**Blog Tour** Mikes Way Back by Amy Gregory

Title: Mike’s Way Back

Series: Finding Perfect # 1

Author:  Amy Gregory

Published or Expected Publish Date: 9-30-13

Published by: self-pub

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 

When Detective Mike Sterling left the Chicago PD and returned to his hometown of Renlend Kansas, he tried to convince himself it was so his mother could stop worrying. The truth was, even Renlend wasn’t going to vanquish the dreams that tortured him at night. 

When Taryn Watts landed in Renland Kansas to design a client’s new cooking school she intended to stay just long enough to do the job and then go right back to her life on the East Coast. 

When Taryn and Mike found themselves sharing a booth, one thing was certain, neither one of them thought it was a good idea. Mike still wasn’t over his ex-wife’s betrayal, and when Taryn found out Mike was a cop she wanted to run all the way back to Connecticut and never look back, but she couldn’t… Sitting outside his home late at night she watches him fight against his demons. Demons she already had too much experience with firsthand. 

When Mike finally admits there is no way to outrun his demons, Tayrn knows she’ll do anything, or be anything, to help Mike find his way back. 

 

Book Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18659284-mike-s-way-back---finding-perfect-1

Amazon:   http://www.amazon.com/Mikes-Way-Back-Finding-Perfect-ebook/dp/B00FK4ZBHI/ref=pd_sim_kstore_4

B&N:   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mikes-way-back-amy-gregory/1117006385?ean=2940148432425

 

 

 

 

 

 

When asked ‘when do you have time to write’, Amy Gregory simply laughs.  The real answer is, “in bits and pieces”.  She and her husband live in Kansas City with their three fantastic kids that keep them running in three very different directions.  Because she sits so much, she always carries a notebook with her at all times.

She has an off the wall, snarky, off the cuff sense of humor that often shocks even those who’ve known her for years.  And she loves that her children have all been blessed that ability to make others laugh as well.  At least she’s grateful most of the time!  Her husband often teases her about how she “makes this stuff up” when he’s reading a piece of her work. … The answer—“it just comes to me when I’m typing”. Scary thought, huh!

 

Author Links:

Website: www.amygregoryauthor.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyGregory548

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amygregoryauthor548

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4809074.Amy_Gregory

We nearly had a fight on our hands over this book. So to stop the Bare Naked Team falling out over it we let both Tammy & Nicola review!


Tammy's Review

4 Bare Naked Stars ****

 

I absolutely loved Mike’s Way Back.  I was hooked from the very first page.  It was a quick light hearted love story of two damaged souls.

 

“If anyone ever asked, the defining moment that clinched his total interest, was when she slipped on the dark framed glasses. She went from beautiful to smoking-ass hot in that blip of a moment.”

 

Mike was such a HOT damaged cop.  You couldn’t help but fall in love with him.  He had been through more than most in the line of duty and love.  He was fighting a daily battle with his demons.  Could Taryn help him get past his demons?

 

“Of-freaking-course he’d be a cop.” Taryn muttered to herself

 

Taryn was a sassy, beautiful, world class designer.  Taryn’s father and brothers were cops and were very strict and controlling when she was growing up.  She disliked their controlling ways so much she ran away to California after graduation. She had been through a very bad breakup and wasn’t looking for love especially with a cop.  She came to Renland for a client and fell in love with the peaceful charming small town.

 

Taryn had zero desire to date a cop and made it very clear from their first meeting.  But Mike managed to get under her skin.  How could she possibly not fall for his charm? 

 

“He’d been showing her how with him, she could feel treasured and protected instead.

She bit her lip. There was always the last point in his favor. He was built, strong and hot as freaking hell. “

 

The relationship started off as two people that couldn’t help the attraction that flamed between them.  But they were both so hurt they remained only friends in the beginning.  Then they could no longer deny their feelings.  Oh boy did they have some flaming HOT steamy sex once they got together.  They slowly began to fall for each other.  But they both had so many demons and hurt to work through.  Could they beat the demons and fall in love or would they run away from each other?

 

No spoilers here.  I loved the ending and can’t wait to read Gabby’s story the next in the series. 

Nicola's Review

4 Bare Naked Stars ****

 

“Mike’s Way Back” is book 1 of a new series by author Amy Gregory. This is a feel good romance set in the small, homely town of Renland, Kansas. The story centres around Mike, the towns detective and Taryn, a designer who is in town on a job.

After an incident that nearly cost Mike his life working his dream job as a detective in Chicago, he decides to return to his hometown for a change of pace and quieter life. Something he promised his mum.  Here he was happier and more at ease.  “He buried his demons and kept the personal hell he experienced to himself”, but he’s on the right path.

Taryn is a renowned designer and sought out from clients all over the world.  She loves her job, it’s her passion and her work speaks for itself.  She loves living her life travelling, doing something she loves and being free.  Away from the suffocating life she lived growing up as a cop’s daughter. This was only made worse when her two older brothers joined the force as well, which is why she vowed never to get involved with “male authority figures”.

 So when she lands herself a job designing a store in the small, quaint town she all but jumps at the opportunity.  It is here, in a bar called ‘Jenny’s’ where she meets the ever gorgeous, detective Mike Sterling. 

“It was those eyes though that grabbed her and wouldn’t let go. They were so sharp, she felt almost as if he could see deep into the depths of her soul.”

And Mike was just as affected by her as she was of him.

“Just her voice alone was enough to set his blood on fire. Smooth, calm, and almost seductive,”

“The skin of her hand as soft as velvet, but the touch was pure electricity.”

It is when Taryn returns to her home in California for a short while that her and Mike’s relationship really develops. Through constant emails, phone calls and texts to each other she finds herself falling deeper for the man she vowed not to fall for.

She was melting under his spell and for the first time in a very long time, she was worried knowing she was no match for this man. What really scared the absolute hell out of her was...it felt right.”

 

And when she returns to the town to carry on with her job, they don’t waste any time in growing their relationship even more. He knows her issues with him being a cop and he will fight to prove to her that he will be nothing like her father or brother.

“Sugar. This isn’t a power struggle I’m trying to win with you. We are totally equal here. But I’ll let you know right now-there is one thing I will fight you on.”

“I want you Taryn. Give me a hundred and one excuses, and I’ll fight every one of them tooth and nail.”

And who is there to help him win over Taryn?  Her very much gay, and fun loving business partner, Andrew. I love him.  He’s been with Taryn since college, and they quickly formed an unbreakable friendship. They became family to one and other.

“You’ve used work as an excuse for two, almost three years now.” He brushed the hair from her eyes.  “You’ve got to put yourself out there again and take a chance.”

“I have.”

Andrew tipped his head. “A casual date here and there isn’t what I’m talking about. Your cop’s been emailing and calling for a month. You’re giddy after you’ve spoken with him. Even if you try to act aloof, I can see it in your eyes.”

But can he open himself up and divulge his inner most demons to Taryn?

“Mike...you can trust me with your pain.”

 

I was rooting for Mike and Taryn’s relationship to work from the moment they started talking to each other. The banter they shared had me laughing and they were just perfect for each other. 

Yes both of them have demons that they need to overcome, but with them working together they can help each other.

 

Yes there were a couple of things I didn’t understand in the book, and why things were placed where they were, but Amy made it clear at the end.

 

 I am looking forward to the next instalment.   Although the second book is centring on a different character I can’t wait to hear their story and to see if we get to find out what’s next for Mike and Taryn.



 

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