This was an odd, but exciting read. Typically authors will do a short flashback and then jump to the present, but this author divided her book by two separate timelines. At first, I didn't think we needed too much insight into the MC's past relationship, but the more I read, the more I appreciated the in-depth understanding of who the characters were when they met and who they grew into before they were reunited. I was also worried the opposites attract theme would be cliche, but the author makes it work and it was a fresh perspective. AND making the MMC a porn star was an odd choice for this type of novel, but I loved it and loved Carson. There are some taboo/controversial topics, but nothing that made me hate everything about the book. Overall, I really enjoyed this read and I would love to read more from Mia in the future.

It is so hard to put into words how much I love Mia Sheridan. Her writing flows so effortlessly and her world-building is so beautiful; it is hard not to be immediately drawn into her stories and never want to to leave. Stinger is everything I have grown to love from Mia, and I completely fell in love with Grace and Carson.

4.5 out of 5 stars!

Two people meet in Vegas, each there for a conference. Right off the bat Grace and Carson clash. She’s a straight-laced law student with a plan; he’s an up and coming rhyme with “corn” star. After being trapped in an elevator together, they agree to a weekend fling. What they didn’t count on was the lingering feelings for each other. Taking everything they bared to each other to heart, Grace and Carson change the trajectory of their futures, making choices and changes for themselves. When they finally met up five years later, the author didn’t give them a quick HEA. NOOOO… I had to wait for it. What the heck!?!?! Like all the books I have read by this author, Grace and Carson had to work for their HEA, knowing full well that when it did happen that it was really forever.

I received and advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

I’ve been a big fan of Mia Sheridan for almost 10 years. I read Stinger the year after it was originally released in 2013. And when I saw it on NetGalley I thought why not read it again and see if I still like it?!

Here’s the thing: this author has always been a great storyteller and this book is no exception. I loved the good girl falls for the “bad” guy storyline and how their lives took them in opposite directions, only to be reunited when they least expect it. I love stories where characters go their own ways so they can accomplish goals - no one is giving up their dreams for the sake of love - and they meet back up when they are in a good place to come to the relationship whole and mature.

But the writing in this book (and many of the author’s early books) left a bit to be desired. Many of the sentences are clunky and there’s a lot of repetition of internal thoughts. There’s so much fluff in this book that doesn’t move the story forward and the pacing often dragged. It took me over a week to finish this book - and that’s with some skimming.

Sadly, this one didn’t stand up under the weight of my increased expectations - reading over 1000 books in the last ten years has done that to me. Thankfully, Mia Sheridan’s writing skills have improved vastly over her first dozen (or so) books - which pleases me immensely. Where great storytelling and great writing intersect is a beautiful thing, and I’ve gotten that from Ms. Sheridan many times the past couple years. But I don’t think I’ll be going back and reading any of this author’s earlier books that I have such fond memories of. Better to leave me with my rose-colored memories.

* thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you @read_bloom @netgalley for a copy of this love story. It starts with what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas between Grace, a law student, and Chase, a porn star stuck in an elevator. I love how the story started and the weekend they had in Vegas but was annoyed with Grace continuing asking why he called her buttercup. I think in real life, if someone asked that and gave an answer, you don't ask it again.

I love that they randomly reconnected 5 years later and there was so much growth in both characters. I didn't enjoy how Grace handled her situation as she questions her decisions about love. Overall, I enjoyed the story about each of their growth journey - especially Chase's journey.

Grace, a Georgetown law student, lands herself in Vegas for a law conference. She’s the girl with a plan— she’s got her whole life mapped out, right down to the number of sexual partners she needs to have before meeting Mr. Right, getting married in a big white dress and her grandmother’s pearls, and having exactly two kids…a girl and a boy, of course. Well, we know life rarely goes according to plan, but Grace had no idea just how much things would change for her by meeting Carson Stinger, “straight male performer” also in Vegas for a conference.. ahem… the Adult Entertainment Expo. Yep, that’s right- Carson is a porn star! Grace literally runs smack dab into Carson after checking in at the hotel. He’s manly and boyish at the same time- simultaneously rugged and pretty- and she’s reluctantly drawn to him from the start. He lives life according to his own rules… a total fly by the seat of his pants kinda guy. Pretty much the exact opposite of Grace. A twist of fate brings them together and their story begins. After a spend a steamy weekend wrapped up in each other, they part ways and return to their normal lives to find that nothing is is as it was. They try to navigate a new, post Vegas conference existence and take life’s twists and turns in stride until they each find their way. And that’s all I’ll say about that; you’ll have to read this one to find out what happiness looks like for each of them.

