Sandy M’s review of Wild Thing (Idaho Series, Book 2) by Robin Kaye
Contemporary Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 1 Dec 11

This is only my second Robin Kaye book, and what a blast I’ve had reading each of them. Her characters are fun and her writing is light and steamy in just the right spots. The intriguing part of Wild Thing is how opposites definitely attract. Hunter and Toni are poles apart in every aspect of their lives, and that makes their loving and their differences enjoyable to read.

Toni is a city girl, born and bred. New York is her home, she loves the sights and sounds and smells. She dresses to blend in, so her Goth look is right at home in the Big Apple. She works for Action Models, assistant to the owner, who has given Toni her first opportunity to prove herself. Before that happens, though, Toni has to conquer her phobia of the great outdoors.

Thinking he’s got the job of a lifetime this time around in his River Runners business, Hunter is looking forward to guiding sportswear models through the Idaho wilderness where he’s grown up and knows the area inside and out. But the moment he spies Toni Russo, the woman in charge of the models, he’s a goner. He starts out teasing her, but soon Hunter realizes Toni is one of a kind and just the woman for him.

Not only are their current lives so different, their growing up years and family are also so far apart from the other, you have a hard time believing these two eventually get along. Toni’s mother is trolling for husband number umpteen and mother and daughter don’t get along. Hunter’s family life is full and loving, his brothers and sister helping him out whenever he needs it. Plus, there’s plenty of teasing going on among them that it’s almost second nature. Toni isn’t that used to teasing and initially gets riled up when any is directed her way.

Hunter also pushes her to stand up to her phobia, face it dead on and get over it. He has a great way of distracting her with kisses so she doesn’t realize she’s done exactly what she doesn’t want to. Those kisses turn into something more, and even when Toni believes there can be nothing between them, she can’t say no to Hunter when he wants more.

I like that both of these characters follow their hearts early on and actually say “I love you” way before the end of the book. That doesn’t happen often in romance novels, everything is strung out until the very end. But Hunter and Toni know what they want, give each other the benefit of the doubt and try to work together. Of course, there’s always something or someone to get in the way, and this time it’s Toni’s boss, Bianca, who wants Hunter for her own. Seeing is believing, as they say, and when Toni catches them together and finds other incriminating evidence among Hunter’s things, doubt does finally creep in and she hightails it back to New York with a broken heart. But she doesn’t let that get her too down. She’s determined to find more about this new Toni who has emerged since she met Hunter.

What she doesn’t count on is how strong Hunter’s love is for her, and soon he’s on her doorstep with an apology and a proposal. But what is the new Toni to do? Should she really trust this one man when the only person she’s ever been able to trust before is herself? Can she truly give up city life when it’s all she’s ever known? Knowing Toni is the one for him, will Hunter be able to walk away if that’s what she wants?

You can’t help but like these characters. They’re strong but vulnerable, live life the best they know how, but also reach for happiness with both hands when they’re able. We get to see a lot of Hunter’s brothers and his sister, and their family dynamic is loads of fun. It will be interesting to see how their books play out in the future, especially Trapper – lots of sparks fly between him and Bianca. What a read that will be!

Grade: B+

Summary:

Whitewater-rafting guide Hunter Kincaid lands his dream job–guiding sportswear models through Idaho’s rugged wilderness for a week-long photo shoot. When he meets Toni Russo, the goth New York manager of Action Models, there are enough sparks to set the forest ablaze.

When Hunter finds Toni’s book on how to marry the man of your choice, he studies it as a joke. Before long Hunter realizes he’s never cared enough for a woman to bother working this hard to get her. But the last man in the world this city girl wants is a Survivor Man wannabe…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: