![\"managed-banner\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/managed-banner.png?resize=640%2C276&ssl=1\")
<\/h4>\n<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n
It started off as a battle of wits. Me: the ordinary girl with a big mouth against Him: the sexy bastard with a big…<\/b>ego<\/i><\/b>.<\/b><\/p>\n
I thought I\u2019d hit the jackpot when I was upgraded to first class on my flight to London.<\/span><\/p>\n That is until HE sat down next to me. Gabriel Scott: handsome as sin, cold as ice. Nothing and no one gets to him. Ever. He\u2019s a legend in his own right, the manager of the biggest rock band in the world, and an arrogant ass who looks down his nose at me.<\/span><\/p>\n I thought I\u2019d give him hell for one, long flight. I didn\u2019t expect to like him. I didn\u2019t expect to want him. But the biggest surprise? He wants me too. Only in a way I didn\u2019t see coming.<\/span><\/p>\n If I accept his proposal, I leave myself open to falling for the one man I can\u2019t manage. But I\u2019m tempted to say yes. Because the real man beneath those perfect suits and that cool fa\u00e7ade just might be the best thing that\u2019s ever happened to me. And I just might be the only one who can melt the ice around his heart.<\/span><\/p>\n Let the battle begin\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Find\u00a0Managed<\/em> on Goodreads<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4.5 stars!<\/b><\/p>\n Idol <\/a>is one of my favourite reads of the year – an epic rockstar romance that truly rocked my world – and I have been so excited for this follow up. Managed<\/i> is the second book in the VIP series and from the very first page, I was sucked into this story. It\u2019s funny, sexy and dramatic with an intense love story – a deliciously slow burning romance with epic banter, chemistry and sexual tension – and I loved it!<\/p>\n Gabriel Scott is the Manager of the hottest rock band in the world, Kill John. Scottie is a legend in the industry and he lives up to every part of his arrogant, levelheaded and controlled fa\u00e7ade.<\/p>\n Gabriel Scott might know everything about everyone under his management, but to them he\u2019s the unapproachable shadow in the corner of the room. He likes it that way.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Sophie is Gabriel\u2019s complete opposite. Loud, hilarious, open and free-spirited, she is flying to London for a job interview when she unexpectedly finds herself in first class, sitting next to the hottest man she\u2019s ever seen. She has no idea who he is, but for the hours that they are trapped together she barely shuts her inappropriate mouth. Gabriel is gobsmacked by the crazed woman beside him, though there is a definite attraction there, and from that very first moment the stage is set and the banter flies!<\/p>\n \u201cYou think if you sit there, looking petrified and tense, I\u2019ll offer a blowjob to distract you from it all.\u201d When Sophie ends up working on Kill John\u2019s European tour, an unlikely friendship develops between her and Gabriel. They tease and banter, and each and every interaction is loaded with UST as they battle their attraction to each other. The whole book is a delicious slow burn and the chemistry is palpable. It\u2019s chapters and chapters of foreplay, and it\u2019s so freaking good!<\/p>\n \u201cYou what?\u201d he asks, his eyes gleaming with mirth. \u201cThought I was a virgin?\u201d Sophie is a breath of fresh air in Gabriel’s life and every little moment between them had me squeeing with glee and bouncing up and down in anticipation of the inevitable as they get closer and closer to crossing that line.<\/p>\n The bed creaks as he eases closer. And then I feel it. God, I LOVED seeing the man behind the fa\u00e7ade. There are reasons why Gabriel is the way he is, but he experiences a freedom with Sophie that he hasn\u2019t felt with anybody before. And with her, his walls slowly crumble as the control freak loses all control.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t solely about sex; if it was, I\u2019d have fucked her already. This is uncomfortably <\/i>more. Dangerously sexy and surprisingly swoony, Gabriel reveals himself to be a deeply emotional man who doesn\u2019t hold anything back from the woman who he has fallen so madly in love with, and it\u2019s absolutely beautiful to see!<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t prepared to need you this much. I don\u2019t know who I am anymore if you aren\u2019t with me.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n And when it all finally happens, it\u2019s so worth the wait. Gabriel and Sophie together are a force of nature. The sexy time is absolutely sizzling, and the emotional connection between them only intensifies as they give into to everything that is between them.<\/p>\n \u201cYou should know, I can\u2019t be a fling. Not with you. If you want me, you have to be all in.\u201d But can these two opposites make something lasting? Especially when the past and outside influences encroach on their newfound closeness. There\u2019s drama to overcome, but Kristen Callihan balances it all perfectly so that it doesn\u2019t overpower the story, but instead uses it to enable some self-discovery and character development that leads to a beautiful ending for the characters.