Riordan Darcy has spent the last fourteen years building a name for himself as a notorious assassin. He travels the world taking the lives of some of the worst humanity has to offer, leaving his signature on every victim.Riordan becomes unhappy and withdrawn from the world after a job goes horribly wrong and he makes the decision to get out of the life he was forced into, so long ago. When his … When his meddling, older sister gives him a birthday gift that’s impossible to refuse, his plans to leave his life of crime take a backseat when he’s forced to protect the life of a veritable stranger.
When professional hugger and TLC provider, Teddy Harris, is offered a month-long companionship contract, he’s hard pressed to turn it down. Cuddler by day and a video game reviewer by night, Teddy’s need to make people feel loved and cared for is what drives him. When he meets Riordan Darcy, professional challenge and personal temptation collide, making it nearly impossible for him to endure a whole month with the gorgeous, enigmatic man without falling head over heels in love.
When a mole is discovered within Riordan’s organization, relationships are compromised, and people’s lives are in danger. Time isn’t on their side, and they discover answers can’t always be found by hugging it out when someone is hell-bent on eliminating each and every one of them. Can Riordan and Teddy survive long enough to fall in love, or will they die trying?
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5 stars Narrated by Phillip Alces and Joel Leslie.
Brilliantly voiced by the narrators. I loved their character voices for Teddy and Riordan.
5 stars A great start as Teddy gets a phone call from a sister who’d needed help for her brother, hmm although the brother didn’t know it yet what or who was coming his way soon. I loved the humor of both these guys and the chemistry between them was hot. Teddy was determined to do his job despite Riordan totally against cuddles. I loved Riordan he’s quite the prankster when he lets his hair down so to speak and the sloth antics was hilariously funny. The book continues and I couldn’t help get drawn into the story. There’s more to what’s happening and its a case of who to trust. I wasn’t too keen on Black at the beginning but he kinda redeems himself a little to help Riordan towards the ending. Oh god the ending.. is a total mix of emotions for the story for both characters. There is so much I can say about this book but its fantastic from start to ending and I strongly recommend reading the first book featuring Snow’s story to get sort of what’s happening in this book. Danger is not far but love is there as well for these guys.
Teddy 26yrs had a business called Hug It Out where they’d assisted people who need a companion and comfort for hugs.
Riordan 34? was a trained killer with a his sister setting him up for his birthday. Riordan’s last job from Black was a mess and thing where about to get dangerous in Black’s organization.
I didn’t know that it was the second book in the series. So I was pleasantly surprised to see Snow and Chris there too. The plot was good, the relationship between the friends assassins was funny and endearing sometimes. I liked the mole situation and that it was not known almost to the end who it was.
Some minor moment made me roll my eyes a little (how easily Black released him from service for example). But the ending was charming and great fun. I love the world the author is building. I hope there will be books featuring Mace and Black and their HEAs.
I loved this book. I think my only complaint – if it can be called a complaint – is the idea of a professional hugger. I’m sure it must exist, and King DEFINITELY made it work in the story. I read this a while ago, and every once in a while I’ll be going along, doing my thing, and say, “Professional hugger? Seriously?”
In all honesty, it’s a fun readl.
This book was so truly special and a heartwarming journey that I loved so much. This book will definitely be added to my list of favorites. The author has such a unique way of wording a story that is a breath of fresh air. Teddy’s job was so uniquely special. He used his heart of gold in the absolute best ways. This needs to be a profession that can become main stream. I know there have been many times where I could have used someone just like Teddy. Not to leave Riordan’s part out. He was an assassin who was extremely good at his job. Darkness was where he was most comfortable until Teddy and all his light show up. I loved how their love story unfolded with the perfect dose of heat, laughter and angst to keep me reading without a break and in one sitting. I loved seeing Snow again along with the other characters in the Manos household. The world of Haven Hart that is being carved out by the author is certainly a place I wouldn’t mind visiting. I can’t wait to jump in to the last two books so far, in this series.
This is one of the most unique books I have read. The author stretched a little darker than the first of the series but still needed more to really satisfy me for this genre. Yet, the originality of it outweighs that so heavily this is a 5 star book.
The character development is on point. I actually appreciate that Davidson King really focuses on the characters and the relationships. That’s another reason the lack of true darkness didn’t bother me as much. I loved seeing the chemistry and the connection. I love how the author was able to really develop secondary characters as well. Nothing felt one-dimensional to me. The world building was stronger in this book. It was satisfying enough that I felt I could walk right into the novel and interact.
