Crazy For You had me positively giddy! Rachel Lacey is a goddess with her writing! I loved Run To You and Crazy For You was even BETTER! Full of emotion, heat, and plenty of humor, this book had it all including that sizzling romance we come to know and love and expect from Miss Lacey.

Emma and Ryan had me falling in love with their story from the first chapter to the very last. I cried, I laughed and I SO sighed. To say this book was impressing is putting it mildly. I enjoyed the ever loving heck out this one of a kind romance!

Crazy For You gets a SEDUCTIVELY APPEALING FIVE SHOOTING STARS! Fun, flirty, and full of promise, this book will win your heart from the synopsis alone.

Emma seems to be in need of change. She is tired of being the good girl and wants to love on the wild side for a little. Thanks to some good old girlfriend fun, she has decided to jump in with both feet. She has set her eyes on her long time crush Ryan, who was her late brothers best friend. I mean there is some safety in knowing that Ryan would never intentionally hurt her but can she find her fun but keep her heart intact? 

Ryan has been having more and more trouble standing back and watching Emma from a distance. But she is the taboo. He promised he would always look out for her but a decade later she seems to be slowly creeping under his skin. Will Ryan will the battle of his mind and stay true to promises made or will he give in and enjoy the beautiful woman she has become?

As with the other books in the series, this was a fun read. The group of quirky and original friends that Emma and Ryan share help to keep you locked on the story and rooting for Emma and Ryan to get out of their heads and let their hearts lead the way. Will Emma and Ryan find their HEA in Haven right under their noses?

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***

Ryan and Emma's story is a sweet friends to lovers romance that has just the right mix of fun and heat!

Emma has been half in love with her older brother's best friend for years but Ryan has always relegated her firmly to the friend zone. When Derek left for boot camp a little over 10 years ago, he made Ryan promise he would always look out for Emma and never make a move on her. Of course that made sense when Ryan and Derek were 18 and Emma was only 15, but now at 30 and 27 respectively and with Derek's passing in the line of duty 10 years ago- not so much in her mind, but Ryan is holding the line in his best friend's memory.

Emma and Ryan are similar in that they both have no real family any more, just the group of extended friends they have turned into their own extended family. They both value their friendship above all else, but Emma is ready to be a little more adventurous and a lot less boring and Ryan is just the man to help her! One girls night out, a few drinks, and one dare issued later, and Ryan needs to brace because Emma is about to turn that sexy, sweet and adorable enthusiasm his way and he knows he doesn't have a prayer of saying no to her.

With every day that passes, they fall a little bit deeper as things just feel right between them. But when a chance at a different future presents itself, Emma needs to make a difficult choice and Ryan has to decide if he is ready to put his heart on the line once and for all.

Familiar faces from prior books in the series are part of Ryan and Emma's extended family but this book can completely be read as a standalone. A new family member makes an appearance who becomes an integral part of the story too. All in all, Crazy for You is a fun, sweet and engaging read!

Review by Leah for Love Romance Books Blog

I was asked by the author for an honest review.

4 Stars!

Emma Rush has been the "good girl" for her entire life, and as this may be her last year in Haven, it's time to shake things up and make some changes. It all starts with girl night and hot bartender, Ryan Blake. Ryan has starred in many of Emma's fantasies, but he was her late, older brother's friend growing up and a promise was made to look out for her. Now Emma is making eyes and sexual advances towards Ryan. Can the town's former "bad boy" and "good girl" make it work? 

This is the second book in the Risking It All series and was a good as the first book, Run to You. I love the characters in Rachel's book. The main characters always keep you focused on them, but the book wouldn't be as great as it was without the supporting characters. They add a richness to the storyline and great advice along the way. I love the message that this book has regarding life and dreams and how things sometimes work out. Can't wait for the next book!

A dare starts it all off in Crazy for You. Emma, a goody goody who has faced a lot in life, is ready to break her mold and thinks Ryan is just the one to help crack it. She's also at a crossroad in life. Both directions are unexplored, scary options. Ryan is juggling a lot, and isn't sure a girlfriend is the best idea right now. 

The chemistry between the two is palpable, and the will they, won't they stress is strong. The unique way these two go about things is just exciting to watch. The entire cast is interesting, witty and fun. The friendships are strong, and give off more of a family feel than anything else. Highly recommended for a reader looking for laughs, love and self discovery.


*Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMG Reads*

I have so much love for this book.  It's fun, swoony, and exactly what I needed to read right now.

