"Ms. Maitland's characters come to life" Paranormal Romance, reviewed by Stacy Link Read full review here.
Overall, Phoenix Rising is a sexy and diverting read and will make you wonder if such a bar actually exists out there somewhere.
Whitney, Fallen Angel Reviews
Kaitlin Maitland’s story had me at the opening, I just couldnt stop reading it. ... Phoenix Rising is one of the most vividly written stories I have read. You really feel like you are there in that bar experiencing what the characters are experiencing and I got hot from all the love scenes, whew. Lila, Two Lips Reviews
 Phoenix Rising was written with extreme talent. The characters jumped off the page into my head with no-holds-barred. They would not let me go; I had to finish the book with no exceptions. ... I recommend this read to everybody, and will recommend it for many years to come. Kaitlin Maitland is on my list of authors to watch out for; I am looking forward to her next great book. 5 Nymphs, a Golden Blush Recommended Read. Fire, Literary Nymphs Reviews.
“You’re busy awfully early tonight, even for a Friday,” Jessa commented, looking around.
He jerked his head toward a sign on the mirror behind the bar. “We’re shorthanded.”
“I need a job.” The words were out before she could rethink the urge to say them.
“Seriously?”
Jessa nodded.
“You ever wait tables before?”
“In a bar? No.”
He looked disappointed.
“In a restaurant with a bar? Yes.”
“You’re hired.”
She blinked in semi drunken surprise. “Don’t you have to ask your boss or something first?”
Alex shrugged, “Connor!”
The world slowed to a crawl as Jessa watched the doorman turn around. He glanced at her for several seconds before heading in their direction.
“What’s up?” His deep voice rolled like distant thunder.
“I hired a waitress.”
“Really.”
Not a statement. Not a question. Connor’s eyes roved over Jessa as if he were removing every stitch of clothing from her body. Her skin heated, tingled, and then caught fire. Creamy juice instantly flooded Jessa’s crotch and she practically panted with sexual frustration she hadn’t realized she possessed.
“Yeah,” Alex turned to Jessa. “Sorry…I didn’t catch your name.”
“Jessa,” Connor said before she could stammer an answer.
The name dripped off his tongue as it had before. He couldn’t have gotten more of a visceral reaction if he’d reached down and fingered her vagina right there in front of Alex. Jessa wanted him to yank her panties to her knees, throw her against the bar and fuck her senseless.
A wave of mortification hit her hard. What had happened to sweet Jessa Kincaid? In one afternoon she’d shopped at a porn store, drank Carbombs in a dirty bar in the middle of the afternoon, watched a lewd display of public indecency and now she was lusting after a dangerous looking man she didn’t know. If looks portrayed anything, he was probably nothing more than a common thug.
“All right, Connor?” Alex prodded.
Connor’s eyes roved over her body again, lingering over hips and breasts. “S’okay with me. Start tomorrow, we open up around noon.”
Jessa managed to nod her head, but nothing more. She practically melted into a puddle on the floor before Connor swung his big body around and gracefully headed back to his post.
What kind of man was he? Never in her life had she met someone so utterly confident. Jessa hadn’t known that earthbound males were born with that kind of charisma. It was as if Connor were some otherworldly entity. A fallen angel, perhaps?
“He takes some getting used to,” Alex offered. “But he’s a great friend, and a good boss.”
“Sure,” she managed hoarsely.
“Plus, he’s intimidating as hell at the door.”
“So, he’s the…owner?”
“Yep.”
Jessa blinked several times in quick succession, trying to come up with another question to keep Alex talking about Connor. Common thugs didn’t typically masquerade as small business owners. It made for an intriguing combination.
“Don’t worry about it. You’ll be in good hands with us, Jessa.”
Her fuzzy mind concocted all sorts of meanings for that particular promise. |
