One Night with a SEAL - Tawny Weber, Beth Andrews (HB #943 - June 2017)

Series: Uniformly Hot (Book 71)

All Out by Tawny Weber

Navy SEAL Zane Bennett can't walk away from a challenge. He's determined to win a bet with his brother -- until he collides with the luscious Vivian Harris. Their attraction is immediate and searingly hot, but Zane can't bring himself to bow out of the bet. Now the game is really on…and Zane is embroiled in a wicked matchup he can't resist!

Good story. The book opens with Zane getting ready to head home for his ten-year high school reunion. He's doing some last minute training and pondering the fact that he works best when he's competing with someone else. He admits he doesn't like to lose, though losing to a fellow SEAL is bearable. One of his greatest competitors has always been his twin brother, Xander, who is also a SEAL working on the east coast.

Once back in his home town and hanging out with Xander and their high school buddies, talk turns to old times. Zane and Xander both have reputations for engaging in outrageous dares. One of their friends challenges them to win a date with Quinn Oswald, their high school princess, for the reunion dance. Zane can't turn down a challenge, even though he suspects that his brother has more interest in the lady than he does. Zane gets distracted from his goal when he meets Vivian. The attraction between them is immediate and explosive. Though he doesn't know it at first, Vivian is the little sister of one of his friends and has had a crush on him for years. Vivian has been working in the family bakery but has dreams of branching out on her own with her naughty treats. She gets no support for her dreams from her family and is hesitant to step outside her comfort zone and commit fully to those dreams.

Zane and Vivian settle into a hot and heavy fling that they don't expect anything to come of other than a few days of fun. Both are surprised to discover that they have more than just chemistry in common. Zane is a bit freaked out by the way that he suddenly realizes that what he feels for Vivian means more than winning a silly dare. Vivian wonders if her feelings for Zane will give her the courage she needs to take the chance of a lifetime. And what will happen when Vivian finds out about the challenge? I loved the scene between Vivian and her brother when he found her and Zane together. I also liked seeing Vivian stand up to Zane about the challenge and what she did about it. The scene at the reunion dance was pretty awesome.

All In by Beth Andrews

Of the Bad Boy Bennett twins, Navy SEAL Xander is always the gentleman. That is until he's challenged to go against his brother for a date with Quinn Oswald -- the girl Xander's wanted since high school! It takes only one kiss for Quinn and Xander's deliciously sexy chemistry to explode. But how much is Xander willing to gamble…before he goes all in?

Sweet and spicy second chance story. Xander is the quieter one of the twins. He just rolls his eyes at the latest challenge from his high school buddies, until the subject of the challenge becomes Quinn. All through high school he had crushed on her but had never tried to pursue her. The thought of losing her to his brother is unbearable and provides the kick in the pants he needs to go after her. Quinn has come back to town after her divorce to get her life back together. Her marriage had done a number on her confidence and her ability to trust.

I loved the start of their relationship. Xander is quite the gentleman and insists on escorting Quinn home after her shift at the bar. He's a bit awkward about it and sticks his foot in his mouth a couple of times, but eventually, convinces her to let him. Quinn really wants to refuse. She is intensely attracted to him but doesn't want to be. The sparks are flying between them, but Xander's scruples won't let him follow through when he senses that she isn't really ready. I loved seeing him show up the next day with a bolt for her door and a plant to teach her self-defense.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship as the attraction between them takes off and is enhanced by the way that they spend time getting to know each other. I especially liked Xander's opinion of her ex and the way that he was determined to show her how strong she is. Quinn realizes that she is falling for him and that against her common sense she has come to trust him. Xander is surprised by the way that he is looking past the reunion and staying in touch with Quinn. When she finds out about the challenge, she is hurt and furious at what she sees as his betrayal. Their confrontation exposes some deep vulnerabilities that both need to face. I loved Quinn's big moment at the reunion and seeing her take a chance on her happiness.

In both stories, I really liked the relationship between Zane and Xander. They are competitive with each other and have typical sibling interactions. But they are also always there for each other. I liked how Zane sensed that Xander was more interested in Quinn than was conveyed to their buddies. I also loved the scene where they were wrestling with each other and then their nephews, before Xander said something really stupid to their sisters. It made me laugh to see two big strong SEALs running scared from her.