Start Me Up

START ME UP is the fourth installment in J. Kenner’s contemporary, adult MAN OF THE MONTH erotic, romance novella series focusing on a fund raiser for the popular Austin, Texas bar known as The Fix. This is shock jock DJ Nolan Wood, and CPA Shelby Drake’s story line. START ME UP can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. SOME BACKGROUND: The Fix on Sixth, a local Austin hangout and bar, is in desperate need of renovations and a quick influx of cash so a plan is put into motion, by a group of regulars, a plan that includes a Man of the Month calendar competition, and a reality show aimed at rehabbing the bar. Told from dual third person perspectives (Nolan and Shelby) START ME UP follows the building relationship between Austin shock jock radio DJ Nolan Wood, and CPA Shelby Drake. Shelby has her life planned out from the perfect job to the perfect husband but meeting DJ Nolan Wood found our heroine thinking about the possibilities of stepping out of her comfort zone. A chance encounter with Nolan Wood, at the Fix on Sixth, ended with a one-night stand that Nolan wanted to turn into something more. Shelby’s plans for the future didn’t include a radio DJ with an over the top personality-a personality that could jeopardize her career path, and the relationship with the people back home. What ensues is the secret relationship between Shelby and Nolan, and the potential fall-out as Shelby refuses to acknowledge the man with whom she is falling in love. START ME UP focuses less on the man of the month competition and more on the developing relationship between two people at opposite ends of the personality and business spectrums. Their highly sexual relationship becomes anonymous fodder for the shock jock’s early morning drive in program, fodder that Shelby refuses to acknowledge fearing a loss of respect from her family, friends and co-workers. The premise is fast paced and energetic; the characters are colorful and sassy; the romance is quick to build, erotic and fun but once again, I take objection to the use of a certain four-letter word that the author some how adds to most of her romance stories.

You MUST start this new and unique series by J. Kenner! The premise behind the series title is a local bar trying to keep its doors open by featuring bi-weekly contests to find the a (non-professional model) man to represent each month of a calendar they will sell. All the winners so far are regulars at the bar, or connected to a regular, which makes each contest more fun and personal for the attendees and readers! In Start Me Up, we get to know local shock jock, Nolan Wood. As extroverted as Nolan needs to be for his morning radio show, he sets his sights on his total opposite, conservative accountant Shelby Drake. As usual, Julie Kenner creates strong, multi-dimensional characters with personalities that continue to evolve during the course of the relationship. When Shelby's friends encourage her to have a little fun out of her conservative comfort zone, she realizes there's more to just finding someone who checks the boxes. Her struggle comes with whether she can find the balance between the expectations that come with the conservative side of her job and revealing her relationship with outspoken Nolan. For Nolan, he's comfortable in his own skin, but guards his heart to find the right person who can discern the difference between his on-air personality and who he is at heart. Loved the banter between these two and what had to happen in order for them to reach their HEA.

I am loving this series. While yes they are all standalone's it is so much better to enjoy the series because each book has been amazing so far. He has always been the class clown and now with his radio show Morning with Wood his brashness is part of who he is. He has his own secrets he harbors but rises above it all by keeping it all close to the vest. She has always been prim and proper and never EVER causing a ripple until the night she gets drunk and jumps in head first. It's a delicate dance for them both because they are so far out of their element. Explosive, sexy, passionate, words she never thought would be associated with her. When they both let themselves go and all is revealed maybe they too will become victims of the calendar as well. . . .like the others. Who knew the bars problems would make for great matchmaking. I already said I love this series, but it is true. Each character finds a way into your heart with their story and this one is no less entertaining. Awesome read.