Tessa Bailey

Never start a fire you can't control... Connor Bannon is supposed to be dead. Dishonorably discharged from the Navy SEALs, he's spent the last two years working as a street enforcer in Brooklyn for his cousin's crime ring. Through a twist of fate, he's now in Chicago, working undercover to bust criminals. But when a cute little arsonist joins the team-all combat boots, tiny jean shorts, and hot-pink hair-Connor's notorious iron control slips. Erin "she's getting away" O'Dea knows two things. She hates authority. And... Nope, that's it. When she's forced to operate on the "right" side of the law, her fear of being confined and controlled blazes to the surface. The last thing she expects is a control freak like Connor to soothe her when she needs it most. Worse, something behind the sexy ex-soldier's eyes ignites a dangerous inferno of desire. One that invites Erin to play with fire. And one that could get them both killed...

Up in Smoke

Connor Bannon is supposed to be dead. Dishonorably discharged from the Navy SEALs, he's spent the last two years working as a street enforcer in Brooklyn for his cousin's crime ring. Through a twist of fate, he's now in Chicago, working undercover to bust criminals. But when a cute little arsonist joins the team-all combat boots, tiny jean shorts, and hot-pink hair-Connor's notorious iron control slips. Erin "she's getting away" O'Dea knows two things. She hates authority. And... Nope, that's it. When she's forced to operate on the "right" side of the law, her fear of being confined and controlled blazes to the surface. The last thing she expects is a control freak like Connor to soothe her when she needs it most. Worse, something behind the sexy ex-soldier's eyes ignites a dangerous inferno of desire. One that invites Erin to play with fire. And one that could get them both killed... Each book in the Crossing the Lines series is a standalone, full-length story that can be enjoyed out of order. Series Order: Prequel Novella: His Risk to Take Book .5: Riskier Business Book 1: Risking it All Book 2: Up In Smoke Book 3: Boiling Point Book 4: Raw Redemption

b.andherbooks

When an ex-Navy SEAL and a recently released from jail arsonist and escape artist are forced to work together on a new task force of former cons for the Chicago PD, sparks immediately fly. Distrustful but unable to deny their immediate attraction, Erin O'Dea and Connor Bannon fall almost instantly into a relationship, an odd relationship tested by the fact Connor needs control and Erin cannot stand being touched.

As they work with the new task force (put together by the delicious Lt. Derek from "Protecting What's His") and struggle with their personal hangups, they still find a way to very sexily enjoy each other.

The actual plot points about the job they were working were very secondary for me as I was totally addicted to seeing how Bailey would make sexy-times between an uber-alpha male and a woman who could not bear being touched work. Oh, and work it did. So hot. Erin's touch issues did get resolved a bit too easily for my liking, but hey whatever. Good times, fun audio book. The female narrator did wonderful Bronx accent for Connor.

Looking forward to going back to see Bowen and Sera's story (book 1) and seeing what's up with the con-artist Austin and the hacker Polly!

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I'm an unapologetic Tessa Bailey fangirl and I love everything she writes. There's really no other way to put it. There's something special about the Crossing the Line series. I love these reformed (and even maybe even NOT so reformed) "bad" guys with hearts of gold. Bowen slayed me in Risking it All. Connor did the same in this book.

Up in Smoke wastes absolutely no time getting down to business. There's no big lead up into the story and I was all for it. Connor and Erin had undeniable chemistry from their very first meeting. I thought my iPad was going to go up in smoke, as a matter of fact. (See what I did there? Ha!)

I was already a Connor fan from reading Risking it All. I never got the sketchy guy vibe from him. To me, he was just a guy who got wrapped up in the wrong things and absolutely with the wrong people. I loved seeing his redemption here. Erin was an enigma, but one that I grew to like pretty quickly. She was a great, strong heroine with a really crappy past. Together these two were golden. The bossy alpha paired up with a woman who doesn't like to be touched? Their pairing was unlikely as hell but my god did it work. And bonus points for Connor being man enough to submit to Erin and her desires to touch HIM while not allowing him to touch her. *fans self* The heat these two were throwing around was unreal. But, it was more than just steam. There were some very real feelings between them and I really enjoyed watching them work their way towards each other and admit those feelings.

