Review: Good Girls Don’t by Victoria Dahl

Good Girls Don’t
(Donovan Brothers Brewery #1)
By: Victoria Dahl
Publisher: HQN Books
Release Date: Aug. 30, 2011
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Pages: 384
Rating: I really liked the story!

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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.

 


 

I had no idea how good this story was going to be. I loved the closeness of the family. The fact that no guy is good enough for their innocent little sister. The older brother, Eric, takes all the responsibility and runs the show since their parents passed away when they were younger. Jamie being the youngest is sort of a screw up and a ladies man. Then there is Tessa who is the glue, the one who does everything in her power to keep everything together and everyone happy. I just really loved their relationship. Like for instance, when Tessa leaves in the middle of the work day and claims she is going to the doctors, Eric asks “What’s wrong?”, to get them off her back she tells them that she is going to the gynecologist.” Eric’s face turns bright red and he steps back so fast that he pumps into the door jam. She tells them it is just a normal check up, that she isn’t “engaged in anything”. At that point both of her brothers back out of her office in horror.

I also enjoyed that the story didn’t just focus on Tessa and her brothers at the brewery but also on Luke and his job as a detective as well. I of course loved the interaction between Luke and Tessa as well. I really enjoyed the easy flow of their dialogue. Even though there might not have been a lot going on at the time, the way they interacted with each other keeps you entertained. Like when Luke and Tessa walk into the back of the brewery where the “brew master” Wallace is, to ask him if he recognizes the suspect in the photo. They notice that he is heading out the door with a “date” which just so happens to be another guy. After Wallace leaves Luke says “I had no idea Grizzly Adams was gay.”
Tessa- “He’s not. Grizzly Adams is enthusiastically bisexual.”
Luke- “Oh. That’s… Okay, let’s stop calling him that. It’s affecting my childhood memories. I loved that show.”

Luke- “Come on. Come to bed with me.”
Tessa- “The bed huh? This must mean something special.” She got up and stretched, then grinned down at him. “You know what’s even more special?”
He raised his eyebrows in question and Tessa reached for the floor to pick up the gift he’d dropped. Luke groaned.
“Fancy lingerie!” she cried.
“Those are Batman underwear.”
“I know, but it’s not just the logo. There’s a Batman utility belt and everything. And…” She leaned forward to whisper. “They’re supertight boxer briefs. Rawr.”
“No.”
She ignored him and stepped over the barrier of his knees.
“I’m not putting those on!” he called out as she sauntered toward the bedroom.
“Yes you are.”
“No, I’m, not.” But fuck it. He totally knew he was. Because it would make her laugh, and nothing made him happier than Tessa laughing. Except Tessa screaming his name, and that would follow soon enough, ridiculous underwear of not.