Paperback, 296 pages
Release Date: June 6, 2022
Published by: Self Pubbed
Read from: June 25- July 3, 2022
Stand-alone
Source: Gifted (won in a giveaway)
TW: Death, gun violence, hostage situation
For Readers Interested In: Romance, Thrillers, True Crime, Beach settings, Contemporary, Adult, Spice Level 3, Opposites Attract, Grumpy/SunshineIt was supposed to be a relaxing vacation in sweet, sunny Cape Cod—just me and my beloved brother—but discovering a corpse in our rental house really throws a wrench into our tanning schedule. Now a rude, crude bounty hunter has arrived on the back of his motorcycle to catch the killer and refuses to believe I can be helpful, despite countless hours of true crime podcast listening. Not to mention a fulfilling teaching career of wrangling second graders.
A brash bounty hunter and an energetic elementary schoolteacher: the murder-solving team no one asked for, but thanks to these pesky attempts on my life, we’re stuck together, come hell or high tide.
I’m just here to do a job, not babysit an amateur sleuth. Although… it is becoming less and less of a hardship to have her around. Sure, she’s stubborn, distracting and can’t stay out of harm’s way. She’s also brave and beautiful and reminds me of the home I left behind three years ago. In other words, the painful hunger and protectiveness she is waking up in me is a threat to my peace of mind. Before I sink any deeper into this dangerous attraction, I need to solve this murder and get back on the road. But will fate take her from me before I realize the road has been leading to her all along?
*MY THOUGHTS*
When I heard there was another Tessa Bailey, I was excited. I couldn’t wait to get it in my hands. And then all that extra with the cover happened and I knew it wasn’t her fault, but Lordt it was still alot. But even still, I added this to my TBR. I knew I was only going to buy it as an e-copy. But then I won a giveaway and the rest is history. But now that I’ve read it, I’m sad and wish they had picked something else lol
OK, so in true Tessa Bailey fashion, the spice was there. I wanted to talk about this first because Lordt I was hooked to the spice. Like the bounty hunter was FILTHY and I don’t know why, but I was drawn to it. Call me weird or whatever, but I don’t care lol And the fact that this is dual POV and we get to know how he felt during those scenes and how he saw her? *chef’s kiss* And I also loved that they were the complete opposite of each other and how he called her on it, but how she proved him wrong. I hate that she was doing it in this dangerous ass atmosphere, but whatevs.
For this to be the first mystery by Tessa Bailey (that I’ve read) I thought she actually did pretty well with it. (Especially if her only references are those podcasts she kept referring to in the story.) But regardless, I actually liked the plot of this one. I felt rooted to the chairs I was reading on. She did have all the cliche elements, including her getting hurt at some point and him trying to take care of her, but of course, those times were ok for me.
The characters needed a lot of work tho. I was not a fan of the bounty hunter. Yeah he turned her on or whatever and he was big and all that yadda, yadda, yadda, but he was also weird. The whole red panty thing was just weird to me. Maybe if he had done it down the line. But he did it from out the gate… Just no. And Lord can you mix their internal and external dialouge? He said nothing but I can’t be with you the whole time. At some point she had to realize he was being truthful and left her alone. Like, I get it, but this is also why I am not a fan of enemies to lovers. It just doesn’t make sense to me.
The setting was beautiful though. Which is why I’m hella upset she didn’t use it. Like man you have a very beautiful and large beach RIGHT THERE and they didn’t do anything on it? I guess I thought I wanted to see more of that for them. Especially since the beach was so pretty. Or maybe it’s because I’m from a beach town and I could imagine the salt smell in the air, the half clad people on the beach, and one frisky partner that can’t keep his hands to his self. Unfortunately that wasn’t in the book, but here we are.
The epilogue was what got me tho. I was giggling uncontrollably at that point. I couldn’t believe the person she had turned him into. It just seemed 100% not his character. But everything else about the epilogue? Pure entertainment lmao I remember almost spitting my drink out when I was reading. Hilarious.
This followed a lot of tropes, but still manages to be ok. From the spice to the actual story, and I was feeling nothing but amusement. I hope she has other plans to put more in this series. Even if not, I enjoyed this one well enough to be satisficed.
Overall, I give this