The storyline was flawless with ingenuity. It had good pacing throughout and kept me interested. I devoured it in one sitting. The author was able to get me to laugh, to cry and to cringe. That sign of emotional connectivity is what really sold me on the book. After finishing I immediately grabbed the next book in the series.
5 stars for uniqueness and emotional connectivity! Highly recommend.
I loved the first book in this series, Snow Falling, and this was just as great as that one! It was the perfect mix of sweet, suspense and sexy. It had some funny parts courtesy of Teddy. He is so quirky in a way, but genuine and a very refreshing character. He means well in all aspects of his life and is one of the most likable characters I have ever read.
When we first meet Riordan, he is serious and grumpy, but before long, Teddy is warming his heart. Their dynamic throughout the book was entertaining and I wanted to keep reading this story. There was a bit of a mystery that kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. The whole plot was actually pretty awesome and entertaining, an assassin and a professional hugger/companion, that alone made for a great story. Then when we get into all of the things that come with that, it just completed the whole package.
All of the side characters were great and good additions to the story. I loved seeing Snow and Christopher again and I cannot wait to read Bill and Mace’s story next. Also, I NEED a Jones and Lee story! And a Poe story!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. ***
Hug It Out
THE CHARACTERS
Riordan Darcy:
My father and I were almost identical with our black hair and green eyes. The only thing we Darcys all had in common was our fair skin…
Riordan Darcy was a sexy man and when I laid eyes on him for the first time, my body tingled. He was gorgeous. There was a mysteriousness that intrigued me. I was grateful for summer in that moment simply because it meant less clothes. His tank top and navy shorts clung to every muscle on his tall body. It was easy to see he took pride in his appearance, and while I would have loved to have seen long hair flowing in the breeze, I recognized the buzz cut suited him. But it was his eyes that drew me closer. Green emeralds that twinkled with mischief and danger. He was on full display. Big, strong, and everything I craved in a man.
Teddy Harris:
The first thing about him that caught my attention was his mop of brown curls. They bounced when he walked, radiating happiness. The white polo shirt he wore rested over narrow shoulders. His physique became even more noticeable when a breeze pressed the cotton against his frame, accentuating his lankiness. His legs went on for miles, proving he was almost as tall as me, and there was something about his khaki shorts that made my cock twitch. He may be nerdy with those black-rimmed glasses, but he was a looker. As he got closer, I chuckled when the freckles on his nose came into view. This guy was just as adorable as he was sexy.
THE STORY
What a great, fun, funny, intense and action packed story. This is a fitting second book in the Haven Heart universe and a great second book for this new author.
Even though this is the second book in the Haven Hart universe don’t worry, it is a fully stand alone novel and you will not miss anything if you don’t read the first book, Snow Falling. You will see some characters from the first book, however they work perfectly in Hugging It Out.
Riordan is a wonderful character. Totally alpha-type male; big and strong and built like a rock, he still craves a life beyond his career as a killer and dangerous hit-man. A killer with scruples who will only take on a hit he feels brings justice, his life is thrown off kilter when a hit goes horribly wrong, throwing him off completely. Enter his sister, a power house like him in her own right, she arranges for Teddy to help his brother come back to his normal self, even though she doesn’t know exactly what it is he does. No one knows what he does.
Enter Teddy. The handsome, geeky gamer. A beta tester for new games he also has his own company of emotional support workers. Teddy’s passion for life is to bring love and well being to those in need and when Riordan and Teddy meet, the sparks fly.
As Riordan learns that there is a mole inside the organization he works for that is trying to bring them down Teddy comes into the cross hairs of the mole and Riordan must fight to keep Teddy safe, even to the extent of hurting Teddy and putting Teddy’s feelings for Riordan into serious jeopardy.
A great story with wonderfully strong characters which, if I must say so seem as even stronger characters than those in the first book.
THE WRITING
This author’s writing has continued improving in her second book. What a wonderfully told story.
The creation of these two very strong characters and a very well developed cast of secondary characters makes for riveting reading. These secondary characters come alive in a vibrant way that I couldn’t help but love them and they deserve follow up books on their own. Black, and Lee and Jones, are richly written characters that are knocking at the door wanting to tell their tale.
Regardless, I am thinking that Davidson King is becoming one of my go to authors. So far this author is on a winning streak.