Living on Violet Circle, a place that’s less of a neighborhood and more of an insane asylum poured into the street, I thought I was prepared for anything. After you’ve seen a woman strip down at the laundry room to wash the clothes she’s wearing, then saunter across the street naked, you’ve seen it all, right?How naïve I was. After the factory closed, leaving me and a good portion of the … portion of the town unemployed, I took a job managing Scarlet Toys. I knew it wouldn’t be a typical work environment, selling adult toys in a town more uptight than a constipated nun, but some things you just never see coming.
Like the protesters covered in poison ivy, screaming about smut peddlers.
Or a dancing dinosaur named Fappy.
Or the allure of the man standing in the center of all the chaos.
Wyatt Lawson, a six foot, four inch heap of muscle with a quick smile, ignited my interest in more than the available manager position. Like the missionary one. Or the rodeo. Maybe the side rider. What can I say? I’m an overachiever.
Let’s just hope he doesn’t scare easily.
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This book is very different from my normal reads. I wasn’t really sure what to expect going in but figured I’d give it a shot anyway. This book will have you cracking up out loud so you’ll probably get those strange looks from your family. The characters are well developed and hard not to like. Cassidy and Wyatt were definitely my favorites but the author developed them in a way it’s impossible not to love them. They were just so cute and perfect for each other. This story does take a little bit before it feels like it’s even going anywhere. However, once you get half through it really picks up that you don’t want to put this down. I really enjoyed this story and can’t wait to start the next one
Scarlet Toys ..this is a fabulously funny, laugh out loud crazy ride. Cassidy our lead heroine has been living in what they call violet circle . This is one of the craziest neighborhoods that I have seen. Cassidy has been living day to day trudging along at a dead end job that is not utilizing her talents. Then that all changes the day a new business moves into town and begins making waves in her little town.
Wyatt is the man blazing his way with his business venture in this sleep little town. He is hoping to prove that he has chosen wisely and this new location will thrive! Cassidy applies for an entry level position and he soon realizes that she is more valuable than he could have ever anticipated . They are quite an interesting couple working together and they soon realize that it may be more!
I loved their witty banter and crazy antics . The crazy world swirling around Cassidy constantly surprises Wyatt but he takes it all in stride and learns that it takes all kinds to make the world go round!
Great Story!
~~Michele McMullen ~~
This was my first book by SM Shade, I went in knowing a little about what to expect from the book, what I didn’t expect was such a fabulous RomCom, brilliantly written with fantastic characters that left my sides hurting from laughing and giggling and wanting more from this author!
Cassidy has just lost her job in her hometown, along with hundreds more as the big factory shuts down. She answers an ad for a new shop opening in town, not expecting to have an instant attraction to the new owner – the gorgeously handsome and impeccably suited Wyatt Lawson.
Wyatt is opening an adult shop in this small town, determined to make a success of it. He is attracted to the beautiful, sassy, feisty Cassidy and hires her as his manager. He’s unable to stay away from Cass and makes a play for her, but she’s not after a serious relationship, especially with her boss – does this relationship have any chance of succeeding?
Like I said, it was a brilliant read that had me giggling and laughing out loud lots of times. I loved this authors style and take on things and the lines she comes up with in this book just cracked me up!! Great characters from different walks of life, mostly set in a poor-ish community that made up for their lack of money with their community spirit and friendships.
Funny, dirty, sexy and sweet, with one liners that will make you pee your pants – this was such a delightful and unexpected treasure of a read, I can’t wait to read more from this author. 5 well deserved RomCom stars.
I don’t even know where to start with this one! This book had me literally laughing out loud! This was so much fun to read! I want to change my job now. The quirky neighborhood, the protesters and the signs, I loved everything about this book! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!!
A laugh out loud, pee your pants kinda Book!
First off, I am in absolute love with Cassidy. The girl has such a sense of humor that is 9 out of 10 times in the gutter (my kinda girl). I was laughing at her craziness more times than not and just totally fell in love with her. I could see her being my crazy best friend.
Secondly, Wyatt is just so damn hot and I need him in my life too! A man from money who doesn’t let the money dictate his life and actually uses it to benefit others. Just totally swoon worthy.
Wyatt and Cassidy meet when she is applying for a job at the new store in town. Little to Cassidy’s surprise she is offered a position to be the Manager of Wyatt’s newest Sex Toy store. What ensues from her acceptance of the job to the end is lots of funny @ss moments and drama between themselves and the small town.
At the end of the day this story was one of the top funniest books I’ve read in a long time. Not only was Scarlet Toys funny but it also carried a message that at the end of the day it isn’t t necessarily about the money but those who get you for you and will stick by you and do just about anything to help. S.M. Shade said it perfectly “Money, education, and high-class upbringing doesn’t instill the most important things a person needs in life; compassion, love, and a sense of community.”
S.M. Shade definitely does not disappoint with this book and it is a definite must read in my opinion. Not for vanilla folks though…lots of boobie and d!ck talk in the book. And OMG…the bounce house scene – S.M. Shade I almost fell off the couch while reading that part – absolute #pricelessness!!!!!
P.S. I kinda want to move to Violent Circle now!
