Kristie J’s review of Take Me Down (Riggs Brothers, Book 2) by Julie Kriss
Contemporary Romance published by Five Doors Creative 5 Apr 18
As mentioned in my review for the first book in this series, Julie Kriss has zoomed up in my favourite authors pool. I loved Drive Me Wild, but even as I was reading it, I knew I had the next book already waiting, and the hero of Take Me Down, Jace Rggs, was a hero I wanted more of. And Ms. Kriss gives him to us in spades in his own story.
Jace is the youngest Riggs brother. He’s just been released from prison, and of all the brothers it’s most surprising that he was busted. He’s the ‘poet’ of all of them. He’s quiet and sensitive and he’d much rather spend his time reading than partying or raising hell. He’s moved back to his hometown to work in the garage they own, along with Luke, the hero of the first book. And though Jace has finished his probation, he still has to go to a couple of appointments with a counselor, just to see how he’s adjusting to freedom. His counselor, Tara, is gobsmacked the first time he comes in to see her. Never has she had such a reaction to a client before. She is intensely attracted to him, but, of course, she can’t do anything about the attraction because it would be completely unethical. And it doesn’t hurt that he kind of acts like a jerk. Jace realizes that he was a jerk and wants to apologize, at which point he again acts like a jerk, and she writes up a final report and that’s that. But then she finds out some stunning news about him that clues the reader into why he’s gotten involved with stolen cars.
But since he’s no longer a client, Tara can let him know she is interested. Jace can’t even comprehend that such an attractive and good woman would be interested in him. He has next-to-zero self-confidence in the first place and spending time in jail only reinforced the low opinion he has of himself.
I thought I loved Luke in the first book, and I do – I truly do – but Jace takes hero love to a whole new level. Wowzers, he’s a most excellent guy and I won’t understand any romance reader who doesn’t fall in love with him. He’s quiet. He’s unassuming. He’s a romantic at heart. He’s Very Nice to look at, and he’s all that tied up in a bow. He’s one of the best heroes I’ve read in a while.
And Tara is a most excellent heroine and just perfect for Jace. She “sees” him for who he is inside. Not for one moment does she look down on him or what he’s done. She simply KNOWS he’s a special person, and when he downplays himself, right away she’s telling him how special he is. And because of this, she becomes the thing he wants most in the world. Their love story truly warms the cockles of one’s heart. I can’t exhort fellow romance readers enough to read this one themselves. Though all four brothers have roles in this book, I still think it can be read quite well as a stand-alone. Though once you read it – and you must read it – I just know you will be as hooked as I am and want more of these ‘bad boy’ bothers. Julie Kriss really is an author to perk up and take notice of.
Grade: A+
Summary:
A buttoned-up counsellor. A hot ex-con with secrets. One session that changes everything.
It was supposed to be simple: Let Jace Riggs walk into my counseling office, tell me how he’s adjusting to post-prison life, and let him walk out again. But the first thing I’ve learned is that nothing is simple with Jace.
He’s tall, muscled, bearded and tatted. He’s smarter than anyone else in the room and ten times more guarded. He’s hiding things that would break any other man to pieces. He’s a loner, a bad boy, and an infamous Riggs brother from the wrong side of the tracks.
He’s a hundred kinds of wrong for me. And even when I’m not his counsellor anymore, I still want to break down his defenses.
Jace has never trusted anyone – until me. He says I’m the only woman he wants close to him. The only woman he’s wanted in his bed – ever. And when he looks at me with that look of white-hot fire, I believe everything he says.
My own secrets could get Jace sent back to prison – or get him killed. And he doesn’t care.
We had so little time. We might not have until morning. But with the fire ignited between Jace and me, forever wouldn’t be long enough…
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
