Let’s do a calendar, they said. It’ll be fun, they said.Well, they—I.e. Kilgore Police Department’s public relations specialists—were wrong.Now, every time Dax Tremaine walks around a corner, the women of Kilgore, Texas can’t help calling him Mr. January.Mr. January, can you fix my flat tire? Mr. January, can you cuff me? Mr. January, can you sign my boob?It goes from bad to worse when even on a … goes from bad to worse when even on a SWAT call, the women won’t stay away.
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It was the worst time of her life. Rowen Roberts had finally admitted to herself that the man she loved would never love her back. She was just fired from her job for violating client confidentiality, and to make matters worse, she’s held up at gunpoint in a convenience store where she only wanted some ice cream to help mask the pain.
The moment the gun is pressed to her forehead, she knows she has a decision to make. Follow the rules and maybe possibly live, or go down swinging where at least she can salvage just a little bit of her dignity.
And when Mr. January himself tells her to do what the gunman says, she’s had enough. Rowen has never really been a girl that does what she’s told. Mr. January won’t have to save her. She can dang well save herself.
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My oh my! I loved Rowan in her parents book and was so excited to see her get her HEA. It didn’t start off the best for her but that saying, everything happens for a reason really rang true for her. Dax was the perfect march for her. He was sweet and sexy and all around funny. I couldn’t help but love him, but I mean really, I loved his parents story too so it doesn’t suprise me.
Seeing the parent made my heart sing. Yes they were in here and played their roles but it didn’t take away from the craziness of the story and why Dax and Rowan go through. It was enough to make me love them all, all over again.
I savored this book. I really didn’t want it to end.l so kept stoping and then jumping right back in because I had to keep reading. It was very fast paced, had crazy people, and steamy sex but also was the perfect pace for these characters. We get looks at the up coming Characters and to say I’m excited is an understatement.
I really want to give it 5 stars but there were times I really wanted to see Rowan in her job. I love that she became a lawyer and really wanted to see her in the court room, owning it like I feel that she can do. Now it didn’t make me hate the story less, it’s just something I felt was missing for me as a reader. I love this author and every word she writes and can’t wait for the next book. 4 stars #2OCCJD
This series is amazing already. Can’t wait for more.
Loved this book so much. Everything about it keeps you reading. I even read the end at work as I didn’t want to put it down after my morning tea break. Well done Lani for keeping your books entertaining and for keeping up a high standard of writing.
Lani Lynn Vale starts off her new series SWAT GEneration 2.0 with Dac and Rowan’s story.
Rowan Roberts is headed back to her hometown to make a new start. She’s finally given up on her crush, lost her job, had one heck of a nasty prank pulled on her by a rotten co-worker and was held up at gunpoint when trying to get ice cream. Spending time with Dax Tremaine wasn’t in her plans, but her luck may be looking up.
SWAT Officer Dax Tremaine wasn’t thrilled about being showcased in a calendar, but it was for charity. Now, everywhere he goes he can’t escape being Mr. January. The only bright spot is that Rowan Roberts is back in town. While he knows he should stay away, he doesn’t want too, and even a horrible ex can’t keep him from wanting more time with Rowan.
But, as they get closer, both Dax and Rowan’s pasts come barrelling at them at warp speed to threaten everything they are building together as a couple. Can they escape their exes and move on or will their pasts go too far and destroy their future?
Dax and Rowan are super cute together. I love their banter and that they immediately feel at ease with one another. It’s also a hoot watching them interact with their parents and siblings since readers will recognize those characters from previous books.
While I always enjoy Lani Lynn Vale’s brand of humor, there is a school drop off scene in this book that had me laughing out loud with tears rolling down my face. While the story was great, Just Kidding is worth reading for this scene alone!
Just Kidding was sweet, fun and had a bit of an unexpected twist that I didn’t see coming. I really enjoyed this kick off to the next generation of SWAT characters. 4 stars.
Oh, Mr. January!
Rowen and Dax’s story had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next. Between the suspense of the mean girl and the many laughs with Rowen’s little one-liners. And let’s not forget those SEXY SWAT boys, there wasn’t any way I going to put down this book.
I just found this author in 2019 but I have a feeling I will reading Lani’s backlist in 2020. So many connections from all of her other series that I write down a whos who. HaHa!! So looking forward to the rest of the calendar men!
