THROWN DOWN (Made in Jersey #2) by Tessa Bailey-a review

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 4, 2016

He has one last chance to deserve the girl of his dreams…

Overachiever River Purcell was never supposed to be a struggling single mom, working double shifts just to make ends meet. Nor was she supposed to be abandoned by her high school sweetheart, breaking her heart into a thousand jagged pieces. Now Vaughn De Matteo is back in town, his sights set on her…and River is in danger of drowning a second time.

No one believed Hook’s resident bad boy was good enough for River. Not even Vaughn himself. But he’ll fight like hell to win back the woman he never stopped loving, to keep the daughter he never expected, and convince himself he’s worth their love in the process–even if he has to rely on their fierce and undeniable sexual chemistry.

But even as River’s body arches under his hungered touch, the demons of the past lurk in the shadows. Waiting for Vaughn to repeat his mistakes one last time.

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REVIEW: THROWN DOWN is the second full length installment in Tessa Bailey’s contemporary, adult MADE IN JERSEY erotic, romance series. This is single mom River Purcell, and former US soldier Vaughn DeMatteo’s storyline. We were first introduced to River in book one CRASHED OUT. River is Sarge’s sister. THROWN DOWN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed when necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Vaughn and River) using present day and some memories from the past, THROWN DOWN is a second chance story line for our leading couple. Four years earlier Vaughn De Matteo walked away from the only woman he would ever love but the circumstances behind his disappearance are never known until present day. Enlisting in the army then working specialized security upon his return, Vaughn soon becomes aware that the life and the woman he left behind is everything he ever wanted, and so much more. What ensues is a quick rekindling of a relationship between two people who never stopped loving one another throughout the years.

The relationship between Vaughn and River is one of second chances; a love between two people that was interrupted by circumstance and threats to which only Vaughn De Matteo was willing to agree. River, a single mother to her three year old daughter, finds solace in the knowledge that she has done everything and protected the daughter Vaughn knew nothing about. The rekindling of the romance is sexually graphic with intense language and numerous $ex scenes. Vaughn likes to talk dirty both in and out of the bedroom.

We are introduced to Vaughn’s buddy Duke, and his four divorced sisters who are all about looking after Vaughn and River’s daughter. I am hoping for HEA for Duke.

The world building continues to focus on the blue collar jobs and the local factory of Hook, New Jersey-the people, the town, the night life and the color. Everyone is struggling to make a name and survive.

THROWN DOWN, like CRASHED OUT book one, is a story line with graphic sexual language and text. The numerous $ex scenes are somewhat distracting from the story line premise- the rebuilding of the relationship between Vaughn and River gets lost between the erotic language. For all of River’s independence and ability to be strong in the face of adversity, she is quick to accept Vaughn’s return with little to no over-arcing anxiety; easy to forgive and forget about the previous four years. The premise is quick to build although predictable; the characters are somewhat superficial and perfunctory-sadly I felt very little emotional attachment to the leading couple; the romance is a prelude to $ex, and a happily ever after.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy