by Jennifer Dawson
Series: Something New #2
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
For two stubborn people…Corporate mogul Shane Donovan sees the ultra-cool, collected Cecilia Riley as an ice queen—even if he can't deny that, on the surface, she's a work of perfection his body can't ignore. Forced to spend two weeks in the same house for his sister's upcoming wedding, Shane senses that deep down Cecilia mirrors his need. And he's determined to draw her into a sexy game that will melt away her reserve…
Losing is not an option…Career-driven Cecilia Riley has just enough free time in her schedule to head out of town for her brother's wedding. But her agenda is thrown for a loop by the presence of Shane. Though his over-confident attitude leaves a lot to be desired, his insanely hot body has kept Cecilia up nights. Unsure what game Shane is playing, Cecilia takes the bait, bent on resisting him at all costs. But as Shane and Cecilia discover, temptation follows no rules…
The Winner Takes It All by Jennifer Dawson drew me in with its synopsis and cute cover. After requesting it, I realized this was book two in the Something New series. No worries folks this worked splendidly as a standalone. However, I feel the need to warn you; you will want to grab Take A Chance the first and will be patiently waiting for the third. Hot chemistry and a great dynamic group of friends and siblings made The Winner Takes It All a delicious afternoon delight.
Coffee dates with The Winner Takes It All
First date: Dawson sucked me right in despite my hesitation with Cecilia Riley. The chemistry between Shane and Cecilia is immediately apparent. The two met in the previous novel. They do not like each other. HA! These two sizzle when they are in the same room. I enjoy their banter and love the haters to lover’s trope. The next two weeks at the family homestead is going to be a blast.
Second date: I feel for Cecilia, she is a people pleaser and as much as she thinks, she knows what she wants she is clueless. Slowly we see her open up and I like this free spirited version of Cecilia. The romance at this point is purely sexual attraction and the hidden moments of kissing and heat are delicious. I am enjoying the families, wedding preparations and baking in Maggie’s kitchen. I love the small-town feel of it all. Can we talk about Shane for a minute? Ooo, the man will make you melt. His back-story and the way he takes care of his family just made me swoon. It does not hurt that the man can fill out his Levi jeans.
Third date: We finally see some delivery on all that heat and ooh-la-la. Of course, there are complications, but the growth we see in Cecilia is wonderful. I loved seeing her come into herself and her new take no prisoners attitude that emerges. The tale had some angst, but had a different outside twist that kept me flipping the pages, even if I knew my HEA was right around the corner. I ended this date with a smile. I am eager to go on dates with book one and will be looking for book three.
The Winner Takes It All was delightful with character growth, family, friends and an engaging plot wrapped in a delicious swoon-worthy romance. If wicked banter, a little heat and family gatherings make you smile, I totally recommend the Something New series.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Adriana
The title wants me to belt out The Winner Takes It All! I really like that Cecilia came into her own. It sounds like she stopped letting people take advantage of her (I assume this is the case because she’s a people pleaser). The first book, Take a Chance on Me (another title that I want to sing), sounds really fun and romantic too.
kimbacaffeinate
hehe..you are not alone, anytime i see a title that is a line to a song I begin to sing!
Berls
I just love that cover too Kimba! And I adore the hate to love trope, its typically so much fun. I think I’ll take your word on it that I’ll want to read book 1 too and just start there 🙂
anna (herding cats & burning soup)
Hmmm she’s one I’ve not tried yet but it does sound good! I love that cover too. Very pretty.
kimbacaffeinate
This was a first for me as well Anna.
Sharon
This sounds like a series I would enjoy. Thanks for sharing your review. 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Total fun Sharon, I think you would enjoy it
laura thomas
They say love and hate are so similar. No surprise hate can turn to love. I like the way this one is told.
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, and sometimes the person is mad at themselves for feeling an attraction to the other..lol
Cyn
Ooh I like the sounds of this! Bicker to love romance! I’ll have to check out the first book b/c I loving knowing the background story for the pair, ha. Thanks for the review!
kimbacaffeinate
This was fun, and I liked the writing style,..so yes grab book one too 🙂
Bookworm Brandee
I love wicked banter and I’m always delighted with lots of character development. This is a series I’ll have to pick up. 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Such fun..I love when I find a new author 🙂
Sharon - Obsession with Books
I love the haters to lovers trope too Kimba! I’m pleased that Cecelia won you over in the end.
A lovely review.
kimbacaffeinate
Glad to see you love the trope too 🙂
Mary
So, were you hesitant about Cecilia because you read her in a prior book? Or just because you two didn’t hit it off right away?
kimbacaffeinate
No this was our first meet. She was a pleaser, pushover and control freak who had a life plan etc…
Angela Adams
“The chemistry between Shane and Cecilia is immediately apparent.” That’s a selling point for me! Thanks for the post!!
kimbacaffeinate
Yeah I loved the sparks and snarks!
