Mini Reviews: Straddling the Line + Then Came You

STRADDLING THE LINE
Play by Play #8
Jaci Burton
Adult Contemporary Romance
320 pages
Berkley
Available Now
Source: Finished copy from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Trevor Shay has it all—a successful football and baseball career, and any woman he wants. But when he finds out his college mentor’s daughter is in trouble, he drops everything to come to her aid.

Haven Briscoe has finally landed a dream job as a sportscaster for a major network. But she hasn’t been able to move past the recent death of her beloved father, and it’s affecting her career. A plum assignment following the daily life of sports superstar Trevor Shay might be just the inspiration she needs…

Trevor will do anything to spark life back into Haven, including letting her into every aspect of his world. The chemistry between them flames higher than one of Trevor’s home runs and faster than his dashes to the end zone. But as they grow closer, Haven stumbles onto Trevor’s closely guarded secret, one he’s hidden his entire life. And despite his protests, now it’s Haven’s turn to put everything on hold to help Trevor. Will he let her in and trust her with a secret that could blow his professional and personal world apart?

MY THOUGHTS
Straddling the Line is a quick and sexy contemporary romp, perfect for those days when we crave nothing more than a little heat and a satisfied smile when we reach the last page. The Play by Play series never fails to deliver in the steam department, our newest couple Trevor and Haven exhibiting the same combustible chemistry we've come to expect from Ms. Burton, and thankfully that chemistry comes largely free of drama. There are obviously problems our lead pair must overcome before they find their happily ever after, but never do our scalps tingle from the weight of fingers in our hair tugging mercilessly in frustration.

Haven, for all that she's as sexually adventurous as the rest of the women in this series, comes across a touch more timid than expected when we first crack the spine, and at times it almost feels as though the wildlife around her might burst into song at any moment in celebration of her sweetness and understanding. Luckily as the story progresses though, Haven finds her footing a bit more, comfortable enough with Trevor to reveal a flaw here and there which then helps us relate to her in a way we didn't in the beginning. While both begin their fun with no intention of it ever turning serious, when the inevitable occurs they don't fight it overly hard, instead finding their way over the hurdles between them with an ease that perfectly suits a lazy afternoon of romance.

Rating: 3.5/5
 

Find Jaci:

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • Amazon

THEN CAME YOU
Animal Magnetism #5
Jill Shalvis
Adult Contemporary Romance
304 pages
Berkley
Available Now
Source: Finished copy from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Veterinary intern Emily can’t believe she wound up in the small town of Sunshine, Idaho, instead of the Los Angeles clinic she had always imagined. Now she has to put her plans to move to L.A. on hold for a whole year while she fulfills the obligation of her vet school scholarship.

Then Wyatt, her gorgeous one-night stand from a Reno vet conference, introduces himself as her new boss. And Emily is just as drawn to his seductive looks and quiet strength as she was on that very steamy night. She soon learns that Wyatt isn’t just a laid-back doctor, but a delicious alpha male tempting her away from her carefully laid-out plans...

MY THOUGHTS
Then Came You is a story full of adorable characters and sweet romance, the type of novel we pick up knowing we’ll find something light–but with substance–between the pages and will be left with a smile on our faces when we close the back cover. Ms. Shalvis always writes characters who feel incredibly real–cute with being cutesy, and with problems that aren’t so blown out of proportion for dramatic effect that our blood pressure rises to an unhealthy degree. Instead, Emily and Wyatt (and the crazy group of people who work at Belle Haven veterinary clinic) are a joy to spend an afternoon with, delighting us when their smooth moves are often accompanied by a social ineptitude that grounds them in reality even amidst the fiction of a contemporary romance.

Emily is an absolute trip, honest in quite possibly the most endearing way possible as she continually owns up to the fact that she can’t get Wyatt out of her head. She blurts out the fact that she’s absurdly attracted to him whenever they're together, and we can’t help but smile at the fact that coy is something she will never be. Wyatt is equally charming, just as suave as we like our romance heroes to be, but not so shiny and perfect that it feels as though he could only exist in the imaginations of women. The two of them do have a standard lack of communication issue toward the end, but it’s not drawn out to an infuriating degree and their reunion is laced with the same humor found throughout the book to ensure we’re left giddy with satisfaction. Overall, Jill Shalvis has written yet another fun and flirty installment in this series, rich in character development and chock-full of animal sidekicks (complete with a parrot who likes to yell out “boner” at random times) who win us over the minute they appear on page.

Rating: 4/5
 

Find Jill:

Website • Blog • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • Amazon

These books were sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.