Wound Tight by Tessa Bailey - Review

 

  Today is my stop on the blog tour for Wound Tight by Tessa Bailey! 

Check out this fantastic new release and grab this sexy new contemporary fiction today!  

 

GoodReads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes&Noble ~ Kobo ~ AmazonAU ~ AmazonUK ~ AmazonCA ~ iTunes

Author: Tessa Bailey

Publication Date:  5 December, 2016

Publisher: Entangled Brazen

Series:  Made in Jersey, book 4

Genre:  Contemporary Romance, M/M

Age Recommendation: 18 and up

Rating: 4 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

When CEO Renner Bastion walks into a room, everyone keeps their distance. Well, everyone but the sarcastic, tattooed, Boston-bred security guard whose presence has kept Renner in New Jersey longer than intended. As if the unwanted attraction isn’t unsettling enough, Renner finds out his protector isn’t as unavailable as originally thought.   Milo Bautista just came out to his wealthy, ultra-confident boss, a man he secretly respects and admires…in more ways than he’ll admit. Worldly, experienced Renner would never look in his direction, let alone share some of that confidence he wears like a cloak, so Milo has set his sights on someone else to be his first.   Until Renner offers him private lessons in seduction...   


My Review:

Oh Tessa Bailey you know how to steal a girls heart and make her swoon all at the same time.  Tessa is delving into a new side to her contemporary romance world, M/M romance and wow does she do it well.  I can tell you most happily that you will not be disappointed, this is a Tessa Bailey novel through and through.  Some authors can't transition between M/F romances and M/M well but Tessa does it seamlessly.  Wound Tight in its essence is a simple love story full of heart and passion.  She proves that it doesn't matter who the relationship involves, male and female or male and male, it isn't what gender you are it is about what your heart feels.

I loved that the story revolves around Milo who is trying to find himself, discovering who he is and Ren, a man who thinks he knows exactly who he is but is fighting the future laid out before him because of who he thinks he HAS to be.  I loved that the whole crew of Made in Jersey have hearts of gold and know that in the end all that matters is love.  I love that Tessa Bailey can write a broody Alpha male like no ones business but can also write a insecure, infatuated, lovable guy just as well.  Milo in fact reminded me of Duke only more cuddly teddy bear and less grumpy old man with a heart of gold, haha. You'll love the character development in this book, I think these two grow the most out of any of her Made in Jersey couples, their willingness to be candid and open with each other is truly refreshing.  Milo's acceptance of himself and his belief in the acceptance from those around him was heart warming.  This is a coming out story but one that happens completely organically and drama free...the way that we wish it would happen for every LBGTQA person. Renner's ability to put himself in someone else's hands especially the young naive Milo proves that this badass broody alpha just wants to be loved.  He's a bit like the Grinch until Milo comes around and his "...small heart grew three sizes that day.", as if you needed a reason to buy this but just in case, see it's a perfect Christmas read. *wink*  You'll love the back and forth between these two, the tension is high through almost the entire novel and when they give in, holy heck!  Her trademark dirty talk is all over this book and let's just say I am pretty sure the car windows steamed up while I was reading this during a road trip, wow!

If you have loved her work in the past you will not be disappointed in this book, it is a great addition to her Made in Jersey series and into your library.  I think the best way for me to end ANY Tessa Bailey book Review is to sum it all up by saying:

I came for the dirty talk but I stayed for the heart!

You can't go wrong with Tessa Bailey if you are looking for a Contemporary Romance and if this is your first foray into an M/M story, don't be worried, this is a beautiful place to start.

~ HAPPY READING ~ 

  Tessa Bailey Bio: Author Bio: 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 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.   Connect with Tessa: Author Twitter: @mstessabailey Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TessaBaileyAuthor/ Author Street Team/Facebook Group: Bailey’s Babes https://www.facebook.com/groups/191945697620644/ Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessabaileyisanauthor/ Newsletter: http://www.tessabailey.com/contact   Enter Tessa’s Giveaway:     a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wound Tight by Tessa Bailey - Release Day, Excerpt, and Giveaway

 

  It's release day for Wound Tight by Tessa Bailey! 

