Better When He's Bold by Jay Crownover

Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow
Date of publication: February 2015

Welcome to the Point...

In a dark and broken kingdom, a ruler has to be fearless to control the streets and the ruthless people who run them.

Race Hartman is just bold enough, just smart enough, and just lost enough to wear the crown. Places like the Point will always have bad things and bad people, but the man in control of all that badness can minimize the devastation. Race has a plan, but can he prevent total annihilation without destroying himself?

Brysen Carter has always seen her best friend's brother for what he is--too pretty, too smooth, and way too dangerous to touch. Basking in Race's golden glow is very tempting, but Brysen knows she'd eventually get burned.

When she starts receiving threatening texts and someone tries to take her out in parking lot, the only person interested in keeping her safe is the one man she can't allow herself to have.

Sometimes being bold is the only way to stay alive. But can she let Race save her life . . . if it means losing herself to him? 

Better When He's Bold is the second in the "Welcome to the Point" series.  This is Race and Brysen's story.  Race has taken over running the Point from the evil Novak.  His hope is that with him calling the shots, the Point won't ever be ruled by a man like Novak again.  He also finds he can't get his mind off His sister's friend, Brysen,  Can he do his job and still be there to protect her?

In the first book, Better When He's Bad, I had a hard time reconciling the life that these characters live.  I always want my heroes to be good men.  But as I read Better When He's Bold, I began to see that sometimes you have to get your hands a little dirty in order to survive.  There are people who are evil and just plain bad seeds and then there are people like Race who has to be a little bad to bring the good and better to the world.   I felt like that came across a lot clearer in this book than in the first.  

I loved Brysen and Race together.  Their relationship really steamed up the pages.  But more than that, I really felt like they brought a balance to each other's lives.  Brysen just can't seem to catch a break.  She has given up a lot to make sure her sister makes it to college and will sacrifice anything to protect her.  I admired that about her.  Anyone who is willing to do whatever it takes to help the ones she loves is a strong person in my book.

There is a mystery in this.  Someone is stalking Brysen and Race is desperate to find out who and why.  There is also someone who is trying to sabotage Race and his partner Nassir's business in the Point.  That story seems to be an arc that will carry over into the next book.  Hopefully, they will find some resolution soon.  

Titus's book, Better When He's Brave, is up next.  I can't wait to see how the cop's story plays out!