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    Mystery Man
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    Mystery Man
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    Mystery Man
    Audiobook14 hours

    Mystery Man

    Written by Kristen Ashley

    Narrated by Kate Russell

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Night time is the right time...

    Gwendolyn Kidd has met the man of her dreams. He's hot, he's sexy, and what started as a no-names-exchanged night of passion has blossomed into a year and a half-long pleasure fest. Sure, it's a little strange that he only appears in her bed at night, but Gwen is so sure he's the one, she just can't turn him away...

    Hawk Delgado knows more about Gwen than she could ever imagine. She's gorgeous, headstrong, and skittish about relationships. But Hawk is facing his own demons, demons that keep him from connecting with anyone. Yet when Gwen is drawn into Denver's lethal underground scene, Hawk's protective nature comes out full force. The problem is, when Gwen gets a dose of Hawk's Alpha attitude in the daylight, she's not so sure he's the one anymore....

    130,000 words
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateAug 27, 2013
    ISBN9781478924234
    Unavailable
    Mystery Man
    Author

    Kristen Ashley

    Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

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    Reviews for Mystery Man

    4/5

    292 ratings28 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      So good I read it in a day and a half kudos to the author. I was doubled over with laughter at the humor Kristen puts into the novel
    • 3/5
      What a bunch of losers. Trashy people, no one but Troy with an IQ seemingly over 95. For a book editor, Gwen is a real idiot. Hollow plot about why anyone was even really looking so desperately for Ginger.
    • 5/5
      OMG I loved it!!I think I have a new book boyfriend!!!
    • 3/5
      The first hurdle is accepting this premise, Cupid and Psyche faceless sex for a year and a half. Still, after starting the series on the MOTORCYCLE MAN end, it was interesting to see where it all starts. Tack is much sweeter in this book than his alphole self in MOTORCYCLE MAN, but I liked his story better than Hawk and Gwen (mainly because the plot is quite a stretch). MYSTERY MAN might have been four stars if I had given myself more time between books, the odd speech patterns of Ashley's heroes mean they all start to sound alike if read consecutively. I'm going to take a break before finishing off Dream Man and digging further into Rock Chick, but I'll definitely be back for more.
    • 2/5
      My thoughts were all over the place with this book (this is the first romance I've read that I felt compelled to highlight and take notes). In many ways I enjoyed it much more than the 2 star rating implies, but the story had too many problems that I couldn't ignore, and eventually they drowned out what I did like.


      This is my first Kristen Ashley book, and I fell in love with her voice immediately. I found myself charmed--or, at least, not annoyed--by things that would normally bug the hell out of me. There's Cabe "Hawk" Delgado, typical romance super-alpha hero with a tortured past, ex-Army, has some business involving a group of commandos (I'm still not exactly sure what it is he does). He's bossy as hell, doesn't share much about himself but has had Gwen followed and investigated in the year and a half they've been fuck buddies, which is creepy as hell but for the most part I was able to just roll with it and go with the fantasy. The one thing that I genuinely liked about him is how he obviously cared about Gwen. Not just lusted, though there's plenty of that, but he so obviously wanted her in his life. That's pretty rare in romance with this type of hero. And considering this story is told from Gwen's first person pov, it's pretty impressive.

      Then there's Gwen. In Hawk's word:

      "I found out you showed too much skin when you went out. I found out you talk to strangers like they're your best friends. I found out you don't live in the real world, you live in a dream world where you don't pay a fuckuva lot of attention to what's happening around you and you make questionable life decisions..."

      Gwen's a ditz, in the best way. She does some stupid shit but not in a tstl way. There's a tiny bit of Manic Pixie Dream Girl in her--she can be quirky, says some off-the-wall things, and pretty much every man she meets falls for her. Normally this would annoy me, but I like her a lot. I have absolutely nothing in common with her, I can't relate to her at all, but I want to hang out with her. And that's all Ashley's writing. Seriously charming. Another thing that I love about Gwen is that she immediately recognizes when Hawk is being an asshole and calls him on it. That's my top requirement for a romance heroine.

      The plot mostly involves her bad-seed sister, Ginger, screwing over some really bad people, and Tack, the leader of a motorcycle gang, and Gwen gets dragged into it. It was okay, but it involved way too many people.

      I was having fun with the over-the-topness of the characters and plot, brushing of some WTF behavior because, hey, fantasy right? And then about half-way through it just got old. I got sick of the whole, "Let's not tell the womenfolk everything because we don't want to upset them," shit. Seriously, Hawk tells Gwen's father things that he keeps from Gwen, and leaves him to decide if he wants to tell his wife about Ginger. As much as I loved Gwen calling Hawk out, I got sick of him never, not once, taking her seriously. I got really sick of Gwen letting herself be dragged around by whichever man happens to reach her first. Like I said, she's not stupid, but she can be quite passive when a man shows up to tell her what to do. Sure, this happens in some really dangerous situations, but it got ridiculous after a while. Oh, and the whispering. There's a lot of whispering, mostly by Gwen but most characters do it at least once. And it's not the type of whispering where they're trying to be as quiet as possible, it just happens for no real reason. I think it was supposed to be indicative of strong emotion, but after 250 instances of whispering (yes, I went back to count), it lost whatever symbolic power it was supposed to have.

      Even after I started having trouble suspending disbelief, there was still so many great moments that I was all set to give this 3 stars. But then I got pissed off. Hawk insists that Gwen is keeping herself distant from him, that she has to give him her all. Excuse me? Look up cryptic in the dictionary and you'll see this man's picture, but he tells her that she has to open up more? And when she rightfully points out that she's been through some hard things (shitty ex-husband) and that she's afraid that if she gives her all he might decide he doesn't want her anymore, he tells her, that yeah, that's a possibility but she needs to let down her walls anyway. And she does! (And I thought she wasn't stupid.) And of course, it happens--he dumps her because he can't handle it because of the things that happened to him. Long story short...it's all her fault. She's the "selfish cow" and she's the one who has to grovel. That's it. The story was completely over for me at that point. I read until the end, right through another dangerous situation to the HEA, and then through the epilogue where ANOTHER life-and-death situation happens.

      I ended this book pretty much hating everyone. It needed to be at about 1/3 shorter.

    • 1/5
      Let's just start this off with a hearty "WTF!?"


      So, the book starts with our "heroine" Gwen. She's currently in an eighteen (18) month sexual relationship with a man who's name she doesn't know.

      He comes into her home in the middle of any random night, bangs her out and then leaves.

      He doesn't have a set of keys. He just comes in.

      Also, she's doing him raw. Eeewwww!



      To be honest, I could have floated with that first section, it didn't really bother me as much as it should have. I think my reading other KA books has numbed me somewhat, lol. What I couldn't get down with was the more than obvious love triangle that was being set up from the get-go. Ugh. That's two strikes. What's even worse is that one of the people in the love triangle has his own book that I've already read. So I was rather loath to rehash that ugly subject.

      Then, in reading reviews, I learn that the "hero" is even more of a jackass than I previously thought and the "heroine" is a dumb fuck...and that it's not a love triangle, it's a fucking love square!

      ...Aaaaaannnnnd I quit! I'm good.


      ETA: Having now finished this series...

      There are 4 books in this series (which equals 4 heroes). Gwen has her slutty claws in three out of the fours heroes in the series. She marries Late Night Raw Man but the other two of them are driven (in some way) by losing Gwen. So the reader is treated to book after book of Gwen having to go check out the competition. Can you tell I dislike her?
    • 5/5
      So funny and so good makes you wish all men were like that
    • 5/5
      Loved loved loved this book! Heartache, passion, drama, all kinds of hot men! If the rest of the series is as good as this one, then I'm in!
    • 5/5
      Omg one of my favorites. I love all of Kristen Ashley’s books but this one.... I can’t even count how many times I revisit it.
    • 5/5
      This is my all time favorite book. I have read it 3 times so far. Hawk is the BOMB.com. I recommend reading all of KA's Dream Man Novels. Well I recommend all her series especially Dream Man and Colorado Mountain :-)
    • 5/5
      Kristen Ashley is definitely one of my favorite authors. She not only pulls you into the story, but all the characters are well developed. Her books also are long enough to completely fill in a story and make you satisfied with the characters and the story at the end.
    • 3/5
      ok I admit it. I'm now officially hooked on Kristen Ashley books. There were definitely some bits I didn't like at the beginning (creepy situation and silly woman much) but once the 'necessary confrontation' occured and things started moving it was great fun.

      I've already downloaded some of the sequels so they've moved up the queue for certain.
    • 4/5
      I'd call this book a time machine - start reading, glance up after a short while and the clock reads two hours later. I love when a book sucks me in like that!

    • 5/5
      He may be the "mm" but she is no mystery to him! Awesome book! Love this series!
    • 4/5
      Mystery Man
      4 Stars

      For over a year, Gwendolyn Kidd has been sexually involved with a mysterious man whose name she doesn’t even know. When Gwen’s life takes a surreal turn and she becomes the target of some nasty players in Denver’s underworld, her no-name lover comes out of the shadows in all his protective, possessive and domineering glory. Suddenly, Gwen’s not so sure that she wants Hawk Delgado to be her one and only…

      Once you get past the completely TSTL fact that Gwen is having a sexual relationship with a complete stranger, the story is very entertaining. Hawk is a totally swoonworthy hero and it is a testament to Kristen Ashley’s writing skill that he can come across as domineering and arrogant while groveling at the same time.

      Gwen’s character take a bit longer to shine. She is more of a girly-girl and my preference is for kick-ass. Nevertheless, her charm increases as the story progresses and one gets used to her ditziness.

      The minor suspense plot is an additional bonus although it is not as intense as more standard romantic suspense. That said, it serves its purpose and introduces some other yummy hot guys.

      The audiobook narrator, Kate Russell, does a good job for the female characters, but her male voices aren't as successful mainly dues to the fact that she lacks the deeper vocal range.

      All in all, a wonderful romance and the epilogue is amazing! Looking forward to listening to the next one.
    • 4/5
      Some books are better in print and some books are better in audio. This is definitely the later. The narrator, Kate Russell, is utterly excellent. Kate brings an AWESOME level of entertainment and laughs and chuckles and heart-squeezes to her reading of this book. I've got to figure out how to buy the rest of her books on my budget since they NEVER seem to go on sale.

      When I wasn't able to listen and I opened up my kindle to read further, I realized that I would have become frustrated with Ms Ashley's writing -- in the few chapters I read, I am convinced this author does not have a good command of grammar and had I read the entire book, I certainly would have been so distracted by the need for an editor, I clearly would not have had the same opinion of the story. Ms Ashley has a fun story with little angst, but her command of grammar leaves much to be desired, even when your characters talk bada$$ world street-tough.

      This is a fun, funny, quirky, gotta-live-in-a-fictional-state-of-mind-while-reading-this-sh!t. Reality can't be in your mind while reading this. No sane person wwould have sex with Myatery man who breaks into her house whenever give her great sex but never his name for about a year and a half!!! If the real world impossibilities bother you, you might should choose another book.
    • 3/5
      Hum, this is a hard book for me to rate. There were aspects I liked, such as the humor and the writing style. But there were things I didn't like, such as, the obsession with fashion, the lame ass decisions made, everybody's stupid ass behavior and actions, everybody calling each other babe (including the girls to each other), and EVERYONE being HOT. Fucking please, what was this land of the beautiful people? I got so fucking sick and tired of every guy being so sexy she wet herself, and every girl being so hot no guy could keep his eyes off them. LAME and ANNOYING! Just, basically, everything about this book bothered me at one point or another.

