Book Review – Protecting What’s His by Tessa Bailey

Protecting What’s His (A Line of Duty Novel)
Y’all. I fell in love today. He’s tall, and muscular and gorgeous. He’s bossy, quick-tempered, protective and growlie as heck. One minute he’d make me roar “Ohhhhhh THAT MAN!!!”

And… the very next moment, I’d swoon… “ohhhhh that maaaannnn…” 😉

“Tell me,” Derek growled, placing his lips flush against her, but not kissing her. “I want to taste your jealousy.”

*sigh* Okay I know that is another growlie roar “Ohhhh that man!” moment from me, and at the same time… *sa-wooooon* –

You guys… he’s the ultimate mega-alpha, and ventures a little on the… Dom side (heh! Don’t they all?) I know, he sounds just like so many of the heroes we are searching for (and have found) but there’s just something about this one… that had me “slow-motion reading”. Like I told me Facebook crew… “He just does it for me.” And OMG he could be obnoxious about it!

“My problem is you telling me what we’re doing and not asking. I make decisions for us. Not you. Your badge has no jurisdiction here.”

You tell him, Ginger!!!

Okay, so… his name is Derek (oh now that is a good name for an alpha) and he reminds me of every one of my favorite Kristen Ashley men. That no-nonsense intensity, those obnoxious, hot-headed demands, and that fiery passion. When he realizes he’s got something he wants… *whoooooo* he has no problem making sure everyone knows it (especially his girl). He’s got a little of that bad-ass Travis in him (he’ll beat you down instantly if you touch, er… I mean manhandle – and probably touch, too – his girl) but he also gets that broken-hearted desperation in his voice that I loved so much, too. But make no mistake. He’s all man, and if (and while) you read this one, you’ll never forget it.

“All right, Derek. You proved tonight you had the biggest d!ck in the room. You’ve clubbed me over the head and brought me back to your cave. Where do you want me?”

LOL!!!!!! How could anyone not just LOVE these two? Love her? She’s just got him pegged!!

And and and!!!! He’s a cop. That’s right. A few of you in my Facebook crew delivered him to me on a “highly recommended” platter when I asked for some “police heroes” yesterday and boy did you guys have it right! I just want to hug you!!!

Maryse’s Book Blog: Any recommendations? Preferably of the “intense, angsty, OMG I still can’t stop thinking about him – BEST police romance book ever!” kind… P.S. If he’s a “bad boy”, that’s a plus!

Mandy: Have you read Tessa Bailey’s Line of Duty series? It’s chock full of dirty talkin’ bad boy cops.

Lori: I LOVE Tessa Baileys stories!!! I will read anything she writes! Check out Protecting what’s his…

Emily: Tessa Bailey’s Line of Duty series (Drops. Mike)

Marscha: love the books by Tessa Bailey.

Yep. You guys delivered  a sort of bad boy cop, for sure! ‘Cause he’s never gotten that serious with a woman before (he’s hot, so he doesn’t need to ’cause all of us want him)… and you know. Considering his job and all that… well. You know how it goes. *shrug* But even though he’s a cop, he’s an alpha-man first, and when it comes to what he considers his…. LOOK OUT!

Women wanted him to play hero after hours, but once he clocked out for the evening, he had little interest in being nice. In the end, the women he dated usually found his tastes too intense for their liking.

*sigh* Oh yessssssssss…… I’m in love I’m in love and I don’t care who knows it!

Maryse’s Book Blog: Ohhhhh my my my….!! *shakes head* SERIOUS MEGA-alpha in one of the cop books you guys recommended to me yesterday and I am loving it. This guy takes alpha to the next level for sure. *whoo* (and thank you for this one)! It is steeeeamy and kind of funny and sweet (in his alpha-growlie way) and he’s just so “ARGH how DARE he!!!” (but YAY for me!!)

Jenn: Love that one! She has another one, Officer Off Limits that’s just as amazing!!! Do yourself a favor and read it.

Kristin:  I loved this one Maryse!

Minga: I LOVE Tessa Bailey books..

Sally: I put these right on my Amazon wishlist yesterday glad they are hitting the spot Maryse!

Tracie: This series is great.

Lori: So glad you’re likin it Maryse – isn’t it great? One of my favorites!!! If it had been longer or more in depth, it would be an all time favorite! All her guys are like this and I love em!! Her sis is great too-she’s hilarious. The third in the series is really good too! The second didn’t feel as strong but will have another book to come… I’ll read anything by Tessa, love her men!

