Author: Marianne Rice

Series: Rocky Harbor

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Limitless

Rachel Riley, Graham’s younger sister, is back in Rocky Harbor after being rescued from her abusive ex-boyfriend in California. She is home and safe now, but she is not back to herself at all. The only place that she seems to have found solace is in the comfort of the kitchen, where she is a fantastic chef. Lucy, their younger sister, decides to try to help Rachel find her strength again by signing them up to take a self-defense class.

The class happens to be taught by the bad boy turned good, Jake Morgan. Jake has a sordid past, but he has turned his life around, and teaching the class is part of his way of giving back. He takes a particular interest in Rachel, in a way that he has never done with a student before. The attraction is mutual, and they find themselves falling in love. When a huge part of their pasts collide, will their love be enough to see them through or will it all fall apart?

This is the second book in the Rocky Harbor series (the first was Staying Grounded, which you’ll remember- I LOVED!), and it was just as delectable as the first! The groundwork for Rachel’s character was laid in the Staying Grounded, as it was mentioned that she has been in an abusive relationship, but she continued to be built in to a character that you can’t help but fall in love with. Jake’s character was phenomenally well developed, and turned in to the ultimate book boyfriend. This story kept me just as engaged as the first, and I wanted to read it in one sitting (it ultimately took two). I highly recommend this book and series.