UNDER THE HOOD BOXED SET

UNDER THE HOOD BOXED SET                    SALLY CLEMENTS

Under the Hood

When Alice Starr mistakenly believes attorney Mark Jameson needs her help, he discovers he likes being rescued for a change. Smitten by her confidence, he hides his expertise so he has an excuse to see her again. Alice doesn't have time for a man. But with one kiss, she and Mark have advanced into water so deep she's in danger of drowning...

Racing the Hunter’s Moon 

Feisty Betty Smith should have only one thing on her mind—catching the conman who swindled her mother. Not the sexy stranger who kissed her then completely disappeared.
Undercover FBI agent Joe Carter needs to focus on the bad guy who got away, not the gorgeous headstrong brunette who watches too many cop shows and keeps interfering in his case. And while entering the vintage car rally as a couple seemed like a good idea at the time, faking feelings for each other turns out to be the easiest part.

Love for Beginners

Melody Swan is looking for a man who can share her hopes and dreams, but she swore she would never lose herself to passion. When sexy Heath Starr agrees to temporarily sub in the Under the Hood garage for his sister, Mel sees the perfect opportunity to enjoy being with a man without becoming attached. Heath came to Meadowsweet to photograph nature, not find a hookup, especially since his last relationship ended in disaster. When the two find themselves isolated in a rustic cabin, they could both break their promises if they aren’t careful... 

MY REVIEW:

 UNDER THE HOOD:   

     Alice Starr had been hurt and lied to by her ex so rather than stay in New York and continue to be the baby of the eight children family.  She moved away.  She had always worked at her father’s auto garage working on cars.  But after what happened with Joel she didn’t want to run into him and his new girl.  So when her two friends offered her a partnership in a garage in Meadowsweet, Va.  It’s called “Under the Hood” she jumped at the deal. 

     It is owned by three women, who will be a new service for the ladies catering to ladies for their automotive needs.  They will be able to take classes on maintenance.  A place where women will not feel unfamiliarity and uncomfortable to ask questions about their own cars or when they call for a tow at night that it will be a man that they have to fear that may do something to them.  Alice Melody (Mel), and Betty want to make every woman feel empowered about their automotive needs.

     After sleeping on one of the girl’s coach for a while Alice has finally found an apartment.  A new neighbor she is about to meet from the angle she is seeing now is just great.  Why because he is hunched over the engine of his MGB GT.  So she asks if she can help.  He says if you have cables which she does.  So she hooks them up and Whalla it’s a go Houston!  They introduce themselves.  He’s Mark Jameson.

     Mark happens to be a divorce attorney.  Very good at his job and well liked.  He lets her help him even though he doesn’t tell her he could have done it himself.  Why you ask?  You see he built the car from the ground up with his grandfather.  Mostly because Alice thinks he is clueless and he would like to see her again.  Not to mention it had been a really long time since some had helped him do anything just because.  It felt really nice.

     I thought it was a cute short.  Ended too soon.  Still good I thought.  4 stars.

LOVE FOR BEGINNERS:

     Mel has known Alice Starr since college and she always remembered her talking about her oldest brother Heath known as the “Ladyslayer.”  One time she had gone to New York and Heath had driven three girls to the train station but she was the only one that needed to get back.  She was squished right next to Heath in his truck cab. He didn’t say too much.

     She sat next to Heath with their thighs pressed next to one another.  What she remembered most is that it heated her from the inside out.  Making her feel uneasy.  Which was unexpected and it almost feels like it had been a dream state since it had been five years ago.

     But since Alice had injured her ankle and can’t work and we can’t find a female Temp.  Alice’s dad was willing to send one of the boys.  Heath volunteered.  Don’t let him fool you though.  Heath is ready to be out from under the family pressure of being first born son who takes over the business.  Heath has his own dreams.  Alice may have just given him the golden ticket to find out if he can make it come true.

     Mel on the other hand has lived her life in the shadows of her mother’s mistakes ones she still making.  Now Mel is willing to give up her dream home as she has loved, for fear she will end up like her mom.  With a broken heart and now she may soon be homeless.

     Both Mel and Heath are at crossroads in their lives.  Ready to make changes.  Ready to stop being their parent’s crutches and living their own lives.  Also, what they thought was love or not love, romance or lack of.  Also commitment or lack of and if it is totally off the mark and terribly lacking in fill their needs anymore.  Fear of losing their hearts or having it shattered is no longer an option because not doing anything is not living.

     Can these two find a way to actually make it work?  Without hurting or risking it all?  Will it be love or lust?  Can they be one in the same and be okay?  Passion?  I totally enjoyed this book.  These two characters were filled with a passion and emotion from the get go.  It just made it so fun to read.  I give this one 5 stars.

RACING THE HUNTER’S MOON:

     Wrong is wrong.  Right?  Have you ever championed a fight on behalf of someone because you knew it was the right thing to do?  Even when the one that was wronged didn’t want it?  Well, that is the case for Betty Smith.

     You see a little over three years ago her mother was swindled out of a great deal of money.  She had been taken in by a sweet talking good for nothing con man.  Preying on women with money who find him exciting.

     Well, when he had taken her mother’s money and was gone Betty wanted her to report it.  But her mother was too proud.  She couldn’t stand the thought of anyone knowing.  Soon after Alex Carlisle was taken in by the FBI which Betty was so happy about.  Until she wasn’t for not long after he was released due to a mishandling of evidence.  She felt let down by the judicial system.

     It made her angry enough that she hired a PI to find him.  But her boyfriend at the time said she was becoming to distressed which was causing their relationship a lot of tension.  So behind her back he fired the PI.  Which when she found out she got rid of her boyfriend.  She tried to get the PI on it again but the trail had gone cold.

     So imagine her surprise when she is standing in line at the bakery and sees him hugging on her best customer, Leonora.  Chills ran up her spine.  She had to figure a way to get Leonora away from him and catch him at his own game.  But before she could come up with a plan a man says not to follow Charmers into the alley. (footnote: He is going by Alex Charmers now.)  Because she will get caught by him tailing him.  When Charmers on his way back out of the alley the man leans down and kisses Betty.  Said man is undercover FBI agent Joe Carter his AKA is Joe Carter carpenter.  That’s right he kisses Betty.  When he sees Charmers gone he backs away saying that she needs to stop following him.  Then he hops in his car and leaves.

     Then on the day after they meet to end up at Mel and Heath’s place to wait for the man that will be assembling their new bed.  He was to be there at 6 and at 8 he finally gets there.  While she has her back to the door startling her.  When she turns it’s the guy from the alley.  She wouldn’t admit it but she is a little glad to see him because she hasn’t been able to forget the kiss but afraid also because this guy knows where she lives.  Until…he says Betty right?  She says Joe?  Then she knows he’s Mark and Alice’s friend Joe Carter the carpenter.  But something still doesn’t feel right.  She knows it and so does he.

     So he says can we talk after I put the bed together?  She says yes.  She’ll make it Mel has a lot of meals in the freezer she can whip up.  Turns out they are after the same thing Charmers.  But he doesn’t like her butting in she is not trained. 

     See how these two work together to reach their goals.  Or can they?  The both of them have secrets that they are hiding that can cost them when it comes to their issues with trust.  Will they bend for the greater good? 

     I enjoyed this story I give it 5 stars.  I love the book as a whole.  I loved how strong and independent each of the women were but as Heath I think said, “Soft on the inside.”  They also empowered other women instead of tearing them down.  All of it without taking their sexuality away from them.  I give this book as a whole 5 stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.  Follow us at:  www.1rad-readerreviews.com.