Review: JUST FOR KICKS by Susan Andersen

Carly is a Vegas showgirl living in a condo with her babies—two cats and two dogs.  Her next door neighbor not only hates her barking dog, but is also one of the big security offers in the casino where she works.  While she can barely stand to be around the Ice Man next door, she can’t deny the growing chemistry between them.

Wolfgang (Yes, for real.  More on the name later.), is as serious about his job as he is about everything in his life.  People see him as robotic and cold, but he sees himself as focused on a larger plan for his life.  Two things that definitely was not in his plan was to become guardian of his sixteen year old nephew, Nik, or falling for his irresponsible showgirl neighbor. 

Okay, this was a fun story.  It was sexy & steamy and the characters were likable.  That being said, I had a really hard time staying in the moment with a lead male named Wolfgang.  So not sexy!  There is a line where Carly is introducing him to some friends and she says, “Come meet my Wolf.”  For realz!  It’s like she is showing off her dog.  I get that he is an American born of a German mother, but there are sooooo many sexier German names to pick from.  I probably could have over looked it if this were a period piece, but in a contemporary setting—it didn’t do it for me. 

Aside from the distracting name and the fact that Carly calls everyone “toots,” I actually liked the characters.  Wolfgang actually was sexy in a powerful way.  Once his icy exterior begins to thaw and we can see what lies beneath, he’s wonderful!  I loved the relationship between him and his nephew Nik.  Carly is fun and sexy, without being over the top.  Under the Vegas glitz and glam, there is a real person with a big heart.  She and Wolfgang work well together.

I can’t wrap this up without discussing Nik a bit.  I love this kid!  He is sullen and sulky like a typical teen one minute and a fun dynamic person the next.  He felt so real to me.  Nik was a perfect addition to the Wolfgang character.  I don’t know that the character would have warmed up to Carly in a believable way had it not been for Nik. 

Overall, I give Just For Kicks…

Plot – 2 ½ bookmarks

Character Development – 3 ½ bookmarks

Love Story – 3 ½ bookmarks

Suspense Storyline – 1 ½ bookmarks

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) – Alexander Skarsgard (Wolfgang), Agyness Deyn (Carly), Matt Lanter (Nik)