Isabel Beachwood just lost her dream job. Now she’s forced to move out of her precious Victorian apartment, and in with her stepsister, bringing back ugly memories of a painful childhood.
Ty Griffin is a financial magnate who deals in multi-million dollar mergers and acquisitions. His bespoke suits can’t hide a body worthy of a professional athlete. Those intense azure eyes telegraph a keen intellect. And his mouth, the only soft thing about him, is sinfully sensual. But his drive to succeed has all but obliterated any chance for a personal life.
Isabel is surprised when, during her moving sale, none other than the white-hot Ty Griffin, CEO of Grandin Financial, buys her prized Carmel-by-the-Sea table. When she finds out he’s part of the reason she lost her job, her apartment, and her adorable table, she’s incensed.
The moment Ty meets the voluptuous and challenging Isabel Beachwood, he’s completely enthralled. He’s the kind of man who’s used to getting what he wants. And he wants Isabel.
While their steamy relationship heats up, an insidious danger seems to be shadowing them. It’s a treacherous threat that could ruin everything.
Soon Ty and Isabel are dealing with an over-protective stepsister, a highly trained German Shepherd, a pain in the butt Welsh Corgi, a jealous gold-digger, an obsessed suitor, a former lover, and Isabel’s quirky tech colleagues. All of which turn out to be the least of their problems.
Because the past won’t die. And it can be murder.
All Tyed Up is my second Julia Harlow book. In my opinion, this one is more engaging than the first although both are very enjoyable reads. There is so much that I adore about All Tyed Up but the two things that I absolutely love above all else is Ty, the hero, and Pilot the hero dog.
I fell in love easily with Tyberius “Ty” Griffin from the minute he walked into Isabel’s apartment to buy her table. Isabel lost her job and sells her prized table to meet expenses. She is also stressing because she must give up her apartment to save money. Ty’s sister saw the table on Craig’s list and knew it is perfect for the house he is remodeling. Ty is smitten with Isabel Beachwood from this first meeting, Isabel is not interested in Ty at all even though she can see his beauty. Ty doesn’t give up and uses every opportunity to worm his way into Isabel’s heart.
Isabel is a smart woman with insecurities about her body. Her childhood isn’t the best after her father dies. Isabel’s mom remarries into an unhappy home. Her step-sisters tease her unmercifully because Isabell is a curvy girl while her step sisters are tall, skinny, model types. The outcome of living in this environment is Isabel has serious body image issues. The more she gets to know Ty the more she questions--How a man like Ty has a serious interest in a woman like her?
All Tyed Up starts out strong. There is a good build up getting Isabel in the right frame of mind to open to Ty. There is an office “stalker” so to speak. A co-worker who wants to be more than friends. There is also the appearance of an ex-lover of Isabel, who is interested in her again. All the while, Ty is trying to show Isabel he is the man for her. My head spins, in a good way, with the desire to get into their story.
Then a couple things confused me and slowed the story a little. Not that they are wrong, necessarily they just don’t fit for me. Isabel has a ridiculous reaction when she runs into Ty at a restaurant and jumps to conclusions that are ridiculous. For me it is an irritant when a writer switches a smart woman to a teenager. I know this is often used in romance novels but I think it is time to move on and allow the heroine to talk out her issues. For me that is a much more realistic approach. Let the women act like a mature human not some child. Also, I didn’t get the second return of the ex. It didn’t advance the story, nor did any of the characters react to him. I didn’t get it.
Overall, Ms. Harlow does a good job developing a fun, easy read. All Tyed Up is, what some might call, a good beach book or a good book for a lazy afternoon. There is a good romance, a little push/pull, and a mystery twist. It takes the reader away to a good place with good characters. I enjoy reading this book and look forward to seeing what Julia Harlow has for us in the future.
4 STAMPS
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