Baby. Don’t let the name fool you.Being Linear Tactical’s easiest-going younger brother has never been a problem for Baby Bollinger. He likes people. He likes laughing. He likes life.But he has secrets buried deep under his charming smile that would change everything.Quinn Harrison-Pritchard doesn’t have secrets. What she does have is a big mess of a life that’s painfully public.Jobless. … that’s painfully public.
Jobless. Blacklisted. Broke. Alone. Exactly where nobody wants to be as they hit their 39th birthday.
Oak Creek is supposed to be a fresh start. A chance to lick her wounds and figure out a plan. One that doesn’t include Baby Bollinger. But the vigorous, mouth-watering mechanic—anything but a baby—is pursuing her with a single-minded focus.
And doesn’t seem to care that she’s twelve years his senior.
But danger has followed Quinn to Oak Creek, someone from her past who is convinced she’s wronged him. And that she needs to pay with her life.
Only Baby can save her. But to do so, he’ll have to face the secrets he’s let define him for way too long. And resurrect the warrior buried inside.
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You know how it is with series that seem to go on forever and forever – it’s getting same old, same old. BUT, absolutely Not with the Linear Tactical Guys, though Baby isn’t actually a part of the Team, but anyway. This 9th book in the series is just as amazing as the prior ones. I didn’t know quite what to expect from Baby as he’s like the good soul of Oak Creek or something. Always smiling and friendly and not having a bad bone in his body. Only the one secret he’s kept hidden all his life might be his downfall after all and the reason he’s distancing himselve from his friends and family more and more. Throw Quinn into the mix, the one who’s down on her luck for quite some time and the only one who sees past Baby’s walls and you’ll have one combustible outcome that might come to an frontal stop if it wasn’t for the Crazy… Great story I could Not Out down!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Quinn had book smarts and planned things down to the second, but her common sense sometimes checked out, leaving behind an innocently awkward personality struggling to figure out her new chaotic life. She could be annoying with her self doubts, but I liked her regardless-she was relatable and just too nice not to!
Blake (aka Baby) was a swoony guy! He fell for the heroine right from the start and even though he was technically younger than Quinn, his maturity spoke volumes. He’s played the sweet, funny, be everyone’s friend from the start of the series and it was awesome to finally peel back Baby’s hidden layers!
With an older woman/younger guy trope, sweet chemistry, and gaslighting suspense, Baby was a thrilling read from start to finish!
I received an advance reader copy from the author and this is my honest review.
Pulled on many of my heart strings. Baby and Cupcake just matched. They felt perfect together. If I had read the premise of older woman, I probably would have passed. They don’t appeal to me. Janie is one of the authors I trust and she knocked this one out of the park. It was a story of a woman in trouble who comes to the small town her brother lives in and meets a young man who has his own secrets, a man who makes her smile. The secret baby is hiding, I understand. May years ago I had a fiancé with the same secret, and Janie really handled this well. The troubles follow Cupcake to this small town and I confess I thought I knew who was behind it all, and I was wrong. The Linear Tactical Group has their back and it was awesome to touch base with them again. I feel like I know everyone, they are all my friends. I am truly hoping as years go by we have Jess and Ethan’s story 🙂 Thank you for the arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own which I feely share.
I am pretty sure I have said this about every book in this series (because it is true) but BABY is fabulous! The Linear Tactical series is one of my favorite RS series. Every time I read one of these books it feels like re-visiting family and friends. The charming small community, the friendly residents, the scenic backdrop – all of it just gives you a warm, old-fashion feeling like home.
All these characters are amazing – down-to-earth and charming with relatable problems and insecurities; things they need to overcome whether it be mental, physical, emotional, or all of the above. And the stories are always emotionally engaging and heartfelt. They really grab you and hang on…and BABY is no different. Actually, with Baby’s (Blake Bollinger) situation, a lot of people can probably relate to his struggles and that is one thing that makes this story even more appealing.
Blake (Baby) is a reoccurring character in the LT series since he is Finn’s (Eagle) younger brother, so we get to see snippets of him in the previous books as he interacts and helps the guys with certain situations. Most recently being in PHOENIX, where he participates in the Wild Wyoming Adventures race with Riley Harrison (Phoenix) and some other locals that is hosted by the Linear Tactical team. In BABY, we get an in-depth look at the man behind the laughter and fun-times and get to see his struggles, understand his feelings, and experience his growth as he pushes past his deepest fear and shares his long-buried secret with his family and friends in order to acquire his dream. Getting to know this character was a delight. There is so much more to him than what has been implied in the previous stories and it was truly heartwarming to see him finally get his happily ever after. Though there are some challenges and rocky turns the end result is beautiful.
Quinn Harrison-Pritchard is having some serious bad luck; her life is in shambles, her emotions in turmoil, and her mental stability in question. With everything in her life falling apart, she abruptly packs everything she has left to her name and moves to the one place she feels she can hideout, lick her wounds, and hopefully start again, as well as be near the only family she has left – her half-brother, Riley Harrison (Phoenix). She has been publically humiliated, accused of terrible things, and blacklisted in the academic circles she has thrived in for years. As an Ivy League professor at Harvard, she had style, class, prestige, and a nice life working in her favor before one school board committee sitting changed it all. She is now jobless, homeless, broke, and getting ready to celebrate her thirty-ninth birthday alone. Starting over fresh in Oak Creek seemed like a good plan though she struggles to find work of her stature and she has to take two lesser desirable jobs in order to survive. Though one, her waitress job at the Eagle’s Nest, is doomed to kill her (especially her feet), the other as a professor at the local community college turns out to be a great reward. She rediscovers her love for teaching along with other things she did not know about herself and she truly blossoms in her new surroundings.
Baby and Quinn are both exceptionally well-written characters and their story is amazing. Their struggles, their romance, all of it! This story is not as action-based as others but you will not feel deprived in any way. What it lacks for action it makes up with the emotions and love story. And what a love story – these two have some real issues to overcome but their journey is beautiful in the end (especially visiting them a few years ahead in the epilogue).
And though this book is not knee-deep in action as some of the previous, there is still a suspenseful twist and threat to Quinn that has Baby draw on his inner warrior and with the help of his brother and others on the LT team, they race to save her.
Engaging, charming, and fun with real issues, suspense, emotion, romance, and the love of family – you cannot ask for better than that for a great read. This book is gripping from start to finish and a wonderful addition to the Linear Tactical series.
Baby was another fantastic addition to the Linear Tactical series. Although not as action packed as in previous books, it certainly had the mystery and suspense with the beautiful and sometimes hot romance of Baby and college professor Quinn.
I love how in this book they all rally together to help out and protect their friends, despite what it might cost them. The mystery till the end had me hanging on.
I also liked the fact the secrets that Baby held on to, showed he was flawed and it was a valuable point to make to others. That you can overcome what seems insurmountable, with help and support and shouldn’t be afraid to ask. Definitely a valid point. And all within the amazing back drop of a Linear Tactical setting.
This book was an ARC, and this is my voluntary and honest review of this fantastic book.
Gah, this author is one of my top recommendations for suspense authors, a master of her craft, and every book she produces proves why. She is meticulous with her detailing, making sure all details flow seamlessly from book to book, while each book is jam packed with action from cover to cover.
This book was no different…. I also loved seeing bits from previous books from another perspective.
Baby ain’t no baby, so don’t go putting him in any corner, or else Quinn will be on your case quick smart… What an unlikely, but perfect pair. How long will they go on ignoring things that are right under their noses? Will they catch on in time to work the problems together, or will multiple things and people be crushed?
Read to find out… Once you start, you won’t be able to put down…