Rachel the Book Harlot

"She's about to walk on the wild side . . .

While filling the display case in her bakery, the bell over the door sounds and Tessa O'Hara looks up to see the man of her dreams. Within thirty seconds he asks her out for a beer. But after four months of dating, she discovers he's an undercover DEA agent-and he's investigating her possible role in her ex-husband's drug business. For Tess, this means their relationship is over.

Brock disagrees. He's committed to his anti-drug mission, but he's fallen in love with the beautiful woman who's as sweet as her cupcakes-and he'll do anything to win her back. Standing between Tess and Brock are their own exes, one of them a drug lord who's determined to get what he wants. Now as danger threatens, can Brock break the rules he's lived by and let loose his wild side to protect the woman he loves?"

❖ ❖ ❖

Kristen Ashley’s work is always hit or miss for me. I adored her contemporary romances Law Man and Sweet Dreams. I’m ashamed to admit how often I’ve re-read those two books. Yet Motorcycle Man made me want to stab myself in the eye with a pencil. Guess which category Wild Man falls under?

Everything that was great about Tate from Sweet Dreams -- I’m using him as an example since he and Brock are comparable in terms of their alphadom -- is missing from Brock. Even at his most alpha, Tate still comes across as likable, manly, sexy, and tender. Brock is none of that. He’s basically just obnoxious. He would say things like this: 

“I see this. You’ve shifted ten pounds that looked better when it was on your ass and tits. You’re in a tee and jeans and not your fancy-ass clothes and heels. You lost the glasses and got contacts. The only thing I like, babe, is the hair. Looks good longer and lighter.”

Tess would respond with this:

“He liked my hair.”

And then I'd be like this:

Seriously, what is that?

As to the romance, it fizzled quickly. Aside from the fact that Brock is a jerk and I wanted to shoot him in the groin with a nail gun, there was very little romantic tension between he and Tess. They were together from the outset so there was nothing to root for.

In terms of plot, there wasn't much of one. Not very much happens. 

I keep hoping that one day I’ll encounter the same magic I did with Law Man and Sweet Dreams, but so far that's been a fruitless venture. I think Wild Man sounded the death knell. Looks like Ashley’s work and I will have to part ways. 

Final Rating: 1 star