Sarge left his small town in New Jersey four years ago with his guitar and a broken heart, courtesy of his sister's older best friend. Now, Sarge is back after becoming a hit rock star, and Jasmine can barely recognize the guy she used to babysit. As the heat between them ignites, Jasmine has to balance her attraction to him with all the many things that could go wrong between them.

Reading anything by Tessa Bailey has become a pattern for me at this point. I expect a great story, but never one that will top the last, and by the end of her new book, I'm shaking my head in complete shock at how skillfully her writing continues to power up book after book. CRASHED OUT is easily my favorite yet of her books with a premise that isn't for the faint of heart, or for anyone in general whose heart can't withstand high amounts of quickening. Jasmine and Sarge are absolutely electric with their chemistry from the beginning, and the significant, but not irrational, age difference between them only adds to their power as a couple.

Underneath the fantastic romance is an interesting take on the mixed feelings of small town life. Jasmine frequently feels love for her neighbors, like Sarge's sister, but she also feels like she has failed by not getting out of a trapping cycle of low-end jobs. I love how Sarge and Jasmine eventually open up about their individual dreams, both in and out of the town.

With more steaminess than seemingly possible and an added splash of a holiday season setting thrown in, CRASHED OUT is the perfect book to warm readers up. Tessa Bailey writes another knock-out novel with a deep, dark love, and two people who would give the world for each other.