Tessa Bailey

Overachiever River Purcell was never supposed to be a struggling single mom working double shifts just to make ends meet. Nor was she supposed to be abandoned by her high school sweetheart. Now, Vaughn De Matteo is back in town, with his sights set on her...and River is in danger of drowning a second time. No one believed Hook’s resident bad boy was good enough for River. Not even Vaughn himself. But he’ll fight like hell to win back the woman he never stopped loving, to keep the daughter he never expected, and convince himself he’s worth their love in the process––even if he has to rely on the fierce and undeniable sexual chemistry between him and River. But even as River’s body arches under his hungered touch, the demons of the past lurk in the shadows. Waiting for Vaughn to repeat his mistakes one last time... Each book in the Made in Jersey series is STANDALONE: * Crashed Out * Thrown Down * Worked Up * Wound Tight

Thrown Down

Tate

Favorite Quote:
“He didn’t remember a time when River did not occupy his heart, his mind, all of him” 
Summary:
 Vaughn De Matteo has returned to Hook; to the young daughter he never knew existed and to the woman, he’s always loved with one goal: to earn both of their hearts. River is reluctant to welcome him back into both of their lives after he left her without an explanation. A classic good girl and ‘bad boy’ romance with undeniable chemistry

Why I read this book:
Second-chance romance
Secret-baby trope
Bad boy & good girl

This book inspired me to:
Promote the importance of birth control

Slight Spoiler Review 
I am not one to complain about an abundance of spice, however, I feel River and Vaughn’s relationship would have benefitted from delaying those scenes to reach an ultimately more satisfying climax. Though I will mention that Bailey did a good job representing the undeniable mutual attraction and chemistry between River and Vaughn, both in the present and flashback scenes. Vaughn’s devotion to River was admirable and it was conveyed in a way that felt earnest and romantic rather than darkly obsessive which would have been an easy trap to fall into. Something that I feel Bailey is especially gifted at is portraying reconciliation, both in this novel and another work of hers: Love Her or Lose Her. The journey of learning to love and trust their partner again was slow and both characters are likable despite their respective failings in their relationship. Another thing I appreciate is that both parties were ultimately responsible for the state of the relationship. I am not the biggest fan of flashback scenes (especially multiple). I feel that a lot of the time a flashback scene interrupts the flow of the story and takes the reader out of the story; however, in this case, the flashbacks scene not only were entertaining - but vital to understanding both River and Vaughn in the present and how two people so in love fall apart. River’s father's intervention hinged on the idea that Vaughn viewed himself as a poor influence over the ‘pure and virginal’ River, although we know that Vaughn views himself as a screw-up, we also see through River’s perspectives and Vaughn’s own action that he is an honorable man who will be an excellent husband and father. I really enjoyed Vaughn as a romantic hero and contemporary love interest. 
Favorite Moment:
The family scenes!
Other Books to Read by this Author: 
Bellinger Sister Duology

Samantha Emery

Check out this and my other reviews at My Blog, Facebook, Google+, Twitter and Pinterest




★Book Basics★ 


  Genre
: - Cont. Romance 

  Series
: - 2nd in the series

  Love triangle?
 - (view spoiler)[No (hide spoiler)]

  Cheating?
 - (view spoiler)[No (hide spoiler)]

  HEA? -
 (view spoiler)[Yes (hide spoiler)]

  Would I read more by this author/or in this series? 
-Yes

  Rating 
- 4.5 stars


★Review★

I enjoyed this one more than the first one (although the first one was still good for me)

I do just love a lovers reunited story.

I really liked both River and Vaughn.

And you really felt just how much these two had loved each other, and still did, and how much their separation hurt them. And Vaughn was just so determined to get his River back, and the family he should had had for the last 4 years.

I wish we could have had more scenes of Vaughn and Marcy, but that is only a minor niggle.

Overall, it was a hugely enjoyable, emotional, hot read.

Very much enjoying my foray into Tessa Bailey after buying and not reading her for years!

b.andherbooks

Vaughan De Matteo, recently returned from an yet another overseas deployment, finds out he fathered a child four years ago with his one true love, the woman he left behind at home in order to give her a better life, in order for her to get out of their crumbling small town. 

River Purcell never left Hook, New Jersey. She had her heart crushed by the love of her life and became pregnant all in the same day. She's raised her daughter by working hard, juggling two jobs, and she isn't ready to have Vaughn swoop in to "save the day." She doesn't need a man.

What River doesn't know is the real reason Vaughan left her crying in that cheap hotel room, and he has some hard work cut out convincing her he's back for good and has always loved her.

This is a very angsty romance with a wonderfully strong heroine. I disliked some of Vaughan's reasons for leaving her and his resistance in spilling the beans, especially since the external factor keeping them apart is easily solved by a conversation.

That said, this is super sexy. Vaughan refused to have sex with River until she turned 18, and there is some quite steamy scenes revolving around those flashbacks.

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads.


I've put off writing this review for far, far too long. I read Thrown Down over a month ago. I read it cover to cover in one sitting and I fell in love with every single thing about it. (Something that happens to me often when it comes to Tessa's books, honestly.) I recently went back to my review copy to get some of my favorite quotes – there are a lot of them – and ended up doing a full reread because I just couldn't stop once I started. No regrets. 

