Decker’s Wood by Kristy Dallas
Series: Book #1: Porn Stars of Romance
Source: Purchase
Rating: 4½/5 stars

Here’s how my purchase of Decker’s Wood happened. I was trolling Facebook one night (seriously, how many stories start out like that, right??) and I came across a post with a list of recommendations. The poster only half-heartedly recommended this read but I laughed out loud at the title and couldn’t pass it up. So glad I didn’t!

Decker Steele has the life every man dreams of: he is a gorgeous and well-hung porn star who is enormously successful, wealthy and, he has the pick of the litter when it comes to women and his off time. Here’s the rub, for more than a year now the legendary Decker Steele hasn’t been able to “perform” and though he has been able to hide this fact from everyone he is beyond frustrated. After more than 15 years in the business Decker knows he is worn out and totally desensitized but he doesn’t want to ruin the reputation he has built. What is a boy to do?

Andi Jennings is country girl born and bred and moving to New York City is the biggest, scariest and, most daring thing she has ever done. With her only family dead and gone, she has packed her bags, bought a fully stocked bookstore and a plane ticket to the big city. Thankfully, her old childhood friend (and serious crush!) Decker Steele lives in the city and it more than willing to pick her up from the airport. Bounding off the plane all bright eyed and bushy-tailed, Andi is ready to begin her new life. What she isn’t ready for is how drop-dead, panty-wetting gorgeous Decker Steele has become.

Knowing Andi is all alone in the big, bad city Decker makes it a point to come by her place, help her fix up the shop and her apartment and, hang out with her every single second that he can. Andi is perfection with a Texas drawl and it certainly doesn’t hurt that just the thought of Andi makes every part of Decker’s body react and that is utterly refreshing. Though Decker is more than willing to explore the connection he has with Andi, he is keeping all kinds of secrets from her and if she were to find out, it just may destroy everything they have between them.

Andi’s past with Decker is hard for her to overcome but in the spirit of turning over a new leaf and starting fresh, she is willing to give it a try. Andi has always known that Decker is a bit of a man-whore but it isn’t until weeks into their new relationship that she discovers what it is that he does for a living. Willing to accept that his past is his past and she is his present and future, Andi dives right in and indulges completely in all that is Decker Steele. Just when things are going way better than Andi ever could have imagined, Decker’s actual present comes to light and everything gets blown all to hell in one spectacular moment.

The Bottom Line: I wasn’t totally sure what to expect with this read but found myself pleasantly surprised. Decker is totally disillusioned with everything in his life until Andi steps back into his world. For both Decker and the reader, Andi is a breath of fresh air. Where Decker is hard and often serious, Andi is soft and silly; where Decker is smoldering, open and, experienced, Andi is sexy in an understated way and willing to experiment. At times Decker is so brash and dirty as to be almost completely uncivilized (Yummy!!) while Andi with her southern manners is often surprising with her toughness and mouthiness. In all, Decker and Andi really are a perfect pair and they play off the other in a fun and sexy way and this made the read all the more entertaining. With Decker being a porn star, obviously the naughty bits are all kinds of hot but they are actually heightened by Andi’s relative inexperience and general naiveté. In all, Decker’s Wood could have used one more review by a good editor but that didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying this read. ( )