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New Release Review! TOO HOT TO HANDLE by Tessa Bailey (A Romancing the Clarksons novel)

From New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey comes the first novel in her hot, new Romancing the Clarksons Series.

When Rita Clarkson’s Suburban takes its last breath on a New Mexico roadside, rescue roars up on a Harley in the form of smooth-talking honkey tonk owner, Jasper Ellis, a man as mysterious as he is charming. Rita’s cross-country journey to New York City–with her three estranged siblings in tow–is only beginning, but now that Jasper has found Rita, his plans do not include her leaving.

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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.

 

Review:

A mixed bag, but ultimately I’m absolutely intrigued by the whole Clarkson clan so I’m going to keep reading. Especially because I’m pretty sure that Ms. Bailey’s going to make me wait until book 4 to get Belmont’s story–cruel, but effective planning. 😉

What I liked:

Jasper. When he was telling Rita about the day he decided to change his manwhore ways my heart broke a little. Talk about slut shaming…it was definitely different to see it aimed at a guy for once. Every time it made him doubt himself I just wanted to give him a hug.

The dynamic between the four siblings (Rita and Peggy’s thing for The Golden Girls? Loved it), and later on, Sage (Peggy’s best friend) as well. Not to mention the whole crazy whatever-it-is between Sage and Belmont. Did I mention I’m anxious for his story?

Jasper’s grandmother. She cracked me up.

The last 20%–definitely the most solid part of the book.Loved the ending.

The series potential. It’s got me hooked.

The siblings’ names–all relatively unusual but not jarringly so. So many books seem to go to extremes–the same “unusual” names that everyone else is using, or ones that are head-scratchingly weird. I liked Rita, Peggy, Aaron, and Belmont.

Sigh…Belmont.

What I wasn’t so crazy about:

Jasper’s dirty talk. Too much (I know, I know!) and it made him seem like a different guy than he is in the rest of the book. It was more jarring than hot.

Rita’s kitchen phobia. I just had trouble “getting” it, which made her getting over it somewhat puzzling as well. I don’t know why–it was explained, more or less, but it just didn’t work for me, exactly. I can’t put my finger on it.

Jasper’s back-and-forth with Rita and intimacy. As much as I got why he was conflicted, it got weird. Especially when he started with the talking…

Overall I enjoyed reading this and more ended up in the “like” column than not. Aaron appears to be next–since he’s got a dog, I’ll forgive him for not being his older brother.

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Tessa Bailey - headshotAbout 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

 

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Tessa Bailey’s TOO HOT TO HANDLE – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

May 19th

A Literary Perusal – Review & Excerpt

Book Angel Booktopia – Review & Excerpt

Bookaholics Reading Haven – Review & Excerpt

Booklovers For Life – Guest Post

CherryRed’s Reads – Review & Excerpt

Krista’s Dust Jacket – Review & Excerpt

Lit. 4 Ladies – Excerpt

Reads All the Books – Review & Excerpt

Romance Playlist – Review & Excerpt

SBB Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads – Review & Excerpt

Sultry, Steamy Reading – Review & Excerpt

Take Me Away To A Great Read – Excerpt

The Book Cellar – Review & Excerpt

The Book Disciple – Review & Excerpt

The BookWhisperer – Review & Excerpt

The Bookworms Obsession Blog – Review & Excerpt

The Lusty Literate – Review & Excerpt

The Reading Cafe – Review & Excerpt

Total Book Geek – Review & Excerpt

Vi3tbabe – Review & Excerpt

May 20th

Alphas Do It Better Book Blog – Excerpt

Book Lovin’ Mamas – Review & Excerpt

Chelles Life in Books – Excerpt

Ellesea Loves Reading – Excerpt

Hot Pressed Books – Review & Excerpt

Jack of All Trades, Master of None – Excerpt

JOJO THE BOOKAHOLIC – Review & Excerpt

Pink Lace & Silver Buckles Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

She Hearts Books – Review & Excerpt

Socially Awkward Book Nerd – Excerpt

The Book Bellas – Review & Excerpt

The Literary Gossip – Review

May 21st

A Brit and a Yank – Excerpt

A Fortress of Books – Guest Post

Becky on Books – Review & Excerpt

Beneath The Covers Blog – Excerpt

Book Lit Love – Review & Excerpt

Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous – Review & Excerpt

Hart’s Romance Pulse – Excerpt

I Love Romance – Review & Excerpt

Kick Back & Review – Review & Excerpt

Kris & Vik Book Therapy Cafe – Review & Excerpt

Liz’s Reading Life – Excerpt

Shannon’s Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

The Book Sirens – Review & Excerpt

Wicked Babes Blog Reviews – Review & Excerpt

May 22nd

Aly’s Miscellany – Guest Post

Evermore Books – Excerpt

Kimmy Loves to Read – Review & Excerpt

Nose Stuck in a Book – Excerpt

Renee Entress’s Blog – Review & Excerpt

SnoopyDoo’s Book Reviews – Excerpt

The Fairest of All Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

May 23rd

Best Book Boyfriends – Review & Excerpt

Book Reader Chronicles – Review & Excerpt

Books 2 Blog – Excerpt

Books by Migs – Review & Excerpt

Bridget’s Book Bungalow – Review & Excerpt

Four Chicks Flipping Pages – Review & Excerpt

My Book Filled Life – Review & Excerpt

my midnight fantasies – Excerpt

Nice Ladies, Naughty Books – Review & Excerpt

Novel Addiction – Review & Excerpt

Obsessive Reading Disorder – Review & Excerpt

Oh My Growing TBR – Review & Excerpt

Romanticamente Fantasy Sito – Review & Excerpt

Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Southern Belle Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Stephanie’s Sexy Reads – Review & Excerpt

May 24th

Alpha Book Club – Excerpt

bi n i b i n i – Review & Excerpt

Books Over Sleep – Excerpt

BooksPieAndCoffee – Review & Excerpt

G & T’s Indie Café – Excerpt

Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Jax’s Book Magic – Review & Excerpt

KatyaRath – Review & Excerpt

kimberlyfaye reads – Review & Excerpt

Miss Riki – Review & Excerpt

My Girlfriends Couch – Review & Excerpt

My YA NA Book Obsession – Review & Excerpt

Okie Dreams Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Once Upon a Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Ramblings From This Chick – Guest Post

Romantic Reads and Such – Excerpt

Short and Sassy Book Blurbs – Review & Excerpt

Talking Books Blog – Review & Excerpt

The Eater of Books! – Excerpt

The Phantom Paragrapher – Review & Excerpt

The Readdicts – Review & Excerpt

Toot’s Book Reviews – Excerpt

True Story Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

WickedGoodReads – 2 Reviews & Excerpt

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