MORE THAN TEMPT YOU (More Than Words #5) by Shayla Black-Review & Excerpt Tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date APRIL 30, 2019
I romanced her for revenge…but what if she’s not the enemy after all?
I’m Clint Holmes. I was an ambitious guy with a busy life and a growing business. Sure North Dakota wasn’t a tropical paradise, but I was happy enough—until tragedy struck. Now the only thing that matters is finding the person responsible and making her pay. But Bethany Banks is a Harvard-educated shark used to swallowing her enemies whole while playing dangerous corporate games. How can a blue-collar oil man like me possibly beat her?
The moment I lay eyes on my beautiful nemesis, the answer is obvious. I seduce her.
On Maui, where she’s fled, I get to know the man-eater who caused my family so much pain…only to find she’s not the brazen ballbuster I assumed. She’s skittish, secretive, vulnerable. For some reason, my instinct is to protect her. I can’t abandon my plan…but I can’t stop wanting her. Night after night, I pry her open with my touch until I’m drowning in our passion. Soon, I’m questioning everything, especially the fine line between love and hate. But when the past comes back to wreak vengeance and the truth explodes, can I prove that I’m more than tempted to love her forever?
•••••••••••••
REVIEW: MORE THAN TEMPT YOU is the fifth instalment in Shayla Black’s contemporary, adult MORE THAN WORDS erotic, romance series. This is businessman/bartender Clint Holmes, and financial investor/waitress Bethany ‘Beth’ Banks’ story line. MORE THAN TEMPT YOU can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
Told from first person point of view (Clint Holmes) with a final chapter by Bethany Banks MORE THAN TEMPT YOU follows the building relationship and romance between twenty-five year old Clint Holmes, and thirty year old Bethany Banks. Six months earlier Clint’s life imploded when he watched in horror as his father succumbed to a heart attack minutes after discovering all of his money and investments had been lost in a Ponzi scheme. Fast forward to present day wherein Clint goes on the hunt to uncover the truth by ‘seducing’ the woman he blames for his father’s death and the loss of the family fortune. Enter Bethany ‘Beth’ Banks, and the woman with whom Clint will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Beth and Clint, and the fall-out as Beth discovers the truth, and Clint is unable to look beyond the heart break and pain.
Bethany Banks knows the pain of betrayal and loss. For years she was the pawn to her father’s control, a pawn that continued long after his arrest. Clint Holmes wants only one thing, and that is to make Bethany Banks pay for the death of his father but meeting Beth finds our hero attracted to a woman who’s just as broken as he.
The relationship between Beth and Clint begins as a lie. Clint knows where Beth is currently living and working, and sets himself up to work along side the woman he is hoping to destroy but the heart wants something more than vengeance-the heart wants a happily ever after with the woman with whom he will fall in love. The Sex scenes are passionate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including all of Beth’s half-slblings: Maxon and Keely Reed (More Than Want You #1), Griffin and Britta (More Than Need You #2), Noah and Harlow (More Than Love You #3), Evan and Nia (More than Crave You #4); CFO Sebastian Shaw; Beth’s best friend Stephan Lund; as well as Clint’s brothers Bret and Bry, and his best friend Asher. Stephen’s story is next in MORE THAN PLEASURE YOU.
MORE THAN TEMPT YOU is a story of betrayal and revenge; loss and grief; deception, revelations; forgiveness and love. The premise is emotional and engaging; the romance is passionate and seductive; the characters are energetic and charismatic. MORE THAN TEMPT YOU is an animated and spicy tale of vengeance and love.
Reading Order and Previous Reviews
More than Want You
More Than Need You
More Than Love You
More Than Crave You
More Than Tempt You
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
“The one in the loud Hawaiian shirt with the matching personality?” my buddy asks.
“That one. He parked his ass in her station as soon as we opened. He’s been messing with her ever since.”
“I’ll take care of it,” I chime in.
First, when I bartended on the side in the past, I saw a lot of the girls struggle with dirtbags who refused to understand that no means no. Second, coming to her rescue will be a great way to meet Bethany and start gaining her trust. I refuse to think about how excited my libido is to spend time with her.
“Thanks, Clint.”
With that, Andy dismisses us. Ash and I file down the hall.
My buddy laughs. “You in the role of Bethany’s protector. Oh, the irony…”
“Hey, I’m not out to hurt her. I just want justice. I have no doubt she helped to swindle those people, so she deserves to pay as the law provides.”
“Fair enough. But, um…she clearly flips your switch. How are you going to keep your paws off her?”
Bethany Banks turning me on visually is fucking inconvenient. I’m sure that once I start talking to the woman, her personality will quickly turn me off. “I’ll work it out.”
“Ready for the madhouse?”
I follow Ash behind the bar. “Let’s do it.”
It takes me less than ten minutes to learn the ropes. Then Ash introduces me to the other waitress on duty, Montana. She’s a sultry brunette with dark eyes, golden skin, and big tits. Honestly, she’s usually my speed in women.
And yet as we’re chatting and she’s flirting, my gaze keeps straying to Bethany. What is it about her? She’s beautiful, but what else? Is it her aloofness? Maybe. I want to figure her out so I can understand why a brilliant woman, surely capable of making her own fortune, would help her father fleece people. The angry part of me wants to grasp how she managed not to get caught. Mostly, I fear the attraction is chemical and, regardless of what logic tells me, I want to nail her.
When Montana jaunts off with a wink. Ash pulls me aside. “Are you that rusty? Montana would totally do you, and you blew her off.”
I know, and the fact I’m not interested annoys me. “I’m not here for sex. Introduce me to ‘Beth’ and let’s get this farce going.”
As we approach, she sets a beer down in front of a guy who’s fortyish in a Hawaiian shirt—like a lot of the tourists here. He eyes her with excruciating intensity. She meets his gaze with an arched brow raised.
My gut tells me she’s not only not interested, but she’s silently rebuffing him.
Mug delivered, Bethany turns to leave. The man grips her wrist hard, his muscles flexing, veins popping, knuckles white. When she winces and tries to wriggle free, he clamps tighter and stands, jerking her toward him.
Fuck that. Even if Bethany Banks is guilty of a multitude of sins, she doesn’t deserve to be manhandled by this jerk against her will.
I barge my way between them, shoving her behind me. “Do we have a problem here, sir?”
Fury pinches his mouth. He narrows his eyes. “This has nothing to do with you. Butt out.”
“You don’t have permission to maul the staff. I’m going to have to ask you to keep your hands to yourself or leave.”
“Do you have your head so far up her twat that you don’t see she’s a fucking bitch?” The guy scoffs and rolls his eyes. “Yeah, and you deserve everything you get when she chews you up and spits you out.”
With that, the asshole tosses down some money and starts to walk away.
I’m furious. In part because he accused me of wanting her when I do. But mostly I’m pissed on Bethany’s behalf. “That was uncalled for. You’re not welcome back here unless you apologize to her.”
He grits his teeth, upper lip curling up with contempt as he turns to Bethany. “Fine. A thousand apologies.”
The douche doesn’t mean a word of that, and I want to pound his face. No, I’m not looking to become Bethany’s knight in shining armor. But this kind of guy always grates on my nerves because he thinks he can treat all women like trash, and the only thing that matters less than them are their feelings. I hate pricks like him.
Unfortunately, I can’t do anything else right now without ramping up the incident, instigating a fight…and probably getting fired. Instead, once he leaves, I turn to Bethany. I’m pissed all over again when I see she’s gone tense, as if she’s trying to hold herself together, and sporting a big red handprint around her small wrist.
“You okay?”
She nods. It’s shaky at first, then she drags in a steadying breath. “Yeah. He might be the first to think he can demand something more than a drink. But like Andy said, he won’t be the last. I’ll get used to it. Thanks for stepping in. I’m Beth.”
When she holds out her hand, I have to admit I’m impressed by her backbone. I’ve seen new waitresses shrink, cry, and ultimately quit when confronted with a customer that vile. Bethany simply picked herself up and now looks determined to carry on.
“You’re welcome. I’m Clint. It’s my first day.” I shake her hand.
We touch. Heat flares and rolls through me, instant and scorching. If I wanted to fuck her before, it’s nothing compared to the lust burning me now.
Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels. For over fifteen years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold well over a million copies and been published in a dozen languages.
Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past seven years.
Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her teenage daughter, and a very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
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Great review, Sandy. Looks like an exciting story.
Great review, Sandy. Shayla Black never leaves a person disappointed, love her books.
Excellent review and excerpt, thanks Sandy.
Thanks for another great review and excerpt.
Wonderful review, Sandy. Sounds very good.
Fantastic review. Thanks for the excerpt.
great review, sandy. sounds very good.
Terrific review, Sandy. Looks like a good story line.
Thanks for another great review and excerpt Sandy.
Another great review & excerpt, thanks Sandy.