Review: My favorite book in the series.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 3, 2014
"Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review."After reading four books in Tessa Bailey's Line of Duty series, I would presume to be accustomed to her Alpha male heroes with a particular propensity for dirty talk, which, when paired with a uniform and an air of authority make for an irresistibly sensual combination. The fact that I was entirely unprepared for the heated sexual innuendo dripping from every word exchanged between protagonists, Matt and Lucy, in Staking His Claim is a testament to the author's ability to take her already impressive writing skills to an even greater level. With Tessa Bailey's books, I've come to anticipate a certain level of heat, but the explosive chemistry between a dominant and controlling Matt and his all-too-willing love interest, Lucy Mason, surpassed any and all of my expectations. Like his fellow officers before him, Matt is a walking talking fantasy come to life and unfortunately happens to be fictional.Staking His Claim takes the best friend's younger sister trope and gives it a little twist when Lucy Mason meets her brother's jaw-droppingly handsome friend, Matt Donovan. The mutual attraction between Matt and Lucy is apparent from the second they meet, prompting Lucy to pretend to be someone else to discourage their relationship from ending before it could get started. As much as I respected Matt's reluctance to introduce Lucy to his particular sexual preferences, I was more eager for him to unleash his desires and put his words into action. Both Matt and Lucy are wound so tightly from suppressing their inner selves and playing it safe, that it's as if a weight is lifted once their inhibitions are released.Although Matt sees her as innocent and pure, Lucy is drawn to the dark and dangerous vibe emitted by Matt, finding him mysterious and intriguing rather than off putting. Matt isn't much of a talker but every word that comes out of his mouth speaks volumes about his character. I must admit that even though lying about her identity wasn't the smartest move, I couldn't fault her desire to get better acquainted with Matt, who has this magnetic energy that draws you in even as his words warn you away. She knew what she wanted and she went for it without apology.After only briefly getting to know his character in previous books in the series, I was grateful for the chance to get inside of his head and delve into his backstory. Reading through Matt's perspective was especially enlightening because he works through a lot of his issues internally, gradually opening up under Lucy's positive influence. It was a surprisingly emotional experience watching him fluctuate between his strong, protective tendencies and his insecure, vulnerable side. While I appreciated that Matt and Lucy were capable of being self-reliant individuals, what makes them work as a couple is their ability to lean on each other when necessary. Like all of the previous couples featured in Tessa Bailey's Line of Duty series, Matt and Lucy perfectly complement each other and I thoroughly enjoyed reading their journey from start to finish.