Something to Talk AboutAuthor: Dakota Cassidy
Series: Plum Orchard #2
Published by: Harlequin MIRA
Publication Date: May 27, 2014
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Sexy is as sexy does. And in Plum Orchard, sugar, it does!
Emmeline Amos is sick of her ex saying she's boring and prissy. After all, she works for a phone-sex company! (As general manager, but still.) On a rare girls' night out, fueled by blender drinks and bravado, Em accepts a shocking dare—to handle a call herself. But it's tipsy Em who gets an earful from an irate single father on the other end of the line. Awkward.
But not as awkward as discovering that same mad dad is Call Girls' gorgeous new programmer. Jax Hawthorne is still upset that his daughter called the "girlfriend store" on his behalf, but he can't deny he'd choose a hot-librarian type like Em if he were looking for love. Which he's not.
Em wants to do more than just talk the talk. So she makes a bawdy bargain with Jax. They've both been burned before—this time, they'll keep it strictly physical. Except as soon as they settle on no strings attached, things start to get tangled.
I am loving the Plum Orchard series! I read Talk Dirty to Me not too long ago and loved it, so I was eager to read the next book, Something to Talk About. I’m happy to say that it was also a wonderful read.
Something to Talk About is told in alternating POVs and picks up about three months later. This time when we visit the fine folks (and jerk faces) of Plum Orchard, we get Emmelines story. I loved her friendship with Dixie in the first book and thought she was a great character. After the events that occurred, I was more than happy to delve into her life. There is a lot to love about this book.
Em – I liked her a lot in the first book, but loved her in this one. Where Dixie is fiery and doesn’t back down from anything, Em tries to avoid gossip and conflict at all cost. After her divorce and now working as the general manager of Call Girls, she becomes … curious. She feels like she doesn’t really know who she is anymore, and is starting to wonder if everything her crazy mama drilled into head is wrong. It was so much fun watching her discover herself and become her own person.
Jax – What a great man. He’s raising his five year old daughter with the help of his two brothers, but feels bad that she doesn’t have a female influence in her life. When he begins working at Call Girls as a programmer, sparks fly between him and Em. I really liked how good he was with her and was willing to let her take control in their … situation.
Brothers – Jax ‘s brothers live with him while fixing up their aunt’s old house. Their relationships with Maisy, Jax’s daughter, is adorable.
Call Girls – I love their little group. They tease and give each other a hard time, but it’s in the way only friends can. Marybell obviously has something going on, and I can’t wait to get her story.
Dixie – Whew! The woman is on fire in this book. She has Em’s back no matter what and isn’t afraid to call people out on their bull crap. I love how loyal and protective she is when it comes to the people she loves. And the relationship she has with Em’s sons is so sweet. She is definitely the kind of friend Em needs in her life.
Romance – Em and Jax were so much fun! They come to an agreement to keep it completely physical, to allow Em to experiment in ways she never has before. It made for some not only steamy moments, but funny ones too. All I’m going to say is: The Annihilator! Haha. It wasn’t only about that though, it was nice how comfortable they grew with each other.
Setting – I love the small town setting of this series. Sure, the people of Plume Orchard can be a major pain, but it’s very entertaining as an outsider.
Secrets – Oh boy, there are some doozies. Prepare to have some lives rocked. Not all are necessarily bad, but they do offer an interesting twist on things.
See! There’s some good stuff in Something to Talk About! It was an excellent installment in the Plum Orchard series, and makes me even more excited for the third book, Talking After Midnight.
Dixie gave her a pointed look – one you’d give a willful preschooler. “You know what they say about idle hands and the devil.”
“As Satan’s closest confidante, I’m sure you’ve heard all the gossip,” Em shot back, squeezing her friend’s arm with a giggle.
—-
“… Dixie, this isn’t like me. To give in to impulse. But I did. I gave in to it right there in his driveway. I offered to drive because Jax doesn’t know Johnsonville like I do. Now, I wonder if it wasn’t some sort of subliminal premeditation on my part.”Dixie kept her face blank. “That sounds just like you, Em. Premeditated almost sex.”
