His Risk to Take (A Line of Duty Book 2)

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***His Risk to Take by Tessa BaileyBook Two of the Line of Duty seriesPublisher: BrazenPublication Date: May 13, 2013Rating: 3 starsSource: Copy bought from Amazon***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***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?What I Liked:I'm a little confused by the covers, titles, imprints, and publication dates of different editions of this novel... I've seen it published in 2013 and 2015, by Entangled: Brazen and Entangled: Select, there is this blue-green cover and a grey-pink cover, and one title is this one (His Risk to Take) and another, Riskier Business. I imagine the story is exactly the same, but just be aware of this if you decide to search for the book for more information or to buy it.Ruby is a professional pool player/hustler, who grew up in pool rooms, trying to earn money. One night, she's doing her thing, hustling guys out of their money at the pool table, when Troy Bennett walks into the bar and into her life. He is dominating, controlling, and undeniably attractive - Ruby can't resist him, and he can't resist her. But as he learns her connection to a criminal, Troy lives his greatest fear again - will he be able to keep Ruby out of danger?This one took me a while to read and finish, but I finally did! Brazen never really lets me down - three stars is the lowest I've rated a Brazen novel. I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to adult contemporary romance - no love triangle, no threesomes, no kids during the story, and we're pretty much good! Pretty much. This one was a decent Brazen novel, though I didn't love it (as is evident by the rating).I really like Troy - there is something about men in uniform that I absolutely love. Clearly Ruby thought so too. Troy has a bit of a controlling hero complex, and he is always trying to keep Ruby safe. Easier said than done. Nevertheless, he is a good guy with a good heart and a difficult past in the police force. I liked Troy a lot. Not to mention he is a hottie - he can arrest me any day! *nudges*See my thoughts on Ruby below. I didn't quite like her, though I like her and Troy together. Speaking of the romance - I think I liked the romance. There is a tug-of-war going on, in which Ruby is super freaking independent and doesn't want Troy "fighting her battles", but then there is Troy who is both trying to do his job and trying to protect his lady friend. I think I liked the dynamics of their relationship - they are fire and ice, and are good for each other, in a twisted way.The criminal story is an engaging one, a good way to tie in the romance. Ruby used to work with the man that Troy is trying to arrest. Which is why Troy is trying to keep Ruby out of everything - to protect her from someone who knows about her, especially now that she has a connection to a cop. This storyline is predictable, but I liked it.Overall, I think I enjoyed the story, ad the romance - but I had difficulties with the female protagonist. Read on!What I Did Not Like:Like I said, I had trouble with Ruby. She has an independent streak the size of Montana - which is fine, I think. It's great for women to be independent and own it. But in her case, she wants to keep her pride going and ignore what a cop is telling her - to stay out of an investigation. At that point, Ruby is just being a dumba**, and not a "smart", "independent" woman. I have little respect for her because of her idiotic decisions, all in the name of "I can take care of myself" or "I'm independent" or "I don't need a man to tell me what to do". Honey, it's not about a man trying to boss you around. It's about keeping you safe from a dangerous criminal that you are connected to via your father's past.Le sigh. I didn't like Ruby. She needs to tone down the attitude, the rebelling-against-authority thing, the trust issues. Troy grovels, but she is the one with trust issues, the one that pushes him away. I don't think this is fair at all. I get it, everyone loves feminism these days (don't get me wrong, I'm all for equal rights and treatment of women), but there's feminism and then there's common sense.But still, I liked her role in the romance. Troy and Ruby are a hot pair together!Would I Recommend It:I don't think I would necessarily recommend this one, especially if you think you'll have trouble connecting with Ruby, like I did. Tessa Bailey rarely steers me wrong, and I will read just about anything she writes with high hopes of enjoying everything. And I liked this one! Just didn't *love* it. Not liking the female protagonist is kind of a deal breaker! I could recommend a ton of other Brazen novels though, like Even the Score by Kate Meader or Down for the Count by Christine Bell!Rating:3 stars. Good, but not fabulous. I'll still be reading any/all of Tessa Bailey's books. And of course, being the Brazen addict hoarder that I am, I will be on the lookout for new Brazen books!

