Huh. I guess I've finally found a Tessa Bailey book I don't like.
When I heard that one of my favorite romance authors was going to write a steamy romance and murder mystery combo, I admit I about drooled in anticipation. I imagined sparks and sizzle and detecting galore. But alas, it wasn't that. And maybe this was just a case where my expectations were too high, so reality had nowhere to go but down.
Almost from the very first page, it felt like something was a little bit off. Tessa Bailey has always had an eminently readable style, and that's part of the charm of her writing. But this story didn't have that. There were many moments where sentences felt awkward or didn't quite flow together, and scenes were repetitive and drawn out. It's as if the story was rushed out the door without going through the proper rounds of editing.
Regarding the romance, I just couldn't get jive with either of the two main characters. They both felt like caricatures instead of real people, with Taylor being timid but secretly wanting rough sex and Myles beating himself up over one teeny mistake while stalking and salivating over Taylor. I want to swoon over my romances, but this pairing only left me creeped out.
If you read Tessa Bailey, you know her steam factor is high. But the raunchiness in here is so in your face and over the top that it comes across as cartoony rather than hot. There were many moments where it felt like I was reading porn in written form (complete with keeping stolen panties in pockets and referring to the guy as "Daddy"). I enjoy a good sizzle as much as the next gal, but this wasn't it.
And when it came to that murder mystery—the reason I was so excited for this to begin with—I was disappointed there too. I wanted clues and suspects and red herrings. Instead, the story just eventually revealed the guilty party, without any sort of buildup.
After reading seven Tessa Bailey books, I guess coming across my first dud was only a matter of time. And all things considered, that's not a bad record. I'll certainly continue to read Tessa Bailey in the future, but this book is going in the donation pile posthaste.
Readaroo Rating: 2 stars
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