Review by: Jennifer
(5 stars)
I absolutely love seeing the second gen get their HEAs! If you haven’t read any of the previous stories, then you really should. We get Max and Payton’s son, Dax, and Luke and Reese’s daughter, Rowen. In a story that from the first page grips you and doesn’t let go till the very last page; we get drama, danger, funny bits, and some really steamy naughty moments as well. Rowen and Dax’s story was amazing and I can’t wait to see where the rest of these second gen stories go. I give this 5 stars.
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Review by: Melanie
(5 stars)
Rowen moves home to Kilgore when her internship is up, but unfortunately it’s not quick enough for some people and Rowen ends up the victim of a cruel act. Dax Tremaine (Max and Peyton’s son) is a cop, working under Luke Robert’s (Rowen’s dad) and when he comes across Luke comforting his distraught daughter he can’t help but feel drawn to her. As the pair get to know each other, it’s clear they are attracted to each other, but there are others trying everything to keep them apart.
I say it every time but I really do love Laniland. There is not one thing I don’t like… no wait, there is; the moment it ends, but I thoroughly enjoyed this and can’t wait for more from this new generation of S.W.A.T. team members. I give Just Kidding 5 stars.
I’m addicted to Lani Lynn Vale’s books!!! This is another awesome read!!! I Love the characters and how each read is draws you into the families a little more.
It has been a while since I have read a book from Lani. I couldn’t be happier that I am back reading her books. This is the first one in the new Swat Generation. This series is about the kids. Dex Tremaine and Rowan Roberts. Holy cow hold on because these two have quite the chemistry and quite the story to tell. Rowan is living away from home trying to just live her life. But a co-worker wants to destroy her life instead. One night while out she runs into someone that she has had a thing for but her co-worker is actually dating him. Things go on that night and something happens to Rowan. She decides that enough is enough and heads back home with the new outlook of being a lawyer in her hometown. Once she gets home and tells her story things don’t go so well. Noone is happy about what has happened to her. But she is dealing with it the best that she can. She ends up getting a ride home from Dex and things start to change for her. I absolutely loved this storyline. There were funny moments, moments were I want to climb into the book and punch someone. Lani knows how to write a storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat interested in what is going on with the characters. Rowan and Dex together are perfect. Great chemistry between these two and you can easily see that they belong together. Another great book from Lani cant wait to read the rest in this series.
This was an enjoyable book. Rowan has just passed the Bar and her law internship is ending, so after a horrific incident she moves back home to her small town in Texas. Her father is police chief (or sherriff?) and her brother is a member of the SWAT team. So is Dax, who is tasked with driving her home from her visit to her dad at the police station. Dax and Rowan strike up a friendship, and then more. It seems to happen quickly, but they are still completely believable as a couple and honestly quite adorable.
This is what is bugging me, though. That blurb above. The holdup doesn’t happen in the book. It occurs between chapters one and two, but we only know about it because Rowan only mentions it when she’s telling Dax and her father about all the things that went wrong. Dax isn’t there and doesn’t tell her anything. Basically the last paragraph of the blurb above doesn’t happen at all. Something does happen, but not that. Also I cannot figure out for anything how the title relates to the book.
Otherwise, this is a fun, entertaining read. I am curious to read other books in this series as well, all the characters seem enjoyable.
4.5 Stars
Another winner by Lani Lynn Vale! I gobbled this book right up. I finished it in a day. I just love Vale’s style of writing. I find myself laughing quite often, but it also has it’s serious hot you in the heart moments. I hate bullies and this book has some. I was waiting for karma to be delivered. I so loved Dax and Rowen. They have such great chemistry. They are definitely relationship goals couples would strive for. Once you start reading this book it’s going to be so hard to out down. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
The next generation is going to knock your socks off! With the first book in her new KPD SWAT Generation 2.0 spin-off series, Lani Lynn Vale is sure to delight with JUST KIDDING. The characters are fun, the humor and heart of the story are addictive and the HEA is spot on.
Rowen weaves her way into our heart from the very start because we’ve all been there with a guy that just wasn’t into us … am I right? From the moment we watched her decide to walk away from her mega-crush, we knew she was going to be a stand out.
Dax is a serious guy with a past that left scars, but the second he lays eyes on Rowen, he’s blown away. Watching this mighty guy fall was the ultimate!
I recommend this book to anyone loving a tight group of friends and family who aren’t shy about loving hard. So many familiar faces here if you’ve read LLV before. I’m looking forward to all the goodness to come with this series!
4 Stars!
I’ve been so excited for this series ever since it was announced! I was so happy to get to go back to Kilgore, Texas with these characters! Once I picked it up I had to finish it in one sitting. I really enjoyed Just Kidding!
I absolutely adored Rowen and Dax! I got so into their unique journey and I didn’t want it to end! These two made me feel so much while reading. They kept me grinning and completely stole my heart!
With Just Kidding, Lani Lynn Vale has created a fantastic read! I can always count on her books to brighten my day and that’s exactly what happened with Just Kidding! I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series this year!
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Wildfire Marketing Solutions / the author*
I just love this author’s writing and when she is involving the second generation from the original SWAT series I knew I had to have this book. Rowen is truly the strongest woman I’ve read about in a long time. She just goes with the punches and even when someone tries to sabotage her she doesn’t let it get her down. Dax is a member of the SWAT team and from the first moment he saw Rowen again he is captivated by her and just wants to protect her. Can he stand up for her and beside her when her nemesis from her past makes an appearance? I can’t wait for the next installment of this fabulous series!!
Rowen and Dax are kids of two of my favorite characters in all of LLV’s books and I was so happy to start reading this book. And I can definitely say … freaking awesome! The book starts out LLV going ALL OUT in a WTF moment that had me cringing and swearing bloody vengeance (seriously any woman would understand this comment!). And she continued with a story that had me laughing, tearing up, and cheering for the characters and all that they went through.
Rowen is the freaking bomb! Her character was so sweet, but fierce in her own way. She really was able to take what happened to her in stride. But her humor was awesome. And the way that she was with Dax was so sweet and caring that I couldn’t help but love her more. And Dax … so much like his dad!! He is fiercely protective of those he cares for and his character’s feelings for Rowen were beautiful.
What I really loved about the story, other than the characters of course, was the way everything played out. In typical LLV fashion, the author was able to mesh together humor, suspense, and passion in a tale that kept me utterly enthralled and entertained from beginning to end. As the first book in a series, it really sets a precedence for how the remaining books will play out, but I totally believe that LLV is definitely up for the task. So, two thumbs up and happy reading!
I was so afraid that the new Swat guys were not going to be able to compete with the hotness that was the OG KPD Swat. I was so afraid, that my very favorite author wasn’t going to be able to maintain the level of perfectness that was deserved by the ones to inherit the mantle of Luke Roberts, and his guys. I mean, that is a really high level of amazingness that she is trying to follow up on. Is it possible? I’m happy to report that she did it! The first book of the SWAT Generation 2.0 series is just as amazing as the Originals!
Rowen has had a lot of happiness, as well as a lot of not so happy, in her life. Her birth father was no prize, and caused a lot of heartache (as we learned in Center Mass, Reese and Luke’s book) But afterward, she had the perfect example of everything she should expect from a man, and how she should expect to be treated by that man. But that still doesn’t keep away the crazies!
Dax takes one look at Rowen, even at her worst, and knows that she is worth everything. She is what he needs in life, what he wants, he just has to convince her of that. And then he has to convince everyone else of that. including the crazies!
Dax and Rowen together are a hoot! I couldn’t help but laugh at their interactions. The were everything I could have wanted for the beginning of this series, and so much more! I’m so excited about this series, and I’ve enjoyed the other “kids” books that have come before it. And I just know that there are some really amazing books that are going to come from these new swat guys! This series promises to be explosive, and Just Kidding is a fantastic introduction to a whole new generation of Hot, Loving Swat guys!
5 Stars
Lani Lynn Vale has done it again. I can always count on her for a great story with a sexy Alpha and a feisty heroine to bring them to their knees. Dax Tremaine is the latest hottie and Rowen Roberts is the woman he can’t get enough of. Their story is sweet and heartfelt and full of amazing moments. This new series is off to a great start!
