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U.S. Marshals #3
One Touch More
Strong, relentless, and lethal, he plays every angle to trap the worst criminals. But for the one woman he can't resist, he'll break all the rules…
For hotel manager Tabitha Martin, bad boys usually spell disaster. And her new guest promises just that, with his formidable build, tattooed biceps, and quiet take-no-mess attitude. Tabitha is already putting everything on the line to escape her vicious drug-dealing ex's control for good—but a single sizzling moment in “Damien Evans'” arms has her wanting all the trouble he can give…
He's been undercover too long and likes living dangerously too much. U.S. Marshal Parker Evans figures maybe that's why he doesn't immediately put Tabitha in custody. Sure, she's his one chance to finally take down a major drug ring. But every minute he protects this mostly innocent blonde leaves his heart all too vulnerable. And the cost of desire could be a deadly endgame…
For hotel manager Tabitha Martin, bad boys usually spell disaster. And her new guest promises just that, with his formidable build, tattooed biceps, and quiet take-no-mess attitude. Tabitha is already putting everything on the line to escape her vicious drug-dealing ex's control for good—but a single sizzling moment in “Damien Evans'” arms has her wanting all the trouble he can give…
He's been undercover too long and likes living dangerously too much. U.S. Marshal Parker Evans figures maybe that's why he doesn't immediately put Tabitha in custody. Sure, she's his one chance to finally take down a major drug ring. But every minute he protects this mostly innocent blonde leaves his heart all too vulnerable. And the cost of desire could be a deadly endgame…
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 27, 2015
About the author
Mandy Baxter
20 books158 followersMandy Baxter lives in rural Idaho. She’s a part-time pet wrangler, a full-time sun worshiper, and only goes out into the cold when coerced. She loves black clothes, pink appliances and thinks junk food should be a recognized food group. In the summer, she can be found sitting by the lake, enjoying the view from her dock.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
October 25, 2015
Damian is an undercover agent for the US Marshals. While undercover, he shows up at a hotel managed by Tabitha, while trying to take down a drug ring. Tabitha is use to being attracted to bad boys but prefers bad boys with more of a conscience, unlike her ex-boyfriend who runs a drug ring and is forcing her to do things for him to keep her brother safe. Tabitha doesn't know Damian is really an undercover agent named Parker and Damian doesn't know that Tabitha is in a dangerous situation.
I loved this book! One of my favorite things about a good romance is the chemistry between the main characters and I loved Parker and Tabitha's chemistry. The attraction between them was so strong. Parker is a bad ass but he was such a sweet guy. The suspense was fantastic and I really felt like this book mastered romantic suspense - there was enough of both romance and suspense that I couldn't put this book down. I have read all the books in the US Marshals series but I think this was my favorite because of how much I loved the hero Damian/Parker. This can be read as a standalone but I have really enjoyed all the books in this series so I suggest if you like this one, to read the others in this series as well. This author does a great job of writing interesting characters with great chemistry and suspense that will keep you turning the pages. Highly recommend this one!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
I loved this book! One of my favorite things about a good romance is the chemistry between the main characters and I loved Parker and Tabitha's chemistry. The attraction between them was so strong. Parker is a bad ass but he was such a sweet guy. The suspense was fantastic and I really felt like this book mastered romantic suspense - there was enough of both romance and suspense that I couldn't put this book down. I have read all the books in the US Marshals series but I think this was my favorite because of how much I loved the hero Damian/Parker. This can be read as a standalone but I have really enjoyed all the books in this series so I suggest if you like this one, to read the others in this series as well. This author does a great job of writing interesting characters with great chemistry and suspense that will keep you turning the pages. Highly recommend this one!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
October 26, 2015
In the third installment to the U.S. Marshals series, Mandy Baxter takes a hottie in Parker Evans and sweetheart in Tabitha Martins and puts them together in this sweet but also suspenseful novel.
Parker feels like he has been undercover for a long time. However, his latest job involves a hotel manager that seems to push all his hot buttons. When Parker learns of Tabitha’s involvement in her ex’s drug operation, he knows he wants to shut it down and get Tabitha out of harm’s way, to prevent him from using her and risking her life again.
Though this book does have a heavy emphasis on the U.S. Marshals assignment that Parker has, there’s this softer tone that carries throughout this novel and I think that’s mainly due to Tabitha’s presence. She brings the sweeter side out of him and that’s a big feat because in the beginning Parker seems a bit cold and jaded.
For readers interested in this series, I would say that this leans a little bit more on the Contemporary Romance side rather than full on Romantic Suspense. That being said, I think fans of Julie James’ FBI series would definitely get a kick out of this series. It’s sexy, sweet and suspenseful all at once.
October 25, 2015
4 satisfying stars
One Touch More was such a good read.
Loved the characters, the plot held my attention from the first page and I didn't want to put it down.
Another excellent read by Mandy Baxter.
Thank you Kensington Books - Zebra via NetGalley for the advance copy.
One Touch More was such a good read.
Loved the characters, the plot held my attention from the first page and I didn't want to put it down.
Another excellent read by Mandy Baxter.
Thank you Kensington Books - Zebra via NetGalley for the advance copy.
June 13, 2016
I couldn't get into this book when I started it way back when, but I'm glad I took another pass at it because I enjoyed every bit of it. Mandy Baxter is becoming one of my go-to authors for an enjoyable read.
U.S. Marshal Parker Evans has spent so much time undercover with so many lowlifes that it's becoming harder every day to keep his real and his undercover lives separate. Which is a problem when he is on the hunt for one of the most wanted fugitives and needs to keep his head in the game. It doesn't help that he's very attracted to the one woman who's his ticket to catching his fugitive and taking down a drug ring.
Bay boys are Tabitha Martin's kryptonite and she's still paying the price for getting involved with one, but once again she can't resist the tattooed hunk who's clearly bad news especially because he's hanging out with her lowlife ex-boyfriend and is clearly up to no good. In spite of their reservations, both Tabitha and Parker can see that there is more to each other than just questionable choices and connections and besides, they can't keep their hands off each other. In fact the Tabitha reduces Parker to a grunting caveman and I can only imagine that it must be a very heady feeling.
The previous two books very clearly drew the lines between the good guys and the bad guys but in this book, things aren’t so black and white. The characters live in the gray area where good people make bad choices or do the wrong thing for the right reason and the line between right and wrong begins to shift as you get invested in their story.
Tabitha brings out the tender side of Parker that has been buried under the filth he's had to deal with and the goodness she sees at the core of him gives her hope that he can be more than just a drug dealer, but how will their relationship fare when Parker's real identity is revealed? Will what they have between them be strong enough to withstand the challenges ahead?
ONE TOUCH MORE has everything I love to read about: steaming hot passion, suspense, action and lots of sweet moments and I enjoyed that time was invested in building the relationship between Tabitha and Parker.
PS: Every girl needs a gossip buddy like Dave in her life.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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U.S. Marshal Parker Evans has spent so much time undercover with so many lowlifes that it's becoming harder every day to keep his real and his undercover lives separate. Which is a problem when he is on the hunt for one of the most wanted fugitives and needs to keep his head in the game. It doesn't help that he's very attracted to the one woman who's his ticket to catching his fugitive and taking down a drug ring.
Bay boys are Tabitha Martin's kryptonite and she's still paying the price for getting involved with one, but once again she can't resist the tattooed hunk who's clearly bad news especially because he's hanging out with her lowlife ex-boyfriend and is clearly up to no good. In spite of their reservations, both Tabitha and Parker can see that there is more to each other than just questionable choices and connections and besides, they can't keep their hands off each other. In fact the Tabitha reduces Parker to a grunting caveman and I can only imagine that it must be a very heady feeling.
