I’m torn between 4 and 5 stars, but you know what? I devoured it in one sitting, was entertained the entire time, and I haven’t read a book that’s quite this steamy in awhile – plus that original, awful cover was swapped out before release day. So I’m rounding up! The second half read much, MUCH better for me, once I got a feel for the dynamic; it’s 100% pure instalove and lust, with strangers who become lovers in the blink of an eye. I loved the opposites attract dynamic, and the ZAP of electricity between these two was apparent from the start. WOW it’s steamy. This commitment-phobic, rugged hero doesn’t know what hits him when he meets this unassuming schoolteacher who is just finding her strength. He soon discovers that he has a possessive, jealous, domineering streak… and she loves everything about that. It was a lot for me to process, lol, but everything comes full circle by the end. All of my initial complaints turned into the book’s strengths, and their over the top connection smoothed out into something perfectly intimate. Oh, and there’s a side of murder mystery, so that was fun too!
The story follows Taylor, a second grade teacher who is excited to finally go on a much-needed vacation with her brother. She’s rented a home on Cape Cod for the next several days, and the clawfoot tub is calling her name. Unfortunately, the dead body she finds in the rental property means that her vacation has taken a very different turn. And while the mild, sweetheart of a woman assumed the experience would frighten her, it just seemed to awaken some inner strength. So when Taylor meets the bounty hunter who is tasked with solving the murder (it’s a long story), she reacts in a way that’s unexpected. The man should be terrifying – he seems to scare everyone else – but it’s clear that Myles is incredibly attracted to Taylor. Myles warns Taylor away from the start, but chemistry seems to keep pulling them back together, and it’s not long before they’re both acting out of character.
This is steamy with a capital S, and it doesn’t take long to get there. Myles and Taylor have the kind of instant connection that jumps off the page, and it can be a lot to handle sometimes. Those situations also aren’t vanilla, so be prepared to fan yourself. I thought Myles was too much until we started to see his softer side, and then he became this lovable teddy bear who just so happens to be a caveman. If jealous/possessive heroes aren’t for you, then you might want to pass on this one, but it certainly made for some super steamy situations. The evolution of both characters was actually very good, and I think that’s kind of the point of the book – their lives completely change over the course of a week, and they both have whiplash. They fight against the connection but continue to be drawn together, and the murder mystery is the perfect thing to bond them as they struggle. There’s definitely a suspenseful element, but the star here is the romance, with Myles and Taylor in nearly every scene together. It’s entertaining, engaging, and entirely bingeable, so I’m rounding up my rating.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LACeWe
Blurb:
An all-new, spicy murder mystery from Tessa Bailey, New York Times bestselling author of It Happened One Summer…
It was supposed to be a relaxing vacation in sweet, sunny Cape Cod—just me and my beloved brother—but discovering a corpse in our rental house really throws a wrench into our tanning schedule. Now a rude, crude bounty hunter has arrived on the back of his motorcycle to catch the killer and refuses to believe I can be helpful, despite countless hours of true crime podcast listening. Not to mention a fulfilling teaching career of wrangling second graders.
A brash bounty hunter and an energetic elementary schoolteacher: the murder-solving team no one asked for, but thanks to these pesky attempts on my life, we’re stuck together, come hell or high tide.
I’m just here to do a job, not babysit an amateur sleuth. Although…it is becoming less and less of a hardship to have her around. Sure, she’s stubborn, distracting and can’t stay out of harm’s way. She’s also brave and beautiful and reminds me of the home I left behind three years ago. In other words, the painful hunger and protectiveness she is waking up in me is a threat to my peace of mind. Before I sink any deeper into this dangerous attraction, I need to solve this murder and get back on the road. But will fate take her from me before I realize the road has been leading to her all along?
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LACeWe
About the Author:
New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.
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