Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Between the Sheets (Boys of Bishop, #3)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Between the Sheets

(Boys of Bishop #3)

Molly O'Keefe (Goodreads Author)

3.75 · Rating details · 1,198 ratings · 234 reviews

Perfect for readers of Susan Mallery and Rachel Gibson.

After years of running, Wyatt Svenson has now parked himself in Bishop, Arkansas, trying to do the right thing and parent a son he didn’t even know he had until recently. Over six feet tall and packed with muscles and power, Ty likes to get his hands dirty, fixing his motorcycle at night and keeping his mind away from ...more

Get A Copy

Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages

Published July 29th 2014 by Bantam

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Between the Sheets, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Sandy James

2014 Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense (July - December)

512 books — 1,023 voters

Best Single Father Heroes of Contemporary Romance

93 books — 117 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.75 ·

Rating details

· 1,198 ratings · 234 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Between the Sheets (Boys of Bishop, #3)

Apr 02, 2016 Alex ☣ Deranged KittyCat ☣ rated it liked it

Shelves: adult, romance, erotica

3.5 stars

I'll be honest, the only reason I read Between the Sheets is that this is the book Harley Quinn is reading in the upcoming Suicide Squad movie.

description

And that's pretty funny as she's a psychiatrist gone bad because of The Joker, reading about an uptight teacher who learns to let go from a former bad boy.

The book isn't that much. What I really appreciated here are the sex scenes. I hate BDSM... simply hate it. In Between the Sheets, Shelby is very respectable on the outside. In bed, she wants i ...more

flag 78 likes · Like · see review

Apr 23, 2014 Michelle [Helen Geek] rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Anyone, a great read.

Shelves: arc-netgalley, tbr-kindle, 4-5-stars, series, author_love, challenge-books-read-2014, were-pub-d-in-2014-i-read, has_kids

05/17/2014 --

Overall Rating = 4.5 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 2 / 3 / 1 = 2 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 4.5 Stars
Character Development = 4 Stars
Story Appreciation = 4.5 Stars
Ending = 4 Stars
Worth the Chili = 5 Stars -- [$4.27 on Amazon when released in July 2014]
Smexy [HEAT] Rating = Moderate
368 pages

This is a gem of a book trapped by a silly cover and an awful title. Please don't let poor marketing have you thinking this is just another cheesy serial romance. It is most definitely not ...more

flag 15 likes · Like · see review

Nov 08, 2013 Jonetta rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, netgalley-arc

Quick summary
Shelby Monroe was humiliated six months ago (see Wild Child) and she's soldiering on until she meets neighbor Wyatt (Ty) Svenson. She's got a formula she uses to manage her life that keeps everyone at a distance and she's yet to have a meaningful relationship. Ty's new to Bishop and is struggling to figure out how to be a father to his newly-discovered 11-year old son, Casey.

The heart of the story
While Shelby's willing to keep everyone at arm's length emotionally, she doesn't have ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Aug 28, 2017 Dana Al-Basha | دانة الباشا marked it as to-buy

Shelves: wish-list

I added this book because Harley Quinn was reading it in the last scene in Suicide Squad.

...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

May 28, 2021 mary stuart murray rated it did not like it

Shelves: college-reads

Why did I read this book? Why did I think that the universe wanted me to read this book simply because i found it on the side of the road? What vengeful god made this my lot? Are we nothing but toys to the divine? In conclusion, this book gave me an existential crisis and I will need 3-5 business days to recover.

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Apr 17, 2014 ✿kawehi.reviews rated it liked it

Shelves: arc

☆I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!☆

Between the Sheets was a good, decent read. Both characters come from broken pasts and are trying to make something new of their futures.

For Ty, it is trying to build stability for himself and his son. And for Shelby, it’s trying to overcome her morbid, guilt ridden past that she needs to learn how to let go in order to move on and be happy.

#I had originally signed up for this book because I had been followi ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Jun 21, 2014 Susan (susayq ~) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: small-town-lovin, angstfest, contemporary-romance, ebooks, biker-boys, 2014books

By looking at the cover, you think you're going to get a light fluffy romance. WRONG! What you get is a rough, angst-filled book that shatters your heart. You'll want to reach out to Shelby and simultaneously hug her and smack some sense into her head, and you'll want to wrap Ty up in hugs and tell him he's doing the right thing.

If you read book one in the series, you will remember Shelby. If you didn't read book one, you'll get her back story and not be lost (but you should definitely read book ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Jul 01, 2014 WhiskeyintheJar rated it liked it

Shelves: contemporary, first-reads-goodreads, series

3.5 stars

"The past is never dead. It's not even past. “ William Faulkner

Ty has just moved to Bishop with his teenage son, who he didn't even know existed until a few months ago, and is working to make a go at their relationship, settling in a new town, curbing his wanderlust and life in general. One evening a neighbor lady stops by to complain about his noisy habit of working on motorcycles until the wee hours. It's about the furthest you can get from love at first sight. However, when Ty gets 3.5 stars

"The past is never dead. It's not even past. “ William Faulkner

Ty has just moved to Bishop with his teenage son, who he didn't even know existed until a few months ago, and is working to make a go at their relationship, settling in a new town, curbing his wanderlust and life in general. One evening a neighbor lady stops by to complain about his noisy habit of working on motorcycles until the wee hours. It's about the furthest you can get from love at first sight. However, when Ty gets called to the school to pick up his frequently in trouble son, lo and behold there is the neighbor lady, also the school's art teacher, and she is one of the few in the room sticking up for his son. Here starts the interaction and relationship between Ty and the neighbor art teacher, Shelby.

Shelby's story and background is completely saddening. She grew up in a house where her farther tried daily to break her down physically and emotionally and when she escaped into herself by deadening her emotions, he focused on her mother. Her father is dead now but her mother is also in the middle stages of Alzheimer's disease. Every day is a struggle for Shelby and when Ty walks in her door, she sees him as the perfect stress reliever. Their relationship starts off as escapism through sex, some steamy angry sex scenes here folks. Eventually, Ty starts to develop deeper feelings for Shelby and grows tired of feeling used. Shelby not knowing how to accept, understand, or express her feelings for Ty pushes him away, even as she wants to cling to him.

This story, with its characters and themes, was almost too real; it's not easy to read. The author does an amazing job of crafting incredible backgrounds, thought, feelings, and emotions for Ty and Shelby. At times, however, I almost felt like I was reading a story about Shelby and Ty, but separately. The relationship aspect takes a hit because of all the issues Shelby and Ty are dealing with; there really is not a lot of time left over for them. There is also an added story thread dealing with an exboyfriend of Shelby's that could have just been left out, the woman is dealing with enough already and it didn't really add anything to the story.

The writing and pace is good and with this being the third in The Boys of Bishop series, past characters make an appearance but never overwhelm the story and in fact, make me want to go back and visit their stories. Like I said, this is a heavier read but Shelby's past pain and increasingly declining mother coupled with Ty's ongoing struggle to connect with his son make for, while a daunting read, it is also an emotional read guaranteed to remain in your thoughts after you've put the book down.
...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 21, 2014 Jacqueline J rated it liked it

Shelves: abuse-as-child, from-readers-world, baby-child-involved, contemporary-romance

I wanted to like this better than I did but I just couldn't like the heroine. The hero wanted to treat her with respect but she kept making him treat her basically like a whore by refusing to accept anything else from him. Consequently the sex scenes while hot enough left me feeling kind of icky. I don't know why he fell in love with her since she made him feel bad about himself. Yes she had a miserable back story and she had flashes of kindness mostly to his son but she was just cold and unyiel ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

May 18, 2014 Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2014-releases, adult, arc, contemporary, romance, read-in-2014, review-books, edelweiss, july-release, spain

*I received a free ARC of Between the Sheets from Bantam via Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review*

Between the Sheets is a very profound story, where the romance took the back-seat and finding themselves became the characters’ main purpose.

This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Jun 13, 2014 Mskychick rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ff

Wow, as always, Molly O'Keefe delivers with this book! Are you looking for a contemporary romance with maladjusted heroes and heroines with lots of personal issues and poor coping mechanisms? Looking for those coping mechanisms to be broken painfully down as they fall in love? Looking for the redemptive power of love to bring them into a happier life, integrated into the community they once felt set apart from, and with a loving partner who makes them be a better person? Then you've come to the Wow, as always, Molly O'Keefe delivers with this book! Are you looking for a contemporary romance with maladjusted heroes and heroines with lots of personal issues and poor coping mechanisms? Looking for those coping mechanisms to be broken painfully down as they fall in love? Looking for the redemptive power of love to bring them into a happier life, integrated into the community they once felt set apart from, and with a loving partner who makes them be a better person? Then you've come to the right spot.

Once again, we're in the town of Bishop. Shelby was in Wild Child, book 1 of Boys of Bishop, having destructive and degrading dirty sex with Dean Jennings, the CEO of a cracker company who had come to Bishop for a tv show. Shelby is an art teacher who grew up as the only child of a narcissistic shyster preacher, who was very emotionally abusive to Shelby and her mother.

 As a child, in the face of her father's violent disapproval, she'd created this identity, this cold distance between herself and other people's opinions, in an act of defiant self-protection. Dad couldn't hurt her if she pretended not to care. Pretended she didn't need affection or approval.
And then no one could hurt her if she pretended she was above the messy needs and wants of the human heart. If she just buried what she wanted so deep they couldn't see it- so deep that even she forgot it.
It had been an abused and scared kid's way of coping.
And as a woman, she didn't even know how to change it.

Her father died, but the legacy of his abuse lives on in Shelby's thoughts.

