What happens when a barista and an ad executive find each other beyond attractive? Fireworks, desire and eventually love. Stud by Jamie K. Schmidt, is a well-written story with tons of originality, unique plot twists, and lots of hot sex.

Terri Cooke deserves some happiness in her life. Her older brother is suffering from a disease similar to ALS, and she is working three jobs in order to maintain their home and keep up with the medical expenses. Her previous, well paying position in marketing did not allow her the flexibility she needed in order to take care of her brother. Presently, brewing coffee and catering for the Beanery is Terri's primary source of income. However, she is hopeful something good will eventually come from all her hard work. Every morning at 8:57 am, Mick Wentworth of The Wentworth Agency purchases a very frilly coffee and ogles Terri from head to toe. Luckily Terri is thick-skinned, and is more than happy to reciprocate the ogle. They both find each other incredibly hot and sexy, without any verbal exchanges.

Mick deserves some happiness in his life as well. His current administrative assistant is pregnant with his married brother's child, his father was recently indicted for embezzlement, and his manipulative mother wants to take the company away from him. Due to his father's very public situation, new clients are difficult to secure. A big gaming company agreed to meet with him, however, Mick knows nothing about their "World of Legends" video game. Terri comes to his rescue, when she chats up the potential client while serving them the coffee house's best offerings. In order to acquire the new business, Mick has no choice but to hire Terri. Overtime, Terri teaches Mick all about gaming, as they evolve their lustful relationship into love.

I liked this book and the story-line is engaging. I instantly bonded with Terri and Mick because they are extremely interesting and lively characters. Their sex scenes are full of desire and heat, due to Ms. Schmidt's seductive way with words. Mick's dominance in the bedroom is quite hot. The secondary characters are entertaining, and add a lot of underhandedness to the story's happenings. If you are looking for a romance with a lot of sex and intrigue, then get yourself a copy of Stud.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

In all honesty, while I enjoyed the story I didn't quite click with the characters in Stud. I found my respect for them diminishing at the start especially when Terri watches Mick get off with someone else at a club :(

I admired Terri's dedication to her brother and her devotion to helping take care of him as his illness progresses and robs him of his physical ability to control his body. Having given up her dream career in order to have a more flexible schedule to take her brother to doctors appointments, Terri is extremely hard working. Crossing paths with Mick when he stops off at the coffee shop she is a barista in to pick up a very frou-frou drink in the mornings.

Mick comes across as exceptionally arrogant and entitled, as well as a total player. However, it is soon obvious these are a form of defense mechanism due to his seriously nuffed up family situation. His emotional barriers conceal a level of caring and compassion not exhibited by a lot of the population. Mick is altruistic in his actions, preferring to remain anonymous than take credit for his good deeds. 

There is a fire burning between Mick and Terri from the start leading to some exceptionally explosive passionate moments between the pair. Although they endeavor to keep their emotions out of the equation. Yep, we all know how that works, but watching Mick battle with his emotions was enlighting in respect to his family circumstances and upbringing. 

I really liked how Terri stood out in the male dominated marketing world with her ideas and geek-dom bringing Mick along with her for the ride. 

Stud was a compelling read even without the deep connection to the characters. although I did enjoy the banter and sass as it developed through the narrative and made the characters more accessible.

What a fun book! Terri and Mick had chemistry that sizzled on every page. Terri's career was put on hold to take care of her ill brother and Mick's company is being threatened by the various scandals of his family members, but together they not only help each other forget their problems, they end up being each other's solution. This author did a fabulous job of building the sexual tension at the same time as the corporate intrigue so we're as confused as Mick about which one should be his higher priority. Mick is every bit the sexy alpha stud that the title indicates, but he knows the value of responsibility. Because of the irresponsible behavior of his parents and brother, Mick is determined to keep his professional actions completely above reproach. This means he can't continue to see Terri after she starts working for him, but his sense of honor and integrity make him even more attractive. I loved the side story line incorporating the online game and how it was portrayed with such detail. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

4 STARS FOR STUD!! This story has it all funny, hot and great characters. Mick is a cocky guy and Terri is so funny. I enjoyed seeing this story play out. This author keeps us readers entertained with her storytelling. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book from publisher via NetGalley.

Stud by Jamie K. Schmidt was a quick hot, romantic, fun read. I love books that contains two main characters who can’t decide if they love or hate each other! I found this book was just that. Terri, who has a marketing degree has put her life on hold to help take care of her brother. She ends up taking jobs where she can, so she can help transport her brother. Mick starts his day getting a coffee at the local coffee shop. He doesn’t want to wait in line and expects people to answer his snapping fingers. We can all guess what Terri thinks of that. As Terri learns more about Mick, she finds she might have jumped to a conclusion… and maybe she was wrong.

