Reviewed by Carissa

TITLE:  Hell on Wheels

SERIES:  Bluewater Bay #3

AUTHOR:  Z.A. Maxfield

PUBLISHER:  Riptide Publishing

LENGTH:  225 pages

BLURB:  

Nash is the reliable one in the Holly family, the guy everyone counts on to keep things going. His genius twin brother is off at university, so Nash runs the family’s auto repair business and cares for his partially-paralyzed little sister while his crackpot father invents. His life seems mapped out for the foreseeable future, however much that might chafe.

So when Wolf’s Landing actor Spencer Kepler-Constantine lands in his life, Nash is ready for a diversion. Spencer is in the middle of a very painful, very public divorce and isn’t ready for a relationship—not that Nash wants one. But they both need a friend, especially one with benefits.

As they grow closer, Nash starts to see his family in a whole new light. Do they really need him so badly? Or does he simply need to be needed? Then Spencer’s ex reappears with a grand romantic gesture, and Nash has to figure out what he wants—and how to get it—before Spencer’s gone for good.

REVIEW:  

Though this book is third in the Bluewater Bay series, it can be read as a standalone. I haven’t got around to reading the rest of the series (and some haven’t even been published yet), but I had no problem fully enjoying this book. So read them in what ever order strikes your fancy. I just chose to review this one because I love Z.A. Maxfield (each book was written by a different author).

Nash has built his whole life around his family and he doesn’t even really mind. He is not a genius like his twin brother, and his little sister and father need all the help they can get. If he occasionally needs something other than his family to help fill his time, he can find that with some random guy. And some random guy is all that Nash thinks Spencer Kepler-Constantine is going to be, when he finds him stranded on the side of the road. Sure, Spencer is a big fancy actor in the TV show that has invaded Bluewater Bay, but to Nash that doesn’t mean a whole lot. Well other than the chance to get his fangirling sister an autograph or something.

But what was just a roadside hookup for both men oddly turns into something more. And as they get to know each other, both men start to realize that they are falling quite badly for the other. However, Spencer is still a star (with an annoying ex in the not-to-distant background) and Nash can’t even think of a life that doesn’t revolve around his family and what they need from him. There seems to be little chance that what they have could ever be anything other than just a nice fling and a good story to tell one day.

My one big regret about this book is that we will never get to see Wolf’s Landing, the TV show being filmed here in Bluewater Bay. I have an addiction to paranormal TV shows, and this one sounds like a hoot. And not just because Spencer sounds sexy and dangerous in his role as Delaine Romanov . All growly and fierce…just my kind of wolf. 😛

Though I don’t need to see the show to understand exactly how insane fans of a TV show can get. I feel a lot for (and had to laugh my ass off when she first saw Spencer) Nash’s sister, and the whole fangirling aspect of this book. Fangirls are shit crazy (and I say this as a member of that lamentable club). I still didn’t get why she was behind Spencer getting back with his ex, when Spencer could be dating her brother, but shipping is a very delicate matter and it is best to tread lighting around other people’s ship less you start a flame war.

As to the actual story…I found this book just great. I loved the way that Nash and Spencer interacted, and their first ‘date’ was just awesome. Everyone should be subjected to the horror of theme-park food at least once in their life. And seeing Spencer’s reaction was perfect.

And while I wanted to plunge Peter into the bay and let him soak there for–oh I don’t know…4 years?–I liked how Spencer handled him and didn’t let that ruin what could have been something good with Nash (once they finally got their shit together). When Spencer and Peter finally talked things out, I guess I can see why they were together, but I can also see why they were not going to work. They were just looking for two totally different things. Though that whole thing on the talk show was just moronic of Peter.

The only thing I had a real problem with was Nash’s sister. I don’t know, I guess I just wanted them to demand a bit more maturity  and responsibility from her before they agreed to let her study abroad. Up to that point she hadn’t shown all that great personal responsibility, and even if I get that she wanted to try to get some independence, I think kids should show some initiative before you send them overseas.

I had a lot of fun reading this book, and am looking forward to picking up the others. This was a wonderful idea for a series, and having all these different authors write stories about this little town is going to be blast to read about.

RATING:  

BUY LINKS:

Riptide

Amazon

Amazon.UK    

ARe