Friday Favorites: A Flashback – 10/21/22

I haven’t done a Flashback for a bit, instead posting some of my highly rated recent reads on Fridays. I thought today would be a good time to do another flashback. I’m revisiting the Need You series from Lorelei James. This is the second book from this series being featured in my Friday Favorites. This is just a wonderful series.

You can find my original post from May 4, 2017, here. My updated version, edited only for grammar, spelling, and formatting, is below. As usual with my flashbacks, I cannot adequately add a content warning since it’s been a few years since I’ve read the book so please do your due diligence if you have certain triggers you need to avoid.

All You Need
by Lorelei James
Release Date:  April 4, 2017
Publisher:  Berkley Books
Book #4 in the Need You series
Number of pages:  368
Contemporary Romance/Sports
Ages 16 and up
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PR agent Annika Lund can spin any disaster into a win. But revamping the reputation of a notorious Swedish hockey player will take every trick in her arsenal, especially when his agent insists that convincing everyone he’s no longer a playboy is top priority. And that it requires a sham relationship—with Annika playing the part of loving girlfriend.

On fire in the rink and in the bedroom, Axl Hammerquist couldn’t care less about being anyone’s golden boy. So when his agent forces him to play nice with a new publicist, he takes satisfaction in being as much of a pain as possible. But the more time he spends getting to know Annika, the more Axl starts to think that being Mr. Nice Guy might be worth it if it gets him the girl…

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I had to force myself to put this one down.  I knew if I allowed myself to do so, I would be up all night to finish the book.  I absolutely loved this story!  I think it helped that we already know Annika and Axl a bit, but it sucked me in from the beginning.

Knowing what the story was about and knowing how such storylines often go, this book didn’t play out the way I thought it would.  There was a whole lot of teasing and sexual tension at the beginning.  It really cranked the anticipation level up to off the charts!  Of course, we’re all supposed to think Axl is a grade-A jerk after meeting him in Just What I Needed.  Getting to know him in this book and getting his back story was actually sad.  And it made it clear that Annika was perfect for him.

Oh, that Lund mama.  She drives me batty!  Always meddling.  It works out in this case, but she doesn’t know that for a long while.  I’m glad Daddy Lund called her out on it and stood up for Annika in this situation.

What I really loved about this book was getting to know a whole new cast of characters as we got to know Axl.  The neighbors who have become friends from his apartment complex were great.  They supported one another but weren’t afraid to call each other on their bull.  I know we’ll be seeing more of some of them in the future and I’m looking forward to that.

There is a part in the book about Axl’s birth certificate and name that didn’t seem to be useful for propelling any particular part of the story.  It makes me wonder if it will factor into another storyline.  Possibly with is teammate Igor?  Maybe I missed something, but I just don’t know why it was included unless it’s a precursor to something else.

As I mentioned, this storyline didn’t really follow the typical “fake relationship” storyline.  It was a fresh spin on that and I really liked the concept.  I enjoyed that Annika and Axl got to be in their own bubble and really get to know each other.  Plus, they each learned how the other processed and reacted to stressful situations and they adapted their own reactions.  I loved that!

Another bonus to this story was getting to know Annika’s little brother, Jensen, a bit more.  His book is next and I’m excited to read it ASAP.

5 stars