LOVE TAKER BY ERIN MCCARTHY-ARC REVIEW

The Nashville Nights series is burning up backstage in this sensual friends-to-lovers novel featuring a good-guy cop and a woman who’s been looking for Mr. Right in all the wrong places.

Pretty-boy musicians are a fixture of the Nashville country scene—and Elle Hart, hairdresser to the stars, is beginning to think that they’re all total pricks. Elle’s dating choices have been a disaster, but at least she has Tucker. Though he’s easy on the eyes, no one would ever accuse Jason Michael Tucker of being a pretty boy. The humble and handsome sheriff's deputy from Elle’s hometown has always been there to comfort her—until the evening their friendship unexpectedly leads to the best sex Elle has ever had.

Tucker has been lusting after Elle since they were an item as teens, but he knows that their wild night of passion is a one-time thing. He’s an old friend, nothing more, and they’re too different to become a couple just because they’ve knocked boots. After all, she hates being back in their hometown, and he’s not so fond of the big city. But when Elle comes to Tucker with news that changes everything, he must help her come to grips with her traumatic past—or risk losing her forever.

This was not my favorite of the series, I must admit.

I liked Tucker and Elle, I did. And I believed they were really great friends, and I sort of believed the transition to lovers.

The issue I had with the book is a spoiler, so suffice to say I am not the biggest fan of the friends to lovers trope when they use an outside event to spur the romance. In this case, there was a history, and there was a current friendship...but when I read a romance, I want to believe that there is nothing that would have kept them apart, that they were meant to be. And, in this one, I think I left with the feeling that they would have never happened were it not for that outside event.

This feeling left me struggling with the resolution of the story. And, I think in a lot of ways, it felt like the author did as well, not being totally convinced that the story and the resolution was fully sold.

There was a rather off-putting, at least for me, declaration of love in which they make it clear to the other that they now love one another romantically and not as just friends...and I wanted to scream "show me, not tell me" and I think that sums up how I felt about the book. I was shown the relationship as friends. I was told about the relationship as lovers.

So, for me, I felt that I was left a little lacking in the romance for me to really engage with this book.

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SEX SAYS BY MAX MONROE-ARC REVIEW

Lola:

My name is Lola Sexton, and I’m a sex addict.
Okay…that’s a lie.
Truth is, I’m a serial dater turned dating and relationship columnist for The San Francisco Times. My readers call me Sex. Sex Says.
I love my job.
I love my life.
And I hate Reed Luca.
**

Reed

My name is Reed Luca, and I’m a liar.
Ironically, that’s the truth.
I’m 31, and my occupation is…well, complicated.
My favorite kind of woman comes in all shapes and sizes, but always has a big brain.
I’ve never hated anything.
Lola Sexton hates me.
Luckily, it’s a thin line between love and hate, and with my help, pretty Lola will only be able to straddle that line for so long.

Enemies to lovers can really work. The idea that people meet and instantly strike sparks of hatred is, in some ways, more believable than when people meet and fall immediately in love. But, in order for the enemies to lovers to work, I have to be able to believe that they will like one another, I need to like the characters.

Reed and Lola were enemies. And, it is pretty clear the reasons they have to dislike one another. I liked Lola, yes she was quirky, and it felt a little forced at times to me, but that is the writing style, the over the top quirky, so I can look past that.

The issue is Reed. You meet him when he is bragging about his past while admitting that lying and playing with people is his favorite way to pass the time. I need to like the hero, I need to want him to show her why he is great. Unfortunately, I never got to the point where I liked him. At all.

He stood up for her at a cost to himself, still a no. I wanted this to make me like him, and I see the evolution of his character, but at that point, I think I was too far gone to have this make me really be able to connect with him. And I think that was the issue, he rubbed me the wrong way enough that I was never able to make the transition to liking him.

He went for the meaningful gesture, still a no.

