Title: Tempting the Deputy
Author: Heidi Rice
Series: Men of Marietta #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Short novel
Available: 21st March
Tough, taciturn and wounded in ways that no one else knows about, Marietta rancher and part-time Deputy Sheriff Logan Tate is a man in total control of his life. Until he catches British photographer Charlotte Foster hitchhiking and ‘insists’ she gets a ride into town in his squad car…
After her run-in with Deputy Hardass, Charlie Foster is ready to ride her thumb right back out of Marietta the very next day. But that night, a trip to Grey’s Saloon fires up her imagination – and her wild side – when she overhears the town’s first responders panicking over how to come up with the money needed to repair Harry’s House in just 90 days.
Charlie has an ingenious solution to their problem, that might just require her to photograph twelve smokin’ hot guys naked. And, as luck would have it, also involves getting some much needed payback on Deputy Hardass–who isn’t too enthusiastic about participating in the calendar shoot.
But as he spends more time with Charlie, Logan can’t ignore the chemistry sizzling between them. Can a man who lives by the rules fall in love with a woman who breaks all of his?
Source: ARC from Tule Publishing via NetGalley
Opposites attract and collide in the first of a new Marietta series, all about the sexy First Responders and their efforts to raise money for Harry’s House. Much like the Bachelor Bake-Off series, where good looking guys were made a little uncomfortable in the name of charity, it looks like these hot local heroes will be stripping off for a calendar to raise desperately needed money for the new youth centre.
Logan is a man who takes his duty to serve and protect extremely seriously. Which is how he ends up cuffing Charlie to get her out of the cold. He’s serious and responsible and has rather lost the ability to enjoy life. Luckily for him, Charlie could not be more different. She flits here and there, taking photos, moving on, never taking anything seriously. They should have nothing in common, but beneath their tough exteriors, both have childhood issues that are about to come back to haunt them.
I liked both Logan and Charlie, and I particularly liked them together. They definitely bring out the best in each other – well, once they give into their chemistry and get all the awkward tension out of the way.
I loved Charlie’s ideas for the calendar and would have loved to have seen more of the photo shoots and the other guys. However, as this is a multi-author series, I could understand why we only got to see Logan and his brother Lyle. Still, I missed the possible fun. I also felt that because of this not being included in the book, a lot of time gets glossed over towards the end. It is only a short book, so I could also see why this happened, but after the enjoyable build up, it ended up feeling a bit rushed.
Like the ending. That was far too swift a turn around for me. They both have deep issues, but only one of them really works through them in the book. The other one gets worked up over something, takes it a little to the extreme, then suddenly, no, no, it’s all fine. HEA! Hm.
Which is a shame, because the rushed up ending aside, I really enjoyed this. Charlie and Logan are both likeable and their relationship is feisty and fun, with a nice amount of heat. Overall, I love the idea of this new series and found this first book a fitting start.
Tempting the Deputy is out March 21st.
Visit Heidi Rice for more details.
