“You will never mention me or my favors, nor will you disclose what favors we trade. I am a ghost to you.”
Or a genie. I think a genie is way less scary, don’t you?
Kristy Marie brings you a laugh out loud comedy about what happens when a hot mess of a girl takes down the resident bad boy.
It’s official.
I, Ainsley James, am crazy.
Desperate and crazy.
It’s the only explanation as to why … crazy.
Desperate and crazy.
It’s the only explanation as to why I’m nauseous, standing outside Maverick Lexington’s door.
I mean, it’s possible the stories about his deck of playing cards—with the words IOU scrawled across the back—are just rumors of the ruthless quid pro quo deals he barters.
But the flutters in my stomach know better.
Maverick is as cold as they come.
But, I need one of those cards.
I NEED to owe Maverick Lexington a favor…
more
IOU is the first romantic comedy that I have truly enjoyed reading. I’m very familiar with Kristy Marie’s Commander series and I was excited for something new. Ainsley and Maverick are complete polar opposites and Ainsley knows gets past all his defenses. I can’t wait to see what’s next from her.
ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS! SO MUCH!!!
IOU has snagged a spot on my top reads for 2020 AND a place on my REAL LIFE BOOKSHELF!
I think I smiled pretty much this entire book! Well…except the very beginning where I might have yelled “THROW ANOTHER ONE!! GET HIM!!” You’ll understand why when you read it and you’ll most likely be saying the exact same thing!! Ainsley and Maverick both sucked me in faster than I ever expected. I honestly didn’t know what to expect with this book but I love Kristy’s writing so much so I figured I’d love it. Other than reading the blurb and maybe one teaser scene I pretty much went in blind and I was definitely rewarded with an amazing book!
I absolutely adore Ainsley’s character! For the first time in a long time I was probably more loyal to the heroine in a book than the hero. Don’t get me wrong…Maverick is totally swoon-worthy but Ainsley is kind, fiercely strong and absolutely adorable in that quirky humorous way. She’s the perfect examply of what I look for in a heroine! OH MAN…but Maverick.. The moment I met Maverick, not only did I need his secrets but I couldn’t wait for these two characters to meet. He has his walls up so high, not letting anyone in or close enough to find out who he really is! That is until a feisty heartbroken girl shows up asking for a favor. I loved their back and forth, the effortless banter between these two will leave you in giggle fits.
I didn’t even try to resist falling head over boots for this book or the characters inside that world! I knew I was a goner after the first couple paragraphs. There’s just so many things to love about it! One thing for sure, I can always trust Kristy to throw some baseball in there somewhere and I love her for that!! This book was filled with all kinds of goodies! I laughed, I teared up, then I laughed again…pretty much the entire book. I squealed when I read certain little parts. There’s just so many gems in IOU!
Kristy is one of my 1-click authors, so it didn’t surprise me that I loved it! I love every book of hers that I’ve read and they always leave me dying for more and not just more from the world. Speaking of…I can’t wait for more of this one!
An amazing, fresh, slow-burn story with beautiful and genuine characters, special in a way only Kristy could’ve come up with
“You don’t want to be my friend, Ainsley James.” I catch her lips tip up in an almost smile. “You’re right. I don’t want to be your friend. I want to be your roomie.”
This book, OMG. Hilarious and funny and true to her style, I think Kristy couldn’t have written a better book (her first standalone btw).
Let’s start with Ainsley, lord, this girl I love her since the first chapter, I mean is there anyone who could’ve any less luck than her? a lot of bad things happen one after the other, but ya know this fierce woman not even flinches at all the obstacles life throws her way. She’s wild, talks A LOT and she’s true to herself, nothing of pretending, that’s not her style and that’s what I love the most of her, she’s so GENUINE! and a character I can easily relate to, cause that’s what she is or at least what the author wants to show us, what is real, and what we have to struggle on a daily basis.
As for Maverick, well, what can I say about this sexy AF guy who keeps hiding under rumors and a facade that’s convenient for his business? He’s not weak like he thinks but has its flaws, just like anyone else, he’s built this barrier around him not allowing anyone to get to him..until..yes..her..Aisley, this fresh, funny, crazy, and bubbling personality with this rambling that suits her lol. You guess it, they don’t get along like at all, she needs a favor and he delivers, but just that or that’s what he thought at first. How help her and not falling for her at the same time?
I love these two, the fight, the friendship and the understanding that they manage to developed got me swooning over the whole story, an amazing story with just the type of HEA that I love and even though is standalone, it leaves wanting for more (*hints to the author* an extended epilogue..maybe?)
lol do yourself a favor, READ THIS BOOK!