<\/p>\n Christ Almighty, give me strength to let her go, or let me do her right. <\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Gabriel and Sophie owned me throughout this book, but just as awesome was the inclusion of the band and dynamics between the boys. This is a fantastic bunch of characters, and not only do we get the opportunity to catch up with Killian and Libby, but seeing all of the boys interact, tease and banter was absolutely sensational \u2013 and also ties in really well with Gabriel\u2019s journey. I honestly cannot wait to read more about each of the guys.<\/p>\n I loved this book. It\u2019s laugh-out-loud funny with lots of emotion and an absolutely beautiful love story. The dual POV is spot-on, and I loved every moment of Gabriel and Sophie\u2019s journey.<\/p>\n Fantastic \u2013 4.5 stars.<\/p>\n Advanced Reader Copy generously provided in exchange for an honest review.<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Idol (#1)<\/strong>\u00a0(Killian) Managed (#2)<\/strong>\u00a0(Scottie) Fall (#3)\u00a0<\/strong>(Jax) Exposed (#4)<\/strong> (Rye) <\/p>\n In all this time, I had yet to see Gabriel without a shirt. He hides his body like a pious Victorian, never letting me see anything other than him fully dressed and polished. Now I know why. Had he let me get a glimpse, I might never have been able to form a coherent thought around him. <\/span><\/p>\n This man\u2019s chest is a work of art. It\u2019s every fantasy I\u2019ve had about a man\u2019s body made real. I don\u2019t even know how that\u2019s possible, but I\u2019m not about to complain. God, he looks touchable. Olive skin, tight little brownish nipples, a smattering of dark chest hair over the most incredibly honed\u2014<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re staring.\u201d His tone is dry. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, I am.\u201d I drag my eyes up and find his expression bemused. <\/span><\/p>\n A thick brow lifts. I try to mimic the look and fail when both of my brows lift as one. His lips twitch in amusement.<\/span><\/p>\n He shifts his weight, causing his abs to clench. Good Lord. He\u2019s not some overdeveloped gym worshiper, just solid and strong, that perfect balance between defined musculature and healthy male\u2014<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re still staring, Sophie.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou think it\u2019s easy looking away from all this splendor?\u201d I ask his belly button, licking my lips when he huffs out a laugh and just a little bit more of his lower abs are revealed, slanting toward the thick bulge of his cock, which is lamentably hidden behind his slacks. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re impossible,\u201d he mutters, though there is humor in his voice. He strolls farther into the room and then practically kills me when he sits in one of the low-slung armchairs. That body, sprawled out on display, those thick, long thighs braced as if to take me in his lap\u2014it\u2019s too much. <\/span><\/p>\n I want to straddle him and lick my way from the hollow of his throat to the tip of his cock. <\/span><\/p>\n He eyes me as if he knows what I\u2019m thinking, and the air thickens. So many things we left unsaid. I\u2019m remembering his lips now, surprisingly soft, but strong with purpose. <\/span><\/p>\n From the way his lids lower, I wonder if he\u2019s remembering things as well. But he doesn\u2019t move. Tension glides over his body and snakes around the room. I feel it in my throat and down my spine. We\u2019re closing up again, retreating. <\/span><\/p>\n Slowly, I toe off my shoes and set my gear down, never breaking eye contact. \u201cI was being completely honest,\u201d I tell him. \u201cI see you like this and I want to stare forever.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n He snorts, shaking his head even as he rests his temple on his knuckles. \u201cWhat do you mean \u2018like this\u2019?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cUndone.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n He tenses. It does lovely things to that chest. I focus on his face, mainly to maintain some semblance of decorum. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou think this is me undone?\u201d he asks quietly. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a start.\u201d I reach for my camera bag. \u201cWill you let me photograph you?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n There is safety to be found with the camera between us. A way for both of us to hide until we\u2019re comfortable around each other again. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re serious?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou sound surprised.\u201d Holding my camera, I sit in the sofa opposite him. \u201cDon\u2019t tell me no one has asked to take your picture before.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve asked. I never saw the point.\u201d He shrugs. \u201cI\u2019m not the story.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019re my story. You always were. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n \u201cThis is just for me,\u201d I say instead. \u201cNo one else.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n His shrewd gaze pins me. \u201cWhy do you want this?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n So I can have a bit of you forever. <\/span><\/i>\u201cPictures capture moments in time. I want this one\u2014when you finally let me see a sliver of the man behind the clothes.