Between the Sheets (The Boys of Bishop Series #3) by Molly O’Keefe
Synopsis
After years of running, Wyatt Svenson has now parked himself in Bishop, Arkansas, trying to do the right thing and parent a son he didn’t even know he had until recently. Over six feet tall and packed with muscles and power, Ty likes to get his hands dirty, fixing his motorcycle at night and keeping his mind away from the mistakes he’s made.
Then his pretty neighbor shows up on his driveway, doesn’t bother to introduce herself, and complains about the noise. First impression? She should loosen up. Funny that she turns out to be his son’s elementary school art teacher—and the only one willing to help his troubled boy. Ty needs her. In more ways than one.
Though Shelby Monroe is safe in her structured life, she is drawn to Ty’s bad-boy edge and rugged sexuality. What if she just lets it all go: her worries about her mother, her fear of heartbreak, and her tight self control? What if she grabs Ty and takes a ride on the wild side? “What if” becomes reality—intense, exhilarating . . . and addictive.
But Ty wants more than a secret affair. He wants it all with Shelby. But will she take a chance and open her heart? Ty is determined to convince Shelby to take the biggest risk of her life: on him.
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My Review
Between the Sheets ended up being a little different from what I was expecting. For one, there were no sheets involved. At all. All the steamy sex takes place outside the bedroom. It was good to get back to Bishop and catch up with Sean, Cora, Brody, Ashley, Monica and the gang. I loved getting a glimpse of Ashley and Brody, happily settled down. This time around, we’re introduced to newcomers Tye and Casey, and local art teacher, Shelby.
Ty arrives shortly after discovering he has a ten-year old son when Casey walks away from foster care to find his dad after his mom is incarcerated. I loved watching that relationship evolve, seeing how uncomfortable Ty was in the role of fatherhood, and watching the angsty nervousness of a fifth grader trying to find his place in the world. I also love the alzheimer’s subplot. I thought that was handled so well.
Plot
Between the Sheets covers a lot of territory. With the alzheimer’s thread, school bullying, the evolving relationship of a rebellions man who only recently learned he’s a father, kleptomania, mental abuse, religious zealotry and art therapy. And all of it works really well together. Molly O’Keefe does a masterful job of weaving all the subplots nicely into the story. The push and pull of Ty and Shelby is well done, the writing is strong, and the sex scenes are steamy.
Characters
I don’t like Shelby. There, I said it. And that’s a problem for me, because the heart of the story is the romance. Shelby’s not fluff, she’s certainly developed, I just couldn’t identify with her. I understood some of her issues, but she came across to me as too self-centered, too inwardly focused to really be likeable.
Ty on the other hand, is fabulous. He’s solid, complex, deep, and infinitely likeable. He’s perfectly portrayed as the guilt-ridden new dad trying to navigate fatherhood without a map. Casey is authentic as the kid with the rocky childhood, struggling to find stability and unable to accept happiness as normal.
Bottom Line
I liked Between the Sheets. It’s well-written, has interesting characters, and covers a lot of important topics. I just didn’t love it.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
About the Book
Title: Between the Sheets
Series: Boys of Bishop #3
Author: Molly O’Keefe
Publisher: Bantam
Pages: 370
Release Date: July 29, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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Author Molly O’Keefe
About the Author
Molly O’Keefe is the RITA Award winning author of over 25 books and novellas.
She lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband, two kids and the largest heap of dirty laundry in North America.
Where to Find Molly O’Keefe
Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook