Reviews

Taming Trouble by Jiffy Kate

apagetoturn's review

5.0

I honestly can't even process what just happened! This book grabbed hold of my mind from one of the early chapters and wouldn't let me go. I got up at 530am to keep reading after going to bed just mere hours prior. Talk about pulling on my heart strings! This book is the best yet from this power duo!

I've been reading Jiffy Kate books for a while now, and the Finding Focus series is very dear to me. I wasn't sure how I would feel about Tucker Benoit getting his own book. I had very little expectations, but knew I would read it either way. I just didn't understand him, and the hate relationship he has with Piper. I was BLOWN AWAY by how much I loved this book.

Guys, this book just became my best read of the YEAR!

I can't even begin to explain how happy I am for Tucker, Piper and the whole Landry Clan. This book is real life. It's emotional, and beautiful, and heart breaking (I cried TWICE), and astounding, and surprising. I don't think I can say enough good things about this book. Go get it. Read it. You don't even have to have read the whole series first! Sure, some things might not make 100% sense, but it stands on it own two feet, for sure. I am so stoked on Tucker right now. He has a heart of gold, a demon d*ck, and a head of hair prettier than mine! Ha!

sandizzlereads's review against another edition

5.0

“It’s life and death and change; love and acceptance and growing. It’s good times and bad and everything in between” That’s what it’s all about. Jiffy Kate have outdone themselves with this story of family, love and self acceptance.

This is the fourth book in the Finding Focus series and to say they saved the best for last is an understatement. Tucker’s story is by far my favorite, watching him change and grow right in front of our eyes with every situation that gets thrown at him is both heartbreaking and beautiful.

This is an emotional one, so keep the tissues close you may need them, and this is also the steamiest of the four books as well.

Jiffy Kate just knows how to write a great story, so do not miss out on this one!

debs_shelves's review against another edition

5.0

I have loved this entire series. This one has to be my absolute favorite in the series.

We've met Tucker previously. Brother to Cami. Best friend of Deacon & Micah. Enjoyed him as the "supporting cast", but SO glad Jiffy Kate decided to devote a whole book to him.

We already knew Tucker was a musician. And a free spirit. We already knew from prior books that he and Piper often hooked up (secretly, because the others don't know it, although *we* do). He's a "no strings attached" kind of guy and she is career focused and not looking for commitment. And most of the time they appear to hate each other, except when they are loving on each other!

Then they wake up engaged with no real memory of what happened (*cue a Carrie Underwood song right here*). A video and some others help put the pieces together, and they nip that in the bud and move on with life.

We seen then both developing feelings for the other, and fighting it tooth and nail. It's not what either of them wants. Or is it?

Tucker ends up getting a curveball of a surprise, although a sweet surprise in a small package, and this could mean the end of Tucker & Piper. We watch them navigate through life and see their love story unfold.

This book had everything - humor, love, heartbreak, loss, love. The total package! Sad to see the end of this series and will miss the Benoits & the Landrys

iamivan91tx's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

After finishing the two books that make up Micah Landry’s and Sheridan (Dani) Reed’s story, I was eager to read Piper Grey’s. She is Dani’s best friend. Although Piper had a rather small role, she piqued my interest. I found her intriguing, and her name is cool to boot. Taming Trouble is book four in this southern romance series. I skipped the second because it's a prequel, and I was more interested in Micah, Dani, and Piper. The protagonists of Taming Trouble are Tucker Benoit and Piper Grey. It takes place in French Settlement, Louisiana. Tucker is a notorious bad boy and womanizer. I kid you not, Tucker earned himself the crude but amusing nickname Tucker the Fucker. He doesn’t do serious relationships.

Tucker used to be an aspiring singer. Failing to make it big, he returned to French Settlement to regroup. There, he struck up a friends- (or rather, enemies) with-benefits relationship with Piper. They couldn’t stand each other, but their chemistry was blazing. Taming Trouble starts after one of their trysts. They wake up after a drunken night at a club. It turns out a bandmate of Tucker’s filmed the latter’s drunk proposal and posted the video on Twitter. Tucker finds the situation amusing, but Piper is not thrilled. She runs away in a fury.

The video goes viral in less than a day. Tucker doesn’t mind it that much. A weird thing is that no one else he knows finds out about the video. It doesn’t even make a blip on the Landrys’ or the Benoits’ radar. That was all but impossible to believe. Haven’t they ever heard of social media? Anyway, the video has virtually no repercussions for Tucker. As for Piper, it’s another story. Her tyrant of a boss learns about the video and blackmails her with it. Piper has no choice but to do anything he asks or he will end her career.

Tucker and Piper continue to hook up, but less frequently. At one point, Piper thinks Tucker may be avoiding her. Not long after, Tucker’s life changes forever. One of Tucker’s conquests from his tour days shows up at his doorstep. She’s Sophie, who reveals that she became pregnant with his child. The girl, Sammy (short for Samanie) is four years old now. And that’s not the biggest news. Sophie is terminally ill, which is why she tracked down Tucker. She believes it’s time for Sammy to meet her father.

Tucker takes some time to assimilate the news. Part of him is angry that Sophie kept Sammy to herself all those years. Knowing that Sophie will not get to watch Sammy grow up tames that anger. Tucker feels that what’s happening to Sophie is not fair. When he meets Sammy, he knows she’s his daughter. Sammy turns out to be quite a bright child. She’s very attentive, self-sufficient, and inquisitive. Sammy takes great care of Sophie, who’s deteriorating quickly. Tucker feels sad at this. Sammy’s had to grow up too quickly so she could care for her mother.

Most of the rest of the book is about Tucker learning to be a parent. The whole prospect was sprung up on him without warning. Tucker is afraid he’ll mess things up. Caring for Sammy also means he pretty much stops talking to Piper. I don’t fault him for that, but Tucker could have handled things better. Even though Tucker and Piper don’t talk about personal stuff, a child is a huge life change. At least Tucker doesn’t try to raise Sammy by himself. He has a loving family and great friends. I looked forward to see how they reacted to Tucker becoming a father. Sammy is an adorable little girl. I found her scenes with Tucker and Sophie endearing. I don’t envision having children any time soon, but with Tucker and Sammy I sort of got a peek of what that feels like.

Now, I got Taming Trouble for Piper. Although she is a protagonist now, she hardly feels like one. Piper barely shows up in the book. Compared to Tucker, she has way too few chapters written in her POV. I’d have liked to see more of her. Maybe in another book? Other than that, I enjoyed this installment in the Finding Focus series. It’s one of the best romance novels I’ve read. And yes, it’s a romance novel, but it’s a great read for men. I’m not ashamed to admit I read this. I wouldn’t read books with shirtless dudes on the cover, though. No way. Taming Trouble is an entertaining, heartwarming read. You won’t regret it.

My rating: ★★★★

4 stars - Definitely enjoyed it!