      However, I did enjoy the book, particularly the last third. It was hard as hell to muddle through, I almost gave up a number of times, but I was enjoying the story enough that I stuck it out.

      This book entwined with the Chaos series, which was interesting (I actually liked 'Tack' better here than in the Chaos book I read!).

      But, I really have to agree with a fellow reviewer, I don't get why three 'bad-asses' would be so fucking crazed over her, and yet she was A)single for all this time, and B)oblivious to men being attracted to her.

      Anyway, I'm tempted to give the book 2 stars because when I think back on the book (it's been two days since I read it), I think "ew, I don't like that book!" But when I was reading it, I was thinking "Hum, I'm kinda enjoying this book"! So, seriously conflicting feelings about this book. So I'll just leave it at a three and rethink reading anymore of her books.

      I think I may dislike her books more than I enjoy them. I really liked The Gamble, and I liked Rock Chick (book 1), but I've not enjoyed any of the other books I've read of hers, Until the Sun Falls from the Sky, Own the Wind, and Penmort Castle. I guess, for me, when she's good, she's very good, and when she's not, well... she's NOT. Bummer, her books always sound really interesting!!
    • 4/5
      I started this book already thinking that I wasn't going to like it just from reading what the book was about, and then as my reading progressed I thought that it was good, ok, not that outlandish perfect thing that some people talked about. The characters weren't that captivating and I Gwen's tantrums were starting to get on my nerve. But then I kept reading and things started to get better and better and better and my head almost exploded from all that sweetness that the author wrote about. And the ending...oh my God, what was THAT!? AMAZING! You guys should definitely read it! :)
    • 3/5
      This was ok nothing to rave about.
    • 4/5
      This book was in my TBR, but I had forgotten what it was about. After the first chapter, I was convinced it was a PNR about a ghost visiting the heroine. Needless to say, it wasn't and that is the major plot point that I just could not get past. How do you let some guy sleep with you for 18 months without ever knowing his name or going out on a date. Sad. In any case, the other annoyance was the constant use of the words babe/baby by almost every character in the book. Last, everything was told from her POV, and she wasn't my favorite person. I loved all of the other characters, the plot was interesting if not a bit over the top, and I couldn't put it down. I was racing to finish it. Amazing in most ways and slightly annoying in others.
    • 5/5
      I just know that whenever I pick up a Kristen Ashley book I am going to love it. Even though I am a self-confessed KA addict, I still will not blindly fall in love with the characters, they still have to grab me and demand attention, and then damn well hold my attention.

      And so is the case with Cabe "Hawk" Delgado and Gwendolyn Kidd.

      She is one sassy lady, full of spunk with a funny, quick witted,smart mouth but also so full of love if she just let it happen. Gwen has had it tough in the relationship area and is very wary of having anyone in the position to break her heart again. She tells it like it is although has trouble seeing the truth about herself, which I felt like shaking into her a couple of times but that's where her gorgeous friends come in; one eager to tell it straight out and the other to balance the discussion with a softer approach. I just love their loyalty to one another, their fierce protection of each other and the fun that they have with each other.

      Hawk has been through his own heartbreak and has the same thoughts about every being in a serious relationship again. Hawk is all smokin' hot badass alpha male, hot - dressed or undressed, and he is fiercely protective of those he loves but also protective of his heart. Love for him is not an option. He is in control of his life and those around him. Even still, Gwen sees something in him...
      "He could be bossy and a lot of what he did freaked me out or pissed me off but when he was sweet, generous, sexy and open it was better than my best daydream."

      As Gwen puts it so well, the guy is super sexy
      "And he was an excellent kisser. He could do a lot of things with his hands, his mouth and other parts of his anatomy that were mind-blowing but even if he only ever kissed me it was highly likely I would be ruined for any other man."

      I just love the way that Kristen weaves her stories. A bit of kidnapping, death threats, drive-by's thrown into the mix as well as scorching hot intimate scenes that just make you melt, heartache and angst, as well as multiple hotties all after Gwen, and you know we are in for a ride.

