Book Review – Stroked by Meghan Quinn

Stroked by Meghan Quinn

Romantic Comedy. First in a Series of Related Standalones.

As soon as I finished Stroked by Meghan Quinn, I went right to Stroked Long. I am about 65% done with Stroked Long and I am absolutely in LOVE with it, so I want to clarify this review, because I don’t know if my love for the second may have brought down my opinion of the first a little. Don’t get me wrong, Stroked was fun, but Stroked Long is a top favorite already, and I’m not done.

Stroked was a bit of over-the-top ridiculousness, but it was a funny read for sure. There were three points of view, including one from the absolutely ridiculous villain, which was a unique way to tell a story.

Reese King is the “Silver Stroke”. He is a champion swimmer (and underwear model) who wins almost every competition, but for the last three Olympics, he could only place silver. At 32, this is his last Olympics. The last chance to not be the “loser” who almost won. In an effort to get his persona out there after the Olympics, he agreed to a fake relationship, being the boyfriend on a newly rich heiress’s reality show.

Bellini, the star of the show, is the most horrible human being on the face of the planet. Seriously, she is so obnoxious you have to giggle at the over-the-top evil little bitch who thinks her dog is an actual saint and only eats Tic-Tacs and drinks Fiji water.

“You’re not eating here. You can feast on one of my Tic Tacs I spit out after sucking on it for a minute.”

Bellini is basically a caricature of a society princess coddled by her daddy.

“It’s so hard being me. I’m so popular, everyone wants to be me, and do you know what? I don’t blame them. How can I? If I saw such a specimen walking down the streets of Rodeo Drive, I would strive to be just like me as well.”

Paisley is gorgeous, tatted and pierced. She has her master’s in film production, but after a small mistake she is blacklisted in Hollywood. The only job she could get was as Bellini’s and Reese’s assistant on the show. Paisley (aka Mauve) and Reese have immediate chemistry, but he is in a fake relationship, and Paisley can’t risk the only job she could get, especially when Bellini notices the chemistry between them.

“There are two types of girls in this world. Girls like me, who have men draped across their feet, wishing and hoping for one sniff from their very sought after lady-garden. And then there are girls like you. … Girls who flap their dilapidated garden gate open for any kind of attention doesn’t matter, man, woman, child, or dog. Bestiality isn’t beneath girls like you, nor is acting like a complete whore to any other women’s men…Newsflash, not everyone enjoys Taco Tuesday, so close it up, shut it down, and don’t look at my man like you want to dangle between his legs, dick in your mouth, with one task at hand… swallowing.”~Bellini

See what I mean? Bellini is hateful. But the chemistry between Reese and Paisley was undeniable. They couldn’t stay away from each other.

“Did she feel the same way I felt? The burning need to get to know each other, mentally and intimately? Did she feel the electricity starting to build between us as well? A spark so heavy, that if our lips connect, it will feel like the entire room will explode?”

And boy, when they connected, it was HOT!

Likes:

Reese was confident without being cocky, nor did he seem like a reformed man-whore.
Though I am not really a sports fan, I liked the parts about the swimming a lot.
I loved Bellini’s dog. My dog’s feet smell like corn chips too! (Though I wished the dog would scratch Bellini’s eyes out)
Sneak peeks at Bodi & Ruby and Hollis & Melony’s stories.
I loved Paisley. She was smart, cool and someone I’d totally want to hang with.
Fun and sexy banter.
The eye flicking and head bonking were some of my favorite parts, I love how Paisley reacts when she doesn’t know what to do.
Characters you love to hate, like Bellini and Pocket (yet I felt bad for Pocket).
Reese was the perfect combo of super nice guy and alpha male.
Hot bedroom scenes.

Dislikes:

Too much Bellini. She was hysterically over the top, but I just didn’t need to be in her head so much. Her POV was cute for a chapter, but it was too much, I wanted more romance, less bitch.
Paisley was kind of a tough girl, I thought, but she wussed out a little too much. I wish she stood up both for herself and to Bellini more.

The Down & Dirty:

Stroked was a fun, over-the-top book told in 3 points of view. From the main couple, as well as the villain of the story, Bellini. While Bellini was there for comic relief (she was so ridiculous it was funny) there was a little too much of her. I didn’t want to be in her head that much at all. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the whole book, so much so that I immediately asked for the next. But I have to say, after reading 65% of Stroked Long (book 2), I realized how much better it can get! I loved Reese and Paisley together, their chemistry was undeniable, and I can’t wait to see snippets of them in upcoming additions to the series, I just wish I saw more of them and less of Bellini in Stroked.