Review: The first was good - this is better
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 27, 2013
Why do Alpha males make such swoon-worthy fictional heroes? There's something about an unapologetically dominant man that's just plain sexy - a fact that Rebecca Zanetti uses to her advantage in her Maverick Montana series from Entangled's Brazen line.Zanetti's latest book, Underthe Covers, follows Quinn Lodge, town sheriff and oldest sibling in the Lodge/Freeze family. His months-long flirtation with out-of-towner turned local gallery owner, Juliet Montgomery, comes to a head when a proposition is made by Quinn to forgo rent payment in exchange for Juliet agreeing to pose as his pretend girlfriend in the weeks leading up to the sheriff's election.The possibility of a romance between Quinn and Juliet was introduced in Against the Wall, although their attraction has since surpassed the point of being ignored, as evidenced by the undeniable sexual tension that ignites whenever they are near each other. This romance isn't about a leisurely build-up, but rather a spontaneous combustion of overwhelming desire, leading Quinn and Juliet to set aside their issues and reservations in lieu of a no holds barred connection.While I enjoyed Zanetti's first installment of the series, Against the Wall, I believe she outdid herself with Under the Covers. From the first page, the story drew me in and captured my full attention, not releasing me from its magnetic hold until long after the book's end. I loved Juliet's fiery, yet cultured persona, which was an entertaining contrast with Quinn's primal and dominant nature. I'd like to take a second and simply bask in the sheer perfection that was the love scenes.I'm not typically a fan of mystery and suspense, but the subplot with Juliet's secretive past added an element of danger to the story that had me racing through the pages to learn the final outcome. While I'm not opposed to the introduction of paranormal elements in a reality-based story, I appreciated Zanetti's steering largely away from mentions of the meddlesome dream-walking spirit named Bob, whose presence in the first book was never fully explained.I finished Under the Covers in what felt like no time at all, wishing for another hundred or so pages to continue the delightfully steamy romance between Quinn and Juliet. Thanks goodness for large families, leaving open the prospect of additional potential matchups to prolong the Maverick Montana series. After reading this book, I'm even more excited and impatient to discover which couple Zanetti will write about next.