His Risk to Take is the second book in Tessa Bailey's Line of Duty Series although it can be read as a stand alone. If you like dirty talking hot alpha heroes and strong independent women willing to submit in the bedroom with a surprising good storyline and character building then this is the book for you.This book center's around Troy a police detective who recently transferred from Chicago after his partner died and Ruby a pool hustler. Troy is feeling guilty after his partner's death and doesn't want to get involved with anyone and especially someone who's life isn't safe but that's before Ruby comes walking in the door of a bar he's at and hustles a guy in a game of pool. When her mark gets upset Troy steps in to protect her.Ruby grew up watching her father hustle and was taught from an early age how to hustle. She doesn't rely on anyone but herself. The sparks fly as Troy escorts her home and they end up having a night of hot sex. Of course Ruby has no desire to get involved with a copy and Troy doesn't want to be attracted to someone who courts danger like Ruby does. Neither one of them expect more then a couple of nights of hot sex but then they both develop feelings for each other. Of course when it turns out Troy is investigating a case that has ties to Ruby's past things just get more complicated. When Troy realizes he has accidentally put Ruby in danger he is willing to do anything to keep her safe, even if that means backing away from their relationship. However, Ruby isn't one to let others make decisions for her and she sets out to help Troy and make sure he's safe as well. I have to be honest, I think this may be my favorite book in the Brazen line. I loved everything about it, the hero, the heroine, the hot sex and the dramatic elements. It was so well done and I fell head over heels for this book couple. I am usually not one of those book readers who reads and pictures it as a movie, but this one made me see it as a movie the more I read into the story.Troy was definitely an Alpha male who was sexy, confident and demanding especially in the bedroom. He is protective and of course a little damaged from his partner's death. Troy was willing to put her needs above his own and step back when he thought Ruby would be safer. He was a really likeable and appealing character. Ruby was also a very likeable and appealing character. Ruby follows her own rules and has been taking care of herself for a long time and while she may let Troy tell her what to do in the bedroom she isn't letting him make decisions for her out of it. It was fun having a heroine not on the straight side of the law but there is a lot more to Ruby then that. Both characters were complex and you don't find that in a short book very often.This is a Tessa Bailey book, so it's going to be hot. And this book isn't an exception to that. There is a lot of sex and it's hot and Troy loves to talk dirty. So if steam and sizzling sex isn't for you pick a different book.They didn't slide right into an easy romance and instantly solve all their problems. Troy had to learn to deal with Ruby's life and Ruby had to learn that she could depend on someone else and not loose her independence. The supporting characters were interesting as well although not a big part of the book. There's only so much you can fit into a short book but this one manages to have character development, a good story and really hot sex. What more can you ask for.

His Risk To Take is a fun sexy quick read...it has a start, middle and an end....this sounds quite silly but I've found some books/authors can't get a basic storyline together...this has everything and more as detective Troy is certainly well worth the value of the book!We are introduced to Ruby and Troy when they meet up in a bar, for me personally I grew to like Ruby throughout the book especially when the author lets us in on why she hustles (if that's the right term to use)The storyline builds and what's not to like when we have a sexy dirty talking detective whose trying to escape emotions of a previous event, an independent hard working hustler, throw in a few criminals and we have a Great read! My only negative was.....it was over to quickly ;-) I'm also intrigued about a few secondary characters in particular Bowen who I hope will get his own book and happy ending....

Really enjoyed this book in the "Line of Duty" series by Tessa Bailey. This book can be read as a stand alone.I would have liked to heave learned more about Troy and Ruby, and felt this would have been better as a full book, rather than a novella. Also, I like when there's a bit more of a tease to allow the chemistry to develop before book couples get intimate for the first time. But that's no affront to the author, just my personal taste!But, the ending was great, and unrushed (loved Troy waiting for Ruby every day!), and I look forward to the next installment in this series!

As I am coming to expect from Tessa Bailey, this short but well written novel was hot and steamy.I loved the story of Ginger and Derek, and I was pleasantly surprised that although obviously written by the same author, His Risk to Take wasn't just a re-hash of the first book. It still had all the elements I liked from Protecting What's His; Sexy and un-apologetically dominant alpha male, check. Sassy, funny and independent female lead, check. A whole boat load of red hot sex scenes, check. Enough plot, dialogue and depth of characterisation to make it interesting and not just smut, check again.My only complaint is it was just a wee bit short. Ruby and Troy were great characters, but I would have liked to get to know them more. Similarly with the story. It was good! So why not add just a bit more detail and length to it and let us readers enjoy it for longer? The main 'event' in this novel was wrapped up in just a few pages and honestly it felt just a bit rushed.Ultimately, I felt a little bit short changed because just as I was getting into it all, it ended. Having said that, I did really enjoy this and am looking forward to the next one in the series.

Bought the book as read the first in the series and was intrigued to read the others liked the back story mixed in with the romance.

Loved this book, from start to finish! This is where I fell in love with Troy and Ruby. Way to short, but I will take what I can get. This left me wanting an entire series on just Ruby and Troy.The dirty talking cop and the hustler, bring a new meaning to sex scenes in books for me. I could not get enough!!