Thrown Down Review

Title:  Thrown Down
Series:  Made in Jersey #2
Author:  Tess Bailey
Publisher:  Entangled Brazen
Release Date:  April 4, 2016

My Rating:  3.5 Second Chance BadBoy ♥'s





Synopsis:
He has one last chance to deserve the girl of his dreams...

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, breaking her heart into a thousand jagged pieces. Now Vaughn De Matteo is back in town, 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 their fierce and undeniable sexual chemistry.

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...

Review:
Four years ago, Vaughn De Matteo drove out of town without looking back, away from everything he'd ever wanted or needed.  It ripped his heart out, but he knew it was the right thing to do for the love of his life, River Purcell.  Vaughn had nothing to offer her, as her father pointed out to him when he blackmailed Vaughn into leaving.  He believed what everyone said - he wasn't good enough for her, and so he left.  River finally had to accept the lie Vaughn told her when he walked away - that he no longer loved her.  But now her secret is out, and Vaughn is back in town to reclaim the woman he left behind and the beautiful little girl they created together.  He missed the first four years of his little girl's life because he didn't know about her . . . he will not let anyone or anything stand in the way of him being her daddy now.  Vaughn is on a mission to prove himself to River and Marcy.

Thrown Down is a good second chance romance - one with lots of repressed feelings and more than its share of dirty talking sex.  I liked Vaughn as the resident bad*ss badboy - raw, gritty, possessive, sexier than any man has a right to be.  He roared back into town to claim what was once his - and while he knows they need to talk, he's okay with relying on their "off the charts" sexual chemistry if it will bring her back to him.  River isn't so easy to convince, although she can't deny her burning desire for Vaughn - sex has never been the problem - but the same can't be said about trust, honesty, and talking.  If Vaughn can't/won't open up to her, she'll share his bed but he'll never win back her heart.

In typical Tess Bailey style, the sex in Thrown Down is dirty, hot, erotic, and sinful as it sets the pages ablaze.  It's also sensual and heart touching to watch as this couple reconnects.  I do think there could have been a little less dirty talk, (shocking, I know!) as it becomes distracting and a little over the top - almost negating some of this couple's very real love & romance.  The dialogue comes across a little awkward and forced at times.  Having said that, the story is a good one as this couple works to overcome obstacles tossed in their path on their way to happy ever after.  A Must Read!

My Rating:  3.5 Second Chance BadBoy ♥'s . . . .And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra