Down for the Count (Dare Me, #1)

by Professor of Law Christine Bell

• ISBN10: 1622669762
• ISBN13: 9781622669769
• Publish Date: 20 September 2012
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Entangled: Brazen
• Format: eBook
• Language: English

Reviews

[FranJessca @ A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog]

I’ve had Down for the Count on my Goodreads TBR for a while now. I wanted a short contemporary romance book to read for the summer, and this was the perfect book, especially since the two main characters end up in Puerto Rico. A destination that is on my bucket list to visit one day. 

Storyline/My Thoughts: First off, this book starts with the female protagonist, Lacey Garrity, catching her groom with one of her bridesmaids. A big no-no for me in stories is cheating, and I’m so glad that Lacey took off running after catching her so-called groom with her best friend/bridesmaid. If she would have stayed, I don’t think I would’ve kept on reading. Who saves her, but her other best friend’s older brother, Galen Thomas. Thank goodness. Galen offers Lacey a daring situation that she will have a hard time turning down. It involves playing games and running away to Puerto Rico to get her mind off what her so-called groom did to her. Unfortunately, Lacey’s family is not happy about it. Lacey, though, will experience the most memorable moments in her life with someone she thought found her annoying. Galen is going to prove how much he cares about Lacey.

I love these kinds of stories where the female protagonist ends up with someone she’s known her whole life, and he ends up being someone she’s had a crush on for a while. Galen Thomas is considered a bad boy, though, especially with what Lacey knows about him. Since he started in it, she’s followed his boxing career, and she knows he has more experience than her. It’s going to be an excellent vacation for both Lacey and Galen in Puerto Rico. I loved their connection with each other. Although, I didn’t particularly appreciate how Lacey’s family interfered at the end.

There are some steamy scenes in this book between Lacey and Galen. Galen shows how Lacey is to be loved and adored, unlike her jerk of a groom. Don’t worry; truths will be revealed in this book about Lacey’s groom.

This happened to be my first book by Christine Bell, and overall, I enjoyed it. I give it four stars. 🙂

Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Dare Me series, but each can be read as a standalone.

HEA: Yes

Steamy: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Trope: Friends to Lovers; Bestfriend’s Brother; Sports (Boxing)

Would I recommend this book? Yes. I recommend this book to Contemporary Romance readers. I also recommend this if you need something while you are at the beach or are on vacation.

[inlibrisveritas]

Down for the Count is fun, sexy and quick little read that really helped me to kick off a new year of reading. Not to mention a much needed burst of summer in the middle of January.

After finding her brand new husband in the closet with her friend at the reception, Lacey is ready to tuck tail and disappear. Enter Galen, a boxer and the brother of her best friend, who steps in to help her save face and forget about the wedding…and ends up becoming much more than a distraction. I loved that this was a story about letting go and finding yourself! Lacey is a bit tightly wound in this, and really struggles to find herself in all of the rules and boundaries she has for herself…and I love that everything about Galen challenges that. What starts out as something to help her let go becomes something that they both find vital for their own happiness.

Lacey is such a sweet girl, who starts out as something rather meek and unhappy…but the transformation she undergoes is perfection. She begins to learn how to use her voice and stand up for herself, while learning to go with the flow and seek out her happiness instead of bending to the will of others. And her chemistry with Galen is off the charts, even before the actual vacation begins. I love his steady reassurance and the way he worked hard to make her feel as lovely as he knew her to be. And I really loved Cat! She’s full of energy and recklessness, and she tries her hardest to be there for Lacey…even when that means talking her down off a ledge or encouraging her take a leap of faith.

I went into this wanting something short and sweet but ended up enjoying the ride a whole lot more than anticipated!

[Angie]

I really enjoyed Down for the Count! It's Lacey's wedding day and she's trying to enjoy the reception, but she can't find her groom. That's because he's in a storage closet banging one of her bridesmaids. Needless to say, Lacey is devastated. Luckily, her best friend's brother, Galen, is there to whisk her away, get drunk with her, then dares her to go on her honeymoon without her jackass of a husband. Of course, Galen has to go with her and show her what it's like to be with a real man.

Down for the Count was a lot of fun! Lacey is one of those girls who is a bit uptight and does what is expected of her. But Puerto Rico makes her let loose! She wears a bikini, gets propositioned by swingers, and falls in love! I adored all of this! I loved her interactions with Galen. She's a bit reserved at first, but then she goes wild! They have a ton of chemistry, but they're also friends! It's not all about sex for them, although that's great too and they have a lot of it! Lacey also learns to stand up to her tyrant of a mother! Seriously, the things this woman says to her own daughter. My gosh! Somebody slap her!

If you're looking for a quick, steamy, summery Romance, I'd definitely recommend Down for the Count. There's no stupid fight, Galen isn't some crazed alpha male, Lacey may start out timid, but she blossoms! There's also an amazing friendship here between Lacey and Cat. It's funny, sweet, and sexy! A very well-rounded Romance indeed.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Cocktails and Books]

I loved this one. Girl finds her hours old husband with one her bridesmaid in a supply closet. Girl's best friend's brother rescue hers and convinces her to take her honeymoon anyway to decompress. One thing leads to another and we have a hot romance on our hands.

Lacey was a character that you could instantly connect with. She's a woman that's always thought she wasn't good enough because of her overbearing mother. She's uptight and doesn't know how to let loose. You felt sorry for her not so much because of what happened at her wedding reception, but at how she's used by those closest to her to get what they want, no matter what it might cost Lacey.

Galen has always had a thing for Lacey, but she was always off limits because she was Cat's best friend. He did a very nobel thing by taking her away and getting her mind off the mess back home with the wedding. For that alone, he would have had huge points in my book. But Galen made Lacey comfortable with herself and finally learn how to have fun.

This was a really fun read. I always enjoy when childhood friends end up in a romance. You have the history with those characters that adds an element of fun and nostalgia to a budding romance. Lacey and Galen were no exception. Their drinking game of "I Never" was the best and demonstrated, right from the beginning, how perfect these two were for each other.

Definitely one I recommend picking up. I know I'll be eagerly waiting the next book in the series.