So, this is my first book by this author and while I am not a fan of this, I can say it is well written. The pacing was decent and the evolution of the story was well done. I can even say that the characters were consistent and I believed them. But, this was definitely not a great read for me.

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HOLDING ON TIGHTER BY SHAYLA BLACK-REVIEW

Jolie Quinn is a woman in charge. Her no-nonsense attitude has made her a rising star in the fashion world and her brand a household name among the Dallas elite. Nothing will stop her from achieving her goals—not even the gorgeous British security contractor who seems just as interested in seeing her personal assets as he is in protecting her professional ones.

After a tragedy left him broken, Heath Powell made a rule of staying unattached. But Jolie challenges him in a way he can’t ignore, and he isn’t used to backing down from a confrontation—especially when the reward for winning could feel so good. As passion blazes between them, the stubborn, confident beauty arouses more than his desire. She touches his heart.

When a mysterious enemy threatens Jolie and her company, Heath is the only person Jolie can trust to help. But working with him to save her business might put her dangerously at risk of falling in love…

For me, a 5 star read is one you are still thinking about the next day. It's one that you can't put down, or if you do it is only because you have fallen asleep. It's one where you feel you have gotten to know the characters in the book, and have come to care about them.

I want to know what happens after the epilogue for Jolie and Heath. I loved their chemistry and their attraction to one another was amazing. I loved that she went after what she wanted. I also really liked the fact that they were both fairly sure of who they were and what they wanted.

Heath has a one-night-only rule. He doesn't break it. And then he meets Jolie...and he struggles with the rule. And then he breaks it (not really a spoiler as it would be tough for them to develop much of a relationship if he held to the rule)and the internal dialog is great. You get to know him, how he thinks, and what he wants.

I loved that Jolie was not only strong, but was able to recognize when others had her best interest at heart. I appreciated this a lot. Often, strong women are depicted as unable to recognize this and that becomes the issue of the relationship. In this, they each respected the other for who they were...and they loved one another for who they were. I liked this a lot.

And, he is intense. And this is great. This is not my first book by Shayla Black, but I have not read all of the books in this series. That said, you don't need to have read them for you to be able to enjoy this entry into the series.

I recommend this book. Highly.

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THE GAME CHANGER BY SCOTT HILDRETH-REVIEW

Terra

I'm going to marry this man, and nothing will stop me.
I didn't expect it to be Michael Tripp who left when we made our announcement. He knows this life, he knows what it means to be a part of mia familia.
He didn't know he was marrying the boss's daughter.
I kept it from him—I lied to him.
He came back, thank God. My love forgave me and the wedding is on.
I'll die before I allow any more secrets to come between us.

Tripp


I'm a man of my word. I love hard and tell it like it is. But the Mafia has me in their crosshairs and I'm in deep. Partnering with a crime boss is one thing. Working for a crime boss who is also your father-in-law…that's just f***ed.
I stepped up to the challenge. Shaking things up and making changes that needed to happen to secure our power. And the profits speak for themselves.
No one could have seen the end coming. No one could have stopped it, not even me.
The playing field has changed. And nothing will ever be the same.

This is the continuation...and it is just as gritty as the first one.  The first time I read one of Scott Hildreth's books, I was...shocked isn't the right word, but there was something about it that made it seem more real.  This is great when we are speaking of the romance and the characters (who were very real in this one) but is a little tough (at least for me) when it comes to the violence of the mafia life.

But, then I think about what I said.  Hmmm...this author portrays mafia life/violence in a way that feels authentic.  Actually, this is a good thing.  I have zero experience in anything related to the mafia...unless you count movies and tv shows, so the idea that this can shock me, and unsettle me, and give me pause...I liked that.

I liked it a lot.  I also liked Terra and Michael.  I liked the realism, I liked the fact that they both seemed fairly committed to the idea that they were together.  This worked for me and, again, gave this a realistic quality that made me want to keep reading even after the "book complete" appeared on my Kindle.

Oh, and the events at the end, those made me want to keep reading too.