The previous two books very clearly drew the lines between the good guys and the bad guys but in this book, things aren’t so black and white. The characters live in the gray area where good people make bad choices or do the wrong thing for the right reason and the line between right and wrong begins to shift as you get invested in their story.
Tabitha brings out the tender side of Parker that has been buried under the filth he's had to deal with and the goodness she sees at the core of him gives her hope that he can be more than just a drug dealer, but how will their relationship fare when Parker's real identity is revealed? Will what they have between them be strong enough to withstand the challenges ahead?
ONE TOUCH MORE has everything I love to read about: steaming hot passion, suspense, action and lots of sweet moments and I enjoyed that time was invested in building the relationship between Tabitha and Parker.
PS: Every girl needs a gossip buddy like Dave in her life.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Want more? Subscribe to my Newsletter on The Sassy Bookster.
Follow me on Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin’.
Like my page on Facebook.
November 11, 2015
Parker Evans has been undercover for the U.S. Marshals long enough that he’s having trouble separating the “real” Parker from his undercover persona, Damien. He chooses to be called Damien and suppress his emotions so that he won’t become soft, making it difficult to fit in with the criminals when he goes back undercover. His current task is to try to capture an elusive drug dealer.
Working as an assistant manager of a suites hotel, Tabitha Martin is trying to put herself through nursing school. She has a thing for bad boys, but unfortunately, her ex-boyfriend, Joey, is truly no good. This drug-dealing ex is blackmailing her into allowing deals to take place at her hotel. So when super-hottie Damien starts working for Joey, Tabitha tries her best to stay away from the trouble he will bring into her life. Unfortunately, that’s not as easy as she would hope.
Although I’ve liked the previous two titles in the U.S. Marshals series, they both were lacking a bit. Well, I figured out what the series has been missing... Damien Evans. Holy hell! He is a tattooed-bad-guy bit of yumminess. So long undercover, he's seen and done things he can't ever forgive. But his heart of gold shines when he finally meets the one person who makes his messed up world make sense. Damien is full of passion that infuses everything he does from taking out the criminals to loving his woman. And WOW do the sparks fly between Tabitha and Damien. Additionally, the overall action and undercover plot were exciting and seemed more realistic than the prior two stories, which made me very happy.
Equally spectacular is Tabitha. She’s hard, tough, yet full of love. She protects what is hers and helps those who need it, even if they don’t deserve it. And she’s extremely perceptive and smart, which not only creates an interesting and engaging persona, but also prevents a story that could have easily been filled with one misunderstanding after another. I love that although both Tabitha and Damien have secrets, each allows the other to see bits and pieces of the real person below, leading to a deeper relationship.
In the end, I really loved reading this story. One Touch More is an action-packed ride; utterly sexy, hot, and full of intense emotions. Having the story shared from dual POVs kept everything balanced, and I liked that right from the start the pair felt a powerful connection. This, plus the constant danger surrounding the pair, allowed for heightened passion. Both wanted to be open and honest, while struggling to do what was best. I loved this couple and wanted to see them succeed; which made for a wonderful story.
My Rating: A- Enjoyed A Lot
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by Netgalley
Working as an assistant manager of a suites hotel, Tabitha Martin is trying to put herself through nursing school. She has a thing for bad boys, but unfortunately, her ex-boyfriend, Joey, is truly no good. This drug-dealing ex is blackmailing her into allowing deals to take place at her hotel. So when super-hottie Damien starts working for Joey, Tabitha tries her best to stay away from the trouble he will bring into her life. Unfortunately, that’s not as easy as she would hope.
Although I’ve liked the previous two titles in the U.S. Marshals series, they both were lacking a bit. Well, I figured out what the series has been missing... Damien Evans. Holy hell! He is a tattooed-bad-guy bit of yumminess. So long undercover, he's seen and done things he can't ever forgive. But his heart of gold shines when he finally meets the one person who makes his messed up world make sense. Damien is full of passion that infuses everything he does from taking out the criminals to loving his woman. And WOW do the sparks fly between Tabitha and Damien. Additionally, the overall action and undercover plot were exciting and seemed more realistic than the prior two stories, which made me very happy.
Equally spectacular is Tabitha. She’s hard, tough, yet full of love. She protects what is hers and helps those who need it, even if they don’t deserve it. And she’s extremely perceptive and smart, which not only creates an interesting and engaging persona, but also prevents a story that could have easily been filled with one misunderstanding after another. I love that although both Tabitha and Damien have secrets, each allows the other to see bits and pieces of the real person below, leading to a deeper relationship.
In the end, I really loved reading this story. One Touch More is an action-packed ride; utterly sexy, hot, and full of intense emotions. Having the story shared from dual POVs kept everything balanced, and I liked that right from the start the pair felt a powerful connection. This, plus the constant danger surrounding the pair, allowed for heightened passion. Both wanted to be open and honest, while struggling to do what was best. I loved this couple and wanted to see them succeed; which made for a wonderful story.
My Rating: A- Enjoyed A Lot
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by Netgalley
November 4, 2015
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http://alysenovak.blogspot.com
For U.S. Marshall Parker "Damien" Evans, it gets more and more difficult to live in reality when he is in between undercover assignments. The lines between Parker and Damien (his undercover name) gets more and more blurred until he sometimes can't tell the difference between the two. And it gets easier and easier to push "Parker" further and further away while he is undercover, but all that changes when he sees Tabitha Martin.
Tabitha Martin is trying to better her and her brother's, Seth, lives, which means no more sexy, tattooed, bad boys. She has to much going on in her life and can't be afford to be distracted. Her brother seems to be finally getting his life on track and Tabitha is determined to keep him out of trouble and away for her ex-boyfriend, Joey. And that makes it easy for Joey to blackmail her into letting him use her hotel for his drug deals.
The more Damien learns about Tabitha, the more he wants to protect her while keeping his cover. She makes him feelWhen he learns that Tabitha could be the link between him and the arrest of the fugitive/drug dealer, named Gerald Lightfoot, all bets are off. He'll do anything to protect the woman that has made him feel more like "Parker, the man" than "Damien, the criminal".
But will Tabitha be able to forgive him for lying to her and trust that their feelings for each other are real??
Rating: 4 out of 5
**I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
http://alysenovak.blogspot.com
For U.S. Marshall Parker "Damien" Evans, it gets more and more difficult to live in reality when he is in between undercover assignments. The lines between Parker and Damien (his undercover name) gets more and more blurred until he sometimes can't tell the difference between the two. And it gets easier and easier to push "Parker" further and further away while he is undercover, but all that changes when he sees Tabitha Martin.
Tabitha Martin is trying to better her and her brother's, Seth, lives, which means no more sexy, tattooed, bad boys. She has to much going on in her life and can't be afford to be distracted. Her brother seems to be finally getting his life on track and Tabitha is determined to keep him out of trouble and away for her ex-boyfriend, Joey. And that makes it easy for Joey to blackmail her into letting him use her hotel for his drug deals.
The more Damien learns about Tabitha, the more he wants to protect her while keeping his cover. She makes him feelWhen he learns that Tabitha could be the link between him and the arrest of the fugitive/drug dealer, named Gerald Lightfoot, all bets are off. He'll do anything to protect the woman that has made him feel more like "Parker, the man" than "Damien, the criminal".
But will Tabitha be able to forgive him for lying to her and trust that their feelings for each other are real??
