Straight, No Chaser

There is just something about a man in a uniform...add an accent ...HOT BUT what really makes my my knees weak is this big burly man thinks he is "avenging" his brother and soon to be sister-in-law's betrayal and sets off to make sure that that guilty party pays. And that guilty party happens to be an extremely good looking girl who he can't keep his eyes off of named Hailey. It doesn't help that he had the biggest thing for her in high school and she didn't get hit with an ugly stick afterwards either. But as in life things are not always as they seem and thing happened for a reason. As in book one we learn all about it in our Author's time frame and what a wonderful ride it is on the way to getting us to the end. Colin oh Colin, you hot sheriff that you are...you do not have all the answers and when they slowly come out to us they are answers well read. I am so looking forward to the third book in this series. I know it will be a harder book to read but one that is so worth reading.

Straight No Chaser by Shelli Stevens is book two of The McLaughlins series. I look forward to reading more about the McLaughlin family. Straight No Chaser is a complicated romance of two people who have crazy chemistry but are they willing to open their hearts to love?? The main character Hailey Alexander is a single woman who works as a nurse. She grew up on Whidbey Island with her mom and brother. Long ago, Hailey made a bad decision that hurt Colin’s family. She hasn’t forgiven herself for that one moment of weakness. She lost her two best friends that day but she had to do it to keep her family together. As soon as she could she moved away from the island and cut off ties with her mother. Now she's back and her history of picking the wrong men may have followed her in the form of the last loser. Deputy Colin McLaughlin follows the straight and narrow path. When Colin was younger, he had a crush on Hailey. Colin refuses to believe she has changed and assumes she has followed in her mother’s footsteps. The more Colin gets to know Hailey, he discovers his assumptions about her are completely wrong. Their chemistry is off the charts and they soon give into it. But due to being burned in the past, Colin is hesitant to pursue a relationship with Hailey. Hailey’s poor self-esteem has guided most of the decisions she makes in the book. She really needs to realize that she is not the little girl from the wrong side of town anymore! Colin starts out with a cocky cop attitude but the reader soon realizes he’s really a sweetheart underneath. Soon Colin and his family are coming to Hailey’s rescue when the old boyfriend shows up to cause trouble. Colin’s former fiancee makes an appearance and causes feelings of jealousy and insecurity for Hailey. I would recommend you read this book. In the end, it’s an action packed love story with a HEA after a little danger. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series starring Colin’s sister Kenzie. Four stars ***Review by Kara, Late Night Reviewer for Up All Night with Books***

I found Straight, No Chaser by Shelli Stevens, book two in her McLaughlins series a wonderful story about how people and things aren’t always what they seem. Sort of a don’t judge a book by its cover theme. There are also parts that reminded me of the fine line between hate and love. Colin McLaughlin and Hailey Alexander each had a crush on the other in high school and now ten years later that attraction is still there. Colin has not moved on from being angry at Hailey after she almost ruined his twin brother’s life; despite how hard Hailey worked to move past her mistakes in her past. These two share not just an attraction but an off the charts chemistry. This desire for each other burns hotter than HOT. Colin needs to see how Hailey has changed and learn to forgive her for the past before he can move on to a future with her. I really loved reading this book and didn’t want to put this book down, reading it in one day. Ms. Porter is a wonderful story teller and she always draws me into her books, making me forget the world around me. I highly recommend this book to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.