Category Archives: Erotic

Review: Survival of the Richest (The Trust Fund Duet #1) by S

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Title:Survival of the Riches
Author: Skye Warren
Publisher/Year:  Dangerous Press 6/12/18
Length:  199 pages
Series: The Trust Fund Duet #1

Overview

Two billionaires determined to claim her.
And a war fought on the most dangerous battlefield–the heart.

My story starts with a plunge into the cold water of Massachusetts Bay. A strong hand hauls me back onto the deck of the luxury yacht. Christopher was supposed to be my enemy. Instead he protects me with fierce determination.

That should have been my happily ever after, but then Sutton appeared–ruthless and seductive. He doesn’t care that my heart belongs to someone else, because he’s determined to win. No matter the cost.

It’s an impossible choice, but I can’t have them both.

My Thoughts

We’re taken back into the world of Tanglewood via Boston and New York. We meet Harper, our leading lady when she’s fifteen and spending another spring break week with her father and the latest new wife. She knows that it’s not worth building any bonds since these wives come and go, and when there are other children around, she knows that it’s even less worthwhile to try to make friends. Well, what happens on this particular break is something that changes her life forever.

She’s got a great relationship with her dad, even if she knows that she’s not living up to his expectations. But what she learns is that the son of the latest wife, a boy named Christopher is that perfect child – the heir so to speak that he always wished for. There’s an interesting dynamic that we see develop between Harper and Christopher on this trip and it’s one that stays with them for years. He’s dark and mysterious but mis reads her and that puts her on edge. Harper is a girl that can’t be tamed but has her own motivations for being wild. they’re never reckless or meaningless, that is until this night. She finds herself falling over the edge of the yacht and Christopher dives overboard to save her.

Fast foward through the years and we see that they’ve kept in touch even though their parents are no longer together. There’s an interesting friendship that’s grown even though they’ve never seen each other again since that one week on the boat. It’s not until Harper is nineteen and has her first exhibit that they cross paths and what they had years ago between them is definitely something of a spark that is about to explode.

The circumstances that end this weekend are not positive and we see a death change what their future could have been. The hold that her father had on her and what she was able to do for herself and her mother is now in the hands of Christopher and he’s as ruthless as we always imagined him to be. So the story takes us to Tanglewood, years later, when all Harper wants to do is save her mother, but the stipulations of her trust won’t allow that. Christopher is the only person who’s able to do anything and he refuses.

What readers have to remember is that Harper is the best friend of Avery, a main character from a previous series with Gabriel Miller and their story was a tormented one but one that gave us hope for the brooding men who had too much power. Avery comes up in the story through a series of events to help ground us and Harper on what the next best action should be.

We meet a new character in the form of Sutton Mayfair – a man who’s the opposite of Christopher in looks, but has the same animal chemistry and an eye on Harper. So when Harper goes hunting for Christopher, to get what’s rightfully hers, she finds herself in the cross hairs of two incredibly sexy and powerful men….who are competitors in all things, even though they are partners in business.

We essentially have a coming of age story here where we see Harper not only grow into womanhood but realize her power and strength. She knows her value and what she’s capable of ever since she was forced to stand on her own two feet and provide for herself and her mom, and now the power that she develops as a sensual woman comes to the forefront as she finds these two men enamored with her. She doesn’t know who she should pick since her heart is with one but wants another, and the way that the final chapters of this book play out, we’re left hating one man and wanting the best with another, yet we don’t know if that’s the right choice or the one that will be her downfall. So….on that note, we’re on a cliff of which man is her future, and what does that mean for her life….and her mother’s life. I’m searching out book 2 now, and I can’t wait to see where this one goes. Enjoy!

Review: One for the Money (One for the Money #1) by Skye Warren

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Title:One for the Money
Author: Skye Warren
Publisher/Year:  Dangerous Press 5/27/22
Length:  294 pages
Series: One for the Money #1

Overview

inn Hughes knows about secrets. His family is as wealthy as the Rockefellers. And as powerful as the Kennedys. He runs the billion-dollar corporation. No one knows that he has a ticking time clock on his ability to lead.

Eva Morelli is the oldest daughter. The responsible one. The caring one. The one who doesn’t have time for her own interests.

Especially not her interest in the charismatic, mysterious Finn Hughes.

