Steamier than I prefer, but a very touching story with relatable characters. ( )

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.

Tracy Wolff long ago became a one click author for me. Her books are always sexy and more often than not involve an alpha male and a sassy female main character. Insta-love is definitely a theme throughout her stories so be forewarned if that's not your thing.

I'm a sucker for a sports romance which is hilarious to me as someone who doesn't watch sports. In this story, we've got a football player and a real estate agent. I loved Emerson (the female mc). She was sassy and hilarious and independent. Hunter (the male) was sexy, confident and just the right amount of cocky without being awful. The vulnerability he showed later in the story was a welcome surprise and I really liked the entire story.

If you need a quick, smutty read, this is one I definitely think you should pick up. ( )

Down and Dirty by Tracy Wolff
Book #1: Lightning Series
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4½/5 stars
My Review:

Emerson Day is broke and in desperate need of her new job so showing up late and soaked from head to toe isn’t making the best of impressions. Walking in pissed off and outraged at the ass who contributed to both of the above certainly isn’t helping especially considering that ass is multi-millionaire quarterback, Hunter Browning.

Hunter Browning is the golden boy of the NFL. He’s the League’s most successful quarterback, he’s gorgeous, according to the tabloids, he’s quite the ladies’ man, and based on Emerson’s own personal experience, he’s a colossal ass. Except, that same colossal ass did a really nice thing when he insisted Emerson be the one to show and sell him his new house. The commission from the sale will be huge and take Emerson from desperation to comfortable living for a very long time. While the gesture may seem sweet, it has put Emerson in even hotter water with her new boss. With the knowledge she’s likely going to be fired after her first and only sale, Emerson dives in with both feet and gets far more than she’s prepared for.

To say the first day of house hunting is a disaster doesn’t even come close. Emerson can only go by the list given to her by her boss and it becomes clear immediately her boss is an angry idiot. Hunter isn’t interested in any of the homes he’s being shown and if Emerson can’t figure out what it is he wants, she’s not even going to have a sale to go with her firing. Ever the persistent (and stubborn) one, Emerson pokes and prods until she understands what it is Hunter needs and wants. The fact that poking prodding came with a panty-melting kiss, makes Emerson all the more determined to help the man who is not at all what he initially appeared to be. There is something real lurking beneath the surface of Hunter and despite all the red flags and warning bells going off in her head, Emerson can’t help but like him.

It seems the whole world knows everything there is to know about Hunter Browning except the reason he needs a new home and needs it quickly. By some miracle, he’s managed to keep at least one part of his personal life completely personal and more’s the better for it. Some things, painful and inevitable things just aren’t for public consumption. Hunter can’t deny he’s attracted to Emerson and within just a day he understands he needs her for more than a one-night stand. Emerson is feisty and confident, strong and capable, and immune to his particular brand of BS. She gives just as good as she gets and the attraction between them is utterly undeniable. Hunter finds Emerson irresistible and given the personal crisis he is facing, she is also a balm to his soul. It’s crazy fast, but Hunter is certain Emerson is meant to be in his life as something more than just a realtor. For a few weeks things between Hunter an Emerson are simply perfect and then the inevitable happens and Hunter’s world is turned upside down. In his grief, Hunter tries to destroy what he has with Emerson, but he underestimates both her persistence and her stubbornness.

The Bottom Line: Well, didn’t this book turn out to be the surprise of the year for me!! When I chose this title from Netgalley, I did so because I thought I was going to get a purely sexy times kind of read with a superficial cast of characters and a nothing more than decent plot at best. I truly thought I knew what I was getting into with this read and I was OK with it. As my granny used to say, “Fooled you, zebra!” In truth, I was in no way prepared for this book. Down and Dirty is so much more than just a sexy time read and I was pleasantly surprised. There is real substance to this read including a solid and extremely emotional plot (I effing cried!), characters who are fully resolved and very real, and some sexy times that don’t take over the read, but enhance the plot and make sense to the characters. I am also a big fan of proper epilogue’s and Down and Dirty has an excellent epilogue that furthered Emerson and Hunter’s HEA and left me completely satisfied with this book. Thank you, Tracy Wolff for proving I can still be surprised by a book 😊 ( )

Received an ARC for my fair review for netgalley. This was such an emotional book. We have a quarterback who is known as the golden boy, but nobody really knows him and what he is going thru. Then we meet Emerson, a sassy artist who is just trying to pay the bills as a new realtor. The way they meet in funny, and they have an instant attraction to each other, but she tries to fight it, because she does not want to lose her new job, which he steam rolled in having her in to show him houses. As they start to spend time together, she sees they is more to him, and that he is fighting some sort of battle. Then the real tragedy hits, and it breaks your heart, but even as he pushes her away, she fights, and they end up having there HEA. worth reading. ( )

A fast paced romance, that is fun, sexy as hell and heart breaking so bring some tissues.
Football star Hunter is looking for that "special home" and he insists on Emerson showing him all the houses that cover what he asked for and are listed. He met her by accident, and since then hasn't been able to get her out of his mind, and when he learned where she worked he had to have her work for him in his search.
This was a nice professional athlete/romance, a guy who's got better things to do than chase after his next sexy companion for the night....he's just making eyes at his sexy realtor.
I liked this story. It had a great plot line and the story just flowed. The characters had great chemistry together, their bickering was fun, and when Hunter's explanations for his home were told, a different part of his character became clear.
I highly recommend this book, a definite must read. ( )