Grumpy Jake by Melissa Blue [Review]

Grumpy Jake by Melissa Blue
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 8, 2020

Purchase Links: Kindle

Melissa Blue
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Synopsis (Goodreads):

Bailey Thorne doesn't hate Jake the Rake, just despises him. She blames the rumor mill at her school...and, okay, him. His adorable son has only been in preschool, but Jake has already made an impressive dent in dating the unmarried faculty. She's had to hear of his every exploit from the broken hearts he's left behind. She was fine to loathe him from afar, but now his son has entered kindergarten--and she's the teacher. It's going to be a very long school year.

Jake Polaski was more than fine to avoid Ms. Thorne after it became clear she was not amused by his very existence. But then they get stuck in an elevator for an evening. He finds out that underneath that baleful glare she always gives him, lies a warm, funny and sexy as hell woman. He does his best to not be smitten after every exchange afterward. His son needs him rational, steadfast...and love is the most uncertain thing.

It was the elevator's fault. Had it worked like it should, Bailey would have gone on with her life without seeing why so many of her co-workers had fallen for the grumpy single dad. (It's his dry wit, his playful teasing and the drool-worthy cut of his jawline.) And now she's caught in the way he doles out smiles and the dark depths of his secrets. If nothing else, she knows from rumor there's a clock ticking on their affair before it implodes because things always do with Jake the Rake, but she can't seem to walk away first.

Thoughts on Grumpy Jake: Oh, I liked this one. But then, I adore stories with grumpy heroes. Grumpy heroes who adore their kid and try to be the best dad they can be? Even better!

To be fair, Jake's not all that grumpy. He's more reserved with a side of grump. He's pretty upfront about his intentions, also. By that I mean, he goes into a relationship with clear expectations and rules and he sticks to them.

Until Bailey. She worms her way into a different part of his life by being his son's teacher and by not being interested in him romantically. At first, at least. She might appreciate his broody good looks, but the swath of romantic destruction (in her opinion) he's left behind in her coworkers and the other parents leaves her cold. But...as she gets to know him, she starts to like the man underneath the scowl despite herself.

Biggest roadblock? Jake's narrow view of what he thinks his son needs. Which sounds like he's not a good father when I write it like that, but that's not the case at all. He's a great father, he just has a big secret and he's not sure how to share that secret without potentially ruining the life he's built for him and his son.

A few bumps, a few bruises on the heart, a few seriously steamy encounters, and one adorably charming boy who's more resilient than his father gives him credit for. Good stuff all around.