Shane’s her brother’s best friend and thirteen years older than her. Juliana knows his desire to be the loner and to never settle down.But none of that stops her from showing up at his hotel room late one night.Months later, she imagines every scenario for when she runs into Shane again. However, she never imagined him brushing off their scorching night together. She never imagined him calling … imagined him calling her a ‘little girl’ who can’t handle a man.
His words ignite a fire in Juliana. If she has to date every single guy in Cincinnati, she’ll prove that she is more than capable of “handling” a man. Except Juliana and Shane can’t stay away from each other, so they set up some rules; only sex, and no telling her brother.
It doesn’t take long for the sex to turn into feelings, and Juliana can feel his icy exterior melting. Is he willing to risk his best friend for a chance at love?
For Juliana, that might be too good to imagine.
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4.50 stars
Put away the flammables people!! The cop and the chemist prove no bunsen burner is needed to spark a flame in this touching romance packed with emotion, and heat.
If you crave the taste of forbidden fruit, you are going to want to clear your schedule to savor all of the low down, dirty, deliciousness that is delivered to you courtesy of Detective Shane. It all started 8 months prior, when Shane attended the wedding of his best friend Jack McCabe in Jamaica, where he hooked up with Jack’s younger sister, Juliana. As such, Shane has placed himself between a rock and a hard place. When Juliana arrives in Cincinnati, to begin the life she desires for herself in spite of her family’s wishes, Shane is now faced with the challenge of being perpetually hard any time he is near her. This is just the beginning of the challenges in store for Shane. It’s so much fun!
One might think that after years of decorated law enforcement service, that Detective Shane would possess some stellar defensive skills. Am I right? No, I am most certainly not because Juliana is one force to be reckoned with. That woman knows what she wants, and she goes after it with all the fervor and tenacity that a courageous mother uses to single-handedly lift an automobile off of her child after it dares to hit her precious offspring. Do not get in her way! lol
Juliana is the ideal heroine and I loved everything about her. She was a very mature twenty-five year old woman, able to go toe to toe with thirty-eight year old Shane at every moment. Despite Shane’s copious efforts to put up a wall between his heart and the intelligent young woman who had gotten under his skin, Juliana repeatedly demonstrated that she would not be intimidated or deterred by the broody “big, silent one’s” gruff demeanor, blunt commentary, and occasional dismissive attitude towards her. His insistence in acting uninterested in the beautiful “Mini McCabe” and his references to her being “a little girl” must’ve fallen on deaf ears, because they did nothing to keep the two clandestine lovers apart. You see, Jack McCabe is a protective older brother, and he would be none too happy to hear that his best friend has been throwing down his sexy moves on his baby sister. So, Shane and Juliana agree to a sex only relationship, all the while Juliana hopes that Shane will want to take things further in time.
Shane has had a difficult life, due to circumstances beyond his control during his youth. Each time he got his hopes up that things could change, something would happen to dash those hopes. Over time, Shane shut down. The Detective Shane of today, is a skilled lover, and an unselfish one, but that is as far as he’s willing to take it with any woman. Our fearless Detective is willing to put his life on the line daily, but not his heart. That part is safely closed off. Shane has watched too many colleagues struggle to keep a family life in tact, many of them failing at the task. He will not open himself up to that devastation. He is also not about to risk his relationship with Jack, the only family he has left.
So, why does Juliana make him wish he could be different? Why does he hate the thought of her dreams not coming true, of her spending time in the arms of another man, of her moving on to have a life without him being anything more than her older brother’s best friend? Will he ever find another woman who sparks such desire in him the way Juliana does?
Okay…seriously, these two just sizzle!!! The sexy banter, and dirty talk are off the charts!! Shane is absolutely the alpha dirty talker your mama warned you about, and still waters run deep ladies…mmmKay?
Shane may say he can’t lay claim to her, but his body says otherwise!!
He may think he is running the show, but Juliana is the Queen of her own domain, and she effing gave Shane a ride he did not see coming. I LOVED IT!
