Extremely attracted to his adorable and clumsy resident Josie Adkins, Dr. Houston Hayes, who usually refuses to mix business and pleasure, offers Josie one night of passion to put an end to the sexual tension between them, with hilarious and sensual results. Reprint.
USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written over a hundred novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult, and adult romance. Erin has a special weakness for high-heeled boots, beaches and martinis. She lives in Ohio with her family, two grumpy cats and a socially awkward dog.
Houston, We Have a Problem is Grey’s Anatomy in book form. The book is like a bunch of episodes of Grey’s Anatomy compressed together.
Don’t get me wrong. I love Grey's Anatomy. This book is a fast, fun and hot read. Who knew that behind the cute pink cover lies a book where almost 50% of the pages talk about either the protagonists' attraction to each other or how they would love to have a taste of each other. There’s humor, fatal attraction and almost love scenes in the hospital closet. Thank goodness, the doctors of Arcadia Inlet Hospital are more decent than the doctors of Seattle Grace!
Dr. Josie Adkins though, doesn't remind me of Dr. Meredith Grey. Josie is her own voluptuous persona. She’s sweet and is a person we could all relate to. She has tons of insecurities. She has tons of cute dialogue which made me laugh out loud.
Dr. Houston Hayes, on the other hand, is a hybrid of all of Seattle Grace Hospital's doctors put together. He's a little Dr. Derek Shepherd slash Mc Dreamy, due to the black hair, Dr. Mark Sloan slash McSteamy, due to the gorgeous ice-blue eyes plus Dr. Alex Karev, due to his aloof demeanor. We could also add a little Dr. Preston Burke in the mix, since the accidents do leave them in similar stations in life. Do I have to mention that Houston is also a surf god?
Josie pictured Dr. Houston Hayes� wearing nothing but a stethoscope, giving her an internal exam.
Well, I can't deny that I haven't thought of the same thing. :D
This took me FOREVER to finish and it's because I didn't expect it to be so hot! I am usually okay with the steam level if there is more relationship building but I felt like they were just really hot for each other just because they were so it made it hard for me to sink into the story. And then a random shark attack happens that leaves our hero vulnerable and our heroine to FINALLY realize that he's been stringing her along too much.
Though I have had this book in my to-be-read pile for ages, I finally took the plunge after reading the enthusiastic review that my friend Zahu posted on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. We both (and I guess more than half of the romance reading population) have a thing for hot and tortured heroes who exert rigid control over their emotions and suddenly along comes the bubbly heroine who seems to bring down the walls of reserve that the hero has built so painstakingly over the years within just a couple of minutes. I absolutely love these types of books and though this book didn't deliver on all of my expectations, nevertheless it turned out to be one hell of an entertaining read.
33 year old Dr. Houston Hayes has a huge problem that won't go away in the 27 year old surgical resident Josie Adkins who is driving him completely nuts with her klutziness that brings to light just how much he wants Josie flat on her back, with him on top. Houston has never had a problem with the rules he has imposed on himself to never enter into a long term relationship and to never get involved with a co-worker. But the minute Josie Adkins steps into the picture, all Houston's heart is capable of telling him is that rules are meant to be broken.
Josie is appalled that she has the Dr. Hayes-induced Dropping Medical Equipment Syndrome whenever she is around Houston. Her friend Sara keeps telling her that its the haze of lust that takes a hold of her whenever she is in Houston's vicinity that plays havoc on her usual capable self.
When Houston proposes to Josie one single night of passion to get rid of the inconvenience of having the hots for each other all the time, Josie is reluctant because she is not the type to get physical in a relationship without her emotions getting involved. But every inch of Houston from his short black hair, to his gorgeous blue eyes, and all down the length of his muscular, toned body that screams power and control has Josie saying yes to abandoning herself to his lethal brand of seduction that has Josie screaming much more than yes long before the night is through.
But what was supposed to be just one night of passion cracks open the walls of reserve that protects Houston's emotions and though he would rather die than admit to the fact, being over Josie is the farthest thing that Houston feels. Josie though she promises herself that she deserves someone who loves her and wants to commit to her, nevertheless finds herself falling for the complete opposite of what she needs though Josie is still strong enough to say no where it counts. Houston is a man who has a lot of issues with his past, his childhood playing a major role in how his character is portrayed in the story. For Josie and Houston's problem to be totally over, they both do a lot of intense soul searching and makes some hard choices before achieving their much needed happily ever after.
