Tuesday 17 May 2016

Review: Too Hot to Handle (Romancing the Clarksons #1) by Tessa Bailey

*****4.5 Stars*****

Rita Clarkson's life has imploded before her eyes. Her mother dies, she embarrasses herself on a tv cooking contest show and then she burns down her mom's restaurant. When she discovers her mom's journal and finds out her dying wish is for her children to travel to NY for the annual New Year's Polar Bear jump into the ocean, she takes it upon herself to convince her three siblings they need to do this to honor their mom. Rita's 'good luck' holds and their car breaks down mid road trip in New Mexico. They are rescued by Jasper and before she knows it, Rita is questioning her need to start over in New York City.
I felt for Rita as she grappled with her feelings of inadequacy. She was in her mom's shadow and had an extremely difficult time trying to see her way out from under it. Jasper is struggling to prove he is more than just his town's good time. He wants to prove he has substance and worth. Rita and Jasper have instant sparks, but she is determined to make it to NY and fulfill her mom's last wish. She can't let herself be side tracked by a sexy man like Jasper, can she?
I just loved Rita and Jasper together. People who are not fans of stories with instalove may have a bit of a problem with it, but I was personally all in. I really enjoyed how Jasper wanted to take the physical aspect of their relationship slow because he cared about Rita and felt their connection was special. Once they got there though, my kindle started smoking! Bailey always writes hot sex scenes and she did not skimp on them in Too Hot to Handle! Tessa Bailey is pretty much the queen of dirty talking male leads and Jasper is a wonderful addition to that line up. He could talk dirty to me anytime he wants!
In addition to all of the sexy scenes this book was so much fun to read. I admit I have a huge weakness for road trip books. This is the first time I have read one with a cast of siblings and I ate up the scenes between them. The Clarkson siblings are not especially close and they are all expecting this road trip to end in disaster. Watching them interact and grow closer was tremendously enjoyable and I laughed out loud during many of their conversations. I am so anxious to read all of their respective books.
Reviewed by Rosemary Feil

When rescue looks like a whole lot of trouble . . .

The road trip was definitely a bad idea. Having already flambéed her culinary career beyond recognition, Rita Clarkson is now stranded in God-Knows-Where, New Mexico, with a busted-ass car and her three temperamental siblings, who she hasn't seen in years. When rescue shows up---six-feet-plus of hot, charming sex on a motorcycle---Rita's pretty certain she's gone from the frying pan right into the fire . . .

Jasper Ellis has a bad boy reputation in this town, and he loathes it. The moment he sees Rita, though, Jasper knows he's about to be sorely tempted. There's something real between them. Something raw. And Jasper has only a few days to show Rita that he isn't just for tonight---he's forever.





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