Title: Oscar
Series: The Davenports #1
Author: SJ McCoy
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 27, 2018
Series: The Davenports #1
Author: SJ McCoy
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 27, 2018
Blurb
Oscar Davenport always wins. Always. He
doesn’t come second, and he sure as hell doesn’t lose. He’s founded and sold
three tech companies, netting him almost a billion dollars. He ran a hedge fund
worth hundreds of billions—until he got bored. His latest project, Six, a
nightclub in LA is another winner. It’s both a successful business and a
playground full of playmates.
He’s never met an obstacle he couldn’t overcome or a woman he couldn’t have.
Until now.
Grace Evans is the kind of girl you’d find curled up with a good book on a
Saturday night—at least, usually. This Saturday night is different. This
Saturday night she’s gotten all done up, in a dress she can barely breathe in
and heels she can barely walk in. She had to. She had to venture into the lair
of the enemy.
The enemy is Oscar Davenport, and his lair is his swanky nightclub. When she
lays eyes on him, she’s ready to believe he’s the devil incarnate. His wicked
smile, his beautiful eyes—everything about him is an invitation to sin. He
moves with the grace and arrogance of a big cat about to pounce. Unfortunately,
he’s moving straight toward her. He’s singled her out as his prey. He’s moving
in for the kill.
Little does he know that she isn’t about to surrender; in fact, he’s in for the
fight of his life.
doesn’t come second, and he sure as hell doesn’t lose. He’s founded and sold
three tech companies, netting him almost a billion dollars. He ran a hedge fund
worth hundreds of billions—until he got bored. His latest project, Six, a
nightclub in LA is another winner. It’s both a successful business and a
playground full of playmates.
He’s never met an obstacle he couldn’t overcome or a woman he couldn’t have.
Until now.
Grace Evans is the kind of girl you’d find curled up with a good book on a
Saturday night—at least, usually. This Saturday night is different. This
Saturday night she’s gotten all done up, in a dress she can barely breathe in
and heels she can barely walk in. She had to. She had to venture into the lair
of the enemy.
The enemy is Oscar Davenport, and his lair is his swanky nightclub. When she
lays eyes on him, she’s ready to believe he’s the devil incarnate. His wicked
smile, his beautiful eyes—everything about him is an invitation to sin. He
moves with the grace and arrogance of a big cat about to pounce. Unfortunately,
he’s moving straight toward her. He’s singled her out as his prey. He’s moving
in for the kill.
Little does he know that she isn’t about to surrender; in fact, he’s in for the
fight of his life.
Purchase Links
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS
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Excerpt
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS
GOOGLE PLAY
A Review by Diane
Oscar
by
SJ McCoy
Four "instant chemistry in an elevator" Stars!
****
Where do lives go when two worlds collide and two people from very different walks of life end up meeting? Where rich meets the unsure; where stubborn meets the confident and the future meets the past? SJ McCoy has written an intriguing story in the new book Oscar about two people from very different walks of life that find it possible for both to walk a new path together.
Our main characters, Oscar Davenport and Grace Evans meet in an elevator (what is it about those elevators??) before we really know anything about them and they have instant, hot and sexually arousing chemistry. I mean “is it possible to find a hotel room right now” instant chemistry that ropes you into the story before you even know anything about them.
Oscar Davenport is a charismatic, billionaire playboy but he also had a kind of cocky charming side to his personality. It’s probably due to the fact that he always gets what he wants. You know, that irritating cad who has been successful in everything he touches from hedge funds to tech companies and now a nightclub named Six, his normal Saturday night hangout. He has the usual number of strikingly beautiful women throwing themselves at him and all he has to do is pick the “flavor of the night.” But something didn’t jive with Oscar from my perspective. This man has a great family, loving siblings, a good education, and he was raised by great parents, so those things don’t mesh with the lifestyle he has chosen. I think Oscar is on a quest to find meaning in his life. Something that gives purpose to his all too boring, “things come easy to him” life. He just doesn’t know it yet.
And then Grace Evans crosses his path. Now here’s a girl who’s had a rough life. But you’ve heard the old adage “what doesn’t end up killing us, only makes us stronger”? Well that’s how I picture Grace in this story. She’s had to pull herself up by her bootstraps more times than she can count, and each time she gets more and more stubborn, always fighting for survival. She knows all about survival having survived the foster care system. And in an effort to help those still bound by a system, she started a community center for latchkey kids, vets who need a place to gather, and young moms who need a place to find help. But now it’s all going to go away because of Oscar Davenport. He and his money need something to do, so he’s bought the lot that the community center sits on to build another nightclub. But our sweet Grace is not going to take this turn of events without a fight and Oscar Davenport is the one she will declare war on if she has too.
