RingerAuthor: C.J. Duggan
Series: Summer #3.5
Publication Date: March 31, 2014
Format: eBook
Pages: 155
Source: Purchased
They say it’s the quiet ones you have to worry about, and she was quiet,
very quiet – when she wasn’t busy despising me with a burning passion.Ringo ‘Ringer’ James has a no-strings-attached policy.
Love them, leave them, and remain the eternal bachelor.
After a summer in which every one of his mates has succumbed to settling down, or so it seemed, Ringer is on the lookout for a quick exit. Having had enough of the stomach-turning love fest witnessed over the past three months, Ringer jumps at the opportunity to help out his mate, Max, by heading to Max’s dad’s property for a working holiday.
It’s just what he’s looking for. A remote, dusty homestead in Ballan, with only hard work, a cold beer and a comfy bed to worry about – no women.Until Miranda Henry.
The privately educated daughter of his boss has returned home from overseas and things are about to get very complicated, very fast. As summer draws to its end, Ringer is about to learn that sometimes attraction defies all logic, and that there really is such a thing as ‘enemies with benefits’.
Warning: sexual references, and occasional coarse language.
Ringer, Ringer, Ringer … I’ve been waiting for this since I read The Boys of Summer. This series is one of my favorites! All those Onslow Boys are positively delicious! They all have great personalities, but I always got a kick out of Ringer. I hoped he would get his own book, so I may have squealed a little when I saw that he would in fact, get one. I was a little bummed that it was a novella, but I’ll take what I can get. I’m appreciative of anything from C.J. Duggan, especially when it involves these guys. Besides, it isn’t that short, I just didn’t want it to end.
Poor Ringer is stuck in Onslow surrounded by his mates who are all in love. It’s nauseating. So when he has the chance to go work on a ranch for a few weeks in the middle of nowhere, he jumps at it. Miranda is back home after spending four years at school abroad, though she doesn’t want to be. These two start out on the wrong foot, and that is a major understatement. They loath each other. Oh, how I loved the banter and their trying to one-up each other! Loathing to love is my favorite romance trope, and Duggan played these two perfectly. Ringer + Miranda = Delicious.
This is actually the first time we get a POV from one of the Onslow Boys. The first three books are all from the girls’ perspective. So it was a real treat to get inside Ringer’s head. We also get Miranda’s POV, though. I am so very glad we got both, because if it had been just from Ringer’s, the chances of me even liking Miranda were slim – she was pretty awful in the beginning. But getting both POV’s, and getting a front row seat to their train of thought was a whole lot of fun.
I would say The Boys of Summer is Mature YA, even though the male characters are 19/20. The second and third book takes place four years later, so all of the characters range from 18-24. I have a very hard time labeling these as New Adult, because I don’t think they are in that typical NA category. There are steamier moments with sexual content, especially in Ringer, but they aren’t … overly explicit. They are hot, though. I don’t know, I just wish people would read this series without considering what genre it falls under and see for themselves how good it is.
So this shouldn’t come as a shock when I say that I love Ringer. I do, I do, I do! I try to make people read this series any chance I get, so I’m sure you know what I’m going to say, right? Read it!
The Boys of Summer Series
Hmm, I didn’t realize these were older YA/NA and I know you hate to categorized them, but you have piqued my interest.
Yeah, the 1st one is the most ‘innocent’ and this one is the most explicit, but not too much.
The whole series does kind of fall between YA and NA. It feels YA for me though even with them being older.
I rarely read novellas for series but I do love this series so now I might just grab this one.
You have to read this one if you’ve read the others, it feels the ‘oldest’ of them all. I mean, how could you pass up more Ringer? lol
The Boys of Summer series is one of those where I read the sample chapters, really liked them, added the book to my wishlist, and then waiting months (and MONTHS) for a price drop so that by the time I actually got it, I’d forgotten why I wishlisted it in the first place. Clearly I need to fix that 😉 So glad that you’re still loving this series!
lol – Well I hope you get a chance to read these soon. The 2nd book is my favorite so far, and this one comes in as my 2nd favorite.
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The series sounds like a series that I would enjoy. Ringer and Miranda appear to be a couple that would be fun to read about. I love the relationships that start off like this one. Great review. I need to add this series.
Oh yeah, Jenea, I’m sure you’d like this series. 🙂
Oh I don’t think I know the series… But well if it’s one of your fave it must be really great! I haven’t read a lot of books like that in NA but I should. THanks for the review.
