Pretty Reckless by Jodi Linton – a Review

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Description:
Welcome to Pistol Rock, Texas where everyone knows secrets last about as long as the sporadic west Texas rain showers.

Laney Briggs has long been considered reckless by the denizens of her hometown, but she’s finally turned it all around—she’s happily engaged to the local veterinarian and she’s become a Pistol Rock deputy sheriff. Everything’s fine and dandy—until a dead body turns up and her ex, Texas Ranger Gunner Wilson, decides to stick his boots into the town’s first murder case.   

Of course, the troublesome cowboy’s rugged good looks and T-shirt-straining muscles are already leaving Laney knee-deep in hot water, but she’ll be damned if she lets Gunner trample all over her turf. She’s decided that, instead of conflict, she wants a contented, steady life with her vet—a life in which Gunner Wilson and his seemingly endless ability to undermine her resolve and her libido plays no part. 

Still, it’s hard to keep her head as forbidden sparks ignite and suspicions arise between old rivals and old flames. And when the bodies start to pile up, Laney has to ask the lethal bad boy for a hand—and a truce in exchange for his help. But after uncovering the pack of lies surrounding not only her job but her heart…

Having an ex-boyfriend as an ally might not be the best idea, but it’s certainly the most reckless, and Laney has always been pretty reckless… 

Review:
Pretty Reckless by Jodi Linton is the first book in her new Deputy Laney Briggs series.  We meet our heroine, Deputy Sheriff Laney Briggs immediately, as her boss Sherriff Dobbs sends her to a ranch to settle a dispute.  Laney is tired of always being the one to get in the middle of ranchers constant and drunken fights; not to mention the leers and comments from the ranchers.  But Laney holds her own, as she is not your simple female deputy. She is feisty, beautiful, funny, sarcastic and probably their best cop in Pistol Rock, Texas.  This time the simple dispute turns deadly, with murder, mayhem, drugs making this a case that brings in the Texas Rangers. 

In this case, Gunner Wilson, Laney’s ex, who left her a few years before, comes to Pistol Rock to help with the case.  As soon as she sees Gunner, Laney can feel the immediate sparks, and knows she still has feelings for him, which she desperately tries to fight off.  Laney is now engaged to Nathan, the popular local veterinarian.  But it will not be easy, as Gunner is out to win back Laney, even if she shot him in the ass, when he left.  J  Not only is Gunner a hunk, but it seems so is the local wealthy rancher Luke.  Laney is not deprived of attention from Gunner, Luke and Nathan, who is becoming by day more upset with Gunner’s constant advances to his fiancée.

This is just part of the story, with the romance, Gunner and Laney; but the crux of the story is the mystery of who is behind the murder (s), and involved in the drug deals. There are quite a few twists along the way, and each time Laney and Gunner think they have a handle on things, they are back to square one.  Pretty Reckless is a suspense mystery, with a lot of humor, as well as romance in between.

Laney is a pretty cool character, and Gunner is one hot Texas Ranger.  There were times when it was a bit wild early on, with Laney having to do most of the investigation work with Gunner.  This I thought wasn’t totally believable, since the sheriff and the other deputy did nothing. 

Overall this was a nice fast read, with a hot couple, not to mention a heroine who can handle all those hot men.  Good start to a new series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher