The only thing hotter than the Miami sun is the sexual tension at Panic, the South Beach nightclub where love knows no boundaries. Lola: I’ve seen the way women in line behind the velvet rope look at William Fox, like he’s an Armani-clad St. Peter at the pearly gates. Except Panic isn’t heaven, and this bouncer is no saint. He’s been tempting me to sin ever since I started working here, but … I started working here, but Fox’s slick smile and bad-boy swagger tell me everything I need to know about him. Still, a girl has needs. And Fox looks ready to fulfill every last one—at least for a night. . . .
Fox: I’m not used to being ignored—especially by women—but Lola Daye is different. The pretty bartender with the red lips and icy blue eyes seems perfectly happy pretending I don’t exist. Too bad, because the more she ignores me, the harder I fall. So I’m floored when she answers my drunken, flirty text with a yes. Lola claims she only wants a fling, but after one kiss, our bodies are speaking the same language. And I’m ready to prove that what we have could be forever.
No cheating. No cliffhangers. And no dress code.
Don’t miss Sidney Halston’s Panic series:
PULL ME CLOSE | MAKE ME STAY | KISS ME BACK | WHAT ABOUT US
And look for all of her hard-hitting MMA romances:
AGAINST THE CAGE | FULL CONTACT | BELOW THE BELT | LAID OUT | FIGHTING DIRTY | STACKED UP
Praise for Sidney Halston’s first Panic novel, Pull Me Close
“A magnificent story full of deep emotion that will get you straight in the ‘feels.’ . . . Sidney Halston nailed it with this one.”—New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett
“Pull Me Close is a heart-gripping story about one of the most beautiful things in the world: the power of love.”—New York Times bestselling author Aurora Rose Reynolds
“An intriguing tale of anxiety and depression so authentic that readers will feel as if they are in the story with the characters. The plot is fresh and tackles a fascinating topic. The relationship between the main characters is very intense and consuming. . . . A great read!”—RT Book Reviews
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4.5 stars A sweet sexy romance that’s really enjoyable. The writing and development of the characters and storyline were wonderful. The author made you care about these characters and their story. Good slow build to romance between the H/h and then it was on fire. I loved that Lola went for what she wanted and was strong and feisty. Her issue didn’t hold her back. And Fox was just swoon worthy. I loved the role reversal in the beginning when Fox was metrosexual. Some of the plot was predictable but didn’t deter from overall story.
Don’t Panic but Kiss Me Back is a total keeper. Fox is absolutely 100% the Guy. Well maybe 90%…Maybe it’s just me but a sweet, irresistibly sexy man who pursues you without being a creeper is hot. Add on to that with the fact that he wants something more…
Hawt! Oh and then there’s the hidden wonders of his personality…Yeah, Fox is a total keeper. Lola is in a world of trouble.
Psst, Sidney do you have any extra William Foxes laying around? I could use one. Maybe I should take a trip to Panic…
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Mary –
William Fox is a bouncer at club Panic, one of the It spots in Miami. He is used to women throwing themselves at him all the time. He has worked hard to get where he is, and he wouldn’t change a thing. That is, until one woman crosses his path and makes him think twice. He wears nice suits, drives a nice car, and lives in a nice place, so why doesn’t she notice him?
Lola Daye is the one woman that hardly gives Fox a second look. As far as he knows, but she looks at him every chance she gets. He makes her feel things she shouldn’t. She has plans and cannot let anyone or anything get in the way of those plans. If she gave in to Fox, he could derail all her plans and that will not happen.
After a drunken text, Lola finally says yes to a date with Fox. Will he be able to stick to a fling or will she be the one to fall? Will the fling ruin her plans for her future?
I enjoyed this story but there were times I wanted to slap both Lola and Fox and tell them to get their acts together. Their wishy-washy ways were a little too much, but their banter was fun and the ending was perfect. I thought this was a good addition to the series and hope there will be more to come to the series too.
Ruthie –
This is book three in the series – I would definitely recommend that you read the previous two as they are excellent reads, but you could definitely enjoy this as a standalone too.
