
Author: Megan Erickson
Series: Mechanics of Love #1
Published by: Avon Impulse
Publication Date: June 16, 2015
Format: eARC
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher


Some things are sexier the second time around.
Cal Payton has gruff and grumbly down to an art...all the better for keeping people away. And it usually works. Until Jenna MacMillan-his biggest mistake---walks into Payton and Sons mechanic shop all grown up, looking like sunshine, and inspiring more than a few dirty thoughts.
Jenna was sure she was long over the boy she'd once loved with reckless abandon, but one look at the steel-eyed Cal Payton has her falling apart all over again. Ten years may have passed, but the pull is stronger than ever... and this Cal is all man.
Cal may have no intention of letting Jenna in, but she's always been his light, and it's getting harder to stay all alone in the dark. When a surprise from the past changes everything, Cal and Jenna must decide if their connection should be left alone or if it's exactly what they need for the future of their dreams.
Not going to lie, I had my doubts about Dirty Thoughts. I can’t exactly say why. Maybe it was a defense mechanism so I wouldn’t be too disappointed if it turned out to be a dud. So I’m happy to say Dirty Thoughts is a total win!
Gotta love a good second-chance romance. Cal and Jenna haven’t seen each other in ten years after an ugly break-up, and now that she’s back in town to stay, bring out the fireworks! I really like how the author set the whole story up, and how well a certain surprise played into it.
What a fantastic set of characters! Cal is sort of a grumpy old man at thirty, and I loved it. He’s so stubborn and hates dealing with feelings. Believe me, buddy, I’m right there with you. What makes it so funny is, the people around him never really let that faze them, especially when it comes to Jenna and Brent. And really, Cal might be all ‘ugh feelings’, but he’s the one with the biggest heart.
When it comes to Jenna, I adore her. She’s stubborn too, and that’s what Cal needs. When he pushes away, she’s right there to show him just how wrong he is. It’s really a wonderfully strong dynamic, and the two of them have amazing chemistry. Seriously, you know it’s good when you can feel the air crackling between the characters when all they’re doing is looking at each other during a normal non-sexy scene.
Something I really love also, is how they acknowledged how the love they shared while younger was different from how it is now. I just love seeing characters understand how much they’ve matured and evolved into adulthood.
The secondary characters are a blast! Well, except for Jenna’s brother, he can get bent. Everyone else though, I want them for my own, even crotchety ole Jack. However, it’s Brent who I love the most. He’s the type of loveable asshole that’s always screwing with people and joking around, which happens to make my heart flutter. I can’t wait to read his book!
There’s a lot to love about Dirty Thoughts, but it all comes down to what a wonderful read full of all lovely, lovely feels it is! Megan Erickson has definitely made me a fan.
(P.S. It’s only $1.99!)
Grumpy old man at 30…dang, that does make me curious
Oh it’s great to find some awesome characters like that! It makes me want to discover them all! Great review!
I love me a grumpy old man in his thirties – so much I married one 🙂 Sounds like a good one and good start to a series.
I love this series! And if you liked this one, wait until you read Dirty Talk!!! It’s fantastic! Glad you enjoyed it.
Isn’t it fantastic when you find a book bargain, and then you turn out to really enjoy the book? The fun dynamic between the characters really sounds like they have chemistry! Great review Christy.
Oh I love second chance romances! Also, grumpy man at 30 is such a fun character to read about. I bet he was hilarious. 🙂
I’m so tickled you liked this! I loved Cal to pieces b/c he WAS so crispy on the outside and mushy on the inside… like my favorite chocolate! Hmmmmm….
Your review reminded me how much I loved this story!!
I love sexy second chance romances. Will keep this in mind
I picked this up because of a glowing review I saw and have been putting it off now I at least know for sure, this will be something that I like so yay!
Oh man, I love good second chance romance. Hehe I love that Cal is grumbly and set in his ways. Jenna and Cal sound like a couple of entertaining characters. I’m so adding Dirty Thoughts to my list. D:
Well what about the dirty thoughts? You didn’t mention that in your review.
I love second chance romances and I am glad this worked out 🙂 1.99 you say..*one-click finger begins to dance*
I heard some fairly decent things about this one. At this low price, I might check it out. Nice review. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ummmmm sold. $1.99 and I get a romance full of feels and fantastic characters? I need it immediately. You and Nick have dictated what I’m going to do with my weekend. It’s going to be a contemporary romance kind of one:)
oh yay for the second chance romance. o.o only 1.99? hum.. need to look at it.
I’ve never heard of this one, but it sounds interesting! I love those second chance ones.
Heheh get bent. Funny.
I also love a good second chance romance, they can be so much fun! I like seeing how the characters try and overcome what seperated them the first time. Although I also like seeing how they are different and changed from how they were back when they first knew each other. The characters and secondary characters both sound well done, I like it whens econdary characetrs are well developed as well. Great review!
YES. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED MORE OFTEN – THAT LOVE CHANGES AS WE GROW OLDER. Or at least, how we love, how we value love, and how we feel love, changes. While love is the universal truth, it is also subjective, depending on the person. And a second chance romance sounds like the perfect story to tackle that!
I enjoyed your description of this story particularly how their second time around is a different type of love and that she really fought for their romance when he was pulling back.
Oh yes, and that’s a deal at $1.99.
Yay! I have it on my list. I love those second go around romance. Noms. Sounds like she did a fab job and yay for grumpy heroes. Those always tickle me 😀
I love it when you are unsure of a book and it ends up being good. That and the price might have me picking this one up! Brilly review!
Loving the sound of the characters. And the price is a steal!
I’ve heard great things about this one. Glad to see this one was a total win for you! You know I’m a sucker for second-chances. 🙂
Great review girl! I love the sound of this one. The characters seem quite stubborn and I’m glad Jenna is happy to tell Cal the way it is. I laughed out loud at: “Well, except for Jenna’s brother, he can get bent.” I gotta read this to see why!
I just finished this book and adored it, thanks for making me read it 😀 !
[…] Christy for making me read it […]