4 stars -- I loved the first half of this book, it just hit all of my reading buttons, you know?  There's something about a damaged man and a strange friendship that develops without seeing one another that just...it's a guilty pleasure.  I will admit that it got a bit slow for a bit, but it picked up in the end.

Even though I had an old NetGalley ARC of this one, I decided to listen to the audio.  I enjoy both Mr. Hamilton and Ms. Vine, and they made this book both fun and emotional.  I enjoyed Ms. Vine's accent especially.  Though, maybe it's just me, but neither of them nailed Ricky's Australian accent...*cringe*

I'm not sure how much I have to say honestly.  Pat was damaged and gruff and scared and all of the things that I was expecting.  I honestly don't think I expected how much damage he had, and we got to see a bit of him struggling with his anxiety and trying to overcome it.  I really appreciated that he eventually talked to someone.  His journey and growth and setbacks were believable for the most part, though sometimes it felt I wanted something a bit more than just Lena as his touchstone...but then when I really think about it, he truly did have a lot more going on, he just didn't emphasize it in his own growth.

I loved the way Lena gave him crap and brought him out of his shell -- how she knew when to push and when to pull back.  I kinda wanted her to figure her own shit out a bit faster than she did, but she got there eventually.  I appreciated getting to see her struggle with her art, and even if the ending was a bit too good to be true, it made my romance reading heart happy for her.

They were pretty great together, though I honestly loved the parts before they were face to face the most.  It was when we were able to see them really make a connection with one another.  After they "met", I loved their first steamy scene...but after awhile it kind of took over the story for a bit there and I got bored.  But things got more balanced again near the end.

The star of this story for me was the large and varied secondary cast.  I get the impression that some of them are from other books (and not just the Mayhem City boys, which I already knew about), but it didn't take over and leave me floundering -- just would be great fan service for those who have read a lot of Ms. Castile's books.  I LOVED Scarlett and Kaylee, and how they both supported Pat.  I enjoyed seeing Ricky and the boys again (though, was Ricky Australian before?  I don't remember that from Stripped).  I loved that Lena developed some great girl friendships, with Scarlett and Kaylee, but also with River and Marie.  I loved her relationship with her little sister too.

All in all it was a solid satisfying romance.  I can definitely see this author being a goto for #ownvoices books.

4 1/2 STARS!

Ooh, this one hit all my buttons. Beauty and the Beast style goodness? Yes, please! Sexy and fun, I didn't want it to end.

I am always in for a Beauty and the Beast archetype and this one was really good. Pat just took my breath away (I really do like the hero with scars - physical and emotional, apparently). And Lena is one of those characters that you won't easily forget. Although she hasn't had it easy, I loved how focused she was on making a better life for herself. Loved this one!

Let me start by saying that this book is by far my favourite in the series. After reading the synopsis for this book, I couldn’t wait to read it and boy I wasn’t disappointed! I really enjoyed this story so much. I loved the pace of the story which kept me hooked from the first page to the last. Lena and Patrick’s romance just tugged on my heartstrings. Their story was almost like a retelling of Beauty and the Beast with Patrick being the quintessential grumpy, scarred hero who has isolated himself from the outside world. But seeing his personal growth and relationship with Lena was my favourite part of this story. The chemistry and sexual tension between these two were irresistible! I couldn’t get enough of their story and I only wish this story was longer. This book had the perfect mix of angst, heartbreak, and steaminess. It’s a definite must-read that you don’t want to miss!

This was a pretty straightforward, enjoyable Beauty and the Beast retelling. I was a bit sad to be out of the city compared to the last two books but I loved the vivid descriptions of the desert setting and the small town meets celebrity vibe worked well here.

I LOVED this Beauty and the Beast retelling. I liked this whole series but this was my fave in it. I thought that the hero's journey was really intricately done and made me care about him and why he was so anxious. I loved that the heroine just wouldn't give up on him.

I really enjoyed a great many things about this book. Characters were fleshed out and the plot was well spaced. Some of the secondary storylines could've used a bit more page space but all in all an enjoyable read!

A sweet, redemptive tale of a bad-boy movie star/stripper/model and a kind, hard-working artist who find what they need in each other.

The Happy Endings Series has been great! Flashed is my favorite, it's got the sexy grump, Patrick that doesn't know how great he is. Lena is also my favorite from the series, I liked how proactive she was with all the things that came her way...Patrick included, no pun intended. Ultimate blush. I love Zoey Castile's writing style and storylines, they are so relatable. I can't wait to read more from her!

4.5/5 Stars

I've absolutely been loving Zoey Castile's Happy Endings series and Flashed was no exception though this third book was decidedly more emotional. Leaving the big city for more rustic roots, this story takes place in a secluded Montana where the hero has hidden away and the heroine has to thaw his heart. Pat and Lena were an interesting pairing and getting to know each of them and their slow burn romance was wonderful. There's some definite Beauty and the Beast vibes and their chemistry is off the charts. Castile has sexy times down to an art form and the culmination of this novel was nothing short of beautiful. Absolutely recommend this series!

ARC received for review

Patrick and Lena... They start out not liking each other, lots of phone sex, and finally hook up. I was shocked when half-way thru we meet his friends, the boys. I didn't make the connection between him and the previous book. I take a couple of the boys. Lots of family drama and angst. A little side hook-up between his friends that I wonder if it will stick or get it's own book.

5 AMAZING STARS for Flashed by Zoey Castile

ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own & have not been influenced in any way.

This book was SO GOOD & I was hooked immediately ...

Patrick & Lena are amazingly flawed characters and yet so totally relatable - defying the odds by sticking together when the going gets really tough. These characters do not even initially like each other and yet their chemistry is pretty immediate ...

What did it for me :

Sizzling off the charts chemistry
Great plot & storyline
Very interesting secondary characters
Patrick really - really needs to work for their HEA after several screw ups on his part ...

This story had me thoroughly engaged from beginning to end - loved it !! I would highly recommend Flashed as well as the other 2 previous books in the series Stripped & Hired

This author writes fantastic easy to read romance about amazing relationships !!

I really enjoyed the slow burn between Patrick and Lena.

Castile created a village of people to bring Patrick back to life and Lena was not afraid of pushing him. I had some issues with the second book in this series but I was so very happy with this book. I was not one bit disappointed in it and I loved Patrick and Lena's HEA!

Flashed is part of a series, but stood alone quite well. I found the secondary characters intriguing enough to look into the rest of the books. The premise of the reclusive hero and the determined heroine worked well for me. I appreciated that the primary couple didnt come face to face until halfway through the book. Ms Castile built the tension and suspense while establishing layered character profiles. Once the couple meets face to face, the action heats up, and the pacing speeds as well. The journey to happily ever after wasnt easy, and the future isnt painted as all roses, which rang true. All in all, I found Flashed to be a well written, sexy read, and I was quite entertained. 3.5
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

Meh this one was just ok. The writing wasn’t great and there wasn’t a lot of substance and point to it. I did finish it so it wasn’t the worst just not a favorite of mine. Thank you for the free read though NetGalley.

Patrick Hollran is a former soccer star, stripper, and model and after getting a leading part that he was looking for a top-notched partier. That is until it all came down in a crash. His car crash which left his brother injured and getting back to walking and him scared. Now holed up in his home in Montana he does not want anyone to see him. He has gone through many housekeepers and the last one is a college art student from Queens. Magdalena “Lena” Martel is facing a rough patch as well and really needs this job. Once hired her music and taste in food besides her spice adds to his grumpiness at first but he begins to come around. The story is similar to beauty and the beast but the author does a good job with the characters and bringing everything together. I liked the music she had and wish she would have had some of the recipes for the food she made for all of it added to this story. Overall a very good book.

I have been waiting for this book for what seems like FOREVER and I was NOT disappointed. I am a huge Beauty and the Beast fan and any retelling makes my grabby hands itch! Zoey Castile killed this story.

It was equal parts witty & rom-com'y and angsty and heart-tugg'y. To do this well is a win and this book touched all my emotions. I loved Patrick, but Lena held her own and that strength along with his surprising tenderness made my heart happy.

Highly recommended.

Flashed by Zoey Castile is book Three in the Happy Endings Series. This is the story of Patrick "Pat" Halloran and Magdalena "Lena" Martel. I haven't yet read the previous book, so for me This was a standalone book.
Pat once was a great soccer player, stripper and even a model so most of everything he knows is related to his body and looks. So when accident happens it changes his life to someone outing going and having fun to a recluse where he doesn't want anyone to see him. So he leaves for a secluded Montana Ranch to get away from everyone but he does need help.
Lena can't take her abusive step-mother anymore so when she see an ad for a personal assistant on a off location it sound like what she needs. There she can be away from her step-mother, earn a living and continue her art school. But what is unexpected is not seeing her boss and talking to him through some form or another. But Pat has seen her and he is so taken with that it is become all he can think about.
Loved their story and hope to read more from this author.

Another strong entry in Castile's contemporary romance series featuring members of a male exotic dance troupe and their heterosexual romances. Our protagonist here is white party-boy Patrick Halloran, who in previous books in the series made a less-than-stellar impression, coming off as uncaring and shallow. But after a car accident for which he was responsible takes away his burgeoning film career, his brother's ability to walk, and his own beautiful looks, Pat has turned into a surly recluse, living by himself in rural Montana . His only friend is Scarlett, the romance author-neighbor who has featured him on the covers of her books. Worried that Pat isn't taking care of himself, Scarlett hires a live-in housekeeper, Lena Martel, for the summer. Lena (Latina) is dealing with her own problems (a step-mother who stole her identity and ruined her credit; a half-sister back in NYC who misses her terribly; difficulties in her grad art program, which she's moved all the way across the country to attend), and isn't terribly impressed by the short-tempered guy who leaves her rude text messages and won't allow her to look at him—until make Pat begins to recognize his own asshattery and tries to make amends...

It's the plot of many a romance novel, but Castile's strong writing and deep character development more than make up for a lack of storyline originality. Her depiction of Pat's PTSD is especially on point.

"You, Lena, are the cure for everything."
"I don't want to be someone's cure. I don't want you to use me to fix yourself and then throw me away"

Pat had everything he wanted and in an instant it was gone. He is now the man inside the house, refusing anyone and everyone but 2 people to be near him. Lena is bringing color to his life one room and meal at at time. Learning to trust another person is not easy for Lena or Pat, but their relationship is about opening up to another. The grand gesture was fabulous!