REVIEW: Beautiful Lawman by Sophie Jordan

Beautiful Lawman by Sophie Jordan is the fourth book in her sexy and intense Devil’s Rock series, tied together by family or friends who’ve done time in the nearby prison. I’ve read and enjoyed the previous books in the series and was ready for this one, about the straight laced Sheriff and the down on her luck but resilient heroine.

Sheriff Hale Walters is resigned to his sister Faith marrying former inmate North Callaghan, but it doesn’t mean he has to like it. Nor is he pleased to see North make regular visits to Piper Walsh, local barmaid at a strip club whose brother is still in jail. Though he’s determined that North isn’t cheating on his sister, he still keeps an eye on Piper, a woman from the wrong side of the tracks who, for some reason he can’t get out of his mind, even though she clearly despises him. When a party at the club results in a private dance for him by none other than the spirited Piper, things take a sudden turn.

Piper can’t believe that the arrogant, entitled Sheriff is the first person she has to give a lap dance to in her quest to keep her miserable but paying job. And the heat that sparks up between them shocks them both. Piper is doing everything she can to keep her and her sister afloat while her brother is in jail for a crime he didn’t commit and staying away from the Sheriff and possible trouble with the law seems her best bet. Yet, when Piper ends up losing her job at the club, Hale finds not only a job for her, but also a place to stay. Sure he’s still got a chip on his shoulder and a massive entitled attitude but underneath that gruff exterior seems to be a guy with a bit of heart after all. Can these two opposites find a way to meet in the middle and get their happy ever after?

I enjoyed this sexy romance, as I have all the others in the series. Piper is one of my favorite heroines. She’s spirited, competent, determined, and willing to do whatever it takes to keep her sister in school playing soccer in hopes of an eventual scholarship. Sacrifice for the good of the family is ingrained in her and her brother (who I hope will get his own story) despite a less than stellar upbringing by their parents.

Hale is a good hero, but sometimes steps over the line of decent behavior by invading Piper’s privacy (like searching out her phone records). His motives at first are for his benefit, not hers, and he’s quick to judge her choices before he knows the real Piper. He soon realizes that she doesn’t deserve his censure and turns into a more likable and caring man. Their sexy scenes are definitely heat inducing! A the story progresses they share more with each other that links them together, and the plot also produces some surprises. All in all it’s an entertaining story and a sexy opposites attract romance.
 

Book Info:

Publication: Dec 26, 2017 | Avon | Devil’s Rock #4

From the wrong side of the tracks and with most of her family in jail or dead, Piper Walsh is used to everyone in town thinking the worst about her. It doesn’t seem to matter that she’s worked hard to build a good life for herself. So she isn’t surprised that when she comes into contact with Sweet Hill’s wildly irresistible, arrogant sheriff, Hale Walters, they’re instant adversaries. Piper has nothing in common with the town golden-boy-turned-lawman—and she refuses to be a notch on his bedpost.

Despite rumors, Hale avoids fooling around with the women of Sweet Hill, many of whom are hoping to get him to the altar. But staying out of Piper’s path is proving near impossible. The infuriating troublemaker clearly has no respect for his badge. As she continues to push his buttons, it becomes clear to Hale that he must either arrest Piper—or claim her as his own.