Wicked Grind

This was a new author to me and be assured this will not be the last book I read.

I love a second chance of love story which is what Wicked Grind is.

Wyatt Royce is a photographer who career is about to take off. If and it's a big if he can find the perfect model to be the centerpiece of his sexy and controversial show.

Kelsey Draper wants to change her good girl image and she believes Wyatt is the man to help her.

However, these two have history together. Is Kelsey in too deep? Will Wyatt and his insistence on dominating in and out of the bedroom be too much for Kelsey, after all it was before?

Will Wyatt and Kelsey be able to move on from the past? Can Wyatt forgive her for breaking his heart 12 years ago? Can he trust thar she won't run again?

Can Kelsey overcome her fears and fight for the man she loves?

It was obvious that neither had outgrown their love for one another. Told from dual POV's it moves between the past and present.

i thoroughly enjoyed Wyatt and Kelsey's story and look forward to reading more in the series.

I received an ARC through the publisher and Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed.

4.5 Stars Great Story, Ms Kenner has delivered a brilliant start to this new series and I look forward to reading more.

Wicked Grind is a second chance reunion between photographer Wyatt and teacher and dancer Kelsey. These two met as teenagers but their union was not meant to be now we have come forward twelve years to a chance meeting between the two that will rekindle passions once thought forgotten. But can’t they move forward and forgive and forget the past or will what was always be what they will never have.

Wicked Grind by J. Kenner is a sexy, sinfully enticing erotic slow burn second chance romance!!! With Kenner’s intoxicating prose, she stages and develops a romance that will have you begging and craving for more as two former lovers reunite and discover the second time around was worth the wait.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well that couldn’t be more true for Wyatt Royce, a high in demand photographer who has an upcoming exhibit that will showcase his highly anticipated photography. Wyatt knows what he wants his exhibit to entail. He wants the feel of eroticism, sensuality, boldness, vulnerability and beauty. While majority of his photos are ready to go, the final masterpiece is not ready as he is having trouble finding the right model. After countless searches, he couldn’t find the one that evoked every element he wanted that is until she walked into his studio demanding a shot to be his model.

Kelsey Draper is the girl next door. The girl who has big hopes of becoming a dancer but had to settle being a teacher. She was the girl who followed all the rules her father set except one. She was suppose to stay away from Wyatt but being a young teenager, she couldn’t stay away. She felt a connection to him. She loved him. But her love for him, was not enough for the burden she had to bear. So fast forward to several years later, Kelsey finds herself walking into the lion’s den when she is reunited with her first love, Wyatt.

Kelsey is in desperate need of the money and she knows that this modeling gig to be the muse for Wyatt is her only shot in making enough money to help with her brother’s medical needs. She is well aware that Wyatt is angry at her when she had to leave suddenly that summer since she never properly explained why. Naturally, Wyatt doesn’t want Kelsey to be the model even though she is what he is looking for. As Kelsey persuades Wyatt to give her a shot, slowly we see Wyatt letting go his guarded heart. Very slowly, we see Wyatt and Kelsey being drawn together as their chemistry and connection were like a moth to a flame. But as Kelsey slowly gives herself to Wyatt and makes herself vulnerable to him, will Wyatt’s resentment of the past push Kelsey away? And will Kelsey’s insecurities and fears force her to walk away from Wyatt a second time?

Wicked Grind is definitely one of those romances that catapults you as reader to feel the passion, intensity, lust, desire, heartbreak and love that Wyatt and Kelsey have for each other. It didn’t matter how long they were separated, their timing to be together was never right and so Kenner allowed the readers to see and understand that they both needed to grow individually and discover their strengths and weakness. So if you are looking for a love story that was beautifully well developed that captured all the feels, then I would recommend you to read this book. And just remember love is like a picture, we develop from the negatives and focus what it is important. And in this particular case, the only thing Wyatt is capturing and focusing on is the woman that danced and etched her way into his heart.

"Love doesn't have a safety net."

I don't think J. Kenner could write a bad story if she tried. I keep reading, just to be sure, but she always gives me exactly what I'm looking for and I'm able to check all the boxes. Just seeing her name on a book cover gets me excited, I don't even need to read a synopsis. She doesn't disappoint.

This new series is exciting because while it's a beginning, it still includes some of my favorite characters that are part of the Stark world. They don't have to do much, or say much, just showing up makes me smile. I'm a big fan of the arts, so this books was especially entertaining for me because it included photography and dance. I love a good second-chance-romance, so I really enjoyed traveling back in time to relive the event that caused the tension between Wyatt & Kelsey. Of course the author had to build my curiosity before she satisfied it. The suspense kept me glued to my kindle as I waited to find out why I was getting different vibes from each of the main characters. As the story was told in dual POV, I was able to know what they were thinking, and what they were missing. It killed me to know, and not be able to do anything about it. I wanted to whisper in their ears one minute, and in the next I was glad they weren't aware of my presence as I was being a virtual voyeur (wink-wink).

Wicked Grind is a great beginning to what I'm positive will be a very successful series. I can't wait to spend more time with these characters, and to meet the new ones that will be joining the Stark family. The line forms here...

J. Kenner introduced us to the Stark books, and now she is opening it up into Stark World with Wicked Grind. I love that Wyatt gets his story heard. If you have read any of the Stark books previously with Nikki and Damien, you will remember Wyatt as Nikki's hot photographer friend. We all knew that he had some skeletons from the past, but never got into much of it until now!

Wyatt is ready. He is ready to put himself out there without his family name. That is until Kelsey walks into his studio to audition to be a model in his story that has been years in the making. I love that Cass and Siobhan are more involved in this story. I love that J. Kenner gives us glimpses of previous characters, but also makes sure they do not take the spotlight away from Wyatt and Kelsey.

Wicked Grind will take this second chance romance to new heights. There was some missing links from the past that will now make sense in the present. Wyatt has always been a catch, but we see a new side of him. It is time for him to shine. Not just in the sense of the story line, but just in general. You will love the wicked sexy scenes, and see the beauty in a woman's form. I loved Wicked Grind and so excited to explore Stark World a little bit more.

Wyatt and Kelsey were high school sweethearts but then things went horribly wrong. Now several years later their paths cross again and they might have a second chance at love if they can forgive each other. I really enjoyed this sweet sexy romance!

Once again, J Kenner releases another hot and sexy novel that will drop readers to their knees! Wicked Grind; the first book in the Stark World series where each book can stand alone, is devilishly good, wickedly hot, and filled with the kind of spice that will make readers sweat! Kenner knows how to write sexy and sassy romances and she successfully does every time she hits publish.

Normally, I don't read erotica (or books with a ton of sex) because they get boring after a while (I get it, you like to bone, your bring woman to your knees, and you are a sex god). However, whenever J. Kenner writes something I immediately jump to grab it- erotica or not. This tells you something about her books, yea?

Fans of J. Kenner, and those who like dirty and sensuous romances, you need to pick up her latest novel. I promise, you won't be disappointed. I know I wasn't! SWOON!!!!!

Recommended Read

Wyatt Segal is the son of a famous film producer and the grandson of a famous actress. He's a very talented man in his own right, a photographer and he changed his named so he could practice his craft and not be blamed with his success because of his family's influence. His current project is an exhibition of erotic photo's that tell a women's story of freedom, sensuality, and lust, and he's now come to the point were he needs his last model, and she has to be something really special for the pictures he has in mind. He's not expecting Kelsey Draper as an applicant for the position to walk in, a woman he's hasn't seen for 12 yrs. They've got history he's been trying to forget, she walked away from him after a night of passion. He doesn't know what to do now, does he punish her or kiss her and hold her close?
Loved this story. They'd fell in love when they were young but circumstances meant they had to part, hurt feelings and life keeps them separate until misfortune brings them back together again. Wyatt and Kelsey had a lot explaining to do before they could show their true feelings for each other and decide what the future held for them. A marvellous second chance romance, I highly recommend it!

I didn’t know quite what to expect when I started this one. I went in thinking it looked pretty spicy (which I like), and the blurb mentioned Wyatt likes control (hell, yeah!) and that Kelsey, our heroine, is the good girl who wants a taste of wicked (*fist pump!*). Wicked Grind gave me all that, sure, but it became so much more. It's a beautifully written story that asks us all to step out of the box.

Kelsey Draper needs money fast and to do that, she ends up auditioning for a photography shoot. One that wants her to pose in erotic images. But that’s the easy part when the man behind the lens is her first crush and he kind of hates her now.

Wyatt Royce never got answers but he’s moved on, hoping to make a name for himself outside of his celebrity family. Everything rides on this shoot and his vision for it, but he needs one last woman to photograph. When Kelsey steps in the door, Royce knows she’s the one he needs. But can he trust her again?

First, I thoroughly enjoy second chance romances, so if that’s your jam, I highly recommend this! The characters are front and center in this plot—back twelve years before and in the here and now. There are secrets on both sides and a whole lotta tension.

