Mystery Man (Dream Man #1) Review

Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley... It's no secret that I am quite obsessed with Kristen's books.... actually I love her books, it's become a danger zone for me because well..... for one I have yet to find one that I didn't love and for another each of her books comes with every thing I like in a book..... each of her alpha males is the pure definition of drool worthy.  So just like every other KA book..... Mystery Man is like the perfect treat that you slowly savor while hoping there's more to come once you've finished your plate..... Oh and there's more in the Dream Man Series.... more drool worthy alpha men that will make your heart skip a beat.

Book description...
While drinking cosmopolitans, Gwendolyn Kidd meets the man of her dreams. Then she takes him home. Then she wakes up alone. But her fear that she lost her dream man turns into a relationship with a mystery man when, night after night in the dead of night, he comes back for more. Hoping it will blossom into something real, she lets him.  But she doesn’t even know his name.  Gwen’s struggling with the decision to end their crazy non-relationship when her sister-from-hell, Ginger’s best friend pays a visit and warns Gwen that if she and her sister don't get smart, they'll both get d-e-a-d, dead. Gwen has no clue what’s going on but she’s used to Ginger’s antics and decides to lay the problem on her sister’s biker boyfriend's doorstep. Bad choice. She hits the Denver Underground radar with a big, loud ping.  This means Gwen’s Mystery Man, Cabe “Hawk” Delgado has to step in to keep her safe. But when Hawk gets a dose of Gwen in the daylight, he makes the decision that he finally wants real with Gwen. However when Gwen gets a dose of badass, bossy, straight-talker Hawk in the daylight, she decides she’s done.  Thus begins the head-to-head of the Commando vs. Cosmo Girl as Hawk woos Gwen in his own unique way, Gwen survives firebombs, drive-bys, kidnappings, hot pursuits by biker hotties and gorgeous police detectives and discovers the heartbreaking reason why Hawk kept her at arm’s length.  And as all this happens, Gwen finds that her sister’s troubles are serious trouble and she must decide who to keep alive: her sister-from-hell or the man of her dreams.

I loved this book.... I mean really loved it!  Gwen is awesome.... I mean come on she edits books for a living, what's not to love about that?  But seriously... she's awesome... she has this outgoing personality that just screams fun, she's got an amazing group of friends, and she is a total smart ass..... which gets her some attention from some smokin' hot men!  So she's had this sort of relationship with her mystery man for the past year and a half.... doesn't know his name or what he looks like during the day, she doesn't even talk to him.  At first I was a little confused by this.... I was confused because I didn't get why she let him keep coming back for more or why she didn't say something to him.  But then the more I thought about it I got it....I'll explain that later ;)

Gwen's sister, Ginger, has gotten herself into a world of trouble and this trouble has started finding it's way to Gwen.  Because of this trouble Gwen has now gotten the attention of 3 absolutely smokin' hot men that have all made their intentions known.  Who should she pick???  I don't think that was ever really a question that needed to be answered because well..... she had a year and half of a.... whatever kind of relationship you want to call it with her Mystery Man......Cabe 'Hawk' Delgado.

Mmmmm..... Hawk..... yum!  I've gotta give a shout out to my lovely friend Gitte for finding this picture and sharing it with our book club ♥.  Speaking of my lovelies in my book club we have discussed Hawk and his utter gorgeousness at length.... I'm pretty sure it's been mentioned that he'll make you want to crack a moisty (I have found another use for Sali-isms my lovelies ♥)  Hawk is an ex-commando now specializing in badass world where he has his own group of badass commandos.   Talk about an alpha male.... just like all of Kristen's books ..... he knew what he wanted when he finally got a little of Gwen during the day and he liked what he had before but now..... he likes it a lot

"About five seconds after I left you today, things between you and me, they changed"

So their relationship for the past year and a half has only been about sex... lots of sex but that's all there was to it.  At first I was confused.... I couldn't understand why in the world she would have this relationship with this man who she knew nothing about and then let it go on for so long..... BUT then I got to thinking...this type of relationship wouldn't be my thing but when I read a book I like to place myself in the heroines shoes so..... after I got further along in the book I realized that there really was something quite special between Gwen and Hawk only he didn't know how to react to it..... he had a hard time staying away from her but felt he couldn't give her any thing more than what he was already giving her.  And Gwen....well.... she went along with this relationship because deep down she knew.... she knew Hawk was for her and that one day they would have something more.... something beautiful.  All she had to do was wait it out.....maybe a little longer than I would have but then again her subconscious knew what was meant to be.  It also helped when he confessed a few things to her like.... totally missing out, and admitting that he clocked her before she clocked him..... stuff like that ♥

Here's where it gets a little tricky....Gwen is unsure of this new relationship status.... not that she didn't ever want more from Hawk because she did... she would slip in to daydreams about what would happen when he finally decided he wanted more of her.  She's unsure if she likes this Hawk, he comes off as kind of a jerk and his behavior throws her attitude into overdrive like no one else but my goodness when he is being sweet....sigh.....  She tries breaking things off with him but he's having none of that

"You can be as uncertain as you want, Sweet Pea, I'm certain enough for the both of us."

Yes..... he calls her Sweet Pea.... How adorable is that?  He notices things, she got her nickname because that's the scent of her lotion and body wash, she likes expensive shoes and he wants to give them to her, he doesn't like to see her curled into a protective ball..... I love my husband but he wouldn't even notice a quarter of what Hawk does so on that note I have to ask Gwen..... Are you crazy???  Get in there sister... show him how much you appreciate all he's doing for you.... But finally Gwen decides he's worth it, he is worth risking her heart and she becomes just as certain of what they have as he is.

This lasted a week.... an entire week was all it took for both of them to get in so deep that when Hawk told Gwen he couldn't do it anymore she was devastated.... destroyed... She knew she was falling in love with him if not already gone and him throwing it back a day after she told him she would give herself to him completely.... broke her.  It's not until later that Gwen finds out why he reacted the way he did and let me tell you it's heart breaking.... my heart went out to him because his reaction just showed how much he truly cared for Gwen.  I was mad at Hawk for how he handled the situation... real mad.... I understood where he was coming from but at the same time knew he was giving up too quickly.... he was throwing away something special, something that could mean more to him than he ever realized.  But I didn't stay mad at him too long

"But I darkened your door, baby, and you lit up my life again so I'm not lettin' that go."

After forgiving Hawk.... which to be honest wasn't all that hard to do... I mean seriously not only is he hot but there is so much about him that just screams out ★ Absolute Male Perfection ★..... I got upset with Gwen.  She didn't show him much compassion to his past and tried too hard to compare it to what she's been through when there is absolutely no comparison.... I mean I understood her hurt.... boy did I understand it because I hurt right along with her after Hawk said he was done but still..... a little compassion and understanding  would have gone a long way.  But..... just like Hawk it didn't take me long to forgive Gwen and all it took was for her to confess her feelings

"I'm falling in love with you, Cabe."

I absolutely LOVED this book..... I know, I say that about every Kristen Ashley book but I can't help it.  There is something about her writing style that calls to me..... It grabs my attention and doesn't let go, I get consumed by her characters and I feel as if I'm a part of the story.  Mystery Man was no different.... the relationship between Hawk and Gwen consumed me to the point where I laughed, cried, and got mad right along with them, I felt what they felt, and keep cheering them on and rooting for that happily ever after they both deserved.  Check it out.... you'll love it and once you see the heart break Hawk and Gwen go through not only together but what they went through in their past...... you'll be cheering them on and thankful they got the Happily Ever After they both more than deserved..... they got their something special ♥

Happy Reading!