Don’t Toy With Me

After quitting her job instead of standing up to her boss, Jordan Wright’s car is about to become repossessed.  She needs a job, like yesterday, so when her aunt suggests she enter a beauty pageant, Jordan feels she has nothing to lose.  Turns out Bart Underwood is not holding a pageant, he’s looking for reality show contestants. While Jordan may not have what it takes to star in a reality TV show, it is clear she has what it takes to run one.  Jordan isn’t the only one trying to sway Bart.  Actor-turned-producer Marvin also wants to influence him  to get his piece of the pie.  Can Jordan save Bart’s bad idea? Will Marvin keep his hold on Bart? Can Jordan and Bart learn to trust each other with their secrets?

Jordan is a smart and feisty character.  Her sass and take-no-nonsense attitude bring her to life almost immediately.  Unfortunately, she is the only character that comes to life.  Bart is a man of mystery but the lack of clues early on makes him come across as one-dimensional.  More time was needed to develop the chemistry and emotions between the main characters, rather than showing the mechanics of creating and filming a reality TV show.  Without the romantic tension and emotion between Jordan and Bart, the few brief scenes of passion to seem almost like random hook-ups rather than passionate interludes.  This is the first installment in a series involving these characters and author Barbara Barrett is off to a good start.  Hopefully further works will allow readers to connect more passionately with her main characters.

Elissa Blabac