Too Hot to Handle by Tessa Bailey Pages: 336
Published by Forever on November 29, 2016
Series: Romancing the Clarksons #1
Genres: adult, contemporary, Romance
Source: Paperback ARC from Publisher
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.
***The Romancing the Clarksons series
Book 1 - Too Hot to Handle (Rita and Jasper)
Book 2 - Too Wild to Tame (Aaron and Grace)
Book 3 - Too Hard to Forget (Peggy and Elliot)
Book 4 - Title TK (Belmont and Sage)
Check out Who Tessa pictured as Rita and Jasper. (I completely approve by the way!!)
When I cast TOO HOT TO HANDLE in my head (and on my Pinterest boards o’course!) I used a more introverted version of Emilia Clarke as Rita Clarkson. All the shiny effervesce and beauty of a brunette Emilia, with more dark makeup and clothing. This is the picture I sent to my editor when casting for the cover, because I think it captures Rita’s personality: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/508132770433476759/
As for Jasper, he is described in the book as a young, revamped Matthew McConaughey and I think his personality totally matches that of a young carefree (non naked bongo playing) version of the actor. I promise he doesn’t say “alright, alright, alright,” but he does have that cool guy, ladies love me spirit. Scott Porter from Hart of Dixie would be my choice to play Jasper in a film J https://www.pinterest.com/pin/508132770433788636/
Sheesh! This book is all that the title promises and more. Too Hot to Handles is the first book in the Romancing the Clarksons series by Tessa Bailey. Too Hot to Handle is an adult contemporary romance that I more than enjoyed. I just love all of Tessa Bailey’s works. (I am practically still fanning myself now!) But if you are thinking this is like every other contemporary romance, you are so very wrong. Tessa Bailey managed to really surprise me with Too Hot to Handle and I can’t tell you how much I loved that! This is a book you will want to read!
What I liked the most about this book and this series is the concept. I love a series of interconnected standalone novels, each focusing on a different character. There are tons of books which follow this pattern and it is a big winner for me. Even better if they are books that center around a family or group of siblings. I think that is very interesting and adds another layer of complexity and familiarity between the novels. This series centers around the four Clarkson siblings, but the interesting thing (in my opinion) is the set up. The four Clarkson siblings have not always gotten along, but when they find the journal from their mother, who was the glue of the family, they all head out on a cross-country road trip to fulfill some of her wishes. I love a road trip book, and I love a good, or dysfunctional, family dynamic. So when I found out where this book was headed I was super pumped.
The siblings break down in a little town, which is where the frist sibling- Rita finds Jasper. Too Hot to Handle didn’t feel predictable to me. There are a bunch of elements woven into this story and I honestly didn’t always know how things were going to turn out. This was not a permanent stopping location for the siblings, so was a romance really going to last? This unpredictability of the story made it feel exciting and new while I was reading it. I loved getting to know each of the siblings, and I really really loved the romance between jasper and Rita. Rita is all over the place. Her relationship with her mother was a bit different from that of her siblings and she always felt a bit in her mom’s shadow. Then throw in the siblings differing relationships with each other, lots of hijinks and fun situations and a very hot romance, and you have one heck of a good time. I loved Too Hot to Handle and I can’t wait for the rest of the Clarksons’ stories.
Meet the Cast of TOO HOT TO HANDLE by @mstessabailey @ForeverRomance & Enter to #win at @BookBriefs Share on X
THE ROMANCING THE CLARKSONS SERIES
Too Hot To Handle, #1
Too Wild To Tame, #2
Too Hard To Forget, #3
To enter, fill out the rafflecopter below to win
Note: Book Briefs Contest Policy applies. All of the prizes, terms and conditions of the giveaway should be contained in the rafflecopter below. No Purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law.
I’m relatively new to reading romance, but Tessa Bailey’s been on my radar from early on. I’m not sure, though, where to begin with her work. Since I’d prefer to start with the first book of a series (even if it’s said that they can all be read as standalones), this looks like it might be a good place to start.
I’m glad that you made a point of mentioning the lack of predictability in “Too Hot to Handle.” Sometimes I feel like even ~synopses~ get so formulaic!
Thank you for the sweet review, which has only made me want to break through the screen and grab a copy of this book.
…Before I go, please allow me to leave you with some Bobby Brown lyrics:
Too hot to handle, too cold to hold
They’re the Ghostbusters and they’re in control.
🙂
–Ann