 In the heavy dark silence he left behind, she stacked and put away those small desires to be someone else, to want more than she had, and she got back to the business of being Shelby Monroe, Art Teacher. It was enough. And if sometimes she wanted to scream, or cry, or find some stranger to prove to her that she wasn't totally dead inside or invisible to the world, it was an urge she could easily overcome.
She had overcome worse.

Shelby is the main caregiver for her mother, who is sinking further into the dementia of Alzheimer's. She feels like a pressure cooker, from the pressures of trying to lock away her feelings from everyone, and from trying to take care of her mother, which is growing more and more difficult.

Shelby found she could blow off steam (and also punish herself) by having raunchy sex with Dean. She turns to the same act of destruction with her new neighbor, Ty. Ty has moved to town to give his newly discovered 11 year old son Casey a fresh start in a wholesome environment. Casey lived with his mom, a hanger on in a motorcycle club, until she went to jail for dealing meth. Casey escaped from foster care and trekked across the country to meet his dad, who didn't know he existed until Casey shows up in his grandfather's motorcycle repair shop. Casey is scared and hurt, and hides it by being troublesome. Ty is feeling overwhelmed trying to learn how to be a parent to his son who is quite a handful. He agrees to sex with Shelby as way for his to decompress as well.

Ty quickly finds that he wants more from Shelby than just dirty sex.

 There was no part of her that looked comfortable, as if she was enjoying this, and he wondered if maybe they shouldn't just leave things at filthy sex on the floor. But their lives were already brushing up against each other in a dozen places and, well, he didn't want to leave it at filthy sex on the floor.
He liked her.
Liked her awkwardness and her seriousness. He liked what she hid behind them. Suddenly, he wanted to see her smile. Hear that hooting laugh again.

Ty begins to try to get Shelby to open up, to talk to him about what is going on with her home situation, and why she is so closed off. He gently tries to help her.

 In the truck, after the party, he'd told her that the two of them wanting each other wasn't something to be scared of. That whatever was happening wasn't a big deal, but then he saw her mother not remember who Shelby was. He saw Shelby broken wide open over the guilt and pain of her mother's accident and he'd been ruined. 
At that moment Ty wanting Shelby had become profoundly a big deal, because he wanted to help her. He wanted more than just this nasty amazing sex in the barn, he wanted more than the freedom of her body. He wanted her to see him as more than a simple tool.
I'm falling in love with her.

He wants to have their relationship become an open thing, acknowledged in front of their neighbors and friends, and between each other.

 "I am no one's dirty secret. And I won't be yours anymore."
But that was all she could give him. And she wanted it to be private. Secret. Not because she was ashamed of him, or thought less of him, but because her entire life she had kept the things she wanted very small and very secret,- so her father could not touch them.
Hot shame flooded her.

But Shelby is so ossified into her learned reactions from her father that she has great difficulty letting Ty into her heart. They agree that they will try to be a couple and move past their issues and to love each other, learning how to do so together.

 "But you mean more to me than the sex we've had, Shelby. I want more of your fierce heart and your secret smiles. Your loyalty and decency. I want to make you laugh until you hoot. I want to help you shoulder some of the load you've got because you've helped shoulder some of mine. I want to find out what you think and how you feel. I want to put you on the back of my bike and go for a ride. Lie down in a bed with you. I want to argue about what to watch on tv and... I want everything. Everything you have to give to a person, I want to be the man who gets it."
"I don't know how."
"Me neither."

Shelby tries and fails to break her bad habits when her mother's Alzheimer's reaches a crisis, however, which is heartbreaking to read. And she decides to give up on Ty and on love.

 "I thought I could break down all your doors," he told her. "I could break your locks and force my way in, but you'll always find more, won't you? Something bad will happen in our lives and I'll be right back on the outside looking for a way in."
Nearly imperceptibly, she nodded.
His heart, under the too bright lights, shattered against the flecked linoleum floor, right at her feet.
"I'm going to go." He jerked his thumb back down the hall toward his son's room.
"That's for the best," she told him.
And he would be going on without her.

 Shelby understood that her instincts right now were wrong. That she was living out the programming her father had given her when she was too young to understand. Too young to know that he was sick.
Despite knowing all that, she stood outside Casey's hospital room and knew that this was her fault. The boy in there. Her mother in surgery. Ty's barely contained anger and grief. It was all her fault.
Because for a little bit, she'd been happy.

I cried when I got to this part of the book. I hurt for Shelby- for all her anxiety, and her yearning, and her pain in being stuck in her emotional rut. And poor Ty, who loves Shelby and wants a life with her!

Just when you think that their relationship is doomed (no, not really- this is a romance book, remember?!), Shelby reaches a personal breakthrough, and lets herself feel and recognize how much she has come to love Ty.

 "When I'm with you it's like I'm the person I'm supposed to be and I want that."

This book put me through an emotional wringer. It was so well written, and I felt caught up in the story the whole time I was reading it. I can't wait to see what Molly O'Keefe comes up with next, and there is no question, I will grab her next book as soon as it is available. She is definitely an auto buy for me, as her works are consistently outstanding. ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Apr 23, 2014 Kaetrin rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, ebook, review-copy

4.5 stars. I really liked it.

Reviewed for Dear Author: http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/ov... ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jul 29, 2014 Saly rated it liked it

Shelves: rom-contemporary, single-titles, read-in-2014

I had a hard time connecting to the heroine despite her sad past and the romance was tricky too and I would have liked more of it rather than a one year later. More soon!

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 31, 2014 Gisele rated it it was amazing

Review in English e em Português

It feels so good when you finish reading a book with your heart full of the good things that reading made you feel. Well, that's how I'm feeling right now. Between the Sheets is a love story, but not only about that kind of love which the H falls for the h. We findit here too, but it also shows us another kind of love that is so strong - and sometimes much greater - as the love of a husband for his wife is the love of a father for a son and a child by his parents ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 14, 2014 Ana rated it really liked it

Shelves: enemies-to-lovers, review-arc-galleys, small-town, bikers

Prior to the Molly O’Keefe’s Summer Rain short-story, The Heart of It I had started and quit three her novels despite hearing only the love and adoration for them from trusted reviewers and twitter friends. As I read the opening chapters of Between the Sheets I finally realized why I had struggled with her books. O’Keefe doesn’t shy away from presenting her characters at their most unflattering right from the start. Some authors slowly unveil and reveal character flaws and struggles slowly, ensu Prior to the Molly O’Keefe’s Summer Rain short-story, The Heart of It I had started and quit three her novels despite hearing only the love and adoration for them from trusted reviewers and twitter friends. As I read the opening chapters of Between the Sheets I finally realized why I had struggled with her books. O’Keefe doesn’t shy away from presenting her characters at their most unflattering right from the start. Some authors slowly unveil and reveal character flaws and struggles slowly, ensuring you are invested in the characters and in all the O’Keefe’s I had tried to read, the main characters don’t meet-cute, they meet-hate and behave in less than ideal ways. They are better people than they appear to be, but they did deep holes with each other and the reader.

Between the Sheets is the second book in the Boys of Bishop series. The first book Wild Child has been sitting on my kindle since it first came available on NetGalley, abandoned after I read the first chapter and I only saw conflict ahead. Buoyed by my enjoyment of The Heart of It I was able to blaze through the conflict-heavy early chapters of Between the Sheets, till I was fully engaged with the characters, and their story. Once I got to know Shelby, Ty, Evie and Casey I couldn’t put the book down. While Between the Sheets alludes to events in Wild Child and has many characters in common, I didn't feel I missed anything vital in skipping it.

While most teachers and students trudge back into school after the holidays, Shelby Monroe is thrilled to be back. She loves her work, she loves using art to connect with her students but most of all her students and her work are an escape from her hellish home life. She is the main caregiver to her mother, Evie, whose Alzheimer is worsening to the point that Shelby can no longer manage with only occasional help. Other than Evie’s hired caregivers most people in Bishop are completely unaware of how much Shelby is trying to do on her own at home. Shelby is actually a master at appearing unruffled and in control even if she is terrified and in pain. People in her town have come to see her in a very particular way and she doesn’t know how to reach out and change that. She feels deeply untouchable and she thirsts to be touched and desired, to feel wantoned and abandoned to passion. She is deeply ashamed to feel that way. Even after falling prey to obsessive man in Wild Child, and having him try to slut-shame her on TV, in the eyes of most in her community, she is still good sweet Shelby and no one believes the words hurled at her. She is horrified to discover that she wishes some of them did, just so they might see that she isn’t as cold and withdrawn as she appears.

Ty is Shelby’s new neighbor. He has come to Bishop looking for a fresh start for his newly discovered son. Ty is also drowning and over-whelmed, and feels completely inadequate as father to Casey. Casey home life with Ty’s ex was unsettled, neglectful and deeply scarring, and Ty is not sure he can figure out how to make a difference in Casey’s life. Once confident and always able charm and make friends easily in any new place, Ty no longer feels so secure, and fumbles badly when Shelby shows up at his door at midnight, livid at the racket he has been making while tinkering with his bike. He makes all the wrong assumptions about her, just as she does with him.

O’Keefe did a wonderful job of drawing Shelby and Ty together, setting up how they will fall into each others arms but more importantly carefully developed how difficult it would be for Shelby who feels like she is nothing but sharp edges and the potential to deeply hurt others, to be vulnerable and to accept love. I loved how Ty is the one to stand up and set boundaries because he wants more from Shelby than angry-escapist sex and seeks to see her, not just the masks she puts up to the world.

