Good Girls Don’t by Victoria Dahl

Title:Good Girls Don’t

Series: Donovan Brother’s Brewery bk 1

Author:Victoria Dahl

Genre: Contemporary

Too much of a good thing…

With her long ponytail and sparkling green eyes, Tessa Donovan looks more like the girl next door than a businesswoman—or a heartbreaker. Which may explain why Detective Luke Asher barely notices her when he arrives to investigate a break–in at her family’s brewery. He’s got his own problems—starting with the fact that his partner, Simone, is pregnant and everyone thinks he’s the father.

Tessa has her hands full, too. Her brother’s playboy ways may be threatening the business, and the tension could tear her tight–knit family apart. In fact, the only thing that could unite the Donovan boys is seeing a man come after their “baby” sister. Especially a man like Luke Asher. But Tessa sees past the rumors to the man beneath. He’s not who people think he is—and neither is she.

Luke Asher is a Detective inBoulder,COon a case of a robbery at a local brewery.  While at the crime scene he sees gorgeous brewery owner Tessa Donavan, who is the sister of his college buddy Jamie Donovan. Sparksfly between the two, but Tessa is warned off from Luke by her older brother, and he also tells Luke that his sister is still a virgin.  Things don’t look good for Luke and Tessa to get together.  Luke’s work partner is pregnant, and everyone thinks the baby’s Luke’s.  He’s also trying to out live the rumor that he divorced his first wife after she was diagnosed with cancer.  Things also go from bad to worse when both of her brothers are trying to protect Tessa from Luke.

When I first got this book I was very excited and curious to read it because I’ve read some of Dahl’s historical romances and really liked them.  I loved that this book is set inBoulder,COwhich is only 30 minutes from my home.  Here in CO we have tons of inside jokes aboutBoulder, and it was nice to read a book set in that location.

I really connected with Tessa at the beginning of the book – she was funny, cute and had a great relationship with her brothers.  I loved the scene where she and Luke are getting it on and he puts the breaks on because he thinks she’s a 27 year old virgin!   The chemistry between these two really makes this book a great read.  I do have to say that some of Tessa’s choices at the end of the book are what made me down grade my rating from an A to a B.  Basically she broke off things with Luke because of something he kept from her and throughout the whole book she kept a HUGE secret from her brother about the brewery.

Luke is a super good guy who just wants to protect his work partner.  By doing this, he shuts his mouth on issues and it sometimes makes him look like a jerk.  Everyone in his office thinks he’s the father of his partner’s baby, and he doesn’t deny it.  I was kind of confused by this at first, but it really played out well in the end.  Luke Asher really made this book for me.  Loved his character – he was super hot in and out of bed.

The writing style of Dahl is easy flowing and witty.  So glad I picked up this book, and am very excited to read the next book (Bad Boys Do).

Grade: B

Other books in this series:

Bad Boys Do (coming Oct 2011)

Real Men Will (coming Nov 2011)