I absolutely loved what Erin McCarthy delivers in the humor department in the story. From the first line itself, this book was a continuous laugh fest with Josie's quirky comebacks and her sense of humor which is evident from the way she thinks out aloud about stuff. Houston is a delicious hero, and yes I say delicious in the best possible way. He is tortured hotness and broodiness in one package and his lethal brand of seduction left me breathless at all times. With borderline erotic sexual content, this book is recommended for fans of contemporary romances that delivers on character development, humor, love and rapid heartbeat inducing love scenes guaranteed to fire up your insides.
There was a great premise and good characters here, but they were wasted on nothing but sex. Their getting together, their continued attraction, their love � all based on sex and sexual attraction. We weren't given anything else. Every conversation, what little there was, swung around to sex. Every scene with the two together ended up with sex/sexual activity. I really wanted to root for these two but it was hard when I couldn't identify any reason for them to be together beyond great sexytimes. It's obnoxious. This is one of those books that adds to my confusion of the difference between increasingly explicit romance and erotic romance. This is listed as romance but according to some people's definition it fits erotic romance more, in my opinion. In fact, the last book I read billed as erotic romance with an M/F relationship had a much greater foundation for a relationship between the Heroine and Hero than this book.
I liked the characters personalities, and their humor. (Though her going on and on about her weight made me slightly crazy. Girl, your body is fine, you're wearing a bikini in public! SHUT UP.) There wasn't enough about their respective backgrounds, or the secondary stories. There were a lot of missed opportunities in this story. This is one of those books where I'm kind of baffled in the end at how I read so many pages. The best part of the story was the Hero's brush with a bull shark. It was a really compelling storyline, and I love that it didn't end the way you'd think it would for a book of this type. I just wish there was more about it. 2.5 stars.
Houston thinks about sex every 3 seconds. Therefore, you get to read about him thinking about, dreaming about or having sex every 3 seconds. The other few seconds you get to read about Josie thinking about how she's going to try really hard (maybe) to not have sex with Houston every 3 seconds. And so it goes . . . I'm all for the steam in a romance novel but I do like a little plot in between. It was hard to find in here, though they did throw some stitches and an operation in for good measure. Oh yeah, and Josie whining about her body and Houston drooling over her coconuts. There you go, you just read the book. HEA. The End.
The first part of the story felt extremely weak, rather superfluous, with over-emphasis on their physical, chemical, biological and all other kinds of attractions. The second half is relatively better, especially the OT scenes highlighting Josie's insecurities and doubts. Not much else caught my attention so that's that.
I lovelovelove every Erin McCarthy book that I have read so far, and this one is no exception! She mixes humor and sex perfectly. I can't wait to get my hands on more of her books!
4.5/5 stars. Really enjoyed this one. I was a bad girl and stayed up until 4am last night because I couldn't stop reading it. Tsk tsk. I liked it better than other Erin McCarthy books I have read in the past.
I work in a hospital, so I really enjoyed some of the snark directed at doctors being the worst patients. The book had very steamy scenes and lots of 'em. It also had some nice humor, but it had a bit of a sad edge at times to make it a little more interesting. I also love that the ending was happy, but it wasn't a perfect wrap everything up as if it was a fairytale style ending.
Loved it! This book is the epitome of a chick-lit novel. Perfect for a day at the beach, or a fun weekend read.
The story itself is entertaining, and keeps you interested the whole way through, and if that doesn't do it for you, the steamy "romance" scenes, which there are PLENTY of, should do it for you.
You want to punch Houston in his face. The story is ridiculously underdeveloped. However, my ratings are usually rounded up, so it gets 3 stars. OK book as far as "Chick Lit" goes.
But books like this are why "chick lit" is a stigma.
Another light sexy fun contemporary from Erin McCarthy. Doctors in love? Sort of. She's a bit too insecure. He's rather an ass. But a shark attack brings them together. Really.
Dr. Josie Adkins is short, chubby and overly peppy and she tempts Dr. Houston Hayes like it's nobody's business. For Josie, she just gets nervous everytime she's near Houston, so now of course, he thinks she's incompetent. When he suggests a one-night-stand so they can get each other out of their systems, Josie reluctantly agrees. She's conscious of the damage it could do her reputation as a resident at the hospital, but she needs to do something about the sexual tension before she screws up big time. Their night together is earth-shattering. But they both walk away...until Houston gets bit by a shark and his future as a doctor is threatened. Josie wants to help him, to take care of him, but Houston just wants Josie back in his bed. Even when he's sure there's something more there, his past and his need for control keep him from doing anything about it. He knows he's going to hurt Josie, but he can't seem to stay away from her.
