Opening Up by Lauren Dane (Ink and Chrome #1)
Contemporary Romance
Releases: June 16, 2015
Forever

Reviewed by Helyce

Favorite Quote:  “He’s everything I never knew I was missing until I had him.”

PJ Coleman is the youngest of the Coleman siblings and has always marched to the beat of a very different drum.  Part of the well known Coleman Enterprises dynasty, she has tried for years to garner attention from her father and make him “see” her. She’d always tried to do as was expected, but she was just miserable, and since it didn’t seem to make a difference, she quit college, following her heart and her love of automotive painting.  Her incredible talent and way with color has garnered her some attention of her own, but when she tried to bring her talents to Coleman and encourage her uncle and father to expand the business beyond selling tires she is met with a complete lack of support and decides to break from the family business, going into business for herself.

Asa Barrons is part owner of Twisted Steel, a high-end body shop specializing in automotive and motorcycle rebuilds and repairs.  When Asa meets PJ at an industry party, sparks fly.  They talk and both Asa and his partner, Duke, are interested in having PJ do some work through their shop.  While PJ appears mature beyond her years, Asa still feels she’s too young for him and he plans to keep their relationship strictly professional.

Lucky for him, PJ has other plans.

Lauren Dane knocks it out of the park with this first book in her new Ink and Chrome series.  Centered around businesses in the automotive industry, she gives us gorgeous, badass, alpha male, tattooed men and in this installment, a gorgeous, tattooed, badass female character in Penelope Jean “PJ” Coleman.  PJ might be young, but she is intelligent beyond her years, has a good head for business and an amazing painting talent all her own.  I loved PJ.  When she brings her ideas to expand the business to her father and uncle and is basically shot down before she even got her plan out, I applauded her decision to walk away and start her own business.  It was clear that her talent and mind for business would take her far on her own and the people who would lose would be her own family.

There was nothing to dislike about Asa Barrons and Ms. Dane did not skimp on anything where Asa was concerned…

Dark brown eyes–and she bet that when he had his hair down it slanted over them so he’d look hot and mysterious all at once–took her in.

His gaze locked with hers and a smile marked a mouth so carnal she probably would have to light a candle in penance for her very naughty thoughts.

She smiled back and the moment between them heated and slowed.  He was holy shit hot damn and wow sexy.  One of his brows rose.  Confident and not a small bit cocky.

Asa and PJ circle around each other a bit until they collide and it’s very, very good.  But then Asa backs off.  He’s worried that PJ is too young, and not prepared for his kind of sexytime.  He kind of avoids her, and PJ is okay with it up to a point. PJ isn’t sure what Asa’s issue is, but when she’s had enough of his ignoring her, she takes matters into her own hands and uses the oldest trick in the book, plain old jealousy.  Out one evening, Asa and PJ end up at the same bar and PJ gets her flirt on with one of her friends.  Asa is having none of that and swoops in to claim her.  It was *swoonworthy*. Asa made it clear with one kiss who PJ belonged to.

Asa and PJ together are super sexy and as I am not a huge fan of BDSM I was very relieved that Asa’s level of kink was low.  A crop, a flogger, a blindfold–all those in small doses made for some incredibly hot scenes with these two.

I loved how Dane showcased the differences between Asa’s extended family and PJ’s. Very close to his mom and his younger sisters, Asa’s love for his family was beautiful to see.  In comparison, while PJ was close to a few of her siblings, there was a definite issue with her father. This disconnect she has with her father was the source of the main conflict in this story. PJ’s father was so awful to her, shooting down all her ideas, calling her horrible names at a family dinner Asa attends.  He was simply awful and hurtful toward PJ at every turn.

It doesn’t take long for PJ’s siblings to see the light and move to support her and what she’d been trying to do and say when she presented her plan to her father and uncle. What follows went a long way to redeem her siblings in my eyes but I still felt very disappointed at the end of this story. I felt that there was so much build up between PJ, her father and the business. Why so much tension and animosity? There is no hint as to why PJ’s father is so awful to her.  I had all these thoughts as to why he’d treat one of his children this badly and all of my scenarios were wrong!  When it’s finally revealed, all I could say was, “Seriously? That’s what his issue was? That was cause to call his daughter a dirty whore?”  For me, PJ’s father’s actions  and attitude toward her did not mesh with the revelation of the “why?” of it.

The Coleman siblings round out an interesting set of secondary characters; each with a completely different personality. I was proud of each one of them and the way they came together in the end in support of PJ.  I especially enjoyed PJ’s relationship with her sister Julie who seemed to be her polar opposite and I can only hope that Ms. Dane has plans for loosening Julie up and setting her free.

This is old school Lauren Dane; a bit reminiscent of the Brown Siblings series and I really look forward to seeing where she takes this.

Rating: B

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