When gruff Sam Hamilton goes looking for an escaped puppy, that he has taken under his wing, his search leads him to Ivy Stephens who is looking for the same puppy that she has informally adopted. The two agree to share custody of the puppy and quickly find that it is not just the puppy they want to spend time with!

Marie Harte gives equal measures of gentleness and harsh literary punches as she guides two lost souls toward happiness with each other in the third book of her Body Shop Bad Boys series. While traumatic and emotionally corrosive past played a large part in bogging her leads down they still maintained a goodness that shined through and caught each other’s attention with the fine writing of this author. Sam and Ivy were well matched and their attraction was heated, direct and meant to be. The strays and the lonely no more hearts of Zero to Sixty will no doubt find forever homes on the bookshelves of any readers they come in contact with!

Love the bad boys? This series is for you. This third book features Sam. Sam is kind of a jerk and quite insecure with his relationships. Why? Because he knows what it is like to be tossed aside and unwanted no matter what you do. This story broke my heart a little. We learn about Sam in a previous book as he sabotage's his best friend's relationship. To learn more about the backstory, reading this series in order would help. It is still fine to read this book as a standalone. There is enough information to bring a reader up to speed.

From a character perspective, Sam is an anti-hero. Or maybe he is a boy who was beat down too early and often that he is now like the puppies he rescues. He is afraid of building relationships and has severe trust issues. There are many parallels between Sam and the rescue dogs he saves. It is a bit of a tear jerker, especially when Sam is just like a puppy being adopted by Ivy Stephens.

Ivy is a great character. She is affection yet tentative. She too has been burned and knows what it feels like not measuring up. She is the perfect love interest for Sam. Their interactions are awkward and hilarious. It is sweet how they try hard and sometimes embarrass themselves. Still, the chemistry between them is hawt. It is a Ms. Harte story so it is a given for sweaty bed bouncing goodness. This story could just be a hook up, but it is much more. It is a self-actualization journey for Sam. He finally realizes who he is and how he is worthy. In addition, he learns to finally trust the bonds he's build over the years. And that it is okay to make new ones and let destructive ones go. This erotic romance will send a reader into orbit with pleasure and also break their hearts with Sam's neglected past. This book is recommended for hopeless romantics who love their happily ever afters.

I liked Sam's story a lot more than I thought I would. While he was a bit of a jerk in Roadside Assistance, he turns out to be a big softie.

In Roadside Assistance, Sam was pretty angry over the fact that his best friend, Foley, was interested in Cyn as more than just a quick screw. Sam grew up with a neglectful mother and was "adopted" by Foley and his mother. He spent a good deal of his childhood with them and Foley's mother treated him like another son. As grown ups, Foley and Sam lived together after they did time in jail together. The fact that Foley was spending so much time with Cyn and "pushing aside Sam" caused a lot of anger in Sam and fights between him and Foley.

In Zero to Sixty, Sam quickly changes his opinion on relationships. He knows that Ivy is a good girl, and much too good for him, but he will do whatever he needs to to spend time with Ivy. He is hooked from the first time he looks into her eyes. So the guy who never looks past a pair of tits is suddenly melting over pretty eyes. Sam still wants to get Ivy into bed but he actually waits until it can be something special between them.

Sam is a completely different character in Zero to Sixy then the one introduced to us in Roadside Assistance. While he is still a bit crass, he truly becomes a romantic from the moment he meets Ivy. I am uncertain if this is simply a matter of him finally meeting the one woman who is perfect for him or the fact that after spending time with several couples who are very happy, including Foley and Cyn, he is rethinking relationships.

Ivy and Sam are both from neglected upbringing and both spend a good deal of the book not believing they are worthy of the other. While their lives up to the moment they meet are kind of sad, it does make them a perfect match.