I recommend this book.

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MAN CANDY BY MELANIE HARLOW-REVIEW

He’s back.

Not just back in town, but living in the flat right beneath mine. And he looks good enough to eat, which is just one more reason to stay away from him.

But I can’t resist.

The sex is incredible (pretty sure we’ve shaken the house right off its foundation), but he can’t fool me—not this time. A degree in marketing and five years in advertising have taught me that “true love” is a fairy tale used to sell lipstick, diamonds, and perfume. It doesn’t exist.

He thinks I’m wrong, and he wants to prove it.

I think he’s crazy, so I dare him to try.

It might be the biggest mistake of my life.

Melanie Harlow is a favorite of mine. A drop everything I am reading to read her new book favorite. There are a number of reasons for this: her characters are genuine; her writing flows and is a pleasure to read; she tells stories of people I would want to know in real life; she describes scenes and settings in a way that I feel like I am there.

Man Candy was a bit of a different story. It is usually the woman in the story who knows how she feels and the man who is unwilling, reluctant, or afraid to commit. In this case, Jaime is the one who is not willing to believe in love and commitment. Quinn, on the other hand, is pretty sure that she is the one for him…he just needs to talk her into it.

This is a friends to lovers story. Jaime and Quinn knew each other when they were younger, Quinn is friends with her brother, Alex. This is how they meet, how they know one another, and ultimately how they end up living in the same duplex.

The story begins with Jaime in a closet. Literally, it is the first line. With a game of chicken, and with a little history so you know why she is in this closet. Still literally. You find out why Jaime is reluctant to believe in love, you find out about her family, her career, and all of the things that have happened to her in her life that resulted in her belief that love isn’t real and doesn’t last.

Quinn believes in love that lasts, that is work, and that builds into something permanent and deeper than the first attraction. He decides to show Jaime that love is real, and she dares him to try. The book is their story, their dates, his attempts to show her that love is real and her determination to resist believing it is anything other than a fairy tale.

Quinn is instantly likable. He is funny, charming, caring and ridiculously attractive. He’s genuine, and life experience has taught him that he wants to take a path that has more meaning than the one he is on, so he is back in Detroit to make some changes in his life, to find a new direction. It is admirable and he is appealing.

Jaime is likeable, but at the same time, you are a little frustrated with her unwillingness to see what is right in front of her, the chance at real love with Quinn. Harlow does an excellent job of portraying someone who is afraid and reluctant without making the reader dislike her. You understand where Jaime is coming from and what she is thinking, and the talent in Harlow’s writing is this ability to write a character who maybe should be frustrating or hard to relate to…but isn’t. As a reader, you really like Quinn, so you would think it would be hard to relate to Jaime and her reluctance to be with him fully, but you like her, and you understand her, so you never reach the point where you dislike her, even though she is difficult. Credit goes to Melanie Harlow for the writing, the characters, the plot, all of it, for being able to relate to Jaime through the entire book.

Man Candy is delicious. Take a bite.

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THE FORBIDDEN DUKE BY DARCY BURKE-REVIEW

Spinster Miss Eleanor Lockhart is suddenly homeless and employment is her only option. Ruined after succumbing to a scoundrel’s excessive charm nearly a decade ago, she’s lucky to obtain a position as a paid companion and committed to behaving with the utmost propriety. She definitely shouldn’t be in the arms of a man capable of utterly destroying what little remains of her reputation...

Titus St. John, Duke of Kendal, is known as the Forbidden Duke, a mysterious, intimidating figure who enters Society just once each year at his stepmother’s ball. A decade ago, he was a devil-may-care rake until his idle roguery brought about the ruin of Eleanor Lockhart—and his resulting self-imposed isolation. Now she’s back, and she needs his help. But by “saving” her, he may just ruin her life all over again.

It has taken me a little while to write this review, as I am hesitant to give a 5-star review. Even though I enjoy Darcy Burke, have read most (if not all) of her other titles and loved this.


5 means perfect, it means I wouldn't change a thing, it means that I liked the main characters, the supporting characters, the writing and the story. As I reflect on all of these, I realize this is true. Eleanor was charming, she was strong, and she was spirited. You wanted her to be happy. Titus was troubled, and he felt guilty for what he sees as his small part of events in her past.

I loved the fact that there was no "great break up" scene. Yes, I love those sometimes, and in some books they work very well. But, in this case, what Titus needed more than anything else was for Eleanor to have quiet faith in him. And she does. And, while I often do enjoy the bit of angst the break-up and make-up provides, in this case, the way Burke wrote this was perfect.

As I am writing this review, I am becoming more convinced that this really was perfect. I have no criticism of it, I have nothing I would change...ok, maybe make it a little longer as I was sad to see it end. It was well written, paced perfectly, and told a fun story. It was a bit predictable, but romances by definition are...if there is no HEA, that would be an issue. And the scenes with Titus and Eleanor were fun, enjoyable, and in one case, hot.

Definitely worth the read.

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#1 CRUSH BY T. GEPHART-RELEASE BLITZ

Title: #1 Crush

Series: #1 Series #1

Author: T. Gephart

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 20, 2017

Blurb

Tia Monroe was smart, sassy and successful. Sure, she could get a little crazy at times—life around Tia was never boring—but that was part of her appeal. And while she didn’t see herself as ‘classically beautiful’, she had no shortage of options in the boyfriend department. She just hadn’t found one who held her interest.

Until she laid eyes on Eric Larsson, and then it was lust at first sight.

He packed the perfect mix of smoldering sexy and unapologetic cool into his blond-haired, blue-eyed, ridiculously hot six-foot-four frame. One smile from him was enough to twist her insides, making her girlie bits tingle in the most delicious way. But it wasn’t just his looks, he was smart and funny—charming in the most a-dork-able way.

The only problem was . . . Tia had never actually met him.

Eric Larsson was one of Hollywood’s hottest movie stars, rising to the top of his game and leaving a trail of disintegrated panties in his wake. Tia’s were no exception—but she wasn’t delusional. Love, marriage and happily-ever-after were not part of her fantasy; she just wanted to meet him. Just one time. One time. Confident that just seeing him in the flesh would get him out of her system.

So, with her resolve steeled, Tia set off on a quest to make it happen while avoiding her mug shot being splayed across the five o’clock news.

The journey no doubt will make for one hell of a story.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Who doesn't love the idea of meeting their celebrity crush? I know I have a few people I wouldn't mind meeting. So this book's blurb definitely caught my eye and had me intrigued.

I liked Tia. I thought she was fun and quirky and unique. She was determined to meet Eric, not intending for it to be anything more than a quick meet and greet. She certainly didn't expect it to turn into anything else-one quick meet and she would be satisfied. However, she got more than she bargained for.

Eric was cute. He was funny. He was...an actor. He was an actor with a heart and a good sense of humor. I definitely understood Tia's crush on him. I liked his down to earth approach about his own fame-and I loved that banter he shared with Tia.

I liked these two together-I did. I did want a little more romance between them, not just the laughs that were there. But the writing was solid, the secondary characters were funny. The pacing was ok. The sex was good-which always helps-but I was left wanting just a little bit more from the two of them.

Usually, I avoid reading other reviews before I write mine, but in this case, I was curious if it was just me. Based on the reviews posted, it was.

Tia and Eric were fun, and they were funny. But, to me, the premise, their relationship and the humor took away from the story. I felt like I was reading a comedy with some romance instead of one that was romance first. This caused issues for me with the pacing and the plot...and, like I said, it seems to be just me.

The comedy and the humor were really well done. I was laughing out loud in places. Were this a "comedy" I think it would be a 5 star read for me, but as a romance it fell a bit short. Not bad, just not what I was looking for.

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

PAPERBACK 

Excerpt

“Oh my God.” The words wheezed out of me as all the oxygen escaped from my lungs. My chest tightened like I’d been kicked right in between my ribs.

There he was a few feet behind me slowly making his way toward me.

“Eric, look here.”

“Eric, this way.”

Both sides of the line screamed at him as he patiently walked from side to side, signing autographs and taking selfies. Each step he took inching him closer to where I had frozen, my eyes bulging out of my head like a complete lunatic.

There he was.

Eric Larsson, right in front of me.

And not even internet stalking could have prepared me for what he looked like in real life.

Breathtaking.

So handsome he almost didn’t seem real, and as much as I tried I couldn’t stop staring.

Say something my mouth begged as my brain continued on its mental vacation. My eyes scanned every inch of his body like it was planning to build a 3-D replica.

Holy hell he was wearing the absolute fuck out of that suit. Every inch of the fabric curling around his delicious body like its life depended on it. And believe me, even though he was covered from head to toe in tailored Tom Ford perfection—I’d seen photos of him in this particular suit before—it did nothing to hide how obscenely hot he was.

My heart thumped loudly as he took another step closer, his eyes remaining on the crowd.

“Larsson.”

It rang out clear despite the noise around us. It took me a minute to realize that while my brain had stalled, my mouth hadn’t suffered the same fate. My lips still open as his name left them.

Who the hell yells out his last name? I panicked, unable to tear my eyes from him as his head lifted and his eyes settled on me.

Dear. Lord. In. Heaven. And. All. The. Saints.

Eric Larsson was looking at me.

At me.

At ME!

His brow lifted in acknowledgement as his lips curled, momentarily blinding me as he flashed his trademark smile.

Well, if that wasn’t an invitation, I didn’t know what was.

So, even though I was struggling to breathe—my ability to remain upright also not guaranteed—my feet moved me closer toward him. My internal pep talk worked overtime as I reminded myself we were on a mission. Two minutes of eye contact, conversation . . . and something about me finding out what an asshole he was.

“Hi.” The best I could do given the circumstances.

Intellectually I knew the man was tall. I mean, in my head I figured I knew what six-foot-four looked like. But as I lifted my eyes, it didn’t come close to where I should be looking, my gaze hitting his chin before I tilted my head even higher.

“Hi,” he responded, the single word sent a shiver down my spine as he unleashed another blinding smile.

Those eyes were something else. The clearest blue I had ever seen, and though I knew it wasn’t possible it seemed like they illuminated from the inside out. Like magical orbs, the weight of their stare hypnotized me, pulling me in closer like a force field. I couldn’t have looked away if I’d tried. Not that I tried, and not that I wanted to.

And oh Lord have mercy, did he smell good. Mouthwatering. Ridiculous that it would even get a mention given I already had those eyes, his face and his delectable couture-wrapped body to contend with. Yet there was his scent wafting up my nose uninvited. A sadistic mix of sexy, clean and masculine—probably Calvin Klein—overwhelmed me as I fought the urge to bury my head in his neck and inhale him like a line of cocaine.

Say something you dumbass. My mouth begged as my hand, completely of its own accord, reached out and rested on his arm.

Holy. Freaking. Shit. I. Was. Touching. Him.

Do not moan, I reminded myself.

“Congratulations on the movie.” Words poured out of my mouth, thankfully in a sequence that made sense, as my fingers struggled not to caress the fabric of his suit. My fingers didn’t listen, slowly stroking in small—slightly inappropriate and rather suggestive—circles.

Wow, this is a really, really nice suit.

Do not lick it.

Author Bio

T Gephart is an indie author from Melbourne, Australia.

T's approach to life has been somewhat unconventional. Rather than going to University, she jumped on a plane to Los Angeles, USA in search of adventure. While this first trip left her somewhat underwhelmed and largely depleted of funds it fueled her appetite for travel and life experience.

With a rather eclectic resume, which reads more like the fiction she writes than an actual employment history, T struggled to find her niche in the world.

While on a subsequent trip the United States in 1999, T met and married her husband. Their whirlwind courtship and interesting impromptu convenience store wedding set the tone for their life together, which is anything but ordinary. They have lived in Louisiana, Guam and Australia and have traveled extensively throughout the US. T has two beautiful young children and one four legged child, Woodley, the wonder dog.

An avid reader, T became increasingly frustrated by the lack of strong female characters in the books she was reading. She wanted to read about a woman she could identify with, someone strong, independent and confident and who didn't lack femininity. Out of this need, she decided to pen her first book, A Twist of Fate. T set herself the challenge to write something that was interesting, compelling and yet easy enough to read that was still enjoyable. Pulling from her own past "colorful" experiences and the amazing personalities she has surrounded herself with, she had no shortage of inspiration. With a strong slant on erotic fiction, her core characters are empowered women who don't have to sacrifice their femininity. She enjoyed the process so much that when it was over she couldn't let it go.

T loves to travel, laugh and surround herself with colorful characters. This inevitably spills into her writing and makes for an interesting journey - she is well and truly enjoying the ride!

Based on her life experiences, T has plenty of material for her books and has a wealth of ideas to keep you all enthralled.

Author Links

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LOST IN BETWEEN BY K.L. KREIG-RELEASE BLITZ

We all have one. A price. That magic number that will get us to agree to do anything, be anything. Don’t sit on your gold-plated high horse and say you don’t because you do. Everyone does. Each of us has something we covet enough that we’d sell ourselves to have it. What’s my tipping point, you ask? Apparently a cool quarter mil will do the trick. What does one do for 250 large, you wonder? Anything the infamous, gorgeous playboy of Seattle wants. For the next four months I’ll be Shaw Mercer’s arm candy, his beck and call girl, his faux girlfriend. I’ll be his to command, mold, push and pull in any direction he sees fit. I’ll fight falling into bed with him. I’ll fight falling in love with him even harder. I’ll fail at both. And when my past and present collide in the most unexpected of ways, I’ll learn that while one man’s love for me has never died, the only man’s love I really want will never be mine.

K.L. Kreig is a fairly new author to me. This is the second book of hers that I have read.

And, she has done it again. I am blown away. I was floored. From their initial meeting, when they had no idea who they would become to one another, through the family dynamics, the business deal, the attraction that jumps off the page.

This book is tough to review, as I really think that nowing anything about this book is to ruin the ride of this book. The writing is amazing, it draws you in to the characters, to the stories. You are immediately invested and the story grabs you.

The POV switches work well, are balanced, and make you feel that you know both of them equally well.

So, I am going to say that you really want to read this.

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Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2jrcvHk
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Amazon AU: goo.gl/naMzS8
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iBooks: http://apple.co/2lktls8
Nook: http://bit.ly/2k3eldb

CHECK OUT THE TRAILER!

ADD TO GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/2h3ekbT

 

About the Author:

As a USA Today Bestselling author, I write stories that are deeply emotional with flawed characters, because humans ARE flawed and if we read about perfect characters living in their perfect world, first of all, snoozer, but secondly, we never experience the gratification of redemption. Outside of writing, I’m just a regular ol’ Midwest girl who likes Game of Thrones and am obsessed with Modern Family and The Goldbergs. I run, I eat, I run, I eat. It’s a vicous cycle. I love carbs, but there’s love-hate relationship with my ass and thighs. Mostly hate. I like a good cocktail (oh hell…who am I kidding? I love any cocktail). I’m a huge creature of habit, but I’ll tell you I’m flexible. I read every single day and if I don’t get a chance…watch the hell out. My iPad and me: BFFs. I’m direct and I make no apologies for it. I swear too much. I love alternative music and in my next life I want to be a bad-ass female rocker. I hate, hate, hate spiders, telemarketers, liver, acne, winter and loose hairs that fall down my shirt (don’t ask, it’s a thing).  

AUTHOR LINKS 

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KL-Kreig/808927362462053  

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/646655825434751/  

Website: http://klkreig.com 

 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9845429.K_L_Kreig  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/klkreig  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klkreig/

ROYAL AFFAIR BY PARKER SWIFT-ARC REVIEW

One seriously sexy son-of-a-duke . . .

Behind the posh British accent, Dylan Hale possesses a down-and-dirty sexiness. Off-the-charts gorgeous, a ruthless architect . . . and did I mention he's a future duke? Every time we touch, it's wildfire. All need and lust and heat. But Dylan has rules: just sex, no one can know, and in the bedroom he gets complete control. All I have to do is follow the rules, because falling in love with Dylan Hale is all it would take to screw everything up . . . royally.

Royal Scandal Series
Book 2: Royal Disaster
Book 3: Royal Treatment

I enjoy the royal trope, but there are some aspects of it that drive me insane, namely..fake countries. So, I was glad that this one was set in London. No, I realize this is not something that should really matter to the story, and I realize there are a lot of them out there, very popular ones, set in fake countries.

I liked Dylan a lot. I htought he seemed realistic and oyu can understand the need that he has to protect her from the paparazzi. The rationale for this was, possibly, a little over the top and unnecessary, but at the same time, I was not able to object to it all that much.

I thought the author did a good job with Lydia and her acceptance of him not only being royal, but what that meant for their relationship. I liked the evolution as she got closer to him, and wanted to be more than a fling and his arc around the same plot development, but with him being afraid of exposing her to the life he lives.

There were some issues with jealousy that were a little repetitive and I felt that he kept telling her the same things over and over, but maybe this is what happens when you date royalty.

I knew this was a trilogy going into it, so the cliffhanger ending does not effect my rating.

DARE TO LIE BY JEN MCLAUGHLIN-REVIEW

As an undercover DEA agent in the most powerful gang in Boston, Scott Donahue accepts the risks of living a double life. But when Tate Donovan, leader of the Sons of Steel Row, assigns Scotty to take his place in a bachelor’s auction sponsored by his sister’s sorority, he’s exposed to a whole new level of danger. Even though Tate makes it very clear—Skylar is off limits—the second Scotty sees her, he’s a goner. But how does he tell Sky she’s falling for a man who doesn’t exist?

Sky can’t resist Scotty’s cool confidence or the raw, edgy power oozing from his perfect body. She’s always been the good girl, but he brings out the bad in her. And even though she knows so little about who he really is, Sky’s willing to take the biggest risk of all. But putting her heart on the line is no guarantee that Scotty won’t slip through her fingers...

I am picky. I know this. People who deal with me on a daily basis have definitely figured this out. So, giving a 5 star review to a book is something I have to think about. Usually.
In this case, it was easy. The chemistry between Scott and Skylar was immediate, it was intense and it was scorching. It jumped off the page and captured the reader almost immediately with that angle of the story.

This was not a simple story. Scott is an active member of The Sons of Steel Row, and also a DEA agent. The conflict with this gives some of the most interesting parts of the story, as he works his way through those conflicting loyalties and the goal he has to make the area safe again.

Skylar is the pampered sister of the head of The Sons of Steel Row...although she is not fully aware of the details of what her brother, or Scott for that matter, are actually involved in. This also makes for an interesting tension with the 2 of them, and occasionally with Tate thrown into the mix. This is done in a way that the situation is compelling without dragging down the story or the pacing.

The writing is strong, as is the pacing. I believed and related to the characters, I thought their decisions and moral dilemmas made sense and were the kinds of things people in this situation would deal with. I liked that Scott, and the others, really accepted the reality of their lives, that this was a part of who they were and not a plot point to focus on to move the story.

I enjoyed this book a lot, and it was the first I have read in the series. I am definitely interested in the others and REALLY look forward to Tate's story, which I am hoping was set up in the end of this one.

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