ARC Review – Bound by an Angel (Ties That Bind #3) by Mackenzie McKade

Description:
When the devil tempts an angel, it doesn’t matter who made the first move.

San Antonio is a far cry from the lifestyle Tess gave up in California, but she’ll do anything to help her siblings adjust to the loss of their parents. Even set aside her own needs and desires, which means ignoring the sinfully sexy cowboy next door.

But when dealing with three teens pushes her to the breaking point, she reaches out to the same man she snubbed. She gets more than she anticipates when his friend joins in and she gets the fantasy night of a lifetime. There’s no fighting the chemistry that keeps tugging at her long after that night, but she has to think about what’s best for her siblings—and keep her teaching job.

Clancy Wiseman’s bad-boy reputation is as bad as they come. He doesn’t do relationships, preferring kinky ménages to keep things from getting serious. Besides, who would want a man with a family legacy of abuse?

One night with Tess turns everything upside down. She’s everything he isn’t, yet he can’t get past the notion that she’s the woman who could change his life…and abolish the curse that hounds his family name.

Product Warnings
Contains a woman hell-bent on denying her body’s desires, and a cowboy or two ready and willing to fan the flames. Watch her resistance melt as one of these red-hot men steals her heart.

Oh how I love series and when a series gets better with each book, I love them even more. In Bound By An Angel, author Mackenzie McKade has delivered the best book in the series to date. I have to admit, I had high hopes for Clancy’s story and she did not disappoint.

We met Clancy in book 2, Bound By The Past, and we know that he came from an abusive household and has sworn to never put himself or a woman in a situation where he might become like his father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Yep, Clancy has a lot of demons in his closet. This is why he only engages in ménages, so he’s never alone with a woman. Thing is everyone around him can see what a kind, loving, and caring man he’s become but he just see what he thinks he’s destined to become. When he shows up on Jess’ front lawn drunk and with a broken down truck, he doesn’t make the best first impression.

Jess found herself thrust into the role of guardian to her 19 year old brother and twin 16 year old sisters following her parent’s untimely death. She’s made the most of it and even moved her family to Texas so her brother can live his dream of owning and running a ranch. She’s accepted a job as a teacher in the local elementary school and the last thing she needs is to become involved with a man with a not so stellar reputation.

It’s pretty damn obvious from the moment Clancy and Jess meet that they have chemistry to spare. Thing is Jess is determined to keep her distance. Clancy even knows that she’s not the type of woman he should be messing with. But when Clancy steps in and keeps her brother, Levi, from harm she winds up tracking him down to find out more information. What she gets is a very hot evening with Clancy and his friend, Ty.

While Jess tries to maintain her distance from Clancy she finds it difficult when he helps them with some problems around the ranch. They both find it impossible to stay away from each other despite Levi having issues with their relationship.

I don’t think I’ve ever read two people more determined to stay away from each other but who needed each other more than they’d ever admit. It’s a good thing they both have friends and family who see how much they need each other. I fell in love with both of these characters and found myself groaning when they were both so stubborn and trying to keep their distance and cheering when they finally gave in to their passion. Clancy is such a loving and caring man who just happens to have a kinky side when it comes to sex. Jess, there’s so much more to her than the prim and proper school teacher and guardian of three teenagers. I also very much enjoyed the teenagers in this story. Watching Levi taking on the overbearing “father” role to his big sister but then in typical adolescent boy fashion chasing after their neighbor’s teenage daughter was amusing to say the least. The twins flirting with Clancy then turning around and chastising their brother when he tries to stop the growing relationship between Jess and Clancy is just spot on for typical teenage girl behavior.

Bound By An Angel is an excellent addition to this series. Mackenzie McKade has written a realistic and touching story about loss and the power of love in the healing process. The characters are endearing and believable and the words flow giving this story a realistic feel. I can’t wait to re-read this story and am already looking forward to the next installment in this series.