Tease (The Ivy Chronicles, 2)

Emerson knows the deal. Guys are fun to have around, but you don't fall in love.Love was losing control. And I never lost control. I just made it look like I did - hooking up with different guys every week - but I was always fully cognizant of my actions. In charge every moment along the way.Emerson finds herself hanging out with Annie since both of her best friends were pre-occupied with thir boyfriends. Annie While hanging with her single friend seemed like a good idea at the time, when they showed up to a biker bar and said friend left her stranded after she had drank a few too many drinks, she finds herself relying on the kind offer of a hotter than sin biker she meets in the bar. Shaw, while taking a verbal lashing from Emerson takes care of her and gets her home safely, but not before she wakes up partially naked in his bed. (Not telling you any more about HOW she got there!)Content to never see this man again, she joins her friends for a party. While chatting with Pepper and Logan (Reece's hottie of a younger brother) she spots him. Such a small world this is. It turns out Shaw a cousin of Beth, whose party they are at. Shaw, a former Marine, is loyal to the core. He rescues Emerson, even when she doesn't think she needs it. Emerson isn't in the game for a fairy tale ending, she doesn't think she needs or deserves it. Shaw, on the other hand, knows that is what she deserves which is why he is in constant need to rescuing her.Emerson may not want the same things that Shaw wants, but he makes it happen. She thinks she sucedded in paying her way at dinner, only to find that he slipped the money back into her pocket without her noticing.The artist with Emerson couldn't hide the feelings she developed for Shaw. It showed in her painting. She didn't need anyone to see this piece, and yet her teacher insisted on it - and her grade depended on it. When she spotted him across the room seeing her picture, she knew she was gone. When her secret was revealed, he couldn't understand WHY she allowed people to think what they thought of her. My heart melted when she finally let him in."Don't leave me.""Oh, Emerson, I couldn't if I wanted to."Intense Shaw was laying out his feelings for Emerson to see, and she just couldn't. With never feeling loved or accpeted, she just couldn't give herself to Shaw. It broke all her rules. After a Teen Wolf marathon with a newly single Georgia and Pepper - she texts Shaw with what is my favorite line in the entire book. (And there are some great ones - I tell you the banter between these two is epic!)You don't have to chase me anymore.Emerson and Shaw's story had more pain in the back story. I felt for both of them, and I melted when they protected each other. I loved that he didn't give up, even when he tried to give up. His heart was in it 110%.Loving someone is scary. That was part of it. Always. Knowing, that at any moment for any reason it could be lost. But I wanted that. I wanted love. Even if I couldn't control it. I wanted it. I wanted him.

Like many others, I adored Sophie Jordan's first in this series Foreplay. It's my all-time favorite NA book. I pre-ordered Tease long ago, and was excited to get it. I dropped everything to read it and I read it in two sittings, on either side of a wedding! Ha!That being said, though I enjoyed the story, I was a little disappointed with the plot. Featuring a sexually-injured heroine (no spoiler, it's revealed fairly early in the story) is just too typical for the NA genre. I'm a little confused as to why 9 out of 10 of these books choose this plot line, and I'm just so tired with it. Young woman has been exposed to sexual injury and alpha male comes in and heals her.Blah.. it's a shame as it used to be one of my favorite plot lines to read about. Domestic and sexual abuse is a very serious issue many women survive and I find it encouraging that so many writers want to embrace this and speak about it. HOWEVER, it's just been done in overkill and, sometimes, I fear it is handled the wrong way. There tends to be an implication in these books that a hot stud can fight your battles for you and heal you and, sorry, but that's just not real. I know this is romance (ie, meaning fantasy) but having read this plot over and over.. I'm getting a little worn on it.Now THAT being said... the rest of this novel is pretty fabulous. I really enjoyed the hero, Shaw. He's a no-nonsense ex-marine bad boy with a sweet underbelly. He's a little strong on the alpha male stuff, hence my complaint above, but was charming enough that I enjoyed him hugely. Emmerson, his heroine, is a notch above most NA heroines because she has a real personality and hobby. Jordan does a good job painting her portrait as an artist (not to be punny) and not just TELLING us that she's an artist. In fact, some of my favorite scenes in this story involved Emmerson painting or in her studio. I also enjoyed that Shaw had a hobby as well, and that he and Emmerson find a way to connect their interests, making the love match seem realistic.Sophie Jordan is a great writer, and this novel is a winner in that way. She is legions above most NA writers. However, this one lost a couple stars on originality. I would really put this one at 3.5 out of 5 but unfortunately that's not an option.Edited A Long Time Later:I recently picked this book up and reread it. It was like getting a brain massage. It felt great to read this book as I've read some real stinkers lately. I've read about two dozen N/A romances, many features similar tropes, but none as good as this one. I'm changing my review form a 3 star to a 4 star. Shaw and Emmerson are far more unique, well-drawn and likable than many books I've ready recently. The plot itself is cliche but the characters are anything but. Four stars!

Not as good as the first one but still a very good read. There’s unanswered questions though.... what happened to Shaws family? Did they patch things up? If not what was the point in Emerson cornering his cousin? Maybe the next one will have some answers but I feel there’s a lot left out of this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed Tease! It's so HOT the steam just rises off the pages! Loved the characters and couldn't put it down. Will definitely be reading more from Sophie Jordan.

I really enjoy Sophie Jordan's writing. I loved Foreplay and Tease was not a disappointment!I get very attached to her characters and love how she develops their relationships.Looking forward to the last book!!

Die Geschichte zwischen Em und Shaw war ganz interessant zu lesen, aber hat mich nicht so überzeugt wie die anderen Teile. Irgendetwas hat gefehlt, kann aber nicht sagen was...Trotzdem musste ich natürlich nach Reece&Peeper auch die Geschichte von ihren Freundinnen lesen. Reece&Peeper und Logan&Georgia sind meine Favourits!

Worthy read with great characters and a story line that flow wells. Its light on angst but still has the feels.