Coke Solomon has lived a full life.He’s a retired army drill sergeant, so he is more than used to getting his way.And if he can’t have it his way? Well, let’s just say that’s never happened before… beat of her own drum, and a lot of times that drum takes her farther away rather than closer to where he feels she needs to be.
He can’t stand it.
He wants her, and he has to have her.
It doesn’t matter that she’s twenty years younger than him, and has a father that would rather see him dead than have his baby girl anywhere near him. Nor does it matter that his ex-wife is highly offended that she’s been replaced with a much younger woman.
Despite the odds stacking against them, he’ll fight for what he wants.
His ex-wife, her father, and their age difference be damned.
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Ain´t Doin´ It by Lani Lynn Vale is the fourth book in her Simple Man Series. Every book in the series can be read as a standalone and in every order.
The previous books are Kinda Don´t Care, Maybe Don´t Wanna and Get You Some.
Ain´t Doin´It is Coke and Cora´s story.
Coke Solomon is a retired Army Drill Sergeant. He´s in his thirties, divorced with a nearly grown up daughter and the owner of a salvage yard. He gets his way every time, ´til Cora walks into his life.
Cora Maldonado is a 24 year old woman. She´s new in Hostel, Texas. She works as graphic artist, is a bit social akward – ok – a lot social akward, and she knows exactly what she wants. And what she wants is to live her lifeb to the fullest and that includes Coke.
I started reading and was immediatedly sucked into the story. I confess, Cora is my absolute favorite character in all of Lani Lynn Vale´s books. She´s my sister in spirit and I adore her character.
I give 5 stars and can´t wait to read the next story, Too Bad, So Sad.
Ain’t Doin’ It is the fourth book in the Simple Man series and one that will have you so in love with Cora just because she is a little different and a little quirky. Two people that may appear so different but deep down are so much alike because they just want to be loved for who they are. As these two develop a connection that neither of them see coming, it might just set off a chain of events that neither of them can predict. Their story will make you laugh, get you a little anxious and keep you captivated and entranced by the havoc that follows them. Coke and Cora will have your kindle melting with the heat, passion and spice that radiates between them. This book finishes off with one of the best epilogues leaving you with a huge smile on your face.
So this was my first book by this particular author and it was mostly a great experience with only a few tiny nit-picks from me.
So this was an easy enjoyable read that though part of a series of interconnecting novels that focused on an individual couple, I still managed to follow along with fairly easily.
At its heart “Ain’t Doin It” is a contemporary romance with some added suspensful elements.
I liked both the main characters Cora and Coke very much; perhaps Coke a teensy bit more than Cora who did have some slightly irritating whiny traits and could be a bit of a drama llama at times.
Though I did warm to her more as this story evolved.
I adored the fact that this was a slow burn romance and the author did an excellent job of ratcheting up the tension here so when we did eventually get the promised action it was well worth the wait.
This had a great cast of secondary characters, but have to say that Cora’s friends did come across like actual adolescents at times, not wives and mothers; I understand they were meant to be portrayed as fun and quirky but for me, that was a total washout missing the mark entirely.
Completely understand why Cora tried to avoid them like the plague they would be enough to give anyone a bloody headache.
I also really liked the daughter and how she was so refreshingly unspoilt.
The blurb itself here I thought was really misleading Cora’s dad wasn’t a complete fan of his daughter’s new relationship but I didn’t think he ever came across as completely hostile; more like reserving judgement until a later date and its never suggested; as far as I can see that he ever wants him dead.
And also the twenty year age gap well correct me if I’m wrong but twenty-five and thirty-five is a ten year age gap.
I know it’s been a while since I left school but I can count.
I still liked the story but Its a real bug-bear of mine when we get misleading book blurbs.
Just tell me like it is already.
As for the ex-wife, I wouldnt say she was offended about Cole and Cora’s friendship the woman is a bona-fida nut job; a real class A loony-tune psycho biotch.
How Cole managed to stay married to the cray-cray Ex-wife for all those years and stayed relatively sane is a conundrum indeed.
My other winge is I felt there might be a tad too much going on in terms of plausible plotlines.
I prefered this story before things went to shite on a shovel and felt all the unnecessary drama only muddied the picture.
At its heart, The more simplistic aspect of boy meets girl and falls hard is what I prefered most about this tale, that was refreshingly lovely.
How they met, got to know each other properly before jumping into the sack together.
I also especially adored the epilogue here wasjust so touching and sweet.
Just one last thing here I’m really over the whole virgin at twenty-five thing; are there even any of those unicorn’s around in real life.
Weighing up the whole she-bang though this had more positives than negatives and I really did enjoy myself overall; I will definitely be checking out more of this authors work to have a nose at.
I was provided with an ARC of “Ain’t Doin’ It (Simple Man, #4) ” By the author of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm.
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9460945-bex-beckie-bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
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Book 4 in the Simple Man Series is about Coke, a former drill instructor, and Cora, the daughter of Game and Ember from Highway Don’t Care. It begins with Cora’s move to a new town, Hostel, TX, where we know that girls from the previous books in the series already live.
Coke has had a rough life. He was brought up poor, but with good parents, a loving home. As a teenager, he got his girlfriend pregnant, married her, then found out she was straight up crazy. For years, she made his life miserable. When his daughter went off to college, he finally divorced her. Unfortunately, she didn’t accept that, and still tried her best to make his life miserable.
Cora, on the other hand, had a happy childhood, for the most part, even if it was a bit unconventional. Even though she had issues that she had to deal with, she had a very supportive, loving family. Now, even though she has moved away from home, she has her dream job, and a home she loves. She has managed to figure out how to deal with her issues, for the most part, and is happy.
When Cora and Coke meet, there is an immediate attraction. I like the fact that even though things did move pretty quick, they established a friendship first. I love how accepting Coke is of Cora’s differences, and how supportive Cora is of the crazy that is Coke’s life. I love the glimpses we get of characters from previous books, and the hints that we get of things to come. The laughs, the action, adventure, family and love that is so prevalent in previous books is still in this one, and when you add in the crazy that follows Coke around, it makes for a story that sticks with you, even after you are done!
“I made a mental note. When he was aroused, his voice sounded like he’d gargled with gravel.”
I met Coke in the previous book and I’ve been bouncing with excitement ever since. He’s my kinda guy, all broody and bossy and growly, but gentle with his daughter. That gave me a glimpse of how he would be when he finally met the right woman. You know, opposite of his daughter’s mother, his psycho ex. Yeah, I met her too. No wonder he’s so damn grumpy…
I adored Cora from the get-go. She’s very unique and funny, exactly what Coke needs to wake him up after hitting the snooze alarm following his divorce. He’s been burned so bad that a woman is the last thing he’s looking for. But when she finds him, he can’t bring himself to stop wanting her. He knows that she’s too sweet, too young, too innocent. He needs to stay away from her, but how’s he supposed to resist her when she lives next door and shows up at his house wearing her unicorn onsie?
Cora is a loner, she is socially awkward and uncomfortable being around people. In her own words, “I was a social dumbass.” But I love her, and approve of her way of getting her point across when she’s had enough. Especially when it involves her besties, whom I also adore. It’s a good thing they ignore her when she refuses their invitations and barge into her space with good intentions. I also love both her and Coke’s families and hope that they end up in another crossover series, if not in the Simple Man series. They are too delicious to not spend more time with.
Lani Lynn Vale’s gift of writing suspenseful stories involving broken characters is my crack, and she’s my dealer. I can’t get enough, and I’m not seeking intervention, just another fix. The line forms here…