Maryse’s Book Blog: Yes yes! The perfect Saturday afternoon read. Yes sooooo bossy and demanding and I believe him every step of the way. Oh yes I do! Hittin’ the spot, you say, Sally? Hehe.

Mandy: YAA!! Told ya

Maryse’s Book Blog: I just hit a certain spot and OMG I didn’t see that coming. Oh boy. OMG Derek totalllllly does it for me…

Milia: You had me at Serious Mega Alpha…..lol

Minga: Did it have to do with a little black dress? And the lack of clothing… Oh yeah. My favorite part. DEREK RULES

Maryse’s Book Blog: Okay well… I just loved it! That was perfect for me, today. I’m just grinning. Longer would have made it even more perfect, but for it’s length, it packed a punch! Soooo many favorite scenes but one for me was late-night phone call from that person…. And all of it after. Gah! Awesome… Alllll of it.

Lori: Gah, I know! There are sooo many great scenes AND great lines, I might have to do a reread!

So what’s it about? Well actually, it’s just like in the synopsis, but SO much better than that. From the synopsis it sounds kind of like a funny, quirky book, and it’s funny, but it’s more than that. Because you don’t get a feel for him, from that little blurb. And the steeeeam! But once you get that tiny touch of who he is as you read it, you’ll be in. Sure, it’s of the “shorter-book” variety, but it’s done right. It gets INTENSE.

I chuckled…

“… it’s kind of a turn on.”

Derek’s eyebrows shot up. “Another one? Jesus, how many do you have?”

*giggle* I’m grinning at that one…

But I also I teared-up, and I swoooooooooned like mad, and I could see every single bit of it in my head. I could hear him perfectly and I believed him. Everything he said, everything he growled, everything he desperately whispered was true to a guy like him.

Regret washed over his features. “Oh baby, no.”

It has that guy-feel.

Okay okay.. right. I lost track. So what’s it about? 😉

Ginger (23) and her 17 year old sister leave their bad life in Tennessee (raised by an addict mom) for a better life far far away in Chicago. Away from the drugs, bad guys, and the life of neglect they’ve lived in for so long. And they leave with a big pile of their momma’s money! Steal it, actually but hey… Potatoes… potahtoes. 😉

And they move in right next to a cop, of all things. Just from a glimpse, he’s already hot for her, but her and her sister are being obnoxiously loud as they move into their apartment…

Before he could stop himself, Derek opened the window and barked in his sternest lieutenant voice, “Hey! Not everyone needs to be in on your moving day adventure!”

All chatter ceased from below. With a satisfied grunt, he slammed the window, scooped up his hat and keys and headed for the door.

… and his no-nonsense attitude gets them off on the wrong foot, and quickly gets them off… in other ways too.  OH NO I did NOT just say that!!! Tee heeee!! *blush* 

“Did that a$$hole upstairs actually call the cops on us?”

As he watched those fantasy lips move, revealing a hot little country twang, he drew a blank. Then the situation came back into sharp focus. He stood there in full police department regalia because he’d be attending a funeral this afternoon. And she thought he was there for noise complaint.

Guilt and irritation swept through him. She’d distracted him at a time when he should be thinking about his fallen officer. How selfish could he be? A man lay dead and all he could think abut was dragging Ms. Low-Rider Jeans inside his apartment to assuage the growing ache in his pants.

Pull yourself together, Tyler.

“I am that a$$hole from upstairs.”

So anyway, let’s just say that living next door to him can be too close for comfort, but OH BOY is it FUN!!!!!!!! And there is angst too.

He wants a fight? I’ll give him one to remember.

The realistic kind. Sorta. Nothing too eye-rolling, but just enough to keep our adrenaline pumping in excitement, heartwrench and a bit of fear, too.

OMG I loved this heroine!!!! I connected to her 100%. Pissed off and she could be bossy right back and yet… she (and I) just LOVED the alpha in him. Couldn’t help but let him take over when she needed it… when he needed it.

I LOVED it!!!!

I’ve gotta say 4.5 stars (but want to say 5 stars) ’cause I wish it was longer, but you know what? It totally worked for me, had me feeling all sorts of things throughout and had me grinning like mad in the end. And I knew I really loved it, when I couldn’t stop talking about Derek and all of his growlie ways to my husband. “And then… he said this…. and then… he was SO mad, and then… he lifted her skirt and saw…”

“No panties, Ginger?”

She closed her eyes, savoring the tortured quality to his voice. “I can’t wear any with this dress. The outline would be noticeable.”

“I see.”

Ooooooh!!! Ummm…Yeah, I’ll let you enjoy the rest. 🙂

P.S. There’re literally notes in my book, where I just wrote… “melted.” <— me.