Scandal in Spring (Wallflowers #4)

Scandal in Spring Summary:
After spending three London seasons searching for a husband, Daisy Bowman's father has told her in no uncertain terms that she must find a husband. Now. And if Daisy can't snare an appropriate suitor, she will marry the man he chooses—the ruthless and aloof Matthew Swift.

Daisy is horrified. A Bowman never admits defeat, and she decides to do whatever it takes to marry someone... anyone... other than Matthew. But she doesn't count on Matthew's unexpected charm... or the blazing sensuality that soon flares beyond both their control. And Daisy discovers that the man she has always hated just might turn out to be the man of her dreams.

But right at the moment of sweet surrender, a scandalous secret is uncovered... one that could destroy both Matthew and a love more passionate and irresistible than Daisy's wildest fantasies.

Scandal in Spring Review:

This book was a re-read. While I loved it the first time around because it felt like a perfect conclusion to the Wallflower series, the second read revealed more annoyances. Daisy felt like such a whimsical character throughout the series, and I was expecting some of that in this novel. I also wanted to delve more into her story because Lillian was a strong presence that, quite literally, stole the show. And that part carried into this novel as well because the reader kept diving into Lillian's perspective. It felt less about Daisy finding love and more about Lillian discovering how to live without her sister. Which, in and of itself, is a lovely story, but that was not how this book was marketed. 

Regarding the romance, I found myself disliking Daisy. She came off as boring, needy, and useless, whereas before, she had had a distinct personality of balanced whimsy and pragmatism. Similarly, Swift was a more boring version of Hunt. However, I did find his personality and backstory more interesting than Daisy's, who came off as an overly privileged girl, distant from reality. I also did not feel particularly interested in the romance between the two.

Overall, 3 out of 5 stars. I was more excited to read about the other characters rather than the main couple. Just left with a pretty 'meh' feeling overall. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slightly Married (Bedwyn Saga #1) by Mary Balogh

 

 

Slightly Married Summary:

    Meet the Bedwyn: six brothers and sisters—men and women of passion and privilege, daring and sensuality…Enter their dazzling world of high society and breathtaking seduction, where each will seek love, fight temptation, and court scandal and where Aidan Bedwyn, the marriage-shy second son, discovers that matrimony may be the most seductive act of all.

    Like all the Bedwyn men, Aidan has a reputation for cool arrogance. But this proud nobleman also possesses a loyal, passionate heart—and it is this fierce loyalty that has brought Colonel Lord Aidan to Ringwood Manor to honor a dying soldier's request. Having promised to comfort and protect the man's sister, Aidan never expected to find a headstrong, fiercely independent woman who wants no part of his protection... nor did he expect the feelings this beguiling creature would ignite in his guarded heart. And when a relative threatens to turn Eve out of her home, Aidan gallantly makes her an offer she can't refuse: marry him... if only to save her home. And now, as all of London breathlessly awaits the transformation of the new Lady Aidan Bedwyn, the strangest thing happens: With one touch, one searing embrace, Aidan and Eve's “business arrangement” is about to be transformed into something slightly surprising.

Slightly Married Review:

    I loved this book so much! To me, it is the embodiment of what a good romance should be; a slow romance, interesting characters, and enough drama to keep the story engaging. However, the characters are the real draw. Just like every other Mary Balogh book, her characters are original and the way that they are written on the pages differentiates them. Eve appears first as the Mary Sue type but is written to be strong and independent. She is incredibly confident in whom she loves and protects and makes no apologies because she comes from a lower class. In an era of overly traumatized or aggressively independent female characters, I loved that she was independent and had faced hardships, yet her personality was more than that. Aidan was the same. He easily fell into the cold male lead; however, learning about his past and showing him progress into a man open to love was amazing. The progression was slow and wasn't just because of Eve's love, which I truly appreciate. Likewise, the other Bedwyn characters were different and there is a lot of space to develop them in their stories.
   

The story itself, EVERYTHING worked. The progression from two characters coming together and falling in love by the end was realistic. The side characters supported and added drama when needed, but it never went over the top. There were very few sex scenes, which I appreciate because that means there is more time for plot development. And those sweet scenes, like going on a picnic or when Aidan was teaching the kids to swim, fit perfectly into the story. Overall, a 5-star read and a 5-star read even after being re-read many times.

Devil in Winter (Wallflowers #3)

Devil in Winter Summary: 
A Devil's Bargain

Easily the shyest Wallflower, Evangeline Jenner stands to become the wealthiest, once her inheritance comes due. Because she must first escape the clutches of her unscrupulous relatives, Evie has approached the rake Viscount St. Vincent with a most outrageous proposition: marriage!

Sebastian's reputation is so dangerous that thirty seconds alone with him will ruin any maiden's good name. Still, this bewitching chit appeared, unchaperoned, on his doorstep to offer her hand. Certainly an aristocrat with a fine eye for beauty could do far worse.