• Review By Chasing The Words Book Blog
Despite the fact that this book is about a sex toy shop it really doesn’t have any more sex than your average romance type novel.
Wyatt and Cassidy are quite a hilarious couple. Wyatt decides to open a sex shop in a small town. Cassidy had just lost her job and applied to be the manager of this new store. Being that it is in a small town you can imagine the issues they run into. But in that time they have a relationship that begins. They have such a light and fun relationship. The “slums” that Cassidy lives in are quite the comical place. Her neighbors on their own were quite amusing. This was a fun light read that literally had me laughing out loud at times. Cassidy is a very sassy female and she gives Wyatt a run for his money.
I look forward to hearing more about the crazy antics from the neighbors of Violent Circle
This was the first book I’ve had the pleasure of reading by S.M. Shade. I greatly enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next book in the Violent Circle series to come out. Scarlet Toys was very funny and had me laughing continuously. The chemistry between Cass and Wyatt is great and the two of them are very sweet together.
Cass is young but she’s very smart and mature. She’s hardworking, kind and sassy. Circumstances end up leaving Cass all alone and taking care of herself at young age but she doesn’t let it get her down. She takes charge and does what she needs to do to survive. An unexpected layoff leads her to interview at Scarlet Toys and to Wyatt.
Wyatt’s very sweet, hardworking and successful. He’s also very determined. The likelihood of Scarlet Toys being successful in the small city of Morganville, Indiana doesn’t seem very good but Wyatt’s resolute and persistent.
Wyatt and Cass are instantly attracted to each other. After working side by side for a while they decided to take their relationship to a new level but will the chaos that Cass’ friends and neighbors bring to her daily life scare him away?
Where do you start I wish my neighbors were this amusing and friendly. This book is full of laugh out loud moments that stick with you and keeps a smile on your face! A place where you find love humor and romance what’s not to love about this book the characters come to life right away ! Congratulations SM Shade on yet another awesome book !
This is the perfect Rom-Com!! Some true laugh out loud moments mixed in with the free flowing giggles, enough drama mixed throughout the story to keep you hooked in even more & then there’s the beautiful romance that sparks between Wyatt, the ‘new to town’ business owner & Cass, the feisty new manager he employs who lives in Viole(n)t Circle.
The cast of characters that live in the circle are absolutely fantastic. They are so colourful, freaky, funny, loving, supportive & weird they make you hanker after the ‘old days’ when we all used to actually talk to our neighbours & have street parties etc
Wyatt & Cass’ relationship is so fun, loving & supportive. Everyone has insecurities & these two are no different but they don’t manifest often & are dealt with quickly, Yay!! Nothing is dragged out in this book, they’re actual adults
This book is a slice of heaven, a breath of fresh air, it leaves you smiling, feeling happy & nostalgic. It’s not dark, deep or full of angst. It makes you think it could happen to you, that this could be your life, your friends, your job, your neighbourhood, your family!! Honestly, I loved this book. Shannon has knocked this book out of the park in my opinion, I highly recommend it!!
Debbie, 1970, UK
“Have you ever had a day where it feels like you’re holding a stick and everyone around you looks like a piñata?”
S.M. Shade’s Scarlet Toys begins with a line that completely drew me in. It’s so different and unexpected while at the same time so relatable.
Cassidy West has just lost her job at the factory she has worked at for two years due to the operation moving out of the country. She needs to find a job ASAP, and since she wasn’t the only one let go she knows that she needs to be one of the first in line Monday morning. Well as luck would have it there is a new business in town and they are hiring, in fact they are having open interviews the next afternoon. Determined to get a head start on the other newly unemployed she heads over first thing. What follows is the chance of a lifetime and comedic events that can’t possibly happen to just one person.
“Money, education, and high-class upbringing doesn’t instill the most important things a person needs in life; compassion, love, and a sense of community.”
I love Cass. Her attitude and outlook on life was refreshing. She takes what life throws at her and moves around or with it. At the beginning it would seem that Cass has bad luck, and honestly, I think she kind of does, but her bad luck brings her so much; Wyatt, a career, community and friends.
I found myself quite entertained by the prospect of an adult novelty/toy store in the middle of a small town in Indiana. The antics of not only the town residents, but those in Cass’s direct neighborhood of Violet (Violent) Circle, were downright hilarious. I couldn’t stop laughing.
I was invested not only in Cass and Wyatt, but the secondary characters, especially Jani and Noble. I might have been more invested in those two than I was Cass and her love story with Wyatt. Wyatt was just too perfect, and they fell into their relationship, not too fast, but not in a way that flowed with the story either.
While I loved the characters and the story, I have a few small issues. One, there was a lot going on, a bunch of little things that were great add ins to the story, but not completely necessary or fully resolved. I also felt that the secondary characters were more fully developed than the main characters. Like I said before, I was more invested in Jani and Noble. I love Cass and Wyatt, I just felt that they didn’t have as much depth as I expect from the main characters. That being said, I still enjoyed the story and fully intend to read the next book in the series.
This is a fun read that is perfect to pick up after reading a deeply emotional or dark book. I am looking forward to Jani and Noble’s story and hope that it comes out soon. Four stars.