I've been anxious for River and Vaughn's story since River's secret was outed in Crashed Out. I LOVE second chance romances, but I was admittedly a little nervous to find out what would happen once River and Vaughn were face-to-face again. I knew things didn't end well between them and I was afraid the details – and not to mention what happened in Vaughn's life since they parted – would be off-putting. It was all anything but. Vaughn is one of my favorite type of book boyfriends – the one where he has eyes for NO ONE but the heroine, regardless of the amount of time that's passed or the circumstances. River was it for Vaughn and it came through in every single word, even if she wasn't entirely sure at first. 

I loved the characters. I loved their story. (Even the unpleasant bits from the past.) I loved River's strength and determination when it came to making a good life for her daughter. Vaughn was amazing. His wore his feelings for River on his sleeve. There were some truly heart-melty scenes in this book and there were plenty of feels, too. Vaughn being introduced to his daughter for the first time? Perfection. It probably won't come as a surprise that there are some seriously HOT HOT HOT scenes in this book as well. River and Vaughn had tons of chemistry and the sexual tension in the beginning was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Then, of course, things got even steamier when all that tension finally broke. These two were passionate and connected and I loved it. 

Thrown Down is one of the best second chance romances I've read in a long time. But, I'm not surprised. It's no secret I love Tessa's writing, characters and their stories. I always get hopelessly sucked into her books and they stick with me long after I've finished reading. The Made in Jersey series has been so, so good so far. Is it August yet? I'm gonna need Worked Up ASAP. 

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

FAVORITE QUOTES:

  "I don't need a hero. I'm my own hero now... and I'm trying to be one for Marcy."

"I'm sorry for the pain that went into that scar. I'm sorry you did it alone."

"You're right. There's nothing comforting about what happens when we touch, is there? Will you settle for wet and worked up?"

The impact of the kiss didn't occur just at her mouth. No, she felt it square in the chest, deep in her midsection, closing in from all sides. Every single component of her being rose like a tiny phoenix and clamored toward the man who'd awakened her once upon a time, each ready to beg for another round.

"I don't know what to do with this fucking urge, Riv. It's like my body needs to thank yours for bearing our child. Just want to get between those legs and give. Give."

"No one else. You hear me? There's been no one else. I've spent this whole time behaving as if we were married. It's the only way I could stay sane. Making believe you were my wife and I'd see you when I got home at night. Maybe I'm a crazy man. I don't know. I don't—"

"My body will always be yours, Vaughn. Always."
"Need this heart back, too. This beautiful heart. I'm sorry to you most of all."

"I've loved you up one side of forever. Now I'm going to love you back down the other."

Lacey

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

I’ve said it a million times already, but Tessa Bailey truly never disappoints. She’s one of my favorite authors, so to say I was excited for Thrown Down is an understatement. A second chance romance, written by her? Pure heaven for me. This book is the second in the Made in Jersey series, but can be read completely as a standalone. I adored River and Vaughn and their heartwarming second chance at love. These two, plus their sweet daughter, were perfect together! If you love second chance romances with lots of sweetness and tons of dirty talk *grins*, Thrown Down is a must read!

“I don’t need a hero. I’m my own her now… and I’m trying to be one for Marcy.”

River Purcell has been working her butt off the past few years as a single mom to provide for her and her daughter. She’s tough and hard-working, a heroine I admired. The love of her life, her high school sweetheart, and Marcy’s father, left River without knowing that he got her pregnant. Vaughn dropped off the face of the earth after that, so River had no clue how to get in contact with him. Now, four years later, Vaughn is back – and ready to be the man and father River and Marcy deserve.

Maybe he’d never earn back that pure, perfect trust. But even a sliver of that former belief she’d had in him? Fuck, it would make life worth living. To have that trust from his child, too, would be the stuff of dreams. Dreams he’d never been aware of having. Until now. And after so much time devoid of feeling, that hope was addictive.

Vaughn tore his heart out when he broke things off with River for her own good. He never really believed he was good enough for her – he was the bad boy to her good girl back in high school – but now, he’s desperate to make things right. I was a bit worried about how I’d feel about Vaughn leaving River without looking back, but getting to know him in Thrown Down puts him in a much better perspective. Plus, the fact that he was faithful and loyal to the love of his life every day they were separated certainly helped make me fall in love with him. He’s a tortured, angsty character with a filthy mouth – another Tessa Bailey possessive alpha-male winner!

“So I’m telling you now, I’m not leaving. Give me a chance to meet her, then watch me show up every day afterward, even if you turn me away. I’ll show up and take my beating like a man, day in and day out. But you better get used to me, doll. I’m not budging.”

This book is the perfect balance between raw, angsty emotion and heartwarming goodness. I loved that River made Vaughn work hard to win back her love, and I adored the way he was with his daughter. I really wish there were more scenes with Vaughn and Marcy together – and that it was a longer book overall! I really wasn’t ready to let go of River, Vaughn, and Marcy.

If you love Tessa Bailey, you’ll no doubt enjoy Thrown Down. It has what you’d expect from this wonderful author – fantastic characters to root for, an emotional romance that tugs at your heart, and plenty of dirty talk from our filthy, obsessed hero. Right now, I’m dying for the next book in the Made in Jersey series – I don’t really care who it’s about (I hope it’s Duke) but since it’s Tessa, it’s up high on my wishlist!

Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.

Quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change in the final version.

Amazon Ebook: http://amzn.to/1U7HwfB
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/227yrSK

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