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Wound Tight (Made in Jersey #4) by Tessa Baily-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

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WOUND TIGHT (Made in Jersey #4) by Tessa Bailey-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

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WOUND TIGHT
Made in Jersey #4
by Tessa Baily
Release Date: December 5, 2016
Genre: adult, contemporary, M/M, erotic, romance

Wound Tight

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 5, 2016

When CEO Renner Bastion walks into a room, everyone keeps their distance. Well, everyone but the sarcastic, tattooed, Boston-bred security guard whose presence has kept Renner in New Jersey longer than intended. As if the unwanted attraction isn’t unsettling enough, Renner finds out his protector isn’t as unavailable as originally thought.

Milo Bautista just came out to his wealthy, ultra-confident boss, a man he secretly respects and admires…in more ways than he’ll admit. Worldly, experienced Renner would never look in his direction, let alone share some of that confidence he wears like a cloak, so Milo has set his sights on someone else to be his first.

Until Renner offers him private lessons in seduction.

••••••••••

REVIEW: WOUND TIGHT is the fourth and final? installment in Tessa Bailey’s contemporary, adult MADE IN JERSEY erotic, romance series focusing on the men and women in the blue collar town of Hook, New Jersey. This is CEO Renner Bastion, and US Army veteran/security guard Milo Bautista’s story line-both of whom we have met in previous story lines. WOUND TIGHT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Renner Bastion is the step brother to Samantha Waverly whom we met in WORKED UP (book 3).

NOTE: WOUND TIGHT is a M/M story line with graphic same sex scenarios and situations.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Milo and Renner) WOUND TIGHT focuses on the building but forbidden relationship between US Army veteran Milo Bautista, and CEO Renner Bastion. Renner is a workaholic; a wealthy businessman who came to Hook, New Jersey to save a manufacturing plant that employs a majority of the town’s people. Renner is gay but his attraction to the manufacturing plant’s head of security is strictly forbidden as Renner is unaware of Milo’s sexual persuasion.

Milo’s interest in Renner Bastion goes beyond safe guarding the boss. Milo is a man who is uncomfortable with his attraction to men, and his preference seems to be leaning towards the man in charge. When Milo reveals his deepest secret, Renner offers to ‘aid’ Milo in the art of seduction knowing that his feelings for Milo may only go one way. What ensues is a developing friendship that soon leads to something more permanent for Milo Bautista and Renner Bastion.

The relationship between Milo and Renner begins acrimoniously. Renner is Milo’s boss and Milo’s carefree attitude gets under Renner’s proverbial skin. The two are constantly ‘butting heads’ as Milo insists on protecting the boss from the dark and dangerous life outside of work. It doesn’t help that Renner keeps himself secreted away from the people who work and live in Hook, New Jersey making himself persona non grata to his other employees. When Milo asks Renner to help him get over his fear of seducing a man, Renner hopes that Milo directs all that he learns towards the man, himself. The M/M $ex scenes are intimate and provocative. There is plenty of sexual tension between Milo and Renner.

Most of the previous story line couples play secondary and supporting characters including Samantha Waverly, and her husband Duke Crawford-Duke and Samantha are looking towards the future and adding one more to the population of Hook, New Jersey. I am still hoping that Tessa writes a series focusing on Duke’s four sisters-each recently divorced or struggling in their current relationships.

WOUND TIGHT is an emotional but predictable story line; a sweet romance between two men who struggle with who and what they are. The premise is moving and inspiring; the characters are passionate and encouraging ; the romance is intimate and intense. WOUND TIGHT and Tessa’s MADE IN JERSEY series are a moving and comforting look at a blue collar town and the people who live to love.

Reading Order and Previous reviews

Crashed Out
Thrown Down
Worked Up
Wound Tight

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

About The author

highres-MJB_5140.jpgTessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.

Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of nine years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

Connect with Tessa Bailey

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Worked Up (Made in Jersey #3) by Tessa Bailey-a review

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WORKED UP (Made in Jersey #3) by Tessa Bailey-a review

Worked Up

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 1, 2016

Factory mechanic Duke Crawford just wants to watch SportsCenter in peace. Unfortunately, living with four divorcee sisters doesn’t provide much silence, nor does it change his stance on relationships. But when a fellow commitment-phobe stumbles into his life, getting him good and worked up, he can’t deny his protective instincts.

Samantha Waverly’s brother just put her in an impossible situation. The only way out? Marry huge, gruff, gladiator look-alike Duke—for show, of course. She doesn’t make promises—she knows too well how easily they can be broken—and this is no exception.

As the blistering attraction between them grows, the lines around the no-strings relationship blur. But Duke and Samantha’s marriage is only for show…or is it?

•••••

REVIEW: WORKED UP is the third installment in Tessa Bailey’s contemporary, adut MADE IN JERSEY erotic, romance series. This is factory mechanic Duke Crawford, and artist / children’s book illustrator Samantha Waverly’s story line. WORKED UP can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any information from previous story line is revealed where necessary. The reader was first introduced to Duke and his four ‘divorced’ sisters in book two-THROWN DOWN.