I would say that I enjoyed Sam's story a lot more than I originally thought I would. I was interested to see what happens with Sam after finishing Roadside Assistance but that was mostly because he was treating Foley and Cyn so bad for "abandoning" him. You can understand why Sam didn't want to lose the closeness of his adopted family, but he was very selfish in the last book and he had a hard time accepting Foley's relationship with Cyn. I needed to see how he would act when a woman walked into his life.

From the beginning, Sam was 100 percent interested in pursuing more with Ivy and I thought that was an interesting spin. I thought a guy like Sam, after giving the other guys such a hard time, would have fought the idea of having a girlfriend, rather then desperately hoping she would stay with him.

It was an enjoyable story and definitely worth the read.

ZERO TO SIXTY is the third installment in Marie Harte’s contemporary, adult BODY SHOP BAD BOYS erotic, romance series focusing on the men and woman who work at Webster’s Garage. This is mechanic Sam Hamilton, and massage therapist Ivy Stephens’s story line. ZERO TO SIXTY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. BODY SHOP BAD BOYS is a spin off from Harte’s McCauley Brothers series but you do not have to have read the original series to follow the current time line. A number of the characters cross-over between the two series.

Told from several third person perspectives including Sam and Ivy, ZERO TO SIXTY follows the building relationship between bad boy mechanic Sam Hamilton and massage therapist Ivy Stephens. Sam has a bit of a soft spot where orphaned animals are involved but the disappearance of a stray puppy finds our hero face to face with Ivy Stephens, a woman who hopes to keep the puppy for her own. What ensues is the slow building relationship between Sam and Ivy, and Sam’s struggle to keep secret his past.

Sam Hamilton grew up in an abusive home to a single mother who all but ignored the son she should have loved but Sam found love and acceptance with his best friend Foley and his mother Eileen Sanders- a woman who took in the broken Sam as though he were one of her own. But Sam’s life has never been easy and when the demons begin to push, he is a man looking to fight his way out of the abyss. Ivy is an independent woman whose own family history is heartbreaking and emotional. She is a woman determined to show Sam that he is worthy of love including the love she offers.

The relationship between Sam and Ivy is slow to develop. Sam is afraid to overwhelm Ivy if he moves too fast. Throughout most of the storyline our couple ‘play’ around one another without taking the next step in their growing love. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense.

There are a large number of secondary and supporting characters including several from Harte’s McCauley Brothers series. Foley and Cyn (Roadside Assistance #2) Johnny and Lara ( Test Drive #1) as well as Mike and Delilah (What To Do With a Bad Boy) whose own relationship enters the next phase. There are plenty of lighthearted moments when the friends get together to tease one another about the lives and their loves.

The world building continues to look at family and friendship, betrayal, romance and love. The strength of the friendships throughout both of the series is emotional and tight. Everyone protects one another’s backs; no one is left alone.

ZERO TO SIXTY is an emotional story line about one man’s struggle to climb out of the depths of poverty and abuse; and one woman’s battle to prove that he is worthy of affection and love. The premise is realistic and moving; the characters are spirited and inspiring; the romance is seduction and emotional.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

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If there is anything that’s going to draw me into a story it’s gotta be a bad boy and a lost puppy. How can you even think you can resist either of those? Add to that a bad boy who is hurting, has a very emotional soft core and a lady to make his life mean something once again. Okay, you’ve got me.

If you’ve followed the Body Shop Bad Boys series, then you’ve run into Sam before. On the outside he’s a bit gruff, a voice close to a growl and issues that he keeps close inside. When his best friend who is probably as close to a brother you can get to without matching DNA finds his true love and moves on to another stage of his life, Sam is left hanging in the wind. Not that he begrudges Foley and Cyn their happiness, but life is going to change and truth be told, he’s not too happy about those changes. There are reasons why Sam acted as he did, and Zero to Sixty is abut to give us some of those answers – painful though they may be.

Sam’s pitiful excuse for a mother abused him in so many ways during his childhood. Foley and his mom made Sam a part of their family by extension and helped him through some of the roughest moments of his young life. There is nothing he would not do for his chosen family. Yet, his “brother” is wrapped up in the love of his life, starting a new chapter where Sam doesn’t play a major part any more. He’s feeling abandoned, a bit afraid if truth be told and frustrated at himself for feeling this way. Around this time a stray puppy has begun to show up around the garage and Sam’s hidden, tender heart knows someone who’s been abandoned… so he begins to care for the puppy. He never expected that puppy to lead him straight to the special lady who could heal all his hidden wounds.

Zero to Sixty is an emotional story and an emotionally satisfying story. Watching Sam and Ivy slowly come to love each other is beautiful to behold. Sam will not move their relationship forward without Ivy’s direct consent. She is absolutely, completely in control of the pace of their relationship as well as when or if they go beyond to the next stage. Ivy is everything Sam has ever longed for. He finally gets what captured Foley, and maybe understands a bit more of why their lives had to change enough to let Cyn into their circle – because he needs Ivy in that circle of family as well.

This is definitely a slow burner, a courting romance of the modern day that you will enjoy, laugh with, hold back some anger, and maybe feel a tear slip out for their past. It’s emotional, it’s a journey to what can be when two people get to know each other and like what they find. I enjoyed Sam and Ivy’s romance very much. And it’s always fun to run into past couples and characters once again. If you enjoy Romance in any form, then I believe this is a story that you’ll want to discover for yourself. While Zero to Sixty could stand alone, I believe you’ll enjoy it even more if you also pick up the previous books in this series. Definitely recommend this one for any Romance reader.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

If you've been following Marie Harte's Body Shop Bad Boys series, you'll recognize Sam quickly. We have known that he carried a lot of baggage from his past from seeing him in Foley's book in particular, so it's not surprising that this book brings a good bit of sadness and anger to the surface. He's not easy to connect with, but you definitely want that happy ending for him. He's such a good guy at heart.

Mechanic Sam Hamilton had a hard time adjusting when his best friend, who is also like a brother to him, found the love of his life and wasn't his sidekick anymore, but he's been doing some good with his extra time and helping stray animals get a safe place to stay and finding them forever homes. He's on a mission for one cute puppy in particular when he approaches Ivy Stephens.

Ivy is a bit of a loner herself, so when she sees the adorable stray outside her massage clinic, she can't resist taking him home with her. When Sam shows up looking for him, he has recently gotten loose again, so Sam agrees to help her find him. Sam's an awkward guy, but she can't help but be attracted to him ... especially when he cares so much about this puppy!

As they spend time together and agree they are both interested in the other, will blending their lives together work out? Will the secrets of their past and the scars they both carry from their childhood blow up in their faces before they even get started, or will they find a way to get past it all and start a life together?

Ivy has been through relationships before and she is in no hurry to find another man. Unless you're talking about Cookie; a stray dog that has been coming around her massage therapy business that she co-owns. And maybe Sam Hamilton. The sexy mechanic that has been taking care of Scruffy aka Cookie for months. He is all sorts of bad boy that just does it for her libido. As she gets to know him more and more, she finds out there is more to Sam Hamilton than meets the eye.

I was so excited when I heard that Sam was getting the next book. My heart hurt for him as his layers started to slowly fall away. Especially in book 2, Foley's story. He is all sorts of sexy bad boy that every girl wants. Even Ivy. However, I think that she could have let her feisty show more. She has a wild fire that spoke to Sam but it was the sweetness he was drawn too. She was a perfect combination for him but she did not see him until he opened up.

The Body Shop Bad Boys have grown on me and with every book I fall more in love. I really liked Zero to Sixty as Sam seemed more down to earth and approachable. Despite his permanent scowl, who has a delicious growl to his voice, and overall has a presence that demands to be noticed- he wasn't a womanizer or a full-time player. Some of the writing took awhile to get used to but it did not take away from the overall story.

Miss Harte, you did amazing with Sam and Ivy please keep up with our sexy bad boys and I cannot wait for the next one!

reviewed by Tiffrz

***ARC Provided by the Publisher and NetGalley***

2.5 Stars

I was really intrigued by this. I liked Sam in the earlier books and I was looking forward to his story.

Unfortunately, as I got to know him, I was not really all that fond of him. I liked Ivy, and I enjoyed the scenes with them together, but I was really not that fond of Sam, which was disappointing.

I was never really able to engage with the story as a whole, as there were a lot of parts of it that was focused on Sam.

The writing was strong, and the characters stayed true throughout the book, and I think my dislike of Sam was something that was just me. It happens, and I was a little sad as I liked the other books, but this one was a miss for me.

I recommend the other books in the series, and while I did not really like this, I am not able to really say I don't recommend it.

This was a fun and romantic book and I loved every word of it. The characters were amazing and I can't wait for more from this author.

When Sam Hamilton is around the guys he is as tough as they come, he has the burly, rough, bad boy thing going on, but the minute he comes into contact with devastatingly beautiful Ivy Stephens all that goes by the wayside, and his charming side makes an appearance. Ever since his buddy found the woman of his dreams and asked her to marry him, Sam has been feeling a little left out, he is a lone man lately and it sucks, he wants what his friends have, he just hasn't found the right girl... until now. Problem is she isn't in the market for a man, so Sam is going to have to kick his charm into high gear and prove to her she that she can count on him, that he can be the man she has been searching for all along...and having a cute little puppy to help him seal the deal helps too!

Ivy Stephens isn't shopping for a man, she has been there, done that, and has the broken heart to prove it, but when she meets Sam Hamilton she begins to question her no relationships rule! He may look like a bad boy heart breaker, but clearly this is one time when she can't judge the man by his appearance, he is definitely a good man, with honorable intentions... and he totally throws her off her game. Every time he is near she can feel the sparks between them, and she wants to give into them, but then her broken heart and head try to talk her out of it...

Once again Ms. Harte has penned a steamy read that grabs your attention from the first page, and renders you useless until the last page is turned. I loved reading Ivy and Sam's story, their relationship felt very real, their intentions were sincere, and the passion they shared was palpable, they had me feeling the flames that's for sure! The second Sam appeared on the page I knew it was just a matter of time before he'd have my heart in his hands... and between his unexpected softer side, and the minute he let loose with a few his purely sinful sexy one-liners he had me weak in the knees... and dying for more!! He will DEFINITELY be joining my elite list of favorites!! If you haven't had the opportunity to read something from Ms. Harte yet, I highly encourage you to remedy that, not only are you missing out on some truly exceptional literary escapes, but also the opportunity to meet some really special guys that are certain to steal your heart!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.

Marie Harte has mastered the anti-hero! Beginning with Test Drive, then Road Assistance and now “Zero To Sixty,” the leading character is not your typical romantic hero. They’re tattooed, they have a checkered past and definitely not rich. Now, are they attractive and sexy? YES!!!

Though very handsome, Sam can be scary-looking at times with his very intent gaze. Being very tall and tattooed give him a bad boy image. Very few knows that he actually has a heart of gold. He always takes time to visit and lend a helping hand to his senior citizen friends. And animals, specially strays recognize a safe haven with him.

Enter Ivy Stephens. Like Sam, her heart has been broken in the past. Like Sam, she is lonely. And like Sam, she fell in love with a stray puppy who has a propensity of finding Sam all the time!

You can blame the puppy if you want but Sam and Ivy finding each other seemed to be destined. With author Marie Harte seamlessly bringing readers from chapter to chapter, scene to scene, their love story blossoms into our very eyes.

A sweet story that borders on romantic comedy, “Zero to Sixty” is Rated M for Mature due sexual content.

In Zero to Sixty it's Sam Hamilton's turn in the spotlight. If you remember, Sam had some issues in Roadside Assistance dealing with his friend Foley finding love and settling down a bit; having that feeling of possibly losing his family as the case may be.

Zero to Sixty delves further into Sam's mindset. We find out why he had such a feeling of abandonment when Foley started dating Cyn, and even though he's come to terms with his friend's new love, we find that his own childhood plays a huge role in how he views himself, of how he views his self-worth.

Then we have Ivy. Sam first ran into Ivy when he was looking for a rescue dog that got away from him. Well, said dog pretty much ran right into Ivy's arms. While the first meeting was very brief, Sam couldn't get Ivy out of his head. He goes back to her place of work under the guise of checking on the dog, and things pretty much start from there.

The thing Marie Harte really did well with Sam and Ivy's story was making the decision for them to get to know one another before becoming intimate. Not only does this make the connection for the characters themselves stronger, but it does so for the readers as well. I know that I was just as ready as Ivy and Sam were to finally cross the line from platonic into romantic. Plus, this makes the chemistry between Sam and Ivy just pop off the page.

I thought that Marie Harte did a great job with Sam's past as well. Finally getting that whole story of his childhood and the kind of relationship he has with his mother really opens your eyes to Sam's actions and attitudes, the glimpses we got, in the previous books. His past directly influences his present state of mind, there's no denying that. It was heartbreaking to see the struggle that Sam goes through trying to reconcile himself with what he believes his self-worth to be. Ivy is his savior, of sorts. They find they have similar experiences in their childhoods and it only brings them closer. They're able to fully expose their vulnerabilities to one another, so to speak, and not fear reprisals for their honesty.

So far, I would have to say that Sam and Ivy have become my favorite couple in this series. Although I'm looking forward to the mysterious Lou's turn next. He's the one man out of the four that I feel like we know the least about, besides the fact that he's got a huge family consisting of a lot of sisters. There are definite hints letting readers know what to expect, but I'm thinking we'll be in for a few surprises along the way.

While the cover of the book shows one absolutely hot, tatted, alpha looking guy, sadly for me he was nice to look at but didn't really deliver. I adored the fact he rescued puppies. I hated the fact he acts like Winnie the Pooh's Eeyore on anti-depressants. He was extremely down on himself, seemed paranoid his friends were all leaving him behind and seemed to set himself up for failure at least where Ivy is concerned.

I'm all about alpha heroes who are sure of themselves. I tried to give him every chance I could because of the puppies, but in the end I ended up DNFing. I hate it because I have loved several of Marie Harte's books.

Another fantastic book by Marie Harte. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the books in this series and I look forward to many more.

This is the third book in the Body Shop Bad Boys series. I am really enjoying this series. You can read this as a standalone, but you will want to read them all.

Ivy is a massage therapist, co-owner of the shop she works in. She initially appears to be an easy going, go with the flow, nice, shy girl, but she can hold her own. Growing up, she felt invisible. Her parents wanted a boy and doted on her brother, ignoring her.

Sam is a rough around the edges, good looking, muscled, tatted, very tall, mechanic with a really big heart. Sam had it really rough growing up. His single mom, a drug addict and alcoholic, raised him with multiple men in and out, who physically abused him. She was mentally abusive, constantly telling him how worthless he was. Sam became best friends with Foley when they were kids and Foley’s single mom took him in and fed and clothed him, gave him a place to stay. He and Foley are tighter than brothers but lately Sam has found himself at loose ends since Foley found Cyn and spends most of his time with her.

A puppy brings these two together. Ivy is attracted to the soft hearted soul of Sam, but she’s been burned badly in her last relationship and isn’t too sure about starting one with him. Sam doesn’t feel he deserves to have the attention or love of such a sweet woman as Ivy. For the first time in his life, Sam finds himself wanting to take things slowly with a woman, get to know her, actually date, and not just jump in for sex only. And when these two do get together, wow, scorching! As these two tread slowly toward each other, you find yourself rooting for them. They help to heal each other.