I loved Emma and Ryan. Emma tries shaking things up in her life in the most fabulous way.  I'm always a fan of people getting ink, and I loved seeing someone's first time experience, if only to relive those moments for myself again.  I don't think she's a boring as she thought she was. She tries new things, and some of those experiences help her in so many ways.  Ryan is a former bad boy.  While he gives off the whole bad boy persona, he's a pretty awesome guy.  He uses caution when he should, and that's something I really admire in book boyfriends.

There are funny moments, awkward situations, and a group of friends that are always there.  They are tight-knit and I love that.  It's also kind of a friends to lovers story, and those always make my heart beat faster.

Crazy for You is the perfect book to gear up for Summer, or even read by the pool.

Emma is tired of being the good girl! And this is the year to change all of that, she applies to college for a Landscaping degree, she is planning on a tattoo and finally she is going to go after the one many she has always wanted...Ryan Blake!

Ryan had worked hard all of his life, he had built a successful business with his Foster brothers and works part time at a bar. There are only two things that are causing him pain; not seeing his brother since he was adopted and keeping his promise to his best friend, that he would never make a move on his little sister...Emma Rush.

But suddenly Ryans are thrown out of the window when his brother Trent turns up on his doorstep and he can no longer say no, to the only women that he wants...Emma.

Crazy For You is a sweet, lighthearted romance, that touches very briefly on heavy topics, but doesn't bog you down or leave you with a book hangover.

The plot and writing are delightful, and characters are funny and sweet. But I have to say I'm dying for Mark and Jessica's story!

I give Crazy For You 4 stars

Ryan and Emma have known each other most of their lives, both growing up in Haven and having the mutual bond of Emma's brother until his death. Ryan and Emma also share the unhappy position of being alone in the world and longing for a family to call their own.

Emma has always been a good girl, her warmth and kindness draw people to her but she is frustrated with always being friend-zoned. Determined to shake up her image, Emma embarks on a crusade to add a little bad to her good. Emma desperately wishes the bad she could add would come in the form of Ryan ;)

Ryan has been labelled a troublemaker and bad boy all his life; a product of the foster system, being separated from his baby brother has taken its toll on his ability to form deep connections with people especially women.  Although he considers his best friends and business partners his brothers, he finds it difficult to let people close to him for fear of losing them. Despite his attraction to Emma, Ryan is determined to keep her in the friend-zone due to the promise he made her brother when they were teens. However, all of Ryan's good intentions are no match for Emma's persuasive powers, although neither are prepared for the deeper emotional connection they feel even when they are pretending to be content with a summer fling.

There is a lot going on in Emma's life, making her own way in landscape design, opportunity takes many forms and you have to grasp them when they occur. Everything happens for a reason, there are more than one way to fulfil your dreams. I absolutely adored how emotionally strong Emma was, she is a survivor and learns from her experiences. She is also very self-aware and realises her need for a family she can call her own after losing hers at a young age. What she fails to realise is she has created a family of sorts by the wonderful friendships she has formed in Haven. 

Ryan has a lot of barriers in place and tends to push people away rather than risk losing them as he did when he was younger. Having travelled around the country Ryan for years, Ryan is ready to put down roots although his own self-image and reputation act as a mental hurdle for Ryan to overcome. The inclusion of Ryan's younger brother and the bond between them amped the emotional aspects of the plot. 

Emma and Ryan's relationship is natural and builds organically, their chemistry is amazing but more than that their shared loss forges a connection between them that no-one else would be able to. 

Crazy for You sweeps you along as Ryan and Emma cement their places in Haven, with their friends and their careers and most importantly with each other.

Crazy for You is the second book in Rachel Lacey’s “Risking it All Series” and just like the first one, Run to You, I can’t get enough of Rachel’s writing. Her stories are sexy, fun, and full of emotions—everything I need in a good romance. 

Emma Rush and Ryan Blake have been friends forever, yet, a promise made by Ryan to Emma’s brother when they were younger has kept him from pursuing her, or seeing her as anything but his late best friend’s little sister. Yet, one day this changes when Emma is looking to take a walk on the wild side, and Ryan is just the man to help her experience everything life has to offer a “bad girl.” But what happens when she is done being wild? Can Emma convince Ryan to take a chance on love and make him believe he can have it all? Or it their fling destined to only last one summer? 

Rachel Lacey is one of my go-to authors when I need a fun, sweet, and sexy read which will give me angst, but nothing over-the-top and unbelievable. Her characters are always fun, quirky, and so damn sexy. I love the fact that her heroines are strong, know their own mind, and aren’t afraid to go after what they want. Emma wasn’t any different. I loved her for her quirky, yet wild self who was up for pretty much anything. I mean, I always knew motorcycles are hot, but damn! You sure can get up to a lot of naughty things on one.

Another thing you can always count on with Miss Lacey’s books is the flawless writing, the well-developed and complex characters, as well as the engaging and fun story line. She never disappoints and I cannot wait to read the next book in this amazing series. I have a feeling Mark will be my favorite.

If you are in the mood for a sexy read, with some steaming hot scene on a motorcycle, an engaging story line, and characters you can’t help but fall in love with, Crazy for You is definitely the book for you.

This was my first read by Rachel Lacey but I was hooked from page one.  This is the 2nd book in the Risking it All series (3rd if you count the novella "Rock With You").  Even though this is a part of a series, it can be read as a standalone; I was able to follow the storyline perfectly, I just had moments where I wish I read the previous books so I could more about the group of friends.  

This book follows the story of Emma Rush and Ryan Blake; Emma is your typical good girl who always does what is right and what is expected whereas Ryan is the bad boy who was always causing trouble as a teenager.  Ryan left Haven, North Carolina long ago - giving Emma plenty of time to get over her crush.  However, when he comes back after more than 10 years her crush hasn't faded at all.  She decides she is tired of living her predictable life and wants to have fun and be bad.  Who better to help her out with that than former bad boy Ryan?  

The characters in this book are so fun and realistic that while I was reading I just got sucked into the story line.  I thought I was a member of the group and I wanted to be a part of their fun.  The theme of the bad boy falling for the girl next door isn't a new one, by any means, but the way the author wrote this story put a new spin on it.  Ryan isn't really as bad as he seems and Emma adapts to the 'bad' life quite easily.  Their relationship isn't smooth by any means and I had no doubt that the friends-with-benefits wasn't going to work out for them; I just couldn't figure out who would want more first.  I don't want to spoil the ending so I won't go too much into detail on that part.  The book was a very quick read; I read it all in a day (whether that was because of the length or the content I'm not sure).  If you have not previously read a book by this author, I believe this one would be a great one to start with.  I am eager to go read the previous part of this series so I can be all caught up by the time the next one releases later this year.

Crazy For You by Rachel Lacey

**I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **

Rachel did an excellent job! LOVED THIS STORY! Highly recommend!!

The story has two main characters, Ryan Blake and Emma Rush. It is set in a town named Haven. 

Ryan just opened a new business called, Off-the-Grid Adventures, an extreme outdoor sporting facility with his friends, Ethan Hunter and Mark Dalton. Ryan bartends at The Drunken Bear until his new business brings in enough income.  Ryan promised Emma’s brother, Derek, whom was Ryan’s best friend in high school, before he left for war, to look out for his little sister.

Emma and her friends, Gabby, Carly, and Mandy, met up for a girls night at The Drunken Bear. Mandy gave Emma a dare to convince Ryan for a ride home on his motorcycle. Emma always had a dream to attend the University of Georgia for the landscape architecture program. Emma and Mandy work at the Artful Blooms Landscape Designs. The owners are Lucas and Mary Pratt who are about to retire.

My favorite quote that fit so perfectly for the whole book is in Chapter 1, “You should shake things up, go outside your comfort zone.”

Please read this! You won’t be disappointed!

Favorite Quotes:

Look, last night started as a dare, but it turned out to be really fun – other than that one part we’ll never speak of again.

Emma was staring at him like he was a lollipop and she needed a sugar fix.  

You really have no business being so sexy… It’s just not fair to the female species.  

You’ve always felt like a part of my family, in a totally non-incestuous kind of way. 

My Review:


Emma had recently been dumped for being unexciting, and by the most boring man she had ever dated, epic fail.  Determined to shed her “goody-two-shoes” image, she takes a dare from her friends to put herself out there and consider a fling with a “bad boy.”  Ryan looked like a bad boy but wasn’t.  He had the tats, motorcycle, and the troubled kid in foster care reputation, but he was now a thirty-year-old adult and a business owner, and he worked hard and took his responsibilities seriously.  Ten years ago, Ryan had promised Emma’s now deceased brother that he wouldn’t touch her, not knowing that Emma had been infatuated with him since she was a pre-teen.  Ryan did women, lots of women, but he didn’t date or do relationships.  Yet somehow he didn’t like the idea of Emma looking at internet dating profiles.  They had been friends for many years; he hoped they could be friends with benefits.  

I enjoyed the first book in this series and adored this story from start to finish.  I adored this couple as well as this entire group of vibrant and quirky characters.  I like the comfort and ease of their camaraderie and the supportiveness of their relationships.  Ms. Lacey’s writing was thoughtful, insightful, amusing, and deliciously steamy.  Red poppies have just become my favorite flower.  I am already anxiously awaiting the next installment which promises to be Mark’s story, as I have been intrigued by his character from the beginning – Ms. Lacey’s clever and wily writing has taunted me throughout the past two books by providing only the barest of snippets as to his background.

Rachel Lacey writes cute and feel-good small town romances, with the perfect balance of humor, emotions and chemistry. The idea of love blossoming in a small town is too adorable for words to me and I thoroughly enjoyed “Crazy for You”. This book in the second installment in a series set in Haven, North Carolina, a charming town with colorful and quirky residents. 

The hero of this story, Ryan Blake has recently opened an extreme outdoor facility with his two business partners and childhood friends, Ethan and Mark. Ryan grew up in the foster care system and his friends are his only family. 

Emma Rush was Ryan’s best friend dorky little sister. She has had a crush on him for years, but she is off-limits to him. He made a promise to her brother that he would always look out for Emma and he intends to keep it. He is protective of Emma and feels responsible for her, since she lost her brother. Emma has big plans for her future and she will soon leave Haven to get a degree of landscape architecture. Meanwhile, she wants to have fun and live a bit on the wild side with Ryan. There is an undeniable spark between Emma and Ryan and they have much history. They have an easy friendship that has the potential to turn into something more. Ryan wants to do the right thing, though and refuses to take advantage of Emma. They both agree to become “friends with benefits”.

I really liked both Ryan and Emma. Emma is a great heroine, fun, stubborn and energetic. Ryan is tender, sweet and caring, not to mention really hot. They both lost their parents and they need to create emotional connections with the people around them. Ryan’s past is traumatizing and he has insecurities. He seems self-assured but he needs reassurance that Emma wants more than a casual relationship.

This book is an easy read, with sweet positive characters and a heartwarming friends-to-lovers storyline. The pace was a bit slow at times, but the charm of the story kept me flipping the pages until the very end. Based on the little snippet of the next book in the series, “Can’t Forget You”, I can’t wait for Mark’s story!
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley.

A bad boy trying to make good. A good girl wanting to be bad. A story that can melt the heart while turning up the electricity on the senses. Crazy for You has all the makings of sassy country song. Ryan is working on becoming a better man, while temptation pulls him in a direction that may derail his promise to a friend. Emma's image could use a little tarnish. This good girl hides a wild heart and when she sets her sights on Ryan, all his good intentions may just go up in smoke. Sassy meets sexy while taking readers along for the ride. An irresistibly fun story with a message. " A little naughty is nice and can add some spice, but the best one can do is to themselves stay true."

Book 2 in the Risking It All series is a cute, sweet story that hits all the romance spots.

Ryan is the gorgeous guy Emma has been crushing on since she was a kid. Emma is Ryan's best friends little sister. Add in the promise Ryan made years ago to protect and never go after Emma and there really is a spanner thrown in the works!

I felt that our lovelies relationship developed organically. There was no big dramatic event that brought them together, it was just years of platonic love and friendship turning into something more. Sure, there were roadblocks to overcome, but this all felt natural.

The chemistry between Ryan and Emma is off the charts right from the get go. I tell you what, if Emma didn't jump on him when she did, I was going to jump into Haven and take him for myself (well, in my mind anyway!) I love the lingering looks across the room, the awkwardness, just all of it. He is the perfect amount of bad for her as she was the perfect amount of good for him.

I loved that we got more of the people from the first book (though I did struggle to remember where a couple of them fit in) and great set up for the 3rd book in the series.

Crazy for You is sweet, sexy and fun, and I can't wait for the next book.

To say that Emma Rush's dating life is boring is a complete understatement, she has been on plenty of dates, but she keeps ending up with duds... not a single one of them has ignited a single spark. She longs to find someone who pushes her to her limits, helps to bring her out of her shell, and inspire the bad girl in her that has been lurking just below the surface to finally make an appearance. What she really needs is a bad boy, and there is one in particular that she wants, but finding a way to lure him might be a challenge... good thing she is up for it!

Ryan Blake made a promise to his best friend to always look-out for his little sister Emma, and so for the last ten years he's done just that, but somewhere along the way he started to fall for her too. He's knows making a move on her would be wrong on so many levels, and breaking a promise to his best friend is at the top of the list. But when she turns the tables on him and makes a move he doesn't know quite what to do, he knows it's wrong, but being wrong has never felt so right...

One of my favorite tropes is forbidden love, and I have to say Ms. Lacey did an amazing job tackling the subject, her heartwarming and sexy read checked all the must have boxes for me. It had a little feisty infused humor, a few noteworthy steamy sex scenes, lots of emotion that is certain to tug on your heartstrings, and of course the forbidden dance that had me dangling on the edge of my seat wondering will they or won't they! I loved meeting these two, their story kept me completely enthralled from start to finish, and I must say their journey is one that shouldn't be missed! I highly recommend you take a chance on this read, Ms. Lacey's endearing characters are sure to take you on a truly exceptional literary ride!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.

Rachel Lacey's book Crazy for you is fantastic! I loved every minute of this book and can hardly wait for her next!

What a wonderful book, I loved it.  These two characters have known each other for years.  She has always had a crush on him.  Ryan was the bad boy growing up and Emma was the pesky little sister that followed them everywhere.  Now years later they have a sexual tension brewing between them, will they act on it?  This was a great book and I highly recommend it.  I can't wait for the next book.

Crazy for You ... thought I would just break into first couple of chapters ... Lots and tons has happened since opening the first page of Crazy for You !!! .... and it is a page turner ! well ... hard to put down as I have just flipped to Chapter 17 .... a page turner folks .... Emma and Ryan casually living their lives ... take off on their life-climb ...... but have a feeling and wondering about the landing .... could be a bit crazy ... maybe rocky ... Off-the-Grid ... & what is going on with Mark ??? something serious ???  
well well well ... someone new scaling the Off-the-Grid's rock climbing wall ... rocky situation or smooth and polished ??? yikes .... 
 Heartache, past turmoil carried into the future ... fresh starts, hope, fun... and hard work on a daily basis. camaraderie," 
Emma is a strong individual with drive .... but was time to put herself first .... Opportunity knocks and so does love.....  
Ryan ... well is a strong individual with drive ... a motorcycle, a partner in a thriving business ....  the bad bad falls in love but   .... Yes the makings of true  he thinks.    but how could it possibly work  ?  ... with Emma's secondary plans. 
This is a book not to be missed ...   Definitely deserving of a 5Star.    This book is mesmerizing in the best way !  Real and loaded with twists and turns.... holding interest to the last page.... and left with wanting pick up again to continue on this journey with the characters, this small town. 

Yes awesome book !  
thanks to Publisher via NetGalley for the opportunity to read and give my personal and honest opinion/review.

emma rush has loved ryan blake forever and always. and in crazy for you, she finally decides that the time has come to take a leap. ever since she lost her entire family before she turned 20 she's been in a holding pattern. she wants to get a degree in landscape architecture and design, she wants to own her own landscaping company, she wants to be with ryan blake and she wants to jump off a cliff with him by the end of the summer.

ryan's best friend was emma's brother. and he promised to look out for her. and how can he break a promise to his dead friend? even if it's what emma wants, even if it's what he wants, the fact remains that a promise is a promise. but when emma calls his bluff and threatens to see other people, ryan can't stand back any longer. and once he stops holding back, there's nothing to stop the love and the passion and the sweet friendship that emma and ryan share from blooming into a full-blown relationship.

but emma is leaving at the end of the summer. she's got dreams to chase and ryan doesn't want to be the one to stop her. and he doesn't want to hold her back. and he promised her brother he'd stay away. so realistically speaking, once ryan gets over his hang-ups he and emma should be okay. he does pull the idiotic romance male lead thing and tries to make all of emma's decision for her in her best interests. which goes as well as you'd expect it to. but once he and emma manage to start communicating again, they find that the kind of relationship magic they share is a rare gift. one worth holding on to. 

this is another solid entry in the risking it all series. we also get to see a little bit more of jess and mark who will feature in can't forget you the final book in the series. and what we've seen hints at a very emotional finale to the series. i can't wait!