Name: Stinger
ISBN: 9781492812081

Mia Sheridan

A full-length, standalone romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Archer's Voice. Grace Hamilton was the girl with a plan. She knew exactly where her life was going and prided herself on always achieving her goals. It was who she was, and how she lived her life. She never stepped outside the lines, and never considered what she might desire and whom she was actually trying so hard to please. Until him . . . Carson Stinger was a man who didn't play by any rules except his own. Working in the adult entertainment industry, he didn't care what others thought, and took each day as it came, no direction, no plan. He knew what women wanted from him and believed it was all he had to offer. Until her . . . When circumstances forced them to spend several hours together, they walked away changed. But for two people who never should have meshed, overcoming the reality of their vastly different lives wasn't possible. At least not yet . . . THIS IS A STANDALONE SIGN OF LOVE NOVEL, INSPIRED BY SCORPIO. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Stinger

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After getting reacquainted with my love for Mia Sheridan's writing while reading Archer's Voice, I decided to go on a bit of a binge. (Ok, I read two of her books in a row. I wanted to keep going, but the angsty goodness was becoming overwhelming. I'll get back to it soon.) I wasn't sure how Stinger, a male porn star, would measure up to Archer, but he was really oh-so-much more than that and I fell just about as head over heels for him as I did Archer. 

Grace and Stinger's meeting was unconventional and they were an unlikely pairing for more than just one night of passion. She was a law student. He was an up and coming porn star. They were both in Vegas for conferences in their respective professions. There was a definite sizzle when they ran into each other and their time trapped in an elevator gave them a chance to get to know each other better. Had it not been for that shared time, they probably would've done little more than pass each other. (Can I break for a moment to say how much I love "stuck in an elevator" stories? I'd freak out if I was ever stuck in one – with or without a sexy man – but as a meet-cute, I find it perfect.) 

Despite her strong convictions about sex and relationships, Grace gives in to Stinger's offer for a weekend of passion. There was something more between them, something they both wanted to explore but didn't know how to go about it. It about ripped my heart out when they had a disagreement and said goodbye after their time together. Neither of them knew just how much the little time they spent together changed them and their paths in life. It was the catalyst for big changes for both of them. 

The storyline of Stinger takes place over a long span of time. Normally I find fast forwards in books distracting, but it really worked for me here. There was so much story to tell but I loved how Mia focused us on the most important parts and didn't get distracted by the things that didn't matter as much. I didn't feel lost in the time jumps and I never felt like I was missing anything particularly relevant. This story was all about how Grace and Carson (Stinger) found their way back to each other after their initial meeting years before. But first, they had to find themselves. Otherwise they would never be ready to be with each other. 

The characters were wonderful. Grace was easily likable. She was intelligent, driven and strong. She was a lady with a plan. I loved when Carson started pushing her boundaries upon their first meeting. Of course, I had to get past my preconceived notions of porn stars right along with Grace. There was something special and different about him right from the start. He was making good money, but he wasn't proud of the work he was doing. In their short time together, Grace made him realize just that. He wanted to be better. He wanted to feel as though he deserved her. He gave me all the warm fuzzies as his journey began. I still can't help but think of parts of the story and smile. Carson is definitely up near the top in the pyramid of awesome book boyfriends. And together? Grace and Carson were perfection... in the beginning and all those years later. 

This book was pretty much the total package for me. I loved the unexpected meeting, the personal growth and the second chance story. It was sexy, romantic and the perfect kind of angsty. There were twists and turns and I couldn't put it down once I started. More than anything, I loved the emphasis on time and fate in this story. I've always found such concepts fascinating – how much different your life can become based on one small choice, meeting one person or deviating from your usual schedule just a bit. It was beautifully illustrated here with a love story that will stick with me for a long time to come.