It’s a really fun series!
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I have been waiting for you to review this one! I am excited there is a dual POV in this one. I need to pick up the second book! I loved the first. Crap, I think I still need to do my review for it.
The 2nd book is my favorite so far – I love Amy and Sean! So yeah, you need to read it.
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Oooo an antagonistic relationship Christy? MY FAVORITE!!!! I can’t get enough of romances where the two start out despising one another and then eventually fall in love. It just makes me so happy. I have the first book in this series on my shelf, clearly I need to get to it so I can get caught up and meet Ringer!
You most certainly do need to read this series, Jenny!
Lothing to love. YES. Now, they are always the best, especially because of the banter and sexual tension, always, always fun. I’m okay with two perspective’s, especially when it’s needed, because there’s always two sides to a person, the way someone perceives you and the way you perceive yourself, so at least it gives Miranda a chance. I didn’t even know it was classed as NA, either way I’ll have to check them out. 🙂
Loathing to love is my faaaaavorite. Getting Miranda’s perspective definitely allowed me the chance to like her.
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I love this series too, and with the steaminess of NA books out there, I would agree. I think this is upper YA too but the romance is oh so good.
I can’t wait to get inside Ringer’s head. I love a guys POV. I really need to pick this book up.
Great Review.
I just know people see the ages of the characters and think typical NA, or see YA and think high schoolers. I just want people to read them, dammit! 😀
I have The Boys of Summer and have been all about summer reads lately so I should read it soon!
I’m sure you’ll love this series, Candace.
I think i need to give this series a shot since you liked it so much, i haven’t read The Boys of Summer before even though i keep seeing the books everywhere online so i realize i have to remedy that. Great post!
Lily @ Lilysbookblog
Oh I think you’d love this series Lily. Definitely give it a try.
Oh… I’m liking the sound of Ringer! In fact, I think you have sold me on the series. I’m really going to have to put all of them on my wishlist. Thanks so much for the review!
Ringer is quite the character. He’s always made me laugh in the first 3 books. You should definitely read these!
Loathing to love is one of my favorite tropes too! I have been wanting to read this series for ages, and maybe this is a good place to start since it’s a novella. Glad to hear you loved it! Fantastic review 🙂
That trope is sooo much fun. The first three books really aren’t that long and are quick reads. Normally I’d say read in order, but if you REALLY want to start with this, then I think it would be okay. It takes place between the events of the 3rd and 4th book, but the other characters aren’t as prominent in this as they are the others. I always suggest starting from the beginning though.
Okay, lady. You need to quit reading all these romantic books! You are so bad for my TBR pilesssssssss! I have to freaking buy these books now. Lol.
lol – It’s all of the beautiful sunshine making me twitterpated.
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Aw yay! So glad the one you were waiting for turned out so good! And you got to be in his head too. I love that!
I wouldn’t mind being in his bed either. lol
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Oh goody! I never heard of this series before, it sounds like I’ve been missing out 🙂
Thanks Christy!
I really need to get started on this series! I have the first two, so no excuses. Ringer sounds so good, and I’m glad you enjoyed, Christy!
Some books just don’t fit into a category. I would agree though that the first one was pretty innocent but this one got a little more hot with a bit more explicit language although compared to many things I read I would still say tame. But my definition of tame might be more steamy than the average person LOL Love Ringer!!! My favorite Onslow boy is still Sean. I hope she will give Stan a book and then they will all have their own story.
The banter between the two characters sounds great, it’s always fun to read witty banter and see them grow together. Lovely review Christy!
An Onslow boy POV!! *fistpump* I am excited! I really loved the first book and need to catch up on this series. Great review Christy!
Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
I’ve had the first book in this series for a while, and it sounds like I need to get a move on! I really want to get to this one — love the sound of it!
This sounds like a wonderful series Christy! I love the love-hate dynamic between two characters! The passion and steam is awesome with that theme, and I love that Miranda and Ringer had this dynamic and also great banter. I love when an author give’s us dual perspectives, and think in this case it was essential (since you would’ve not liked Miranda, if not for her POV). I need to meet these Onslow brothers!!!
I read all the response here. You have convince me that I need to read this book. Can I win your FB giveaway? Lol. Than I’ve the chance to read this.
*then I will have the chance to read it 🙂