But Evie's proposal comes with a condition: no lovemaking after their wedding night. She will never become just another of the dashing libertine's callously discarded broken hearts—which means Sebastian will simply have to work harder at his seductions... or perhaps surrender his own heart for the very first time in the name of true love.

Devil in Winter Review: 

   I initially read this book, and absolutely loved it. But re-reading It Happened One Autumn, framed St. Vincent differently. I love when authors create characters that push the boundaries of morality and try and make the audience sympathize with them because it pushes us to understand the reason behind their actions. However, St. Vincent's reasoning was hard to grasp and his actions were wrong. Ms. Kleypas did try and give some back story into him, but it was just a short sentence. It didn't really reveal his personality as much as it needed to. Usually, the Wallflower and Hathaway books don't focus too much on the past, a lot is spent on developing their future relationships. This works for everyone else; however, St. Vincent needed to be redeemed. A hint of the past is not enough to prove that St. Vincent is intrinsically a good person and deserves forgiveness.
 

   St. Vincent, without context, was your typical rake. He was arrogant, good-looking, great at making money and just living up to that stereotype. Not that it's a bad thing, especially in romance! It's just that Evie's past was explored so much more, and St. Vincent's was glossed over when he needed the most exposure. As a standalone, he was a classic book boyfriend, as a continuation of a series he was lacklustre. There was a moment where St. Vincent apologized for his actions, but he only did "on screen" to Westcliff, not Lillian. The person that he kidnapped and assaulted! In that regard, the book felt unfinished. And his actions tainted every part of the book. He came off as over-aggressive, especially with his language towards Evie in the beginning, too masculine, too arrogant, etc. The bullet wound was a nice touch, but it just wasn't enough. I'm going to keep repeating this, had it been any other series, this book would have been spectacular! It was why I loved it before I re-read It Happened One Autumn through a new perspective. Reading Devil in Winter before It Happened One Autumn definitely reads better.
 
   On the other hand, Evie was a sweetheart throughout the novel. Her going from a blushing, shy girl to a confident woman was amazing to see. It was a slow progression, and the book ends with room for more growth. I would have loved to read even more about her life and her journey. And her backbone! From the very beginning, she was so strong; it's so interesting to see a heroine that isn't upfront about her strength. She knows when to push for something and when to back down, especially after Lillian and so many of the Urban Fantasy novels, it was refreshing. In terms of side characters, Cam was interesting. Daisy and Annabelle were great to see as well!
 
Overall this was a 2-start read, but it used to be a five.  

It Happened One Autumn (Wallflowers #2)

It Happened One Autumn Summary: 
It happened at the ball...

Where beautiful but bold Lillian Bowman quickly learned that her independent American ways weren't entirely "the thing." And the most disapproving of all was insufferable, snobbish, and impossible Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London's most eligible aristocrat.

It happened in the garden...

When Marcus shockingly—and dangerously—swept her into his arms. Lillian was overcome with a consuming passion for a man she didn't even like. Time stood still; it was as if no one else existed... thank goodness they weren't caught very nearly in the act!

It happened one autumn...

Marcus was a man in charge of his own emotions, a bedrock of stability. But with Lillian, every touch was exquisite torture, every kiss an enticement for more. Yet how could he consider taking a woman so blatantly unsuitable... as his bride?

It Happened One Autumn Review: 

I wanted to start by writing a trigger warning for this book due to instances of rape and assault. I also wanted to say that there will be spoilers in this review.

    This book is hard to finish. From their first intimate encounter, a precedent is set for the rest of their meetings. It also states, quite adamantly, that when a woman says no, it actually means yes because she secretly wants it. Throughout the novel, there is a push and pull relationship between, which does have its funny moments. The rounders game where Lillian tackles Westcliff was funny and reframed their previously, antagonistic relationship. However, for many of the events, Lillian comes off childish and Westcliff appears domineering. Luckily, whenever the secondary characters showed up, the story became a lot more interesting. Lillian and Daisy's antics were especially fun to read about. This will be further explained below, but the progression of their love story is tainted by their intimate encounters. Below, I discuss three instances where the men's behaviour was either rape or assault. Most readers believe that these three events were passionate and sexy, in a good way. But I will try and explain my stance on why these actions were wrong.

    The first time that they kiss, which is very early on in the book, Westcliff ends up kissing Lillian three times. She repeatedly tries to push Westcliff off and says no. But based on the perfume she wears, he was to over come to listen to her. And she responded during the first so she must have wanted it to continue. For me, this appears similar to people under the influence who exhibit poor behaviour; however, a perfume's scent can hardly be equal to an intoxication. There are more factors than just someone's attraction, such as their comfort level which are important to consider in any interaction. Especially, somewhere as restrictive as the Victorian society.