“You’re going to fall to your knees and suck my @*#!.”- Shane
A part of me almost caved right then and there, my mouth watering at the thought of tasting him again, but as much as I wanted him to teach me, I wanted him to know I wasn’t quite the little girl he assumed I was, SO, I laughed…right in his face. Enjoying the way his eyes widened at my response. I rolled my hips trying to gain some friction between my legs beyond the punishing grip he had on my bud. “How about YOU fall to YOUR knees and get your face between my legs?” He breathed out a laugh that brushed against my lips, before he released me and gripped the flimsy lace, tearing them from my body. His eyes never left mine, as he dropped slowly to his knees. -Juliana
This was an insanely hot age-gap, forbidden, brother’s best friend/little sister romance. There was a great supportive cast of characters and even an element of drama/suspense to iron out. The book was enjoyable, flowed well, and Fiona can deliver the FEELS y’all!!
If you like the arrogant types that provoke you to experience every emotion from Aww to Aww H3LL Naw on his way to sweeping you off your feet, then Shane is your cocky hero!
Highly recommend! There is definitely something for all romance fans with this one.
Wow what another read by Fiona Cole.. this is a fantastic read that is full of steamy sex and well worth the read this book will have you on a ride that is worth the ride.. this is my second book from this author and I will tell you that it is worth every min you are read her book because it will blow you away and asking for more as her writing style is to die for and you will fall in love with her writing style and love how the emotion roll of the pages and take you on that dreamy story..
4.5 Stars
This was a spicy romance.
I enjoyed her bold moves to get what she wants. There’s an add spice when you’re sneaking around. The sex was scorching hot! The quiet detective is quiet for a reason and it all makes sense when it is uncovered.
Great read!
Everyone imagines things, situations, friends, lovers, feelings, or our future. Either you dream about it while sleeping or wide awake, it doesn’t matter. It is part of our brilliant human minds and it takes lots of courage to try and make it a reality.
I loved the originality of this book, where Juliana kept imagining everything her mind could conjure about the one person that was like a dream she never imagined to like so much. Neither did he.
However, Juliana was not just a dreamer, she also was a little girl that fought like a big one for what she wanted, even if it meant to stay away from her parents wings and love. Even if it meant to have a shitty car, be in an unknown city and deal with bosses that didn’t believe in her potencial, and kept living in Stone Age.
She inspires every woman to be who we want to be, and chase who we want to have and keep dreaming with. Because dreams are so much better in reality!
Shane was hard to love, although he ignited the pages of my kindle with the amazing descriptions of Fiona Cole, but once I got the idea about how was his childhood I accepted him better. And and he was truly a sweetheart hiding inside that big body of his, to reveal it all in the final chapters.
I loved this book and it was my first from this author, so as you can imagine, I will be reading more from her and until then, I will keep dreaming until I have someone to fight
for.
Image Me was a great read! This story was a brother’s best friend/ age gap romance! Juliana and Shane’s journey had some ups and downs with lots of heated sexy moments!
This third book in the King’s Bar Series by Fiona Cole was the perfect blend of the reluctant yet completely and foolishly in love older Shane trying his hardest to resist his best friend’s luscious little sister, Juliana. While Juliana pulls out ALL the stops, big, bad Shane is struggling to maintain the “bro code” while he’s fighting a losing battle in trying to resist his best friend’s sister. Great characters, lots of humor, heat and angst bring the main characters to their HEA. I loved it and highly recommend.
Fiona Cole gets me every time. I have been wanting to finish Fiona’s backlist for some time. I finally had some time between ARCs to read some of the books in my TBR. I’m glad I started with Imagine Me. I will say that I did find Juliana to be a tad annoying, however her sassy confident attitude won me over. She wanted to fight to show her family that she could survive on her own two feet and I can admire that. The fact that Shane, her brother’s best friend, was someone she wanted to explore more did not deter her. They had a past interaction and it all stemmed from there. I found Shane to be drool-worthy with a touch of a-hole attached to his personality. Gotta love those alphas with a dirty mouth!