Check out this fantastic new release and grab this sexy new contemporary m/m romance today!  

 

GoodReads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes&Noble ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~ AmazonAU ~ AmazonCA ~ AmazonUK 

    

Book Description:

When CEO Renner Bastion walks into a room, everyone keeps their distance. Well, everyone but the sarcastic, tattooed, Boston-bred security guard whose presence has kept Renner in New Jersey longer than intended. As if the unwanted attraction isn’t unsettling enough, Renner finds out his protector isn’t as unavailable as originally thought.   Milo Bautista just came out to his wealthy, ultra-confident boss, a man he secretly respects and admires…in more ways than he’ll admit. Worldly, experienced Renner would never look in his direction, let alone share some of that confidence he wears like a cloak, so Milo has set his sights on someone else to be his first.   Until Renner offers him private lessons in seduction...   

 Exclusive Excerpt:

Chapter One

  Would you rather was Renner Bastion’s least favorite game. Scratch that. All games were his least favorite. He couldn’t help playing one, however, as he stared down at his factory floor. Security guard Milo Bautista flirted with one of the older female assembly line workers, twirling her by the hand as if they were on a cruise ship dancing to bongo music. Renner stood in an air-conditioned office, surrounded by silence. So. Would he rather be upstairs in his impeccably clean suit, or downstairs, covered by factory grease that seemed to ooze from every corner of his New Jersey manufacturing plant? Considering that Milo and the woman looked joyful while Renner was in a shitty mood, he didn’t have an answer. How you like them apples? Jesus. Thanks to Milo, he was even starting to think in a Boston accent. The man who’d ordained himself Renner’s personal one-man security detail without permission was more Boston than Mark Wahlberg at a fucking Red Sox game. Wearing Paul Revere’s hat. And yet here Renner was, kind of wishing the jerk would come upstairs where he belonged, instead of making the female population of Hook swoon. “There’s a good sign it’s time to go home,” Renner muttered, his breath creating condensation on the glass. He’d been saying the same thing for weeks now. It’s time to go home. Not to his two-bedroom in Hook, though. His apartment in Manhattan. Or his flat in China. Or any one of the homes he’d rented to keep an eye on his other ventures. The damage sustained by the factory explosion in Hook had been repaired weeks ago, the construction no longer requiring his daily supervision. God knew his employees were sick to death of his presence, turning their backs whenever he passed through their midst. Yet here he remained, in this town full of nosy people constantly wanting to grill meat and drink beer from cans, watching everyone else live from the other side of the glass. “What a cliché you’ve become.” Renner reached to his left, pouring whiskey from a glass decanter into a tumbler and lifting it to his lips for a long sip. “Resented boss. Spoiler of fun.” The liquor lit a path of fire on its way down. “The one who gets shit done and signs everyone’s paychecks. Don’t forget that part.” As if Renner had spoken into the intercom instead of to himself, Milo’s smooth movements snagged while dipping the enamored worker. His dark-haired head came up, his gaze finding Renner upstairs, that eyebrow tilting as if to say, want to take a picture, boss man? That was their relationship, if you could refer to it as such. Renner gave Milo orders, as he did to all of his employees, and Milo told him to shove it, going about following instructions in his own way. His signature loose-limbed, ready to rumble, swaggering way. Sometimes he even winked at Renner while following through, which in itself should have been grounds for firing. Even if winking didn’t break any codes of conduct per se, it certainly violated Renner’s own unwritten rule book. As did Milo’s walking into his office without knocking and throwing sarcasm Renner’s way at every available opportunity. Apparently Milo fell into some kind of gray area that allowed him to disrespect Renner’s authority and retain his job. The rugged Bostonian may have been hired several months ago by Vaughn, the head of factory security and an old army buddy of Milo’s, but Renner had the ultimate power to hire and fire. Putting up with the subtle jabs and sarcasm had nothing to do with Renner’s reluctant fascination with the security guard. Or the way a flame lit under his blood every time the man was close by. Nothing whatsoever. He had a strict set of rules when it came to other men, and Milo violated them all by being his employee. Not to mention being too young…and too straight. Like, chest bumps and beer koozies straight. In other words, Renner was doing his best to ignore how Milo’s security shirt had come unbuttoned halfway to his belt and sweat was beginning to catch the bright factory lights— “Right.” Renner swallowed the remaining inch of whiskey and turned away from the window. He needed to get some sleep. He’d been working on a new contract pitch for three days, and his common sense was beginning to blur. The account he was trying to land didn’t want to use their facilities, anyway. Despite Bastion Enterprises’ pristine track record, the rejections continued. Why was he trying so hard? Because that’s what Renner did. He worked until he collapsed. Late hours, red-eye flights, exhaustion, coffee, whiskey. Repeat. After being doubted by countless associates on his rise to the top, a fire burned in his gut, daring him to prove himself. It never, ever went away. Yes, work was his cruelest vice, and it kept him moving. Never settling. He certainly didn’t make habits of outstaying his welcome in one town. A place where he didn’t warrant so much as a wave when walking down the street. It was absurd that Milo, an employee who had about as much respect for Renner as a delinquent child for a school principal, should make him feel…welcome. For the love of God, he’d greeted Renner with a middle finger this morning and yet somehow, Renner had been looking forward to it. At least it was an acknowledgment. Time to go home. Seriously. Back to the city. Back to sanity. Back to dating men who were available to him. Why was there so little appeal to the latter? With an irritated curse, Renner went to his desk and began shoving files into his leather briefcase. If he went out the back door, he wouldn’t have to ruin everyone’s fun downstairs. His Mercedes was parked a few blocks over, despite Milo’s insistence that he “pahk in the freakin’ laht,” so he would avoid that argument as well. That was not a disappointed tug in his stomach; he’d just skipped dinner.