So let’s talk about their story. The premise was predictable, but likable and really, oh so sweet. Not a lot of angst which was kind of a nice break from the “boy loses girl” premises. Sometimes you just need to stick around and work things out and I was happy to see that these two did. Oscar was your usual billionaire playboy struggling to find meaning in his life. A twist was his caring family. No one can be a true cad with that kind of support behind you. Grace was your girl who had a difficult upbringing in the foster care system. When she and Oscar finally got together, I did have difficulty with her constant insecurities about him, almost right up to the end. I get that this girl had struggles, but hey, when someone finally indicates marriage is in their future, get with the program girlfriend!!!!
The main characters were well developed and had quite a bit of depth to them. The secondary characters were enjoyable and fun to read and I can see a couple of stories developing for future books. Overall, I enjoyed Oscar and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it or give it two thumbs up!!
Excerpt
Once she was inside the elevator, she jabbed at the button
again, this time trying to make the doors close. She really was shit out of
luck this morning. Just as they began to slide together, a set of long, strong
fingers slipped between them, and they slid open again. And there he was.
again, this time trying to make the doors close. She really was shit out of
luck this morning. Just as they began to slide together, a set of long, strong
fingers slipped between them, and they slid open again. And there he was.
He stepped inside with a smile and a nod, then pressed to go
to the eighteenth floor. Shit. That was her floor. He couldn’t go there.
to the eighteenth floor. Shit. That was her floor. He couldn’t go there.
“What do you need?”
She stared at him blankly. “Need?” Could he somehow see
inside her mind, see all the months of a dry spell that had gone on way too
long? Or could he see the images floating inside her head? Images of what the
two of them could do if the elevator somehow got stuck.
inside her mind, see all the months of a dry spell that had gone on way too
long? Or could he see the images floating inside her head? Images of what the
two of them could do if the elevator somehow got stuck.
The corners of his lips curved upward again. That just might
be the sexiest smile she’d ever seen. “Which floor?”
be the sexiest smile she’d ever seen. “Which floor?”
“Oh!” Well, wasn’t she an idiot? Her mind raced. She
couldn’t get off the elevator with him. He might think she was following him. “Seventeen.”
couldn’t get off the elevator with him. He might think she was following him. “Seventeen.”
He hit the button, but before they started to move, the
doors slid open again. Thank God for that!
doors slid open again. Thank God for that!
Two men and two women came in and turned to face the doors,
leaving Grace and the Big Cat alone in the silent space behind them. Grace
gripped the tray with her two coffee cups and stared determinedly at the
numbers above the door. She’d always suspected this was the world’s slowest
elevator, but this morning’s ride confirmed it. Every second was torture. She
could smell him—all citrus and man. She’d swear he was looking at her, but she
refused to allow herself to sneak a peek. He’d catch her.
leaving Grace and the Big Cat alone in the silent space behind them. Grace
gripped the tray with her two coffee cups and stared determinedly at the
numbers above the door. She’d always suspected this was the world’s slowest
elevator, but this morning’s ride confirmed it. Every second was torture. She
could smell him—all citrus and man. She’d swear he was looking at her, but she
refused to allow herself to sneak a peek. He’d catch her.
She tried looking down at the coffee cups, but that just
made a strand of her hair fall across her face. She wrinkled her nose and tried
to blow it away, then she froze. There were those long, strong fingers again.
They brushed her cheek as they took the errant strand and tucked it behind her
ear. If the heat had surged through her when he held the door open, then her
blood was boiling in her veins right now. All the little hairs on the back of
her neck stood up and sent shivers racing down her spine. Even her scalp
tingled. She turned. How could she not?
made a strand of her hair fall across her face. She wrinkled her nose and tried
to blow it away, then she froze. There were those long, strong fingers again.
They brushed her cheek as they took the errant strand and tucked it behind her
ear. If the heat had surged through her when he held the door open, then her
blood was boiling in her veins right now. All the little hairs on the back of
her neck stood up and sent shivers racing down her spine. Even her scalp
tingled. She turned. How could she not?
Those big brown eyes were twinkling with amusement. “I hope
I didn’t overstep? You looked uncomfortable.”
I didn’t overstep? You looked uncomfortable.”
She shook her head mutely. What could she say, even if she
could find the breath to speak?
could find the breath to speak?
The elevator stopped, and she silently begged the people in
front of her not to get out. They couldn’t leave her alone in here with this
guy—she would not be responsible for her actions. To her relief, they didn’t.
Instead, two more got in, and that was quite a crowd. Everyone shuffled back a
little. She had no clue how it happened, but somehow, she ended up face to face
with Big Cat. She was in the corner, and he was right there in front of her,
staring down into her eyes, that quirky little smile playing on his face again.
