Vodka Warrior

Oh don't worry, I haven't fallen off a wagon or started drinking. My liver is pink (or whatever color it's supposed to be) and happy.

Vodka Warrior - Mickey J. Corrigan

The Hard Stuff: Book #2

A lonely divorcee living in a tacky development in Dusky Beach, Florida, Theresa Tierney is an educated hick and her own worst enemy. She has a wild streak and a bit of a drinking problem, both leading to a few too many bad choices.

When her neighbor’s new roommate arrives, a good-looking body god, Theresa is both curious and disgusted. A brash New Yorker, Vario Fumesti says what he's thinking and looks sexy as hell doing it. The brawny mountain of pumped muscle is mega alpha male. But his frequent hot tub parties with friends from a local strip club fire up Theresa’s anger. In fact, Vario continually makes her feel and do things she isn't expecting.

A series of screw-ups, lust, and love set Theresa on a rollercoaster ride that’s out of control and threatening to jump the tracks.

I haven't read the first book so I can tell you this can be read as a stand alone, though it is part of a series. It's also around 55 pages of text (at least on my Nook), so you can get this done in less than an hour if you're looking for a waiting room read. 

I didn't love it though. I actually read it twice thinking because I read this immediately after a really fantastic book with beautiful words and sentences that maybe I was being overly critical. So I gave it a few days, then came back to it. And still... I didn't love it. I think my main issue is that I really didn't like the main character, Theresa. Mostly because she's an alcoholic, she makes poor choices, she's brash, and she is a terrible tutor for a high school boy (how did his parents not ask for references or ask why she got fired from her teaching job?!) and that turns out to be a nightmare. Then in moves new neighbor, Vario, and he's kind of an asshole. I was expecting hilarious story line, and there was only one incident I cracked a smile and the rest.... maybe I'm really snobby and don't see the humor. Admittedly, I'm not one to enjoy drunken antics so that might be my issue here. But in walks Vario and sexual tension ensues. Except Theresa is basically a hot mess. But somehow, they make that happen and the ending? Felt rushed. I can't tell you what happens since that's a spoiler but it kind of reminded me of an episode of Teen Mom, featuring Jenelle. You know what I'm talking about. 

I am clearly the odd ball out because reviews for this book are 4 and 5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads. I have to be honest, I'm a one star on it because it's not one I'd read again and it's not one I would gift or tell a friend she has to read this. (If you know me in real life, you know a few things about me. 1. I always have a book (or two) with me at all times. 2. If you ask me what you should read next, I'm going to give you like five options. 3. I gift books all of the time. I'm a book giver. And 4., if I don't like it, I'm always honest.)