*** 3.5 stars***

Stinger by Mia Sheridan is a kaleidoscope of messy feels. It's hard to describe how I feel about it. What started as a playful weekend fling turned into an angsty heart wrecking journey that ended with some action packed twists. Carson and Grace had a story spreading across years and fate brought them together again and again.

When Carson and Grace meets first time..they were both in Vegas, in the same hotel, for two different conference. Carson was a rising p0rn star and Grace was on her carefully planned path to a solid career as lawyer. They had an instant chemistry and Grace thought she can throw caution in the wind for a weekend. But it was insta love too. She left because she didn't want anymore heartbreak and Carson left his career to join Navy SEAL. Years later..their paths cross. Grace is the prosecuting lawyer of Carson's friend's case. And it's evident their chemistry is still strong. Will Grace join Carson's crusade too? Can they have a second chance?


I felt this story had too many things happening at the same time and I had a hard time processing everything. I am not a fan of insta love or insta lust but Carson was so charming and sexy and Grace was so shy and reserved and their banter was on point. Their Vegas weekend was amazing. And I actually felt how heartbroken they were because their future were in different direction. Then there were few time jumps and we get to see how the characters evolve and mature. It was clear that they inspired each other even when they were not in contact. I expected it to be a heartaching reunion when the puzzle pieces fall. The emotions were definitely there. It felt like no time has passed for them. But then the secret crusade part of Carson kind of took over the story and the romance got overshadowed. I wanted to see more of the emotional turmoil and see how hard it was for them to reconnect with everything going on. But there were the suspense and secret missions. Carson is the full package. Sexy. Alpha. Larger than life. Grace is no less strong and fierce but she has a softness that contrasts and complements Carson's hard edges.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily through Netgalley and Bloom Books

I went in blind with this book, and it was great! It kept my attention the entire time, and the steam was perfection. I liked the FMC and the MMC equally. This story made me laugh out loud, and tear up. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher and Mia Sheridan for this ARC of this great book.

This book was having an identity crisis the entire time: is it a military romance? a new adult romance? a light mystery? women's fiction? Who knows, because the pacing was uneven, the plot was baffling, the time jumps were bizarre, and the sex was mediocre. I was able to finish the whole book, but it was mostly because I needed to see where it was going. I now realize this is part of a larger series, but I'm not sure reading those would have helped. The quote at the beginning of the book makes a little more sense (something about Scorpios) but was still an odd choice.

While I really liked Grace and Carson's story, I really could not connect with it. They had a sweet second chance, opposites attract story, but something about the pacing and the plot prevented me from just loving the book. I never got hooked or anything, and while I've loved all the other Mia Sheridan books I've read recently, this one just did not have any of the writing that I've come to love from her.

Addicting, Emotional, & Beautiful in true Mia Sheridan style!

The Gist
Grace Hamilton is a law student who has her whole life planned. She has absolutely everything spelled out for her future. Then, at a law conference, she literally runs into Carson Stinger, a porn star attending his own conference. Carson is hot, but cocky and immediately makes Grace uncomfortable. Right away they hate each other, until getting stuck in an elevator together ignites the tension.

Things I loved:
-Fast paced and hooked me in EARLY.
-Carson’s resolve
-Navy SEAL rep
-Heroic MMC

My Reflection:
Stinger is a wonderful love story full of spice, angst, and emotion.

This is my 4th book to read by Mia Sheridan and I continue to be blown away. Mia has a true gift as an author for most well written love stories, I’ve ever read! She writes beautiful stories, but still manages to surprise the reader with something totally unexpected.

I put this book off longer than I care to admit because I was worried about the content with a porn star MMC. I absolutely should have picked it up sooner because it was NOT what I was thinking. Ive seen a lot of other people say this as well, so hear us when we tell you don’t let his job turn you away!

Read if you like:
-Forced Proximity
-Fake Dating
-Law Enforcement/Military Rep
-Soulmates
-Second Chances

Thank you to Bloom, Net Galley, and Mia Sheridan for the ARC. I can’t wait to read more by Mia!

What a whirlwind this story was. Mia Sheridan has done it again. Totally swept me off my feet with this one. A chance meeting between two complete opposites turns into a life changing weekend and a heart racing journey. I love Grace and Carson and what this encounter does for them not only in the love department but also for who they are as people. The time jumps in this book gave me whiplash. I feel like every time there was one my heart ached a little. The ending was perfect, I loved it. I really don’t know how Mia can knock it out of the park every time. However she does it I’m here for it!!

I saw who the author of this book was and immediately requested. I should have read the synopsis, so that was definitely my fault.

Grace is at a Law Convention in Vegas, and runs into Carson Stinger who is also at a convention. But he is at a pornstar convention. They get stuck on an elevator together and sparks fly, and Carson convinces Grace to spend one weekend with him. He agrees to show her everything she needs to know in bed. But towards the end of the weekend, Gracie realizes this is truly just a fling and at the end of the day, Carson still has sex with women for his job. They leave on less than ideal terms and are not reunited for many years.

This was not my book. I did not enjoy the storyline, and the pornstar aspect. I usually like my spice to have a little more build up. Then when they reconnected many years later, the cheating really bothered me. There were times I was truly cringing while reading.

I read the first 30% and then skimmed and picked back up reading... and eventually decided to just DNF it. I won't post this one to Instagram .

Mia Sheridan gives us another excellent story with Stinger. It was everything I wanted to read in a New Adult Romance plus more. Look forward to reading more books by this author.

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.