Playing with Fire – Cassie Truett

This is a debut novel and my god its FANTASTIC! I cannot wait to see what Cassie writes next. I went into this thinking hmmm maybe I have hit peak cowboy (I know how dare I) but nope not even close!

Before you go further this book comes with some trigger warnings including domestic abuse and it’s on page and graphic. So, protect your mental health this is not a romcom but its handled so well and is necessary for the storyline.

Maddox Whittaker and Austin Taylor will steal your heart! Austin is Maddox’s sister Kendall’s best friend and Maddox should not be having thoughts about her. She is 10 years younger than him and there’s the whole BFF situation. Austin thinks Maddox is peak cowboy fantasy and wants to have a ride.

Austin wants out of the small town of Cedar Creek and is trying so hard to save all her money and make a plan to get out. She works at the local bar and cam girls at night. Her dad is an abusive alcoholic druggie and steals her money and beats on her. My heart broke so many times for Austin. But also, she is as stubborn as a mule and makes its bloody hard for people who just want the best for her.

Maddox signs up to the cam girl site and drops $250 to watch the red-haired beauty who kinda reminds him of what he can’t have. Austin works out that her new subscriber is none other than her rancher fantasy brought to life and they end up hooking up off the site. The spice in this book is next level it tested my smut poker face! Austin knows exactly what she is doing she has been let down by the one man in her life who was supposed to love and care for her, so she doesn’t let anyone get close enough to take that power from her.

Maddox knows she has one foot out the door and that anything that happens between them is “casual” but that doesn’t stop him catching feelings HARD and wanting to make her stay. The last quarter of this book will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat and also break your heart. I got annoyed with Austin because she has someone who will hang the stars for her and she still can’t get out of her own way.

There are 6 Whittaker siblings, and I hope they all get their own stories! You get snippets of their stories throughout this one. I have a feeling Cassie is going to become one of my must reads!