Anna Simpson
The book sounds marvelous, and the series even better. 🙂 Some authors are kind enough to make each book of a series work as stand alones. Bless them all for that fine gift. 🙂
Anna from Shout with Emaginette
kimbacaffeinate
I love these standalone series 🙂
blodeuedd
I like it, yes I’d read it
kimbacaffeinate
woot 🙂
Linnae
There is always a thin line between love and hate and I’m a big fan of love stories that start from a negative. And the cover is cute!
kimbacaffeinate
I love the banter and tension that ensues 🙂
Brandi Breathes Books
The delightful character development feels right up my alley
kimbacaffeinate
It was wonderful Brandi
Felicia the Geeky Blogger
Us PP are often clueless as to what we really want. I think I would totally identify with C 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
LOL, she had some serious issues but comes along way 🙂
Siiri
Haaa! I wasn’t aware that someone from my small circle of blogging friends had already read this book. I’m so happy to hear that you loved it since I just bought it and I hear it’s very similar to my favorite fictional couple of all time: Rose Calloway and Connor Cobalt from the Addicted series. So incredibly ready for TWTIA 😉 I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed the chemistry and characters, plus, I’m always down fo angst that’s done differently, so this is a yay in my book! Can’t wait to start this pretty tale 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Sweet..I hope you like it as much as I did Siiri
Candace
Sounds good! I’ll have to look up the first so I remember to watch for it on sale. 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Good idea, put it on your watch list at Amazon 🙂
aurian
It sounds very good Kimba I will pick it up if I see it somewhere 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Sweet, enjoy Aurian 🙂
Heidi
I almost requested this one as well because I thought it looked cute. Dang it. I love the antagonistic relationship, the small town, the whole family thing, and I love that you read it out of order. Sounds like a fun little series to check out.
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you grab it anyway Heidi
Jess
I love that this one made you go back and read the first and now you are waiting for the third. Awesome! It is great when we can jump into a second book and it works, but we still want to read the first one. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
kimbacaffeinate
always a good sign 😉
Glass
This sounds like a sweet romance story. I haven’t noticed it before, bit I’m definitely adding it to my tbr list.
kimbacaffeinate
woot 🙂
Laurel-Rain Snow
I love how the characters with the sizzling heat between them seem to hate each other in the beginning. Makes for interesting story.
Thanks for sharing.
kimbacaffeinate
Agreed Laurel 🙂
Katherine
I love the haters to lovers almost as much as I love the friends to more. This sounds like a fun read. I love when the calm collected characters find out that they’re not quite as on top of everything as they thought! I’m adding this series to the TBR!
kimbacaffeinate
Ooo me too Katherine it creates wonderful chemistry 🙂
Sophia Rose
Glad to know, I’m not the only one that grabs up a book and then discovers its part of a series. Haha! I love the enemies to lovers trope too. I’ll have to put this one on the list. Thanks!
kimbacaffeinate
The trope is a fun one..I loved the heat and banter.
kindlemom1
I am loving all these romance novels you are reading lately, you are seriously adding to my TBR pile like crazy!
kimbacaffeinate
Hehe. Good 😉
Lily
Oh God Kimba. The minute I read the title for this one I immediately started singing Abba. How bad is that? LOL
kimbacaffeinate
:snort: you are not alone Lily!
Debbie Haupt
Wow Kim, I agree it is a cute cover with a great premise and what I wouldn’t give to be able to wear a dress like that again 😀 LOL
Thanks for the great review
kimbacaffeinate
You and me both 🙂
Jenny
I love that Cecelia won you over in the end Kim, it always makes me happy when a character does that. Character growth is one of my very favorite things, and I’m glad Cecilia had more of a take no prisoners attitude by the end:) Must add this to the list, I need a book with an HEA in my life!
kimbacaffeinate
I love to see a character bloom 🙂
Nick
I’m currently reading this, Kim and I’m really enjoying the banter and the hate-lust relationship between the two. Shane is so swoony!!
Lovely review! 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
hehe..woot, so glad you are enjoying it. Did you read book one or jump in like me?
Nick
I jumped in too! I’ll have to go back and read the first one!
Nick
I jumped in too! I’ll have to go back and read the first one!
Braine Talk Supe
*Singing The Winner Takes It All by Abba*
Sounds like a good build-up, Cecilia’s character development seems to be the books’ greatest strength aside from the romance of course.
kimbacaffeinate
:snort: I do that all the time..when a title makes me think of a song. I am so glad you are weird like me!
Adria
I shouldn’t but I am, I’m adding this book to my TBR.
kimbacaffeinate
hehe..ah the woes of a book addict 🙂
Christy
Oh hell yeah, I love when the characters hate each other! Looks like I need to read this.
kimbacaffeinate
me too Christy..it adds heat and delicious tension
Melliane
Ah I’m talented with starting books in the middle of a series. I’m glad it was ok with this one, it’s usually ok with romance (fortunately). I’m glad you had a good time with this one. I didn’t know about it.
kimbacaffeinate
Yes in romance it usually works if each book is about a new couple. 🙂 hehe..i am glad I am not the only one who clicks and accepts before realizing or err researching.
Alreem
sound like a book i will enjoy and whenever there is a teasing between the two character is the best in my Opinion ,, this is a sign that I will enjoy this book 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Oh I agree..I loved the banter 🙂