Reviewer: Tracy Once and Always by Elizabeth Hoyt writing as Julia Harper
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: February 24th 2015
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
IS THERE A PROBLEM, OFFICER?
Small town cop Sam West certainly doesn't mind a routine traffic stop: speeding ticket, stern warning, and sayonara. With a whopper of a blizzard closing in, that's all he has time for. But the lawbreaker he pulls over is anything but typical. From her mile-long legs to her razor-sharp wit, Maisa Burnsey is like nothing Coot Lake, Minnesota, has ever seen . . . and she's about to take Sam on the ride of his life.
BEING BAD HAS ITS BENEFITS
Whoever said blood is thicker than water probably wasn't related to a former Russian mobster. But an innocent mix-up and rumors of stolen diamonds soon have the Russian mob taking an unusual interest in the sleepy little town-and Maisa facing heated scrutiny from a certain tall, dark, and handsome deputy. Sam's dazzling blue eyes beg her to reveal all her secrets, but how much should she tell? Getting snowed in with the sexiest lawman in the frozen north may not be the worst way to decide . . .
Tracy’s review of Once and Always by Julia Harper.
Maisa Burnsey and Sam West had a one night stand a few months ago. Sam got so hooked on Maisa (he calls her May) that he can’t get her out of his head. He knows that if she’ll just give him a chance that they could be great together – and not just in bed. May, however, is fighting him tooth and nail. She’s a bit belligerent to him whenever he pulls her over for speeding, which he does a lot apparently. She just wants to go about her life and not with Sam in it. Her uncle was once in the Russian Mafiya and Sam is a small town cop – those two just don’t mix in Maisa’s mind.
Maisa is visiting her uncle when a huge mix up with luggage occurs. May ends up with a suitcase that’s not hers. Not only is it filled with men’s clothes it has about 3 million dollars worth of pink heart shaped diamonds in it. May knows that it means trouble but is determined to take care of the situation. Her uncle beats her to it and ends up talking to the owner of the suitcase. Before anyone can blink the man who actually owns the diamonds, a guy from the Russian mob, is in town with his thugs and will stop at nothing to get the diamonds back. The townspeople must work together to save their town and the people in it while still getting the bad guy – easier said than done.
This was a cute story about a small town and them working together to save their town. I loved how everyone, despite any differences they might have had going into it all, put those aside and stood side by side to do what needed to be done.
The romance between May and Sam was threaded throughout the story but frankly I wanted more of it. I was upset at May during the first part of the book because she was so testy and nasty to Sam when he was so calm and nice to her. I almost stopped reading at one point because I really didn’t like how she was acting. I decided to keep on and May finally started softening up and letting her guard down with Sam. That made things much better. It’s hard to have a romance when you’re constantly fighting the mob but Sam and May managed to do it. Through it all they managed to work out their differences and still have their HEA.
Despite the mob being involved – and lots of gunfire and bullets flying it was a pretty light read that I found entertaining.
Rating: 3 out of 5
This title is available from Forever. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Leave a Reply