kimbacaffeinate
Written on Aug 30, 2017
NYPD detective Seraphia Newsom will avenge her brother's death at any cost. Even if it means insinuating herself into a rough, Brooklyn street gang and going so far undercover, she's not sure she'll be able to get out. Every minute she spends in their midst means the clock ticking down on her life, especially when she overhears something that could get her killed. Bowen Driscol is the heir to a crime enterprise. He never asked for the job, but with his father behind bars, he has no choice but to step in and keep the operation running. But when the NYPD blackmails him with a piece of damning information in exchange for aiding an undercover cop, he finds himself on the other side of the law for the first time in his life. Bowen knows the danger Sera is in, and keeping her safe trumps saving his own ass. The problem? She can't know he's on her side. And there's the matter of the seriously inconvenient heat sparking between them that's incinerating his resistance. But Sera only sees Bowen's past, and men like him are the reason her brother is dead.
If they're to get out alive, he'll have to risk exposing the man beneath, and hope to hell he doesn't blow the whole operation in the process.
- ISBN10 1622665643
- ISBN13 9781622665648
- Publish Date 27 January 2015
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 27 October 2016
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Entangled Publishing, LLC
- Format Paperback
- Pages 400
- Language English
Reviews
thebookdisciple
Written on Jul 15, 2017
Risking it all is the classic tale of opposites attract with the delicious Tessa Bailey spin of dirty talking alpha male! Seraphina Newsom is the most wholesome character in all of NYC. If she curses, she makes the sign of the cross. She was trained as a nurse, but then her brother (an NYPD officer) is killed on the job. She is determined to go undercover and find out what happened and make sure that the man responsible pays. But, like I said, she was a nurse, not a cop. So she is in over her head in the underworld of loan sharks, drug dealers, and street thugs. The cops recruit another underworld leader in the city for help getting Sera. Bowen rose to a power position due to the death of his father and he hates every minute of his new 'job'.
This is a great blend of opposites attract, romantic suspense, and seedy characters. Bowen is certainly a dirty talker and paired with Sera's virgin, pure life, they are quite the duo to behold! Sera is obviously in over her head with her ill thought investigation, and Bowen is obviously in over his head with Sera. I always adore Tessa Bailey's characters because they are so dynamic. Not purely one character trait, they are a conglomerate of many things and all those things are interesting. Bowen and Sera play well off each other not just because they are opposites, but because they are smart and dedicated (I mean, they are dedicated to different things, but dedicated none the less!)
The miscommunication trope is a bit prevalent in the story but I did expect that when a character is an undercover cop. Their distrust is understandable and expected, so I while I normally hate miscommunications, it actual made perfect sense for this story. The only thing that sort of bothered me was the Romeo/Juliet tragic love turn the story takes towards the end. Bowen becomes so despondent without Sera that he is willing to die. We all know how that turned out for Romeo...I wanted him to FIGHT.
There is a lot of action and suspense throughout the story (Sera is still determined to infiltrate Hogan's operation and get info to implicate him) but its more than just the action. Bailey balances the sexual tension with the plot tension seamlessly and you find yourself reading long past your bedtime because you just can't put the book down!
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: no
- Trope: opposites attract, secret identity
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: sno
- HEA: yes with epilogue
[icon-tags]
The Enforcer by Helenkay Dimon, Shattered by Cynthia Eden, Kill Without Mercy by Alexandra Ivy...then you will probably like Risking it All!
See full review on The Book Disciple
Nicole Lynn
Written on Mar 1, 2015
leelu92
Written on Jan 27, 2015
A couple of months ago, while reviewing another Tessa Bailey (reviews) book I lamented that I'd like for to write a book with a higher word count. Well, I got my wish.
Our man is Bowen is broken and bruised in so many ways and Ms. Bailey really got to the heart of him. Bowen is quite an edgy guy and has some serious protective instincts where Sera is concerned. Honestly, I'm kind of left scratching my head as far as what to say in this review. I'm not going to mince words, I enjoyed everything about this book. Bowen and Sera are going to be a read again couple for me for sure. My Kindle needed to spend some time in the freezer though. Smokin'.
"Did Hogan tell you not touch me or something? Because-"
"What?" His head whipped up, the hands holding hers against the wall flexing hard. "Listen to me, if I wanted to fuck you, I'd end anyone or anything who got in my way. Nothing would stop me. Not a locked door, Not some lowlife. Nothing."
"If?" she repeated, embarrassment cooling her desire. "You don't want to?
His laughter was harsh. "Want to? Want to?" One of his hands loosened its grip to drop down and grasp the bulge in his pants.
"I didn't even know it was possible to ache this bad. It hurts to breathe, baby."
This book is a spin off of Ms. Bailey's Line of Duty series and is a great start to the new series, Crossing the Line. I cannot wait for the next one! (What else is new?)
Purchase:
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Available: June 23, 2015
This review was originally posted on Straight Shootin' Book Reviews
Cocktails and Books
Written on Dec 24, 2014
Alpha maleness at its best, Tessa knows how to write her alphas. Sometimes it is hit or miss with her heroines but not this time.
Sera is a sweet Catholic virgin nurse who gave up her scrubs for a badge. She is determined to bring the man down who was responsible for her brother’s death. And in order for her to do that she must go deep undercover as a waitress in a bar the main suspect owns.
Bowen is a man who thinks his soul is not worth saving. But Sera is. Bowen being deep in the mob world doesn’t think he deserves anything good in his life, but the one thing he will make sure of is that Sera is safe and he does this by helping the police keep an eye on Sera. Bowen is so complex, he doesn’t do virgins, he is a dirty talking man whore who takes what he wants when he wants it. But his saving grace is Sera, he wants to keep her pure and must resist the temptation that can actually save him.
Tessa knows her Alphas and knows how to write each one different. Never the same but each bossy, sexy and down right dirty. Keep up the great work Tessa. Having to many alphas is never a bad thing.
Reviewed by BookBud for Cocktails and Books