I loved seeing the characters from previous books. And Willie is a hoot! I LOVED Ivy’s confrontation with Sam’s mom. I found myself raising my arm in the air and yelling YES!

This book takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Anger at Sam’s mom, swooning for his big heart for everyone but himself, frustration because neither Sam nor Ivy could see their own value, happiness at his close-knit group of friends who got him and looked out for him and laughter at some of the antics. I love men with beards so I was disappointed when he shaved his off! I can’t wait for Lou’s story!!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley.

Zero to Sixty is the third book in the Body Shop Bad Boys series by Marie Harte. It is currently scheduled for release on February 7 2017. The first two books were Test Drive and Roadside Assistance. While the previous books add to the character development, you will be able to enjoy the heart of the story without the previous books. However, they are great reads, so you might as well read them in order. If you don’t, the quality of this book will have you going back to see what you missed anyway.

After her last relationship bombed, Ivy Stephens is doing her best to put her life back together. She's enjoying her job, her apartment, and the cute little puppy she's seen hanging around. In the search for the puppy she encounters a big, burly, devastatingly handsome man. Sam Hamilton is lonelier than he's ever been after his best friend's engagement. To give himself a sense of purpose, he takes in a puppy that keeps showing up around the garage where he works. The puppy has another suitor though, one who happens to be blond and beautiful. Can two wounded souls find happiness together?

Zero to Sixty is another solid contemporary romance by Harte, with characters that are scarred and scared to love. Ivy is tired of being used, and wants to start fresh. She has a good job that she loves, and now a stray puppy to love. She is not sure she is ready to dive into a new relationship, but she cannot help herself with the gentle giant, even if she is a little nervous. Sam is used to being seen as scary and worthless except by a few. He does not want to scare Ivy, but is drawn to her and wants nothing more than to be a part of her life. His scars run deep, and he worries about his self worth and hurting Ivy more than he cares about his own well being. I could picture the sheepish look on his face several times throughout the book as he struggled to communicate and find his way with Ivy. The characters were each complex, but so well written that I felt like I really knew them. Honestly, by the end I wanted to give poor Sam a hug and knock a few heads myself. The ride was emotional, funny, and heartwarming. I loved that Ivy and Sam took the time to communicate and explain their faults, fears, and pasts even as they each worried that it would drive the other away. This was another great story from Harte, and one that has me wondering what is in store for Lou and his love life next.

Zero to Sixty is a fast and fun ride, that includes a good deal of self reflection and healing for a couple. If you have enjoyed the earlier books in the series, you will enjoy this one as well.

Sam has done time and he is rehabilitated, mostly. On his first date, not-a-date, he punched another bar patron. Not a sexy move. Ivy is a little put off by scary tattooed Sam but she does need his approval for the puppy and work done on her car at a reasonable rate. Maybe shared custody of the puppy would be nice. Maybe that tattoo crawling up Sam's neck needs a little more attention.

I have really been enjoying this series. An auto repair shop employing hot ex-cons. Women who are not afraid to give as good as they get. Rough and raw, these couples don't back down when the going gets tough. I can't wait to see where they will go from here.

Usually, I do not like to start in the middle of a series with an author I have never read before, but I really liked the look of this one so grabbed it regardless.

And I was so glad I did!

I really enjoyed this book. The hero was great and I fell so in love with him. His tendencies for hoarding, his background, his friendship with his garage buddies, how he just fell so in love with the heroine. He was a little different from the usual romance hero and was so lovely to read.

I really liked the heroine too and her determination to make it.

Overall it was a great love story, and while it can be read as a stand alone, I was really happy there were 2 books in the series before this I could catch up on, then was really really happy that there is a whole other series before this that is sort of connected!

I see lots of happy reading for me in the future!

Sam is a true gentle giant. Ivy is the luckiest girl by far. I was surprised by how funny, Zero to Sixty, was. Sam seems like such a serious man, but has a funny side too. And boy watch out, when Ivy finds her backbone, I definitely wouldn't want to be on her bad side.