DANGEROUS EXES (Liars,Inc #2) by Rachel Van Dyken-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway
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ABOUT THE BOOK : Release Date October 30,2018
Isla made one teeny little mistake. Now she and her PI company, Dirty Exes, are being targeted by one seriously angry and furiously sexy ex-quarterback. Jessie freakin’ Beckett. But there’s no way some NFL superhunk is going to take her business away. If only he didn’t make her so hot—and bothered.
Jessie wants payback for a ruined reputation. His plan? Top secret. His hard-to-hide arousal for Isla? Not so much. Especially when they let down their guards and sneak a kiss. Like any juicy scandal, it goes so viral, so fast, that only a good lie can combat the bad press. Mortal enemies in a fling? No way. Um…this is love!
Actually…could it be?
Isla’s not faking it. Jessie can’t. As the game of let’s pretend gets real, Jessie forgets all about revenge. That’s the problem. His plan is already out of his control. Now it could undo everything they’ve been trying to build. Coming clean may be the only thing that can save it.
•••••
REVIEW: DANGEROUS EXES is the second instalment in Rachel Van Dyken’s contemporary, adult LIARS, INC erotic, romance series focusing on the owners of the PI company Dirty Exes tasked with exposing cheating husbands and wives. This is co-owner Isla Turner, and NFL quarterback Jessie Beckett’s story line. DANGEROUS EXES can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading book one- DIRTY EXES-for back story and cohesion where we are first introduced to Jessie Beckett, and his story begins.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Jessie and Isla) DANGEROUS EXES follows the acrimonious relationship between Isla Turner, and NFL quarterback Jessie Beckett. In book one-Dirty Exes-Jessie became the target of Dirty Exes PI, when his wife hired the PI firm to set up our hero in the hopes of trapping Jessie in a compromising position. With his career, personal life and reputation shattered, Jessie Beckett is seeking revenge against Dirty Exes, revenge that will cost him more than he could have imagined. What ensues is the building but tempestuous enemies to lovers relationship between Jessie and Isla, and the potential fall-out as Jessie is unable to stop the forward momentum of the plans set into motion, plans of which he no longer has control; plans that are about to destroy the woman he loves.
Jessie Beckett was framed and set up by his ex-wife and Dirty Exes. Taking matters into his own hand, Jessie sets into motion a well-orchestrated plan to take down and ruin Dirty Exes, but falling in love with Isla Turner was never on the agenda. Isla Turner had no idea the repercussion of their PI investigation would destroy an innocent man but proving otherwise finds Isla in a fake relationship with the man in question, in order to further prevent more ongoing damage.
The relationship between Jessie and Isla is acrimonious at best. Jessie blames Dirty Exes for the destruction of his personal and private life including the loss of sponsorship, and the lies that continue to perpetuate and grow. Isla struggles in the face of her attraction to Jessie but our heroine is going to have to put on her ‘big girl panties’ in an effort to put a positive spin on their continuing battle. The $ex scenes are seductive, passionate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
The colorful secondary and supporting characters include the return of Isla’s business partner Blaire, and Jessie’s best friend Colin Buchanon (Dirty Exes #1) ; Jessie’s ex wife Vanessa, and Isla’s ex-fiance, up and coming Hollywood director Wayne Alvillar; and Isla’s hilarious grandmother Goo-Poh.
The world building focuses on the turbulent relationship and subsequent ‘fake fiance’ fiasco between Jessie and Isla. A little darker than book one –Dirty Exes- there is plenty of back and forth, deep seething hatred between our leading couple-hatred masked by the palpable sexual attraction that is hard to ignore.
DANGEROUS EXES is a story of betrayal, revenge, secrets and lies. The premise is entertaining, engaging and engrossing; the characters are feisty, sassy and spirited; the romance is edgy and intimate. DANGEROUS EXES is an energetic look at second chances, of a sort, for two people betrayed by love and broken hearts.
Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one -DIRTY EXES
Copy supplied by Netgalley
Reviewed by Sandy
“Oh, it’s Miss.” I tucked my hair behind my ear. “Actually.”
I got Mrs. a lot.