What really captured my attention, however? This book is all about body positivity for women. How they delight in their bodies and their personas, and take control. He’s on a time limit, and he knows what he’s looking for. Unfortunately, he’s got to work through a lot of past to have a chance at a future. Wyatt’s super sweet with a dash of sexy, and I was charmed by him.

Then there’s shy, “good girl” Kelsey. She wants to be a dancer, but she grows up in a household with a super strict, old-fashioned father. It’s quite the dilemma when she finds a job that’ll pay the money she needs but asks that she lays herself bare. Literally and figuratively.

The side characters were great, and I'm really hoping Griffin gets a book soon! If you’re looking for a book that’s all about taking chances and following your dreams, look no further! What a great, sexy book.

5 stars!

Wyatt is not above using guilt to get what he wants, “I’m just saying that if you think you owe me, you can always offer compensation by way of doing my show.” I really liked this book, I loved Wyatt.

Wicked Grind is another fantastic book by J. Kenner! I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Wicked Grind by J. Kenner is wicked good. Seriously. There are so many things I love about this book I thought I'd list them: because there are plenty.

1. I love that this love is from a childhood love and twelve years they come back together.

2. The heroine is innocent in the book, but she is multi-faceted.

3. He's from Hollywood royalty and she's the girl next door.

4. The flip-flop of time from past to present works in this story, partly because of how adept Kenner is at writing and bringing people along for the ride.

5. The sexual tension is scorching...I'm recovering from a brain injury, not stable to read last week, and I couldn't put this story down last night. I read straight through and forgot I even had an injury!

6. Kelsey Draper and Wyatt Segel's back-stories make sense and they don't overreact given what happened and their life experiences.

7. I love the prose, the inner monologue...

Even then, I knew I'd have to pay. Of course, I would. There's always a price to pay when you break the rules. Hadn't I been raised on that mantra? Hadn't it been drilled deep into my soul?

But until Wyatt, I never really tasted it.
Maybe I didn't believe it.
Maybe I thought I could outwit fate.

But karma is a nosy, invasive bookie, and when you try to cheat her, she takes what she's owed.

8. I get those chills throughout the book. Those zingers that seem to rip my insides and it's because I am able to insert myself as both characters. Especially the heroine's.

It's the way the music fills me. The way the audience watches me.

Mostly, though, its the heat in Wyatt's face. The memory of his touch.

I remember everything— and I’m fantasizing about even more. I don’t want this feeling to end. This wild ride.

Yes, I can't say enough great things about Wicked Grind. This is one book I love profusely, and it is a book that checks off everything that I want in a romance. Conflict and resolution, realistic heroes and heroines though not too realistic that we don’t have fun dreaming, and chemistry! A great plot and character development that keeps us turning the page. J. Kenner seems to do no wrong with this loosely-based Stark novel.

***

4 Finding the Perfect Muse Stars!

I was once again lost in the fabulous story telling of a J. Kenner book. This is book one in the new Stark World series and this one is Wyatt and Kelsey's story. These two have a history and it broke Wyatt basically ruining him for future relationships. Now Wyatt is putting together an exhibit and is looking for the perfect model....and when he sees her, he's torn as to what to do.

Kelsey Draper is the one that got away and she sees this as her opportunity to earn the money she desperately needs for her brother. But can she work with Wyatt knowing what kind of pictures he wants to take and that he still doesn't understand why she left all those years ago? Well, she'll do anything for her brother no matter what it costs her heart.

I absolutely loved this book and was immersed in Wyatt and Kelsey's world thanks to the way Ms. Kenner weaves a story for us readers. We got the right amount of angsty drama, sexual chemistry between our H/h that can no longer be denied and my favorite a true second chance romance. The question is, will they take the leap this time knowing they could have their forever? Well, you'll need to read this fabulous book to find out!

This was my first J. Kenner book and it certainly will not be my last. Where have I been hiding in all this time? The sad thing... I've had a lot of her books on my TBR list for sometime. Guess what people, she just got bumped all the way up to the top!! I loved her writing style and her character development is so good. You really feel a connection to the characters and I was rooting for them so hard!

Kelsey is in so many of us ladies. As I was reading I couldn't help but relate to many of her traits, her thoughts, her fear, her dreams, her guilt. And I think we have all encountered a person like her father. What a prick he was! But we are women, hear us roar!! And with a man like Wyatt in your corner? Well, then we can take on the world.

