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.

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.

TOO HOT TO HANDLE - cover

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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.

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