Some good things, some bad things. I liked how quickly this read, considering it's over 300 pages...so the pacing of the story is good. I liked the angsty part towards the end as Josie finds herself some spine and Houston struggles to emote. For the most part, the characters are rather likeable. Josie though is only really likeable when she's not getting on herself for being fat (which she's not) and when she keeps going back for more of Houston's lashing out. Her lack of self-confidence though is a true part of her character and it mostly manifests in her not feeling right being a surgeon, and allowing Houston and his judgy presence to get to her. But her constant harping to others about how horrible she looks is a bit annoying. Her internal struggles with whether she's good enough to be a surgeon and whether or not she deserves love was much better...just wish she'd made more growth in this department or reflected on it at least.
Houston is a piece of work in himself. He has nice moments and he actively recognizes that he's going to hurt Josie but good sometime soon, but that only slows him down...it doesn't stop him from approaching Josie about a one-night stand (which could damage her reputation since she's lower on the totem pole)and it doesn't stop him from going into an affair with her even knowing he doesn't have the courage to tell her how he really feels. I didn't like his attitude from the beginning and I remain flabbergasted at the women who actually accept propositions like he gave...Josie is part disgusted and part turned on...where I'm sure I'd be entirely disgusted. He came across as arrogant and IMHO slimy. He did become a deeper character later on, acknowledging to himself that he didn't like being vulnerable or giving up control and this caused a lot of his bad behavior. He improved over time. Until the end there when he and another male higher up made a decision about Josie's career and transferred her out of the hospital without her knowledge because she was sleeping with Houston. I had an issue with the fact that he and Josie (eventually later) brush this off as this isn't a big deal (or extremely revealing of his character). It was Houston participating in workplace patriarchy and it was condescending. And in the end, Josie forgave him all of that WAY too fast.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
McCarthy's writing is very easy to read and jump right into. The world is fairly simple and the characters entertaining. Two horny doctors that are driving each other crazy. He's a brilliant, arrogant and emotionally distant surgeon and she's a bubbly, cheerful doctor in training dealing with insecurities that has been reduced to a complete and utter klutz whenever she's in the same room with Houston. Loved the start with Houston drooling inappropriately over Josie. And he continues to do so throughout. There's a major bit of drama midway through that was pretty predictable but needed in order to move things along with the two. Forcing Houston to give up some of his control over things which is something incredibly hard for him. It also gave Josie a way to get more involved in his life. I liked both of the characters even though in real life I'm sure both would have driven me right up a wall. But they were a nice fit and good for each other when dealing with personal hangups.
I'll definitely pick up another book from McCarthy for days when I need a playful, easy, just for fun read. It turned out to be a pretty cute book and one to add to my guilty little pleasures pile. Plus I just loved the title.
Long ago and far away, I read so many great comments about this book that I added it to my TBR mountain. Recently I acquired a copy and couldn't wait to begin.
The tone of this story was light and flirty ... until it wasn't (our hero has more complications in his life than the cute, klutzy fellow orthopedic surgeon he is attracted to in spite of himself). By the time I was halfway finished, I was already sick and tired of the lead female's self-deprecating comments about her perceived obesity. Please ... what was she, a size 10 maybe? I mean, that is what is considered a "plus size" on America's Next Top Model but not in the real world, baby. Trust me, someone who can still wear a bikini and be appreciated by young, virile members of the opposite sex does NOT struggle with weight, size or cellulite.
Once I reached that point, it became hard to accept other aspects of the story, but I did finish the book. Don't get me wrong, I did not hate it; the writer is talented and I did LOL at various points in this story. It is not the author's fault that one of my pet peeves is women who exaggerate their "fatness."
ok, i just read three of mccarthy's books in the last two days and i'm just going to cut and paste my review for all three - because its all the same stuff!
don't get me wrong - they're exactly right for what i was looking for today: fun, fast reads with good-ish characters and fabulous sex.
"smart mouth", "houston we have a problem" and "mouth to mouth" are all great books - with "mouth to mouth" being a "better" book in terms of character development, story line, etc. but still, all three are definitely shy of hitting the literature mark. but surpass the usual chick lit in that the sex is nice and raunchy.
so, if you're looking for fun, fast summer reads with snappy dialogue and some graphic sex - look no further!
