Review – When We Met by Susan Mallery

When We MetPublisher: HQN
Publish Date: Out Now
How I got this book: NetGalley

Angel Whittaker earned his scars the hard way, but the scars that can’t be seen are the ones that haunt him the most. Since he moved to Fool’s Gold, California, he’s cobbled together a life for himself as a bodyguard trainer. If he’s not exactly happy, at least his heart is safe.

Working with pro-football superstars taught tough-talking PR woman Taryn Crawford one thing—she can go toe to toe with any man. But then dark, dangerous former Special Ops Angel targets her for seduction…and challenges her to resist his tempting kisses.

Even in four-inch heels, Taryn never backs down. Unless, somehow, Angel can convince her that surrender might feel even better than victory.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I’m such a sucker for the Fool’s Gold series, so these are on my auto-request, auto-buy, auto-everything list.

Angel hasn’t had an easy go of it. He lost his family while serving in the military, and although he’s got his life on track and friends who love him, he isn’t willing to open himself up to love anytime soon. His work at the bodyguard training school is enough to keep him mostly happy, but spending time with Taryn is healing him in ways he never expected.

Taryn loves her job as owner of a PR agency. She works with her best friends and former pro-football boys. But when Angel walks into her life, she finds her world thrown upside down. Taryn doesn’t want to love Fool’s Gold, but the people are so nice that they are breaking down all her walls, and Angel is at the forefront, banging away at her heart without even knowing. But neither Taryn or Angel are ready to fully let go of the past and trust another person, so how will they make a real go at their future?

This book combined my favorite things, sports heroines, and a romance that isn’t overly angsty or complicated, but so passionate at the same time. The chemistry between Taryn and Angel is so well done, and I felt like they were constantly burning up the pages. Their romance was spicy and sweet at the same time, and I liked the fact that they danced around each other for awhile before falling into bed together. Their chemistry was off the charts, and the sexual tension between them was so intense.

I have to say, as much as I love my sports heroes, those guys took a back seat to Angel. I loved him. He was so tortured about his past, and yet he was kind and sweet and caring and sensitive. I loved that he wanted to give back to the community, and really gave his everything to being a troop leader, even once he found out they were little girls. Seeing him interact with the young girls was so cute, so adorable. I loved every second of it. The way he was so scared of them, and yet so determined to be everything they needed. It made him the kind of hero that made me weak in the knees.

I also fell in love with Taryn pretty easily. Although she is skeptical about living in Fool’s Gold, and isn’t so keen on small town life, she is such a warm and loving person. I loved that she didn’t apologize for being a bit of a fashionista and clothes horse, and didn’t let being in a small town change her LA style. I loved that she was so ready to help out with the little girls, and that she was just as scared as Angel to take them on. 🙂

Although Taryn and Angel really stole this whole book, Taryn’s co-workers made a big impression. I can’t wait to read their HEAs and am anxiously waiting to see what kind of trouble they get into next. I loved that when push came to shove, they banded around Taryn and defended her with every breath in their bodies. I can’t wait till they each get their own book!

All in all, I think this might be my favorite Fool’s Gold book to date. I loved Taryn and Angel so much, and thought they were absolutely perfect together. They had such a wonderful connection, and their romance was such a treat to read. I loved them not only as individual characters, but as a couple too. I can’t wait to read this rest of this summer’s books. I think they are all going to be amazing!
I give When We Met an A-

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