I was intrigued by the premise of the book but didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. I felt really invested in these characters and their story. I loved their banter and their nearly instant chemistry. I loved their journey of personal discovery and quest to find their own kind of happy. This story has so much more depth than I was expecting. It’s not your typical second chance romance (my favorite trope) but I loved it. I enjoyed Archer’s Voice, one of Mia Sheridan’s most popular books, but I think I liked this one even more!!

Stinger by @miasheridanauthor was originally published in 2013 but is being rereleased on June 6th with this pretty new cover!!

Thanks NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

stinger was an entertaining love story with off the page chemistry between grace and carson. there were moments that were a little unbelievable but all in all i really enjoyed this book

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

OH MY GOODNESS!!! I absolutely loved this book so much!!🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷 “Stinger" is my first read by Mia Sheridan and it will not be my last! What a heartwarming love story with beautifully flawed characters, outstanding unique plot and a second chance romance. It is filled with love, angst, humor, passion, heartbreak, courage and plenty of spice. This is one of those books that will give you all the feels and stay with you for a long time. Literally everything I could want in a romance book!!

Grace Hamilton is a law student who always has a plan. Carson Stinger is a porn star who lives in the moment. They are complete opposites! After the two of them get trapped in an elevator together the tension dramatically explodes. They end up agreeing to spend one weekend together which changes both their lives forever. What started out as a fun and no strings attached weekend turned into real emotional feelings for each other. When the weekend comes to an end, they are forced to make some choices. Will they find a way to make things work or will they part ways? Sometimes in life, we meet people who are perfect for us but the timing is all wrong. However, can love conquer all?

I loved how Grace learned to live her life as she wanted and to stand up for herself. The personal growth that Carson goes through to become a better man is so touching and phenomenal. I really enjoyed all the side characters as well.

I was completely engrossed from start to finish! I cannot recommend this book enough and it deserves all the stars!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

TW: Sex trafficking (Such an important issue that was handled properly)

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Stinger. It was a good book, quick read (meaning I couldn’t put it down).

I received this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I have to say, this book was not anything like I expected it to be, and that makes it so much better. It went in so many directions that at times I was confused on why the book was taking that direction. but I loved every second of it.

This book made me cry so automatic 5 stars! Life is wild and I'll never let go <3
Mia Sheridan is quickly becoming a favorite author for me, her characters are so well written and you wind up caring so deeply for them, it doesn't matter that some of the plot while also very good is definitely dramatized and heightened. But I come to book for an escape from reality so I am glad the real world issues and plotlines are taken up some notches.

You know when you watch a lifetime movie and the plot just gets more and more ridiculous that was this book.

An adult movie star and an uptight lawyer to be have a steamy weekend in Vegas. (Which had a ton of shaming and judgment about the adult film industry) this would have been a good enough plot for a steamy book.

But then the book goes over their individual lives after this weekend. And they both end up making very different choices about their path in life because of realizations they had over that weekend.

Where the book totally lost me was when we got to the 5-year mark. And find suspend disbelief for the romance part of it but adding this weird mystery secret agent thriller thing to it was so bizarre and didn't fit into the book at all.

There was many times in this book that I felt like I was reading two different stories.

I absolutely LOVE Mias books and writing!
They capture you from the very beginning.

Grace is the ideal law student at a convention for school. What could go wrong?

Carson is your bad boy porn star staying at the same hotel as Grace, there for a video/photo shoot.

When they bump into each other Grace knows who Carson Stinger is. But could she fall for him? Obviously not. Right?
Grace has a plan. Carson is not apart of her 5/10 yr plan. Until a pact to spend only the weekend together ruins everything.

I'm starting to think that there won't be a book Mia Sheridan writes that I won't love with the heat of a thousand suns. Her books have just the right hit of angsty and spicy deliciousness that have me swooning over the characters. Stinger hit all the right notes for me.

Grace and Carson meet by chance when they are each attending different conferences at the same hotel in Vegas. She is there for a law student conference, and he is there for an adult entertainment industry conference. They get stuck together in an elevator for a few hours, and decide to each ditch their conferences and instead spend a weekend together with no long term expectations of each other. When they leave each other though, neither can completely forget the other, and we are left to wonder if their paths will ever cross again.

