Book Review: Easy With You by Kristen Proby

Nothing has ever come easy for Lila Bailey. She' s fought for every good thing in her life during every day of her thirty-one years. Aside from that one night with an impossible to deny stranger a year ago, Lila is the epitome of responsible.

 

Steadfast. Strong.

 

She' s pulled herself out of the train wreck of her childhood, proud to be a professor at Tulane University and laying down roots in a city she' s grown to love. But when some of her female students are viciously murdered, Lila' s shaken to the core and unsure of whom she can trust in New Orleans. When the police detective assigned to the murder case comes to investigate, she' s even more surprised to find herself staring into the eyes of the man that made her toes curl last year.

 

In an attempt to move on from the tragic loss of his wife, Asher Smith moved his daughter and himself to a new city, ready for a fresh start. A damn fine police lieutenant, but new to the New Orleans force, Asher has a lot to prove to his colleagues and himself.

 

With a murderer terrorizing the Tulane University campus, Asher finds himself toe-to-toe with the one woman that haunts his dreams. His hands, his lips, his body know her as intimately as he' s ever known anyone. As he learns her mind and heart as well, Asher wants nothing more than to keep her safe, in his bed, and in his and his daughter' s lives for the long haul.

 

But when Lila becomes the target, can Asher save her in time, or will he lose another woman he loves?

 

Erin’s Review

Oh my, I think I liked this novella better than the last few books in the With You in Seattle series. Being that is a novella, this story went by so quick, I was sad when it ended. I wish that we would have gotten more time with Lila, Asher and Casey. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and their backstories. Especially Asher & Casey’s story. They’ve been through a lot and it’s really quite heartbreaking when you learn about what happened to his wife and Casey’s mother. I’m so glad that they found Lila, I think she was great for both Asher & Casey. 🙂

One thing that I really liked about this book was bringing the case that Asher is working on into the story. It added  a bit of mystery and some suspense to the story. I think Kristen should do some more of that in the future. A little suspense always makes the story more interesting. 😉

While we’re in New Orleans getting to know Lily & Asher, we get a little visit with Matt & Nic when they came in to town from Seattle to visit Asher, as well as catch up a bit with Eli & Kate from Easy Love. Easy With You did a great job of blending both the With You in Seattle series (We first met Asher in Matt story, Tied With you, as he was Matt’s partner.) with the Boudreaux series (Lila is Kate’s BFF.) It was a very quick read, but so worth it. I hope that we see these characters some more in the future.

Boy, between this book and Easy Love I really want to visit New Orleans and eat some beignets. Who wants to go with me? 🙂

Thanks to Inkslinger & Kristen Proby for the chance to read and review this book for the blog tour. 😉

Excerpt

“It’ s been so long since I had sex, I don’ t even know if my vagina still works,” I admit in a whisper, making Kate laugh.

“Trust me, it works.”

“How do you know?”

She simply continues to laugh.

“Good morning, ladies.”

Our heads both whip up at the deep, sexy voice, and I’ m suddenly staring at a very sweaty, very half-naked, Asher.

Oh Jesus.

“Good morning,” Kate says beside me, but I’ m not paying attention to the words they’ re saying. My mouth goes dry at the sight of Asher’ s naked torso. He’ s wearing running shorts, with his shirt tucked into the waist at his hip. He has earbuds in his ears, leading to his phone in his pocket.

He’ s panting from his run, and sweat is running down his forehead, his cheek.

His fucking amazing chest.

One drop of sweat slowly makes its way down his sternum to his chiseled abs, and it takes everything in me to not lean over and lick it off.

Down, girl.

“Lila?”

“What?”

Asher’ s eyes are laughing as he props his hands on his hips, watching me. “How are you?”

“Oh, I’ m fine.”

Kate snickers beside me, earning a kick to the shin from me.

“You look amazing,” he replies and offers me that half-smile. The one that promises all kinds of amazing naughtiness and has kept me up many a night over the past nine months.

“Thank you,” I murmur. Why am I so shy with him now? That night at the bar, I was confident. I knew exactly what I wanted, and that was him. I wasn’ t shy. I didn’ t hesitate.

And now I feel tongue-tied and hot.

Probably because now I know what he’ s capable of.