Wyatt was... * sigh* .... so damn great! He was so real, struggling with past hurt and lost. He was just trying to make it in this shit show called life. Yet, the show must go on, right? I think we can all relate to that!

I loved watching these two work their shit out. Cause, let me tell you they got a lot of shit to sort through. Both together, and apart. But the one thing these two didn't need to work out, was all that loven they had for each other!! These two had a hot summer together. And they made some beautiful art as well!! It was the perfect read for these hot summer nights!

I would recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a hot summer fling.

Wicked Grind by J. Kenner is the first book in her new Star World spin-off series. Told in dual POV and can be read as a complete standalone within this series AND within the world of the other Stark series.

Shifting between present time and the past the story slowly pulls together the relationship of Kelsey and Wyatt, how they met, the issues they had, what went wrong, and why they have ended up back in each others presence. Second chances abound as conceived wrongs are put to rights and love is finally strong enough to overcome a stern childhood and an off-kilter view of the world.

Well-written, well-paced with honest emotion. For being such a sexy story, J. Kenner captures the innocence of youth just as wonderfully as she does the debauchery of the horny adult couple **winks salaciously**. Enjoy!

Second chance romances are my weakness. J Kenner’s sensual and sweet second chance romance, Wicked Grind, was MY KRYPTONITE.There is nothing as passionate and powerful than two former lovers rekindling that flame and two broken souls becoming whole again. Shiver-me-sexy meets sugary-sweet in Wicked Grind, a second chance romance that SEDUCES with every word.

I DEVOURED Wicked Grind that quickly became MY SWEET ADDICTION. Wicked Grind hums with DESIRE. This COLLISION of childhood lovers was my SWEET ACHE and I could not turn the pages fast enough. I LOVED the hero and heroine, and their UNDENIABLE attraction so much!

Wyatt is a tall, dark, built, and sexy world famous photographer whose work is edgy and enticing. Wyatt is fire-hot and I could not help but MELT!!! When his work collides with his personal life in the form of beautiful Kelsey, his childhood sweetheart, it’s one crash that may cause one or both of them to get burned.

I SMOLDERED as the fireworks ignited from these former flames as the words fused with fire. This couple is the perfect match. I felt their connection surge through the pages. The sexual tension and poignant past between Kelsey and Wyatt GRIPPED ME HARD where I was GLUED to their sizzling story.

“Can you handle knowing I’ll see you raw and vulnerable? And not just see you. Do you understand that I’m the one who’s going to take you there?”

I SWOONED as the sorrow mixed with sweetness hit my heart hard.

“I’m invisible.”

“You’re not invisible to me.”

I SWEATED from the powerful push and pull of this story that tugged my heart in every direction.

“You know my conditions. Now ask yourself what you want. And then ask yourself how much you want it.”

J. Kenner is the queen of seduction and oh did Wicked Grind SEDUCE EVERY OUNCE OF ME!!! With writing as smooth as silk with strength in spades, a sweet and sexy hero, and a soulful second-chance romance, I was a GONER!!! I was so sunk into this love story…hook…line…sinker!!!

With its undeniable chemistry and unparalleled intensity, Wicked Grind is PURE INTOXICATION. I LOVED this ENTICING ESCAPE!!! While this story is tied to the spellbinding Stark world, Wicked Grind is fresh and fiercely stands on its own. Wicked Grind is one WILD RIDE! This love story is POWER and PASSION in words, and I am panting for more.

Even in my fantasies, I can’t bring myself to give us a happily ever after.

💋💋💋💋💋 seductive kisses

Slow burning, second chance romance. A photographer trying to make a name for himself and the tiny dancer he hasn't seen in years.

Wyatt and Kelsey have a history, but it's been many years since they have seen one another. Many years and many hurtful feelings and memories. Wyatt is one model away from finishing his project and when Kelsey unexpectedly walks though his door he knows she is the one. Kelsey has been living a safe life since her choices turned tragic all those years ago but Wyatt is giving her a chance to be free and truly figure out who she is.

This was an engaging story about misunderstandings and second chances. Not only second chances at love but a life too. This wasn't quite as erotic as I thought it would be but for the story line it worked well. I was interested in finding out what broke these two and see what happened in the aftermath of their original time together. I wanted to see them find themselves all these years later and figure out to work through their pasts. Don't get me wrong, there was still a decent dose of sexy material and the chemistry between these two was off the charts but this story had more...story. I am hoping a certain brother has a book coming but regardless I do enjoy the characters in this world so I am excited to see what is next.
~Jess