Mia never disappoints. I love her stories. They feel real and they feel raw. A lot of heart goes into her writing and you can tell as you read.

This book hooked me from the start. It's a sweet, surprisingly spicy, and fun second chance romance. Aside from the romance aspect the biggest take is how one person can change your life- how you see yourself and the person you want to become. I loved the dual POV and progressing timeline.

I will admit, I judge a book by it's cover. And I didn't like this cover. I kept skipping past it in my Kindle app over others but I am so glad I stopped to read this one. The premise seemed like it could turn bad quickly with judging and righteousness, but the writing and the characters kept me engaged throughout the entire story and I buzzed right through this!

So the beginning of this book was phenomenal, I have been in a romance slump and I was excited about this one from the jump. I loved Carson's personality, and even though Grace got on my nerves with how judgmental she was of his profession, I was sooo into their relationship. The nickname Buttercup is my new favorite.

I also think the plot, at first, was a fun and interesting concept! Grace, someone looking ton be. lawyer in DC, meets goes to an International Law conference in Vegas where she meets Carson Stinger, also at a conference in the same hotel. The difference is, his conference is for the Adult Entertainment Industry...because he is a porn star. Although they dislike each other at first, they end up spending a weekend together, where the spice is off the charts.

I thought it had so much potential!!! I loved the banter, the plot, the characters, and I was so excited to see where it went.

However,,, I was very thrown off by the turn it took. I understand why he was made to join the military, but I did not go into this book expecting it. I am Middle Eastern, so this really is a subjective thing; I personally don't like reading stories of soldiers who are going into Afghanistan knowing the instability that the US has caused in the Middle East from their occupation. But, I liked that this at least cent3ered on human-trafficking, rather than senseless killings of Afghanis.

I will also say, this was very long. I think we could have went without a huge chuck of the novel, because I think it made it lose its momentum. The romance was soooo good until the 40% mark, and then picked back up at 60%, kind of.

All in all, the writing was very good! I think the writing in this one is better than Archer's Voice. Mia Sheridan really stepped it up. I just wish the plot was tighter.

4.5⭐️ Once again Mia Sheridan has written an incredible love story with a real life message that clings to you long after you’ve finished the book.
This was probably the spiciest book of hers I’ve read yet but so well done. I want to live out a Mia Sheridan romance: equal parts beauty and spice.
“Life is wild”
She did a wonderful job of crafting Carson’s character in the shape of the Scorpio myth. I really loved the transformation from cad to protector. The only thing I didn’t like was the way Carson talked about his past. He says he chose to sign with Courtney because her site seemed more tasteful and respectful and he seems to be kind and respectful towards his costars but when he talks about it later in the book he’s so ashamed. I think it’s fair that he’d regret his choice after experiencing intimacy but I don’t think it’s fair to cast the entire industry in a negative light. The adult entertainment industry is huge and widespread and sex workers deserve respect and validation for the work they do. I don’t think it’s fair to make it seem like they can’t have families or partners without it embarrassing them all. That’s my only beef with the book.
I can’t emphasize enough how much I wanted these fictional characters to find each other again and get a HEA. I found myself aching right alongside them through part 2. The way Mia writes love is deep and profound. She’s one of my all time favourite writers.

Sheridan did it again! her spicy and character development is great. the spice level is even better and I honestly enjoy her plots. I highly recommend.

3.25 ⭐️

I’ll start off by saying I don’t think I’ve ever read about a couple who showered more than Grace and Carson. I mean, these people showered twice a day. It was constantly mentioned. There are other forms of intimacy than showering together, lol.

On a serious note, I feel like Part One of this book did not line up with Part Two and Part Three. Yes, there should absolutely be character development. But, I felt as if Grace completely compromised her morals and beliefs for a man that she had only spent one weekend with (!!!) and hadn’t seen in 5 years.

Also, this opinion might sound nitpick-y… but Carson is hyped up as this big porn star who can show Grace all about good sex. So the sex should be interesting and have variety right? Instead, the smut scenes were very… vanilla to me? He didn’t seem to know anything crazy and mindblowing.

Overall, if you’re a fan of insta-love, typical white men, HEAs of the white picket fence variety, and mafia-esque romances, this is the book for you.

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS and NetGalley for the ARC, as always.

I was addicted to the beginning of this story. Law student heads to Vegas for a conference, gets trapped in an elevator with a porn star, and ends up having a whirlwind weekend romance.

The middle fell flat for me and seemed to skip around a lot but overall it wrapped up nicely and I enjoyed the ending.

