Tessa Bailey has done it again. She's created a story that is fun, sexy, sweet, snarky, moving, and full of heart.

When your world is falling down around you, when you have no idea where you are going, what you want, who you want to be, what do you do, what would you do? If you are Rita Clarkson you run but you don't run on your own and you don't run with out a plan. Rita Clarkson is questioning everything she ever believed to be true about herself. Are the dreams she has believed she want...

Tessa Bailey has done it again. She's created a story that is fun, sexy, sweet, snarky, moving, and full of heart.

When your world is falling down around you, when you have no idea where you are going, what you want, who you want to be, what do you do, what would you do? If you are Rita Clarkson you run but you don't run on your own and you don't run with out a plan. Rita Clarkson is questioning everything she ever believed to be true about herself. Are the dreams she has believed she wanted her entire life the dreams she truly wants? Is she a failure or is she a success? All she knows for sure...she feels like a failure. In a last attempt to save herself from the hell she's in while watching her mothers restaurant literally go down in flames around her she takes her mother's 'last words' to heart and with the support of her siblings (who aren't always known to be the most supportive) she hits the road for New York and a chilly dip for a polar bear plunge.

First I would like to say that I love the family dynamic of the Clarkson's. Their mother Miriam while not without her faults (but we can't really beat her up for them now can we?) seems like she would have been an amazing woman. Full of life and passion. She may not have always been the most attentive mother but it is clear that she passed on that passion to her children in various ways. I also love the siblings, they remind me so much of my own sisters and brother. The fact that we are off doing our own things, living our own life, not really the best communicators, but the minute one of us calls we'll he there. Rita is the pillar of the siblings. Always doing what SHE believes is what is expected, always looking for ways to bring her family together even though she has failed again and again. Belmont, the mysterious broody man who you'll never fully know but who will be by your side helping to hold you up the minute you need him. Aaron, the driven one, with the vulnerability and sweetness that he tries hard to hide from the world. Peggy, the spitfire who lives life to the fullest and by her own rules but who is missing a piece that will make her complete. Those are your Clarkson's and I fell in love with them the minute I met them. As if that wasn't enough we also get Jasper!!!

Jasper is the town bad boy that doesn't want to be the town bad boy! He led a wild life in his younger years and is now finding that the town won't let him move past those party days and prove that he is more than just a cold drink and a night of 'fun'. Jasper knows that he wants more out of life, for his life but he can't leave his past behind (better yet no one will let him leave his past behind) and when he 'stumbles' upon a broken down Suburban on a lonely stretch of New Mexico highway he knows that the change he has wanted most is standing in front of him but does he dare let her in to see who he used to be. If she knows his past can she ever trust his future and how can he ever keep her around long enough to prove his worth?

I loved watching Jasper and Rita develop through this book both as a couple and individually. 'Watching' them find acceptance, trust, faith, and love. I adored the clever quips and sly planning of Jasper. The siblings are both entertaining and curiosity inducing. I need more of them, I want to know them, to know their stories. I can already tell that I am going to be horribly sad to say goodbye to the Clarkson's when the time comes. That right there is one of the reasons I LOVE Tessa Bailey books, she writes her characters as an extension of the reader. You can identify with her characters, you want to know her characters to have them in your circle of family and friends. They have a realness to them that isn't always found in books. Yes, they are dirty talking guys (and occasionally girls), bad ass heroines and gentle alpha males. They can be snarky, they can be full of themselves, they can be little s***s at time but one thing they always are is full of heart and soul. Tessa's books will make you swoon, sweat, and most importantly feel love coming off the pages. I can see her heart in every book she writes, she gives us a little piece of herself and I cherish that and thank her for it. I always know that when I pick up a Tessa Bailey book I am about to fall in love and it is going to stay with me forever.

I can't wait to Meet the rest of the Clarkson's, I know each story is just going to dig a little more into my soul and I am so ready for it. If you love contemporary romance reads this is a must read. Come on an Meet the Clarkson's, they will fast become some of your most favorite friends!

Although the story itself was good, the style and of writing was very annoying and sometimes difficult, like it doesn’t flow easily. I’ve read other books by Tessa and enjoyed them, so I was a little surprised and disappointed with the way this one was written. I am going to read the next book in the series in the hopes that it flows better

Although the story itself was good, the style and of writing was very annoying and sometimes difficult, like it doesn’t flow easily. I’ve read other books by Tessa and enjoyed them, so I was a little surprised and disappointed with the way this one was written. I am going to read the next book in the series in the hopes that it flows better

Too Hot To Handle was one of my most anticipated books of 2016. I am a huge Tessa Bailey fan. When she comes out with a new series, I'm like a kid on Christmas morning. I'm over the moon excited that I get to meet new characters and that I get to fall in love with their stories for the very first time! If you have not read any books by this author you are seriously missing out! You can't go wrong with any of her books. They are the perfect reading escape! Her stories are filled with intense, ...

Too Hot To Handle was one of my most anticipated books of 2016. I am a huge Tessa Bailey fan. When she comes out with a new series, I'm like a kid on Christmas morning. I'm over the moon excited that I get to meet new characters and that I get to fall in love with their stories for the very first time! If you have not read any books by this author you are seriously missing out! You can't go wrong with any of her books. They are the perfect reading escape! Her stories are filled with intense, passionate, sexy and emotional moments. These books will linger with you for days and the characters will always leave you wanting more!

Too Hot To Handle is the first installment of the Romancing the Clarksons Series. This series follows four siblings: Rita, Belmont, Aaron and Peggy Clarkson. In this first installment we get to meet them all, but the main focus is on Rita Clarkson. When life throws you lemons, go on a road trip! LOL!! Rita's life has taken a turn for the worst. She needs a change and she needs it NOW! After the family restaurant goes up in flames, Rita is left with tough decisions. She has nothing to lose at this point and begins a road trip with her siblings. Things haven't been easy for Rita and her siblings. They grew apart and so this road trip is the perfect occasion to reconnect with them. When their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, the last thing Rita expected was to be swept off her feet by the Jasper Ellis. He's unexpected and a breath of fresh air. Rita has a final destination in mind, but will Jasper be able to convince her that next to him is where she belongs?

I'm not a fan of insta-love. I really have to connect with the main characters to be able to feel their love. Tessa Bailey did a phenomenal job at making me fall in love with Rita and Jasper. Even if their relationship grows in just a couple of days, you can feel how strong their connection is. They have a hot chemistry and it's lust at first sight. The more time they spend together, the more their love grows. Both these characters have their own personal struggles and when they are together they forget about everything that surrounds them. Good things come when you least expect them and that is exactly what happened to Rita and Jasper. Rita's life got turned upside the moment the family restaurant caught on fire. When she had the idea to embark on a road trip that would bring her to NYC, she never expected to find Jasper. She definitely did not expect to fall in love the way she did. It was beautiful to see these two characters fall in love. It was heart-melting! Jasper has his own personal demons. He's determined to make his mark in his town. I loved how determined he was to change things around in his life. Rita and Jasper found a place to call home in each others arms.

If there is one thing that I absolute love about Tessa Bailey is the role that she gives to her secondary characters. In every single book that I have read from this author, I always felt like not only was I getting a love story, but I was getting introduced to supporting characters that added their own touch of awesomeness to the story. You will absolutely love all these fantastic characters! The moments that the Clarkson siblings shared were amazing! They might have been a distant family at the beginning of this journey, but they got closer on their road trip. I loved every single moment that they shared together. Aaron is the next Clarkson to get his story. We get a little glimpse of his book at the end of Too Hot To Handle and I'm already hooked! I can't freakin' wait to read his story!! I highly recommend Too Hot To Handle and any book by Tessa Bailey. Unforgettable reading journey guaranteed!

I give, Too Hot To Handle, by Tessa Bailey, 5 unexpected moments, passionate encounters, steamy, fun, falling in love on a road trip stars!