Tessa Bailey

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)

Too Hot to Handle

Sidney Schaffner

Honestly, I was not a big fan of this one. The ending is what gave it that fourth star.

Lover of Romance 

This review was originally posted on Addicted To RomanceToo Hot To Handle is the first book in Bailey’s “Romancing The Clarksons” series, and to be honest I wasn’t super eager for this book. Unlike many readers of Tessa Bailey, I haven’t really enjoyed the books I have read from her. She is really hard to get into her books, the writing just isn’t engaging enough for me but lately I keep hearing so many podcasters rave about this author so I decided to give her another chance with this series through Audio. Now at first, I admit I wanted to DNF because this narrator is not whom I would have chosen for this author but I decided to stick with it for a couple of hours and I eventually became drawn into this story and I am glad that I did with it.

Too Hot To Handle begins with our heroine, and her siblings whose mother has recently passed away and left behind a journal. Rita Clarkson, is the one that took after her mother in the cooking department. The Clarkson mother was a infamous chef and Rita took after her although Rita always had to work much harder to become the chef she imagined her mother wanted her to become. But then when their mother’s resturaunt burns down, Rita convinces her siblings to go to the east coast to fulfill the wish of their mother so they all jump into a car and on their journey to the east coast, their car breaks down in New Mexico and they are rescued by Jasper Ellis who is drawn to Rita. There is some powerful chemistry between Jasper and Rita. And with their car broke down in this small podunk town, Rita and Jasper try to fit everything they feel for each other in just a handful of days even knowing they don’t have much time together. Rita will need to make a decision a new life somewhere else or stay with the man she loves?

I found Too Hot To Handle to be a sexy romance and I really loved the whole small town setting that Bailey creates here. I love small town settings so what Bailey creates here for this story was super fun. I really loved the whole city gal with the country boy mix up here. And they make such a great match. I do want to say that Bailey creates some great sexual tension between Jasper and Rita. Jasper is such a sexy hero and yeah he definitely is alpha in the bedroom for sure. I had a blast with his character, he is such a mix of strong yet respectful toward Rita unless he is in the bedroom and he likes to be very “bad” but its a delicious bad that I really was drawn to. Rita is so self controlled so I liked how she let herself go with Jasper in the sexy times. There is a pretty good balance of romance and smexy times and I enjoyed seeing how it was handled in this story.

I will admit that this story, although enjoyable, wasn’t too impressive. It felt “average” to me, I did love the differing personalities between the siblings and I was very intrigued with seeing how they interact with one another and I definitely will be reading more of the series in the near future because I find myself intrigued by these characters. But the romance between Jasper and Rita wasn’t too memorable, and even though I liked it, I didn’t necessarily love it. But we shall see what future books hold.

Overall I found Too Hot To Handle a enjoyable and slowly satisfying romance that is hot as the desert and will sate your hunger for some delicious smexy times.

Nathalie Wong

This is the first book to the Romancing the Clarksons Series. Rita Clarkson discovers her mother's journal in which was written a wish that she had involving all of her children. With nothing to lose, Rita and her siblings go on a road trip to fulfill that wish. Unfortunately, their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Jasper Ellis then makes his entrance by helping them with their troubles.

Rita and Jasper had great chemistry together. It was a bit fast but I loved Jasper's determination to continue their relationship through the various excuses that occurred in the book.
The relationship between Rita and her siblings was really realistic. Like all siblings, there are times when one doesn't get along with another. However, when it counts the most, they are there for each other.

Overall, it was a good book. I do want to read the next book in the series to see how it all ends.

For more of my reviews please visit my blog https://ilovereading2016.wordpress.com/

Tatiana

So I have had this book on my reader for who knows how long and I was looking for a contemporary romance read. This is not my first Tessa Bailey’s book and it won’t be my last. I enjoy her writing.

This book, however, did not do anything for me. It’s hard to enjoy a contemporary romance when you don’t like the main characters. I found both Rita and Jasper dull. I couldn’t find myself to care for either of their issues. I didn’t care about their story or their family. The only character I could see myself enjoying was Peggy, but not enough to read her story. 

