Just This Once by Trish Jensen

Photo from Goodreads
 

Paperback, 200 pages
Published June 25th 2013 by Bell Bridge Books (first published November 1st 1998)
ISBN: 1611942942 (ISBN13: 9781611942941)

Summary from Goodreads:
"Just This Once is a must-read for lovers of well-written, sensual, contemporary romance." - Connie Ramsdell, Bookbug on the Web
Will she say Yes, just this once?
As a minister's daughter, Shannon Walsh was raised to say No to a lot of temptations with men at the top of that list. She's an adult now, making her own choices, but until Mr. Right comes along, she plans to keep resisting the call of the wild.
Then Rick Hardison moves in next door. The handsome rascal doesn't appear to have spent many hours inside a church, and he doesn't waste any time drawing Shannon inside his wickedly sexy arms. What's a good girl to do when the man of her dreams is a very bad boy? She decides to take a chance. But just this once.

My Thoughts:
Loved the story! I was up until 3am because I NEEDED to finish it.

Just This Once is a story of apprehension. Of both sides being scared to take chances. Her, falling for the bad boy. Him, falling for a woman in general. Lots of times we are afraid to do something because we don't want to disappoint someone (like our parents). Ultimately it is our decision as an adult and we have to live with the consequences of those choices. We have to open our eyes, and realize that what we may be trying to run away from really is exactly what we have been looking for. It is what is on the inside that matters. Their heart. A person's actions can tell you more about them than their appearance ever could.

I loved Bert. We also have a lovable, goofy GSD, so this appealed to me right from the beginning.

Shannon grew up as a sheltered minister's daughter and now that she is away from home, she wants to walk on the wild side just once. One afternoon, that temptation ends up on her doorstep. A gorgeous bad boy and he just so happens to be her neighbor. She makes it clear that anything between them would happen only once because she knows that she could never fall for some one like him. He is the bad boy that her parents warned her about. But, he makes her feel so wild, so free. She has never felt like this before. Never experienced things like this...until him.

Rick is a cop that takes his job very seriously. His only love is his spoiled, silly GSD. He has always been the love 'em and leave 'em type and knows that anything between him and Shannon would be strictly sexual, nothing more. No feelings. No late night conversations about their lives outside of the bedroom. But now he doesn't know what has come over himself. He doesn't understand how he can have these feelings he has developed for her...even when she's not around.

They had both agreed that anything between them will be a one time deal...but it turns out they can't stay away from each other. Shannon is getting the chance to explore new things with him. Things she has only dreamed of doing, just once in her life, before she settles down and finds some respectable guy out there and marries him. But, she cant get enough of Rick. She has never felt what she feels when she is with him. His body. His smile. Her time here is almost up. She just doesn't know how she is going to be able to leave him without feeling torn apart inside. Like she would be leaving part of herself behind. Rick is learning that he can open up and have real conversations, not just having fun for a week before he gets bored and moves on. And that deep down, he can care. He tries to understand that her parents wouldn't think very highly of him. So what can he do? She's set on leaving. He doesn't know if he can change her mind, but he is definitely going to try, whatever he has to do, to keep her.

Just This Once can be purchased here on Amazon.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.