Stud by Jamie K. Schmidt was a good read.

I'm surprised on how good this book was. Terri Cooke is struggling in life big time. She's holding down a bunch of dead-end jobs to help support her brother who has an unknown illness. Mick Wentworth is the annoying yet handsome customer who is rude and condescending.

It's not until Mick's marketing firm needs someone knowledgeable on a product that Terri happens to love and know all about. A deal is made and that's when things get crazy.

For a book that is all kinds of schmexy, it had some deep and funny moments.

First, Stud is emotional and a bit of a roller coaster ride for sure. There was some fun and of course the sexy times, but I think it was the emotions that kept me glued to my pages. Second,Terri and Mick had a great tension and their banter and chemistry seemed off the chart at times. Definitely a plus for me. The fact that they were so likeable even when they were being insufferable and a bit of a jerk, on Mick's part and the feeling that Terri could have been such a downer, I wanted more of this story. Just so we could see more of Terri while not in such a bad time of life, working so many dead end jobs, trying to keep herself and her brother financially afloat while they were battling her brother's harsh disease. It was a tempting fantasy that while she is temporarily a barista at a high end coffee shop she should "meet" such an interesting man as Max Wentworth, the wealthy customer with such an arrogant and lofty demeanor. I like that he comes to the shop so often and that it raises Terri's spirits to see him. I liked the sizzling chemistry between them and their attraction and sexual attraction. It was gratifying to realize that Terri doesn't know if she was to be seduced by Max or if she should push him out the door. Last, adding the workplace drama between them as the story progresses and the fun amps up even more. A great story and I want to see more.

I am all for an alpha male, but a totally arrogant almost a-hole male lead gets my blood boiling in not the right way. So Mick is this man i have just described and i totally get why Terri hates him as i did, but like Terri, deep down secretly i think i like Terri like someone who pushes your proverbial buttons and gets your blood pumping in the right way. Mick is a bit underhand in this book he is trying to only help himself to a degree even though he fancies Terri and she fancies him each never fully making the move for the other one. This story though is also quite emotional, as it progresses we get to see more of each of their characters and get to see a real connection begin. First time reading this author and i like the way she got me all riled up then hit me with the emotions in the story. Very sexy and a few laughs through the story made this a great read for me
review on goodreads under the name kimothy

Terri has given up her prestigious making job to move back home to care for her adult brother who is struggling with a disease that is taking his mobility away. She is working several jobs to make ends meet and the medical bills are piling up. While working in a coffee show in walks Mick everyday at the same time ordering some silly drink. He is arrogant and rude for most part. Little does she know he trying to save his company from his crazy family who seems to bent on destroying it. When he hires Terri to serve breakfast and coffee at an important client he needs to impress, she does more than expected when she wins of the important client with her knowledge of the gaming world.
Mick ends up hiring her which turns out to be great except now he has to keep his distance, cause no office fling for him.
The bantering and chemistry was pretty good. The story sort of stayed one note for me. It never really got my heart pumping. Overall a good story tho.

Good book, liked the idea of it. However, I'm not a gamer so I was lost when the book went in that direction. I liked the idea of the main characters but I could have done without the gaming aspect. First time author for me and I will check out more!

Stud was a really fun, sexy and surprisingly emotional novel. I loved Terri and Mick's sexual tension, banter and chemistry. The characters were likeable and even when Mick was being an insufferable jerk, I found him to be sexy as heck. I could not get enough of this book!

Terri Cooke is at a low period in her life. Forced to put her life on hold to care for her brother with a debilitating disease, she is temporarily a barista at a high end coffee shop. The high (and low) point of her day though? When Mick Wentworth, an arrogant and wealthy customer, comes in everyday. Their chemistry is sizzling and the attraction and tension between them sizzles off the page. I love that she doesn't know if she wants to smack or seduce this infuriating man. But will tensions explode when she gets a job at his company and they begin to work together?

I really enjoyed this novel. I enjoyed the office romance and loved the high sexual tension. Mick and Terri both were dedicated to their families. All in all, this was fantastic. 4 stars! ~Ratula

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishing - Loveswept for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

This was an ok stand alone read. I would say that it could be categorised as an office romance but it had a little too many plot lines running for me . That being said, there was plenty to keep you on your toes and hold your attention. It was most certainly steamy and the characters had great chemistry.

I was provided with a copy of this book from the Publisher via NetGalley; there was no inducement or obligation.

Good storyline with likeable characters kept my interest from page one until the very last page!

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

I've read two of Jamie K. Schmidt's Sentinels of Babylon series books and loved them. The title and cover for this book amused me, so I decided to give it a try. It turned out to be super sexy, amusing, and well written with plenty of obstacles and stressors for Terri and Mick to deal with. Terri is working a couple jobs trying to take care of pressing obligations at home. Mick comes across pretty much a self absorbed self indulgent playboy. He infuriates Terri every time she sees him, but in equal measure gets her hot and bothered. It frustrates her to both despise him and want him. Mick has too much going on with his company to take the time out for a relationship, but he too is affected by the chemistry between him and Terri. They decided to have one night with no strings and no repeats, but one night turns into more as the rest of their lives begin to unravel.

I really enjoyed this book. It moved very quickly and kept things interesting and exciting. Both Mick and Terri turn out to be more than they seem.

Net Galley provided an ARC for honest review.

This was a good book. I really enjoyed the story line and the interaction between Terri and Mick. You could feel the sexual attraction between the two coming off the pages. You knew when they fell, they would fall hard.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Terri Cooke is a girl trying to make ends meet while she helps her brother with a debilitating disease. She’s given up her job and dreams to help him try to recover from this unknown illness, working instead a series of smaller dead-end job to keep them financially afloat. When he’s finally offered a chance at a clinical trial that could make a difference, she is torn between the jobs that keep them barely solvent and his health.

One of her jobs is a barista at a morning coffee joint where she meets Mick Wentworth, a wealthy, arrogant customer who is just too high and mighty for her. She would dearly love to bring him down a few pegs – or just bring him down to her level for some bedroom time. What she doesn’t know is he’s dealing with a major dysfunctional family and a completely messed up business, thanks to his family’s dysfunction.

When Mick lands a marketing contract with a gaming company, he has to gear up fast for the business and Terri is the perfect person to help with that. She gets the money to help her brother and he gets her expertise and they both get to exorcise the sexual heat that’s been building between them for months. But are their worlds too far apart? Can they overcome their own issues to ever truly find a happily ever after?

I’ve read this author many times and loved her books. While I fully expected the high heat and fantastic sexual tension between the characters, I also thoroughly enjoyed the emotional side to the characters. I didn’t expect the deeper issues going on for each character and how they complicated the situation, along with adding to the depth for each character. It made the story so much deeper than a sexy read. Overall, Stud is very sexy with a core of emotion that I really enjoyed.

For the most part, I really enjoyed this book as it had been awhile since I have read a book by this author. The premise was very good, and although I am not sure how realistic this story is, I needed a break from reality and that's what this book gave me. I liked how Mick was seemingly an a**hole for the first part of the book became an honorable, actual nice guy due to the love of Terri. All in all an enjoyable story. Personally, for me, there was too much gratuitous sex, but that may have just been my mood today. All in all, though a fun read. Thanks as always to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.

If you are looking for a HOT and fun story, you have to check this one out!

One smart mouth lady who does not put up with BS vs one hot as sin guy with a dry wit. When these two come together you get a humorous, sexy read.

I loved this book! I loved the steamy anticipation and hot as hell build up. I loved the cranky guy with the smart ass attitude. I loved the chick that would give it right back to him.

Loads of heat, passion, and a great story made this a wonderful, memorable read. Definitely one I would read again! Now I have a new author to follow too!

Jamie K. Schmidt’s Stud is hot, hot, hot. Turn on your fans and get ready to enjoy this sexy romance. Terri Cooke is working several jobs to help care for her older brother, and she’s working at a coffee shop when she meets regular Mick Wentworth, who comes in every morning. Mick ogles Terri but doesn’t really give her the time of days. He’s wealthy successful and has no problem finding one-night stands. He’s a bit of a jerk when they first get to know each other, but he slowly reveals himself to be a good guy.

Mick begins to notice Terri even more and pursues her. She doesn’t have time for a playboy but decides to enjoy the pleasure that she knows Mick could give her. When Terri ends up working for Mick through a chance circumstance, their fling gets a lot more complicated. They can’t seem to resist each other, although neither wants a relationship. The chemistry between them is intense, and Schmidt knows how to build the sexual tension. There are sweet and tender moments as the love story progresses, and Stud is a highly recommendable steamy romance.

ARC provided, but this review was voluntarily and honestly written.

I had two books to read for today, and I have to admit I was much more excited for the other one, but the ended up enjoying this one much more. It was fun, and steamy, but with some real feelings and problems. I liked both of the characters, which seems rare for me anymore, to find that balance where both are relatable and likeable, while still providing an interesting story. Fun and steamy summer read.