Angela – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
So excited for the next generation of SWAT! This author definitely started this series off with a bang with Rowen and her work nemesis turned all-around nemesis and bully! Finally done with school and looking to move home, her decision is made for her when her work bully does the unforgivable that totally shocked me as a reader! What was even crazier is how this person continues to pop up into her life and provide havoc. Dax shows up in Rowen’s life at the perfect time when she returns home and is trying to start her professional life. He’s not afraid that she’s his boss’s daughter, and he sticks up for her and supports her in everything she does. The chemistry between these two, especially after Rowen’s mishaps makes this story even better, and per usual we get the suspense and anticipation from the rest of this author’s stories but even better having read the first generations’ stories. Readers are definitely more invested in the second generation after having read the first, and I can’t wait for the next one!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I don’t think that Lani Lynn Vale can write a book that doesn’t leave me smiling and happy that I’ve spent time in Kilgore, TX. JUST KIDDING, the first book in her SWAT Generation 2.0 series, is a zany, sexy, feel-good time, and just what I needed to kick off my year in reading.
The thing that I love most about Lani’s books is her characters. They are just so unique, so irreverent, so take-no-prisoners that I can’t not adore them. Rowen Roberts may seem like she’s getting the short end of the deal here, but she’s a canny little thing, and more than able to hold her own with everyone from her nemesis Shondra to the fine folk of Kilgore to Mr. January himself, Mr. Dax Tremaine.
There are some moments of intrigue, good cross-over from previous LLV books, and, most importantly, a story that won my heart so completely that I can’t wait for the next book. All of Lani’s many fans know this already, but if you like your romance with plenty of sass, some laugh-out-loud moments, and just overall good times, this book is for you. Go on, grab it now, and thank me later.
With each successive book released I’ve become an even bigger fan of Ms. Vale and her delightful storytelling that’s the perfect balance of romance with a bit of suspense. This series starter has all the usual witty banter I’ve come to count on from Ms. Vale along with a delicious hero and sassy heroine whose interactions are teeming with sexual tension. Seeing these characters grow up from their younger years (seen in a previous book) pulled me into this story from the very first page and had me rooting for these two every step of the way.
Rowen’s a strong-willed heroine whose life hasn’t gone exactly as she planned. For years she was focused on becoming a lawyer, doing everything expected of her, but it’s now clear that her plans have gone awry which leaves her feeling lost and starting over. She’s also feeling lost when it comes to her heart and her attraction to her sister’s ex, a years-long attraction that’s frustrating as they’ve danced around each other for years. His choice of new dating material will frustrate readers even more as Shondra’s a truly unlikable woman who continually sabotages Rowen’s plans….sometimes in very hurtful ways. With every move Shondra makes though Rowen stays strong which made me like her all the more. When new SWAT member Dax comes on the scene though things turn combustible and he gives her a reason to start fighting harder for what she wants…and what she realizes she wants is Dax…in a romance full of charm and heartwarming exchanges. Rowen starts off with bouts of low self-esteem but with each turn of the page she got stronger and quit taking everything so lackadaisically…she took on more of a badass vibe and it had me cheering her on wholeheartedly.
Dax is new to the SWAT team but left an indelible mark immediately as the first sexy photo on a fundraising calendar. It’s a steamy picture that has every women in town drooling, but there’s only one woman he’s interested in and together they’re a compelling couple. Dax is a tough guy with a heart of gold, more than ready to stand beside Rowen as she handles every punch thrown her way by Shondra. He’s sexy and supportive and his scenes with Rowen crackled and put a smile on my face courtesy of their witty banter that drew me in from the start.
This is an entertaining series starter with an unforgettable main couple whose interactions in and out of the bedroom sizzled. Their romance built at a believable pace that kept me glued to the pages and their connection was formidable in their later dealings with Shondra. Their banter was witty and fast-paced, hallmarks of every one of Ms. Vale’s books, and this familiarity added to the sense of family this series touches on but which I wanted a bit more from. Overall I enjoyed seeing past couples and look forward to what’s planned next.
Gotta love a Lani Lynn Vale book and love this book I did.
Dax and Rowen fit so perfectly that I smiled through most of the book. It was also great seeing some of my favorite characters from previous books and the calendar idea was great. We get two mean girls in this one and boy do they do crazy well.