I loved it so freaking much!!
It was fantastic. At first, I was hesitant about the synopsis because of the " straight male performer" thing, however, I liked how the author approached his profession. She didn't glorify the adult industry the same way most books do, she described just as it is.
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The romance and chemistry were absolutely perfect, they started as two people hooking up, but as their time together went on, you could feel how much they connected and how much in love they were, the insta love was so effortless and natural.
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Both Grace and Carson were great characters, they had so many layers and their stories felt so raw and real.
The way the author described how both affected the other's life was spectacular, it made so much sense why both cherished their weekend together.
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I loved the turn their lives took after their time together, they both changed but their personalities and what made them special were exactly the same. Grace didn't turn into a reckless, spontaneous person, but she learned that some things come unexpectedly and that she needed to savor them, even if they weren't part of the plane.
Carson didn't make a 180 solely for Grace's sake, she was definitely the catalyst, but the decision and grit were all him trying to do something important, and how his childhood trauma affected his plans was written so well.
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The ending was one of the best I've ever read, I love it when authors write a HEA and manage to make it believable, not just a syrupy sweet ending where everything turns in favor of the couple at once.
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Definitely one of my favorite reads this year.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Was totally obsessed with this book and read it in one setting! Loved the story line of two people meeting in Vegas with totally different backgrounds. The plot progressed well and the sex scenes were steamy! Loved the length of the book and liked the twists and turns to their happily ever after.

I’m not into instalove and that’s exactly what happens here.
Also Carson was kinda of an asshole with Grace in that pool scene. Like I get it he was hurt. But he used another woman to get back at her intentionally in the next minute. What a dick move.
Also, I felt things was a bit hushed by the end.

But let’s move on to the things I liked: Abby and Grace friendship! I’m just a sucker for a real good bestie and Abby was always there for Grace.
I also enjoy reading about both Grace and Carson looking up for their dreams. That was really nice.

I really love Mia Sheridan’s books (like Archer, Most of all you, Kyland) but Stinger wasn’t it for me.

Wow. I was a little skeptical going into this, but Mia Sheridan knew exactly what she was doing. It took maybe 2 chapters to realize I loved Carson Stinger, despite his profession. The banter between him and Grace was absolute gold. I preferred the first half of the book, not to say the second half was bad, but their weekend in Vegas was just so sweet and perfect. I am definitely a new Mia Sheridan fan!!

Absolutely loved this story! I previously read it back in 2014 - the story still rips your heart and then gradually repairs the gaping hole. No but seriously, this story is a must read!

🎼 🎸🎤 Sister Christian, oh, the time has come
And you know that you're the only one to say, "Okay"
Where you going? What you looking for?
You know those boys don't want to play no more with you, it's true
You're motoring
What's your price for flight?
In finding Mister Right
You'll be alright tonight 🎤✨🎶 💙💜💖

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 | A Must Read!

📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher/author for allowing me the opportunity to review. Reviews are usually cross-posted to social media, goodreads, and blog. 🦄

Is that you crying or is that me crying? Mia Sheridan can do no wrong in my opinion. Every time I read one of her books I want more and so I go to get more and more and more. I laugh, I cry, I get angry and want to break things but then I end up happy and smiling by the end. If you have yet to read a Mia Sheridan book, do not hesitate. I repeat. Do. Not. Hesitate. Run to your nearest book store. Go wherever you get your books from and get one of her books, especially Stinger. This is not a book you'd want to say "Stinger? What's that?"

What starts as a chance run in between Grace Hamilton and Carson Stinger, turns into a fun and spicy weekend in Vegas, but what happens when more than fun and spice happens in that weekend?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy of Stinger by Mia Sheridan, but I want to really thank Mia Sheridan for a book that I could not put down. You do it for me and I need everything you're willing to write.

I fell in love!

This book shocked me, I loved it much more than I’d ever imagined. Was it insta love, kinda? Second chance… one thousand percent. Both of these characters grew, blossomed, and I devoured every second. There were parts on Grace's half where I don’t condone, even for true love, but Grace and Carson loved each other that much was evident. Aside from that, this book is a gem. I could not put this book down and am so sad it’s over!! Carson and Grace have my heart forever!

Carson is so swoon worthy might I add. Can I have a Carson too, please? The way he talks is so ughhh I love it!!! He fell first and harder and is just everything and more.

They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. One weekend. That’s all it takes to alter both Grace’s life and Carson’s too.

Grace is a straight-laced law student with a plan. She doesn’t deviate from that. Carson is a porn star that lives life on the edge. When they get stuck on the elevator they reveal some of their secrets to each other, leading to Carson’s proposal of having Grace spend the weekend with him. As they dive deeper into the weekend feelings arise but aren’t voiced.

It was just supposed to be a weekend…Grace wasn’t to permeate every part of his being, just like Carson wasn’t supposed to permeate every part of hers.

The story that unravels has Grace navigating through the end of law school and pursuing her dream job. Carson chooses a path that leads him to being able to offer a woman, namely Grace, more than just being a porn star.

Five years later Grace and Carson come back into each other’s lives. They find out that they were each other’s catalyst for making some positive and necessary changes. Their reconnection is sweet and physically charged. 🥵

I’m not a fan of insta-love but for this story I will make the exception because it’s what propels the story forward. The banter and wit through the story was fantastic. I enjoyed the real life conflicts that Carson faced in his time away from Grace, even if it was a harsh topic to read about. I loved the evolution Stinger goes through and in my POV he evolves the most.