A fake relationship is the answer to both their problems.
It will keep the swarming society mothers from throwing their daughters at him.
And it will keep Eva’s mother from bothering her about marriage.

Then the fake relationship starts to feel real.

But there’s no chance for them. No hope for a woman who’s had her heart broken. And no future for a man whose fate was decided long ago.

My Thoughts

I love this family, and I love reading more about the Morellis. Reading this one though makes me wonder what i’ve missed in other series so i’m going to have to go back and see which ones I could have read since I don’t recall ALL the match ups that have happened before Eva got her time.

Anyhow, what we have in this story is watching our leading characters carry the weight of the world and their families on their shoulders, and realizing that it’s ok to let someone in, as long as it’s at arms length. Once that distance is compromised, things go up in smoke.

We start this story watching Eva, the default go to of the family, managing a gala with the utmost ease and beauty. She’s able to avert crisis, smile and make sure that everyone is enjoying themselves. All for the greater good right? That’s until her mother tries to match her with an older man who’s well off since that’s what’s expected. Eva is to marry someone who’s more wealthy and powerful than she and her family are to continue the line. What happens though is her saving by Finn. A playboy that no one expects to be what he is.

Finn Hughes comes from an equally powerful and wealthy family but his reputation is that of a playboy and someone who doesn’t take life seriously. If there’s anything that we know about stories like this, is that surface is not what it seems and there’s always something far more dark and sad under the surface. That’s exactly his story – he’s been forced to take on far more responsibility than any one should at a young age and carry the burden that the future is written already and he can’t avoid a curse that’s been smote on his family.

They come to an agreement to save each other. To keep the outside world from staking claims to them, and I hope that it means that they will start to be a bit more humane and relaxed to enjoy what they deserve rather than avoiding anything that could truly make them happy.

There’s a fake relationship that’s developed and it keeps them both safe. What happens though is that feelings are inevitable and when that happens, it’ll be no surprise to see who cuts bait first. There are so many factors at play when that happens, who’s family will suffer, and which of the two of them will see their demise first. I think that we’re left on an expected edge of things – knowing that there’s a path for the future that there’s no way to avoid, and yet it’s the path that no one wanted to go down to begin with. This is what happens when friendship turns into lust which turns into love, and neither is prepared to deal. So on that note, I now have to wait a month for the next book to come out and i’ll have to be patient with the directions my brain goes. Enjoy!

Review: Luke’s Touch (Walker Security: Lucifer’s Trilogy #2) by Lisa Renee Jones

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Title: Luke’s Touch
Author: Lisa Renee Jones
Publisher/Year:  Amazon Publishing 6/18/22
Length:  206 pages
Series: Walker Security: Lucifer’s Trilogy #2

Overview

She loved him. He betrayed her. Nothing is what it seems.

One touch can change everything though, and it did. The minute he showed back up in her life, all deals were off. He touched her and she melted. He promised her everything, and she wanted everything. The question is: is he her salvation or her destruction? Love. Hate. Passion. Danger. It’s about to get hot in here…

My Thoughts

I love Lucifer / Luke and I think being able to see what made him in to the man he is really helps add another layer to things. Add to that the story with Ana, well we have something intense, complex, and HOT.

We left off the first book with these two on the run, we know that many of the people around them are dirty and we don’t yet know who we can trust. There’s so much more of a mystery shrouding the whole situation with what it was that Ana’ brother was doing, as well as the resolution with her father, his business and everyone who’s connected to them. Walker is now involved and we know that they’ve got their back, but there’s always a question of who’s going to survive.

The chemistry between Luke and Ana is something that we have to struggle with. They are meant to be of course, but they fight each other on what the future holds since they both know that it’s not safe to be together. There’s really not future for them though that doesn’t include one another, so we get to watch how they combust, how they dance around each other and hopefully how they resolve to just be what they always were meant to be.

Throughout this second installment we fly all over the place, uncovering more secrets, questioning the motivations and motives around all the actions of the past, and really wondering if people who are said to be dead are dead. You know in these types of books, just like in all good soap operas, if you haven’t seen a body, the person isn’t dead, and even if you have, the person’s not dead. So that’s what we encounter after there are shoot outs, huntings and lies. Someone who’ deemed dead isn’t, and someone that we thought was on our side flips.

