All Keegan wanted was a roommate who was quiet, minded their own business, and paid for part of the rent. Instead, she got Camden Brooks.
Camden, with his sinful body, sharp tongue, and the inability to stay out of Keegan’s personal business, couldn’t seem to curb his interest in the new girl who wouldn’t put up with his domineering ways.
Feelings were running rampant, sexual tension was thick, and both were struggling to let go of control.
To some people, getting a roommate simply meant living with another person. But to both Camden and Keegan it was a curveball that neither was prepared to swing at.
What a fantastic start to what I predict will be one hell of a series! Bender has the perfect mix of angst, steam, and sexual tension. Its main and supporting characters run the gamut of personalities, and the blend of alpha males and females with moments of insecurity, sadness, and anger makes for one wild ride – one that throws readers and the characters on a bender – not of the drinking variety 😉
A bender is a curve ball; it’s thrown with a spin, and the ball goes in an unexpected way towards the batter. This analogy perfectly fits Keegan and Camden’s lives. Keegan is not exactly living it up as a college student; her mother leans on her, probably more than she should, to help take care of her younger sister while her mother stays out and lives it up. After one too many late nights of babysitting and not being able to study, Keegan throws her first bender and tells her mom she’s moving out and that it is now her responsibility to take care of her younger sister. But before Keegan knows it, a curve ball is being thrown her way, and her new roommate ends up not being Dodger – the charismatic hottie but rather his just as hot but asshole of a brother Camden.
Keegan and Camden’s roommate situation gets worse before it gets better. Keegan tries to stay out of Camden’s way, but it seems he goes out of his way to get into Keegan’s business and flaunt bimbos in front of her. As Cam continues his acts of douchery, Keegan doesn’t see this situation working out, but she’s too stubborn to move out and feel like a quitter, so she avoids Camden at all cost. But their interactions increase and with each snarky comment comes a whole lot of sexual tension – Camden is not used to a female standing up to him; he’s all about control, and on most occasions, he loses his control with Keegan; it’s almost like he knows she’s a game changer – the curve ball he needs to get the kind of life he wants – but he’s just not ready to admit it. But one thing’s for sure, Camden’s life just got a whole lot more interesting by letting Dodger choose his roommate – the question is – will Camden finally give in to the pull he feels towards Keegan or will he throw one too many change ups and push her out of his life for good?
Bender is a sweet and steamy read that also takes a look at the problems with self perception. Keegan doesn’t feel good about her curves or her weight, and it definitely affects her interaction with males. Both Dodger and Camden try to show her what she really looks like, but it’s a bit of a battle for a while. Camden is a dominant alpha male who protects those he loves, and his feelings for Keegan may mess with his head, but he goes out of his way to try and take care of her…to show her that she’s a remarkable woman.
All parts of this book worked for me. The fact that Keegan and Camden didn’t go into an insta relationship but actually battled their feelings for one another until they were ready to give it a go made the storyline better. Readers knew they were going to get together despite the obstacles and angst, but part of the fun, as a reader, is taking the ride with the characters to reach that point. The banter, snarky comments, and all kinds of attitude keeps the text lively. Watching a hot alpha male go from a jackass to a good guy who definitely knows how to treat his woman both in and outside the bedroom is the kind of thing romance readers want to witness, and Stacy definitely delivers a home run on that front. I loved Bender, and I can’t wait for Dodger’s story! He was fantastic as a supporting character, so it will be interesting to see what happens with him taking the lead!
A complimentary copy of the text was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
5 poison apples
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