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All the feels.
Fun story between Juliana and Shane, AND they have some INSANE chemistry!!
As the story began, Juliana is this young girl who desperately wants to be independent, but can’t seem to figure out how. Her parents want her to move back home, her ex wants her to move back and be someone she want to break free from. She was living with her brother and moves out when his sex lode is too much for any sister. Her car is unreliable. All through this, she remains a bit headstrong and unwilling to cave to others’ expectations. And THAT is what makes her such a strong character!
Shane- the hot book boyfriend that he is- was very frustrating! He made this an emotional slow burn that left me wanting to read more! But oh man, once that fire caught… SWOON!! Every girl needs a Shane in their life!!
I enjoyed this age gap romance. An independent young woman and an older alpha male? The sizzle between Juliana and Shane was off the charts hot!
Short review. Mixed feelings. While I do think that Shane and Juliana have chemistry, I think there should have been a slow build up to them hooking up so both characters could get to know each other. Especially since Juliana was trying to prove to her family and even Shane that she is an adult and can take care of herself, I would have like to have seen signs of everyone seeing that instead of them all treating her like child who needed to coddled.
The cover and blurb drew me into this book! From the moment I saw it, I knew this was going to be an incredible book that would take me on an emotional rollercoaster. Jack is Juliana’s brother’s best friend and quite a bit older then her, but it doesn’t stop them from giving into temptation one night. However, one night wasn’t enough and they embark on a no-strings attached relationship. It’s everything they both have always wanted but the closer they get the harder it is to resist their feelings for one another. Will their passion and chemistry lead to more or are they destined to be apart once their secret is revealed? Don’t miss out on this angst filled book that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
I completely devoured this book. I stayed up late reading and started early to finish it. This is my first book by Fiona Cole. This author introduced me to a new sexy couple and some seriously hot as sin writing. Jules was a strong character, standing up to her parents and her ex, choosing to be independent and make it on her own even though she was expected to take over the family business. But Shane, my goodness that man oozed some seriously hot, alpha sex appeal. This couple singed the pages of this story, but it was more than about sexy times. Fiona drew me into that slippery maze and I didn’t want to find my way out. Jules and Shane’s story was full of emotion and pain and finally acceptance for something they didn’t always believe in. We have the added bonus of a younger woman with an older man, then him being her brothers BFF. Oh honey, the forbidden is written all over this one. I am so glad I was introduced to this author. I see the light! Backlog reading is on the horizon for me.
Fiona Cole has a magical way of writing stories that are full of angst, emotion, and smoking HOT sex scenes. I’ve yet to read something by her that hasn’t completely captivated me; Imagine Me was no different.
I absolutely loved the story of Julianna and Shane. They have quite an age gap, and their story is about learning how to accept that, as well as the fact that they are undeniably sexually attracted to each other. I was so frustrated with how Shane kept being nice one minute, rude the next, and then back to nice. I felt for Julianna, but at the same time…that is what I love about Fiona’s stories! She drives me insane, and then leaves me blissfully satisfied.
I will also mention that I loved the supporting characters in this story. I truly believe they added to the story and made it that much more in-depth and engaging.
Overall, I would highly recommend reading Imagine Me, and without a doubt, I will continue to read everything Fiona Cole writes!!
I seriously got so sucked into this book that I finished it in one day…. I was reading it on my lunch break at work and was late getting back because I did not want to leave Shane and Juliana!
Juliana was pretty sheltered her whole life. Her family seemed to have her life already planned out for her. She didn’t want what they had planned. So she left to Cincinnati, where her brother is, to try to live a life other than that of arm candy for the guy that was going to take over her dad’s company. Shane had spent his life in foster care and never really had a family until he became friends with Jack. So that made things a bit difficult that he was attracted to Juliana, since she is Jack’s sister and 13 years younger. Not to mention that Shane isn’t known to stay with women. Juliana doesn’t really care. She goes after what she wants. And she wants him.
The book is entirely from Juliana’s POV. She tells the story. When she describes the butterflies, I felt them. When she heard the rejections, I teared up. These 2 characters really got to me. There were some sexy as hell parts. There were some sad parts. There were some maddening parts. There were some hilarious parts. I was a HUGE fan of this story because it really made me feel all of these things in the span of the 18 hours I was reading it. It was most definitely a great way to spend my day!
I’ve just discovered Fiona Cole this week and three days later I’ve already finished my second book by her. She’s an excellent writer and I totally fell in love with her stories. Imagine Me is just another masterpiece by her. It’s hot (so freaking H-O-T) and emotional. I couldn’t not fall in love with these characters and their story.
Juliana is such an inspirational woman. She’s fearless, strong, intelligent and funny. Her character had me falling in love with her whole person. Her beautiful, inspirational and strong spirit. She’s just the best.
And then there’s Shane. He’s closed off, secretive and kind of an ass, yet in his own way he’s also lovely, caring and funny. A unique person and he is just so H-O-T!!! And he’s a detective which made everything even hotter.
Together those two had the pages going up in flames. It was fucking hot. But Imagine Me isn’t just an erotic, forbidden, brother’s best friend romance novel, it’s an emotional and heartbreaking story. My heart was all in while reading and I never expected to fall so fearlessly in love with Shane and Juliana. Fiona just captured my heart once again with this slow burn romance.
I think I’ve found a new favorite author / must-buy author in Fiona Cole. Her writing is unique, hot, sexy and emotional. Her stories draw me in like no other. I never thought I’d find another author that draws me in like this again, but Fiona Cole definitely stole my heart with her words.
I’ve read this book in one sitting, I just couldn’t put it down and I’m sure this won’t be the last book by Fiona that will steal my heart.
If there’s one thing that Fiona Cole masters then it’s writing scorching hot sex scenes. There’s plenty of them in Imagine Me and the chemistry between Julianna and Shane is insane. I was introduced to them in Deny Me and Shame Me Not but Imagine Me can easily be read as a standalone.
Shane was definitely frustrating the hell out of me with his hot/cold behavior and I was waiting for him to man the f**k up. He did in the sweetest and swoon worthy way. He’s definitely an experienced man who’s had his share of women including Julianna, who can’t forget about their one night together or his delicious and skilled mouth. She’s a funny, quirky and strong woman who won’t let her parents or her brother Jack decide her future. In their eyes she’s the baby in the family and she just wants to prove them wrong.
Julianna and Shane were so much fun. Their chemistry was undeniable and incredible hot. Both wanted something out of their arrangement and Julianna was brave enough to voice it whereas Shane was had his reasons for pulling away.
The secondary characters were super. Julianna’s brother Jack and their friends added some humor to the story. So did her roommate Jolene. They’re more than just friends they’re each other’s family. Imagine Me made me laugh, swoon and hot as hell. Fiona Cole didn’t disappoint.
4 BadAssDirtyLittleGirlStars
OMG!! OMG!! OMG!! Fiona Cole Blew me out of the Park with IMAGINE ME!! SO HOT & FUNNY I cannot put it down!! Shane and Julianna aka Jules story starts out a secret One night in Jamaica then 8 months later….trying to find a right time to Rekindle the Fire! Even though there is a big difference in ages between the two, Jules does not care and will stop at nothing to get Shane’s attention. Until one night, Shane tells her…“You’re cute, and you’re a good fuck, but I’m much too old for you. Find some little boy your own age to play with.” Jules is STUNT on the Stop and thinking That asshole was going to regret calling her a mistake!
Jules goes out of way to show Shane she is NOT a little girl like everybody sees her and life gets in the way. Shane childhood memories and growing up are Not the norm. He is definitely a Hot, Stubborn & Sexy Alpha Male which will melt your Panties. The Dirty talk he delivers…OMFG!! You think HE was talking to you instead of Jules! The Sex scenes are Smoking Hot & you CAN unequivocally feel the Chemistry these two of have for each other despises the age difference.