Rating: 4 out of 5
**I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
November 21, 2015
Parker "Damien" Evans is an undercover US Marshall who infiltrates a drug running operation in hopes of bringing in the head of the entire operation who has been one step ahead of the law for years. His job is to distribute the drugs to individual dealers. The business is being run out of a hotel suite set up by the assistant manager of the hotel, Tabitha, who is being blackmailed into looking the other way. Damien and Tabitha have insta-lust and both are conflicted about their growing feelings. Tabitha, conflicted about getting involved with a drug dealer and Damien because of Tabithas involvement in the operation. That is the part I had to suspend belief a little to enjoy the story as Tabithas common sense was non existent. Once I warmed up to her the book took off. This book is hot, and exciting. I recommend it and the series. 4 stars.
October 11, 2015
A little insta-love but Baxter made it work.
March 22, 2017
Tabitha Martin is a hotel manager who has a fatal flaw, she is attracted to tattooed bad boys. When Parker Evans comes into her hotel she is attracted to him immediately by his bad boy looks. She has no clue that he is working as an undercover U.S. Marshall, and she is his target. The problem is now he wants her really under his covers, on top of the covers and anywhere else. Her last boyfriend is really the guy he is looking for a drug dealer and he is violent and has made it known that he will harm her brother if she does not help him. Trying to get out from his clutches she can only hope that this next bad boy looking man is really not another bad string of men in the line she has chosen. Now Parker must somehow show her that he really is in love with her but that he can also help her, and her brother without getting any of them killed. A good story with a lot of action. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
November 16, 2015
Mon avis en Français
My ENglish review
Mandy Baxter / Amanda Bonilla is an author that I particularly like and having enjoyed the first volumes, I was curious to get into the rest of this beautiful suspense romance series. And I think I can say that this volume is currently my favorite of the series.
We discover a man bored with his life, who would like to get out, even if ultimately it is all he is. Parker Evans is a US Marshal whose job requires him to infiltrate many different environments including those of drug dealers. If creating a dual identity is very difficult, we can observe the consequences of such an action. After a rather difficult mission, our hero is back in the saddle and he now has to try to bring down a huge drug trafficking boss. For this, he will impersonate a resourceful dealer, while living in a hotel in the region, led by Tabitha, our young heroine. Tabitha, who herself, has to manage a large number of problems, although different ones from Parker. Indeed, she is trying to help her brother, after he had a problem as a dealer and he is doing everything possible to change. Yet already overwhelmed by this, she must also deal with her ex, another trafficker, who threatens to bring down her brother down with him if she does not leave her hotel to manage his business. In short, you’ll understand that it’s a rather complicated situation for both sides of our protagonists.
But when our two heroes meet, an irresistible attraction arises, putting them in front of a fateful choice. Can Tabitha trust a trafficker working with her ex? Can Parker be with a woman who lets a criminal working on her workplace? Is she part of the organization? And is it not contradictory to tie a relationship with a suspect? I was curious to see how the two would solve their problems and move forward together. Their story is rather touching even if it is true that as always we want them to reveal their secrets and to tell the truth early on while their relationship becomes more and more intense, but in any cases, the whole environment with the traffic was really interesting and I was quickly taken by history.
So as you see, I had a great time with this new novel and I am curious to know what will happen for the next couple and so the next book.
My ENglish review
Mandy Baxter / Amanda Bonilla is an author that I particularly like and having enjoyed the first volumes, I was curious to get into the rest of this beautiful suspense romance series. And I think I can say that this volume is currently my favorite of the series.
We discover a man bored with his life, who would like to get out, even if ultimately it is all he is. Parker Evans is a US Marshal whose job requires him to infiltrate many different environments including those of drug dealers. If creating a dual identity is very difficult, we can observe the consequences of such an action. After a rather difficult mission, our hero is back in the saddle and he now has to try to bring down a huge drug trafficking boss. For this, he will impersonate a resourceful dealer, while living in a hotel in the region, led by Tabitha, our young heroine. Tabitha, who herself, has to manage a large number of problems, although different ones from Parker. Indeed, she is trying to help her brother, after he had a problem as a dealer and he is doing everything possible to change. Yet already overwhelmed by this, she must also deal with her ex, another trafficker, who threatens to bring down her brother down with him if she does not leave her hotel to manage his business. In short, you’ll understand that it’s a rather complicated situation for both sides of our protagonists.
But when our two heroes meet, an irresistible attraction arises, putting them in front of a fateful choice. Can Tabitha trust a trafficker working with her ex? Can Parker be with a woman who lets a criminal working on her workplace? Is she part of the organization? And is it not contradictory to tie a relationship with a suspect? I was curious to see how the two would solve their problems and move forward together. Their story is rather touching even if it is true that as always we want them to reveal their secrets and to tell the truth early on while their relationship becomes more and more intense, but in any cases, the whole environment with the traffic was really interesting and I was quickly taken by history.
So as you see, I had a great time with this new novel and I am curious to know what will happen for the next couple and so the next book.
October 16, 2015
One Touch More is the third book in Mandy Baxter's U.S. Marshals Series and a really enjoyable read. It can be read as a stand alone book easily.
This book centers around Tabitha who is assistant manager at a hotel but has gotten herself caught up in a situation she doesn't like but can't seem to find a way out of. She grew up with parents who were dealers and her brother has been in and out of trouble. He seems to have straightened up his life and Tabitha wants to keep him out of trouble. Unfortunately that means letting her ex-boyfriend blackmail her into using the hotel to sell his drugs.
Parker or Damien Evans as he is known undercover is on assignment to get to the top guy behind the drug ring. He doesn't want to fall for a woman with secrets who he knows is involved in his case but he can't help himself. His attraction to Tabitha is like an addiction that he can't let go. He wants to protect Tabitha but he also can't break his cover either.
Both Tabitha and Parker are complex characters who live in a dark and dangerous world. They make the best decisions they can but sometimes it means doing things they wouldn't ordinarily want to. Parker is already very conflicted between his undercover persona and his marshal character and feels like he is loosing himself to his undercover persona until Tabitha comes along. Tabitha knows Parker is a bad boy and really doesn't want to get involved with someone else in the drug world but she is attracted to Parker and sees something else in him besides the drug dealer she believes him to be.
The attraction between these two is HOT and STEAMY! Yet there relationship is a slow build while they learn to trust each other and open up.
There was plenty of action and the storyline was interesting but what kept me reading into the middle of the night was the complex and interesting characters and their relationship with each other.
I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read the next one!
This book was provided to me for free from Net Galley in return for a fair review.
This book centers around Tabitha who is assistant manager at a hotel but has gotten herself caught up in a situation she doesn't like but can't seem to find a way out of. She grew up with parents who were dealers and her brother has been in and out of trouble. He seems to have straightened up his life and Tabitha wants to keep him out of trouble. Unfortunately that means letting her ex-boyfriend blackmail her into using the hotel to sell his drugs.
Parker or Damien Evans as he is known undercover is on assignment to get to the top guy behind the drug ring. He doesn't want to fall for a woman with secrets who he knows is involved in his case but he can't help himself. His attraction to Tabitha is like an addiction that he can't let go. He wants to protect Tabitha but he also can't break his cover either.
Both Tabitha and Parker are complex characters who live in a dark and dangerous world. They make the best decisions they can but sometimes it means doing things they wouldn't ordinarily want to. Parker is already very conflicted between his undercover persona and his marshal character and feels like he is loosing himself to his undercover persona until Tabitha comes along. Tabitha knows Parker is a bad boy and really doesn't want to get involved with someone else in the drug world but she is attracted to Parker and sees something else in him besides the drug dealer she believes him to be.