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n His nostrils flare on an indrawn breath, and he slowly lets it out. When he speaks, his voice is a rasp. \u201cTake the pictures.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n WEBSITE<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0FACEBOOK<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0TWITTER<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Buy:\u00a0 Amazon |\u00a0iBooks |\u00a0B&N |\u00a0Kobo\u00a0|\u00a0Paperback\u00a0 Blurb It started off as a battle of wits. Me: the ordinary girl with a big mouth against Him: the sexy bastard with a big…ego. I thought I\u2019d hit […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12828,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":4.5,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"Product","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[94,9,29],"tags":[59,400,48,399],"class_list":["post-13584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rockers","category-romance","category-steamy","tag-arc","tag-kristen-callihan","tag-review","tag-vip"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Managed.jpg?fit=150%2C224&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-3x6","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13584"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13584\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"managed-teaser\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Managed-Teaser.png?resize=533%2C292&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
\nReview<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\nMy humiliation comes to a screeching halt upon hearing the word blowjob. \u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cWell, it\u2019s not going to happen.\u201d
\nIgnore the cock. Ignore him. He\u2019s an idiot. Focus on the problem at hand. \u201cYou are deranged. Completely deranged.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n\u201cNo.\u201d I kick his foot lightly. \u201cNo. I just\u2026Gah! You said <\/i>fuck , and it got me thinking about it.\u201d
\n\u201cFucking?\u201d he asks, grinning wide enough to flash his white teeth.
\nI look away so I can\u2019t be charmed any further. \u201cI hate you.\u201d
\n\u201cNo, you don\u2019t,\u201d he teases in a tone so unlike him \u2013 so like <\/i>me – that I meet his gaze.
\n\u201cNo, I don\u2019t,\u201d I agree quietly.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nOh, fucking hell. Just no. He can\u2019t do this to me.
\nIt\u2019s big, it\u2019s hard, and it\u2019s nudging my ass.
\nWe both freeze. Well, Gabriel freezes. His dick? It nudges me again, that blunt head pushing into the small of my back as if to say hello.
\n\u201cInvoluntary reaction,\u201d Gabriel says in a strangled voice. \u201cIgnore it.\u201d
\nHis hard-on says otherwise.
\nI swallow with difficulty. \u201cYour hard dick is poking me in the ass. I can no more ignore it than if you slapped me in the face with it.\u201d
\nHe stills, a sound gurgling in his throat. I\u2019m about to apologize for being so crude, when he bursts out laughing.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nI have never experienced intimacy. I did not know how good it felt to simply be with someone and let everything else melt away. The world can fuck off when I\u2019m with Sophie Darling. There is only us. I don\u2019t have to be anyone else but Gabriel. <\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"managed-teaser-2\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Managed-Teaser-2.png?resize=470%2C313&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
\nA frown knots his brows, and when he speaks, his voice is a rasp. \u201cI\u2019ve lived my whole life denying myself what I truly want. And yet I cannot turn from you. Haven\u2019t you realized it yet? I am yours. I will always be yours, whether I touch you or not.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\nVIP Series<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Idol\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Idol.jpg?resize=80%2C122&ssl=1\")
\u00a0\u00a0![\"managed\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Managed.jpg?resize=80%2C122&ssl=1\")
\u00a0\u00a0![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Fall_Amazon-small.jpg?resize=80%2C122&ssl=1\")
\u00a0 ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Exposed_Amazon-1.jpg?resize=80%2C122&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Amazon \u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n
\nReview
\n<\/a>Buy : Amazon<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy: \u00a0Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nExcerpt<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\nAbout the Author<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Kristen](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/KCauthor.jpg?resize=182%2C261&ssl=1\")
Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she\u2019d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer\u2019s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher\u2019s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine\u2019s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal , best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher\u2019s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n![\"inkslinger-blogger-final\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/InkSlinger-Blogger-Final.jpg?resize=200%2C83&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"