These characters encompassed the very idea of soulmates. Though they spend a good portion of the book apart, their actions and their thoughts were never far from each other. They each truly seemed to become their authentic selves and who they were meant to be based off of that weekend that they spent together.

I loved this book, and I've loved everything Ive read by Mia Sheridan so far. I can't wait to dig into more of her backlist, and am so glad that Bloom Books has introduced me to her writing!

Thank you to Bloom Books and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Stinger is a second chance romance with spicy 'what happens in Vegas' fun, and I really enjoyed it!

Grace is a law student who sticks to a plan. Carson works in adult entertainment, and is a fly by the seat of your pants kind of guy. Two strangers, complete opposites, whose lives could never coexist-give into one steamy weekend together while in Vegas. But is that all it really was... or did their hearts get involved too?

There is so much fun banter that made me smile in the beginning. And it gets hot!! Their connection is very insta, but the chemistry between them is palpable. Prepare for the rollercoaster of emotion and angst that this one will take you through too though. It has a little bit of a heavy side too that I didn't anticipate, but enjoyed. It even has some suspense that kept me turning the pages.

There's a tiny element in this story that I know some don't like to read... it, along with a couple other minor things kept this from being a perfect read for me. But overall, it was a quick captivating read that I think many have, and will enjoy!

What You'll Find:
--What Happens In Vegas
--Strangers to Lovers
--Insta lust/love
--Forced Proximity
--Smile Worthy Banter
--Open Door Spice
--Dual POV

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy from Forever Pub via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given freely.

I wasn't sure where this book was going when it seemed to all be wrapped up after the first few chapters. I realised it was an insta love followed by second chance romance which aren't usually my favourite tropes but I did actuall enjoy it. The middle section where they are seperate drags a bit and is a lot of pining. I also found Carsons constant use of his nickname for Grace was a bit much. There was also a lot of putting down of sex workers. I understand that parts of that world are dark, which added to Carsons story, but not everyone who works in the porn industry hate themselves or have parent issues.

I did however, love the dual POV and their banter was entertaining. Carson and Grace complimeted each other well and bought out the best in each other. They both grow and step out of their comfort zones in different ways. I think the addition of their jobs crossing over really added to the story. The tension of how they were going to solve a criminal problem added a bit more suspense to the plot. It's a great spicy romance with some added twists.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I haven't found anything by Mia Sheridan that I dislike yet, and Stinger is no exception. Carson and Grace could not be further apart in life. But when an unexpected elevator ride throws them together, the sparks fly. The book is filled with that amazing attraction that Mia writes so well between her characters. I really enjoyed the story as a whole, and was captivated and surprised all the way through the end.

4/5 ☆ • 2/5 🌶️

genre & tropes:
• contemporary romance
• military romance
• second chance love
• insta-love
• fated mates (in my opinion!)

Stinger is a dual POV, insta-love, second chance romance about two strangers who meet at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Carson & Grace couldn't be more different; he's in the porn industry & she's a law student. He's easygoing & fun, she's uptight & meticulous. After a not so meet cute, Carson & Grace agree to have a weekend-long, no strings attached fling. But once the weekend comes to an end, things aren't as black & white as when they made their agreement.

I really enjoyed this book! Mia Sheridan is the queen of angst, and as per usual, she had me falling in love with these characters immediately. They had chemistry like no other, and the type of love they shared was so intense! This story starts off on a very spicy note, but quickly becomes complex, heartbreaking, and raw. Stinger is written in three parts/three different timelines, and takes place over the span of five years. It follows Carson & Grace as they grow up & face their past traumas, and thankfully ends with a HEA.

If you love some angst, spice, and a good cry, this is definitely worth the read!

*Thank you to Netgalley and Bloom Books for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Mia Sheridan book, but it won’t be my last! This book was amazing! I loved everything about it. The storyline was very engaging. The writing was perfect. 5/5 Buttercup Stars ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley & SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the arc of this book!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review. This book started off so good for me, it was 5 stars the first half, but the 2nd half quickly went done to 3 as I felt like it was too long for no reason. Insta love isn’t my favorite trope which is why this would overall be a 3 star read. Hard to follow time jumps and military. It was a good book but a bit too long for me.