The attraction between these two is HOT and STEAMY! Yet there relationship is a slow build while they learn to trust each other and open up.
There was plenty of action and the storyline was interesting but what kept me reading into the middle of the night was the complex and interesting characters and their relationship with each other.
I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read the next one!
This book was provided to me for free from Net Galley in return for a fair review.
September 4, 2015
Baxter writes another slam dunk for the U.S. marshals series! What is better then a hot tattooed undercover agent?
Tabitha is the assistant manager at a hotel and is caught between a rock and a hard place. Her parents were dealers and her brother has gotten in plenty of trouble. Tabitha is doing everything in her power to keep her brother on the straight and arrow but in order to do that she has to break some laws in the process.
Now on a new undercover assignment Parker has a job to shut down a drug ring but what he doesn't intend to do is fall for a woman who has secrets. Parker will do everything in his power to help Tabitha and try to do it without blowing his cover.
I liked Parker a lot. And the attraction between Tabitha and him was off the charts. Tabitha knows he's a bad boy but she can't seem to help herself around him. The relationship is slow building but they have that great tension before they both start to open up.
I felt the storyline was strong and interesting. It had enough of suspense and romance that it evens out perfectly. I do wish we got to visit with the previous characters but I understand it was a different state and a different mission.
I'm excited to see what Baxter will come up with next and hoping that we will have more undercover marshals making an appearance in near future!
Tabitha is the assistant manager at a hotel and is caught between a rock and a hard place. Her parents were dealers and her brother has gotten in plenty of trouble. Tabitha is doing everything in her power to keep her brother on the straight and arrow but in order to do that she has to break some laws in the process.
Now on a new undercover assignment Parker has a job to shut down a drug ring but what he doesn't intend to do is fall for a woman who has secrets. Parker will do everything in his power to help Tabitha and try to do it without blowing his cover.
I liked Parker a lot. And the attraction between Tabitha and him was off the charts. Tabitha knows he's a bad boy but she can't seem to help herself around him. The relationship is slow building but they have that great tension before they both start to open up.
I felt the storyline was strong and interesting. It had enough of suspense and romance that it evens out perfectly. I do wish we got to visit with the previous characters but I understand it was a different state and a different mission.
I'm excited to see what Baxter will come up with next and hoping that we will have more undercover marshals making an appearance in near future!
November 6, 2015
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I actually don't remember having read anything from this author before, but I've seen lots of other blogs posting their reviews of her books, so when I saw this book, I took a chance and requested for an ARC. One Touch More is already the third book in the series, but it was fortunately a standalone, so I was able to enjoy this book without feeling like I missed out on a lot.
I liked the main characters of this book. I think that the hero being an alpha male who's been undercover too long that he's become jaded and unconsciously tired was a good match for the heroine who was a good woman who wanted better things. I found that I enjoyed Ms. Baxter's writing style. It's not anything unique or something I've never seen before. However, she writes solid characters, an engaging plot, and a believable romance that I really enjoyed. I may actually go back to the previous books in the series, just so I can say I've read all books so far and also because I find that she is an author I wouldn't mind binge reading on weekends.
I actually don't remember having read anything from this author before, but I've seen lots of other blogs posting their reviews of her books, so when I saw this book, I took a chance and requested for an ARC. One Touch More is already the third book in the series, but it was fortunately a standalone, so I was able to enjoy this book without feeling like I missed out on a lot.
I liked the main characters of this book. I think that the hero being an alpha male who's been undercover too long that he's become jaded and unconsciously tired was a good match for the heroine who was a good woman who wanted better things. I found that I enjoyed Ms. Baxter's writing style. It's not anything unique or something I've never seen before. However, she writes solid characters, an engaging plot, and a believable romance that I really enjoyed. I may actually go back to the previous books in the series, just so I can say I've read all books so far and also because I find that she is an author I wouldn't mind binge reading on weekends.
June 9, 2016
This review was originally posted at The Book Nympho
Damien Evans has been working undercover so long that he's lost a part of himself until he meets Tabitha Martin. Together Damien and Tabitha burn up the pages of One Touch More . They are different sides of the law, Damien, because he's the bad boy of the US Marshall Services and Tabitha because she's forced to help her ex-boyfriend who's a dealer in order to save her younger brother.
One Touch More is another hot romance by Mandy Baxter. If you enjoy seeing a strong heroine bring the alpha guy to his knees and feel emotions he has buried then you will want to give One Touch More a try to since it can be read as a stand alone you won't be lost jumping into the series with this one.
Damien Evans has been working undercover so long that he's lost a part of himself until he meets Tabitha Martin. Together Damien and Tabitha burn up the pages of One Touch More . They are different sides of the law, Damien, because he's the bad boy of the US Marshall Services and Tabitha because she's forced to help her ex-boyfriend who's a dealer in order to save her younger brother.
One Touch More is another hot romance by Mandy Baxter. If you enjoy seeing a strong heroine bring the alpha guy to his knees and feel emotions he has buried then you will want to give One Touch More a try to since it can be read as a stand alone you won't be lost jumping into the series with this one.
October 16, 2015
When Damien Evans walks into her hotel Tabitha Martin knows without a doubt he's trouble. She's always had a problem staying away from bad boys, but she knows she really needs to this time. She has too much going on. Too bad her libido and her brain weren't on the same page! Parker "Damien" Evans has been working undercover for way too long but being this close to taking down the drug ring they've been going after has him going in again. One look at Tabitha Martin and he knows he's in trouble. He wants her like no other woman but she's involved in this case somehow and he needs to find out how.
This was an amazing read. Lots of suspense balanced with hot sizzling romance made this a story that flowed quickly from one page to the next. It's very well written with wonderful strong characters. I would highly recommend this one!
This was an amazing read. Lots of suspense balanced with hot sizzling romance made this a story that flowed quickly from one page to the next. It's very well written with wonderful strong characters. I would highly recommend this one!
May 23, 2018
I was left feeling disappointed after reading this book. I expected much more but it seemed to follow the same pattern as Landon and Emma’s story, more sex than romance. I especially didn’t like that they just jumped into it so fast when they’d barely known each other, let alone had talked only twice for all of a couple minutes before he was getting her off. I didn’t feel a connection between them. I didn’t understand what made them different and special from any other man or woman to each other. They just didn’t make me feel like this was their soulmate, it all seemed very casual and not really boring but insignificant. I didn’t see why they could never love anyone else.
To top it off, I found it hard to like anyone except Damien and Tabitha’s friend, Dave. Lila wasn’t really a good friend to Tabitha and only seemed to want her as a “wingman” at her convenience and appeared to be shallow. Her brother Seth, was a screwup even though she tried to reassure him he just made a few mistakes. Mistakes are when you trust the wrong person because you didn’t know any better. Seth knew better than to get mixed up with a bad guy, his parents were an example of what not to do, his sister was a role model and taught him right from wrong, but he still got himself involved with the wrong man anyway. His sister gives him so many chances and he kept screwing up and dragging her in his messes, then gets an attitude when she questions or lectures him. Tabitha herself is so stupid for not going to the police in the first place. All she had to do was be completely honest and they would have helped her and her brother. She’s an idiot for putting her own life, current job, and potential career in jeopardy just because she doesn’t want her brother to go to jail. Granted, the allegations Joey was threatening over their heads weren’t true, but Seth was the one who got himself involved in the first place and that’s his own fault. Sometimes the best way to help someone is to let them completely hit rock bottom so they can help themselves get back on their own two feet and change their ways when no one is there to bail them out.
Damien was interesting and I felt like he was the only person that stayed true to himself, as in behaved the way that the author intended for me to see him. He was bossy, mysterious, and intimidating. That didn’t change after getting closer with Tabitha, he just became a better version of himself, I liked that. He also understood her right to be angry at him for his initial deception. He didn’t try to tell her she was being difficult or try to pressure her to forgive him. He knew she needed space and gave her that. Still, when this sort of thing happens in a story, sometimes I just wish we’d get to see a heroine who was understanding and didn’t go off on a man undercover for doing his job. I get why they would but at the same time, I think that if a man is trying to explain himself to you and telling you he’s sorry for lying, it’s probably safe to say that he does love and care for you and that he wasn’t just using you.
I enjoyed the last part of the book the most when the truth came out and everything started happening and getting set up. They finally showed some emotion for the other that didn’t involve sex which added to the story but by then, I felt like it was already too late for me to change my mind about it. If I find myself skipping and skimming over sex scenes, I know that I don’t care for the characters, there wasn’t enough or any establishing of a bond between them, that the author didn’t convince me that they’re meant to be and that I won’t even remember them a month from now.
I won��t read this again and now I’m wondering what happened to the style of writing that happened in the first book in the series and how did we get from that amazing, modern day romance to the all sex, barely there romance sequels that just didn’t deliver. Disappointed, but will finish out the series in hopes that one of the last two will be similar to the first book.
To top it off, I found it hard to like anyone except Damien and Tabitha’s friend, Dave. Lila wasn’t really a good friend to Tabitha and only seemed to want her as a “wingman” at her convenience and appeared to be shallow. Her brother Seth, was a screwup even though she tried to reassure him he just made a few mistakes. Mistakes are when you trust the wrong person because you didn’t know any better. Seth knew better than to get mixed up with a bad guy, his parents were an example of what not to do, his sister was a role model and taught him right from wrong, but he still got himself involved with the wrong man anyway. His sister gives him so many chances and he kept screwing up and dragging her in his messes, then gets an attitude when she questions or lectures him. Tabitha herself is so stupid for not going to the police in the first place. All she had to do was be completely honest and they would have helped her and her brother. She’s an idiot for putting her own life, current job, and potential career in jeopardy just because she doesn’t want her brother to go to jail. Granted, the allegations Joey was threatening over their heads weren’t true, but Seth was the one who got himself involved in the first place and that’s his own fault. Sometimes the best way to help someone is to let them completely hit rock bottom so they can help themselves get back on their own two feet and change their ways when no one is there to bail them out.
Damien was interesting and I felt like he was the only person that stayed true to himself, as in behaved the way that the author intended for me to see him. He was bossy, mysterious, and intimidating. That didn’t change after getting closer with Tabitha, he just became a better version of himself, I liked that. He also understood her right to be angry at him for his initial deception. He didn’t try to tell her she was being difficult or try to pressure her to forgive him. He knew she needed space and gave her that. Still, when this sort of thing happens in a story, sometimes I just wish we’d get to see a heroine who was understanding and didn’t go off on a man undercover for doing his job. I get why they would but at the same time, I think that if a man is trying to explain himself to you and telling you he’s sorry for lying, it’s probably safe to say that he does love and care for you and that he wasn’t just using you.
I enjoyed the last part of the book the most when the truth came out and everything started happening and getting set up. They finally showed some emotion for the other that didn’t involve sex which added to the story but by then, I felt like it was already too late for me to change my mind about it. If I find myself skipping and skimming over sex scenes, I know that I don’t care for the characters, there wasn’t enough or any establishing of a bond between them, that the author didn’t convince me that they’re meant to be and that I won’t even remember them a month from now.
I won��t read this again and now I’m wondering what happened to the style of writing that happened in the first book in the series and how did we get from that amazing, modern day romance to the all sex, barely there romance sequels that just didn’t deliver. Disappointed, but will finish out the series in hopes that one of the last two will be similar to the first book.
November 5, 2018
Tabitha is a hard working young lady that just doesn't seem to be able to catch a break. She is a loyal sister to a fault, and finds herself in a bad situation with her ex-boy, a drug dealer. Tabitha just doesn't use her brain, and is in way over her head. She swears she will stay clear of that Bad Boy type, until another sexy "Bad Boy" walks into the hotel she works at. Tabitha quickly finds herself once again attracted to a guy on the wrong side of the law. Though, she really isn't, as Parker is undercover on an assignment and really isn't a drug dealer. As with all books with this type of plot, the main couples relationship blows up once the truth is out. The woman gets so made at the guy for not telling the truth, even though the guy really couldn't due to his job, and the agent should have known better than to start a fling while working undercover.
November 21, 2016
Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
Baxter wrote one heck of a book here. I was so invested in Tabitha and Damien and what was going to happen to them. There was intrigue and excitement and danger and my goodness, was there heat. I loved that Damien was going through a lot, but Tabitha was able to help him deal with that. Likewise, Tabitha knew that Damien was no good for her, but she fell for him any way.
There was just something about this book that I really enjoyed. Well done Baxter.
Baxter wrote one heck of a book here. I was so invested in Tabitha and Damien and what was going to happen to them. There was intrigue and excitement and danger and my goodness, was there heat. I loved that Damien was going through a lot, but Tabitha was able to help him deal with that. Likewise, Tabitha knew that Damien was no good for her, but she fell for him any way.
There was just something about this book that I really enjoyed. Well done Baxter.
February 14, 2023
Tabitha is a woman who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, who is now trying to make something of her life and help people. Damien is a "bad boy" with a heart of gold. Neither is perfect, but they're perfect for each other.
This modern romance is HOT - be warned that it contains some curse words and detailed uber-steamy scenes.
This modern romance is HOT - be warned that it contains some curse words and detailed uber-steamy scenes.
August 9, 2017
Book 3 of the series. We mer Damien in book 2 and he is on a mission and won't let anyone stop him. That is until he met Tabitha. Wonderful story with suspense, action , slimy characters, romance and some humor.
June 17, 2017
I like this series where the deputies fall in love and rescue the girls they end up investigating and finding our they are innocent
romantic-suspense
November 13, 202120
May 30, 2022
Good characters and good plotting not sure why I didn’t rate it higher
November 15, 2016
3.5 stars
October 14, 2015
Who can resist a big sexy man with more ink than manners? Not me!!
U.S. Marshal Parker "Damien" Evans is a ghost. Undercover for years, he sometimes forgets that he's not REEEEAAALLLLY a scumbag criminal, but that line gets awfully blurry some days. After years in the Marines and the U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group, Damien is starting to think that finding a nice girl and living a quiet, stress-free, drug-free, criminal-free life sounds pretty damn good. Too bad the first woman he meets that has that potential is up to her baby blues in dirty drug deals.
Tabitha Martin has bigger ambitions than the assistant manager's position at the local hotel, she's just got to make it through nursing school first. Unfortunately, her penchant for bad boys has her under the thumb of Joey, an ex boyfriend and small-time drug dealer who's blackmailing her into letting him use her hotel for his business dealings. Even worse is the fact that the hottest man she's ever met seems to be working alongside him. Bummer. Every time Tabs is within 10 feet of Damien, her body absolutely explodes with lust, a feeling reciprocated by the inked up dealer.
Now that Damien has met "the one," he's having a real hard time not breaking cover and sharing the details of his assignment with her, especially since she's not the hardened criminal he first thought. Nothing else seems to matter when the two of them are together, their obsession with one another skirting the fine line of addiction. But when Damien finds out that Tabitha and her brother not only know the big fish he's after, but that he's practically family, he knows the end of this assignment is near. And he'll be dammed if he gives up his woman for any reason now that he's found her.