This is a First Book for me by Fiona Cole and I will Most Definitely keep reading!! I Really Loved IMAGINE ME…it is Hilarious, Serious & Sexy which you will NOT want to put it down!! It has All Feels of an Emotional Rollercoaster Ride of your Life! A MUST READ BOOK!!
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Julianna
I parked on the street and got out of my car, pulling the coat tighter, highly aware of the way it brushed against the skin of my thighs, bare above the stockings I still wore. The way the material was abrasive against the bare skin of my stomach and ass.
I paused for a moment, my fist hovering above the door, and considered turning around . But I didn’t. I rapped my knuckles three times and waited.
Shane opened the door bare chested in a pair of sweats that hung low on his hips. He chuckled at finding me on the other side of his door, and caused me to drag my eyes up from the deep V on either side of his hips.
“Another little date gone wrong, Mini MacCabe ? Did he actually have a grandma fetish and was disappointed there were no cardigans? I bet he was even more sad not to have seen those thigh-high boots.”
I barely heard him over the blood pounding in my ears, my heart working overtime, fueled by adrenaline and frustration. Either way, I didn’t acknowledge it. I only raised my eyebrow and began unbuttoning my coat, slowly, as I held his icy gaze.
The humor that had glinted there a moment before, faded, replaced by a warm heat that followed my fingers from button to button. He was nervous and I liked it. I liked the way his grip tightened on the door. I liked the way his Adam’s apple bobbed with a heavy swallow. I liked the way his chest moved a little bit faster.
Once I worked the last button free, I let my coat hang open, exposing the lingerie I was wearing in the picture I’d sent to him earlier.
“Remind me how much better than okay you think you are.” He didn’t respond, but didn’t slam the door in my face either, so I placed my palm against the wood and pushed it open a little more, stepping inside . “Or are you scared that I might be right?” Another step. Noticing the bulge growing in his sweats, I took the tip of my finger and dragged it along the length, all the way from root to tip. “That you really are. Just. Okay.”
Fiona Cole has quickly become one of my favorite authors…..and I was anxiously waiting for Imagine Me to come out. So, when it hit my kindle, I had to dive right in. And I was not disappointed. It was so amazing! Shane & Juliana – I absolutely loved them. Almost as much as I loved Kevin & Ana from Shame Me Not (and that’s saying a lot). I could not get enough of them.
Shane – he was such an dirty talking alpha male. Most times I’m not a huge fan of dirty talk, but with Shane, I wanted more!! It was so hot!! Even though I totally adore him, he totally made me want to punch him in the face a few times. Yet, he also showed a sensitive side to him that was completely unexpected.
And Juliana – how could you not sympathize with her? She was the baby of her family, expected to live the life that was set for her….yet she wanted more. Juliana wanted to be her own person, have her own career and life wasn’t planned for her. She went for what she wanted with no hesitations, whether that was moving away from home with no support or going after Shane – Juliana truly did live her life for her and nobody else. She found some much needed confidence and self-worth through the story that I don’t think she ever truly had.
Another part of the story that I absolutely loved was that Lu, Jack (obviously in the book, being Juliana’s brother), Evie, and Jameson were all parts of the story. A lot of times in interconnected standalones, you don’t always see characters again that you have come to love….and I love all these characters and was happy to see them many times throughout the book.
I can’t say enough about how awesome this book is. If you have read any of her previous stories, you will love Imagine Me. And even if you haven’t read from her yet, you should. It really is an incredible story, and I can’t wait to see what Fiona comes up with next!
I am really getting into this author and I am loving her books! Shane is the asshole that we all expect from alphas. As usual he is hot so you give him a chance. I really liked Juliana and when she and Shane are together they keep the pages HOT! I absolutely loved this book and I am so looking forward to more of Cole’s books!