Can’t recommend this book enough!

I've become a big fan of Mia Sheridan. I read Archer's Voice and fell in love, still is my favorite book this year. Stinger is definitely up at the top of that list. The author does a great job at creating so much angst, while including lots of spice too. Those two things are what I love about romance. I really loved Carson and how his character transformed and how he fought against all of his demons. His heart was his biggest asset. The only thing I had a little trouble with was why it took so many years for them to find each other again when their feelings were so strong. I was able to overlook that minor thing, because I loved the rest of the book so much.

I have read this book in 2013 and LOVED it. Now in 2023 I still love it. This is the only author I’m rereading her books because they are AWSOME.

2 people who couldn’t be any different. They shared a weekend that was memorable. Now years later their paths cross yet again.

This was a love that was pure and life changing. They were destined to be together.

An original storyline and beautifully written with a seamless plot. I strongly recommend this story.

This edition is a re-release of the book, which was originally published in 2013. From the beginning it felt familiar to me. I think the book has weathered well. Obviously, social acceptance of the adult entertainment industry has completely evolved, but I still believe there would be a certain amount of judgement even now.

I loved the dual POV. Mia Sheridan is so good at character development and chemistry. I couldn’t figure out how Carson might be able to put his past aside and create a new life. When his path was revealed, I thought it was perfect for his character. I loved the second chance aspect. There was never any doubt Carson and Grace were IT for each other and I enjoyed seeing how they finally came together.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I may have set myself up for this one but the book hasn't done me any favors! I feel it's necessary to defend my choices here, I saw this on NetGalley and zeroed in on the fact that VEGAS is on the cover. I. LOVE. VEGAS. Perhaps I should have done more research, and I would have realized that this isn't a new book, but a 10 year old book being republished. Perhaps I would have spared myself from whatever this is, but alas.

Never have I ever felt this disconnected from a story so early in the book. I got about 40% through before I started more of a skim. I've never dnf'd because I have a compulsive need to see every story through but this was really testing my patience. Plus when this went off the rails and did a complete 180 it was like a car crash, I couldn't look away. Admittedly this is not my genre. I am very picky when it comes to the smutty romances, 9 times out of 10 I find the writing too cringe when they start getting down to it. This is all partly my fault so I don't want to be too harsh, should I have expected a romance between a law student and porn star to be anything but far-fetched, over dramatic, tropey, etc. etc.? Probably, but you don't understand, I LOVE VEGAS.

That all being said my expectations were low but JESUS. First of all, I didn't get the Vegas content I love and deserve. Yeah the Bellagio is pretty but give me clubbing, late nights in casinos, crazy shenanigans! For a whirlwind romance in one of the weirdest and interesting cities in the country this was so boring! Maybe that is a product of these bland characters. The good girl with a plan kind of character rarely ever does it for me, and I found Grace to be one of the worst examples of the trope I've read. Carson has no discernable traits besides being... carefree I guess? A little tortured? Also his name is Carson which is a small detail but concerning all the same. With nothing but the most generic character traits to go off of the connection these characters form is so devoid of any substance, they go from bickering in the lobby to stuck in an elevator to ripping each others clothes off in record timing. I'd defend these choices by suggesting that things moving way too quickly is just the way many of these stories go, but to use this magical weekend they have together as a primer to whatever the rest of this was is... certainly a choice. I think I'd much rather have preferred the bulk of the book to be this sexy little weekend in Vegas with more of a build-up in a relationship, sure these characters were boring but at least I would've gotten my scenery! Even when we return to Vegas later in the book the location doesn't matter in the slightest. They make up a luxury hotel instead of simply picking a preexisting one and adding to the lore?? Come on!

I knew we were in for it when Carson storms out of his porno shoot and drives straight to a military recruiter. By the way, the way these characters talked about porn stars and sex workers was so demeaning? Obviously there is a lot wrong with that industry, but the constant 'why are these people doing this to themselves?' 'you can be so much more than this' bs was just so weird and unnecessary. And don't get me started on the military of it all. If a character in your book is going to become a navy seal 40% of the way through, please allude to that in the description so I can save myself the read.

Due to the fact that I rarely read books like this I found myself comparing it to one I've read that has virtually nothing in common besides the age of the characters and being what the tik tokers call 'spicy'. I read Icebreaker by Hannah Grace last year and while I didn't love it and it felt like a chore to get through by a certain point I still read it so quickly, as these books usually go, and there were actually times in which I enjoyed it! Mainly because the characters had some good chemistry and the story had a lot more to work with. This book has taken me over a week to get through and like I said, I SKIMMED A LOT OF IT!

In conclusion, did I set myself up? Probably. Am I the authority on smutty romances? Absolutely not. Do I think there is one out there I will enjoy? Maybe, but Stinger is not one of them.