    Then there is the first sex scene. Westcliff has walked just in on Lillian drinking brandy until she is drunk. Westcliff himself states, "[s]he was foxed, staggering, tap-hackled, top-heavy, shot-in-the-neck, staggering drunk". Its hilarious, and Lillian adds to this with her actions. Westcliff further comments that starting anything sexual with her, no matter how flirty she may act, would be wrong and taking advantage of her disposition. Nonetheless, Westcliff reaches a certain where he can no longer control himself. He can no longer handle Lillian's drunk advances anymore and decides to have sex with her. Now, many readers say that Lillian was asking for it or that she wanted it. However, she was not in control of her facilities during this time...BEING DRUNK. To contrast her drunkness, Westcliff is stone-cold sober during the entire interaction. Additionally, he has a larger sexual knowledge than Lillian does because women are kept innocent until marriage. Both St. Vincent and Westcliff describe Lillian as such. So Westcliff can think both clearly and has a greater understanding of what is coming next. He should be acting as her guide; instead, he becomes her rapist. This is rape. She can't give her consent because she is intoxicated which means that this is non-consensual sex or rape. It doesn't matter how much she wants it, as stated before there are multiple factors other than their physical attraction to warrant an intimate event. This was a disgusting scene and it made the next scene, where he cleans her up after forcibly stripping of her blanket, even worse.

    The final incident includes St. Vincent and Lillian, not Westcliff. St. Vincent has captured Lillian in a stupid kidnapping scheme to force her to marry him because he is severely in debt. Nothing in this book explains this random behavioural change in St. Vincent and the only reason it is likely here it to create a redemption arc for him in the next novel and create a climactic end. The kidnapping leads to Lillian tied up on a bed, where St. Vincent opens her dress and gropes her breast. And the book highlights that she turns away her head in discomfort and shame. This event by itself would not be problematic because it is quite clear that it is sexual assault. However, St. Vincent is the hero of the next book Devil in Winter, and the novel (as well as the next one) states that the main problem was actually stealing Westcliff's girl. It never labels St. Vincent as an assaulter. Especially telling is the conversation in the next book where Evie boldly states that St. Vincent could have never raped Lillian; however, his incredibly aggressive behaviour in this novel shows otherwise. More on that in the next review.

    While this novel was great the first few times I read it because I, like many other readers, either ignored the scenes or assumed that it was what normal love looked like. Now, I know better and this novel makes me uncomfortable just thinking about it. I'm not passing judgement on those that continue to enjoy the novel, this is a work of fiction. Nonetheless, it is important to understand the underlying issues.

    This brings me to my next point, which is becoming more apparent through Ms. Kleypas' novels. The heroes seem unduly aggressive. For example, Simon from the previous novel grabs and kisses Annabelle without her permission. Additionally, whenever there is a sex scene, the heroines are described using words such as helpless or use actions such as crying or quiver. Not only is that kinda weird in general, but its also uncomfortable when paired with the "manly" way the heroes are described. It is important to note that Simon and Mathew (Scandal in Spring) are quite nice as heroes and there many attempts to place them on equal footing to the heroines.

Overall, the novel is a 1-star read.

Secrets of a Summer Night (Wallflowers #1)

Secrets of a Summer Night Summary: 
Four young ladies enter London society with one common goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.

Annabelle Peyton, determined to save her family from disaster, decides to use her beauty and wit to tempt a suitable nobleman into making an offer of marriage. But Annabelle's most intriguing--and persistent--admirer, wealthy, powerful Simon Hunt, has made it clear that while he will introduce her to irresistible pleasure he will not offer marriage. Annabelle is determined to resist his unthinkable proposition . . . but it is impossible in the face of such skillful seduction.

Her friends, looking to help, conspire to entice a more suitable gentleman to offer for Annabelle, for only then will she be safe from Simon--and her own longings. But on one summer night, Annabelle succumbs to Simon's passionate embrace and tempting kisses . . . and she discovers that love is the most dangerous game of all.

Secrets of a Summer Night Review:      

    This is one of my all-time favourite books; I re-read this book almost once a month! The characters are witty and complex, the story is whimsical and the book just leaves you with a joyful feeling in the end. Secrets of a Summer Night is a typical historical romance, which means that all loose ends are tied and it leaves you eagerly awaiting the next book. However, its characters and story make it stand out amongst the cliches.