The story is pretty much smut + miscommunication (between the main characters or Rita and her siblings). I felt like the only connection Rita and Jasper had was sex, and even then, they managed to not be on the same page.

All in all, I was really disappointed with that book. Tessa has written many good contemporary romances, but this one, in my opinion, wasn’t one of them...

b.andherbooks

Rita Clarkson may have burned down her dead mother's restaurant as the final straw in her emotional break after also being kicked off a reality cooking competition for almost stabbing another contest when they deflated her souffle. 

A road trip with her three slightly estranged siblings, per the request of her dead mother's journal, is the right way to come back from that, right? 

Well, especially if the road trip hits an immediate road block after their Suburban breaks down outside of a desert town, requiring Rita to take a wild ride on the back of the town's former man-whore's motorcycle. Said man owns a bar called Liquor Hole...

But, said man is also a reformed man-whore. Jasper has been celibate and mostly sober for almost two years after realizing he had become the town joke. Now he can't believe he's immediately ready to throw his hard work away to try and tempt the deliciously prickly Rita into his bed. But this time he's out for keeps.

I'm so delighted with this! I love a great family-issues, sibling driven story. Throw in an epic road trip and the promise of finding out what the other Clarkson siblings will be doing (they all have mysterious REASONS for agreeing to the trip to NYC and I cannot wait to read about them.

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads.


I'm sure it comes as absolutely no surprise whatsoever that I fell in love with a Tessa Bailey book. It's no secret that I adore her and love her strong, dirty-talkin' men and her sassy women. I love the hot sexy times and the feels that she manages to pack into every story. I've been really looking forward to her Meet the Clarksons series since she began teasing it out a few months ago. I couldn't wait until I could get my hands on it and, once I did, I didn't hesitate before starting it. (I also didn't want to set it down once I started.) It was funny and sexy and sweet and gave me a solid dose of feels – along with a few tears. I couldn't have asked for more. 

I thought Rita and Jasper were both wonderful characters. They were complex and interesting. Some might be turned off by how quickly these two connected and fell for each other, but I'm not one of them. Sure, things moved quickly between them, but I think that's also a product of the situation they found themselves in with the road trip aspect. I don't think it's all that uncommon in books (or movies or even real life) for things to progress at warp speed when there's a time limit on how long you get to spend with someone. But, I digress. Rita and Jasper had sizzling chemistry and I loved them together. I always love it when the guy who's all in and the woman who is a little more skeptical and that seemed to fit their characters perfectly here. I loved how they played off each other and I found myself completely into them as a couple. I hoped they could find a way to work things out and stick together. And, of course, the sexy times were freaking hot AF. *fans self* I do have a weakness for Tessa's dirty-talkin' heroes. (And, of course, how they treat their ladies.) 

I loved the romance and the hot sex. But, you know what I loved every bit as much? The dynamic between the siblings. I love a good, strong family in books and Tessa more than delivered here. (Even if they're a bit dysfunctional. And honestly probably BECAUSE they're a bit dysfunctional.) I was fascinated by the ways the characters interacted with each other – for better or worse. Each of them is so unique and the relationships they share are so different. Their mom's passing hit them each hard, if in varying degrees, as expected. I'm an only child so I think that's why I find myself so intrigued by characters from larger families. No matter what the cause, I'm totally hooked on the Clarksons and I want to know everything about every single one of them. 

The Meet the Clarksons series is off to a fantastic start. I'm already itching to get my hands on Aaron's story (and I presume Grace's, as well) in Too Wild to Tame. September can't get here soon enough. Hopefully I'll get a crack at it before then though. *fingers crossed*

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

FAVORITE QUOTES

  Men like Jasper were supposed to be reserved for naughty Internet memes, but here he was. Her own private, moving GIF, only he didn't loop back to the beginning after three seconds. No, he just kept coming, like he might never stop kissing her once he started. Like he might do a shit ton more than just kiss with that mouth. 

