I’m Vaughn Lair.You might have heard of my rock star cousin, Jack. I’m on the radio for entirely different reasons. My voice may not cause women to swoon through music and lyrics…it’s the content of my syndicated radio show that has them desperate to talk to me. I’m a sex therapist who doles out great advice. My doctorate gives me license to hold nothing back. My listeners have crowned me the … listeners have crowned me the King of Romance.
I change relationships for the better.
I’m the sexpert.
The erotic shock jock.
The man with a plan.
Except when it comes to my own damn love life.
Then one call on the air turns the tables on me.
A stranger suddenly has me questioning everything I thought I knew about myself.
And then an unexpected turn of events between my best friend and me only worsens my confusion.
This man no longer has a plan.
This man is now the one needing advice.
This book is a contemporary stand alone novel from the male POV meant for mature readers who are 18+. It contains explicit language and graphic sexual content.
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Short review. Mixed feelings. The first half of the book was quite enjoyable, my favorite parts were Vaughn being on the radio and wanted more of that and the mystery of who Apple was. I love a good friends to lovers trope but this was definitely not one of them, I was actually hoping they wouldn’t get together and would break up when they did. I just wasn’t buying their romance at all. Haven needed to deal with her insecurities more than she needed to reveal her feelings for Vaughn.
*Spoiler alert* Unfortunately the book went downhill when Vaughn and Haven got together, I didn’t like how Haven tried to paint Vaughn as the bad guy especially with reveal that she was Apple. She tried to act like he wronged her by continuing to talk to Apple even though unbeknownst to him he was really talking to her. She said that she was unsure about his feelings for Apple, which was laughable since he told her why he was interested in learning who Apple was and why he wanted to talk to her. *Spoiler ends*
Amazing Audible Listen SmokingHot Shock Jock!
Shock Jock
By: A.M. Madden
Narrated by: Tor Thom, Charley Ongel
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, it is well written and well told The interesting storylines captivated me from start to end. The characters are complex and well developed. Vaughn Liar is a psychologist and sex therapist. He hosts a radio show where guests call in and ask questions about sex and relationships. He’s earned several titles and awards, including the “hottest sex therapist” and “Best on the Air” He leaves his L.A. radio job to move NY to host his show on Satellite radio, which will allow him to speak more freely without getting fined by the FCC. His assistant and best friend Haven makes the move with him to NY, she is his right hand and with out her he is a mess. I adored how their story plays out, the laughs, the drama, the twists and the dawning that there is more to their friendship. Yes Dr. Vaughn Lair, sometimes love and what you need in life is right in front of you. LOL! A.M Madden thank you for this great story and emotional rollercoaster ride, it was fun and entertaining. I loved how Vaughn signed off his show ”Remember to f*ck with all your heart, and f*ck like your life depends on it.” That is hot!!
I listened to the Audible edition, Tor Thom and Charley Ongel are awesome narrators and voice performers. They bring the characters to life, give each their own voice and personality. I loved Tor Thom’s Vaughn, he made him sound like an amazing radio host, as the author intended. Charley Ongel was amazing too. Both are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another great listen
Shock Jock, written by A.M. Madden, is an entertaining book brought to life by witty dialogue and funny scenarios.
Vaughn is a PhD whose expertise is in sex therapy. He has a radio show that provides most of the humor in this tale. The uncensored answers to some of the incredibly open questions make me wish there was such a show for my amusement. Vaughn is a nice guy. He’s not a messed up boy that a girl needs to fix. His biggest fault is not seeing the obvious.
Haven is Vaughn’s perky, over organized best friend who has not been lucky in relationships. Her fault is not owning her appeal and sexiness, and thinking that men relegate her to the friend zone.
The easy banter between the two of these characters is endearing and often funny, but there are sweet moments as well, because these are two people who truly care about each other.
I recommend this for anyone in the mood for a laugh out loud, light, sexy romance.
3.75 stars– SHOCK JOCK by A. M. Madden is a stand alone, contemporary, adult story line focusing on radio shock jock and sex therapist Dr. Vaughn Lair, and his life-long friend and PA Haven Castell. SHOCK JOCK is a companion story line to the author’s BACK UP rock star series focusing on the rock band Devil’s Lair, and Vaughn’s cousin Jack Lair.
Told from first person point of view (Vaughn Lair) SHOCK JOCK follows the friends to lovers relationship between sex therapist and radio shock jock Dr. Vaughn Lair, and his PA Haven Castell. Leaving LA for the Big Apple, Vaughn feels like a fish out of water but his one saving grace is his best friend and PA Haven Castell. With his fledgling NYC satellite radio series slow to reach the same numbers as his gig in LA Vaughn struggles to move forward including his lacklustre personal life that is all but non-existent. Enter Haven Castell, Vaughn’s best friend and PA, and the woman with whom he will fall in love. What ensues is the slow building friends to lovers romance between our leading couple and the fall-out when Vaughn discovers that Haven has been keeping a secret that is about to rock his world.
Vaughn Lair knows success but he struggles as the new kid on the block in NYC. When a caller begins to entice our hero into revealing the skeletons in his own closet, Vaughn’s numbers begin to rise, along with his popularity with the New York ladies. Haven Castell has loved Vaughn Lair all of her life but must settle for second place behind Vaughn’s career and the copious number of women in and out of his life. But Haven isn’t willing to be second best forever, but once revealed, their relationship could very well falter before it has had a chance to begin.