Maverick and Ainsley were a dynamic couple. I enjoyed the tension between them and their banter. A steamy, sexy read that I recommend.
Rumor has it this book brings the steam and will have you laughing your a** off.
This book was exactly what I needed right now. From the very first page I was hooked. Full of banter, laughter, sweetness and sexiness. I. Loved. This. Book.
Ainsley James cracked me up. I adored her. She’s quirky and a little crazy, the good kind of crazy though, and a whole lotta fun. She’s just been screwed over by her scumbag of a cheating boyfriend and her roommate. Now with no place to live, her last hope is getting help from the guy that makes things happen.
Maverick Lexington is a guy with many layers. He doesn’t show people the real him and prefers to stay a mystery. He’s the one you seek out on campus when you need something. He’ll make it happen, but there’s always a price to be paid. And when the favor is owed, he’ll call it in. He knows exactly how to get what he wants, and he’s very clever how he goes about it. I couldn’t help but be hypnotized by Maverick Lexington.
Ainsley and Maverick are such amazing characters. They’re full of so much personality and depth. Their chemistry was off the charts and sizzling. Their banter had me so entertained and their sexual tension had me on the edge of my seat anticipating when they’d finally give in. The intensity in the slow burn was exquisite. I just love Ainsley and Maverick.
IOU was a breath of fresh air. It’s a fun, sexy, flirty slow burn romance. I loved this book and this story. I loved and adored Ainsley and Maverick to pieces. And the secondary characters were just as amazing. I couldn’t get enough and just need more more more.
As always another exceptional read! No army vets this time, but still so good.
Kristy Marie knows how to turn these super intense, serious men into intense lovers.
Ainsley has been through quite an eye-opening breakup, with no real friends to turn to she has to get help from strangers. Maverick, is a real maverick of a person. .
Is it possible for these two to get along with each other and maybe just maybe fall in love? IOU is a page-turner, that will have you reading through the night.
“Some people are meant to burn, and others are meant to rise from their ashes.”
To say that I was a little apprehensive when Kristy Marie announced a new book that wasn’t a part of her Commander in Briefs series that I adore so much would be a lie because I didn’t know what to expect. Kristy writes angst that bleeds off the pages and takes you into that world so that you are living and breathing it.
BUT
IOU was EVERYTHING that I never knew that I needed.
It was so damn funny, parts had me choking on my drink and absolutely dying at some hilarious one liners.
“Everything is a deal in my life.”
Maverick is a complicated guy, he’s mysterious and alpha and I love him with my whole heart. But when he meets Ainsley, boy oh boy it’s like two stars colliding and neither of them want to back down so there is a spectacular explosion! Ainsley is my girl. My spirit animal. She’s a hot mess and gives precisely zero fucks and I was here for it. I want her to be my new best friend.
“He said to get whatever I wanted at the store. What I
wanted was ice cream and dick with a side of mac and cheese.”
Kristy Marie slayed with IOU and proved to everyone that she can step out of her comfort zone and deliver a spectacularly funny book. She is definitely an author to look out for!
Ainsley is my spirit human. She is an absolute riot! She has stuffed animals and is a passionate and kind soul. I don’t share her pyrotechnic tendencies but I think that was just bad luck on her part. But that luck does lead her to meeting some interesting people. Maverick is a Scrooge McDuck kind of guy but it’s just a facade he shows the world. His poker face as it were. His broody and bossy ways just make him all the more kissable. He plays his cards close to his chest and doesn’t like that Ainsley can call his bluff. The two of them are a little bit like chalk and cheese. Maverick is bending his rules for Ainsley and hates that he begins to feel things for her. I do love that Ainsley has made it her mission to find herself. The Ainsley she lost. Of course as the story progresses, there had to be something that caused conflict and it took a little bit of time for me to work out. But once it was revealed, I should have known!
I loved this story. The banter and conversations between Ainsley and Maverick were brilliant. I had a smile on my face the whole time. There are some really likeable and fun characters throughout this story. It was a fun filled, giggle inducing tale of an unlikely friendship blossoming into something more and it all started with an IOU.
I loved the uniqueness of this story. The reason for the IOU’s really stuck with me. The story line was unique and fun and I loved peeling back the layers to get to the root of Maverick’s story. He is a one-of-a kind type of guy. Hard on the outside, softy on the inside. It’s a fun quick read that I highly enjoyed!
This is my first reading anything from this author, and I truly loved this book. I was beautifully written, the characters have electric chemistry, and their story kept me captivated the whole time. This is the story of Maverick, and Ainsley, they are a barrel of laughs, when Ainsley comes to Maverick in need of a favor, he end up falling for the awkwardly, funny girl. This was fun, witty, emotional, steamy, dramatic, and a must read!
IOU is exactly what I needed right now. It reminded me why I love reading so much and why I absolutely adore Kristy Marie’s writing. It’s fun, playful, sexy, hilarious, unique – it has all the elements of a true masterpiece. Maverick and Ainsley will steal your heart instantly, but they are not the only ones since the secondary characters are just as craftily written in true Kristy Marie style. Stepping out of the Commander in Briefs series felt a bit intimidating at first, but I soon learned that no matter which book world I jump into, I’ll thoroughly enjoy the free fall.
5 stars and a standing ovation!
Honestly? I can’t say enough about how great this book was! I have been in a serious book funk with this whole quarantine thing, and IOU was the perfect cure! Ainsley was awesomely awkward and I just loved her! Hands down my favorite heroine from Kristy Marie! Maverick was the perfect balance to Ainsely’s awkward, he was all bite and no bark. I love it when an alpha male gets taken down by a girl he swears he won’t fall for! Swoon! Maverick only gets better with each page! Boss was another favorite, so thankful for his scenes and the way he took an immediate liking to Ainsley! He was a gent! Can I just say hated Tucker and Taylor with an absolute passion?!? Ugh they were the worst!!! You’ll find out why when you read!
Kristy Marie is a pro at creating characters that are interesting, relatable, and fun. Her heroines are girls I’d love to be friends with and her heroes are all prime book boyfriend material. I was a little sad this wasn’t another book in the Commander in Briefs series, but this story is set in the same book world.
Ainsley was equal parts sweet, sassy, and hilarious. She had me laughing from the very beginning and I loved her perspective/narration. Even when she needs Maverick’s help, I liked that she would still stand up to him. Their banter was entertaining as Ainsley worked her way past all of Maverick’s walls.
The story moves at a fast pace, but is not rushed at all. I really like Kristy’s writing style and can’t wait to see who the next book is about.
If you have read any of Kristy’s other books there are a few fun character appearances. However, you do not need to read anything else before this book.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
l just adore Kristy’s stories, you know you will get something great when you pick up her book! IOU was full of banter, funny laugh out load moments with some serious moments, that will have you hooked till the end! l absolutely love Maverick & Ainsley! Maverick was so broody, mysterious and alpha with side of sexy! Ainsley was sassy, funny at times she also had the sexy going on! Also loved the other characters! Can’t wait to read more by Kristy!
I own you one Kristy Marie!
I thought my favourite couple was Cade and Beck but I’m also a very moody person and every time the author writes something new,I’m falling in love again with the new couple.
What I loved most in this story is the real-life health issues and raw feelings that many times we take for granted day by day and also the indifference to what’s happening around us has reached a high limit but somehow, when someone you least expect, gets in your life at the right time and moment, everything can change.
Maverick and Ainsley love story is not what you expect but it’s a love that I’ll definitely remember.
Can I give more than 5 stars? IOU is phenomenal. I couldn’t get enough, and never wanted it to end. This is definitely my new favorite Kristy Marie book, and I’m not even sorry Maverick beat out everyone else.
Maverick Lexington is the guy everyone goes to when they need help. But his help comes with a price, a favor he can call in at anytime. He knows exactly how to get what he wants. Ainsley, I can’t say how much I loved her. She was sassy, feisty, quirky, and didn’t have a filter. I laughed so hard at her. When she set the curtains on fire with the candle I knew she was my kind of person.
When the favor Maverick owes is called upon he finds himself face to face with Ainsley in a situation he never saw coming.
I cannot say how much I loved this book. I’m terrified I’m going to give something away. All I can say is you need to read this and you’re welcome! These two were amazing and perfect. I need more of them. Kristy Marie had be hooked from the very first line until the last. Everything about IOU was perfect. The plot, unlike anything I’ve read before, and was just written flawlessly. The characters, loved every last one of them. IOU is addicting and fun! 5 royal flush stars for Kristy Marie and IOU!
Gah! I’m a s*cker for this woman and everything she writes.
IOU was like having a wonderful trip to your favorite place in the world.
It had everything you never known you wanted and needed.
The crazy chemistry between the main characters with a spice side of laugh and mystery.
And that cameo of one of Commander’s? Pfft, please give me more. Like yesterday!
Not that I need to say this but those sparkling bubbles in the belly? Every time something good was coming? Like when you need to sit at the edge of your chair because you’re waiting for something? Or like when can’t take anymore but still want all of it?
Yes, you have all of those intoxicating feelings.
This is a masterpiece. Mark my words.
You probably know by now that I’m a huge Kristy Marie fan and that I love absolutely everything about her work, from her stories and her characters, down to her writing style, but still it’s a suprise to even myself, when I pick up a new book and realize how freaking much I missed her tone and the worlds she creates.
Jumping with her into the new adventure and different environment that is “IOU”, has been incredibly exhilarating and refreshing, while at the same time, maintaining that same warm and cozy undertone and sense of comfort: it doesn’t matter what she writes, to me it always feels like coming home.
Also, I’d say that the fact that I stood at a metaphorical crossroads and was able to get a tiny glimpse of a special someone we probably all know and love so dearly already make a teasing appearance, was more than enough to have my heart in shambles in mere seconds.
I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Ainsley and Maverick.
Oh Maverick! Why must all Kristy’s men enter my heart this way and never leave?
It’s not a complaint, mind you. It’s a simple contemplation. Although I fear one day said poor heart will burst at the seems with all the big, swoony male specimen living in it.
I never said it would be a bad thing: happy life, happy death I guess.
We love the bad boys, now don’t we? Even when they aren’t even that bad *wink*wink.
Don’t worry, no spoilers.
He’s this hot, growly, big bad wolf everyone fears, right?! Sureeee….
He broke my heart, that he did, damn him.
Reading his story, I mean. Oh man, that hurt.
He’s forgiven now. I freaking love him.
And Ainsley?
Oh my god, that about spirit animal. Wait no…, spirit sister.
Kristy keeps writing men I want in my life – as friends, eye-candy or more – and women I definitely want to be besties with or be like, when I grow up.
Ainsley James is no exception: we see her have her ups and downs, go through some fire-fueled soul-searching moments and come out on the other side, strengthened by the whole ordeal.
Yup, I cried my eyes out for the last 3 hours, but who’s counting?
That’s Kristy Marie for you, ladies and gentlemen.
Yes, these two can be the swooniest, sexiest, sweetest, most heartwarming, banter-filled duo, yet the gut-wrenchingness is real. (I make up words, what’s up?)
I loved all the characters introduced and I can’t wait to read and know more read about them and this new world.
Oh, and Kristy? I need more info on Boss.
Just you know, because reasons.
And Sebastian. And Rowan. And… you know where I’m going with this.
Don’t worry, take your time.
I’ll be here, once again not so patiently waiting.
Ahhhhh what a ride Boys and Girls!!!!! IOU is truly amazing ! Kristy Marie created here wonderful story, that can suck You up into Maveric and Ainsley’s world IMMEDIATELY!!!!
IOU is this kind od book that You can’t put it down. From one paige to another author is taking You on amazing journey – I CAN ASSURE YOU – once You’ll start reading, You can’t stop ! It was adventure with lots of laugh, and the right dose of drama in the background ! Bravo Kristy Marie – You’ve done amazing job with this book!
Maverik and Ainsley are amazing together… and I can’t decide right now which one of them more or maybe I love them the same ? Ok… I lied – I fall HARD in love Ainsley and Her crazy style. Let’s be honset, she literally made my head spinning … – but I got VERY-BIG- soft spot for Her since the begining. I love that she is like She because behind all this poses there is someting more… and I want to find out about EVERYTHING. Sexy Maveric and the real Alpha is a pretty good rival for Ainsley. Watching how their relationship grown into something more made my heart grow.
Must Read title !
I absolutely loved this book. This was my first books by Kristy Marie, and I can now say I’m hooked.
Ainsley was not having the best of luck. She was homeless, backstabbed, and going through the motions of life. She was quick to defend herself, and I loved how she didn’t back down when people were trying to walk all over her.
Maverick was living a secret life. He had this mystery surrounding him, and no one knew the real him. He used IOUs to his advantage and always got what he wanted.
Watching these two come together gradually was such a fun and different story. I love the uniqueness of the plot and how Maverick turned the IOUs into flirting.
I kinda figured out how the whole story was going to play out, but that didn’t make me love it any less. The characters had to endure those things to make their relationship work. I also loved getting to know the secondary characters, and I can’t wait to read their books.
– An Arc was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.-