SUNNY: BOOK REVIEW "His Risk to Take" by Tessa Bailey

SUMMARY from Goodreads:
The greater the risk, the hotter the reward…
Homicide cop Troy Bennett had a reputation on the Chicago PD for being fearless and in control—until the night his daredevil partner is killed during a raid. From that moment on, he swears he’ll never again be responsible for the loss of a loved one. To escape his demons, Troy transfers to the NYPD, bringing him up close and personal with Ruby Elliott, a beautiful, street-savvy pool hustler.

Reckless and stubbornly independent, Ruby embodies everything Troy’s avoiding, but when she walks into O’Hanlon’s Pub and blows his carefully laid plans to hell, Troy knows he has to have her—risks be damned. But there’s a connection between Ruby’s shadowed past and a case Troy’s working involving a notorious Brooklyn felon, throwing her safety into jeopardy. Confronted with his biggest fear, will Troy push Ruby away to keep her safe or fight to keep her in his arms where she belongs

REVIEW: 
This novella is a doozy of a romantic suspense with just an edge of naughty goodness.  From the moment of first contact, sparks fly between these two stubborn, hard-headed characters and the adrenaline-inducing fun begins. Being from opposites sides of the law, there is plenty of conflict to keep the tension tight and the bedroom scenes are just incendiary. 

Troy Bennett is running, running away from the guilt of not being able to protect his partner and prevent his death at the Chicago PD.  Now he in NY, on the job, and continues to build that emotional wall around him.  Sauntering into his life comes Ruby, a homegrown pool hustler who has been known to skirt the law a time or two.  They meet not in a professional capacity, but by chance at a local bar and we are off to the races.  Troy may be full of sweet, but in the bedroom, he is all about control.  He commands, directs, and demands...all the things Ruby would normally hate, but coming from him, it is all about foreplay.  Despite the short length, Ms. Bailey manages to reach a "good enough" level with her characterization and drama, but I can't help but think that if this were a full-length novel, the story would be flushed out more.  I really felt the need for MORE!  Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and see myself visiting this story again and again.

IN A NUTSHELL: Enjoyable, fast, and sweat inducing, I recommend this book for those who want a quick weekend read - but not necessarily in the company of people.  It might be embarrassing when people see you pant.