It's characters like Riley and Summer and the authors that create them, that remind us how precious and fleeting life really is. Riley is the planner. Summer is the risk taker. Both are survivors, but have handled the experiences in different ways. Summer's recipe is to live life to the fullest, experience all there is to explore and leave her mark on the world. Riley is more level headed and not willing to take unnecessary risks. His plans blow to smithereens when Summer walks into his world and worms her way into is heart. An inspiring story of courage and hope that provides humor, heart and thought.
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So we are back the Naked Men group! Oh the delicious men of the ACS, and who is going to fall head first this time?

What happens when you get a control freak, who wants to be prepared for EVERY possible situation, so he, and his friends will ALWAYS stay safe....and a Women who died and was brought back to life, but was determined to live life to the fullest! You get Trying It All and more specifically, Riley and Summer!

But when one scorching hot kiss shocks them both to the core, they end up coming to a truce, in order to give their friends a reprieve from their nonstop bickering! But you know what they say, there's a fine line between love and hate!

Oh my goodness, what a story! I have always loved Riley uptight persona, and I say it's a persona because underneath he's still with the frightened kid that was in the cave after the bus crash who blamed himself. Then there is Summer, who carries the scars (literally) from the shooting at her college. But are Riley and Summer really meant to be together, or will the past trauma stop them, from taking that permanent step.

The writing and plot was simply magic, and kept me gripped all the way to the end. I just want to put this out there, that I never want this series to ever end! Cause I think it will be like losing a part of me!

I give Taking It All 5 stars! ( )

Trying It All by Christie Barth
Book #4: Naked Men Series
Source: Netgalley and Purchase
My Rating: 4/5 stars
My Review:
**Spoilerish for previous books in the series**

Riley Ness is the planner among the Naked Men. He is the organizer, the cautious one, the check-the-supplies-multiple-times guy. In short, Riley never allows himself or the other ACSs to go or do anything without considering and assessing every possible danger. Nothing escapes Riley’s critical eye! What do you expect from a guy who was lost in the Alps as a teenager?

As an adult, Riley has taken his threat assessment skills to a whole new level. Though his parents had aspirations of Riley holding a prominent position in some lofty organization, Riley has chosen instead to work in the traffic division of the NTSB. Along with his team, Riley assesses wrecks and collisions from every angle to determine what caused the accident and if there are any measures that can be taken to prevent similar situations in the future. Riley is all about safety and he will do whatever it takes to ensure no one else suffers the way he and the other Naked Men did when they were kids. Riley’s attitude and exactitude haven’t ever caused him problems where the ladies are concerned until he meets Summer Sheridan.

Summer is everything that triggers Riley’s anxiety. She is reckless, spontaneous, adventurous, and doesn’t give a damn about planning for the future. Summer’s presence in Riley’s life isn’t going to end anytime soon since the best-friend of Griffin’s girlfriend. The only thing Riley can do to prevent her from causing a dreaded anxiety attack is to avoid her at all costs. Trouble is, she smokin’ hot and likes to push his buttons at every available opportunity. Riley doesn’t just sit there and take it which means he is constantly interacting with Summer and they’re constantly pissing each other off. Sounds like just the right recipe for some angry/awesome sex, right?

Angry sex is all it should have ever been between Riley and Summer, but as they begin to open up to one another, they find true friendship and the basis of a real relationship. Both are oxen-level stubborn which means changing even a little or compromising is going to be difficult. Riley wants Summer to be more careful and Summer wants Riley to be more adventurous. What ensues are moments of hilarity, sweetness, naughtiness, and pure terror. Both are stretched way beyond their comfort zone before all is said and done and both are certain that if they aren’t careful, they’re going to lose the best thing that has ever come into their respective lives.

The Bottom Line: The Naked Men series slows down a bit for me with this fourth installment. I am still loving the actual Naked Men so much, but Summer is a bit hard to take. Summer tends to be very aggressive in her attitude and behavior which makes her somewhat off-putting. With that being said, I ended up liking Summer once all the madness played out and she Riley got to the HEA. As with each of the reads, the story of the Naked Men as a group has evolved as more women come into their lives. I like to see this playing out as the romance in each book plays out. There is evolution among the individuals and the group as a whole which keeps the series both consistent and fresh. ( )

Received an ARC for my fair review for netgalley. It was ok, I liked the last book better. I actually found Summer to annoying, and I did not like how the guys talked about her being so sexy and her assets, I know friends talk to each other, but I still didn't care for it. Riley was also a little annoying also, I actually preferred the rest of the couples, I think that is what actually saved book. ( )