Reading the Paranormal: Under Pressure by Allie Winters [Review]

Under Pressure (Lessons Learned #1) by Allie Winters
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: February 18, 2021

Lessons Learned
1. Under Pressure - Paperback | Kindle
2. Not Fooling Anyone
3. Can't Fight It
4. The Vinyl Frontier

Allie Winters
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Mia knows stress. She’s dealt with it her whole life. So when she gets an opportunity to run a psychology study to help her get into grad school, it should be no problem dealing with the prickly guy she suddenly finds herself paired with.

The one she had a secret crush on last year. The one who refuses to let anyone close. The one she’s discovering by the day may have a softer side than he lets anyone else see…

Tyler knows stress. He’s grappled with it for as long as he can remember. And just because he has to share credit with this girl on his new psychology study doesn’t mean he has to be friends with her. Except she somehow keeps worming her way into his life. In school. In the boxing gym.

In his bed.

But everyone knows it’s safer to keep to yourself. You can't hurt anyone that way. Even if it means giving up the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

As things heat up in the Stress Lab, will this match be able to work together without disruption, or will this growing attraction between them eventually... combust?

Thoughts on Under Pressure: Ahh, yes. Two people who handle life and the stresses that come with it very differently. Tyler's closed off and wary and doesn't let people close (starting with his family and ending with the ladies he hooks up with). Mia is open and friendly and doesn't like confrontation. Of any sort. Which means that sometimes she lets people walk over her. Which isn't cool on a lot of levels, mostly from those doing the walking.

BUT...she's holds her own against Tyler and his surliness. She woos him with baked goods and kindness and somehow the wary guy lets her worm her way under his walls. Trust me when I say it's not intentional on his part. He fights this thing between them right to the bitter end. (Spoiler: There's no bitter end. He gets his priorities in order eventually. It just takes time and a lot of elbow grease for him to accept certain things.)

Just so we're clear, I like when grumpy guys fall for the sunshine-y girl. Which isn't to say Mia's all unicorns and roses. She has her own things to deal with (a meddlesome inner voice that likes to point out all the way things can go wrong, for one), but she's willing to face them more readily than Tyler is.

A psychology study, a few steamy kisses, secrets that shed new light on the past, tasty treats, and two people figuring things out. I really liked these two pushing past their road bumps to make things work. *thumbs up*

Excerpt

“Close your eyes,” he says in that beautifully deep voice, “and take a deep breath. Focus on relaxing each muscle of your body and slowing your breaths. Inhale and exhale with me.” He counts to three steadily, bringing air in, then releases it on the same count of three.

I do all I can to concentrate on his words, the rhythm of it more than anything else, just trying to get out of my own mind. If I can just breathe with him, everything will be okay. This crushing weight will release.

I clutch at his arms like he’s a lifeline and he lets me, wrinkling the sleeves of his soft cotton shirt, taking in shaky breaths next to his strong ones.

We continue that way for long minutes until it’s safe for me to open my eyes, my chest finally rising and falling in an even tempo. My lashes and cheeks are still wet as I look up at him and he slowly brings a hand up to wipe the moisture away, his thumb featherlight on my skin.

He moves to tuck an errant curl behind my ear, brushing my neck as his hand wanders down, leaving shivers in its wake, then cups the back of my head, cradling it tenderly. The warmth of his fingers relaxes the muscles there, even more so when he gently massages the area, loosening the still lingering tension.

He’s silent, his eyes flicking back and forth between my eyes and mouth, and it takes me a moment to realize what he’s signaling. I’m unable to move, to think, to focus on anything but his face gradually coming closer.

I shut my eyes at the first gentle press of his lips. I didn’t know he was capable of such softness, such tenderness. My stomach dips in anticipatory delight as his other hand slides into my hair, holding me more securely to him as he moves his head a fraction, changing the angle of the kiss so it’s deeper now, but still just as slow and exquisitely soft.

I sway toward him, relaxing my hold on his shirt, kissing him back with enthusiasm. I had no idea he felt this way, that he likes me—

A sharp burst of laughter from the hallway outside the lab has us breaking apart, like we were caught doing something wrong...

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About Allie Winters

Allie is the author of the Suncoast University series, the Bishop Brothers series, and the Lessons Learned series. She lives in sunny Florida with her husband, daughter, and two cats. A librarian by day, she spends her nights writing happily ever afters. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and all things Disney.

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