   Secrets of a Summer Night starts off by showing the financial struggles and strong will of Annabeth. It also establishes the alluring and magnetic personality of Simon, when he comes to their aid to pay for the play tickets. The connection between the two is instantaneous after they share a smouldering moment (to borrow a phrase from Ms. Kleypas). From there the romance slowly transformed from lust into love in a spectacular way. And it mirrored the transformation of Annabeth from a toughened, prejudiced noblewomen into a softened, knowledgeable middle-class woman. On the brink of poverty, she is trying to marry a wealthy aristocrat. Having to deal with poverty and the societal implications, especially in a blue-blood family, would toughen anyone up. Annabeth was no exception. And her belief in high society meant that those of the lower classes were generally avoided. Her transformation was a prime example of how to represent growth in a character; it was incredible! I know that a few readers had problems understanding how she could be so ruthless in her pursuit of a husband, but her actions embody those in a similar situation. Annabeth desperately wants to save her family and retain some dignity during the process. While she may not be morally right at all times, her actions are understandable.

   Simon's development throughout the story is a bit more subtle. Readers understand that he is very ambitious and is just searching for an unknown that would fill the emptiness in him. While this is an overused trope in Romance, it was well thought in Simon. He was not over-eager in his pursuit. Instead, he relied on honesty and sweetness to win her. He was incredibly self-aware; however, he could still make mistakes, which really opened up his character. And the fact that he would marry her even if she was not a virgin, stood out in this historical piece. Simon's drive made the pursuit of Annabeth so captivating. Instead of it being one-sided, both characters pushed, moved...aggravated each other, setting off fireworks whenever they were together. They broke down each other's walls and formed a genuine connection over time.

   Historical romance novels usually stop developing love after marriage, but that doesn't happen here, which is fantastic! There were marital problems that took communication and compromises to change. Was it a bit dramatic? Of course, but there were so many parts of their relationships and marriage that were realistic. There was still growth that needed to happen after this book had ended, but the foundation was there. One thing that really stands out is their chess games. They were some of my favourite scenes; there was so much emotion in those scenes that didn't need to be spelled out for the reader.

   Now the Wallflowers. They were a beautiful addition to this book. Each came with their own personality and added to the hilarity of Secrets of a Summer Night. Their rounders scene had me in stitches! And I can't wait for Lillian's and Marcus' book (which is next)!

   Overall, a heart-warming, enticing read. A definite 5 star read and highly recommended read for new and old fans of Historical romances!

The Revolution of Marina M.

The Revolution of Marina M. Summary:
St. Petersburg, New Year's Eve, 1916. Marina Makarova is a young woman of privilege who aches to break free of the constraints of her genteel life, a life about to be violently upended by the vast forces of history. Swept up on these tides, Marina will join the marches for workers' rights, fall in love with a radical young poet, and betray everything she holds dear, before being betrayed in turn.

As her country goes through almost unimaginable upheaval, Marina's own coming-of-age unfolds, marked by deep passion and devastating loss, and the private heroism of an ordinary woman living through extraordinary times. This is the epic, mesmerizing story of one indomitable woman's journey through some of the most dramatic events of the last century.

The Revolution of Marina M. Review: 

I'm keeping this review short, because a book this good is difficult to describe. It is something that you have to read for yourself to truly experience the delight and and adventure the book brings. And on that note, here is my review...

The Revolution of Marina M. is an 816 page book filled with heart-wrenching tales of a girl finding her way through the hardships of life. I usually don’t enjoy books like this one because following a character through a large period of time is not easy to narrate for most authors. These books cannot keep the attention of the reader, or fail to make each part of the protagonist’s life believable; whether it be from the lack of dimensional characters or not enough descriptions of the settings. However, The Revolution of Marina M. is able to keep the reader focused on Marina’s journey. The novel is very well researched and does not strongly feature a love interest, showcasing a new side of historical fiction that I had not previously read. Additionally, the writing was engaging and descriptive. Unfortunately, the book was a little slow to get into as the novel is slowly building itself up.

Overall, The Revolution of Marina M. is a 4.5 star read, and one that I highly recommend, especially if you want to try something new!

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Dance with Seduction (A Spy in the Ton, #1)

A Dance with Seduction Summary:
She was the only code he couldn't break...

Vivienne Le Fleur is one of London’s most sought after opera dancer and one of England’s best weapons: the spy known as the Flower. When a French agent pressures her to change allegiance by abducting her sister, Vivienne is forced to seek the help of the only man in London who doesn’t want her.

Maximilian Westwood, retired code breaker, doesn't like surprises or mysteries and The Flower is both. When she sneaks into his study in the middle of the night with a coded message, he’s ready to push her out whatever window she arrived through. Except Maximilian is unable to turn away a woman in trouble. Determined to rescue Vivienne’s sister, they engage in a game of cat and mouse with French spies that requires all of Vivienne’s training and Maximilian’s abilities. Bound together by secrecy, they discover there is more between them than politics and hidden codes, but love has no place among the secrets of espionage...