"That's why you're here, isn't it? You need a good, leg-shakin' finish and decided I'd be up for the job." 

"I want to treat this tiny bud between your legs so special that she pays attention when I walk into a room. I want her to remember my tongue so well you have to excuse yourself when you see me coming because she needs a rubout." 

"You ruined the sky for me today, Rita. It's flat-out mediocre without you up against it. I reckon it always will be now." 

"At some point tonight, I'm going to make love to you. The kind of sex that takes an hour of slow rocking and pumping. The kind where we wrap our fingers together, then twine them around the headboard. And I whisper things in your ear I can't say in the light. Promise me."

Be brave! I wish I would have said that more often without throwing my own bravery in their faces. Be brave, crash together and fall apart. It’s okay. It’s okay to diverge, knowing sometime in the future, you’ll collide again. As long as those rare times are remembered, their meanings retained.

Chantale

I had never read any books by Tessa Bailey before but a few people has been recommending her books lately so I decided to give this one a try. 

Too Hot To Handle isn't the best hot sexy romance book I have read lately but it isn't the worst either. I liked the story but I found it was slow and I found there was a lack of connections with the characters.

It did keep me reading though but now really sure if I would read the next book in the series.

Lacey

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

If you know me, then you know Tessa Bailey’s books are my kryptonite. Her books are just so freaking gooood. They’re full of yummy alpha heroes, kickass heroines, and dirrrty talk, all of which makes for my kind of read. Too Hot to Handle is the first in a brand new series featuring the Clarkson family as they road trip across the country to fulfill their late mother’s last wish. And just saying, road trip + Tessa Bailey? Heaven! I really enjoyed Too Hot to Handle – it’s got all the Tessa Bailey goodness I expected and a wonderful family dynamic I can’t wait to explore even more!

Rita Clarkson’s life has gone down the drain – setting her restaurant on fire will do that to a girl. So she’s got nothing to lose by fulfilling her late mother’s last wish for her children to go to New York, but the problem for Rita is getting all her siblings to agree to the road trip. And once they do, they’ve barely passed Arizona before their car breaks down. Luckily, a good samaritan stops by to help, and he just so happens to be gorgeous and smokin’ hot.

“Here’s the thing. I swore off women. But then you came pedaling into town with this mouth, those eyes and the way they see everything… and fuck yes, I want to kiss you. I want to do all manner of things to you.”

The moment Jasper Ellis spots Rita, he’s taken by her. This is what I love about all of Tessa Bailey’s heroes, just how absolutely captivated they are by their heroines. Jasper agrees to help the Clarkson’s with their broken down car, but completely for unselfish reasons – he wants time to get to know Rita more, and he wants her to know him, enough so that they can explore the delicious chemistry between them. What neither of them expect is the MORE that comes afterward – but with Jasper stuck in his hometown, and Rita New York-bound, how will a relationship ever work between them?

“You ruined the sky for me today, Rita,” he said gruffly. “It’s flat-out mediocre without you up against it. I reckon it always will be now.”

Jasper and Rita make a fantastic couple. As dirty as Jasper can get in between the sheets, he’s also get a sweet, vulnerable side to him I adored seeing. Rita herself has got flaws and hurdles to overcome, but she’s a tough chick when she needs to be, and she steps up when the time comes to do so. But I have to say, as much as I liked Jasper and Rita, I just might love the rest of the Clarksons even more! Tessa Bailey does a FANTASTIC job of setting up the other characters for their books, all of which I need ASAP. Peggy, the ex-cheerleader with a mysterious man in her past; Aaron, the politician I can’t wait to see fall for a woman; and Belmont, the eldest Clarkson with the most troubled past, whose connection with Peggy’s friend Sage is intense and palpable. Gah, I seriously cannot WAIT to see where Tessa Bailey will be taking us with the rest of the series. Too Hot to Handle is a heartwarming, sexy as hell introduction to the Clarksons – if you love contemporary romances, dirty talk, and a wonderful family dynamic, I highly recommend it!

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/1TFTpEQ
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/1WEyxBY

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