Wicked as Seduction: Trees & Laila #1 (Wicked And Devoted 5) by Shayla Black-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: March 15, 2022

He’ll protect her…even if he has to take her captive to save her.

Tech wiz and former elite soldier Forest “Trees” Scott had one mission: Rescue the woman being hunted by a vicious cartel and get her to safety. It should have been simple…but the minute he sees the wary beauty with haunted eyes, his desire for her complicates everything. So does her stubborn refusal to trust him. When Trees is forced to abduct her, she vows to hate him—even as he finds himself falling in love…

For six years, Laila Torres has known nothing but brutality at the hands of men, so when the massive stranger with the forbidding mien kidnaps her, she’s frightened—and furious. But the giant’s protective care shocks her. With every word, he proves steadfast. With every forbidden touch, he awakens the woman in her. Soon, she’s facing the terrifying realization that he’s also dangerously close to capturing her heart.

But their ruthless enemies are closing in, threatening everything Laila holds dear. When she’s forced to make an unthinkable sacrifice, will she trust Trees and their love to save her?

••••••

REVIEW:WICKED AS SEDUCTION is the first instalment in Shayla Black’s contemporary, adult WICKED AS SEDUCTION: TREES AND LAILA erotic, romantic suspense duet, and the fifth instalment in the author’s WICKED AND DEVOTED series. This is former elite soldier and tech six Forest ‘Trees’ Scott, and Laila Torres’ story line. WICKED AS SEDUCTION can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommended reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion. Trees was first introduced in the author’s Devoted Lovers series.

NOTE: If you are a fan of Shayla Black’s Wicked Lovers, and Devoted Lovers series, you may recognize some of the characters as Wicked and Devoted crosses over with both of the aforementioned series.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from third person perspective WICKED AS SEDUCTION focuses on the building but acrimonious relationship between former elite soldier and tech wiz Forest ‘Trees’ Scott, and Laila Torres. Laila Torres spent the majority of her life forced into sexual slavery by the Mexican Cartel but several months earlier our heroine and her sister Valeria were rescued by the team at EM Security, a team that included Forest ‘Trees’ Scott. The Cartel is demanding the return of Laila, her sister Valeria, and her sister’s son, and begin a search for our story line heroine. Hoping to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love, Trees Scott becomes guardian and protector of Laila Torres, a woman who struggles to trust, and believes every action is a prelude to bargaining or a payment. While her sister Valeria and young child are taken into protective custody by the EM Security Team, Trees and Laila find themselves on the run, barely one step ahead of the Mexican Cartel. What ensues is the building but embattled and cautious relationship between Trees and Laila, and the potential fall-out as Laila’s inability to trust, and her need to find her sister, continue to place our heroine in the direct line of fire.

Laila Torres does not trust Forest ‘Trees’ Scott, and makes his life miserable by trying to escape at every opportunity. Laila believes it is only a matter of time before our hero demands payment for her rescue and safety, and Laila refuses to owe anyone including the man who offers up everything else. Trees Scott fell for our heroine from the moment of rescue but Laila was in no position for a romantic relationship. With the Mexican Cartel on the hunt, Laila finds herself working with EM Security, and a man she refuses to accept regardless of his promise to keep her safe.

Meanwhile, all is not well at EM Security when the team suspects a mole in their midst. From One-Mile and Trees most recent missions, information is leaked, and one of their own is suspected of betrayal and deceit.

The relationship between Laila and Trees is cautious, acerbic, emotional and intense. Laila Torres is broken, and is unable to trust our story line hero. Rumors continue to circulate about a betrayer at EM Security, and Laila begins to suspect it is the man hired to protect and hide her from the Mexican Cartel. Trees Scott struggles to prove he is trustworthy; that he is not the mole, but the only man for our story line heroine. Laila’s need to run makes her a little TSTL, as she continues to push Trees closer to the edge, an edge from which he may never return. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate, erotic and seductive.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters many of whom we have met in previous story lines including One-Mile, Colonel Caleb Edgington, and his sons Hunter Edgington, Logan Edgington, Kane Preston, Deke Trenton, Joaquin Munoz , Zyron Garrett, PA Tessa Lawrence and her daughter Hallie, as well as Laila’s sister Valeria. The requisite evil has many faces.

WICKED AS SEDUCTION is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, coercion and blackmail, an inability to trust, family and love. The premise is captivating, gritty, and heart breaking; the romance is provocative but struggles in the face of Laila’s history of capture and abuse; the characters are broken, energetic, charismatic and lost. WICKED AS SEDUCTION ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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.

➣ Follow Shayla Black on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/shayla-black

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