Book 765: Naughty & Nice (Love Notes #2) – D.J. Jamison

On to book six of my MM Holiday Romance binge—not even going to lie, I obviously read this one because of those abs. I mean seriously!? Who wouldn’t, right?

This is the story of ex-stepbrothers Jonas, super-hot king of the mountain at his college, and Quinn, emotionally fragile college dropout trying to make a new life, and their being unexpectedly stuck in Jonas’ family cabin for a week where they come to terms with their long-held-at-bay attraction for each other.

I wasn’t sure going into this one, because like the characters I was a little concerned about the ex-stepbrothers thing, but it’s not like they even grew up together they lived together for a year or two and then Jonas went off to school and within a year of that happening their parents were divorced.

I used to pride myself on being some pretty boy’s naughty sexcapade, but Quinn wasn’t just any pretty boy. I’d been carrying a torch for him for years. Dozens of letters to him were bundled in my duffel bag, just in the next room, full of words of longing and frustration. (148)

I loved that Jamison wrote a bad boy character, Jonas, who had an emotional side. And she did an even better job of writing the emotionally fragile Quinn without making him too tedious of a character. There was just enough fear from his last emotionally abusive relationship, hesitancy of everything he wanted from his dad dying when he was younger and just being in a dark place for so long and hope from trying to be independent and make a better life for himself.

Their relationship was adorable going from ice cold to boiling hot once they realized they’d both been pining for each other for years after a kiss and reaction that led to a misunderstanding.

Now that I wasn’t so focused on myself, I could see how considerate he was, how generous and sweet. He was flirty and sexy, sure, but he’d waited for me to give him the greenlight before he put even a toe out of line. He’d respected all my boundaries and quirks in a way no one ever had. And I’d repaid him by suspecting the worst of him. (202)

Quinn turned, his eyes meeting mine. He smiled, slow and sweet, and I had to kiss him. I pressed my lips to his, expecting things to progress as they normally did. Quinn and I were explosive together. But instead of the combustion of lust I’d expected, something terrifyingly sweet, like a knife edged in sugar, sliced through me.

In that moment, I bled out. All the love, all the longing and need for him in my life, flowed from me to him.

I trembled, my lips clinging softly to the kiss, my body alight with the knowledge that no one else would ever do. (208)

The sex scenes were believable and well written and even though she didn’t talk the talk, Jamison definitely walked the walk when it came to verse characters and the reactions were well done. The big conflict was heart-wrenching, but totally expected with Jonas’ letters being Chekhov’s gun and Quinn so fragile from his last controlling relationship and the resolution was equally heartwarming.

I’m now getting so used to the epilogues in these books that I’m so sad the Hallmark/Lifetime movies don’t have them (probably why I keep reading these). I’m glad that this epilogue included Quinn finishing his degree and his entire family being there for him at the resort where he is slowly working his way up to management. It was just so sweet.

Recommendation: Definitely in the top three of the MM holiday romances I’ve read this year. Once you (and the characters) get through the ex-stepbrothers conversation, you focus on the characters growing and maturing and falling in love. My heart hurt for both of them as they tried to figure out their relationship and grew a few sizes when they did. I’m definitely going to seek out the first one in this series (Secret Admirer) and it’ll probably be one of the first I read in 2021 😀

Opening Line: “The Christmas tree glowed with reds and blues and greens, light filtering down through its branches.”

Closing Line: “I would never be alone again.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)

Additional Quotes from Naughty & Nice
“I flashed hot and cold. I wanted to kiss him again. I wanted to punch him in the face. I wanted to cry and rage that the world had put this smug, irritating, cute guy in my path when I wasn’t ready for him.” (4)

“With great restraint, I resisted the urge to invite myself into the shower once more. I was supposed to be keeping my distance from Quinn. This guy owned my heart—or at least a sappy piece of it—and he didn’t even know it. But the flirt-force in me was strong, and I wasn’t used to censoring it.” (38)

“‘No.’ I finally pulled back to look into his eyes. ‘I’m not baby, or honey, or any other thing you call your hookups. I’m Quinn.'” (116)

“‘I need you to agree you won’t hook up with anyone else while you’re here. Just me. Is that…’ I took a steadying breath. ‘Am I enough?’
‘Hell yes,; he said. ‘Jesus, Quinn, I want you so fucking bad. I don’t need anyone else.'” (117)

“‘Be quiet while you’re down my throat?’ Every muscle in my body clenched with the effort it took to hold back the groan of desire at that thought. His eyes were teasing. Quinn came off as such a nice boy, but right now he was all kinds of evil. Like a little sex demon I’d conjured up, challenging me with my own suggestion we’d have to be quiet. And, yeah, maybe he’d picked up on the fact that I’d mostly meant him. Not that I didn’t cry out like a banshee when he bit down on me, crossing all my pain and pleasure wires into a blissful short-circuit of ecstasy. But Quinn was all moans and cries throughout, and I generally loved every second of it.” (162)

“I laughed as I joined him on the bed, reminded again of how much fun sex was with Jonas. It was sexy as hell too, but there was room for levity and humor.” (214)