We are introduced to Vaughn’s cousin Lizzy and her husband Evan; Vaughn’s on air assistants Daryl and Natalie, and from the author’s BACK-UP series there is a cameo appearance by Jack Lair (another of Vaughn’s cousins) and Leila Marino.
The world building focuses on the on-air personalities and callers ala shock jock style Howard Stern and his assistant Robin Quivers. Vaughn is a sex-therapist that relishes the dirtier questions and comments, the better.
SHOCK JOCK is a story of friendship, family, secrets and love. The premise is entertaining; the romance is a fated, slow burn of emotions and denial; the characters are realistic and animated. SHOCK JOCK is a delightful and playful story that will make you swoon.
Shock Jock by AM Madden – 5 Stars
As always, I will begin this review with the disclaimer that AM Madden is a one click author for me, no questions asked.
Shock Jock is a stand-alone novel starring the oh so swoon worthy Vaughn Lair – Is there anything sexier than a well-educated man with a deep voice and quick comebacks? Well perhaps his cousin Jack who is a rock star, but this story isn’t about Jack. Vaughn is a sex therapist who has a radio show that he has decided to move to satellite radio so he can be more open and be less censored (oh dear). His best friend Haven follows him from California to New York and continues to work as his assistant, right hand gal, organizer of closets and someone whom he cannot live without.
Shock Jock is full of friendship, angst, a mystery girl, romance and so much more. There is a bit of miscommunication, frustration and love. I really hope we get to see both Haven and Jack in future books because I really enjoyed “meeting” them.
I absolutely recommend Shock Jock.
Vaughn Lair has been dispensing sex and relationship advice for years. Finding his niche on a radio call-in show has made him the most sought-after personality in years. With his move to satellite radio and NYC, he feels disconnected from everything and almost everyone. His saving grace has been his best friend and assistant Haven. Finding himself drawn to a mysterious caller, Vaughn begins questioning everything.
The tag lines the author uses for the Hero, hooked me from the get-go. I enjoyed the characters from her other books (the Back-Up Series) being woven throughout the story. It reminded me why I had fallen in love with her writing.
The depth she presented in the knowledge of counseling for both relationships and intimacy added a great deal to the story line.
Her writing is very smooth and she’s able to create a vivid environment with her words.
As with her other works, I loved this one. I would definitely recommend it to a friend.
“You’re on with Vaughn. How can I get you off?”
A.M. Madden, USA Today Bestselling romance author of The Back-Up series, brings us her newest release, Shock Jock. A romance told from the male perspective by a character whose profession is all about being physically intimate.
Vaughn Lair is a local radio personality and sex therapist who has just been offered his dream job in satellite radio. Without the restrictive censorship of public radio, he is free to make his show into what he wants, a talk radio spot that doesn’t follow the rules. This means a move from L.A. to NYC and he welcomes the change, until he gets there. Everything about the city irritates him, the weather, the people, even the noise. He can’t seem to get into the groove on air either. Then the mysterious “Apple” calls and things begin to change.
“If my life was a tornado of chaos, then Haven was my center.”
Haven Castell, PA extraordinaire and his BFF of ten years, tells him to use “Apple” as a catalyst to bring his show around to what he envisioned. Haven has never steered him wrong, in fact she keeps him organized and on track. Without her his life would be a mess. So, he follows her advice. The more conversations he has with “Apple”, the more he wants to know who she really is. Until a charity auction leads to a kiss with his best friend and feelings he didn’t know he had make themselves known.
“How could one silly kiss cause the tsunami of confusion that plagued us both?
We had a serious problem.
I had a serious problem.”
He begins a relationship with Haven, but “Apple” is still in the back of his mind. And her obsession with him begins to take on stalkerish tendencies. What happens when he finally discovers who she is?
From the beginning Vaughn caught my attention. His personality was perfect for a sex therapist. He had a no holds barred attitude to things. This book was crudely told from his POV and I found that I didn’t mind it. I truly felt that I was getting the story from the mind of a male. It centered around what was immediately important, which most of the time was sex. And this brings me to the one complaint I have. There weren’t nearly enough hot steamy sex scenes for a book that revolves around the subject. Don’t get me wrong the sex was sweet and meaningful, but Vaughn is an expert in what turns someone on. I wanted him to push the limits of pleasure.
“I like when you spontaneously kiss me.
Good, because I’m a spontaneous kind of guy.”
Haven was like my spirit animal. Sassy and unique. She loves her comfort and prefers yoga pants and sweatshirts over a dress and heels. Her underwear collection had me envious! Come on, who doesn’t want Hello Kitty boy shorts? Then there is her taste in music. Adam Levine, enough said. She is unapologetic about who she is, but at the same time she has deep trust and abandonment issues. Those begin to surface as Vaughn becomes increasingly intrigued by “Apple”.
For fans of The Back-Up series, you will be happy to know that Jack, Leila, Evan, and Lizzy all make appearances, and Jack makes a fangirl’s dream come true.
In the end I found this to be a light, fun read. This is the first book I have read that is entirely from the male POV and I enjoyed it immensely. It is worth reading just to learn why Vaughn and Haven gave each other the nicknames, mooner (btw autocorrect wanted to change that to moaner and I think that is an equally deserving nickname) and perv. Absolutely looking forward to reading more from A.M. Madden in the future. 4.5 stars for the “King of Romance”.