I really think this is a fabulous story, with strong characters, a brilliant twist, and a very, very desirable outcome. It manages to balance the situation between Lola and Fox, even when their positions are so significantly different. As more and more common ground is established, and the connection grows, it is difficult to see how they will be together, but also that it is inevitable that they must.
I love that we spend time in the nightclub(s) and get to see the guys all happy and sappy with their loves. It validates what we read in previous books and reminds us of how unlikely those romances were too – and yet, it is Iggy, the ultimate player, who makes the bold statement that changes everything.
Really, my best advice is that you pick it up and read it. It has many layers, lots of interest, and some great moments of relationship building that heal. It is also full of the reality of life, and words said but regretted, of getting back on even ground, and of forging forward rather than letting things drag you too far down.
Thank you, Ms. Halston, for another super read.
Mary Jo –
This book explores the relationship between Lola and Fox. Both of them have issues that they are trying to overcome, each running from the past. When Fox asks Lola out, she reluctantly agrees and when he stands her up, she can’t believe she put herself out there to be stood up.
Fox hates that he flaked on Lola. He really likes her, and he can only hope that Lola will give him another chance. When she does, he vows to make sure he doesn’t let her down again.
As they begin dating, Fox learns that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to Lola and he wants to know everything about her. Lola likes Fox but starting a relationship with him isn’t in her plans, yet she can’t seem to stop herself from falling for him.
I really enjoyed this book and was glad to revisit the characters from previous books.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Kiss Me Back (Panic #3) by Sidney Halston to read and review.
I think my favorite thing about the Panic series is that it forces you to look beyond what you can see to truly get to know someone. Every single book has touched on delicate subjects that could easily be written in a completely stereotypical way, yet Sidney Halston has the ability to treat these issues with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Lola is working toward her goals of finishing school and dating a man like Fox isn’t on her to-do list. Fox has been intrigued by Lola since her very first day at Panic. The relationship that builds between these two unique individuals is beautiful to watch and I was rooting for them from the very first page.
I am so in love with this series and never want it to end. I hope that every character introduced at Panic gets a story!!
Lola has been striving for the last seven years to make her dreams come true. In is just a few months’ time those plans will be coming to fruition. Working a second job at Panic is a step in helping to achieve her goals but getting involved with the very attractive bouncer is not.
Fox has worked hard to find the success he now has in his life. He has a great home, expensive car, and the best suits money can buy. For the last six months he’s been trying to get a date with Lola but she always politely declines. Then, on the worse day of the year for him, she accepts.
Each with their own unique problems this couple come together for a sex only relationship that has an expiration date. Fox is in a quandary as to how to open Lola’s eyes up to the possibility of more even as he holds tight to those things he thinks are important to him.
The way Fox and Lola worked together to overcome their individual issues was not only enduring but inspiring. I loved the way they used humor to smooth the way over some of their speed bumps. Fox was such a wonderful hero both sweet and sexy and dedicated to Lola. Lola’s background left her afraid of being rejected so her inclination was to do things on her own. When he offers her the greatest gift she could ever imagine I wanted to bawl my eyes out. His love for her was selfless and unending and it literally ripped my heart out of my chest to witness it.
I have truly enjoyed every book in this series but Kiss Me Back is by far my favorite thus far. I absolutely loved every single moment in this book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Loveswept. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When Fox, the bouncer at Panic, meets the new bartender, Lola, he’s instantly attracted to her. The feeling is mutual, but Lola spends the next few months avoiding him, and by then he’s had it with her avoiding him. So his new mission is to scale her walls and get her to just go on a date with him. He’s nothing if not determined, so it should be easy, right? Wrong. Because Lola has walls stronger than Fort Knox, and a huge secret that she’s hiding from just about everyone.
When Lola finally admits to herself that she can’t avoid Fox any longer, she has no idea what she’s in for, because he’s persistent, and determined to be in her life, one way or another. How will he react when he finds out her secret? Will he leave her like her ex? Or will he prove to be the man with a huge heart that he’s starting to appear as?
Wow, I have to admit that Lola’s secret was one I was not expecting. And I like how Fox, and the author, handled the subject. Not too over-dramatized, with a little sensitivity, but not too much. As much as I appreciated her secret, what I really loved most about Kiss Me Back is Fox, he’s by far the best part this story. He’s nothing like he first came across as. He’s a total sweetheart with vulnerabilities that modern romance authors do not often give their confident alpha heroes these days. And he’s perfect for Lola. They’re perfect for each other in fact, just like they said.
“I guess we’re perfect for each other, huh?”
“Perfectly imperfect.”
Another good story in the series. Fox is working to prove his father wrong. Lola is working to achieve her dream. Attracted to each other they give in to the attraction even with a set ending. Each learns something from the other and they both learn that together is the best place to be.
4.5 Stars
I kind of knew what to expect from this book but if you’re new to this series the blurb could lead you astray. It sounds more like a sexy romance instead of a story full of depth, struggles, secrets and hidden feelings.
What I love most about the panic series is that the stories are no fairytales but full of real life problems. The characters aren’t impeccable but perfectly imperfect which makes them human and a lot more loveable and relatable.
Although I should have known Lola’s secret because I’ve read it somewhere before, I’d totally forgotten about it until it came up in the story. I’m glad that I didn’t remember it though because it made for a different experience. I’ve always been someone who preferred to go into a story as blind as possible.
Lola and Fox surprised me. They both weren’t typical characters I’ve read about and I’m also not much into Silver Foxes but this story had much heavier stuff to deal with than just being a sweet romance book. Like the other books in this series the characters each had their own struggles and as they kept them a secret and didn’t talk about it, a lot of frustration and misunderstandings happened.
I loved this book so much. Although it was a different love than with the previous books. As I mentioned before the characters weren’t perfect but that made them so much more loveable. I wanted to talk some sense into them so they would finally see what they had and to embrace each other. But they made it very hard on themselves and struggled through a lot just because they didn’t properly communicate which led to a lot of frustrations. This is very much a problem people have in our society. But it’s society’s fault because of the pressure that’s put on each and every one to be perfect and better than others. The key is to accept who you are with all your ‘imperfections’ and to not see them as flaws but that they make you special and unique in a good way.
When I started reading this book I’d have never thought that it would lead me on this beautiful journey and end here. It was an unputdownable book because although the story was a slow progress and didn’t rush it still never felt dragging. The ending was rather unexpected though but I absolutely loved the paper planes.
Fox and Lola will always hold a special place in my heart. Right next to Matt and Nick. =P
If stories like these don’t even make you think about re-evaluating your life, you can count yourself very lucky. It definitely made me reflect on what’s really important and to not take what I have for granted.
Ps.: I loved that we had Matt and Nick back, even if just for short glimpses. How could I’ve forgotten how much I loved and missed them?! *7th heaven*
KISS ME BACK is the third instalment in Sidney Halston’s contemporary, adult PANIC erotic, romance series focusing on the men and women who work for the high-end Miami night club Panic. This is security specialist William Fox, and bartender and graduate student Lola Daye’s story line. KISS ME BACK can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual first person points of view (Fox and Lola) KISS ME BACK follows the building relationship between security specialist aka bouncer William Fox, and bartender Lola Daye-a relationship with an end date that will come all too soon. Lola knows that her time at Panic is drawing to a close; only weeks away from completing her Masters degree, she intends to head to Ecuador to work with the under-privileged but her attraction to bouncer William Fox is met with an equal attraction that has been ongoing for close to six months. What ensues is the building relationship between Fox and Lola, and the potential fall-out as their time together draws to a close.
Lola Daye has a secret she believes will set her apart from the people she has grown to love. It is this secret that has shaped the woman our heroine has become, a woman who refuses to accept help or aid at times when she needs it the most. William Fox is a man determined to be successful as a security specialist but success is represented by the persona he wants everyone to see. Fox, too, keeps secret a hidden past, a past mired in loss, abuse and rejection by the man he no longer acknowledges. Fox’s acceptance of Lola’s secret is heart warming and all encompassing to the degree that any help offered is met with resistance and fire.
