Readers will be drawn to this witty tale courtesy of a delightful heroine and a strong and supportive hero. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Just Kidding by Lani Lynn Vale, along with my impressions of it, then add this first installment in the KPD SWAT Generation 2.0 series to your bookshelf!
Let’s do a calendar, they said. It’ll be fun, they said:
Well, they—I.e. Kilgore Police Department’s public relations specialists—were wrong.
Now, every time Dax Tremaine walks around a corner, the women of Kilgore, Texas can’t help calling him Mr. January. Mr. January, can you fix my flat tire? Mr. January, can you cuff me? Mr. January, can you sign my boob?
It goes from bad to worse when even on a SWAT call, the women won’t stay away.
****
It was the worst time of her life. Rowen Roberts had finally admitted to herself that the man she loved would never love her back. She was just fired from her job for violating client confidentiality, and to make matters worse, she’s held up at gunpoint in a convenience store where she only wanted some ice cream to help mask the pain.
The moment the gun is pressed to her forehead, she knows she has a decision to make. Follow the rules and maybe possibly live, or go down swinging where at least she can salvage just a little bit of her dignity.
And when Mr. January himself tells her to do what the gunman says, she’s had enough. Rowen has never really been a girl that does what she’s told. Mr. January won’t have to save her. She can dang well save herself.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
With each successive book released I’ve become an even bigger fan of Ms. Vale and her delightful storytelling that’s the perfect balance of romance with a bit of suspense. This series starter has all the usual witty banter I’ve come to count on from Ms. Vale along with a delicious hero and sassy heroine whose interactions are teeming with sexual tension. Seeing these characters grow up from their younger years (seen in a previous book) pulled me into this story from the very first page and had me rooting for these two every step of the way.
Rowen’s a strong-willed heroine whose life hasn’t gone exactly as she planned. For years she was focused on becoming a lawyer, doing everything expected of her, but it’s now clear that her plans have gone awry which leaves her feeling lost and starting over. She’s also feeling lost when it comes to her heart and her attraction to her sister’s ex, a years-long attraction that’s frustrating as they’ve danced around each other for years. His choice of new dating material will frustrate readers even more as Shondra’s a truly unlikable woman who continually sabotages Rowen’s plans....sometimes in very hurtful ways. With every move Shondra makes though Rowen stays strong which made me like her all the more. When new SWAT member Dax comes on the scene though things turn combustible and he gives her a reason to start fighting harder for what she wants...and what she realizes she wants is Dax...in a romance full of charm and heartwarming exchanges. Rowen starts off with bouts of low self-esteem but with each turn of the page she got stronger and quit taking everything so lackadaisically...she took on more of a badass vibe and it had me cheering her on wholeheartedly.
Dax is new to the SWAT team but left an indelible mark immediately as the first sexy photo on a fundraising calendar. It’s a steamy picture that has every women in town drooling, but there’s only one woman he’s interested in and together they’re a compelling couple. Dax is a tough guy with a heart of gold, more than ready to stand beside Rowen as she handles every punch thrown her way by Shondra. He’s sexy and supportive and his scenes with Rowen crackled and put a smile on my face courtesy of their witty banter that drew me in from the start.
This is an entertaining series starter with an unforgettable main couple whose interactions in and out of the bedroom sizzled. Their romance built at a believable pace that kept me glued to the pages and their connection was formidable in their later dealings with Shondra. Their banter was witty and fast-paced, hallmarks of every one of Ms. Vale’s books, and this familiarity added to the sense of family this series touches on but which I wanted a bit more from. I enjoyed seeing past couples and look forward to what’s planned next.
My rating for this is a B+
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Lani Lynn Vale is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens. When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.
Lani is married with three children, and lives in the Great State of Texas.
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