…

Milo watched the light go out in Renner’s office and knew the stubborn prick was going to try to sneak out without him. The guy really thought he was untouchable, didn’t he? But in a town full of people who disliked him—especially after firing their beloved mechanic, Duke, and the explosion that followed—Renner didn’t get to waltz around in the dark in his five-thousand-dollar suit. Maybe Hook was slightly safer than Milo’s old Boston neighborhood, but at age twenty-six, caution still ran in his blood. He’d been hired to keep the factory safe, and that duty extended to Renner, the factory’s owner, whether the dude liked it or not. The army had taught Milo to take his responsibilities seriously, and after a disorganized, all-around backward youth, he’d learned there was satisfaction in being thorough. To be proud of a job. Responsibility. Yeah. That was so why he was so protective over Renner. Milo snorted to himself and gave a sweeping bow to the woman in front of him. She was sweet, this lady. Kind of reminded him of the librarian who’d kept a forty-ounce in her desk back in middle school. Quick with a joke and loved anyone who noticed she still had a little fire in her. “All right, pretty lady. I have to take off.” Milo took her hand, giving her one final spin. “You go easy on the boys at the Third Shift tonight. Just remember who got you warmed up.” She doubled over and laughed along with her friends, who’d stayed behind to watch. “Why don’t you come out and give me a spin yourself?” “Ah, you know how it is.” He winked at them as he re-buttoned his shirt. “Hot date.” Milo left them laughing on the factory floor as he jogged toward the back exit. Wondering how far Renner had gotten without him, his smile dimmed. Bet he hadn’t even parked that Mercedes in the gated lot, like he was supposed to. Maybe the guy liked being reminded. Good. That’s exactly what was going to happen. Crisp, fall coolness slithered inside Milo’s shirt when he slammed out of the factory, the metal door booming shut behind him. He took a right and hit the sidewalk, knowing Renner liked to park near the coffee shop so he could feed his caffeine addiction immediately after stepping out of his shiny black ride in the mornings. Yeah, he’d been observing his boss somewhat…closely. But not only for the reason Renner assumed. Also known as the same justification Milo gave himself—that he wanted to excel at his job. It was more than that, though. Maybe his careful following of Renner’s movements had begun as a way to keep the factory owner safe, but it had developed into something else entirely. Curiosity. Even…awe on occasion. What would it be like to be so comfortable, so sure of himself, the way Renner was? Being that the guy was private as hell, Milo had a feeling his boss wouldn’t like it one bit if he knew Milo was following him…hoping to learn. The possibility of Renner’s being pissed wasn’t stopping Milo from going after him, though. Honestly, he wasn’t sure if there was anything that could. Which was pretty fucking confusing. Considering Milo was carrying a torch for someone else. That troubling thought was still weighing Milo down when he turned the corner and finally heard footsteps. Heavy, purposeful ones that belonged to Renner. Up ahead, the lights of his boss’s Mercedes flashed, signaling that he’d unlocked the car with the key chain remote. Any second, he would be safe inside the vehicle and Milo could go back to his apartment. For now, he would just hang back in the shadows and watch— Three men converged on Renner from all sides. Milo was already running, cursing under his breath about stubborn city people and gated parking lots. He was still a full block behind Renner, so he was forced to watch some punches being exchanged…and not surprisingly, some of them were being thrown by Renner. Built like a hockey goaltender, the man was intimidating. He just was. That was half the problem with him walking the dark streets of Hook. There were a lot of good people in this town, but there were also men who wanted very badly to put rich, arrogant Renner in his place, and maybe get a packed wallet in the process. Yeah, Renner was holding his own, but the odds were against him. He delivered a right cross to one of the hooded attackers’ faces, but two of the men grabbed him from behind, allowing the punch recipient to get his revenge. Renner’s head snapped back, and that’s when Milo reached the group, drawing his Colt in one smooth motion. “Told you to park in the lot, boss man.” “Now really isn’t the time, Bautista.” Milo’s smile was tight as he leveled the gun beyond Renner’s shoulder. “You’re going to want to step away from him. I’ve got aim for days.” “Aw, look at that,” said the man who wasn’t holding back Renner. “His boyfriend came to rescue him.” “Oh, come on,” Renner said, looking almost relaxed. “He’s really not my type.” Milo ignored the weird discomfort in his chest. “Yeah. I won’t lose any sleep over that black eye he’s going to have, but I would over losing my job.” He strode forward and grabbed a hold of Renner’s thick biceps, pulling him out of the men’s hold. Backing both of them up so he could have a clear