So, that means that we’re on the edge of a cliff again. Guns being pointed at everyone’s heads, and there’s a big question mark on who’s going to come out alive. There’s tension, heat and hatred, all wrapped up in the last few chapters here. So on that note, i’m now waiting for book three to come out and I hope you enjoy!

Review: Overture (North Security #1) by Skye Warren

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Title: Overture
Author: Skye Warren
Publisher/Year:  Skye Warren 2/14/19
Length:  302 pages
Series: North Security #1

Overview

Forbidden fruit never tasted this sweet…

The world knows Samantha Brooks as the violin prodigy. She guards her secret truth—the desire she harbors for her guardian.

Liam North got custody of her six years ago. She’s all grown up now, but he still treats her like a child. No matter how much he wants her.

No matter how bad he aches for one taste.

Her sweet overtures break down the ex-soldier’s defenses, but there’s more at stake than her body. Every touch, every kiss, every night. The closer she gets, the more exposed his darkest secret. She’s one step away from finding out what happened the night she lost her family.

One step away from leaving him forever.

My Thoughts

I love anything that Skye Warren writes and this series is no different. We’re introduced to this world of music and lies – a combination of the two swirling around our leading lady Samantha. She grew up in a world where it wasn’t safe – her father was a diplomat, but we learn that he wasn’t always a clean one, taking money from people, doing the wrong deals etc and that meant that they were often living under extreme circumstances – which we learned included Samantha being left on her own, often without food or money, and at time forgotten. That’s transformed her into not only a strong woman, but added to the allure of her unparalleled talent.

Enter Liam – a man who knew Samantha’s father but was not friends with him. He was in the same orbit as her father and when he ‘passed away from a heart attack’, Liam requested guardianship over Samantha. Her own brother didn’t want to care for her, so it was lucky that Liam took that over. He’s established, owns a security firm and clearly has connections with the ability to protect which we soon learn are necessary.

There’s a lot of character growth in this first installment of the series. We’re at the precipice for Samantha where her life is about to change – the moment she turns 18. She’s no longer the ward of Liam and she’s going to go on an international tour. She’s finding out more about herself and what she wants and she learns how to go after it. In this case – part of that is Liam.

Through the trials and tribulations with two of her friends, Samantha ends up in situations where Liam doesn’t believe she’s safe or frankly is a bit jealous and that brings out a side of him that we were all hoping to see. There’s a mutual attraction here but given that she was underage, that was part of the barrier. The notion that he’s not right for her and capable of being what she needs and deserves is the other aspect of things.

The story progresses with us watching Liam battle internally with what he wants and what is right. His brothers even see through him and warn him from breaking Samantha’s heart and still that’s a battle that he can’t win. Sadly we know that there is going to be no way to come back from whatever it is that they’re going to do.

There’s an attempt on Samantha’s life, and there’s a reporter that’s probing too hard into her past. Liam uncovers that the reporter wasn’t who she said she is, and that means that there’s an uncertain future and risk around Samantha that makes everyone nervous. She doesn’t quite know where it’s coming from, but Liam is pretty sure given some inside information that he’s heard through the wires.

We close this first book with the discovery of passion and chemistry, the loss of the past and innocence and the fear for the future. Samantha has spread her wings since that’s the only way that she can survive and Liam now has to deal with a broken heart and hope that he can protect her from afar. So, what does that mean? on to the next installment to see how this plays out. Enjoy!

Review: The Queen (Masterpiece Duet #2) by Skye Warren

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Title: The Queen
Author: Skye Warren
Publisher/Year:  Amber Shah 9/15/17
Length:  294 pages
Series: Masterpiece Duet #2

Overview

I have one chance at a new life. A college education. A future outside of Tanglewood’s dark walls. For a breathless moment it seems like I might actually escape.

Then I get a phone call from home.

Damon Scott is my own personal dragon, the fight I’ve always lost, the secret hope of my heart. And he needs my help right now. Only my mind can solve the puzzle. Only my presence can keep him sane as the city fights against him.

Only my heart can unlock a man with such a tragic past.

This is my final gamble, with everything at stake. One last game to win a future for both of us.

And a love strong enough to break the city apart.

My Thoughts

It’s nice to see how this story resolves itself, especially know that the dynamic between Penny and Damon is so intense, and the mystery behind where Jonathan is, is quite compelling. There’s so much fear and worry about what else is going to happen in order for everyone to have a happy ending.

What happens in this book is that there’s a lot of collateral damage. We think that things are moving ahead in their lives, that Penny is able to find her footing, but what happens instead os that she’s being watched, she’s being taunted, and she’s being used as bait. We want to believe the best in the people around her, yet what we know and what we’re seeing makes us second guess everyone, and their motives and their actions.

Penny is living her life at school, trying to live her best Mathematics grounded life, but the attention from her teacher makes us itch, and the fear that Jonathan is still out there and that means that no one is safe makes our skin crawl. What is nice though is the relationship that Penny has developed with Avery. They spend a lot of time together, realizing that their shared experiences with the loves of their lives puts them in a unique space that no one else can understand.

It’s that friendship though that takes this story on a wicked ride – watching Avery go missing, along with Penny’s father and now its a race to see if they can be found before it’s too late. We saw Penny and Damon separate at the end of the first book for her own safety (of course) yet we see that he’s really the one that can help – so back to him she runs.

Penny is protected by Damon in a way that speaks volumes, but he’s still keeping her at a distance, not allowing himself to feel what he does for her, and not allowing Penny to discover what it is to be loved and desired. What happens though is that they work together to solve the puzzles of where everyone is and where Jonathan is, and that takes us to the culmination of things.

The future that we once hoped for is within reach, and the hope that there’s safety and protection is something that we can truly believe in. I think that what’s always nice about books by our author is that we watch a struggle that seems to difficult to overcome, so painful to watch that we really want to hope for the best but would be ok if it’s not sparkly and clean. That’s what we get here, and the epilogue puts things into a new perspective. So on that note, off to find another story to read and i hope you guys enjoy!

Review: The Castle (Endgame #3) by Skye Warren

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Title: The Castle
Author: Skye Warren
Publisher/Year:  Amber Shah 4/4/17
Length:  230 pages
Series: The Endgame #3′

Overview

FINAL BOOK IN THE TRILOGY!

Safe in the ivory tower…

Gabriel Miller swears he’ll keep me safe. Enemies lurk outside, waiting to strike. An army held back by these walls.

Except some animal instinct warns me the danger is much closer. It’s already here. Is Gabriel my protector or my enemy? Is this house a castle or a cage?

There’s nowhere for me to go, no one left for me to trust.

No escape from a past determined to capture its prize.

My Thoughts

I’ll be honest, it took me a few days to get into the final installment of this series, and i’m not entirely sure why that’s the case. Probably because of life since this story is still very exciting. We know that Jonathan Scott is out there, yet to be discovered and we know that he’s got a vendetta not only against Avery, but the world in general. Gabriel is doing his very best to keep her safe and that means keeping her locked up in the house and when she plays with fire to negotiate time away, we see what the compromise is.

This third and final installment takes us on a path of watching this relationship grow from one that started on false pretenses into one that became something serious and solid, into one that opened up their eyes to how much they were willing to give up for the other in order to survive.

There’s a lot of discussion around who has the power, and of course it ties back to Chess. Avery even chooses to write her paper on the historical role of women and how It ties to the game of chess to show the evolution of who help the power and what the notion of checkmate really means. The idea of the Castle itself, that’s something that holds an important meaning in solving the whereabouts of Jonathan Scott and how they can get to him.

We see Damon Scott as an entirely different person in this story. We know that his relationship with his father isn’t one that is great, so to see another side of him comes out when a woman’s safety is compromised is a sweet evolution. There’s also an interesting twist related to Damon that we get to see as this story evolves and it makes so much sense once it plays out.

There’s death, destruction, lies and anxiety, all on top of passion, heat, sensuality, personal growth and discovery. I’m sad to see this series end, but we know that the story Avery and Gabriel have coming ahead of them has a single minded direction and the closure in the story gives hope. Next up is a spinoff of sorts and I cant wait to dive in. Enjoy!

Review: The Knight (Endgame #2) by Skye Warren

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Title: The Knight
Author: Skye Warren
Publisher/Year:  Skye Warren 1/31/17
Length:  250 pages
Series: The Endgame #2

Overview

The power of pleasure…

Gabriel Miller took everything from me. My family. My innocence. My home. The only thing I have left is the determination to get back what’s mine.

He thinks he’s beaten me. He thinks he’s won. What he doesn’t realize is that every pawn has the chance to become a queen.

And the game has only just begun.

My Thoughts

So many lies in such a short amount of time. When the relationship between Avery and Gabriel started based on less than ‘legal’ means, we knew that things were going to get dicey, but of course as we saw what Gabriel was truly capable of, we really started to despise him.

The naiveté that Avery has is something powerful and throughout this second book, both she and her mother are likened to Helen of Troy – the historical woman who’s beauty brought down countries and empires. It seems as though Helen, Avery’s mother is that woman, she had a power over so many men (and women) that she likely saw her death as a result of that, and the power that Avery has in her youth and allure is just as strong.

We left off the first book with Gabriel throwing Avery away essentially and when Avery is out on the street, she learns that her father has a heart attack, yet another set back as well as learning that her house is now no longer hers and it’s up for auction. The path that this second installment is one of watching how this all plays out, knowing that holding company that has the deed to her house is one that’s owned by Gabriel.

There’s so much uncertainty driving the motivations, and throughout this story we realize that perhaps Gabriel isn’t as evil as we wanted to believe. He’s protective of Avery, even though it seems as though their relationship is doomed. He continues to provide the care for her father even though things are going awry.

Avery learns more and more about her mother’s past and as a result, there are questions that people keep telling her not to search for that she doesn’t listen to. She finds a diary from her mother in the attic and learns some of the sordid past that was just ahead of her parent’s wedding. She searches out her mother’s best friend who reveals unexpected secrets that I think we all should have expected.

Throughout this story as well, we watch Avery stand on her own two feet. She moves into a seedy motel since that’ what she’s able to afford, and we watch her survive. There’s a protector for her in the form of a homeless man named Will who makes an impact on her life in the motel. Harper, the friend from college who’s stuck around continues to provide support and we see what that means for Avery especially when she needs a friend the most.

All this helps her deal with the emotions and feelings that she continues to have for Gabriel. She has this connection with him that’s deeper than her sole physical and sexual experience, and she has a sense that it’s the same for him. How he behaves and what he says makes her wonder if there’s more than meets the eye.

Where this story nets us out is a fire, a lost house, and a future that’s unknown. We have a name, and an identity but this person has gone into hiding and we don’t know when they will strike next, and we have to be prepared. What we do know is that the relationship of ALL our characters and how they are intertwined has changed and we can only hope for the best in how it plays out. On that note, i’m off to find book 3 and see where they go! Enjoy!

ARC Review: Lucifer’s Sin (Walker Security: Lucifer’s Trilogy #1) by Lisa Renee Jones

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Title: Lucifer’s Sin
Author: Lisa Renee Jones
Publisher/Year:  Julie Patra Publishing 3/22/22
Length:  200 pages
Series: Walker Security: Lucifer’s Trilogy #1

Overview

About the series: Tall, dark, and deadly, these men run Walker Security. Each is unique in his methods and skills, but all share key similarities. They are passionate about those they love, relentless when fighting for a cause they believe in, and all believe that no case is too hard, no danger too dark. Dedication is what they deliver, results are their reward.

Meet Lucifer, one of those men…

A man with demons that run deep and dark…

The only woman who can bring him to his knees…

As one of the newest members of Walker Security, Lucifer lives up to his name. He’s a man with demons that run deep and dark. A man with secrets. A man betrayed by a woman, and that betrayal has shaped every part of his life moving forward.

He lives on the edge with fast cars, faster women, and some might say a death wish. That is until he crossed paths with Walker Security and one of their own pulled him from the bowels of his self-created hell.

But his own personal devil is about to show herself again. That woman from his past is back, and nothing is as it seems.

My Thoughts

I must start off by thanking our amazing author Lisa Renee Jones and I think our friends at Netgalley for getting me this pre-read copy. Mind you, i’ve already pre-purchased it as well, so while I was able to get the first installment at gratis, i’ve still happily contributed to the revenue stream and the books success!

Anyhow, what we have here is nothing short of an INTENSE next installment to the Walker Security family. We have spent quite a bit of time with so many of the characters over the years, and what we get for Lucifer doesn’t pale at all in comparison to the others.

