Wild Man (Dream Man, #2)

by Kristen Ashley

She's about to walk on the wild side . . .

While filling the display case in her bakery, the bell over the door sounds and Tessa O'Hara looks up to see the man of her dreams. Within thirty seconds he asks her out for a beer. But after four months of dating, she discovers he's an undercover DEA agent-and he's investigating her possible role in her ex-husband's drug business. For Tess, this means their relationship is over.

Brock disagrees. He's committed to his anti-drug mission, but he's fallen in love with the beautiful woman who's as sweet as her cupcakes-and he'll do anything to win her back. Standing between Tess and Brock are their own exes, one of them a drug lord who's determined to get what he wants. Now as danger threatens, can Brock break the rules he's lived by and let loose his wild side to protect the woman he loves?

• ISBN10: 1455599204
• ISBN13: 9781455599202
• Publish Date: 29 October 2013 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Little, Brown & Company
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 528
• Language: English

Reviews

[leelu92]

reread 08/19/12- 08/20/12
Brock is one of my very fav of KAs. I still love love love him.

[Linda]

Dream Man had a lot of drama, but the main couple was mostly solid. And I loved reading about a more mature couple, as it made for a more mature relationship.

[stacey_is_sassy]

My wild is a safe place for you...

Nothing to add besides what I added to the narrator section of the review. My heart was broken when Daisy hit the scene...because it didn't sound like my Daisy. I think, with all the other narrators giving her a twang and a bit of personality, I just expect it. No *Sugar* or *Bunches of Love* that I've come to expect and love. Obviously, it wasn't in for the narrator to say, but I missed it. This narrator just doesn't do her justice, unfortunately.

The story is still excellent and kept my attention from start to finish.

**********

An Audio Review

My audiobooks aren’t lasting as long as they should be. I was buying them to keep me amused on the way to and from work and when I bake or exercise. It seems that I’m struggling to just keep it to those times. I mean, it’s hard to just limit myself. I’m invested in the story. I’ve been sucked in. There’s a crucial stage I’m reaching and the last thing I want to do is press stop and wait. This means I’m listening to nearly one a week and putting off book reading to listen instead.

Well, this is what happened when I started Wild Man. I just couldn't stop. It’s a re-read, so the story isn’t new to me, but it is a KA which means it's very hard to put down. When Brock steps into a room he’s got my full attention. Tess going through a crisis because Damien (her ex-husband) is stalking her, well, of course, I need to listen to it now before I hit stop. Olivia and her bony ass making a nuisance, well, it’s got to be sorted out. This is the struggle I face. It’s tough, but someone’s got to do it.

The beginning of Wild Man is a little hard to take and each re-read/listen still has that seem punch. We meet Tess and Brock after they had been in a relationship for 4 months. Tess really likes Brock and while Brock seems to like Tess, he also seems to be holding himself back a bit. This is because Brock is an undercover DEA agent, and he’s investigating Tess because of her douchewaffle ex-husband and the bugger's drug business. When Tess finds out that Brock had only approached her because of his job she’s devastated. She puts it behind her and tries to move on with her life. Brock lets her have a little time to get over it and then comes after her.

Well, this is a KA book and of course, when you have one of her heroes chasing you, you walk away…very, very slowly, in the hopes, he’ll catch you, chuck you over his shoulder and claim you. Yes, Tess put up a token resistance, but Brock is way too much temptation to refuse.

Their relationship is not all plain sailing. Brock has an ex-wife and two sons. The ex is a skank who treats her kids pretty shabby. Up till now, Brock hasn’t been in a position to contest custody. With the change in his job (leaving DEA to be a detective) and finally having a good woman in his life, it’s now time to try. The ex, Olivia, does not make things easy and she tries to manipulate the boys for her own gain. With Tess on the scene, Olivia has a new target to aim for.

So, between Brock’s ex, Tess’s ex, her bakery, and his job they definitely have their hands full. It doesn’t take her long to realise that all the stress is worth it. Brock and his two boys have brought a lot of happiness to her life. Tess is the woman Brock has been waiting for and it also helps that she bakes a mean cake or cookie.

Now, in regards to the audio, it was pretty good. The narrator's voice is easy to listen to and understand. I did have a bit of a problem when she changed from a female character to a male character as she doesn’t change her voice much. This does make it a little hard. It was more like someone just reading the story to me instead of acting it out. That probably sounds weird, acting it out, but some of the best audio’s, the narrator is able to manipulate their voice so it’s easy to hear the emotions and tell the changes in characters. My biggest complaint...she butchered my Daisy. Unfortunately, there was no twang and I just didn't get the right vibe for her. Shirleen and Elvira were definitely given more voice in this one.

Wild Man is one of my favourite Kristen Ashley stories. For one thing, Tess mentioning Snickerdoodles, which I had never heard of before this book so made me go searching for a recipe. In my boys' circle of friends, I’m known for 1 - The biscuits that taste like cinnamon doughnuts. AND 2 - (whispers) Snickerdoodle has the word doodle in them. The smirks on their faces when they ask for a snickerdoodle is priceless. Boys and their doodles. ;)

I’ve already got my next audio lined up and I’m hoping it will last more than a few days.

[Eve1972]

The first time I read this I didn't like it much. I thought it was pretty boring, low angst, but upon re-reading it started to grow on me, and I came to really appreciate it more.