Plum Orchard Series
Talk This Way (#0.5): Goodreads | Amazon
Talk Dirty to Me (#1): Goodreads | Amazon | My Review
It’s so nice to have some wonderful characters like that! It’s been a while since I read a book by this author but I really need to go back to her stories!
The characters definitely rock.
This sounds like an awesome read, and I love the emphasis of parental figures in a child especially to a kid so young. Isn’t that really the truth? I find that in most books in this genre, they leave out the kids even though they’re universally a huge part of life. This sounds like a really heart-warming series!
The kids and the relationships in this were done VERY well.
Why the heck haven’t I read these and why did I think this series was YA contemporary? Gads this sounds like an awesome series.
Nope, these characters are in their mid-thirties. This is a series you’d for sure love.
This totally sounds adorable and fun! It’s funny because I am, right now, watching a movie where two average girls try to start a sex phone business. lol
It’s adorable, funny and sexy – perfect mix!
I really want to start reading more adult contemporary since I’ve made a conclusion that I can’t, for the life of me, get interested in reading anything fantasy-like. This looks like a fun series to start with. 🙂
This is a really fun series, and the characters are in their 30s.
I read one of Dakota Cassidy’s paranormal books earlier this year, and I really enjoyed it, so maybe I’ll give her contemporary romance series a try while I’m at it. I love it when an author’s writing is able to cross genres. Great review!
I hadn’t even heard of her (not that I recall, anyway) until this series. Now I want to check out her paranormal work.
Jerk faces, ah, I love it! This sounds like an adorable series and I love that it has the alternating POVs, I really like those, they add so much more to the story.
Wonderful review Christy, have a great (long) weekend!!
You need to read this series, Ali!
Yay! I’ve already got Talk Dirty to Me on my wishlist, so this one can keep it company (and they will be keeping each other company much higher up on the list–you turned the second book corner for them ;). Great review, Christy!
I am loving this series and expect the 3rd book to be just as good.
This series sounds like it gets even better with each book. So glad that you loved it.
You should read it, Jenea!
This series sounds like one I might really enjoy. I love that it’s a small town setting and the characters sound great!
Oh, you’d love it, Candace!
Oh yay! I have this one and book three to read, and am planning to hit them in one shot. I’m very excited to see Em get her HEA.
Thanks for the review!
I’m sure you like this one two since you did the first one. 🙂
I had to reschedule my review for the first book because my blog was down again on Monday, I loved it though and I hurried and grabbed the next two books of NG and will be reading them very soon. Loving this series as well.
Yay – glad you got the other two books.
You have me totally convinced! I need to read this series, and I think these would be perfect to take with me to the beach when I go in a few weeks! So glad to hear you had a good time with this and the series is still going strong!
Heh – yeah, these are fun books. Totally beach worthy. 😀
This series does sound like fun! I think this is what I need, something light, funny and romantic to cleanse my reading palette! the characters sound fun and likable too! I will definitely be checking this, and the first book out. Great review, Christy! 🙂
It’s adorable, funny and sexy, so yeah, it’s good! 😀
I’m glad to hear that you really liked this one! I bought Talk Dirty to Me recently so I’m super stoked to finally dive in; just need to find the time.
It’s a really fun series!
Killing me Christy. Killing me. I have the first one on my tbr pile because of you but haven’t had the chance yet. It just sounds so good and the Call Girls have me curious. I love that teasing friendship and when it really comes off the page nicely. Great to hear the follow up book was as good as the first!
Oh, this series is so much fun! You’ll like it!
I havent read any books by this author yet but now i’m reconsidering! Plus the covers totally gave me the impression this series was contemporary! WHAT?? lol super glad you liked this book and i really want to read them now too!
It is a contemporary romance, but the author also write paranormal.
I got the first book after your review, but I still have to find some time to read it. Real life has been killing me these days, no time reading x'(. Glad that the story continues to be awesome. Annihilator you say? LOL, I definitely have to read this.
Boooo real life is so overrated. 😉 lol – yeah, this is a fun series.
I love it when you read the next book in the series and you love characters even more. Em sounds like a great character and Dixie seems like she is a hoot of a character. Great review Christy!!
Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
Aww so glad to hear you really enjoyed this one as well, this series sounds fascinating and fun oh and secrets, I wanna know!