As one of my favorite series, I was so excited for ONE TOUCH MORE, the 3rd offering in the deliciously fun U.S. Marshals Series by the talented Ms. Baxter. This book didn't disappoint, living up to the high bar set in previous books and, in my opinion, jumping straight over it and rocketing to another level altogether. It amazes me that Ms. Baxter is still a relatively new author since her stories are so well written, with a huge dose of heat and suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat begging for more of one or the other.
In ONE TOUCH MORE, Damien came off as a badass undercover agent who has had just about enough of straddling the line between criminal and cop. The blurred lines are getting to him, almost to the point of dual personalities. Tabitha sees through his bad guy demeanor directly to the man with a good heart, and instead of trying to change him or even talk him out of running drugs and getting shot, she accepts him for every aspect of him. He's the perfect guy for her…bad boy on the outside but a loving and protective (and sexy as hell) man on the inside. The chemistry between them actually made my kindle start smoking, and it got to the point where I had to make sure nobody was around to literally watch me squirm in my seat.
And while most of this story was foreplay, I'm pretty sure that was just as hot (if not hotter) than when they finally got down to buttering the biscuit. The suspense was terrific too, between Tabitha's troubled little brother and her loose cannon ex, there were plenty of dudes who notched up the drama to another level. Even the climax, which has a tendency to fall flat in so many romantic suspense stories, was well done and exciting, making ONE TOUCH MORE one of the best of the year for me.
Bottom Line: This book is a triple threat: erotic, suspenseful and well written. If you're not already a fan of this series, I recommend putting it in your TBR pile ASAP! - See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
- See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
U.S. Marshal Parker "Damien" Evans is a ghost. Undercover for years, he sometimes forgets that he's not REEEEAAALLLLY a scumbag criminal, but that line gets awfully blurry some days. After years in the Marines and the U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group, Damien is starting to think that finding a nice girl and living a quiet, stress-free, drug-free, criminal-free life sounds pretty damn good. Too bad the first woman he meets that has that potential is up to her baby blues in dirty drug deals.
Tabitha Martin has bigger ambitions than the assistant manager's position at the local hotel, she's just got to make it through nursing school first. Unfortunately, her penchant for bad boys has her under the thumb of Joey, an ex boyfriend and small-time drug dealer who's blackmailing her into letting him use her hotel for his business dealings. Even worse is the fact that the hottest man she's ever met seems to be working alongside him. Bummer. Every time Tabs is within 10 feet of Damien, her body absolutely explodes with lust, a feeling reciprocated by the inked up dealer.
Now that Damien has met "the one," he's having a real hard time not breaking cover and sharing the details of his assignment with her, especially since she's not the hardened criminal he first thought. Nothing else seems to matter when the two of them are together, their obsession with one another skirting the fine line of addiction. But when Damien finds out that Tabitha and her brother not only know the big fish he's after, but that he's practically family, he knows the end of this assignment is near. And he'll be dammed if he gives up his woman for any reason now that he's found her.
As one of my favorite series, I was so excited for ONE TOUCH MORE, the 3rd offering in the deliciously fun U.S. Marshals Series by the talented Ms. Baxter. This book didn't disappoint, living up to the high bar set in previous books and, in my opinion, jumping straight over it and rocketing to another level altogether. It amazes me that Ms. Baxter is still a relatively new author since her stories are so well written, with a huge dose of heat and suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat begging for more of one or the other.
In ONE TOUCH MORE, Damien came off as a badass undercover agent who has had just about enough of straddling the line between criminal and cop. The blurred lines are getting to him, almost to the point of dual personalities. Tabitha sees through his bad guy demeanor directly to the man with a good heart, and instead of trying to change him or even talk him out of running drugs and getting shot, she accepts him for every aspect of him. He's the perfect guy for her…bad boy on the outside but a loving and protective (and sexy as hell) man on the inside. The chemistry between them actually made my kindle start smoking, and it got to the point where I had to make sure nobody was around to literally watch me squirm in my seat.
And while most of this story was foreplay, I'm pretty sure that was just as hot (if not hotter) than when they finally got down to buttering the biscuit. The suspense was terrific too, between Tabitha's troubled little brother and her loose cannon ex, there were plenty of dudes who notched up the drama to another level. Even the climax, which has a tendency to fall flat in so many romantic suspense stories, was well done and exciting, making ONE TOUCH MORE one of the best of the year for me.
Bottom Line: This book is a triple threat: erotic, suspenseful and well written. If you're not already a fan of this series, I recommend putting it in your TBR pile ASAP! - See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
- See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
January 19, 2016
Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews
* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.
U.S. Marshal Parker Evans has been undercover so long that he not only looks the part with his intimidating build and tattoos, he also lives dangerously and plays by his own rules. When he gets a chance to take down a major drug ring by using hotel manager Tabitha Martin, Parker hesitates to take her into custody because of his growing attraction to her. Meanwhile all Tabitha wants is to escape her drug dealing ex and avoid men who have “Trouble” written all over them. When she meets “Damien Evans” she knows he’s the very definition of trouble but she can’t help wanting to be with him.
One Touch More introduced me to author Mandy Baxter and it was an overall enjoyable experience that I wouldn’t mind repeating with past and future books.. I wouldn’t call it a full on romantic suspense though. More like a contemporary romance with elements of suspense. It was fun, it was silly, it was sweet and both Parker and Tabitha went from being people who weren’t happy with themselves, to people who realized they had to make their happiness every time the opportunity struck.
As the third book in a series, One Touch More can easily be read as a standalone but to be honest, I’m beyond curious to read about the previous characters. Baxter’s writing style was evenly paced, I didn’t feel like I was being jerked around in a stop and go story and I enjoyed the well placed bits of humor between characters. Parker/Damien was the most interesting character because he has been undercover for so long that when the story begins it seems like even he can’t separate who he is and who he pretends to be. That’s some major internal conflict there! He was jaded, he was a bit bitter and he was lost. He lost sight of why he did his job and why he needed to stay grounded until he met Tabitha.
For me it seemed Tabitha’s presence in the book was to bring out the softer emotions in Parker/Damien and to balance out the danger and risks in bringing down criminals. And Tabitha did it without being an over the top Susie Sunshine type of character. Sure she brought some light into a dark and isolating life but she didn’t come without problems. She just hadn’t given up on life. I do think Tabitha could have been a bit tougher when it came to her brother, her ex and even Parker/Damien.
One Touch More brought the US Marshals into the spotlight which is one branch of law enforcement that I haven’t encountered before in romance. I wonder why? Am I not looking in the right direction or is that branch not recognized enough in romance? Either way I think it makes for some interesting set ups for romance don’t you? Baxter should just keep on using the US Marshals for every book she writes since she did such a good job making Parker/Damien a stand out character.
Final Verdict: One Touch More was good enough to warrant a space on my e-reader and the previous books to go on my Wish List. It will be interesting to see where the series goes from here and I’m sure I’ll want to read future books.
* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.
U.S. Marshal Parker Evans has been undercover so long that he not only looks the part with his intimidating build and tattoos, he also lives dangerously and plays by his own rules. When he gets a chance to take down a major drug ring by using hotel manager Tabitha Martin, Parker hesitates to take her into custody because of his growing attraction to her. Meanwhile all Tabitha wants is to escape her drug dealing ex and avoid men who have “Trouble” written all over them. When she meets “Damien Evans” she knows he’s the very definition of trouble but she can’t help wanting to be with him.
