Bare It AllAuthor: Lori Foster
Series: Love Undercover #2
Published by: Harlequin HQN
Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it...until the sexy cop next door comes knocking.
Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice's secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire....
I read and enjoyed Run the Risk, the first book in the Love Under Cover Series, not too long ago, and looked forward to rest of the series. I’ll be honest, I’m mostly looking forward to the third and fourth book, but am determined to read the series in order. You don’t necessarily need to, but I’m finding it makes reading them in order more enjoyable since all of the characters are very much present from the beginning. The relationships are already forming a foundation before going onto their own respective book, and that’s something I don’t like to miss. But at the same time, Foster does do a pretty good job at recapping.
Bare It All focuses on Reese and Alice. It picks up the day after the previous book left off, and Reese is determined to figure Alice out. She’s such an enigma, and it drives Reese crazy. I wasn’t as hot about these two as I was Logan and Pepper. I really liked Alice’s intuition and her ability to read people so well, but other than that I had a hard time connecting with her. She came across too timid and placid for my taste. There was one time she went into badass mode and I thought I was finally going to get more fire from her, but it fizzled out as fast as it came.
Then with Reese, I enjoyed him in the first book, especially when he was being a smartass and giving Logan a hard time, but I wasn’t feeling him as much in this one. He got a little too jealous alpha male for my taste, and did certain things that rubbed me the wrong way. I know there are people who want that kind of character, so this is purely my personal preference. I will say, though, there were some smokin’ hot scenes.
Although I had a hard time investing in Reese and Alice, I did like their relationships with other characters. I enjoyed Alice and Rowdy together, and even her and Pepper. But I think that had more to do with loving Pepper and Rowdy so much. So I’m glad they had such a presence in this book, because I probably would’ve liked it way less than I did. It needed more Dash, though. Everything is always better with more Dash.
The plot involving human trafficking was interesting, but something I’ve learned after reading the first two books in this series is that I shouldn’t expect too much when it comes to the crime/suspense aspect of it. Don’t get me wrong, there is quite a bit of it, but it’s not exactly my favorite part of the books. The bad guys tend to be more laughable than intimidating or scary, so it’s just hard for me to take it seriously. I know the romance is meant to be the priority, but since I wasn’t exactly into the one in this book, it made the whole thing fall a little flat.
I enjoyed Run the Risk a lot, but Bare It All didn’t do as much for me. I’m just chalking it up as a necessary step to reading the next two books. Rowdy and Dash, here I come!
Love Undercover Series
Run the Risk (book #1): Review | Goodreads | Amazon
Definitely sounds like the type of book you have to really love the romance to enjoy. I hope the next two are as awesome as you expect them to be!!
Pretty much. I’m confident the next two will be great. 🙂
I actually like that the plot has human trafficking because not only is it different, but I think it’s always good to have more notice of it, you know? It sucks that you the main relationship wasn’t up to par, but relationships with secondary characters are always great to read about!
Oh yeah, me too. But the human traffickers felt more corny than fearful, so it kind of makes it feel … hmm … not as threatening, ya know?
Wonderful review, and agreed so far these were my least favorite couple, Rowdy and Dash now that is another story..LOL
I’m looking forward to some Rowdy, but mostly some Dash. 🙂
I am sorry this one wasn’t quite as good as the last one you read but I am happy you still enjoyed it and got other characters you love from it.
Thank, Ali. I’m sure the next two will be better.
Sorry the book didn’t work out for you :/, hope the ones you’ve been wanting to read will be better. I haven’t read these series, but they sound good. I love alpha males, especially men in uniform ;), so I’m gonna give it a try. Great review!
Thanks! Yeah, the 1st one was really good, and I’m confident the next two will be too. So I’m not too upset this one didn’t wow me.
I’m a huge fan of Lori’s books Christy, I’m glad you’re enjoying this series for the most part as well. It’s a shame Reese and Alice weren’t as strong of a couple as Logan and Pepper, but I’ve heard AMAZING things about Rowdy’s book so I can’t wait to see what you think. I still need to read it myself and can’t wait:)
Yeah, I’m definitely looking forward to Rowdy and Dash’s stories. I just hope they don’t annoy me once all the focus is on them. lol.
I’ve heard the same EXACT thing about this book!!! I might just have to read the first one and then skip to Rowdy 😀 I know we have Rowdy on the shelf right now 😉
GREAT review… very invested!!!!
Oh, really? Well I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one. See, I couldn’t skip like that. I’m glad I read it though, because Rowdy and Dash and their future love interests are in the 1st two, and their stories are forming and being set up.
Well crap on toast a middle book already? Ah well that is a curse.. Are you seriously just getting around to book two of Charley Davidson? If I had known that I would have come and kicked your ass a long time ago!
lol – I know, I know. I’m going to try and get through the series within the next couple of months. I’d forgotten just how funny Charley is.
I know how it feels when the bad guys become more laughable then scary, that drives me nuts as well. Makes me wonder how it takes them so long to get them, you know?
Word. I like my bad guys BAD. 😀
I’m glad you are reading this in order. I read books 2&3 and felt I missed something because I didn’t read Run the Risk. It’s a shame you didn’t like Reece as much as the first book, but it seems you still enjoyed it. I know you are going to love Getting Rowdy! *Swoon*
Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
Yeah, that’s why I still like to read a series like this in order. Even though they can be read as a stand-alone, I don’t like not catching references or knowing the back story to certain things. I can’t wait for Rowdy!