(i've now officially read all her books. and want more!)
A 4 stars. It was a very pleasant story. Very funny as well as sad. Giggly Big Girl wanted people to get her serious but how can that be possible if she was clumsy. It is truly unique that a woman can possible be clumsy for falling over another doctor. But it was surely sweet how she was taken the challenge of the making Houston fall in love with her. But she did even though it hurt her at the end. How Houston, was so mature at the age of 15 years old to take care of his mom and sister because the abusive father. How proud they were of him and I as well. Very good concept. To Ms. McCarthy nicely well written. Thank you.
I liked it, but probably will not read it again. Ever.
I loved the humor and stuff like that in this book, and though I'm aware that sextual attractions are needed in a realationship, but I cannot see any development between the hero and heroine that can be led to love other than he always seem to want to get into her pants no matter when or where they are. So instead of 4 or 4.5 star, I can only give it a 3 star.
But after I while the constant putting herself down and body issues just overthrew the great writing skill and really great storyline. After a while I was done with it . I deducted those two stars because the author needs to figure out when to stop beating the dead horse so the live one can be ridden.
I liked this steamy story about orthopedic surgeon Houston and his cheery but clumsy resident doctor Josie. It had a good plot and the action moved along with lots of sex but he seemed a bit too resistant to their relationship.
Why do I give in to the temptation of very bad romances with cheesy love scenes? I somehow can't resist reading passages out loud to my spouse, then cackling madly. But I keep coming back for more!
This isn’t my favourite McCarthy book. It wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t as amazing as the others so far. Rather than leaving me grinning like a school girl on Christmas, I was mostly just happily smiling at the end of this story. Happy, calm and content. Just not excited and bubbly like the rest of the books I’ve read by McCarthy.
I did love the setting of this story though � a romance based on the beach with surfing and medicine as a backdrop? Yeah� that’s the kind of story that I tend to like. Having said that, sex on a surfboard� that just seems� unwieldy and seriously, seriously awkward. Like. Wow. There are many things I want to try that I’ve read about in books (knife throwing being one of them), but sex on a surfboard? Hard pass on that. Not even sure if it’s really all that� well� doable.
Josie is a fun lead. She is cute and quirky. Bubbly and seriously smart. I also love that even though she is stupid in love, she manages to stand up for herself and knows that she deserves better. The strength that that must take is phenomenal and I think it’s important to have characters in stories who are willing to walk away from love and lust when they know that they’re not being given what they deserve.
At the beginning of the story, I actually quite liked Houston. But as the story unfolded� I don’t know, I found him a little bit less interesting and enthralling. There was just something� missing about him. I think that it’s maybe just an indication of how amazingly McCarthy has grown in her writing over the years� I fall much harder and much quicker for some of her more recent male leads�
Still fresh from reading Erin McCarthy, I looked for her other books and grabbed this one. I really enjoyed this book as well. Though the Fast Track series is still a favorite. I enjoyed the book because of the easy banter and the light dialogue between the characters. And the book just didn't settle on steamy scenes (though of course there were a lot of that.. hahaha) but there had been substance in it. I'd definitely be looking for more Erin McCarthy books.. :)
For a chuck-lit, this was a fun book and I think that I'd read another in the series BUT reading it (while news of public figure are being charged of misconduct), it occurred to me that this book has lots of examples of sexual assault at the workplace and unfortunately, the female lead never has an issue with it. Talk about confusing guys on what is okay.
So bad that you can't stop reading it, but still somewhat interesting enough to not give up. The writing isn't bad but I'm tired of the sleeping with your boss trope and the sex scenes were written well enough but the characters were too awkward with each other. Plot holes on plot holes but still fun. Clare made me read it, so I did.
Things to note: -Eye of God narration -Workplace romance -Grumpy meets sunshine -Guy doesn't know how to talk/ girl won't stop talking -No strings attached rule -Age gap -He's my surgeon mentor -Smut
I liked the book. Houston was a bit of a douchebag and Josie was a sweetheart but they balance each other. I loved them together though. I just wish there was more groveling done on Houston's part. Loved the spicy scenes!
dnf i really got irritated by how many times she complained about being not being attractive or chubby even tho others clearly saw her as attractive. i just hate the thing of oh this super attractive guy likes me, but i think im ugly 👉👈