What we learn is that Lucifer has this past where he was in the military like most of the others, and he came out of it and tried to make something of his life so that he could cope with the demons that he gathered over the years. In doing that, his path crosses with our leading lady Ana – an FBI agent and a woman who was trained to be on guard from a young age at the hands of her stepfather. A man that has many enemies but the power to keep them at bay. He’s trained Ana to protect herself, to be on guard and to be able to take down any opponent, and its’ when she puts Lucifer to his knees that we see the world’s axis pivot.

One night is all that it took – she was reacting to a crime that was happening and Lucifer was in the same place at the same time. She doesn’t take chances, and forces him to the ground, and it’s not until he learns who she is. the stepdaughter of the man he works for that we know things will get interesting.

Sparks fly and we know that there is a happy ending coming for this couple, until the world falls apart.. cause that’s usually how things go.

Fast forward a few years and we’re back together with these two. Lucifer gets a call from a guy named Jake who he worked with – and Jake tells him that there’s a hitlist, that he’s running for his life and then the line goes dead. someone picks up the phone and tells Lucifer that if Lucifer doesn’t want Ana to be next, he better figure out how to protect her. So back into the past we go.

Lucifer needs to keep Ana safe and yet she wants nothing to do with him since we learn that he killer her brother. there’s more to the story of course but that’s what we know. So the heat and passion that these two shared before is something that we know we’ll have to deal with, especially with the hate layered on.

There’s so much back and forth with these two – the tension is insane, and yet we know that they both want to get past it, and just don’t know how. While that’s the under-current, we know that ti’s imperative that we find out who’s behind the hitlist, and what they want. There’s clearly someone that’s close to them that wants something from them but we don’t really know that whole story.

So where we net out is a place where we know Ana and Lucifer have been lied to, and we know that there’s an adventure ahead to uncover the secrets of the past. We hope that it will lead to more hot and sexy times between them and it’s inevitable because well…Lucifer is Lucifer and he’s HOT. I don’t know how i’ll be able to wait for the next installment to come out but somehow i’ll work on my patience. On that note, if you haven’t pre-ordered the book yet, do so, and it’s out on MARCH 22, 2022 so get your copy and let me know what you think! Enjoy!

Review: Dark Reign (The Collector Trilogy #1) by Amelia Wilde

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Title: Dark Reign
Author: Amelia Wilde
Publisher/Year:  Dangerous Press 11/9/21
Length:  328 pages
Series: The Collector Trilogy #1

Overview

Wealthy. Reclusive. Dangerous. Emerson LeBlanc doesn’t enter society much. He only ventures out in pursuit of new art for his collection. It starts with a haunting painting. Then he meets the artist…

Innocent Daphne Morelli is more exquisite than anything he’s ever seen. He becomes obsessed with her. It doesn’t matter that she’s a living, breathing person with her own hopes and dreams.

​​​​​​​She’ll be the perfect addition to his collection.

My Thoughts

The summary here led me to believe that it was going to be slightly different than the story turned out to be, and frankly it took me a long time to get through it. I don’t know if it’s me, or the story – so I guess we’ll see if i pick up the next one.

Just like the synopsis says, we start our story with Emerson, he’s The Collector. and he’s known for being able to make or break an artists’ career. He finds himself in Motif, a gallery that he doesn’t usually go to and discovers art by DM, someone that he didn’t know before, but becomes obsessed with.

what we learn of DM, Daphne is that she comes from a family that is ‘connected’. They have been in a business that isn’t necessarily on the up and up, and they have a family rivalry with the Constantines, another family that’s in a similar position. What we know is that because of a tenuous relationship between the families, Daphne is beyond protected by her brother and his bodyguards. She wants to live her own life, and while he allows it, he also buys out a building across from where she lives and works so that Daphne can be protected.

What he doens’t know, is that he can’t protect her from everything.

Emerson is obsessed and we don’t get the true backstory on why he gets like this. We know that he’s a recluse and we know that he’s got a very bad relationship with his own family and the outside world, but we dont know the causes. What we do know is that he’ll venture out to find Daphne, to endear himself to her, and then hope to make her his.

What happens throughout this story is a bit of a wild ride. We see horrible things happen to Daphne’s family and we watch how that impacts the choices that Daphne makes. She is intrigued and that puts herself at risk, but the attraction that she has to Emerson makes her throw caution to the wind.

We’re left at the end of something that sounds like the demise of the freedom that Daphne has known. Will it be at the hands of Leo her brother, or at Emerson the Collector? we don’t know yet, but i’m sure more will come to light in the next book. Enjoy!