One Touch More introduced me to author Mandy Baxter and it was an overall enjoyable experience that I wouldn’t mind repeating with past and future books.. I wouldn’t call it a full on romantic suspense though. More like a contemporary romance with elements of suspense. It was fun, it was silly, it was sweet and both Parker and Tabitha went from being people who weren’t happy with themselves, to people who realized they had to make their happiness every time the opportunity struck.
As the third book in a series, One Touch More can easily be read as a standalone but to be honest, I’m beyond curious to read about the previous characters. Baxter’s writing style was evenly paced, I didn’t feel like I was being jerked around in a stop and go story and I enjoyed the well placed bits of humor between characters. Parker/Damien was the most interesting character because he has been undercover for so long that when the story begins it seems like even he can’t separate who he is and who he pretends to be. That’s some major internal conflict there! He was jaded, he was a bit bitter and he was lost. He lost sight of why he did his job and why he needed to stay grounded until he met Tabitha.
For me it seemed Tabitha’s presence in the book was to bring out the softer emotions in Parker/Damien and to balance out the danger and risks in bringing down criminals. And Tabitha did it without being an over the top Susie Sunshine type of character. Sure she brought some light into a dark and isolating life but she didn’t come without problems. She just hadn’t given up on life. I do think Tabitha could have been a bit tougher when it came to her brother, her ex and even Parker/Damien.
One Touch More brought the US Marshals into the spotlight which is one branch of law enforcement that I haven’t encountered before in romance. I wonder why? Am I not looking in the right direction or is that branch not recognized enough in romance? Either way I think it makes for some interesting set ups for romance don’t you? Baxter should just keep on using the US Marshals for every book she writes since she did such a good job making Parker/Damien a stand out character.
Final Verdict: One Touch More was good enough to warrant a space on my e-reader and the previous books to go on my Wish List. It will be interesting to see where the series goes from here and I’m sure I’ll want to read future books.
December 27, 2015
Review can be read at It's About The Book
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed getting into this romantic suspense novel from Mandy Baxter. I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but that didn’t matter. It was twisty and suspenseful, and there was a shadow on the character’s relationship that made for really great tension between them AND the reader. Sometimes writers create a character that’s doing something wrong–oftentimes against their will, which makes you as the reader conflicted as well. You like them but you know what they’re doing is wrong or unethical and it makes you feel all squicky inside. The entire time you’re reading it you’re waiting and hoping for them to do the right thing. This book had that and much more!
Tabitha is in nursing school and working at the front desk of the hotel to make money to pay for it. Her life has been hard, especially since her brother Seth has put her through the wringer. Drugs, breaking the law–what hasn’t he done?! But it seems like he’s finally taking his life seriously and Tabitha’s glad. She doesn’t want to make him feel bad, so she hasn’t let him know that his ex-friend and her ex-boyfriend Joey is blackmailing her into letting him use the hotel to sell his drugs. It’s highly unethical AND illegal and if caught, she’d go down as an accessory. But what can she do? He’s threatened to turn in her brother if he gets caught.
But who’s this handsome tatooed stranger? At first she’s really turned on by the hot, alpha male who checks into the hotel. But she should have known better because soon he’s hooking up with her ex to sling drugs. Why is she always drawn to the bad boys? He seems so different, so much better than that. Why couldn’t he be one of the good guys?
Damien’s treading the line working undercover in the drug trade. He doesn’t know how much longer he can do it and stay sane. This one last complication in their quest to find the elusive drug dealer Gerald Lightfoot might just do him in. He’s really drawn to the hotel employee he meets the first night, but dammit! She’s involved with the drug dealer.
Or is she?
Maybe they’re all playing a part to bring down the drug dealing going on in the hotel–just not everybody’s willing.
This is a hot, sexy romantic suspense that’s got a lot of action and some conflicting emotional territory you’re going to have to cross before you get to the end. Great read! Thanks.
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed getting into this romantic suspense novel from Mandy Baxter. I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but that didn’t matter. It was twisty and suspenseful, and there was a shadow on the character’s relationship that made for really great tension between them AND the reader. Sometimes writers create a character that’s doing something wrong–oftentimes against their will, which makes you as the reader conflicted as well. You like them but you know what they’re doing is wrong or unethical and it makes you feel all squicky inside. The entire time you’re reading it you’re waiting and hoping for them to do the right thing. This book had that and much more!
Tabitha is in nursing school and working at the front desk of the hotel to make money to pay for it. Her life has been hard, especially since her brother Seth has put her through the wringer. Drugs, breaking the law–what hasn’t he done?! But it seems like he’s finally taking his life seriously and Tabitha’s glad. She doesn’t want to make him feel bad, so she hasn’t let him know that his ex-friend and her ex-boyfriend Joey is blackmailing her into letting him use the hotel to sell his drugs. It’s highly unethical AND illegal and if caught, she’d go down as an accessory. But what can she do? He’s threatened to turn in her brother if he gets caught.
But who’s this handsome tatooed stranger? At first she’s really turned on by the hot, alpha male who checks into the hotel. But she should have known better because soon he’s hooking up with her ex to sling drugs. Why is she always drawn to the bad boys? He seems so different, so much better than that. Why couldn’t he be one of the good guys?
Damien’s treading the line working undercover in the drug trade. He doesn’t know how much longer he can do it and stay sane. This one last complication in their quest to find the elusive drug dealer Gerald Lightfoot might just do him in. He’s really drawn to the hotel employee he meets the first night, but dammit! She’s involved with the drug dealer.
Or is she?
Maybe they’re all playing a part to bring down the drug dealing going on in the hotel–just not everybody’s willing.
This is a hot, sexy romantic suspense that’s got a lot of action and some conflicting emotional territory you’re going to have to cross before you get to the end. Great read! Thanks.
October 29, 2015
My Review:
This book had a different feel than the other books in this series. Damian is deep undercover and has spent years doing that. At this point, he connects with his Damian (criminal) persona much more than his Parker (Marshal) persona. He's honestly been doing it too long and is *kind of* aware of that. But it's not until he meets Tabitha that it really becomes apparent. He needs to get out of this business.
The problem is...Tabitha is up to her neck in criminal activities and could be on her way to jail soon. BUT she's stuck because her ex is blackmailing her with her brother's life. If she doesn't cooperate and provide Joey with a place to deal (the hotel where she's an assistant mgr) then her brother will be set up to go back to jail for his dealing history.
Because of the criminal setting of this book, it had a much grittier feel than normal. Both Tabitha and Damian are up to their necks with drug-dealing thugs and illegal activities. It's a balancing act and neither realizes how the other one plays into it all, so neither can be completely upfront about anything besides their criminal activity...which they both know about.
It was an interesting book, definitely written to Mandy Baxter's former high standard that she's set for this series. Personally, I rated it just slightly lower than the other books simply because I didn't care for the deep criminal aspect of it. Even though this is a Marshal's book, I like a little light with my dark and there wasn't much light in this book. Even though there were incredibly sexy times between Tabitha and Damian (and I mean really sexy...like steam the page up sexy), all those events took place in the middle of high stress where they more often than not got interrupted. But like I said, that was simply a personal preference for what I like to read.
It was a well-written, smart book. I liked the setup with Tabitha as a hotel manager. It was interesting getting a glimpse into her world. I also thought that Mandy Baxter did an incredible job showing the stress of undercover officers are under on a daily basis and how hard that is to do long-term.
Overall, it was another great installment to the Marshal's series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book had a different feel than the other books in this series. Damian is deep undercover and has spent years doing that. At this point, he connects with his Damian (criminal) persona much more than his Parker (Marshal) persona. He's honestly been doing it too long and is *kind of* aware of that. But it's not until he meets Tabitha that it really becomes apparent. He needs to get out of this business.
The problem is...Tabitha is up to her neck in criminal activities and could be on her way to jail soon. BUT she's stuck because her ex is blackmailing her with her brother's life. If she doesn't cooperate and provide Joey with a place to deal (the hotel where she's an assistant mgr) then her brother will be set up to go back to jail for his dealing history.
Because of the criminal setting of this book, it had a much grittier feel than normal. Both Tabitha and Damian are up to their necks with drug-dealing thugs and illegal activities. It's a balancing act and neither realizes how the other one plays into it all, so neither can be completely upfront about anything besides their criminal activity...which they both know about.
It was an interesting book, definitely written to Mandy Baxter's former high standard that she's set for this series. Personally, I rated it just slightly lower than the other books simply because I didn't care for the deep criminal aspect of it. Even though this is a Marshal's book, I like a little light with my dark and there wasn't much light in this book. Even though there were incredibly sexy times between Tabitha and Damian (and I mean really sexy...like steam the page up sexy), all those events took place in the middle of high stress where they more often than not got interrupted. But like I said, that was simply a personal preference for what I like to read.
It was a well-written, smart book. I liked the setup with Tabitha as a hotel manager. It was interesting getting a glimpse into her world. I also thought that Mandy Baxter did an incredible job showing the stress of undercover officers are under on a daily basis and how hard that is to do long-term.
Overall, it was another great installment to the Marshal's series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2015
I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review and here it is: 5 stars.
This is the first novel I've read by this author and I'm happy to say I simply cannot wait to read more of her work. This one kept me wide awake until dawn, which is exactly what a good romantic suspense novel should do.
Tabitha Martin, works as a hotel night manager while trying to get her license as an RN. She's had a rough life, she's the daughter of two addicts, and is trying to keep her troubled younger brother, Seth, out of jail, while being victimized by her drug-dealing ex-boyfriend, Joey. Parker Evans works as an undercover operative for the U.S. Marshals Service, and, as such, his undercover life has become more real to him than his own, and he's dealing with his own PTSD issues while trying to infiltrate a drug ring that's operating out of the hotel Tabitha manages in order to catch its notorious fugitive leader, Gerald Lightfoot. Joey has been blackmailing Tabitha by threatening to expose her brother's criminal involvement with him as leverage in order to force her to use her position at the hotel to arrange accommodations for him so that Joey can keep his drug business on the down low, discretely conducting his drug deals out of a hotel suite.
Tabitha meets Parker, aka Damian Evans, his undercover alias, when he first checks into her hotel, trying to get the lay of the land in preparation for a sting operation to capture Lightfoot. She's always been attracted to heavily tatted bad boys, even though her relationship with Joey has made her wary of getting involved with another one, but when she and Damian meet, the attraction is mutually instantaneous, and thus begins one of the most well-written, intriguing, erotic and suspenseful novels it's been my pleasure to read. I cannot wait to backtrack and read the previous novels in this series while eagerly awaiting the publication of the fourth and final novel.
This is the first novel I've read by this author and I'm happy to say I simply cannot wait to read more of her work. This one kept me wide awake until dawn, which is exactly what a good romantic suspense novel should do.
Tabitha Martin, works as a hotel night manager while trying to get her license as an RN. She's had a rough life, she's the daughter of two addicts, and is trying to keep her troubled younger brother, Seth, out of jail, while being victimized by her drug-dealing ex-boyfriend, Joey. Parker Evans works as an undercover operative for the U.S. Marshals Service, and, as such, his undercover life has become more real to him than his own, and he's dealing with his own PTSD issues while trying to infiltrate a drug ring that's operating out of the hotel Tabitha manages in order to catch its notorious fugitive leader, Gerald Lightfoot. Joey has been blackmailing Tabitha by threatening to expose her brother's criminal involvement with him as leverage in order to force her to use her position at the hotel to arrange accommodations for him so that Joey can keep his drug business on the down low, discretely conducting his drug deals out of a hotel suite.
Tabitha meets Parker, aka Damian Evans, his undercover alias, when he first checks into her hotel, trying to get the lay of the land in preparation for a sting operation to capture Lightfoot. She's always been attracted to heavily tatted bad boys, even though her relationship with Joey has made her wary of getting involved with another one, but when she and Damian meet, the attraction is mutually instantaneous, and thus begins one of the most well-written, intriguing, erotic and suspenseful novels it's been my pleasure to read. I cannot wait to backtrack and read the previous novels in this series while eagerly awaiting the publication of the fourth and final novel.
November 18, 2015
**Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
"One Touch More" is written by Mandy Baxter, and it is the 3rd book in her U.S. Marshals series. It can be read as a stand-alone book. It features Parker Evans and Tabitha Martin.
I have been looking forward to reading Parker's story since we were introduced to him in "One Kiss More," and it definitely didn't disappoint. Parker is a U.S. Marshal, and he's used to living undercover. He stays committed to his role. This time around, he's "Damian Evans". He has the task of trying to take down a drug ring and capture drug dealer, Gerald Lightfoot. But Parker doesn't expect Tabitha.
Tabitha is a hotel manager, who has aspirations and dreams. She's getting herself through nursing school and is close to graduating. At the same time, she's always looking out for her brother, Seth, who unfortunately, gets himself in trouble and involved with the wrong crowd. When Tabitha's ex-boyfriend, Joey, finds out Seth's involvement with Lightfoot, he uses that to his advantage. He blackmails Tabitha into letting him rent out rooms at her hotel to sell drugs. Tabitha hates this, but she has no choice if she wants to protect her brother.
This is where Parker gets involved. He's staying at Tabitha's hotel and gains Joey's trust. He wants to protect Tabitha, but he needs Joey to only see him as Damian. What happens when Tabitha finds out who Parker really is? How will this affect their relationship? Can he protect Tabitha and Seth? What will happen to Lightfoot?
"One Touch More" was such a great book to read! Much like the rest of the series, it was a thriller, had suspense, and was really hot! Mandy did a wonderful job! Looking forward to reading the next installment in this series!
"One Touch More" is written by Mandy Baxter, and it is the 3rd book in her U.S. Marshals series. It can be read as a stand-alone book. It features Parker Evans and Tabitha Martin.
I have been looking forward to reading Parker's story since we were introduced to him in "One Kiss More," and it definitely didn't disappoint. Parker is a U.S. Marshal, and he's used to living undercover. He stays committed to his role. This time around, he's "Damian Evans". He has the task of trying to take down a drug ring and capture drug dealer, Gerald Lightfoot. But Parker doesn't expect Tabitha.
Tabitha is a hotel manager, who has aspirations and dreams. She's getting herself through nursing school and is close to graduating. At the same time, she's always looking out for her brother, Seth, who unfortunately, gets himself in trouble and involved with the wrong crowd. When Tabitha's ex-boyfriend, Joey, finds out Seth's involvement with Lightfoot, he uses that to his advantage. He blackmails Tabitha into letting him rent out rooms at her hotel to sell drugs. Tabitha hates this, but she has no choice if she wants to protect her brother.
This is where Parker gets involved. He's staying at Tabitha's hotel and gains Joey's trust. He wants to protect Tabitha, but he needs Joey to only see him as Damian. What happens when Tabitha finds out who Parker really is? How will this affect their relationship? Can he protect Tabitha and Seth? What will happen to Lightfoot?
"One Touch More" was such a great book to read! Much like the rest of the series, it was a thriller, had suspense, and was really hot! Mandy did a wonderful job! Looking forward to reading the next installment in this series!
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