Told from dual third person perspectives WORKED UP focuses on the marriage of convenience between two commitment phobes -artist Samantha Waverly, and Duke Crawford. To appease her brother Renner, the owner of the factory where most of the town of Jersey is employed, Samantha needs to get married to present a unified front to the board of directors. When Samantha’s ‘fiance’ of three years has yet to return home from his trip abroad, Duke Crawford offers Samantha his hand in marriage for all the wrong reasons, and in doing so finds himself falling in love with the spunky artist who is his perfect match both in and out of the bedroom.

Duke Crawford is a bear of a man: he is tall, dark and brooding with a need to help those in trouble. Samantha is a woman torn between what it is she wants to do and the contract that ties her future to that of a promise made to her brother. What ensues is the quick building relationship between Duke and Samantha that ends disastrously when Samantha’s brother adds another caveat to his contract with his sister. The $ex scenes are erotic, intense and aggressive. Duke is a dirty talker in the bedroom ; the sexual chemistry is hot and heavy.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including River and Vaughn (Thrown Down), Duke’s four divorced sisters who all live with their brother, and Samantha’s brother and factory owner Renner who is one of the most despised men in the town. The world building continues to look at the blue-collar town, and the people who work at the local factory in Hook, New Jersey.

WORKED UP is a fast paced story of insta-lust between two unlikely people in a town where everybody knows your name. The premise is enjoyable and fun; the characters are spirited and heartwarming; the romance is passionate and a quick build to forever with a couple of bumps along the way.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Crashed Out
Thrown Down
Worked Up

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Thrown Down (Made in Jersey 2) by Tessa Bailey-a review

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

Thrown Down

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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.

•••••••••••

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

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Crashed Out (Made in Jersey #1) by Tessa Bailey-a review

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CRASHED OUT (Made in Jersey #1) by Tessa Bailey-a review

Crashed Out

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 7, 2015

His inspiration. His torment. And his temptation…

Jasmine Taveras is the reason Sarge Purcell grabbed his six-string and bailed the hell out of New Jersey four years ago. She’s the fuel for every song he’s ever written-each one laced with bitter, hard-edged, hungry lust. Now, with his hugely successful band is on temporary hiatus, Sarge is determined to prove to Jasmine that this “kid” turned into every inch the man she’s always needed…

Men are slim pickings for a single factory girl in Hook, New Jersey…until tall, broad-shouldered hotness walks-or rather storms-into Jasmine’s life. Sarge’s return shouldn’t affect her this way. He’s her best friend’s much younger kid brother, and the kind of rough, gritty, sexiness Jasmine has no right to taste for herself. Even if he lets her.

But lust is a blinding, insatiable force. And when it crashes, it will take both Sarge and Jasmine down with it.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: CRASHED OUT is the first installment in Tessa Bailey’s contemporary, adult MADE IN JERSEY erotic romance series focusing on the members of the rock band Old News. This is lead singer and front man Sarge Purcell, and blue collar worker/former singer Jasmine Taveras’s storyline.

Told from dual third person perspectives CRASHED OUT focuses on a forbidden love between rock star Sarge Purcell, and Jasmine Taveras-a woman seven years his senior and the muse to his writing success. Growing up in Hook, New Jersey, a much younger Sarge fell in love with his sister’s best friend Jasmine Taveras. Jasmine was the focus of every dream, every fantasy and every song he has ever written. Fast forward to present day, when the band takes a much needed break for the Christmas holidays, Sarge returns to Hook, after a four year absence, to seduce the woman he has always loved. What ensues is an erotic affair between two people who have known one another most of their lives.

CRASHED OUT follows the building relationship between twenty two year old Sarge Purcell, and twenty nine year old Jasmine Taveras. Jasmine is a woman stuck in a blue collar job in Hook, New Jersey when the singing career she always wanted never failed to materialize. Sarge is the boy from Hook who made it big on the music stage, and the man who has come home to claim what it is he has always wanted-Jasmine Taveras.

We are introduced to Jasmine’s best friend and Sarge’s older sister River Purcell, and her three year old daughter Marcy. River’s life as a single mother has not been easy as she works two jobs to support her daughter and herself ; and band manager James Brandon, and Old News drummer Lita Regina-who may or may not have a thing for one another. Lita has a habit of getting herself into trouble, and James is the one constant always bailing her out, and standing by her side.

CRASHED OUT is a storyline with graphic sexual text. Sarge likes to talk dirty in the bedroom but at times the ‘dirty’ crosses a line into ‘rude, crude and crass’. The age difference between the characters is amplified by Sarge’s raunchy expressions and phrases both in and out of the bedroom. The premise gets lost in the numerous sex scenes and dirty talking bad boy that does not compensate for the lack of sexual chemistry between our leading couple. And the constant reminders about the age difference was disappointing although Jasmine’s lack of maturity seemed at odds with the storyline premise.

Tessa Bailey writes a predictable but entertaining storyline about forbidden romance and falling in love. The characters colorful, animated and engaging; the romance is erotic and provocative; the happily ever after finds our couple singing the praises of togetherness and love.

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

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