Too Wild to Tame: Romancing the Clarksons, Book 2

Bailey’s second novel (after Too Hot to Handle) about the estranged Clarkson siblings, who are taking an awkward road trip in honor of their deceased mother, finds the Clarksons in Iowa, where disgraced political adviser Aaron hopes to redeem himself by joining an influential senator’s presidential campaign. Inconveniently, he falls for Grace Pendleton, the senator’s free-spirited, wayward daughter. Aaron needs to play by his new boss’s rules; Grace tempts him to let loose. They’re eminently compatible in the bedroom, but their respective emotional traumas and secrets may still drive them apart. Bailey adeptly crafts a satisfying romance between two broken protagonists, allowing them to find completion and healing in each other. A dash of humor and a heavy dose of spicy action round out this tale, which manages to be both raw and playful without losing its balance. Despite some overly flowery language and clunky bedroom talk, this is an entertaining and worthy installment. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary. (Feb.)