So Into You (Renée’s review)

Title: So Into You (The PI Guys, #2)
Author: S.E. Harmon
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: January 4, 2016
Genre(s): Contemporary
Page Count: 326
Reviewed by: Renée
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Blurb:

Screenwriter Noah Ashley has a few four-letter words for his agent when she suggests he improve his script by shadowing a PI. Still, because he’s an artist dedicated to his craft and she knows where the bodies are buried, he agrees. Then he spends a little time with the gorgeous PI, and suddenly it seems like a really good plan. The PI doesn’t seem to entirely love the idea, but Noah has never been afraid to go after what he wants.

PI Drew Rodriguez is used to people depending on him. He’s the classic rock for his family. Responsible. Dependable. The classic rock would never succumb to the borderline sleazy temptation of friends with benefits, no matter how sexy that temptation is. Drew is looking for something enduring.

Despite Drew’s misgivings, it’s not long before they’ve got all the requisites for friends with benefits going. Friendly, good conversation? Check. Fun times in and out of bed? Check. Hot, electrolyte-sapping sex? Double check. Falling in love? Yeah. About that….

I read Harmon’s first book and fell in love with her writing style. I will admit to shamelessly waiting for another book, and got my grubby hands on this ARC as soon as I could. And was no less thrilled with the outcome than the first.

Noah is a screenplay writer for movies out in LA. He is jaded and tired of being used by people to get them things: roles, money, fame, etc. While writing his most recent script, the director (producer?) wants him to spend time with a real PI – the role of the main character in the movie – to bring some authentic charm to the script.

Since his mother lives in Miami, Noah’s agent makes arrangements across the country in beautiful Florida. Here’s where we see Drew again, Mac’s best friend and work partner from Book 1 in the series. Drew is dry and cynical, but funny as hell.

These two are like oil and water. Hollywood meets cynical PI? Noah makes a bad first impression, and Drew could honestly give no fucks if “Hollywood” never graces his and Mac’s doorstep again.

The snarky banter gets me every time! These two go from frenemies to snarky friends to begrudgingly finding each other hot to friends with benefits for the length of eight weeks while Noah is in Miami.

“You’re going to come up with a zillion – and I do mean a zillion – reasons why we shouldn’t have hot, sweaty, has-anyone-seen-my-underwear kind of sex, and we both know that in the end, we are.”

Noah can’t do relationships. He can’t trust anyone after all the users in his life in Tinseltown. Drew can’t do anything but. He’s not built for casual sex. But he knows the score. He knows it’s got a timer on it. And he can enjoy it for what it is. Famous last words……

But Noah can pretend all he likes. He doesn’t ACT like a casual fuck buddy. No wonder poor Drew gets confused at times.

Lots of supporting characters in this one, mostly parents and siblings besides Mac and Jordan from book 1. And this was the half star deduction for me: I get that not everyone thinks like I do. Well, fuck it, I don’t care. If your sperm or egg donor is a piece of shit user, walk the fuck away. Period. Blood doesn’t mean anything special in those cases. If it did, they would’ve shown some special right backatcha!! Unfortunately, we’ve got Drew’s daddy dearest in this one, and everyone is pushing Drew to let him in, let him closer, to just forgive and forget. Let him mooch. Yeah, snort, fuck that noise! It’s so much worse than I’ve described, but I’m leaving the spoilers out.

The beauty of this book is the ticking clock and what happens during and after. There is heartbreak and jealousy and life lessons and friendships. Harmon can write and has officially solidified an autobuy reader out of me!