Review: Down and Dirty (Dare Me Book 2) by Christine Bell

a Dare Me novel by Christine Bell

He was a dare she’s never been able to resist…

Cat Thomas has never been the kind of girl to stick.  A self-professed infatuation junky, she latches on the newest, hottest guy on the block, then finds a reason—real or imagined—to dump him.  When she accepts a dare to rekindle her high school flame and jump in bed with her brother’s best friend, Shane Decker, she knows she’s in trouble.  She can’t resist the man, even after all these years apart, and that just won’t do.

Shane has come back to town for a couple reasons.  The biggest one?  He’s tired of living away from those he loves, including Cat.  But now she’s spooked and will do anything to drive a wedge between them, including trying to fix him up with other women through an online dating service.

What does he have to do to make her see that settling down doesn’t mean settling, and he’s ready to spend a lifetime proving it?

 

I have to say I was REALLY looking forward to this book.  I fell in love with Cat in Down for The Count and I just couldn't wait to read her story.  With that in mind, I think I set my expectations for Down and Dirty way too high.  Don't get me wrong.  I liked this book.  I just wanted it to blow me away and it didn't.  Again, those darn expectations of mine.

Cat Thomas is a fashion designer who has had a bucket list for as long as she can remember.  She's all about thrills and living life on the edge.  Cat isn't into long term relationships.  She's the type of girl who will date a guy a few times and then find something wrong with him.  Above all, Cat doesn't want to ever be too into a guy that she loses herself, her identity, and her dreams, like her mother did.

Shane Decker is a Search and Rescue Specialist.  He has traveled all over the world and has overseen rescues for numerous worldwide disasters.  He's been away from his family and close friends, working on the West Coast for several years.  With work getting to him and realizing life is too short, he finally decides that it's time to move back home to be closer to his family.  He also hopes that in the three years since he last saw Mary Catherine, that’s she’s finally grown up and is ready for a real relationship with him.

Down and Dirty takes place about eight months after the first book.  Trust me, if you didn't read Down for The Count, it's okay.  The two books can actually stand alone.  The story starts out with Cat and Lacey Gerrity, her childhood best friend as well as future sister-in-law, at a bar with Galen, Cat's brother.  In walks easy, laid- back, sexy Shane Decker, Galen's best friend.  It turns out Shane and Cat have a history that only Lacey knows about.  A history that happened a decade ago, one Cat has never been able to forget.  I can only say that watching what I like to call "The Fall of Cat" was a very fun read.

Shane’s appearance sends Cat’s world spiraling out of control.  Shane challenges her in so many ways and on so many levels.  With Shane moving back, Cat has to figure out a way to make sure that he is off limits and stays away for her.  What better way to accomplish that than to set him up with a matchmaking service?  But Cat has to take this a little further.  She decides that she needs to turn Shane into the perfect man and handpick his dates for him.  Little does Cat know that Shane knows what she’s up to and seeing him with the one girl she knows is perfect for him will result in serious jealous feelings.

Shane’s expertise is put to the test and what results pushes Cat to realize that she can’t live her life his way and by his rules.  An accident and several new characters force Cat to come to terms with her past and realize what she’s missing.

Yeah, I really liked this book.  It’s REALLY rare to love all the characters in a book.  But I gotta tell you, I loved them all, from Shane’s very intuitive and sneaky mother, to the new nurse.  What is there to not like about this book?  Did I mention the attraction between Shane and Cat is off the charts?  When they do get together sparks really fly, no matter where they are or how cold it is.  I can’t wait to see what's in store for the next Dare Me book.

Rating: 4

Release Date:  February 23, 2013
Book Length:  224 pages
Source:  Publisher
Reading Format:  Available in only in eBook

So I asked Christine to tell us about the top five things she loved most about Cat Thomas and Shane Decker.  Click here to see what she had to say.

Connect with Christine Bell:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Buy Link:  Amazon

Books in the Dare Me Series

1.  Down for the Count (review)