I told myself it was because I looked classy—not old.
Single.
Unattached.
I glared into my water glass. “Could I get some extra lemons, please?”
“Absolutely.” She handed me a menu. “Your waiter will be arriving momentarily.”
“Thank you.” I glanced back to my pristine menu and tapped my fingernails against the table, a bit irritated my new client was late.
A shadowy figure appeared near my right, I glanced up and choked on the sip of water I’d just taken as Jessie Beckett plopped down in the seat opposite me.
“Okay, you’re seriously taking your stalking to the next level.” I gritted my teeth and pasted a fake smile on my face as people started whispering and staring. Great, just great. The last thing I needed was more attention, especially since my client had requested a semi low profile.
Then again, why The Ivy?
I shook my fuddled head just as the waiter approached. “Would you two like some more time?”
“He’s not staying,” I hissed.
Jessie just grinned that cocky grin and looked smugly up at the waiter. “I’d love to see the wine list.”
“Sweet cheese and crackers,” I muttered under my breath. “He doesn’t need the wine list, because he’s not staying.”
The waiter looked between us in confusion.
“Don’t mind her, she’s just hangry.” Jessie nodded. “Wine list, and let’s start with two Caesar salads and some calamari.”
“I’m allergic to calamari,” I lied.
“Extra calamari.” Jessie winked at the waiter.
“Alright … then.” The waiter slid a wine list onto the table and walked off.
“Go away!” I leaned in and jerked the wine list from Jessie’s hands. “You’ve already done enough damage, my client should be here any minute!”
“Oh, he’s here.” Jessie blinked innocently. “Sitting across from you, gazing into your venomous eyes and trying to wonder how your brand of manipulation got my ex to burst into tears with your lies. Don’t people like you recognize each other?”
I took a soothing breath and reminded myself that murder would land me in prison, even if it was justified, the bastard. “You tricked our secretary into booking an appointment with me? Why?”
“I didn’t have to trick her.” He shrugged his muscled shoulders. “I just told her I was a potential client and willing to pay out the ass if I could have an appointment with you.”
I scowled. “You’re paying for lunch.”
“A gentleman always does,” he said, confusing me further.
His light eyes twinkled a bit before he shut down whatever he was thinking. “You’re a menace to society.”
I let out a breath and leaned back against my seat as a headache pulsed between my eyes. “And you’re like a dog with a bone. We don’t do anything illegal and this isn’t going to make you feel better. Shutting down my business may seem like the solution, but think of all the other things you could do with your time!”
“Shutting down your business,” he said calmly, “shows the press that I was caught in a bad situation, it tells the charity that I was wrongfully fired, and hopefully proves I was wronged. At least the media gets to feel sorry for me—I can find a way to get back on top.”
Anger burned through my chest, making it hard to swallow. “It’s all the same with you power-hungry celebrities, isn’t it? If life isn’t perfect. If you aren’t on top, if the cereal isn’t perfectly alphabetized just in case someone takes a picture of your freaking pantry and sends it to TMZ for the world to see what a OCD freak you are!”
He growled low in his throat, his teeth snapped together. “That has nothing to do with this.”
“It has everything to do with this,” I said softly. “You want something back, something you think has been wrongfully taken from you, by me, but I think if you look at the facts you’ll see that being on top only means on thing—”
“Oh yeah?” he snarled. “What’s that, Isla?”
“There’s always farther to fall when you aren’t the golden boy anymore,” I said softly, reaching out and touching his hand on instinct, because it’s what I did in my sessions with clients, because it’s what I did when I put my heart into things I had no business putting my heart into.
He stared at our touching hands as a tether of awareness slithered through my fingers like he’d just caressed me.
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Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!
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Great review, Sandy. Looks like a very good story line.
Excellent review and excerpt , thanks Sandy.
Thanks Sandy for the very nice review and excerpt.
Another wonderful review. Thanks for the excerpt.
Great review, great excerpt, thanks.
Great review. Thx.
Great review, Sandy. Thanks.
Terrific review, Sandy. Looks very good. Thanks.
Thanks for the great review and excerpt.
Very nice review and excerpt 🙂