She’d had a laugh with Spider the other night when one of the customers had
tried hitting on her in the coffee shop. She’d told Spider that her sexual
desires were dormant. Hell, had she been wrong about that. Standing here,
face-to-face with this guy, she discovered that her sexual desires weren’t just
active—oh, no, they were rampant. She was grateful for the tray of coffee she
was gripping. It gave her hands something to do that kept them from reaching up
to touch his face, maybe sinking into his hair or even sliding around his
waist.
front of her not to get out. They couldn’t leave her alone in here with this
guy—she would not be responsible for her actions. To her relief, they didn’t.
Instead, two more got in, and that was quite a crowd. Everyone shuffled back a
little. She had no clue how it happened, but somehow, she ended up face to face
with Big Cat. She was in the corner, and he was right there in front of her,
staring down into her eyes, that quirky little smile playing on his face again.
She’d had a laugh with Spider the other night when one of the customers had
tried hitting on her in the coffee shop. She’d told Spider that her sexual
desires were dormant. Hell, had she been wrong about that. Standing here,
face-to-face with this guy, she discovered that her sexual desires weren’t just
active—oh, no, they were rampant. She was grateful for the tray of coffee she
was gripping. It gave her hands something to do that kept them from reaching up
to touch his face, maybe sinking into his hair or even sliding around his
waist.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded rapidly, meeting his gaze briefly. Even she heard
the gasp she made when he rested his hand on her hip. What was he doing? You
didn’t just do that to a stranger in a crowded elevator.
the gasp she made when he rested his hand on her hip. What was he doing? You
didn’t just do that to a stranger in a crowded elevator.
“Are you sure?” He looked worried now.
She looked down to where his hand rested on her hip. Except
it wasn’t his hand—it was the purse the woman in front of her had slung over
her shoulder. Grace couldn’t help it. She laughed. Wow, she needed to get laid.
Okay, the guy was attractive, but he shouldn’t affect her this badly. “I’m
fine, thanks. Have a great day.” She edged her way to the front and squeezed
out through the doors before they had a chance to open fully on the seventeenth
floor. She couldn’t help it. She had to look back before they closed. He’d made
his way to the front, too. He met her gaze with a smile.
it wasn’t his hand—it was the purse the woman in front of her had slung over
her shoulder. Grace couldn’t help it. She laughed. Wow, she needed to get laid.
Okay, the guy was attractive, but he shouldn’t affect her this badly. “I’m
fine, thanks. Have a great day.” She edged her way to the front and squeezed
out through the doors before they had a chance to open fully on the seventeenth
floor. She couldn’t help it. She had to look back before they closed. He’d made
his way to the front, too. He met her gaze with a smile.
Bye, Big Cat. She bid him a sad farewell. At
least, in the real world, the world where she’d never see him again. She had a
feeling her imagination would be seeing a lot more of him in the nights to
come.
least, in the real world, the world where she’d never see him again. She had a
feeling her imagination would be seeing a lot more of him in the nights to
come.
She smiled back at him; there was no harm now. And he
winked! The arrogant prick actually winked at her. She stood there staring
as the doors slid shut, and then he was gone.
winked! The arrogant prick actually winked at her. She stood there staring
as the doors slid shut, and then he was gone.
Author Bio
I'm SJ, a
coffee addict, lover of chocolate and drinker of good red wines. I'm a lost
soul and a hopeless romantic. Reading and writing are necessary parts of who I
am. Though perhaps not as necessary as coffee! I can drink coffee without
writing, but I can't write without coffee.
I grew up loving romance novels, my first boyfriends were book boyfriends, but
life intervened, as it tends to do, and I wandered down the paths of non
fiction for many years. My life changed completely a couple of years ago and I
returned to Romance to find my escape.
I write 'Sweet n Steamy' stories because to me there is enough angst and
darkness in real life. My favorite romances are happy escapes with a focus on
fun, friendships and happily-ever-afters, just like the ones I write.
These days I live in beautiful Montana, the last best place. If I'm not reading
or writing, you'll find me just down the road in the park - Yellowstone. I have
deer, eagles and the occasional bear for company, and I like it that way :0)
coffee addict, lover of chocolate and drinker of good red wines. I'm a lost
soul and a hopeless romantic. Reading and writing are necessary parts of who I
am. Though perhaps not as necessary as coffee! I can drink coffee without
writing, but I can't write without coffee.
I grew up loving romance novels, my first boyfriends were book boyfriends, but
life intervened, as it tends to do, and I wandered down the paths of non
fiction for many years. My life changed completely a couple of years ago and I
returned to Romance to find my escape.
I write 'Sweet n Steamy' stories because to me there is enough angst and
darkness in real life. My favorite romances are happy escapes with a focus on
fun, friendships and happily-ever-afters, just like the ones I write.
These days I live in beautiful Montana, the last best place. If I'm not reading
or writing, you'll find me just down the road in the park - Yellowstone. I have
deer, eagles and the occasional bear for company, and I like it that way :0)
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