by Lorelei James
Series: Need You #1
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Heat Level:
As the CFO of Lund Industries, Brady Lund is the poster child for responsibility. But eighty hour work weeks leave him little time for a life outside his corner office. His brothers stage an intervention and drag him to a seedy night club...where he sees her, the buttoned up blonde from the secretarial pool who's starred in his fantasies for months. Lennox Greene is a woman with a rebellious past—which she carefully conceals beneath her conservative clothes. She knows flirting with her sexy, but aloof boss during working hours is a bad idea. So when Brady shows up at her favorite dive bar, sans his usual snappy suit, and catches her cutting loose, she throws caution aside and dares him to do the same. After sparks fly, Brady finds keeping his hands off Lennox during office hours is harder than expected. While she makes him feel alive for the first time in years, a part of him wonders if she’s just using him to get ahead. And Lennox must figure out if Brady wants her for the accomplished woman she is—or the bad girl she was.
What You Need by Lorelei James is the first novel in her Need You series and works as a standalone. What You Need introduces us to the Lund family, a successful and powerful family in Minneapolis-St. Paul who despite their wealth share similar problems when dealing with family and love. James brought unexpected depth and a sexy, nerdy hero to swoon over.
Coffee dates with What You Need
- First date: I was both curious and nervous about meeting the Lund’s. Especially Brady Lund, when I heard he was so freakin’ hot. I worried he would be one of the pretentious snobs. James delivered a nerdy hero who is socially awkward, a little damaged and a whole lotta sexy! I adored Brady. He is confident in the boardroom and shy around the ladies. He is intrigued by Lennox Green when he hears her laughing and it takes him ten months to learn her name! Ten Months! A family intervention and Lennox soon have him taking chances and the ride was sweet, funny and adorkable.
- Second date: We meet some of the Lund family in little side threads that worked wonderfully as our couple kept bumping into each other. James provided depth and interesting side stories from troubled youth in the city to family dynamics and interventions. Lennox is a true gem. Her childhood was horrible, and she spent her teens as a runaway. She is one of the lucky ones, who got her life on track and put herself through school. At work, she is very prim and proper, hiding her tats and removing her piercings but that does not hide her outspokenness. The interaction and banter between Lennox and Brady was hilarious and laced with sexual tension. This was a slow building romance and the buildup was delicious. James created scenes without intimacy that were smoking hot and heart-thumping.
- Third date: Our couple finally tango between the sheets and it was worth the wait. However, both characters experience some growing pains as they navigate their relationship towards our. Brady shows tremendous growth finding balance between career and life outside the office. I really enjoyed this couple and appreciated that the growth came from within and the drama was quickly diffused. Their story wraps up nicely and realistically. James brought depth, humor, family and a realistic ending. I am eager to being my next coffee dates with this series and hope for updates on this couple.
What You Need is the perfect romance to snuggle up with on a cold winter’s eve. I feel confident you will love our snarky heroine and nerdy hero.
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. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Aurian
Hmm this does sound very good!
kimbacaffeinate
I have been loving this series Aurian.
Ksenia
I haven’t heard about this book before. I like the sound of the hero. There a lot of books with playboys and a lot less with sexy nerds. Great review, Kim!
kimbacaffeinate
Exactly, and I loved this different approach.
Bookworm Brandee
I’ve read some of James’ steamier romances and enjoyed them. 😉 I saw this was releasing and I’m so happy to see your review of it. A nerdy hero?? I’m all over that. And I like the sound of Lennox, looking all prim and proper but not afraid to open her mouth and say it like it is. 🙂 I really can’t wait to get to this one, Kimberly.
kimbacaffeinate
This was more mainstream, but I had such fun with these characters.
Lorna
Nerd and a snarky heroine-sounds like a fun read! Hope the rest of the series is as good 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Ooo me too Lorna!
The Bibliophile Babe
Ooh, this looks good!
kimbacaffeinate
It really was a fun read.
Angel Erin
Oh this sounds good! Got to love a nerdy hero!
kimbacaffeinate
Right…nerdy heroes are so sexy.
Cyn
Snarky heroine and nerdy hero? Yes, please! This definitely sounds like a steamy romance. I will have to check this out! Great review, Kim!
kimbacaffeinate
Perfect combo, and while it was sexy..it was a slow-build
Jennifer
Love James’ Mastered series. I need to check this one out.
kimbacaffeinate
This was my first, I will look into the Mastered series.
Angela Adams
The blurb mentions “his brothers” makes me wonder if each brother will get his own book in the series. Thanks for the post.
kimbacaffeinate
I am thinking that will be the case or at least family members, he has a single sister too!
Katherine
A nerdy hero? That’s pretty much all I need to know. This does sound like lots of fun and I love that they know each other before meeting in the dive bar. Another one on my TBR!
kimbacaffeinate
Happy to add to the TBR pile Ali 🙂
Mary Kirkland
I’ve read two of her books and didn’t care for either of them. I doubt I will read another.
kimbacaffeinate
This was my first, so sorry to hear she isn’t for you Mary.
Lily B
aww I love nerdy heros, this sounds like a lot of fun!
kimbacaffeinate
Me too, thanks Lily
em✨ (
i think i will be picking this up, ive been after something like this! x
kimbacaffeinate
Cannot wait to hear your thoughts Em.
RO
I’m a James fan, despite this cover (lol), and this book sounds right up my alley, and ready for my shelf. The characters sound fab and I can’t wait to meet them! Hugs…RO
kimbacaffeinate
LOL, yeah this cover is wrong for the book..but the author gets no say in that.
Candace
I wouldn’t have expected nerdy or shy from him. Usually these characters in high positions are all cocky. This sounds different (and better IMO). Glad you enjoyed!
kimbacaffeinate
Exactly which is what made it such fun. I was expecting a Drew Evans type from Tangled and adored this.
Heidi
Happy to hear that the drama diffused quickly, and I like to hear that it was realistic and that it had snark.
kimbacaffeinate
It really was, and was at least realistic.
kindlemom1
Yay a hot nerd! I think I really do love those best LOL! Adding this one to my pile Kim!
kimbacaffeinate
Yes…he was adorkable Ali!
Brandi Breathes Books
Perfect and cuddly sounds great to me esp with an awkward hero
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you pick it up, I had such fun with this one
Quinn's Book Nook
Brady sounds like an absolute doll. I do have a soft spot for shy awkward heroes.
kimbacaffeinate
Right. Sometimes not knowing how sexy you are makes you even sexier.
Jenny
Um. A nerdy, socially awkward hero? That is all I need to know about this one Kim! I’m completely sold. I haven’t read anything by Lorelei James either, so I’m excited to give her a try:)
kimbacaffeinate
So worth the read, It was delightful 🙂
Maureen Beatrice
Brady Lund sounds like a great character. Who doesn’t like a sexy and nerdy male character right?! This definitely sounds like a nice read. Don’t know what I think about that cover though…
kimbacaffeinate
bwahaha…doesn’t quite fit eh?
Nick
Ooh sexy and nerdy! You know I can’t resist that combo, Kim! And there’s family dynamics also, so I’m in!
Great review, Kim! 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Right…so many elements made this a winner.
Lekeisha
Sounds great! I love nerdy heroes, so I think me and Brady will get along just fine.
kimbacaffeinate
Oh me too, of course I love alphas as well, but this was refreshing!
melliane
Poor Lenox, but it’s great that Brady was like that, now I want to discover him!
kimbacaffeinate
Such a fun one Melliane
blodeuedd
This I could read 😀
kimbacaffeinate
Cool. I hope you do