You guys....YOU GUYS! Let me introduce you to one of my favorite reads of the year. Not on of my favorite Romance reads, not one of my favorite Contemporary reads, one of my FAVORITE READS Period.
Also, HAPPY RELEASE DAY to our 'Queen', Tessa Bailey!
Worked Up is LIVE and you can get it now...don't wait!
Also, HAPPY RELEASE DAY to our 'Queen', Tessa Bailey!
Worked Up is LIVE and you can get it now...don't wait!
(Gratuitous Chris Pratt)
GoodReads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes&Noble ~ Kobo
Author: Tessa Bailey
Publication Date: 1 August, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
Series: Made in Jersey, book 3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 18 and Up
Rating: 5 Stars
~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~
Book Description:
Factory mechanic Duke Crawford just wants to watch SportsCenter in peace. Unfortunately, living with four divorcee sisters doesn’t provide much silence, nor does it change his stance on relationships. But when a fellow commitment-phobe stumbles into his life, getting him good and worked up, he can’t deny his protective instincts.
Samantha Waverly’s brother just put her in an impossible situation. The only way out? Marry huge, gruff, gladiator look-alike Duke—for show, of course. She doesn’t make promises—she knows too well how easily they can be broken—and this is no exception.
As the blistering attraction between them grows, the lines around the no-strings relationship blur. But Duke and Samantha’s marriage is only for show…or is it?
(because I love Chris Pratt as much as I loved this book!)
My Review:
So here's the thing...do you even want to hear how I felt about this book? Is there still any question how I feel about this book? I think it is pretty obvious that I have fallen head over heels in love with this book, I can hear my college history professor yelling at me (oh he really did) when reading my thesis paper...
"You LOVE this man don't you? You LOVE him, it's all over the pages, you LOVE him, now rewrite it!" -Dr. Saunders
Sadly for you guys, I am not going to re-write this 'paper' you're stuck with all my gushing and fawning. Your stuck listening to me go on and on about how much I adore Tessa Bailey and how she is an automatic one-click and read for me, EVERY. TIME. You're stuck hearing me tell you how enamored I am with this couple but especially DUKE. I admit it now and admit it with great fervency, I LOVE DUKE CRAWFORD and regardless of what I write here and how much I shake the rafters...
(I bet Duke could shake the rafters!)
(Just Sayin')
... with my shouting, the fact is that I know deep down in my Tessa Bailey book loving soul that all you need to do is pick this book up and you will have fallen down the well into the Duke-dom and you won't ever want to come back out! However, just in case you need more than me just plain telling you that you HAVE to read this book, here are a few whys...
Let's start with the goddess that is Tessa Bailey. This woman makes me crazy, she writes some of my favorite characters and it isn't just because they are these sexy steamy guys and gals no, it is because that beyond the dirty talk, and she has been named the Queen of Dirty Talk for a reason, oh yes, her characters have beautiful hearts and souls. These characters aren't simply there for gratuitous sex scenes, they aren't throwing around meaningless words in an attempt to make a meaningless sex filled relationship work. Her characters fall truly and deeply for one another. They fight fears and insecurities, they fight their need and desires, they fight for each other and for their families. They fight for love! While I would never EVER say I wish Tessa wouldn't write the sexy times, I can honestly say that her books could stand alone without them because the story isn't based off of those times, they don't revolve around those moments. Her books revolve around the hearts of her characters, we're just lucky enough that she throws in some steam that makes our hearts race giving us a few moments of a cardio workout with each book!
Now, let's talk our Heroine. The funny, beautiful, compassionate, sexy, insecure Samantha. She is the perfect girl for Duke. I almost think of her as this piece of fine bone china. She's fragile in Duke's hands and he takes such care with her, always in the back of his mind worried that she may one day crack, but knowing that she's as strong as the steel that is the foundation of her brother's factory, a place he has poured his sweat and heart into. I loved her quirky-ness, she actually reminded me a bit of a friend with all her puns. *whispers, Jillian, are you there?* I loved her love of children and her desire to bring art into their lives. I love her business plan and I want someone to make that a reality!
Duke's sisters...Tessa, please tell me that Renner's book (and I can not wait for it!) won't be the last in Made in Jersey or that there will be a Made in Jersey Spin off and we will get to see these lovely, crazy ladies find their happiness! Oh, and you know it wouldn't hurt me one bit if we HAD to see a little more Duke in each book...sigh, I suppose I could put up with a few more puns and a lot more #PMB (Pouty Man Bear). I love his sisters. They are wild, they are crazy, they are smart-mouthed, and they LOVE their brother and it just makes me want to see more of them.
Now Duke, you knew I couldn't/wouldn't leave out Duke. Duke is simply....Duke. He isn't the typical romance hero, the rich, ripped guy. He's not the cocky bastard (although that's not to say he isn't 'sure of himself') that expects girls to trip over their own feet when ever he is in their radius. He's a PMB, a Pouty Man Bear. He's a big bearded guy, he's gruff, he's blue collar, he's a sports fanatic and a grill master. He's an everyday man who adores his family, who is dedicated to the few people he's let into his circle and calls friends. He takes the problems of his world on his shoulders and works tirelessly to fix those problems, to give confidence and care to those he loves, no matter how they may frustrate him. He is a teddy bear deep down, with a broody demeanor, but when he gets to 'let loose' watch out ladies...he is one of Tessa's best Dirty Talkers ever! I'd leave you with some quotes but I don't want to take anything away from your reading the book. This is one of those books that you will wish you could read for the first time EVERY TIME you read it and you will want to read this one multiple times...Duke's just good to us that way. I will say that there is a paragraph in this book that ends with Samantha saying
"Duke. I call Duke."
that I may never be able to get out of my head. Even thinking just those last few words has my heart racing and my face smiling in a swoon.
I love the Made in Jersey series but this book...it is everything you want a contemporary romance to be. It is, as I have said, one of my favorite reads of this year. It is a book that I will go back to over and over whenever I am having a book drought or just a bad day. This book will make you swoon, smile, laugh, and crave. This book will simply just plain make you happy! Tessa, you out did yourself (for me) with this book. My heart four days after reading it still races every time I think about it. Duke and Sam are the perfect balance of sexy, funny, loving characters. They are characters you wish were real so that you could be friends. You want Sam in your inner circle making you laugh, giving you advice, and being an amazing listener. You want Duke in that circle because you know his strength, you know he cares for those he loves, you want to laugh with Sam over the slight crush you carry for her man, you want to be one of his friends that makes him smile because you know that he'd be there for you in a heartbeat because you are his friend and the best thing you can give him back is helping to make him even happier, if such a thing is possible now that he has found his Sam.
I don't think I need to say it but just in case...READ THIS BOOK. If you love Tessa Bailey, do not hesitate to GRAB THIS BOOK NOW. If you love contemporary romance...heck romance reads of any genre....GET THIS BOOK. I have no doubt in my mind that you will love it and if you don't, well....I'll still be your friend but I might give you the side-eye. ;-)
~ HAPPY READING ~
GIVEAWAY:
(3 E-copies of Worked Up)
Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days. Her most valuable life experiences were learneTessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.
Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.
She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of nine years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.
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