angle on all three perpetrators, Milo jerked his head in the direction of the nearby alleyway. “Are you sticking around so I can call the cops, or what? Get the hell out of here.” Milo and Renner were silent as the men took off into the darkness, kicking trash can lids as they went. Only then did Milo let out the breath he’d been holding, his arms lowering in degrees. If even two of the attackers had been carrying weapons, things could have turned out way worse. Thank God they appeared to be nothing more than some misguided kids. In a close-knit place like Hook, sometimes judgment calls had to made about what represented actual danger and what actions could go a long way toward keeping the respect and admiration of people in town. Still, looking the other way bothered Milo. Especially when someone could have been hurt. Renner, specifically. “Next time you might not be so lucky, you know,” Milo said, turning toward Renner. His usual lecture was poised right on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to utter a single word of it when faced with the swelling of Renner’s right eye. “Shit.” A lump grew in his throat. “Sorry I didn’t come sooner.” Renner scoffed and ducked past a cringing Milo. Why had he apologized like that? The guy was open to sympathy like the military was open to accepting poodles as recruits. As in, not open to it. That wasn’t how he and Renner worked. Milo had learned to navigate his boss by giving as good as he got. Letting on that he secretly respected and admired the man was out of the question. Milo swallowed and tried again, catching Renner just before he could climb into the Mercedes. “You going to say thank you or anything, you ungrateful dick?” Renner had already opened the driver’s side door, but he slammed it closed now, striding back toward Milo with a curious look on his face. “Actually, I have a question.” He seesawed his hand between their chests. “What are you doing? Why do you insist on following me? I’m a grown man, Milo. I have the right to get mugged in peace.” “Wow. You just said that out loud.” The back of Milo’s neck pulled taut at the line of questioning, but he forced a belligerent expression. “I’ve told you before, this is my job—” “No.” Renner shook his head. “No. You’re not assigned to me. I didn’t ask you to be my watchdog. This is all of your own free will.” Damn. Milo hadn’t expected this. At least, he hadn’t expected Renner to get in his face like this. So…close. Like the way he got close with other men? What did he think about Milo’s face from such a scant distance? “I…uh.” Milo stepped back, replacing the gun in its holster on his belt. “Like I said, you’re welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow.” “I’m going back to the city in the morning.” That statement hung in the air between them like low fog. Or was Milo only imagining it? Just like he was imagining the hard drumming inside his rib cage? “Before I go, Bautista, I want you to tell me what all this is about. We don’t even like each other, right? And yet here you are. You’re constantly around, worrying about my safety. I…” He loosened his tie with rash movements. “Perhaps the differences in my…biology make me seem different from someone like you, but I’m the furthest thing from weak—” “That’s what it is,” Milo blurted, shocking himself. What was the point in keeping the truth to himself anymore, though, if Renner was leaving in the morning? “Not the part about you being weak. I don’t think that. The opposite, actually. You’ve got a pretty nice right hook there, boss man.” Renner raised an eyebrow. “Okay.” Christ. His blood was flowing in seventeen directions, his tongue weighing as much as a horse in his mouth. This was real. This was happening. “Okay, I’ve been watching you. All right?” A heavy beat passed. “Why?” See, that’s where things got murky. It had started as a way to study Renner’s confidence, hoping to build his own. Along the way, though, Milo had gotten…off track. By more than a few degrees. Instead of learning how to be comfortable in his own skin by following the lead of a man who epitomized confidence, Milo had developed something of a crush. Who wouldn’t? Renner was concise, demanding and intelligent, and he didn’t give a fuck who disapproved of him. A badass who could raise an eyebrow and have employees running for cover. Not to worry, though. Milo had righted the wayward course. He was charted in the right direction once again. In no world did Milo and Renner make sense. Nor did his boss ever look at him with anything other than vexation. It was a dumb infatuation on Milo’s end and nothing would ever come out of it. He actually had a chance with someone else. Someone he genuinely liked. The man who’d stirred his first attraction to the same sex. Maybe his ill-advised interest in Renner had been taking a front seat lately, but that was a proximity issue. Things would change. A lot of things. Starting now. “I just…I have a thing for someone. And I don’t know how to approach him about it.” The drumming in his ears beat louder. “You’re the only guy I know who—” “I’m sorry.” Renner held up a finger. “Did you just say you have a thing for a him?”    

  Enter Tessa’s Giveaway:     

(Kindle Fire)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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 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.  





  Connect with Tessa:  Twitter ~ Facebook ~  Bailey’sBabes ~ Instagram ~ Newsletter

Worked Up by Tessa Bailey - Review and Giveaway

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!  

(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)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

GoodReads ~ Website ~ Twitter ~ 

Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest

Worked Up by Tessa Bailey - Cover Reveal

I Love this cover for Tessa Bailey’s 

WORKED UP, 

the third novel in Tessa’s bestselling romance Made in Jersey series and I don't know about you but I am so ready for Duke (and his sisters!). 

WORKED UP is being published by Entangled Brazen in August 2016. 

Check out the sexy cover below and add it on Goodreads today!

 

Goodreads 

Book Description:

New Jersey factory mechanic Duke Crawford has watched his loved ones’ marriages fail, time and time again, so he’s not interested in a relationship. Who could have guessed Samantha Waverly, a fellow commitment-phobe—and his new boss’s off-limits sister—would make him question his dedication to bachelorhood? And get him good and worked up in the process…

 

MADE IN JERSEY Series

 

And don’t miss the first three books in the Made in Jersey…

CRASHED OUT (#1)

Amazon ~ iBooks ~ Barnes & Noble

 

ROUGH RHYTHM (#1.5)

 Amazon 

 

THROWN DOWN (#2)

Amazon ~ iBooks ~ Barnes & Noble 

   
About Tessa Bailey: 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 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 eight 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.  

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

   

Thrown Down by Tessa Bailey - Review

 

 

GoodReads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes&Noble

Author: Tessa Bailey

Publication Date:  4 April, 2016

Publisher: Entangled Brazen

Series:  Made in Jersey, book 2 

Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 18 and up

Rating: 4 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

He has one last chance to deserve the girl of his dreams... Overachiever River Purcell was never supposed to be a struggling single mom, working double shifts just to make ends meet. Nor was she supposed to be abandoned by her high school sweetheart, breaking her heart into a thousand jagged pieces. Now Vaughn De Matteo is back in town, his sights set on her...and River is in danger of drowning a second time. No one believed Hook's resident bad boy was good enough for River. Not even Vaughn himself. But he'll fight like hell to win back the woman he never stopped loving, to keep the daughter he never expected, and convince himself he's worth their love in the process––even if he has to rely on their fierce and undeniable sexual chemistry. But even as River's body arches under his hungered touch, the demons of the past lurk in the shadows. Waiting for Vaughn to repeat his mistakes one last time...

  EXCERPT: 

 Forty-nine months and three days. That was how long it had been since he’d seen her. Vaughn swayed to the right, his shoulder slamming up against the wall. Then he kind of just hung there, counting forward and backward from one to ten. Not helping. Not helping. His stomach pitched at the sight of River walking through the drunks, like a nurse walking among the wounded on a battlefield. She could still knock his lights out on sight. Not that he’d doubted it for a second. But God, if it were possible, she’d grown even more beautiful over the last forty-nine months. Her blond hair was tied up in a ponytail, a pencil stuck through the base, in a way he remembered well enough to make his throat go raw. In a short black skirt and fitted white T-shirt, River tried to look the part of indifferent barmaid, but didn’t pull it off. Not by a stretch. Eyes Vaughn knew were just a shade darker than cornflower blue flitted to each table, and her fingers tugged on the skirt’s hem self-consciously every time she approached a new one. When she fumbled with the notepad, recovering with a nervous laugh, a choked sound left Vaughn. “Riv,” he whispered. She looked up so fast, he might as well have shouted. The sudden impact of having River’s focus on him after such an extended period of time without it released a rushing sound between his ears, blocking out the sad lounge act…and apparently someone asking if he needed a table. Because when Vaughn snapped back to reality, a man he towered over by at least a foot was in his face. Snapping his fingers. “I wouldn’t…” Vaughn shook his head to clear it, experiencing a resurgence of anger, this time for having his attention diverted from where he needed it to be. On River. “I wouldn’t advise snapping your fingers in my face again.” “Why’s that, huh?” A toss of blond hair snagged Vaughn’s gaze as his angelic ex-girlfriend zigzagged through the crowd, drawing more than just his notice. Ah no, quite the opposite. She was putting on an unwitting show for every man in the room, attracting lecherous looks by virtue of being her beautiful self, light in a dark tunnel, same way she’d always been. Finger snapped in front of his face. Again. “This is my place and I asked you a question.” “This is your place?” Vaughn asked. God, one hour back in Jersey and already his accent had thickened from water to oil. “You hired River Purcell to clean up tables?” “That’s right.” Vaughn plowed a fist into the underside of the man’s jaw, watching him fall backward onto the sticky concrete floor with detachment that slowly morphed into satisfaction. So much for calm, he thought, shaking out his right hand. 

My Review:

We were introduced to these two in the first Made in Jersey novel, Crashed Out.  River Purcell is sister to rocker Sarge and best friend to Sarge's love interest Jasmine.  Through them we get a good feel for who River is, hardworking woman intent on making it on her own, dedicated mother, sister, and friend.  We also discover the father of her sweet little girl Marcy, River's high school love Vaughn.  We also learn that Vaughn has no idea he's a father until a letter sent by Sarge send Vaughn rushing back to Hook New Jersey a place he left with the belief he was saving River, but instead left her alone and fighting to give their daughter the best life she can.

I love, LOVE this couple.  I love River's dedication to not only her daughter but to herself and her desire to take care of them both on her own.  She could so easily just let her brother care for her, she could have so easily let some man take care of her, but instead she fights to stand on her own two feet, to rely on no one but herself.  I love her drive to at least try to be the best in everything she does, to show her daughter that even though life can be hard, life can also be good but you have to work for it.    Vaughn, sweet, sweet, troubled Vaughn.  He's the kind of hero we need in books.  Heroes that hurt because they are trying to do the right thing.  Heroes that never leave you questioning their devotion to the person they love.  The hero that puts the love of his life first, even if it means breaking his own heart and shattering his soul.  The hero that will drop everything when he discovers that 'She' needs him.  It is so hard not to fall in love with this everyday, every city, every relationship couple.  They are each one of us, (maybe with a bit more sexy talk, haha) they live in a world where money isn't falling out of their pockets where they have to work every day, where they live pay check to pacy check.  They are the couple that says that in the end what matters most is the love for their little family and simply just doing the best they can.

I also throughly enjoyed the introduction of secondary characters, Duke and his sisters...oh how much fun we will have when their stories get told.  At first I honestly thought Duke's sisters were going to drive me insane but Tessa manages to take their wildness and make you fall in love with it.  They are going to keep Duke and the town of Hook on it's toes and I can't wait to see all the fun that occurs do to them.   Duke, he just makes you want to growl and purr all at the same time.  His book can't get here soon enough for me.  Then there's Mr. Three Piece Suit...Renner, all I can say is I am very VERY intrigued. There is one complicated story there and I can't wait to 'hear' it.

My favorite part about this book is how full my heart felt when I 'closed' the back cover.  When I just sat there for a moment basking in the glow of the love between this couple.  Yes there are sexy times, I mean come on we are talking about Tessa 'Queen of Dirty Talk' Bailey, she is one of the best out there when it comes to steamy moments and words that will make you need a high powered fan and I love those moments I really do, but with this book, this book just made me love love!  I absolutely loved the HEART of this couple.  When you are done if you don't walk away feeling like love is the most amazing thing in the world then we should talk, haha.

The only thing that has kept me from giving this a huge 5 love filled stars is that I would have liked more interaction between Vaughn and Marcy and then I would have liked a bit more in the epilogue.  I would have liked to see that they basically stuck it to River's father by getting EVERYTHING they have wanted, but maybe that's just because I have a vindictive streak, ha.  I am hopeful that in future books we will see that come to pass.  We will know that not only do they have the love they deserve but they have a house filled with that love.

This is a fantastic read for ANY contemporary romance fan.  If this is your first introduction to either Tessa or her Made in Jersey series you've chosen a great book to start with.  While Thrown Down is part of the Made in Jersey series it can be read as a standalone.  You will meet the couple from book 1, Crashed Out but you won't be spoiled if you want to go back and read it after you finish Thrown Down.  If you are looking for a book with characters that feel true to life, if you are looking for a book with steamy moments that will leave you gulping down glass after glass of water, or maybe a nice cold beer, if you are looking for a book that will leave your heart full and happy this is the book for you!

~HAPPY READING ~

 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 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 eight 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.

GoodReads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter