was lost as to why she wouldn't speak to him. I just didn't buy that he wouldn't have seen exactly what she did until so much later on. These two definitely had chemistry though, and they were really steamy together.

Overall, this was a good short story. It was sexy and funny and one that I was able to finish quickly. It was a bit awkward at times though, and it just didn't hold my interest in the way the first book did. I think it was just that I couldn't connect with the characters and I didn't feel invested in their story. I wasn't able to relate to them and as much as I love a sexy nerd, Ryan was a bit too awkward for me to go for. I am curious to read the next book in the series though, and I look forward to Staci getting her story told. If you are looking for something short and sexy with some humor, I recommend giving this series a shot.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: What Lola Wants by Calista Fox

What Lola Wants is the first novella in the Leave Your Shoes On series from Calista Fox. It is a standalone story, and features best friends Lola Vonn and Alex Reed. Alex and Lola have always been friends, and have never crossed the line into more. Alex is a bit on the OCD side, and prefers his world to be neat and orderly. Lola is a bit on the wild side, preferring to live life to the fullest and force her nerdy best friend out of his comfort zone when possible. But when she goes to stay with him while waiting for her new apartment to be ready, she quickly realizes that he isn't the same as he once was and she finds that she is attracted to him in a way she hasn't ever been before. Alex has wanted Lola since they were teenagers, but he knew she was out of his league. So when she makes a move and offers to take their friendship to the next level, he easily says yes. But can he convince Lola that he is the man for her beyond just friends with benefits? 

I really liked these two. They were such opposites, and yet their connection was clear. Friends for years, they already had such a solid bond. I loved seeing Alex and Lola take things beyond just friendship though, and the chemistry between them was so strong! These two were super hot together, and the passion between them was explosive. It was so hard to imagine that nothing had ever happened before because the sparks between them were flying like crazy! Alex and Lola were perfect together, and I really liked how fun and sexy they were.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable story. It was on the predictable side, and there really wasn't anything new or super unique here. But there was a really steamy and cute friends to lovers romance that I had a great time reading. What Lola Wants was fast paced and I read it in one sitting because I couldn't get enough of the intensity and passion between Alex and Lola. I am looking forward to reading more from Calista Fox in this series, and I am already excited to see what she has in store for Lola's friend Maxi in the next book. If you are looking for a quick and hot story that will entertain you, I would recommend checking this one out.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | iTunes |

ARC Review: IOU Sex by Calista Fox

It's been a year since Fiona came home and caught her fiancé in bed with her younger sister. At the time a broken and distraught Fiona turned to her friend Michael for a shoulder to cry on. That shoulder quickly turned into something more. After three weeks of amazing sex, Fiona decides to end things and be just "friends" with Michael. She's afraid of being hurt again and would rather push someone away rather than face potential pain and humiliation of catching him cheating on her.

Even after the breakup Fiona and Michael continued to become closer in their friendship. When Fiona receives an invitation to her sister and ex-fiancé's engagement party she knows she only wants to take Michael. Taking Michael will prove to everyone that she is over her cheating ex and everything that happened a year ago. When Fiona asks Michael to come with her, he agrees but but only if Fiona agrees to a weekend of sex with him. Michael wants more from Fiona than just friendship and will do anything to make Fiona realize she wants the same things, even if he has to blackmail her into it.

I really enjoyed Michael and liked that he wasn't afraid to let Fiona how he felt towards her. He was ready and willing to take care of her in any way that was needed. He was very dependable. As for Fiona, she was a little annoying to me. Throughout the entire story she kept saying that she wanted to show everyone that she was over everything her ex and sister put her through but it didn't come across that way to me at all. I didn't get a sense that she was over anything. She just kept saying it over and over again as if she had to convince herself that she was. Another issue I had was the chemistry between Fiona and Michael. I didn't really feel any sparks between them and when it came to their smut scenes they seemed a little flat.

All in all, this wasn't a terrible story. I definitely kept turning the page wanting to know how everything was going to pan out between Michael and Fiona.


**This was an ARC copy provided by NetGalley**