Review….Protecting What’s His by Tessa Bailey

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Synopsis:

She’s running from the law, and the law wants her bad.

The opportunity was just too damn delicious for Ginger Peet to pass up. The purse full of money she finds—$50,000 to be exact—could give her and her teen sister the new start they need. So she grabs the cash, her gothy sibling, and their life-sized statue of Dolly Parton, and blows outta Nashville in a cloud of dust. Chicago, here we come…

Turns out, Chicago has some pretty hot cops. Hot, intense, naughty-lookin’ cops like Derek Tyler, who looks like he could eat a girl up and leave her begging for more. And more. Tempting as he is, getting involved with the sexy homicide lieutenant next door poses a teensy problem for a gal who’s on the lam. But one thing is certain—Derek’s onto her, and he wants more than just a taste.

And as far as he’s concerned, possession is nine-tenths of the law.

My Review:

Protecting What’s His is the first in the Line of Duty Series by Tessa Bailey and actually came as a recommendation from the super awesome Laura Kaye.  Well, to say that I was hooked on this book after the first chapter would be an understatement….I de-freaking-voured this book….in a day.

Ginger Peet has had enough.  She’s lived this hellish life for far too long.  She is so damn tired of her alcoholic mother turning tricks and disappearing and tired of having to shield her little sister from all of it.  Sure, it sucks that she’s had to deal with it for all of her 23 years, but her 17-year-old sister deserves more.  More than her poor excuse for a mother can give either one of them.  So, when her mother comes home one night, as shocking as that was, what is more shocking is the wad of cash Ginger finds sticking out of her mother’s purse.  Well, isn’t this exactly what she needs to stat a new life for her and her sister…..cue Steve Miller Band’s “Take the Money and Run”.

Derek Tyler can’t even attempt to hide his irritation with all the hooting and hollering coming from the people moving into his nice, quiet apartment building.  They had better not be moving all that noise into the apartment across the hall.  Being a lieutenant with the Chicago P.D. he really counted on having this quiet space as his haven away from all of the stress that came with the job.  Not only that, but today was an above average stress level day.  Today they were burying one of their own.  He needed to get these people under control out there.  Only when he opens his door prepared to give them a piece of his mind, he is completely unprepared for Ginger.  Poor guy doesn’t stand a chance….immediately struck by her beautiful face and killer body he knows this is one neighbor he’s gonna have to get to know better.  Hopefully she’s willing to lend him some, ahem, sugar.

To say their “friendship” starts off rocky would be understatement of the year.  But the thing is, right off the bat, Derek and Ginger have undeniable chemistry that oozes off the pages.  Good Lord…the sexual tension between them from just that very first meeting in the hall, when he reads her the riot act for being too loud and she basically tells him to shove it, is delicious.  To say I found this book hot would be the second understatement of the year. Seriously, Derek Tyler will go down as one of the hottest book heroes ever with a skill for dirty talk and hot lovin’.  Damn, that man is sex on a stick! Ginger is perfect.  She may be young, but she’s got one hell of a head on her shoulders and talk about spunk!  That girl gives it right back to the hot Lieutenant.  Not only was this book smoking hot, it had some hilarious moments that had me laughing out loud (I have a class room of 5th graders who can attest to that…don’t ask). Together, Ginger and Derek are a great pair who fall hard and fast and have to wade through some rough currents to realize that what they both want, and both need, is right there in each other’s arms.  Mix in the smart ass potty mouthed 17-year-old sister, Willa, and this book kicked some major ass!

This is a book that I say you must get right now and start reading this very instant.  You will NOT be disappointed!  Thank you, Tessa, for a story I will be re-reading time and time again and for a series I am SURE to be hooked on! Oh, and thank you to Laura Kaye for getting this title out there!

Five Loves

…And for some extra fun with the Lieutenant and Ginger…I snagged the playlist Tessa has on her website:

PLAYLIST: PROTECTING WHAT’S HIS
1. Bad Man’s World by Jenny Lewis
2. Stop Stop by The Black Keys
3. Backwoods Barbie by Dolly Parton
4. Love Affair by Regina Spektor
5. The Twist by Frightened Rabbit (Willa and Denny’s song)
6. In the Cold Cold Night by the White Stripes
7. Holy Roller Novocaine by Kings of Leon
8. I Wanna be Adored by the Stone Roses
9. I’m Shakin’ by Jack White