3.5 Wine Glass #Review for Crazy for You by Rachel Lacey

Title:  Crazy for You
Series:  Risking It All  #2
Author:  Rachel Lacey
Format:  Paperback & eBook, 336pgs
Published:  Mar. 28, 2017 by Forever
ASIN: B01HZFB2I6
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Source: NetGalley
Reviewer:  Kimberly
Rating:  3.5 out of 5 Wine Glasses

SHE'S TAKING A WALK ON HIS WILD SIDE

Emma Rush can't remember a time when she didn't have a thing for Ryan Blake. Haven's resident bad boy is just so freakin' hot-with tattoos, a motorcycle, and enough rough-around-the-edges sexiness to melt all her self-control. Now that Emma's over being a "good girl," she needs a little help being naughty . . . and she knows just where to start.

Before Emma's brother enlisted in the military, he made Ryan promise that he would protect her from everything--including himself. When her brother doesn't come home, Ryan needs to turn his screwed-up life around to honor his pledge. But he knows he's still not the right kind of guy for someone as sweet as Emma. Only he can't stop wanting to be with her. Wanting her. Falling in love with a good girl may be the craziest risk this bad boy can take . . .

Kimberly’s Thoughts:
Emma is tired of being the good girl, she wants to take a walk on the wild side for once. When a dare has her flirting with a childhood friend, she may get more than she bargained for.
Ryan has had a strict hands-off policy with his friend's little sister, especially after his friend died. When she kisses him though, a door he has tried to keep shut is flung wide open.
Emma and Ryan are about to find out that being bad has never felt so good.

Second in the Risking It All series, we find ourselves back in the small town of Haven. This time it is Emma and Ryan's turn for romance. Both characters are extremely likable. Emma is feeling lost in her life and wanting a change. She's always had a crush on her brother's friend Ryan but he only saw her as a kid. While it is brought up more than once, I thought a couple flashbacks to her and her brother could have added an emotional punch. We learn he died in Afghanistan and hear how Emma misses him, but I missed seeing their relationship. The same could be said about flashbacks showing Ryan and Emma's brother as friends. I'm glad it wasn't dwelled on too long about Ryan feeling guilty about dating his friend's sister, it would have felt like drawn out angst.

The small town flavor that showed up in the first continues here with a circle of friends showcased that you know are just waiting in the wings for their own stories. The motorcycle rides Ryan takes Emma on also gave a great sense of scenery and location that helped place me in the story. Ryan's half-brother drama helped to give his character different layers but the brother's character never journeyed too far from young adult angst. In fact, while this was a nice, pretty calm story, excitement and wow factor are missing. In an over flush small town contemporary romance market, none of these character stand out, we've all read them before. While this is definitely comparable to a Jill Shalvis series, I would say the heat factor is ramped up a bit.

Emma is looking to shake things up in her sex life and while they don't do anything considered left of center kinky, they do get it on, frequently. Ryan and Emma's chemistry and steam did a great job of providing some spark to the story. Unfortunately, the lack of excitement or differentness made this read more of the mundane variety for me. However, if you like small town stories, a nice main couple, and want more heat in your contemporaries without crossing over into erotica, you'll want to read this. The next in the series will feature a second chance romance where unresolved issues and a wounded warrior will be the stars.



Suggested Reading Order:

Rock with You (Risking It All, #0.5) 

Run to You (Risking it All, #1) 

Crazy for You (Risking It All, #2) 

Can't Forget You (Risking it All, #3)