I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: NetGalley
Bare It All
by
Lori Foster
romantic suspense that was published by Harlequin HQN on April 30, 2013 and has 480 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Man of My Dreams, Bad Boys of Summer, When Good Things Happen to Bad Boys, The Night Before Christmas, Out of the Light, and into the Shadows, Bad Boys in Black Tie, Run the Risk, Getting Rowdy, Dash of Peril, No Limits, Fighting Dirty
Second in the Love Undercover romantic suspense series and fifth in the Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series. The couple focus is on Alice Appleton (first appeared in Trace of Fever (Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor, #2) and Reese Bareden (first appeared in Run the Risk (Love Undercover, #1).
I received this as an ARC from the publisher.
My Take
This was cute! A very homey, romantic read with some very protective alpha men. Foster played this nicely and has set it up for future romances.
Now, why would a witness in protective custody be snooping in a detective’s apartment? This never gets explained. And why does he suddenly show up at Alice’s apartment the next day? I do like how protective he is, but I’m a tad suspicious.
As for Reese moving in and on, ooh, man, he has got patience. They’re both interested in each other, but Alice has some major issues and Reese is desperate not to scare her away. Even if she does have more weapons than the police department.
Oh, too funny, Rowdy is Alice’s girlfriend, ain’t that sweet. No, really, it is a compliment, just not the kind a guy wants to hear, LOL. Then there’s all that training Reese and Alice are doing with Cash. He is one smart puppy!
What is with Nikki and Pam?? Sure, I can understand wanting to do the nasty with Reese, but they know that Alice and Reese have hooked up. So, why is Nikki wanting Alice to let Reese know she’s still willing? I mean, that’s just…rude. Although it is pretty funny, in a train wreck kind of way, when all three ladies are taken hostage.
The Story
After the year Alice suffered, she’s now extremely aware of her environment with guns, tasers, and batons all over her apartment. The place she almost never leaves. But the hunky Detective Reese Bareden lives next door and he wants her. He’s sneaking in under her guard by having her help care for the dog he rescued. But Alice’s feelings of guilt find her jumping in and rescuing girls in trouble. A situation that could turn bad for her and the victims. Meanwhile Reese is staying at her place and kissing, and touching. Each seducing the other.
The Characters
Alice Appleton, a very efficient virtual assistant, has her own back history. One that has made her extremely cautious with a good radar for the good versus the bad guys. Her mom is a teacher, dad is an architect, and sister Amy is studying to be a nurse. Alice doesn’t speak to them these days.
Reese Bareden is a police detective; Cash is his furry dog. He has two brothers–the oldest has a daughter — and one sister with sons; his dad thinks he’s a comedian and his mom still loves him. Lieutenant Margaret Peterson is his very stubborn boss trying to weed out the corruption in the force. No one will believe the body she has under all those clothes. Detective Logan Riske is a friend of Reese’s and dating Pepper Yates, Rowdy’s sister. Dash is Logan’s younger brother. He’s in construction and has a taste for a woman none of the detectives can fathom.
Rowdy Yates is a witness in protective custody along with his sister, supposedly. Avery Mullins waitresses in a bar, the Drunken Dawg, and saved his butt. Now Yates is very interested and may have to take some major steps. Dougie is the bartender at the Drunken Dawg, but not for long. DeeDee has the most “interesting” tattoo and wants to hook up.
Murray Coburn and Morton Andrews are human traffickers, just at different times, different cities. The Wraith, a.k.a., Trace, was Murray’s new bodyguard, and Alice’s best hope. He’s really well connected. Woody Simpson is a drug trafficker. Hickson, Phelps, and Lowry are some of the creeps. Karia and Cheryl are victims.
Nikki and Pam are Reese’s rude, singleminded neighbors with him in their sights.
The Cover and Title
The cover features a wondering Reese perched in a factoryish kitchen.
The title is a nickname Reese acquired in high school, Bare It All Bareden, and he’s rather proud of it.