As a pastor’s wife I was also very impressed with nuanced portrayal of faith, churches and pastoral/spousal abuse in this novel. Evie’s husband and Shelby’s father was a narcissistic preacher who verbally and emotionally abused his family. He used his power in and out of the pulpit to abuse them. While Shelby has complicated feelings about church, it is clear that faith and community also have the power to heal and mend people, as evidenced by Ty's experience of it. I loved that she could portray the fact that while abuse and hate are sometimes preached in the name of God, that is not what most churches are like.

I am going to pull up Wild Child up in my Kindle and then dive back in to O’Keefe’s backlist now that I know I shouldn't judge her characters by my first impressions and instead really get to know them since I can trust that there is more to her characters than conflict and anger.

A copy of Between the Sheets was provided by Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell via NetGalley for review purposes. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 20, 2016 Cam *tactile seeker* rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, fascinating-minds, contemporary, oh-yes-yes, best-hero-ever, do-not-disturb, authors-crush, you-pierce-my-soul, change, can-t-get-enough-of

It's happened to me sometimes, to find myself in the middle of a book and realize that what I'm reading will define my concept of the genre it belongs to, or will be used to measure up all the books that will come in the future after it.

It can be because one particular character feels very dear to me, or because a specific plot device surprises or leaves me speechless.
When I'm done with that book and recollect its events, I can even come to the conclusion that it wasn't earth-shattering, in the ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 06, 2014 Bj rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2014, 5-stars, arc

I've just found a new favorite contemporary romance author: Molly O'Keefe! What a great love story, not just the kind between a man and a woman, but also the love that lies between family members, and the devastating effects of being deprived of such love. If you're looking for a book that is a testament to the healing power of truly being noticed for who you are and loved anyways, then look no further: Between the Sheets should be your next read!

Although this is the third book in the Boys of Bi I've just found a new favorite contemporary romance author: Molly O'Keefe! What a great love story, not just the kind between a man and a woman, but also the love that lies between family members, and the devastating effects of being deprived of such love. If you're looking for a book that is a testament to the healing power of truly being noticed for who you are and loved anyways, then look no further: Between the Sheets should be your next read!

Although this is the third book in the Boys of Bishop series, which details the love lives of various couples residing in the small town of Bishop, Arkansas, this book can be read as a standalone. In fact, I hadn't previously read the prior ones, and I enjoyed Between the Sheets so much, that now I am going back to read them! To the extent you do plan on reading the entire series, there is some benefit to reading the books in chronological order, as prior characters do make appearances and continue to develop in the later books.

Motorcycle bad boy, Wyatt "Ty" Svenson just found out a few months ago that he is the father of an 11-year-old boy named Casey. Having spent most of his life running from one place to another when things got difficult or boring, he now has to figure out where he and Casey can lay down roots and get a fresh start, now that Casey's mother's party girl, trouble finding ways have finally landed her in jail.

Ty picks Bishop, and gets a job as a carpenter, even though his favorite hobby is refurbishing classic motorcycles, which he indulges in at night when his worries over how to start a new life keep him awake. During one of these late night sessions, he meets Shelby Monroe, his next door neighbor, who is none too happy with the noise Ty is making so late at night. No surprise, this first meeting ends with Shelby rushing off in a huff and Ty leveling some choice words at his "uptight" neighbor.

Imagine his surprise, when the next day, he is called into his son's principal's office and comes face to face with none other than Shelby Monroe, who just happens to be Casey's art teacher. To his astonishment though, rather than condemning him, Shelby offers useful advice regarding alternative art therapy, and even stands up to her boss, when the principal suggests that the cure to Casey's behavioral problems requires medication.

Soon Ty and Shelby start working on an art therapy routine for Casey which brings them together; and Ty, takes a leap, and asks Shelby out on a date. To his shock, assuming Shelby to be out of his league, he is pleasantly surprised when she accepts. When it becomes clear that she is merely interested in him physically, however, not in being seen in public with him or really "dating", Ty is stunned to find that he starts longing for more.

As he gets to know her better, Ty realizes that he and Casey are not the only ones who have had difficult childhoods. In fact, Shelby's deep dark family secrets are so emotionally devastating, that they may preclude her from ever becoming more emotionally involved with Ty or anyone else. Not being one to take no for an answer, and really seeing through Shelby like no one has ever done before, Ty soon starts pushing Shelby to open up in ways that she never believed possible, but are her scars so deep that she is now incapable doing so?

In addition to Ty's and Shelby's story, there is a well developed secondary storyline that is equally inspirational and amazing to watch develop, detailing how Casey and Ty learn to love and trust one another in their new roles as father and son. Interestingly, Shelby is as instrumental in this secondary plot, as the first, and I highly enjoyed this special, and somewhat unique for a romance novel, aspect of this book.

Ms. O'Keefe's gift with visualizing resolutions to complicated relationships and emotional issues is superb! I highly enjoyed not just the incredibly steamy, love scenes in Between the Sheets, but also the highly evolved familial interrelationships and how they shaped the characters' futures, and most importantly, the latent meaning underlying this story that highlights the restorative and empowering nature of true love. I can not recommend Between the Sheets highly enough!

Source: I received a review copy from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 27, 2014 T.H. Hernandez rated it really liked it

3-1/2 Stars. Between the Sheets ended up being a little different from what I was expecting. For one, there were no sheets involved. At all. All the steamy sex takes place outside the bedroom. It was good to get back to Bishop and catch up with Sean, Cora, Brody, Ashley, Monica and the gang. I loved getting a glimpse of Ashley and Brody, happily settled down. This time around, we’re introduced to newcomers Ty and Casey, and local art teacher, Shelby.

Ty arrives shortly after discovering he has a 3-1/2 Stars. Between the Sheets ended up being a little different from what I was expecting. For one, there were no sheets involved. At all. All the steamy sex takes place outside the bedroom. It was good to get back to Bishop and catch up with Sean, Cora, Brody, Ashley, Monica and the gang. I loved getting a glimpse of Ashley and Brody, happily settled down. This time around, we’re introduced to newcomers Ty and Casey, and local art teacher, Shelby.

Ty arrives shortly after discovering he has a ten-year old son when Casey walks away from foster care to find his dad after his mom is incarcerated. I loved watching that relationship evolve, seeing how uncomfortable Ty was in the role of fatherhood, and watching the angsty nervousness of a fifth grader trying to find his place in the world. I also love the alzheimer’s subplot. I thought that was handled so well.

Plot
Between the Sheets covers a lot of territory. With the alzheimer’s thread, school bullying, the evolving relationship of a rebellions man who only recently learned he’s a father, kleptomania, mental abuse, religious zealotry and art therapy. And all of it works really well together. Molly O’Keefe does a masterful job of weaving all the subplots nicely into the story. The push and pull of Ty and Shelby is well done, the writing is strong, and the sex scenes are steamy.

Characters
I don’t like Shelby. There, I said it. And that’s a problem for me, because the heart of the story is the romance. Shelby’s not fluff, she’s certainly developed, I just couldn’t identify with her. I understood some of her issues, but she came across to me as too self-centered, too inwardly focused to really be likeable.

Ty on the other hand, is fabulous. He’s solid, complex, deep, and infinitely likeable. He’s perfectly portrayed as the guilt-ridden new dad trying to navigate fatherhood without a map. Casey is authentic as the kid with the rocky childhood, struggling to find stability and unable to accept happiness as normal.

Bottom Line
I liked Between the Sheets. It’s well-written, has interesting characters, and covers a lot of important topics. I just didn’t love it.

Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 03, 2014 Moon rated it it was amazing

I'm still trying to collect my thoughts after reading this book. I was very excited to see Shelby get her happily ever after. Even seeing glimpses of her in two books did not prepare me enough for this one. Shelby is awesome. No wait, beyond awesome. And so is Ty. I wasn't expecting his awesomeness after the way he was with Shelby when they first met.

It's hard to talk about Shelby without talking about Ty because their child hood experiences are somewhat similar and both have been changed by th ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 07, 2014 Aliaa El-Nashar rated it really liked it

Of all the books in this series (and yes, I've read all four so far) I think this would have to be my absolute favorite. It definitely surprised me, since I hadn't expected much from Shelby's character after reading Wild Child, but the synopsis had intrigued me, and all the books in the series were certainly entertaining, so I decided to check it out and boy was I surprised to find it better than the rest.

Shelby, if you've read Wild Child, has been searching for love, affection, relationships, s ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 19, 2014 ShoSho rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, contemporary, x-2014

This book was incredible, I wish I could give it6 stars. Everything I want from a romance book!

Review :

This is the 3rd installment in this great series and the one that I was really looking forward to. Shelby was the most interesting character in the cast of characters in this series. I was pretty sure her book would be great and I wasn't wrong . It was even better than what I thought it would be.

Shelby has had a traumatic childhood with an abusive father and these has caused her to separate her ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 26, 2014 Heather Stanton rated it it was ok

I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. The premise of a repressed good girl hooking up with a misunderstood bad boy is tried and true and the author is deft with characterization. But so much of this book fell flat for me.

Shelby was annoying to the nth degree and even "understanding" (which I did not) the reasons and events behind her behavior didn't change that. She's stereotypical in the way of the heroine whom I feel I am supposed to pity, but her own self-pity and martyr complex j ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 27, 2014 Jennifer rated it liked it

Received an ARC for review from NetGalley

I am apparently reading this series backwards. I almost gave up on this book. I put it down at about 30% and walked away for a couple days. I came back to it because I liked Casey, and Ty a little. Shelby, I couldn't stand. At no point did I like her. Now the secondary characters, which I guess are the primarys in the two previous books, I loved. And the title...they never got between the sheets...never. Couch, wall, couch, floor, couch, table, but no bed ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 26, 2016 Ksenia rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, romance, beautiful-prose, 2016

Review to come.

You can find my reviews:

...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 11, 2015 Anna rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, inspirational, series, adult, realistic-fiction

Well hello. Didn't expect that. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 14, 2019 Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-books-read, ebook, romance

Good book about two people who found healing in each other's arms. Ty was new to Bishop, looking for a place to settle and raise the son he just found out about. Ty had a rough childhood and youth and spent years trying to outrun the memories of the mistakes he'd made. He felt completely inadequate as a father and struggled to connect with Casey, but was determined to do the best he could. His way of relaxing and de-stressing was to work on the motorcycle he was refurbishing, and he frequently l Good book about two people who found healing in each other's arms. Ty was new to Bishop, looking for a place to settle and raise the son he just found out about. Ty had a rough childhood and youth and spent years trying to outrun the memories of the mistakes he'd made. He felt completely inadequate as a father and struggled to connect with Casey, but was determined to do the best he could. His way of relaxing and de-stressing was to work on the motorcycle he was refurbishing, and he frequently lost track of time working late into the night. That came to a screeching end when his neighbor showed up to chew him out about the noise.

Shelby has lived in Bishop all her life. She spent her childhood under the thumb of her abusive, narcissistic father, who hid his abuse behind his role as a spiritual leader. He did his best to destroy her self-worth and that of her mother. Shelby survived by closing herself off to all emotion and keeping people at a distance. Since her father's death, Shelby's mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Unwilling or unable to ask for help, Shelby hid behind a cool and unruffled façade while feeling overwhelmed by her life. Ty's arrival turned that safe life on its head.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Ty and Shelby, even though I frequently wanted to shake her. Their first meeting was very antagonistic, as Shelby's uptight attitude rubbed Ty the wrong way. He was surprised to discover that she was Casey's art teacher at school, and the only one willing to help his troubled son. While meeting to discuss Casey's needs, there was no denying the attraction that flared between them. While Ty wanted to date and get to know her, Shelby was only interested in a physical relationship, and a secret one at that. The more time Ty spent with her, the more he realized that he wanted more. I ached for Ty as every attempt he made to get closer to her was shut down. There were times I wanted to shake Shelby for not opening her eyes to what Ty offered her, but I also hurt for her belief that she was incapable of loving anyone. She very nearly succeeded in pushing Ty so far away that they couldn't recover. It took a crisis with her mother for Shelby to realize that she wanted to change and that Ty was the one who could help her do it.

Another vital part of the story was the relationship between Ty and Casey. They struggled so much in the beginning. Casey went through so much during his early years, with a drug-addicted and negligent mother. His desperation was obvious in the way that he searched for Ty. Though Ty was shocked and overwhelmed, I loved his determination to be the best father he could. I hurt for Casey, who found it difficult to believe that happiness could last and self-sabotaged when things went well. I loved how Ty's consistent presence in his life helped Casey realize that he could trust Ty. Ty's support of Casey over the fight at school was a turning point in their relationship, and I loved how they began to connect better during Casey's suspension. The part involving the bike auction was heartbreaking for Ty as he got a good look at what Casey's early life was like. I loved how he immediately took steps to change things because of it.

I loved the epilogue and seeing the progress that all three made toward giving and accepting love in their lives. Ty's surprise for Shelby was pretty sweet, as was the help of all their friends. ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Jul 15, 2017 Jane rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: inglise-keeles, romance, 2017

I'll start by saying that I have not read the previous books in the Boys of Bishop trilogy, and while most of the novel was easy to understand, it would have been easier for me if I had already met some of the other characters in their books.

Between the Sheets is the book Harley Quinn was reading in Suicide Squad, and since Molly O'Keefe said that her book choice a lot about Harley Quinn as a person, I thought to give the story a shot as well. Unfortunately, though, I fear I didn't enjoy it quit ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 15, 2014 Tori rated it really liked it

Shelves: alternating-povs, read-in-2014, romance-contemporary, arc, dark, e-book, review-for-smexybooks, abuse, violence, there-s-an-arse-inhere

Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2014/07/review-...

Favorite Quote: “When I’m with you it’s like I’m the person I’m supposed to be and I want that.”

With a young son in tow, Wyatt (Ty) Svenson has stopped running and decided to settle in the small town of Bishop, Arkansa. Fixing motorcycles in his garage helps to keep his hands busy and his mind off the multitude of problems that plague him. When his attractive neighbor comes over to complain about the noise, Ty sees a cold woman who thi ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 19, 2014 Ellie rated it really liked it

Not your typical small town romance. It was edgier, the hero and the heroine had to deal with some pretty serious and painful, especially for her, issues. His kid was fantastic. Overall, I loved this story, though I had some minor complaints which I'll address in my full review.

My blog is part of the Blog Tour fof this book. Come by to read an excerpt an enter a giveaway for

Wild Child (Boys of Bishop, #1) by Molly O'Keefe

and

Never Been Kissed (Boys of Bishop, #2) by Molly O'Keefe

Full review published also on my blog - http://elliereadsfiction.blogspot.com/

This is my first book by this a ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Apr 22, 2014 Christi Snow rated it it was amazing

My Review:
Sigh...poor Shelby. We met her in the first book in this series where she was humiliated on national TV over her sex life. Life hasn't gotten any better for her since. Now she's trying to care for her mother who is sinking further and further into Alzheimer's and when she's in an 'episode', she channels Shelby's abusive father. This is the ultimate irony since her mother was the one who spent so many years trying to protect Shelby from his religious fanatical wrath.

Shelby has always h My Review:
Sigh...poor Shelby. We met her in the first book in this series where she was humiliated on national TV over her sex life. Life hasn't gotten any better for her since. Now she's trying to care for her mother who is sinking further and further into Alzheimer's and when she's in an 'episode', she channels Shelby's abusive father. This is the ultimate irony since her mother was the one who spent so many years trying to protect Shelby from his religious fanatical wrath.

Shelby has always had to hide her true nature, because she is really very passionate, but that doesn't fit in with her staid, school-teacher persona. The one person who gets to see that side of her is her new neighbor, Ty. But he also sees too much of everything else too and sees that she's barely hanging on by a thread.

Ty is dealing with his own issues with his new son, Casey, who's having a REALLY difficult time being normal and not acting out. They are both new in town, but don't have that support system of friends to make the transition easier, especially at first when everything seems to be going wrong.

So much about this story was excellent. Ty and Shelby are both caregivers struggling to figure out their responsibilities. For Ty, he's a new father to a 11 yo boy who is facing a mountain of his own struggles after the way his irresponsible mother raised him. This is a book full of characters who are so lost and hurting so much. Everything about the book was good, but the story line that I loved the most involved the scenes between Ty and his son, Casey. This just goes to show how amazing that story line was because when I read a romance novel, my focus is the romance, but I loved that kid. I loved getting to read the book in his point of view and just how confused, and hurt, and scared he is. I wanted to wrap him up in a blanket and keep him safe from the world. And it was heartbreaking to watch him from Ty's perspective, because Ty could see that too, but Casey refused to let him in. Heart.Breaking.

Then this is not something that I usually talk about in contemporary novel reviews, but the sex in this one. Wow! This book is HOT!! I want an art barn just because the visuals of these sex scenes in that setting were so erotic and so visually gorgeous and romantic. Even when the characters were sizzlingly erotic. I'm serious...the sexual exploits in this book are incredibly hot and well-written.

The book comes full circle in that the final climactic scene takes place between Casey and Evie, Shelby's mom. I thought that was an interesting twist and really did love it all...even the way it ended for these two characters. The scene was shocking and harsh, but so reflective of so much of the emotions that went on throughout the entire book. I highly recommend this one!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Romance

86 users

Romance > Contemporary Romance

61 users

Contemporary

38 users

Fiction

9 users

Adult Fiction > Erotica

6 users

Adult

6 users

Childrens

5 users

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

4 users

Sociology > Abuse

4 users

Dark

3 users

See top shelves…

About Molly O'Keefe

Molly O'Keefe

2,037 followers

Molly O'Keefe has always known she wanted to be a writer (except when she wanted to be a florist or a chef and the brief period of time when she considered being a cowgirl). And once she got her hands on some romances, she knew exactly what she wanted to write.

She published her first Harlequin romance at age 25 and hasn't looked back. She loves exploring every character's road towards happily ever ...more

Other books in the series

Boys of Bishop (4 books)

Books by Molly O'Keefe

Everything I Left Unsaid (Everything I Left Unsaid, #1)

The Truth About Him (Everything I Left Unsaid, #2)

Crazy Thing Called Love (Crooked Creek Ranch, #3)

More…

Red-Hot Romance Reading for July

Some people love books. Some people fall in love. And some people love books about falling in love. Every month our team sorts through the new...

Trivia About Between the Sheet...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Between the Sheets

“Who eats salad?" Casey asked, tearing lettuce leaves and putting them in a bowl.

"Girls do." Ty seasoned the last of the steaks and set the plate aside before opening up the bag of shrimp he had in the sink.

"Why do you make all this food for Ms. Monroe but not for us?"

Ty didn't have time to get into the things men do for women, making Caesar salad being about the least of them. "You're eating it tonight, aren't you?"

"I'm not eating the salad, that's for sure.” — 0 likes

“Pop used to have a dog, a mutt with some kind of crazy hunting instinct, and it would see a squirrel and just go so still. He’d turn himself into a dog statue.” — 0 likes

More quotes…