Review: When I Say Yes (The Necklace #3) by Lisa Renee Jones

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Title: When I Say Yes
Author: Lisa Renee Jones
Publisher/Year:  Julie Patra Publishing 1/25/22
Length:  200 pages
Series: The Necklace Trilogy #3

Overview

I believe that there is one person in this world that can both break us and make us whole. One person who can love us more than life can hurt us. With this comes deep, intense passion, and a burning connection. But in turn, that person can destroy us, cut us, make us bleed in ways no other ever could. They have power over us. 

For me, that one person is Dash Black.

He walked into my life in a rush of sunshine, in the darkness of heartache and uncertainty. We were broken apart, and whole together. He healed me. I believed I did the same for him. Until the past became the present, and every moment of suffering in his life consumed him. Instead of seeking refuge in me, he pushed me away. As the famous quote from an unknown author says, “If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it’s yours; if it doesn’t, it never was.”

I’ve set Dash Black free. Now, I wait.

My Thoughts

What an insane ride we get to go on with this series – and this final installment doesn’t disappoint. This couple that has so much in common and so much against them continues to struggle with what their reality is. We watch them fight for each other and fight against each other and where we were left off in the end of book 2, they were fighting against each other.

If you’ll remember from that last installment, we were in New York with our characters, they were there for a book signing for Dash and we knew that NY was a place that triggers a lot and has a lot of Allie’s demons. Her demons come to a head with them in the form of Brandon, her ex who’s now the agent of Dash’s father, and forces them into a signing together, which of course causes strife.

We watch how Dash tries to take control, to be the bigger person, but Brandon is still so spiteful of everything that happened that he’s not willing to let things go. He provokes Dash and that results in Dash pushing Allie away and he goes to self destruct.

So we pick up this next installment at that point. We know that Dash is going to fight in an underground club since that’s his MO and Allie needs to find him before it’s too late. She calls Tyler, knowing that it’ll anger Dash but she has no other idea where to go. When Tyler isn’t able to find Dash, she goes to Mark, and as we’ve seen in the In and Out series, Mark will never cease to surprise and amaze us, and the role that he takes in this book is one that we really learn to enjoy.

Mark finds Dash and helps devise a plan to get him out of the fight club. It works, but Allie thinks that they are over regardless. What happens though is that Dash realizes that Allie is his means to saving himself, not fighting and we watch their relationship take a new and powerful direction.

The balance of this story follows a few different paths. There’s the question of where Allison is and why she left, and no one knows the answer. The more that Allie learns and the more that she digs, the more concerned that she gets. Tyler finally comes to admit all that she meant to him, and he continues to try to contact her to no avail.

Then there’s the concern over what Brandon is going to do next to hurt Allie. and what that will mean for Dash. He’s vindictive and that means that they all need to be on high alert. Brandon doesn’t let us down – he attempts to go after Allie and we’re ready for him!

Throughout this story we watch and the rollercoaster goes for this couple. They want to be together but they worry that there are too many secrets to let them have their happily every after. Allie’s digging into Allisons whereabouts puts her in the crosshairs of quite a few people that she likely shouldn’t be in contact with. We met Brad Waters in an earlier book and he gives us a bad feeling. We meet Benjamin (Benji) in this installment and his vibe is similar. and then there’s Jack, Tyler’s father. All men that are powerful and fit the description that Allison had in her journal of the man that she went to after Tyler broke her heart. Not sure who is our prime suspect but they all give us the feels that they could be it.

What happens to bring things to a close is a series of events that were placed in a path in perfect order. Allie learns just enough, enlists the help of Neil the FBI source that is helping Dash, and gets a few additional pieces of information that give her what she needs to get her answers. What happens though is something that we should have expected but didn’t think about in completion and ends our story on a serious note. There’s a shooting, there’s a surprise appearance of someone that we’ve known well, and there’s a creation of sorts of something new that makes sense but was also unexpected.

So on that note, I REALLY enjoyed this finale because we do get closure on what we were hoping for. We continue to watch Allie handle the necklace with care and we watch how her future is uncertain and then gets some more clarity. She’s forced to make decisions that impact not just herself but others, and the choices that she makes seem to be the right ones in my opinion. Enjoy!