The relationship between Lola and Fox is one of immediate attraction but Lola knows her time at Panic is limited as she intends to finish her degree working with the children in the villages of Ecuador. Throughout their growing relationship there are many misunderstandings between Lola and Fox, due in part to Lola’s hyper-sensitive take on Fox’s need to protect and worry. The mutual vulnerabilities are hidden behind fake facades that mask the truth about who they really are. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Nick and Katherine (Pull Me Close), Matt and April (Make Me Stay), and bartenders and servers Helen and Jane. Helen’s story line is next.
KISS ME BACK is a story of friendship and love; struggles and anxiety; moving forward and letting go. The premise is engaging and inviting; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are sassy but broken. Lola’s commitment to be independent is counter intuitive to Fox’s need to protect and defend, and in this our heroine’s feisty attitude leaves something to be desired.
With just a single look William Fox makes every woman in the room weak in the knees, he’s good looking, got serious swagger, and knows just what it takes to command a woman’s attention… and hold it! But there is one woman in particular that seems to be immune to his smoldering gaze, and it just so happens to be the one woman he wants, so it drives him more than a little crazy that he can’t lure her in. Then one night she has a moment of weakness, and gives him just what he has been wanting… her attention and a “yes” to his question about a date. And he plans to make the most of it, she wants one night, and he plans to give her the best night of her life… in hopes that it will convince her to stick around a little longer!
Lola Daye watches woman after woman fall for Fox’s sexy smirk, she watches him lure them into his arms for the night, and she is determined to never be that fool. But, then she gets a little tipsy one night, he asks for a date, and for some dumb reason she agrees, knowing it will only end in an one night affair. Which is just fine for her, because she has big plans for herself, one’s that don’t involve getting attached to a man… but then again she has never met a man quite like William Fox!!
Kiss Me Back is a sensual and passionate tale that is certain to weaken the knees of romance readers and leave them green with envy! Every woman would love to find a man like Mr. Fox, while he may come off as a playboy, he also has an unexpected sweet side that rivals the naughty side, and inspires a serious case of the swoons… he was such a charmer!! I really enjoyed this latest offering from Ms. Halston, the story line was filled with moments that had the toes curling, moments that had me saying ahh!, and moments that squeezed my heart. I highly recommend you meet these two, their wonderful story will leave your heart happy!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed
William Fox caught my eye in the first two books of the Panic series. He seemed like an interesting character to pick apart and I was thrilled to get my happy hands on his story!
Fox is this big guy who always looks impeccable-not a hair out of place, neatly trimmed beard, and a GQ kind of look that catches the eyes. He’s also got the sexy swagger and the cool, calm demeanor to go with it until he gets around Lola. He finally meets a chick who doesn’t try to get in his pants or use his position for favors, and she refuses a date. He actually has to work at getting her to agree to a date, much to the amusement of everybody (myself included). But the guy had more depth than his pretty looks revealed. Fox’s buried issues with his dad and his concept of self worth explained a lot of things, but it was seeing his character grow over the course of the book that made for a satisfying read.
As for Lola..so she never totally won me over. I spent too much time wanting to pull my hair in frustration, but she grew up enough to where I tolerated her. She was independent, quiet, shy..kind of a loner really, yet I felt like she lived in a bubble. It was her against everyone else and she had the chip on her shoulder to prove it. The cause of Lola’s hearing disability was understandable, but the reasons for not telling anybody were immature, IMO. Fox figures things out of course. And whatever charisma and mojo he was working made Lola happiest when was she was with him, which in turn made him happy and so on and so forth..and The Lion King’s Circle of Life just started playing on the radio as I write this…
The Panic series has some unique characterization and unusual romances, but somehow it works and makes for some pretty good reading. What made me give this four stars over three, was the depth of feelings Fox had for Lola. When I found Lola frustrating, Fox’s view of her was influencing my view, if that makes any sense. He found something worthwhile in Lola and managed to convince me why she was his One person. The give and take wasn’t always equal, but neither is life. Sometime you give more and other times you give less, but the end result is still a compromise. While Lola and Fox’s journey was one heck of a rocky road..and sometimes it was an exercise in frustration as a reader wanting to knock sense into certain someone’s..that just made the ending all the sweeter!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.