4.5 Sexy Stars***"She spoke to Troy without looking directly at him."So, blue eyes. Why don't you stop staring and buy me a drink? I don't want to dehydrate before you work up the nerve." Keeping his surprise hidden, Troy studied her. He didn't want to admit how much her straightforward approach turned him on, but it did. Bad. It also made him curious, and that irked the hell out of him."If I thought that Tessa Bailey had a fluke with her debut novel, Protecting What’s His, the first in her “Line of Duty” series, then I have been shown that it wasn’t just mere luck of the draw on her first book. This author is seriously freaking talented and I want to read every single book that she plans on writing and I may also want to put all her heroes in my pocket… For safe-keeping, okay? Not for any nefarious or wicked means, I promise. *straightens tilted halo*In this sexy, witty, and down and dirty novella, we see Troy Bennett who is a new transfer to the NYPD Detective division after having been on the force in Chicago and requesting the change from his Lieutenant, Derek Tyler. *squee*Troy is going through a tough time–but keeps up the straight face that he’s not hurting on the inside–by relying on his rather rough and tough traits.Ruby is a young woman in her mid-twenties who happens to catch Troy’s eye one night at a bar–but all is not as it seems. While the attraction is there from the start and very, very strong–on both their ends–Ruby’s lifestyle isn’t exactly on the up and up.She’s a hustler–and has been from the time she was a kid and was made to do “jobs” by her dad and his so-called best friend. Ruby’s tough and street smart and doesn’t like to take orders, but Troy is not exactly the type a girl can say no to–or even want to–but she doesn’t give in to his demands quite so easily, but boy does she want to–and I don’t blame her.What I loved about this novella is that Tessa was able to make it a well-rounded piece of contemporary romance. There was the relationship aspect and also a bit of drama and danger. The writing was solid and the pace was just right.Bailey doesn’t disappoint with this novella. She brought the heat, the intensity and the sexy, dirty-mouthed hero and bad-ass heroine that you can’t help but love and root for!An Advance reading copy was provided by the publisher. This review can also be seen on-- Fic Talk
