Review: Lay It Down (Desert Dogs #1) by Cara McKenna

[Eva Millien]

Blurb:

Backbreaking days, wild nights, and the hard hum of steel between your thighs...

That’s a life well lived, according to the Desert Dogs—four friends who call Fortuity, Nevada, their badlands home.

Vince Grossier is the self-crowned outlaw king around here. But when Fortuity’s slick new mayor invites a casino development to town, greed isn’t far behind—and it claims Vince’s good friend as its first casualty. With the law turning a blind eye to the mysterious death, Vince must seek his own brand of justice. The pretty photographer hired by the developers might be the key to uncovering the truth. And she’s a temptation too good to pass up.

Finally free of a controlling ex, Kim Paget’s not looking to be taken for a ride—not on the back of some tattooed roughneck’s bike and definitelynot in his bed. But when she uncovers evidence supporting Vince’s suspicions of murder, Kim must entrust her safety to a man whose body threatens danger of a whole different kind.

My Review:

Vince Grossier is convinced that the new casino development claimed his best friend as its first casualty and he must find his own brand of Justice in this riveting contemporary romance.  Kim Paget the pretty photographer hired by the developers might be the key to uncovering the truth – not to mention she’s too much of a temptation to pass up.

This smooth flowing plot progresses at steady but sure pace building lots of anticipation and suspense along the way.  The author draws the reader deeper into the story with well written scenes and details that capture the imagination and not only the story but the strong compelling characters are believable, keeping the reader totally caught up in the story from beginning to end.

The attraction between Kim and Vince burns up the pages and the sex scenes are hot and steamy, but the relationship moves slowly despite all the passion.  Vince has some emotional issues that make him determined to keep all emotions at a fun time level and Kim just ended things with her controlling ex and is not looking to be taken for a ride. Vince is a bad boy but he’s not a hardened criminal either and I actually got a kick out of Vince’s courtship of Kim, he has his own kind of charm that can certainly charm the pants off any female while they’re wondering why they aren’t insulted.

The Desert Dogs, four long-time friends assist the investigation of the death of their friend which brings drama, excitement and some amusing interactions between them that also adds enjoyment and really ensures that the reader gets a good feel for the characters.

The author has created her own spin on the motorcycle club element that is refreshingly different from the others that I have read. I have to wonder where the author is going with the psychic part and I thought some of the story was a little slow, for most I found the story enjoyable and entertaining and I am looking forward to reading the next one.

4 STARS

Purchase Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Lay-It-Down-Desert-Novel/dp/0451471261/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406877967&sr=8-1&keywords=Lay+It+Down

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lay-it-down-cara-mckenna/1118164876?ean=9780451471260

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Lay-Down/Cara-Mckenna/9780451471260?id=6068720973917

http://www.bookdepository.com/Lay-It-Down-Cara-McKenna/9780451471260

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/lay-it-down-1

Signet Eclipse, August 5 2014, 327 pages, ebook & print

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20556056-lay-it-down

Desert Dogs:

https://www.goodreads.com/series/120213-desert-dogs

# 2 Give It All (coming February 3, 2015)

About Cara McKenna:

Cara McKenna writes smart erotica—sexy stories with depth. A little dark, a little funny, always emotional. She also writes red-hot romance under the name Meg Maguire. Her wonderful publishers are Ellora's Cave, Harlequin Blaze, Penguin / InterMix, Samhain, and Signet Eclipse. She loves writing sexy, character-driven stories about strong-willed men and women who keep each other on their toes, and bring one another to their knees.

Before becoming a purveyor of red-hot romance and smart erotica, Cara was a record store bitch, a lousy barista, a decent designer, and an over-enthusiastic penguin handler.

Cara now writes full-time and lives in the Pacific Northwest with her bearded husband. When she's not trapped in her own head she can usually be found in the kitchen, the coffee shop, or jogging around the nearest duck-filled pond. She is a very proud member of the Romance Writers of America® and its New England Chapter. She was a 2010 Golden Heart® finalist, a 2012 Golden Leaf finalist, and a 2011 and 2013Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award nominee.

 

Where to Find Cara McKenna:

http://www.caramckenna.com/index.html

http://superluckyfun.tumblr.com/

http://wonkomance.com/author/cara/

https://twitter.com/caramckenna

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3414533.Cara_McKenna

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4583365.Meg_Maguire

Books by Cara McKenna:

http://www.caramckenna.com/books