Too Hot to Handle by Tessa Bailey

Too Hot to Handle by Tessa Bailey

This is going to be a quick review, since this was a quick read. There’s not much substance to this book, but I knew that when I was going into it. It was decently cute, and I actually loved the sibling dynamic, which I mean, isn’t the real thing you’re looking for when you’re reading a romance.

Let’s start off with the Goodreads-sponsored basics:When rescue looks like a whole lot of trouble . . .

The road trip was definitely a bad idea. Having already flambéed her culinary career beyond recognition, Rita Clarkson is now stranded in God-Knows-Where, New Mexico, with a busted-ass car and her three temperamental siblings, who she hasn’t seen in years. When rescue shows up—six-feet-plus of hot, charming sex on a motorcycle—Rita’s pretty certain she’s gone from the frying pan right into the fire . . .

Jasper Ellis has a bad boy reputation in this town, and he loathes it. The moment he sees Rita, though, Jasper knows he’s about to be sorely tempted. There’s something real between them. Something raw. And Jasper has only a few days to show Rita that he isn’t just for tonight—he’s forever.

Maybe I should break this review into two typical parts: The Parts I Liked and the Parts I Didn’t. Oooh, I’m getting intense now.

Parts I Liked:

There was a good deal of humor. I wasn’t expecting much in that department, but there was a ton between the siblings, and I liked how everything had a very light humor to it. I enjoyed it, and Rita’s whole culinary meltdown was just so hilarious to me.

I also lovedddddd the sibling dynamic. They’re so messed up, and I made sure to go and TBR all the other books just to see this mess of a family continually mess up and get their HEAs. I loved the unique and dynamic characterization for all of them, and I was rooting for each of them to make their dreams come true. I enjoyed each of the siblings, and I can’t wait to read their own stories.

Glen. He literally had maybe four lines in this entire book as the sketchy trust exercise desert man, but he made this book.

Belmont and Sage. They are literally the perfect ship, and I’m so sad we have to wait for the last book to get them.

The empowering man whore storyline…which sounds so weird. In so many adult and new adult romance books, the man is a playboy, player, man-about-the-town (I think I just made this weird term up?). Anyway, most of the time, they’re super proud of this, which I mean, to each their own. Jasper was ashamed of his past and of the meaningless flings, which I thought was so different and unique.

Parts I Didn’t Like:

Yes, where did three days go, Pocahontas? I’m not sure either.

Jasper. Yes, he was the empowered player, but for some odd reason, I still didn’t connect to him. I just wasn’t a fan, and he did play the martyr a bit too often for my taste.

The romance. It was decent enough, but it was still just eh. The whole experience of Jasper and Rita was over, like, three days. THREE DAYS. Instalovey love love at first sight, and I just didn’t fall for it.

Rita. I liked her well enough again, but I actually enjoyed her siblings more than her. Which I mean, isn’t that good. XD

Okay, so not as short as I was expecting, but still. I liked the story well enough, but it definitely won’t stick out in my mind in the future. I definitely will read the following stories, but I’m not sure I would recommend this book for others. It is a super quick read and very light, but I didn’t like the main reasons for the story, so…2.5 crowns and a Pocahontas rating!

Check it out:

• Goodreads
• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble

What do you think? Have you read this? Do you continue books in the series even if you don’t like the first one? Is Pocahontas my new default 2.5 star rating? I’m not sure, me, I’m not sure.