Another entry in the series that brought us FANNING THE FLAMES…
Taking the Heat
by Victoria Dahl
Synopsis:
Passion this hot can’t be faked…
All revved up for bright lights and steamy nights, writer Veronica Chandler chased her dreams to New York City. When she hit a dead end, reality sent her back home to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Saving her pride and her new gig—writing a relationship advice column!—requires some faking. No one can know the truth about her big-city flop or her nonexistent sex life. But the town’s irresistibly rugged librarian is determined to figure her out… and give her hands-on lessons in every wicked thing she wants to know.
Gabe MacKenzie’s heart might be in Wyoming, but secretly his future’s tied up in his family’s Manhattan legacy. Getting down and dirty with Veronica is supposed to give him a few memorable nights—not complicate his plans. But the thing about heat this scorching is there’s just no going back… and it might be too hot for either of them to take.
Review:
I just loved Gabe, the bearded librarian hero. (Clearly, the cover is from the fifteen or so pages of the book after his mother made him shave, however. Tragic.) Why aren’t there more sexy librarian heroes? Clearly an oversight… 😉
Veronica was an interesting mixture of humorous sassiness and near-crippling insecurities. I respected the fact that she knew she was a mess and was resolved to improve herself–her “to do” list was a particularly nice touch. At the same time, her determination to help the people that wrote to “Dear Veronica” was one of my favorite things about her. I was actually moved to tears by the resolution of the storyline with the teenager who called himself “Nobody”–and loved how she got her negligent father involved in helping students at her former high school. Veronica definitely came into her own as the story progressed, enabling her to have the strength to give Gabe the old heave-ho when he needed it.
Sadly, he did need it. If anyone ever needed a wake-up call, it was that guy.
Being dumped worked for Gabe, though, because he turned his life around and made an adorable gesture to try and get her back–absolutely sigh worthy 🙂
Altogether, a very satisfying read and great addition to the series.
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.