A Dance with Seduction Review: 
A Dance of Seduction is a book that I enjoyed reading as a result of a phenomenal premise, with suspense, mystery and a good deal of romance. From the start, the book was realistic in regards to both characters and plot. These characteristics along with a refreshing new take on spies made A Dance of Seduction an excellent novel in comparison to other historical mysteries.

Both Vivienne and Maximillian, were fascinating characters to read about. Maximillian, not Max, was a government code-breaker, now a translator in eleven languages and a grumpy book-nerd. Definitely not a characteristic that comes about frequently in book characters. On top of that, he’s a beta hero, meaning that Maximillian never dominants his will over Vivienne. He does not treat her as a delicate flower; he recognizes that she is a survivor. On the other hand, he respects her enough to see through her façade and pushes Vivienne to free herself. Likewise, Maximillian does not make a move on her while she is supposed to be under the protection of another male, however there is still a significant amount of sexual tension.

Vivienne is another character that I came to respect throughout her journey in this book. While she does have trust issues concerning Maximillian, I was happy to see that she worked through it, allowing herself a change at love. Additionally, she was a strong heroine who puts the needs of her sister over her desire for a relationship, strengthening her character. This struggle between the two along with the obstacles Vivienne has to overcome led to a very powerful romance.

Overall, A Dance of Seduction is a 3.5 star read! The beginning of the story was a little slow, but when the plot picked up, it turned into a fantastic romance. The writing drew me, and the plot kept me captivated as they attempt to save Anne and defeat the Vulture. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy a historical spy novel and will definitely be reading the previous books in the series!

Thank you to Alyssa Alexander and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Devil’s Prayer

The Devil’s Prayer Summary:
A nun commits suicide in front of thousands in Spain. In Australia, Siobhan Russo recognises that nun as her mother, Denise Russo, who disappeared six years ago.

In search of answers, Siobhan travels to the isolated convent where her mother once lived. Here she discovers Denise’s final confession, a book that details a heinous betrayal that left her crippled and mute, and Denise’s subsequent deal with the Devil to take revenge. In the desperate bargain Denise made with the Prince of Darkness, she wagered Siobhan’s soul.

As Siobhan discovers the fate of her soul, she learns that hidden within the pages of her mother’s confession is part of The Devil’s Prayer, an ancient text with the power to unleash apocalyptic horrors.

And now her mother’s enemies know Siobhan has it.

Can Siobhan escape an order of extremist monks determined to get the Prayer back? Can she save the world from its own destruction?

Warning: "The Devil’s Prayer" is a historical horror thriller that contains brutality, rape, sex, drug abuse and murder. Readers may find its content offensive and confronting.

The Devil’s Prayer Review: 
The Devil's Prayer is a surprisingly good read! Throughout the whole book I was captivated by the storytelling, both the non-fiction aspect as well as the darker part of the novel. On top of that, the character development was phenomenal. I really was excited to reading about Siobhan and her journey in this book. Every detail is harrowing and suspenseful, the action is graphic and the world is nightmarish.

The history part of the novel I found incredibly fascinating. Learning about the conspiracy between the two families along with the historical setting was something that I enjoy read about. I felt that this part of the book set up well for the remaining darker part in the book. On the other hand, the information was a tad bit dense, so if you are not into a more non-fiction feel, you may not like this part.

It soon became grittier and more sinister plot, because the portrayal of the corrupt in this novel was terrific. The descriptions were raw and exciting along with the historical parts were woven through the writing. The story came alive, bringing me into the adventure with Siobhan.

Overall, The Devil's Prayer is a five-star read! I completely loved reading this original, horror-filled and suspenseful novel. This is one book that I will definitely read again! Fair warning though, there are several trigger warnings listed in the summary above. I can't wait to see if there is going to be a sequel!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review!

Addiction (Bayfront Billionaires, #5)

Addiction Summary:
Everyone loves a secret…

Liv Tyner has an ultra-sexy one she’s been keeping all to herself. A sinfully delicious, forbidden secret that has inspired endless fantasy material late into her lonely nights. But when that secret is suddenly staring her in the face—in the form of two fantastically built and wildly successful men—not only does Liv have trouble keeping her one-time-only love triangle under wraps, she also longs for a repeat performance.

Step-brothers Nate Dalton and Tristan Reeves have built a global communications empire that laid the groundwork for their ten-year homecoming to Bayfront. But more important than success is winning the love of the one woman neither has gotten off his mind or out of his system no matter how much time and distance spans between them—sensational and highly addictive Liv Tyner!

As a slow seduction begins and all their juicy secrets are revealed, can these star-crossed lovers find themselves in the right place, at the right time, to make a more permanent love connection?

Addiction Review:
Addiction was a quick and easy book to read. For me, there was little to no character development for Liv, Nate and Tristan. I started the book with a high school/Pretty Little Liars feel and it did not change significantly for the rest of the story. The introduction of the main characters and their lifestyles came off like elitists and preppy, rich people, instead of something that I could relate to. The pain and hard work they had placed into their careers and past did not come through at all. Their lives only showed rainbows, instead of the grittier stuff about life that I was looking for. I do not enjoy reading books without substance, which is what I found in this book.

While reading this book, I was more interested in reading about the side characters than Nate, Liv and Tristan, which should not be happening. It was not something that I could get into and found myself skimming because it just wasn't interesting. However, other readers did enjoy this book so do give it a try.

Overall, this book is a 1.5 star read. There wasn't much to save it for me except for the secondary characters.

Thank you to Calista Fox for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Billionaire's Intern (Billionaire Fairy Tales #3)

The Billionaire's Intern Summary:
Lorenzo De Santis: Ruthless. Driven. Ambitious.
Lorenzo De Santis is the boss. He’s an uncompromising hardass, he doesn’t suffer fools, and he doesn’t have time to deal with witless young interns. But when an old friend asks for a favor, Lorenzo can’t refuse. Even if it means taking on the man’s daughter as a project.

Kira Constantin: Rich. Party girl…Spy.
Kira Constantin feels like she has been half-alive since that one night of partying ended in tragedy. So when her father demands that she go undercover at De Santis Corp as a spy, there’s no way she can refuse. She must redeem herself, even if that means dealing with a boss like of Lorenzo De Santis.

Except neither of them counts on the forbidden heat that flares between them. As Kira and Lorenzo draw closer, spying on him becomes harder and harder. And then Kira discovers that the real villain might be closer to her than she thinks…

The Billionaire's Intern Review:
After reading The Dangerous Billionaire and not being pleased with the writing, I was hesitant to read The Billionaire's Intern. I was happily surprised to find the book had more likeable characters, and an plot that created an interesting book.

As individuals both Lorenzo and Kira were complex characters. Kira's ADHD is a condition that I can relate to, which made her development throughout the novel much more exciting. It also had me rooting behind her to find love with a person who would understand how to treat her right. And, her past is tragic, making the connection between her and Lorenzo stronger and more realistic.

Lorenzo, was an intriguing person to read about. Cold and a very strong alpha, it was difficult at times to read about him. With the history he has with relationships, it is easy to understand why he is so controlled with his emotions, but his dominance comes off as aggression at times. Especially during the first half of the book. It did level off by the end, allowing for a pleasing HEA.

The one reason that this HEA stood out to me was that Kira and Lorenzo recognized their love for each other not because one had a near death experience; instead it came because they were not willing to hide behind their emotions. It was satisfying to have a love story that was not a cliché.

Unfortunately, this book did have other faults. Kira's past was retold many times, creating some very repetitive thoughts, instead of additional character development. Furthermore, the ending built up for a very exciting finish, but feel a little flat. Luckily, the ending also revealed some information that has made me interested in the next book. Can’t go into much more detail, it would definitely be a spoiler.

Overall, this book is a 3.5 read. It had all the makings of a great story, but the romance felt a little to anti-climatic.

Thank you to Jackie Ashenden for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Dangerous Billionaire (Tate Brother #1) Review

Wanting the Wrong thing HAS NEVER BEEN SO RIGHT...

"A master at crafting tension and desire.” –RT Book Reviews

 The Dangerous Billionaire Summary: 
Navy SEAL Sullivan "Van" Tate has been called home to reluctantly inherit an empire and finds himself facing the most difficult mission of all: love.

Nothing about Sullivan "Van" Tate is what it seems. A Navy SEAL raised among the New York City elite, Van prefers heart-pounding action over a Wall Street corner office. But when his adoptive father dies and his business rivals move in to overtake his empire, Van must suit up to save the company and protect the one woman most forbidden to him…and the object of Van's most dangerous desires.

Chloe Tate is as ambitious as she is gorgeous. With a newfound independence, Chloe is no longer a prisoner on her father’s ranch. But everything changes when losing her father may also mean losing her life. Even with her survival on the line, Chloe can’t deny the burning attraction she feels the moment she locks eyes with Van, her rich, rough and ready, foster brother and the new head of her father’s company. Tall, dark, and muscled, he's the one man who she has no business being with. But how can she resist a Navy Seal Warrior when he’ll do anything to protect her?


The Dangerous Billionaire Review:

    Jackie Ashenden’s Dangerous Billionaire was an interesting starting to her new Tate Brothers series. It did a fair job of setting up the premise for the rest of the series, which I am very interested to read about. The biggest takeaway from this book is its ability to set up the next novels because, other than that, it left something to be desired.

    The main problem came from the Van and Chloe. Neither of them acted as grown-up adults, had decent communication skills or any actual chemistry. A lot of their interactions, and feelings came off very shallow and did not allow for any connection between the characters and I.

    Van was whiny from day one because he can no longer work as a Navy Seal, must run the Tate Oil company, deal with his younger sister and every little thing that came he was after his father’s death. Chloe was just as whiny when she loses the ranch and is incapable to of acting with some common sense when she is in danger. Instead, we are told the her “courageous” and “spunky” attitude is not the same as running head first into a confrontation.

    Ignoring the two main characters, characters like Logan, Wolf and Cesare de Santis made the book more interesting. It will be intriguing to read Logan and Wolf’s book and hopefully see more of Cesare’s villainous side.

    Overall, this book is a 3-star rating. The main characters were irritating to read about, but this book itself was captivating enough that I finished it within a few hours. I will be reading the next few books because I know that the first book is usually the worst, as it tries to set up the premise for the series.

Thank you to Jackie Ashenden for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!


Author Bio:
Jackie Ashenden lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband, the inimitable Dr. Jax, and their two kids and two cats. When she's not torturing alpha males and their stroppy heroines, she can be found drinking chocolate martinis, reading anything she can lay her hands on, posting random crap on her blog, or being forced to go mountain biking with her husband.

Social Links:

http://www.jackieashenden.com/

Twitter: @JackieAshenden
Facebook: @jackie.ashenden

http://smpromance.com/
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The Dangerous Billionaire (Tate Brother #1) Exclusive Excerpt!

 

Wanting the Wrong thing HAS NEVER BEEN SO RIGHT...

"A master at crafting tension and desire.” –RT Book Reviews

The Dangerous Billionaire: 
Navy SEAL Sullivan "Van" Tate has been called home to reluctantly inherit an empire and finds himself facing the most difficult mission of all: love.

Nothing about Sullivan "Van" Tate is what it seems. A Navy SEAL raised among the New York City elite, Van prefers heart-pounding action over a Wall Street corner office. But when his adoptive father dies and his business rivals move in to overtake his empire, Van must suit up to save the company and protect the one woman most forbidden to him…and the object of Van's most dangerous desires.

Chloe Tate is as ambitious as she is gorgeous. With a newfound independence, Chloe is no longer a prisoner on her father’s ranch. But everything changes when losing her father may also mean losing her life. Even with her survival on the line, Chloe can’t deny the burning attraction she feels the moment she locks eyes with Van, her rich, rough and ready, foster brother and the new head of her father’s company. Tall, dark, and muscled, he's the one man who she has no business being with. But how can she resist a Navy Seal Warrior when he’ll do anything to protect her?

Author Bio:
Jackie Ashenden lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband, the inimitable Dr. Jax, and their two kids and two cats. When she's not torturing alpha males and their stroppy heroines, she can be found drinking chocolate martinis, reading anything she can lay her hands on, posting random crap on her blog, or being forced to go mountain biking with her husband.






The Excerpt!:

He didn’t look at her. Instead he shifted his weight onto one elbow and lifted his hand, cupping one breast in his palm. The breath hissed in her throat, the shocking heat of his touch reverberating through her like a scream echoing through a deserted house. He brushed his thumb over her aching nipple and she gasped, all the desperation she’d felt earlier rushing back.

He lowered his head, putting his mouth against the pulse at the base of her throat, the feel of his lips so hot she began to shiver almost uncontrollably. His tongue pressed lightly, his thumb brushing back and forth over her nipple, teasing her. She groaned, her spine bowing, pleasure like a live thing twisting inside her.

“Beautiful,” he whispered roughly against her skin, giving her the reassurance she needed without her even having to ask. “You’re just so fucking beautiful.”

He didn’t speak after that, too busy trailing kisses down over her skin, making goose bumps rise everywhere, the brush of his thumb maddening. Then he took his hand away as his mouth closed over the hard point of her nipple, hot and wet, an intense pressure building as he began to suck.

She groaned again, the pleasure bright and electric, her hands closing into fists beside her head. It felt so good she could hardly stand it. She whispered his name yet again, the sound raw as he teased her nipple with his tongue, then bit gently on it, making a sob catch in her throat.

He shifted his attention to her other breast, sucking that into his mouth as well as he slid one hand down the quivering plane of her stomach, to the fastening of her jeans. She lifted her hips urgently, unable to keep still, wanting to pull away from the maddening torture of his mouth and yet wanting him to suck harder, deeper at the same time.

“Hush.” His breath was hot against her sensitized nipple. “I told you to keep still. It’ll happen, don’t worry.”

She tried to do as she was told as he casually flicked open the button on her jeans and grabbed the tab of her zipper, tugging it down. Then his fingers were feathering light touches across her stomach, moving lower, sliding beneath the waistband of her panties. The breath sobbed in her throat as she felt those teasing fingers tangle in the soft, damp curls between her thighs, pulling lightly, sending tiny pinpricks of sensation racing over her skin.

She said something, she didn’t know what, maybe it was his name again or maybe it was a curse, and then she forgot it entirely as his fingers slid lower, stroking the soft, slick folds of her pussy.

Her hips bucked against his hand, her head going back on the pillow. He circled her clit with one finger, teasing her. Inching her closer toward the edge of the cliff but not pushing her off.

His mouth was so hot on her nipple, licking and sucking, torturing her as his fingers stroked unhurriedly around and around her clit, then sliding down to circle the entrance of her body, almost pushing inside but not quite.

He was playing with her, making her moan and move restlessly beneath him, blind now to anything but the feel of his hands on her body and the relentless pressure that was slowly building higher and higher.

Then quite suddenly he took his hands away and she nearly burst into tears at the loss, reaching for him as she felt his weight shift up and back.

“Lie still.” The rough sound of his voice rolled over her, full of command. “I’m not going anywhere.”
So she did as she was told, lying back against the pillows, blinking away the stupid rush of salty tears from her eyes and watching him slide off the bed. He straightened and pulled his shirt off, then got rid of his shoes. He un­ did his pants, pushed them down his hips along with his briefs, and stepped out of them magnificently, gloriously naked, but for his dog tags.

She couldn’t stop staring at him, following the carved lines of muscle and sinew, a work of perfect, masculine art, the eagle and trident inked across his chest making it very clear—as if his body hadn’t already—exactly what he was.

Dangerous, lethal. A weapon in human form.

He bent and got his wallet out of his pants, every movement fluid, purposeful as he extracted a foil packet from it. Then he ripped the open the foil, taking out the latex inside. And as she watched, completely fascinated, he reached down and gripped his cock in one hand, rolling down the condom with the other.

Big. He was really big. And beautiful too.

Her hands itched, wanting to touch him, to stroke down the long, smooth length of his rigid flesh, feel exactly how hard he was. But then he was moving, the bed dipping as he got back onto it. And her breath caught as he reached for the waistband of her jeans, pulling the denim down her legs in short, hard jerks, taking her panties along with them, and finally slipping them both off. Then he put his hands on her bare thighs and with ruthless insistence, spread them wide apart.

Another rush of vulnerability swept over her and she half sat up, breathing fast. “Van, I . . .” she began, before stopping short, not knowing what she wanted to say.

But he was moving forward, putting his hands on her shoulders and easing her back. “Let me look.” His voice had gentled again. “I only want to look at you.”

She tried to relax against the pillows, letting him hold her thighs apart, his gaze returning between them. The look on his face was so hungry, making her feel less ex­ posed and more . . . powerful almost. She liked doing that to him. She liked making him look at her as if he was starving.
He moved forward quite suddenly, coming over her, surrounding her with all that bare, tanned skin and strong muscle, his dog tags brushing against her sensitized breasts. The scent of him was everywhere, fresh, with that spicy, earthy undertone, and she was abruptly trembling so hard she didn’t think she’d ever stop.

He said nothing, looking at down at her, and this time his expression was fierce with something she didn’t under­ stand. She wanted to ask him what it was, but then he slid one hand beneath her hips, lifting them, and she felt the head of his cock slide through her folds, nudging against her clit. And she forgot what she was going to ask. In fact, she lost the power of speech entirely.

All she could do was lie there, shaking and desperate as he teased her, and when she didn’t think she could bear it anymore, he began to push his cock inside her, the intense stretch and burn of her pussy around him tearing a gasp from her throat.

She sobbed, because he didn’t rush. He went slowly. Inch by inch. Murmuring encouragement, telling her what a good girl she was, how tight and wet and hot her pussy was, and how good she felt around his cock. The dirty talk made her break out into a sweat, the climax so near she could almost taste it, making her want to shove herself up onto him or do something—anything—to push herself over the edge. But he didn’t let her, pinning one of her hips to the mattress with one hand as he lifted her leg up and around his waist with the other, tilting her pelvis so he could slide in deeper.

She stopped pleading, her throat too dry, her voice too hoarse. Besides, it was clear he wasn’t going to do anything until he was good and ready. She could only breathe through the pleasure that was wrapping itself around her throat and squeezing tight, making her gasp, making lights burst behind her eyes.

Then he was seated deep inside her, and she found herself pressed to the mattress, pinned beneath the hot, heavy weight of him. But strangely, looking up into his beautiful face, she didn’t feel crushed. She felt anchored. As if for the first time since she’d left Wyoming she’d come home in some way.
She didn’t speak as his arms came around her, cradling her, holding her close against him like she was a secret he wanted to keep safe. Then he drew back his hips and thrust deep inside her.
Chloe came apart then, sobbing against his shoulder, shattering as easily and as lightly as a sphere of blown glass, the pieces of her held together only by the strength of his arms.

Copyright © 2017 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Press.