Naked by Megan Hart

Title:  Naked 
Author:  Megan Hart
Released: August 1, 2010
Book Series: None, but should read Tempted or Everything Changes first
Publisher:  Spice, Harlequin
Genre:  Erotic Romance
How I Got It:  received ARC ebook from Net Galley

Book Summary
I didn’t think he wanted me. And I wasn’t about to get involved with him, not after what I’d heard. Alex Kennedy was tall, dark and unbearably hot, but I’ve been burned before. Maybe it was stupid of me to offer but he needed a place to crash and I needed to pay the rent, but now he’s my tenant…with benefits. And now that we’ve crossed that line, I can’t seem to find my way back.
But I can’t give my heart to a man who’s so…unconventional. His last sexual relationship was with a married couple. It’s enough that my ex-fiancé preferred men, I won’t take that chance again no matter how much my body thrives on Alex’s touch. I can’t risk it, but I can’t resist it, either.
Alex can be very convincing when he wants something.
And he wants me.

This review may contain some spoilers.  But, if you are like me, you enjoy being spoiled every now and then.


My Thoughts
What to say about this book? I can say that I loved it.  At first I didn't know what was going on or what direction the author was trying to take because the main character was pretty much all over the place.

Olivia is a photographer and on a journey of self discovery. She can't seem to figure out her place in life.  She's so unsure about her religion, friendship, and romance.

Awhile back, Olivia was engaged to Patrick.  Days before they were to be married, she discovered that her long time boyfriend had been cheating on her...with men.  Needless to say, they didn't get married, but remained best friends.  That is until she noticed his handsome house guest, Alex. 

Immediately, Patrick declared him off limits.  Despite the warning, Olivia continued to notice Alex until Patrick  explained that he was a manwhore that he'd already slept with.  He also stated that Alex wasn't into women and that he was bad news anyway.

Even thought she was attracted to Alex, she was content to just be friends.  She even offered to rent him an apartment when he decided to stay in town.  And hot as he was, she couldn't not ask him to pose for pictures for her photography portfolio.

Well, Alex, being super comfortable with his body got real explicit with his posing and ended up seducing Olivia.  Okay, that I saw coming but Patrick being beyond pissed off and acting like a jealous boyfriend, I did not.  I knew he'd be mad because friends shouldn't date another friend's jump off, but his anger stemmed from something past and supposedly long forgotten.

I honestly liked Olivia.  But certain things she did made me want to just slap her.  She was just too damn trusting and naive about the wrong things. More importantly, she sided with someone she just met, rather than her BFF, even thought he was a prick.  In the long run, if she had listened more with her brain and not her heart, she would have made all the right choices without all the heartbreak.

With Alex, I wasn't completely sure if he was gay or straight.  He certainly acted like he was straight, but at certain points in the book, I wondered.  And wondered again.  And yes, at times he was an asshole, but a lovable asshole.  I was glad that he was open about his sexuality , but I'm still not sure what the deal was with him and his BFF.  That little tidbit is why I gave you the "need to read this first" info.

I liked Patrick at first, but he did a total 360.  He turned out to be a miserable bastard and I kept wondering why Olivia had stayed friend with him at all.
 
Anyhoo, the relationship between Olivia and Alex worked because they were both lost and apparently needed each other to find their way.  I was totally happy that he didn't turn out to be the scumbag that everyone made him out to be. 

My Rating
I give Naked five stars.  This book was definately a good read and deserves it's place on my bookshelf as a favorite.  Wasn't sure in the end what was going to happen, but was ready for the story to go either way.


Read an excerpt from Naked

And of course I wanted to know more about Alex.  And trust me, you will too, so  just read the first book  so you'll know exactly what you're getting into.

So, I scoured the web to see what I could come up with.  Tempted is the story of Alex's famous menage a trois (no real details in Naked, just a you should have been there feeling) with his best friend and his best friend's wife. It's told by Anne, the wife, but I'll be reading Everything Changes, which is told by Alex.  Both books are  suppose to be the same story.  Personally, I prefer to hear the male version because it's not so dramatized and more on the slutty side.