Wrecked

Axle Alley Vipers series

by Sherilee Gray

Piper West is finally on her own, and it’s time to get crazy. Except that her overprotective big bro has enlisted his ex-cop best friend to keep an eye on his baby sister. With every move monitored and reported back, Piper’s life has gone from “going crazy” to “being driven crazy.” But a searing-hot kiss with her sexy and scarred watchdog is just the game-changer she needs…

Cole Black owes Piper’s brother big-time, but there’s nothing easy about his new assignment. Piper is all feisty sexiness and curves meant to tempt a man beyond reason, and Cole can’t stop himself. Now he’s caught up in a hunger like nothing he’s ever known, and he can’t get enough…

Even if Piper’s the one girl he’s not allowed to have.

I love Piper and Cole together.  The sibling’s best friend trope is one of my favorites because there is usually such history already between the hero and heroine, adding an additional depth to their relationship.  Here, Piper has loved Cole forever and he feels something similar but, besides her being his best friend’s sister, he wants to feel worthy of her.  Unfortunately a horrible accident has left him scarred inside and out.  I can understand where he is coming from and Gray does a good job of keeping it from being too “oh-woe-is-me”.  He’s not pitiful, he’s troubled – still a good man underneath, just fighting a few demons.

Piper was starting to give up on Cole ever having feelings for her, but once she realizes that maybe there is more than brotherly affection on his side she decides to put everything out there to win the man she’s loved for so long.  She doesn’t care about the scars on his body, she’s determined to win his heart.  Piper is a ton of fun once she puts her mind to getting to Cole, making me smile more than once and leaving me feeling sorry for the poor man.

Sassy, funny and full of heart, Wrecked is a fabulously good time.  BTW, I’ve not read anything else in this series and I don’t think that it made a difference.  There are a couple of small references I don’t totally understand, but overall it is minor and I think this story can easily stand on its own.  So if this is your first too, don’t hesitate to pick it up.