      I couldn't get enough of this story and am so glad that we had some cameos from Kristen's other characters and I had a chuckle at one of those cameo's.
      "The newspapers had broken the stories of their adventures, and their love lives, some time ago. This was followed by a bunch of books, a series entitled Rock Chick, that were released sharing intimate detail of these hair-raising yet romantic adventures. Books, incidentally, I owned, read repeatedly and wished I'd edited."

      With all that testosterone flying around and all those hotties in one book my reader nearly melted.

      I have no shame is saying that Hawk is certainly on my list of Dream Men.




    • 4/5
      Oh Hawk and Gwen, what a crazy couple. I loved them. Gwen knows she's not a kick ass type of girl and is cool with that. Hawk is a super alpha, ass kicker. Watching these two come together was fun. Written in first persone, from Gwen's point of veiw, so Hawk's many layers were revealed slowly. The over use of baby and babe, irritated me. I don't mind pet names but everyone was babe or baby.
    • 2/5
      meh. I thought I'd enjoy this more than I did. The fact that everyone loved Gwen was irritating. So was the way they both acted toward each other. They acted more like teens than grown adults.

      And still I kept reading. Because I'm an addict and couldn't help myself. Stupid crack books!
    • 2/5
      I just wanted to see what's it about and stayed up all night. One of those just to see what's next. I have no idea how to rate this.
      I spent parts of the book thinking *move along already* (parts with Tuck, parts with Lawson).
      All in all, I liked parts of it, but it has some things I can't get over.
    • 4/5
      This is the 2nd book I've read this week by Kristen Ashley. She is addictive. Despite the editing errors, the similarities between Hawk Janet Evanovich's Ranger were just too much for me. I was overcome with character lust. It's a personality flaw, I am quite sure but every time he said, 'Babe' I was goo. This is a such a great book, despite it's many flaws I liked it muchly.
    • 3/5



      Mild Ending Spoiler -- Hidden


      I don't usually judge a book by it's cover but I do often form an idea for the tone of the book. The cover for Mystery Man had me thinking it would be sophisticated and well, mysterious. Those are not words I would use to describe the story inside. Instead, it was a little corny, often convenient and still very captivating.

      This is a story about a thirty-three year old woman (I still can't make her that age in my head) who has been sleeping with a man she knows nothing about for over a year and a half. Luckily, we get to know more about him as the story develops. This is good because he is the one you want to know more about.

      While I found the story to move right along, I kept getting hung up on some of the repetitive descriptions; he's hot, she's hot, it's hot. The MC even described her own father as hot and that just about had me putting the book down, for good. Then, I was surprised to find that I really enjoyed her relationship with her father. The respect she has for him and the need to be seen as a "good girl" by him, saved her for me. I could relate to that.

      The other characters brought variety to the story, even if they were all hot. There were contrasting personalities that brought depth to the intertwined lives. It would have been nice to have had some interaction between the secondary characters but I'm guessing that's what we'll get in the next books.

      The MC had a ridiculous amount of "luck" with men squeezed into this book. It was too easy and convenient but still made for a fun read, if not a bit farcical.

      If you're good with designer label dropping, four inch heels on all the women, perfect men and some bad ass you'll enjoy this book.

      So, in the end, this was fun. The ending wrapped everything up in a very heart-warming and sweet bow. Definitely an HEA with all the bells and whistles.

    • 5/5
      Hawk is awesome. That is all.
    • 3/5
      Ok, I have no idea what to say here. I found myself gritting my teeth in frustration because of the insane way that Kristen Ashley writes dialogue and the crazy run on sentences she uses to describe her characters actions and thoughts. But some weird magnetic pull came over me and I could NOT put the book down. No matter how much I wanted to toss my kindle across the room during some of the more nutsy parts of the book, I literally could not stop reading until I finished it. Ms. Ashley has some powerful mojo, that's for sure.