Review: Baiting the Maid of Honor by Tessa Bailey

Baiting the Maid of Honor (Wedding Dare #2)
    by: Tessa Bailey

Publication Date: June 9, 2014
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 192 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

He’ll own her from the very first touch.

Julie Piper and Reed Lawson have nothing in common. She’s a people-pleasing sorority girl hiding behind her perfect mask. He’s a take-no-prisoners SWAT commander who isolates himself from the world. But when they’re forced together at their friends’ posh destination wedding, one thing is clear—Reed wants Julie more than he wants his next breath. Which is why he’s not about to stand by when she’s dared to seduce another man.

Julie wants neat, tidy sex, so she could get back to what she does best—making everybody else happy. She never expected to slip into a dark bedroom and have her mind blown by rough, demanding hands, and a sinfully filthy mouth—neither of which belong to the best man.

One night should have been all Reed needed to get the blond temptress out of his system, but when one taste is nowhere near enough, he’ll be forced confront the effects of his hellish past. One that may push Julie away forever...just when he realizes he can't live without her.

 

 

The Queen of the Dirty-Talking Alpha has returned and this time she gives us Reed Lawson, SWAT commander! *swoon* I can always count on Tessa to deliver a steamy, sensual novel filled with dialogue that will make you blush and made your heart (or other parts!) clench in anticipation at the same time! This is the second full length novel in the Wedding Dare series and focuses on Kady's  maid of honor, Julie.

 

Pacing: I always like Tessa's pacing. She doesn't hold back in getting right down to business and I love that. She does such a great job of creating instant attraction with her characters that it leaves you dying for more! Julie and Reed definitely took their time getting their relationship figured out, but both of them have to decidewhat it is they want and what they are willing to sacrifice to be with the other.

 

Storyline: In the lead up to Kady and Colton's wedding, maid of honor Julie takes her duties very seriously. She's a planner and has everything organized and ready to fall into place. She is the glue that holds it all together, even to the point of exhaustion herself. While Kady is the one getting hitched, her husband-to-be has some very delicious groomsmen to sort through. After a chance encounter on the patio leaves her left out of sorts and riled up, she is determined to stay far away from the sexy as sin, crass, dirty-talking man. As fate would have it, he is one of Colton's groomsmen and he isn't letting her get away without a fight. While the two are as opposite as night and day, their chemistry is seriously off the charts hot. But is attraction all there is?

 

Characters: Julie is a sweet Southern girl who expects to be treated as a lady. Under that sweet Southern charm is a sassy vixen just waiting to be unleashed. Reed stirs things in her she never knew she wanted and finds she likes when he makes demands and just takes from her. She knows she should be aghast at the crude, crass way he speaks to her but deep down it's a huge turn on. Julie is very caring and a nurturer. She lives in her sister's shadow and Reed is the first to question who she is. He challenges her to see herself clearly and I like that he sees beyond what she projects to the world.

 

Reed is rough, tough, sexy and a bit dangerous. He doesn't hold back and doesn't give a shit about propriety. He's possessive when it comes to Julie and I love that he feels that towards her. When he first sees Julie on the balcony, he doesn't think- he just reacts. He wants to make her blush and make her lose that 'togetherness' she has about her. However, he knows he can't give the emotional stuff to her. He proves his feelings instead in other more subtle ways. He knows Julie is the type who deserves more, but he's selfish and letting her go makes him see red. She's owned him from the minute she stepped out on that balcony- he just didn't realize what that meant. She challenges him to be better and he wants to be that guy for her, despite all his denying he can't.

 

Reed and Julie definitely don't make things easy for each other that's for sure, but both are so drawn to one another- they can't help but give in to their desires. Reed can't get Julie off his mind and he doesn't want to- but he also doesn't plan on her getting under his skin like she does. Suddenly she has him questioning what's going to happen after the week is over because walking away doesn't seem as easy as it once did.

 

Final Thoughts: I always enjoy Tessa Bailey's books and this was no exception. I also liked getting to know the other characters that the other books focus on too and it made me laugh seeing them all think they know who they want to pair off with. I am excited to start the next book in the series!