Side note: big, brawny alpha Connor definitely has a heart of gold. There was a beautifully heartmelty scene with them in a certain Chicago landmark that actually brings tears to my eyes when I think about it. He was *always* putting her needs first and concerned about protecting her, while giving her the freedom she needed to not feel suffocated. That's why their pairing worked so well. They were both willing to bend to the other and TRUST each other. 

Up in Smoke was a great addition to the Crossing the Line series. The character development was top notch. Connor and Erin fit in nicely with Bowen, Sera and Derek. (Which, by the way, OMG HAPPY BOWEN AND SERA TIMES. I cried.) And Derek? Derek is still as awesome as I always thought he was. So yes, we get a great glimpse into their lives during Connor and Erin's story. I loved it. I also enjoyed the action and suspense in this book. Another great Tessa book! 

The preview for Austin's book, Disguised in Danger, had me gasping aloud and wishing it was January already. Oh, how I need this book in my life. I can't wait! 

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

Lacey

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

I absolutely L.O.V.E.D. the previous book in the Crossing the Line series, Risking it All, so I was so, SO excited to read Up in Smoke! Connor intrigued me to no end when he first appeared in Risking it All, and I loved getting to know his story and the woman he falls for in Up in Smoke. Connor is… WOW, he is definitely, without a doubt, my new favorite dirty talker!!!! If there’s one thing you should know about Tessa Bailey, it’s that she writes dirty talk like no other. Connor melted my heart and panties in Up in Smoke, and I loved it!

Though Up in Smoke can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading Risking it All first – Connor is introduced in the first book, and Up in Smoke follows up on the ending from Risking it All. As a former street enforcer and criminal, Connor has been given a new chance and a new life in a new undercover team in Chicago (formed by none other than Derek from Protecting What’s His!). When Connor meets Erin, another criminal in the undercover team, he is instantly and fiercely drawn to her. I absolutely LOVE the way Tessa has her heroes fall so hard for their heroines on first sight. Yes, a lot of it is definitely lust, but I just adore the way Connor felt protective and possessive of Erin from the get-go.

Erin, an arsonist with a huge case of claustrophobia, can’t stand when other people touch her… but she wants Connor to touch her. This girl is seriously messed up, but it’s hard not to find her – sassiness and all – endearing. She has issues, but when she’s with Connor, it seems those issues dull into nothingness. Connor is the only person she’s ever felt safe with, but he’s also the only person who sets her insides on fire.

She was drawn to fire. Connor had enough inside him to burn down a major city.

Connor is a tightly-leashed man and pure alpha-male – he is a bad boy with a heart of gold, and I fell so hard for his character. He is completely swept up in Erin – I seriously swoon SO HARD at how much Connor cares about Erin and her well-being. He does everything he can so that she’ll be safe and comfortable… all while desiring her with a wild, animal-like passion. The chemistry between Erin and Connor is H.O.T. I seriously think this is the hottest book I’ve ever read from Tessa, and Connor has the dirtiest mouth ever – I blushed every time Connor opened his mouth!

“Look at you. Grinding that little pussy on me.” His voice sounded raw, heated. “I’d fill you with every goddamn inch so quickly, you’d scream for me to take it back out. Maybe it’s better this way, giving just your clit a ride. But know that I’d like to be pounding you full of me, Erin. Full.”

“I’ve never begged a fucking day in my life, but you’re going to make me, aren’t you?”

It’s hard not to get addicted to Tessa’s books. It’s so easy to enjoy her books, and I was swept away in Connor and Erin’s story – although I do think they fell a bit too fast for each other. The book centered around Connor and Erin and them overcoming their internal issues, so the plot about their undercover mission felt weak in comparison. Nonetheless, this was fast-paced, smoking hot read that I highly recommend. If you’re a fan of the author, you definitely don’t want to miss this (and the wonder that is Connor’s mouth)! We get to see a lot of Bowen and Sera (from Risking it All) and Derek (from Protecting What’s His), as well as the couple featured in the next book, Polly and Austin, who are also part of the undercover team. I can’t wait to see what happens in their book!

“If I’m what you want, hope is futile, because I couldn’t belong to you any more completely than I already do.”

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

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

Amazon Ebook: http://amzn.to/1umlLqv
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/1sdluem

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Up in Smoke

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